#If Hook wanted to do a little photoshoot with that handsome old man of his

[whysamwhy123]

Because I truly have a problem, here's even more OrangeHook. A random idea I had, too short for AO3, wrote this in like fifteen minutes so it probably sucks but whatever.

He figured Hook would get a kick out of this. An old photograph of him, from over a decade ago. He’s grinning like an idiot, surrounded by what was at the time his group of friends. Some of those guys he hasn’t spoken to in years. But some he still keeps up with. Or he’s at least aware that they’re doing okay. And Chuck’s there, of course.

But Hook, naturally, is focused only on him. ‘’How old were you here?’’

‘’About your age,’’ Orange answers.

Hook hums. Orange studies his expression, but he finds he can’t read it. The kid can’t take his eyes off it, but that could mean a lot of things.

Orange decides to go ahead and ask the number one thing on his mind right now.

‘’So, would you date me?’’

Hook looks over, an eyebrow raised. ‘’Uh, I already am?’’

Orange points to his past self in the picture. ‘’No, I meant me when I was the same age as you. Would you date him?’’

Hook’s lips purse. There’s a noticeable pause.

‘’Sure,’’ he says eventually. Not super convincing.

Orange shakes his head, chuckling. ‘’You really do have an old man thing, huh?’’

‘’Old person thing,’’ Hook insists. ‘’And I don’t, actually. I’ve dated plenty of people my own age. It’s just a…preference.’’

‘’Uh huh,’’ Orange says. He realises he doesn’t want to discuss this particular topic in much depth. He hopes Hook will drop it.

The younger man’s eyes travel back to the photo and then to Orange’s face, as if comparing and contrasting. He raises a hand and gently traces his fingertips along Orange’s jaw, and then up to cup his cheek. His touch is warm, familiar. Orange freezes in place to allow the far-from-unwelcome touch.

‘’Don’t take this the wrong way,’’ Hook says. ‘’But…you grew into your looks.’’

Orange smiles. He’s heard that before. It feels more like a compliment coming from Hook.

‘’We can’t all be Forever Pretty, like you,’’ he jokes.

Hook nods. ‘’Yeah. I can’t imagine the struggle.’’

What a little shit. Orange playfully bats his hand away.

Hook just smirks back at him. ‘’There was this girl I used to date -’’

Orange gives him a look.

Hook rolls his eyes. ‘’This woman I used to have a thing with. She was…’’ He trails off.

‘’My age?’’ Orange finishes for him.

‘’A little older,’’ Hook corrects. ‘’She used to tell me one of the most annoying things about men was how well they age. She’d keep telling me how good I was gonna look when I hit fifty.’’

Orange snorts. Not because he disagrees, it’s just…funny imaging that as someone’s idea of pillow talk. But maybe that’s just the type of people that Hook used to pursue…

‘’I’m looking forward to seeing that for myself,’’ Orange says.

Hook’s smile grows. He casts his eyes back to the photograph. It’s like he can’t look away for too long.

‘’You should let me take some new pictures,’’ he says.

‘’Of me?’’

‘’Yeah. My camera’s way better than whatever crappy old thing spat this out. And I actually know how to frame an image. And what lighting would work best for your skin tone and -’’

‘’Alright, alright, I get the idea,’’ Orange is curious though. ‘’What kind of pictures were you thinking of?’’

Hook meets his gaze. There’s a glint in his eye. Orange is a big fan.

‘’Good ones,’’ Hook says simply.

[kewltie]

cosplayers bakudeku, where katsuki is famous for his really flashy, overly detailed and complicated cosplay at cons and izuku is a nsfw cosplayer who doesn't do cons but is super huge online. katsuki snubs that kind of low level cosplay bc he thinks it’s trashy and beneath him. then their fandom collides at the biggest con in japan bc izuku promised once he got 5mil follows on twitter he'll do a meet up and katsuki who plan to have the most intricate and best cosplay that year at the con... completely got upstage by a bunny boy in skimpy costume and he's FUCKING PISSED.

despite the fact that Izuku mainly produce is lewd and suggestive content in his cosplay, izuku rarely show his face in his photoshoot except only to his highest tier patreons. he often comes off as bold and confident on camera but irl izuku is a mess of anxiety and insecurity. heavily bullied growing up, he came to hate himself and his own skin bc he never felt good on it. his therapist suggested he start taking photos of himself daily to boost his confidence bc if he's able to take control of how he look and present himself to the world it's a first step.

it started small. just a casual selfie each day as soon as he wake up, no prep and no care. he just want to get it out of the way. then he started to rearrange outfits to go w/ his photos. he moved to posing next and then he bought an expansive camera just to take photo of himself. izuku's insecurity didn't get overcome overnight but lil by lil the boy in the photo blossomed from a gloomy unsmiling face to a handsome bright young man. that was how izuku fell in love w/ the camera and the boy in the photo bc he might not love himself yet but he love the *him* in those photos bc they don’t feel like it’s actually him.

once he got into it, he was hooked. he wanted to take better photos of himself, in outfits he normally doesn't wear (a lil more showy and skin), and in setting outside the walls of his bedroom. he wanted to look good bc it made him feel good about himself. it made him come alive. so he set himself up to learn everything that can help him get better photos of himself. like, he cant keep buying and reusing old clothes in his photo so he learned how to sew. and he knew nothing about how to do make up so he took to watching makeup tutorials!! izuku wasnt interest in styling or makeup previously but in the pursue of the perfect photo of himself he actively consumed every piece of knowledge that came his way. that's eventually how he stumbled upon momo's cosplay youtube chn, watching her tutorials on how she went from the start to finish with one of her more famous cosplays.

that vid opened up a whole new world for him, that there are ppl out there dedicating their time and energy into making elaborate costumes and props just to be someone else, something other than themselves and they were all so beautiful. at that moment izuku realized he could just be someone else for a change--boy, girl, monster, alien, animal, doesn't matter who it is as long as the person isn't him. it was ok. NOT THE MOST HEALTHIEST mentality but it worked for izuku. he followed all of momo's tutorials and started to get into cosplay. it was just something small to help him work on his anxiety and insecurity, but it warped into something that consume him bc cosplay empowered him to do more. TO BE BETTER. be brave in the way he doesn’t quite feel yet.

 it started as something mainly for himself and his battered self-confidence but one day momo made a comparison tweet about her earlier cosplay and her current one, how ppl improve everyday and that they shouldn't be afraid to push the envelope and try new things!!!! so izuku, feeling strangely brave for once, bit the bullet and post a single photo of himself in one of his selfmade costume of him in his now (INFAMOUS) bunny ears boy in short. his twitter had no post before the photo and he only followed momo's acc. it was completely barren.

he wasn't even anybody noticeable and momo had MILLIONS OF FOLLOWERS so izuku won't even register on her radar at all. he went to bed that night a lil happy w/ himself for being that brave but then he woke up the next day and his phone LITERALLY BLEW UP bc momo rtwted his photo.

now izuku's amateur photo got exposed to millions of ppl and gained several thousands new followers literally OVERNIGHT. izuku's nerves went haywire at the thought of everyone looking at his photo and seeing the cracks, his flaws, all over him. he couldn't bare the thought of ppl judging him but momo not only followed him but even said: "you looks so cute and sultry<333! wonderful cosplay work!" and the comments he received from her fans where all kind and encouraging and they want to MORE. izuku never felt so out of place and yet so strangely right where he should be.

this was his turning point. drumming up every drop of courage he has, he'd dm her and they started a friendship that launched izuku's career as pro cosplayer. w/ momo careful guiding hands, izuku learned the trade by a senior in the industry. the kinds of photo he take didn't start as uh, nsfw, but it kinda end up that way?? bc the photos he take are THE TOTAL OPPOSITE OF WHO HE IS—it makes him feel strong and confidence in a way that he doesn't always feel irl like the person in the photo is just a little braver to show a sliver of skin, to pose suggestively, and to make that kind of sultry face in front of the camera. THAT PERSON IS HIM BUT ALSO ISN’T HIM.

cosplay is similar to a theater, when izuku wears his costume he is shedding his own skin and donning a mask to be someone else. that person is the person he wishes he can be, the person he potentially can be if only a little bit. and w/ cosplay even if it's just a moment, just a flash of the camera and only in the photos he take, he can live on unafraid and untouched by reality of his anxiety and fears.

KATSUKI on the other hand started bc of mina. she was big on cosplay and harassed him to make her props for her bc he's v v clever w/ his hands and he likes making shit lol. the more demanding her request were he became the more obsessed to making it RIGHT AND PERFECT. he wanted to be an engineer bc nothing is cooler than building things and taking it apart. cosplay w/ all the things you have to create bc it doesn't exist anywhere else, so he has to start from scratch but he loves a good challenge. it's a great training ground of his career lol

he never intend to be part of MINA'S COSPLAY project but for her bday she requested that they collab and that he would appeared in a photoshoot w/ her. mina doesn't make bday's wish lightly so katsuki found himself cornered like trapped rat. he begrudgingly complied bc they been friends long enough that she can guilt trip him like NOBODY ELSE but katsuki can’t halfass it. if he's doing it, he's putting 10000% into this and be a fucking boss and OUTDO HER IN EVERY WAY so she can regret inviting him. so katsuki ofc picked the most elaborate, technically complicated, and time consuming cosplay. there were lights, electrical works, armor sets, etc, katsuki had to build them by hand to create it. he DEF show up her up at her own photoshoot and stunned every fucking person there.

for someone who has LITTLE TO NO INTEREST IN IT, katsuki went all in and more. ofc that photoshoot blew up on social media and ppl just hammer for more, wanting katsuki to make their costumes and props but he aint anyone's peons!! if he's going to put time and effort into making cool shit like this than he's only making it for his friends or himself. esp now that he saw how ridiculously hard and annoying it could be and that made him loves it all the more. so that's HOW KATSUKI GOT INTO COSPLAY.

after so many yrs of mina dragging him to cons to showoff his cosplay and w/ all the efforts he put into it, it always stunned the crowd. he even win awards after awards for his cosplay, firmly establishing his presence as one of the BEST IF NOT THE BEST IN the community!! so now he came to the biggest con of the year and is prepped for the show of his life. his costume is a dragon w/ glowing lights, functional mechanical wings that flap and even retract to his back!! it's kick ass and he poured hundreds of hours into it.

his legion of fans have been waiting for this project to bear fruit for months since the first sneak peak. the rumors churn around fandom that once again bakugou would place first again w/ his outstanding crazy out of this world dragon cosplay. nobody can top him, right????? when he arrives at the con w/ his new fucking showy cosplay, there as a blitzkrieg of photos ops and fan signing. everyone wanted to talk to him about his cosplay and then,,,,, someone SCREAMS DEKU and the next thing he knows he's left in the dust over some other cosplayer.

katsuki would be lying if he say he didn't know deku. deku w/ over 5 mills followers on twitter and 10 mils on instagrams, he's recognizable name in the community but for all the wrong reasons katsuki thinks venomously, deku who takes skanky photos of himself and call it cosplay bemismirching real hard works of other more serious cosplayers. it IRKS HIM SO MUCH that deku and his kind get the fame and recognition for wearing less, popping a collarbone and showing off his upper thigh in a photo and his fucking fans EAT THAT THIS RIGHT UP. fucking horny ass fuck ppl ruining everything and deku who catered to that shit.

while katsuki had spent months working super hard get this his dragon cosplay ABSOLUTELY PERFECT, nearly burnt his hands trying to get the wires correct, but all deku needed was put on some makeup, smile to the camera, and flashed his killer thighs and everybody THINK IT'S AMAZING. katsuki, in not one of his most brightest moment, decide to quote rtwt one of izuku's photos op w/ a comment: "you must have work reaaaaaal hard to look that good, huh. just making our community proud w/ that shitty ass effort." TO HIS 3 MILS FOLLOWERS bc he's an ass.

his followers immediately jumped on that tweet, blasting deku and his fanbase for calling it 'cosplay' but all it is is just deku w/ revealing clothes and in sexy costumes and OFC DEKU'S FANBASE DOESN'T GO DOWN QUIETLY, attacking back about their elitism and slutshaming. a war was started bc of a single tweet by katsuki who rarely keep his opinion to himself and he didn't know what he unleashed w/ that tweet. the majority of the community immediately side w/ katsuki who thinks that izuku shouldn't take all the attention from other hardworking cosplayer, blasting Izuku and his fans and all the other lewd cosplayers for not being *serious* enough but katsuki had no clue about it bc he just went there to vent and shut his phone after that bc otherwise he get so mad and break something if he think about it.

he got a competition to win!! which by everyone standard he's a shoe in to win first place again but just HIS FUCKING LUCK bc deku has the audacity to enter the same competition as him like he's gonna win at all?? in his skimpy boyshorts and bunny ears and FUCKING HUGE EYES AND RED CHEEKS AND, AND—. fuming, katsuki has every intention to destroy deku in the competition.

just before katsuki head off on stage for his number being call next, deku suddenly approaches him, eyes downcast and strangely shy in a way he didn't think deku who takes spread his thighs ON CAMERA, tells him with a tremble voice, "good luck, bakugou-san, im rooting for you!"

katsuki is kinda ?????!!! but he has no time to think about it bc it's his turn on stage and as soon as he step up, the crowd roars and he basked in the all their screams bc he knew he fucking got it. this is his stage, his world and deku is fucking dirt on the road. after he is done, he went offstage and waited for all the contestants finish and deku is apparently the last but the moment he on stage the crows is on their feet and clapping so loudly as though DEKU HAD ALREADY WON IT. they scream his names and lay their adoration at his feet.

for the first time in a v v v long time, katsuki felt unsure as though his first place wasn't a guarantee, but when it was time to announce the winner: it's his name that they call. which means all right in the world BUT lol deku is the one who won the audience's favorite award. katsuki won the judges' recognition but deku is the one whom the audience love the most and it's just hurt his ego so much bc he never lost anything in his life but this ??? fucking BRUTAL esp when deku is blushing as he hold his trophy but keep glancing at katsuki while at it.

after the contest end, katsuki broke away from his crowd of fans to stalked over izuku's own group, anger licking at his foot and his tongue sharpens for a battle. he is gonna end deku's entire fucking career right here and then.

just as katsuki makes his way through the crowd, he hears a soft and surprise, "ah, bakugou-san! congrats on your win!" deku says earnestly. "i knew you would win! your dragon cosplay is just out of this world and i'm just so floor , so can I-um, would you mind signing for me?"

katsuki stops. his brain freezes up and he lets out an intelligibility, "huh?" as deku stares up hopefully at him and his crowd of fans titters anxiously w/ worried whispers like they thought katsuki came to start a fight... which HE DID, but deku had surprised them all.

"i dont have a pen," he says, like a total IDIOT against deku's wide earnest eyes bc the image he has of deku doesn't MATCH at all with the sweet shy young man in front of him now. the deku he had seen was confident, sultry, and knows how to fuck you up w/ a curve of his lips but the deku he sees now is like a completely different person who doesn't seem as bold and daring as the deku who took a photo of himself in foamy bathwater and a teasing leg poking above the water that PROVOKED ALL KIND OF INCINERATING IMAGES. it's just--DOES NOT COMPUTE!! FUCK

"oh," deku replies, completely crestfallen like his heart is shattered bc of katsuki inability to acquire a pen. "but i-i, think i have something for you to use," he says, looking down at his chest and feels around for something it AS KATSUKI'S EYES BULGE OUT.

pulling out a pen tucked b/t his tight corset, deku looks on happily. "i got one!" and then hesitantly. "um if you don't mind."

katsuki just stares at him, not knowing if DEKU WAS FUCKING W/ HIM AT ALL OR is this actually real. like, is he that much of a fucking ditz and it's not like the fans DON'T HAVE A PEN but they're kinda too focus on watching this hilarious shitshow go down. some of them want to see katsuki blow up, others stand there protectively around izuku, but most just here for the drama after seeing the twitter fallout.

blankly, he just take the pen from deku. "where do i fucking sign?" he grunts.

"Um, my, um," deku goes bright red suddenly, "my chest--well i mean no wait, uh, my arm if that's okay with you? i didn't bring anything w/ me for you to sign. im so, so sorry for the inconvenience!"

katsuki can feel a headache coming on. "Are you fucking with me?!" he hisses. this is clearly some sort of a fucking joke. deku prob plan to set this up w/ his fans to mock katsuki. that lil shit.

deku's fans titters anxiously as deku's eyes widen shock hurt. "i wouldn't--!"

deku in his dolled up face, bunny ears, corset and fuckING TINY SHORTS w/ white fur linings meant to incite you and fuck w/ your heads but katsuki looks at deku's wounded eyes and he knows, somehow, he's FUCKED UP. this isn't the face of manipulative conman. he's fucking real.

katsuki sighs and drags a hand down his face in defeat. "fine," he says, and grabs deku by the arm to the gasping crowd. he quickly writes his name over deku's bicep as his other hand steady his brushstroke, fingers pressing down soft flesh and it sets off fireworks in his head. deku doesn't even move in the slightest, holding his breath the entire time as katsuki's finish writing his name. when he step back, deku looks at the writing on his arm and traces a finger over it, carefully and reverently.

YEA, katsuki thinks, he'd really, really fucked up.

katsuki isn't known for his mistakes, but even he now knows that he had deku wrong all along bc of his egoism and elitism, he'd almost destroyed deku w/ it. fuck, he messed up but, he's not just going to let that sit. he'll fix it. delete the tweet and apologize to deku.

first though gritting his teeth, he asks, "if you're not doing anything else now," stopping for a moment, he cringes at his pussy ass wording, IT DOESNT SOUND LIKE HIM AT ALL. HOW IS HE EVER THIS HESITANT. FUCK. he coughs and looks away. "walk with me around the con."

deku immediately lights up like a fucking lighthouse. katsuki's eyes are nearly blind with how incredibly happy he looks. "oh-oh, really? can i really go with you, bakugou-san?" he asks, excitement and worry warring on his face. "you won't mind right?"

katsuki huffs. "I fucking told you we're going together, why would i take it back then. im not some shithead that would go back on their words," he snaps.

for one fucking dizzying moment, deku's lips curve upward into a slow and blossoming smile and katsuki is knock breathless. he turns his head away, feeling a strange heat rising in his chest. fuck. this is not good, he thinks as he hurriedly walks off, leaving deku behind in rush. he hears deku yelling at his back to wait for him as his heel clicks and clicks in rapid succession trying to catch up.

katsuki slows his step enough for deku to finally be in line of him, who is a bit breathless having to run in his heels. "t-thank you," deku says, sounding grateful for the FACT THAT KATSUKI SLOW DOWN FOR HIM EVEN THOUGH KATSUKI IS THE IDIOT WHO RAN OFF IN THE FIRST PLACE.

Grimacing, "my fault," he grunts. it's not an outright apology but it's enough trigger another smile on deku's face. katsuki is starting to realize that deku is all nerves and hesitation but for every moment of boldness he manages to sum up and is rewarded for it, he's happy. it's such a small and insignificant thing to be happy about but deku takes it like they're gifts and abruptly all katsuki wants to do is be the one is give it to him.

they both go quiet as they continue move around the con, posing for photos and signing things for their fans. their hardcore group of of fans trail them from a careful distance. he recognizes the trouble but confused expression on deku's circle of fans and then there's katsuki's fan who are all looking at him like HE'S INSANE for shitting on deku one sec to now buddying up w/ him.

katsuki feels like he's insane too since meeting deku his emotions had been running amok on a cocktail of anger, confusion, and an undecipherable emotion he's afraid to give a name to. this is all deku's fault. but mostly it's him--his for being such a prejudiced asshole. if he didn't win that audience's favorite award is only bc he WASN'T GOOD ENOUGH not bc deku cheated his way to that win. if ppl like deku better it's bc deku is sweet and GENTLE AND GOOD and katsuki is an idiot for assuming what he wear and how he present himself say otherwise.

he thought mina had beaten these alpha male elitist preconceived notions out of him but the thought of losing to deku had hurt his pride and he lashed out in all the fucking wrong way like a total bludgeoning idiot. he's gonna have to apologize eventually. he knows it. one step a time though.

it's summer in tokyo which means it blistering hot so the AC been blasting nonstop at the con. katsuki with his punk dragon cosplay got his studded scaled jacket on and also he always run a lil hot so he doesnt feel it. deku next him though is trembling a little under the chilly air. he'd been touching himself more, hands running down his arm to warm up everytime they get a break b/t fanmeets and photos but the moment their fans arrive, his hands drop to his side and he put on a profession front.

after the fifth time it had happened, katsuki can feel the throbbing annoyance growing in the back of his head. "cold?" he says.

deku stops. "uh, no."

"so you're not cold in those clothes?" he asks, brows furrowing skeptically. "really? not even a lil bit?"

deku quickly shakes his head, looking down at his outfit. "this is my armor," he says, smiling softly. katsuki doesn't know what to think of those words but with the way deku have been more than sincere w/ him throughout their entire meeting he believes it, believes him.

katsuki frowns, running scenarios in his head and then says fuck it. he cast off his jacket and throws it at deku. "wear it," he orders. "i dont want you catching a fucking cold next to me or your rapid fans are gonna eat me alive." he shoot a glare at them for equal measure.

"oh," deku breathes, hush and so delighted that he's bleeding happiness. "thank you. you're so kind bakugou-san." he pulls the jacket over his body and it nearly swamp him with how big it is, but fuck deku in katsuki's jacket with bare legs poking through is a FUCKING MASS WEAPON.

He realizes in that heated moment why deku is so much beloved by his fans and it’s partly the long pale legs, the bright green eyes, constellation of freckles, and soft, coy smile but really it’s just plain old awkward deku that they all fell for.  He sees it all now, and bitter regrets for his past actions hit him like a goddamn truck and he want to knock some sense into his past self right now. Fucking damnit. If deku who smiles sweetly at him now and who think Katsuki is this amazing ,kind person before him realize what kind of ugly monster he had made of himself earlier on twitter against deku… then that smile will no longer turn toward him anymore and that somehow hurt more than the lost of his trophy.

[ofstarsandvibranium]

Meet the Family

Fandom: Star Wars (Modern AU)

Pairing: Hux x Filipina!Reader

As requested by anonymous:  Prim and Proper Hux dealing with a filipino family that asks him too many questions, embarasses their daughter and keeps giving him food even though he is more than full

Key:

M/N = mom’s name

D/N = dad’s name

G/N = grandma’s name

Translations:

lola - grandma

ate - older sister

nay - mom

tay - dad

bastos - rude

Filipina!Reader Inserts Masterlist

Now that your relationship with Hux was getting more serious, he insisted that he’d meet your family, which surprised you, honestly. You didn’t expect him to insist on such a thing. He didn’t seem like a family person due to his dwindling relationship with his own family. However, he knew how much your family meant to you, which is why he pushed to meet your family.

On the drive to your childhood home, you began to warn about your family. You had your parents, your auntie, two cousins, lola, and little brother all in one house. The house was always hustling and bustling and your family could be a bit....overwhelming. 

“Okay, so can you name off my family?” you asked Hux as he drove.

He nodded, “There’s your mother and father, your grandmother, Lola G/N and your Tita Belen. Then there’s your cousins Allison and Vincent. Lastly, your little brother, Mason. Am I right?”

You nodded excitedly, “Yup! Perfect! And don’t forget that when you greet my Lola, to take her hand and tap your forehead to the back of her hand.”

“Right, what does that mean again?”

“It’s called mano and it’s to bless your elders as a sign of respect.”

Hux let out an exhale, “Right. Got it. Bless Lola.”

You smiled proudly at Hux, “I’m really glad you’re so willing to meet my family, ‘Tij. Although, I feel like after meeting them, you might want to break up with me.”

Hux reached over and grabbed your hand, “Never, love. Nothing will push me away from you.” he then brought your hand to his lips, kissing your knuckles, which made you blush. 

Moments later, the car parked along the sidewalk of your old home. You gave one last glance at Hux, “You sure you wanna do this?”

He nodded, “Of course.” he then stepped out and rushed over to your side of the car, helping you out and closing the door behind you. You both walked up to the door, hand in hand, and rung the doorbell. 

You heard excited but muffled chatter behind the door. It swung open and Mason launched himself at you, “Ate!”

You caught him at the last moment, “Woah! Hey, Mason!” 

Still hugging you, your little brother looked up at you, “Why have you been gone for so long?”

You ran your hand through your sibling’s hair, “I’m sorry. I’ve been busy with work and well, him.” you pointed to Hux, who suddenly looked nervous.

Hux cleared his throat, and squat down to Mason’s height, “Hello, Mason. I’m Armitage.”

Your younger brother giggled, “That’s a funny name.”

Hux softly smiled, “It is, isn’t it. If you’d like, you can call me Hux. I’m fine with either.”

Mason nodded, “Okay, Hux.” he then took yours and Hux’s hands, “Now c’mon! Everyone’s waiting for you!” Once inside, Mason shut the door and ran off. 

Your cousins, Allison and Vincent, stood up from their place on the couch and went to hug you. 

“Hey! What’s up?!” you exclaimed hugging them. You then gestured to Hux, “This is Armitage. ‘Tij, these are my cousins Allison and Vince.”

Hux politely shook both of their hands, “It’s a pleasure to meet you both.”

Vince snickered, “I didn’t realize you were dating the next King of England, Y/N.”

You glared at your cousin, “Vince, don’t even start.”

Allison rolled her eyes, “He’s just getting started,” she then looked to Hux, “I apologize in advance for the asshole stuff my brother will say throughout the night.”

“Um, thank you?” he responded uncertainty.

She chuckled, “Anyway, everyone else is in the kitchen finishing up with cooking. I need to go set up the table.”

You then nodded to the direction of the kitchen, “Ready?”

“As I’ll ever be.”

You and Hux walked the short distance to the kitchen, as soon as you were in sight, there were squeals of excitement. The first one to greet you was your Tita Belen. She hugged you tight rocking you back and forth, “It’s been so long!” She then looked at Hux and hugged him too, startling him a bit, “I’m so happy to meet my future nephew!”

You looked at your tita in shock, “Tita!”

She looked at you as if it was nothing, “What? You said you were serious. Doesn’t that mean you’re getting married soon?”

You groaned, covering your face with your hands, “Tita, please!”

You mom then pushed her sister aside and hugged you tight, “It’s so good to see you, anak.”

You hugged her back, “Hi, nay.” 

Your mom then pulled away and looked up at Hux ‘cause, ya know, she was a small Filipino woman and he offered her a soft smile, “Good evening, Mrs. L/N. I’m Armitage Hux.” 

Your mom nodded, “Nice to meet you, Armitage. And please, call me Auntie M/N.” 

Hux looked at you to ensure it was okay and when he saw you give a slight nod, he looked back to your mom, “Of course, Auntie M/N.”

Up next was your dad, “Armitage, treating my daughter well?”

“Tay!” you exclaimed and he only smirked.

Hux chuckled, to your surprise, “So far, no complaints. i’m sure if she had a problem, she’d have spoken her mind by now.”

Your dad agreed, “Yes, she gets that from her mom. Always has something to say.”

“Alright. That’s enough.” you take Hux’s hand and bring him to the kitchen table where your lola sat waiting for you. You kissed her cheek and then blessed her hand, “Lola, this is my boyfriend, Armitage.”

Your lola gave Hux a smile and lifted her hand to him. He blessed her as well, “It’s lovely to meet you, Lola G/N.”

Her face scrunched up as she smiled, “Hello, Armitage. You are very handsome, like model.”

Hux chuckled, “Thank you, I have done some photoshoots for magazines. Although, I wouldn’t really call it modeling.” your lola continued to listen to Hux talk about himself, occasionally stopping him to ask questions or to clarify something. You were glad they were getting along. 

Your mother tapped you on the shoulder, “Help with the food, anak?” you nodded and grabbed the plates of food she gave you, and went over to the dining table to set up.

“So? Thoughts on him so far?” you asked your mom.

“He’s seems a bit stuck up.” 

You couldn’t help but laugh because 1) your mom really wasn’t afraid to express her thoughts, and 2) yes, Hux can appear and sometimes be stuck up, “Yeah, he’s like that sometimes, mostly in situations where he’s unsure on what to do. His father was very...harsh on him throughout his childhood, still is. But I’m sure he’ll become more comfortable throughout the night, just please, nay, don’t be too hard on him or intimidating.”

She scoffed, “Intimidating? Look at me! I’m a small Filipino woman and he’s a six foot ginger man! All proper and pretentious looking.”

“Nay!” you called out with a laugh.

You then hear movement and see Hux approaching the dining room, with his arm hooked around your lola’s, guiding her to a seat. He pulls out a chair and your lola thanks him as she sits down. 

You go up to him, “How’s it goin’?”

He sighed, “Good so far, I think. Lola G/N is very funny.” he said with a smile.

You nodded, “Yes, she is.” you bent down and hugged the older Filipino woman. She hugged you back, sniffing you and gave a content hum. 

Your dad then called everyone for dinner and within minutes, everyone sat around the dining table, filling up their plates. You took the courtesy of putting food on Hux’s plate while explaining what each dish was. There was bangus, garlic rice, pancit, and adobo. After a prayer of blessing the food and thanks, everyone dug in. 

You watched as Hux ate his food, waiting to see his reaction to every dish. He enjoyed the taste of every one, liking the flavour and savoriness. As you ate, your family, of course, asked Hux a bunch of questions: where does he work, what does he do, what are his hobbies. 

When Hux mentioned that he liked to play piano, Mason’s eyes lit up, “I’m learning to play piano!”

Hux shot him a smile, “Really? Would you like me to teach you a few songs?”

Mason happily nodded, then scooped a forkful of pancit into his mouth. Thankful that everything seemed to be going smoothly, you set your hand on Hux’s knee, staring at him fondly. To which he winked at you and then leaned over, kissing your lips.

“Eeeewww!” Mason exclaimed making everyone, including yourself, chuckle, Your mother hushed him then looked at Hux’s plate.

“Armitage, get more food.” she demanded rather than asked.

He shook his head, “Oh no, Auntie. I’m rather fu-”

“C’mon, Hux, eat more. You look like a stick!” Vince said, earning a pull of the ear by Tita Belen, “Ow! Nay!”

“Bastos! You be polite to him!” You and Allison smirked at each other.

The night ended and you and Hux were saying your good-byes to your family. Each member hugging Hux and thanking him for coming. When it came to Mason, Hux bent down to his level once again, “I’m sorry we didn’t have time for that piano lesson, but next time I come by, we’ll do it. i promise.” he held up his hand for a high five. Mason nodded and high fived Hux.

You kissed your parents one last time and waved good-bye as you walked to Hux’s car, hands filled with two bags of leftovers. You got into his car and sighed, “Well?”

“Your family is amazing. They’re so loving and funny. I wish I was able to experience that in my youth,” he said the last part sadly. 

You grabbed his hand, squeezing it gently, “Hey, we can be your family now.”

“And I’m happy you are.”

[kaleidopewrites]

The Nightclub Experience

Summary: You find out that Steve and your crush Bucky have never been to a nightclub. You decide to fix this fact

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Reader

Word Count: 4191

Warnings: reader gets roofied, bits of fluff, extroverted reader

A/N: Whoa, this one shot just kept going! It’s my longest one yet, lol. 

Please send requests, I’m sure people have better ideas than me :3

You slam your palms into the table, surprising the Avengers you were talking to, a feat rarely achieved. “You guys have never been to a nightclub?” You ask, voice rising with disbelief along with your eyebrows.

“(Y/N), they’re ninety,” Nat pointed out from the couch, lazily spread across the furniture but attentively listening. “That does not excuse them,” You huff, rising from the table to cross your arms over your chest. Steve and Bucky glanced at each other worriedly.

As the extravert you were, it was hard to understand why Steve and Bucky weren’t taking advantage of the new era, trying all the fascinating new things that separated the 40s from the 2000s. You’d been to plenty of nightclubs and knew it was your solemn duty to have the boys experience it.

You weren’t related to the Avengers at all. You weren’t some mutant, or a night vigilante that lost their parents or gained special powers. You were the local café’s finest coffee brewer. Being a waitress and barista, you didn’t expect to become friends with the Avengers. And yet, here you were.

It started with just Tony Stark. The café you worked at, loved to bits, was literally just outside Stark Tower, taking up the corner street with its delicious aroma and amazing view of the billionaire’s superhero ways.

Tony, when he didn’t want to make his own coffee, usually sent people down to the nearest café – your café – to get a coffee. It didn’t take him long to figure out he had found his ambrosia, his heaven in a to-go cup.

For a while, you both played tag. He’d show up, incognito, to your café and ask around, trying to find the angel responsible for the liquid gold he bought on a daily basis. But, whenever he did show up, you’d either be on break or not working that day entirely.

With a touch of expert hacking and constant surveillance, he finally found you and sent for you like a King asking for a servant. You remember being asked to deliver Tony’s coffee to him in the Tower, feeling intimidated by the building alone.

You had been walked inside and was chaperoned all the way up to the penthouse floors of the Tower and finally introduced to Stark. He was quirky and very flirtatious, but you dealt with that a lot working as a waitress. Tony was adorable, but certainly not your type.

Slowly but surely, he began introducing you to members of the Avengers, showing you off like a show pony or a war hero. Most of them were unsure of how you and Tony came to know each other but as soon as they tasted your potion, they were hooked.

Now, you’d rock up whenever you felt like it. During breaks you’d just walk over to the Tower, already known by first name from the workers and brought coffee to whomever was in the building at the time.

Tony invited you to constant parties, coming up with new and spectacular ways of how you both met. Your favourite tale, was how you were some sort of witchy vixen, casting a spell on the Avengers to make them like you.

You were yet to be arrested for witchcraft and attempting to assault the Avengers.

You’d eventually met Steve and, in turn, you met Bucky. Now, James Buchanan Barnes was certainly a man you’d swoon over, have been for some time. He was shy and slightly moody at first, always in sweatpants whenever you’d see him and with a small scold on his face, never giving you more than three words.

But the more you hung around him, the more he opened up. Plus, your amazing skills at brewing coffee helped things along. You’d talk about anything. Anything other than his past, other than bits of the forties, but you were happy just to hold a conversation with him.

Whenever he’d open his mouth, he was always talking about something smart, leading you to understand why he was such a science and art nerd. But you loved it to bits. You didn’t mind the random facts he’d ramble about, all this stuff he was fascinated in.

He would light up whenever he was comfortable. Normally, his shoulders were stiff as he attempted to fall between his bones and submerge into himself, desperately trying to disappear. But when it was just the two of you, you saw this bright, happy young man.

You’d watch as this new Bucky, this forties Bucky evolved before you. He’d raise his head, eyes not having to skim the room for threats. The shadows on his face would dissipate, bringing light to his skin and making his ruggedness look handsome and not fearful.

The bags under his eyes from countless sleepless nights would disappear for a while, as his cerulean eyes would twinkle like the ocean, making you swim and become lost amongst his iris’. His teeth were pearly and beautiful and one of those few features you rarely saw.

It was because of his smiles. At first, he would be a little hesitant. You’d struggle to get even a twitch of a smirk from him but it soon became easier. That twitch became a strong tug at the corners of his mouth, a ghost of a smirk playing on his slightly chapped pink lips.

And then that smirk pulled at his full lips, sometimes accompanied by a small chuckle that make your heart swell with success. Before long, the smirk became a full smile, brightening his features further like a sun rising from the horizon.

You always seemed to forget that he was once a big, scary assassin guy.

But all of that progress would disappear as soon as you were joined by someone else. It happened even with Steve. As soon as the two of you were joined by another presence, the brightness would darken and he’d sink back into himself.

Whatever he was talking about, whether it was some new internet discovery he made or a childhood memory, the conversation would fall as soon as someone walked into your area. He’d mumble the end of the sentence before falling into himself again.

And you had to start from scratch again.

It got easier every time, but you wished you never had to keep restarting. Steve was going through something similar, but not as effective as you were. Bucky and him would hang out just the two of them, and he’d be fine, until someone he wasn’t comfortable with entered the area.

You knew you had to give him time. He was a broken man trying to pick up the pieces of his soul, trying to figure out how to live with the memories he has, the scars he’s been forced to carry. But you hoped, one day, he could see you were trying to help.

“We’re going,” You nodded defiantly, making up your mind and sticking with it, determined to not let either 40s fossils disagree with you.

“To a nightclub?”

“Yep,”

“We’re too old for that,”

“Don’t you dare pull that card!”

“Look,” You sighed, sitting back in the chair opposite Bucky. “Just give it a shot. If you don’t like it, I won’t force you to stay more than, let’s say, ten minutes.”

The two super soldiers glanced at each other again, trying to see if they could challenge you on this. You appeared very determined and clearly weren’t going to go down without a fight. Steve sighed as he leaned back in his chair, lounging his arm across the table to drum his fingertips.

“No more than ten minutes?” He asked. “To the last millisecond. I swear on my mother,” You grin, trying to convey how serious you were. He looked to Bucky, silently asking him if he was okay with this. Bucky didn’t seem to make a noise of distaste, and instead turned to you. You could tell he was up for the experience. Steve shrugged, coming to his own decision with a hesitant smile.

“I guess we’re going to a nightclub,”

You were practically jumping with excitement as you stood in the common room of Stark Tower, dressed in ripped jeans, your neat boots and a flowy blouse. Your hair was curled back in ocean waves and you’d applied a little bit of makeup to make yourself feel extra pretty today.

Bucky was the first to walk out of the halls, adjusting the leather jacket on his shoulders before palming his hair back over his ears. He looked like he just walked out of a photoshoot and the sight took your breath away. He had shaven slightly, giving him that 5 o’clock shadow along his jawline that made your knees wobbly.

He looked up and spotted you, eyes widening slightly as his lips parted slightly. You hold out your arms swinging in a quick circle to show off your clothes. “You like?” You ask, posing dramatically to try and make him laugh but all he could do was stare at you.

“It’s not a formal event, but sometimes you gotta look gorgeous,” You giggle, regaining your posture as you mess with your hair. “Buck, are you okay?” You ask, worried when he hadn’t moved an inch. “Okay you’re kinda scaring me,”

“Right-o, are we ready?” Steve called, walking into the common room, making both you and Bucky jump at the sudden voice. The Captain looked between the pair of you two, watching as the brunette shied away for a moment, diverting his eyes from you.

“I guess we’re ready,” You mumble, giving Bucky a weird look before clearing it, beaming again.

“Onwards!”

You lead the boys from the Tower, opting to walk the lit up streets of New York, showing them the night life of the city. You talked more to Steve on your walk towards the club, Bucky opting to lag a few paces behind.

You smile at the bouncer at the door, flashing ID to let you inside, just like the boys. As soon as you stepped inside, you realised how much you missed being in nightclubs with friends. And now that you had returned to your nightlife, you wished you had invited more people along.

The boys were blown away by the loud music that vibrated their ears and the flashing lights that assaulted their eyes. With a beckon, you show them through the nightclub towards the bar, eager to get some alcohol in your system.

You watched as the boys stood next to you, Steve separating you from Bucky as they drank in the sight of the nightclub. Hundreds of people swarmed the dancefloor, dancing close to one another in hyper activity and all stages of drunk.

You couldn’t wait until you were in the centre of it, surrounded by Bucky and Steve and just letting the pounding music take control. You ordered a drink before wiggling between the two boys, linking your arms with theirs.

“What do you think?” You call, unable to wipe the smile from your face.

“I think my moves are a bit outdated,” Steve joked and you shake your head, hoping he wasn’t getting cold feet already.

“Ten minutes, remember?” You joke but Steve leaned down towards you, whispering in your ear, “I’m a little worried about Buck,”

You look up to the soldier beside you, seeing how stiff his muscles were as the various coloured lights bounced off his skin. He was eyeing the crowd carefully, unconsciously holding onto your linked arm a little tighter than before.

“Alright I’ll—Amanda?” You call, spotting someone familiar walking over to the bar. As soon as she saw you, her face lit up, rings on her fingers glittering in the light. “(Y/N)!” She shouted, running forwards to wrap her arms around you, effectively separating you from Bucky.

“What the hell are you doing here?” You both asked at the same time, followed quickly by a laugh. Amanda was a great girl, but she was far more extraverted than you were. She was one of those people who had hundreds of friends, but opted to hang out with the people who threw the bigger parties.

“I’m here for the club, what about you?”

“Educating these fellas,” You pointed to the two super soldiers flanking your sides. In the flashing lights, they could probably look menacing, that is, if Steve didn’t look like a lost puppy and Bucky didn’t look like a handsome recluse.

“Ooh, damn, since when do you hang out with hunks like these?” She joked, admiring Steve openly. Looks like she’s been here for a while, she seems a little tipsy.

“A lots changed since we hung out,” You say, trying to make it light-hearted but you couldn’t help the touch of repressed anger and frustration to filter through. She’d ditch you one too many times. Like you said, she’s a nice girl, she just doesn’t know how to properly keep friends.

“Oh, I, well you wouldn’t mind if I steal tall and blonde here, would you?” She asked, practically leaning against him. “That would be up to him,”

“I guess,” He mumbled, making Amanda wrap her arms around his arm, beaming as she attempted to drag him to the dancefloor.

“If she gets too much for you, tell her, her bra strap is showing. No matter what, it scares her off,” You quickly whispered to him before he was pulled away from you.

The bartender gave you your drink and you thanked him, having already paid for it before taking a long sip, smiling at the alcohol already warming your insides. You looked up to Bucky, watching as he moved closer to you to avoid a new group of people sitting at the bar.

“Buck,” You called to him but he looked down at you, a question already on his lips.

“Is it usually this loud in here?” He shouted over the music. You smile.

“Yeah, always. Listen, Buck, if you’re uncomfortable and you can’t handle it in here, it’s fine. Just let me know and we can leave,” Bucky looked down at you, looking like he was trying to dispel the nerves from his features.

“I’m fine,” He said before nodding to the crowd. “Come on, let’s go dance,” He offered. You quickly finish the drink in your hand before walking with him to the dancefloor. You worried for him. This was far different to any swing club or iHop he’s ever been to.

You start to dance with his hands in yours, hoping to coax him into a somewhat comfortable state. He kept his eyes trained on you, watching how you didn’t dance like the rest of the girls.

The other girls would smack their ass and hips against guys and sometimes other girls. The men who encouraged this action would thrust into them, making Bucky wonder if they were dancing or having sex.

But you didn’t dance like that. You didn’t act sexually or flirtatious and even if you did, you didn’t mean it. You bopped along with the crowd and the music, raising your hands to the sky or letting them rest against Bucky’s shoulders.

You wanted to show him that not all girls danced like sex-driven whores. You hoped your funny and happy dance moves invited him to dance just as comfortable, letting the music vibrate against his eardrums and push him into the same state of euphoria you usually felt dancing in nightclubs.

He didn’t usually have to worry about people making a move on you. Whenever an uninvited guest attempted to grind up against you, you’d kick them back, using a skill you’ve mastered from countless nights in the nightclub.

You pushed him back, shouting a string of profanities at him in an attempt to banish the party crasher. Bucky didn’t need to do anything but stand behind you, letting the shadows fill his face so he looked menacing. Not like he needed to, the guest was already fearful of you.

Just when he was beginning to loosen up, just when he was smiling and laughing and actually enjoying himself, you felt your knees weaken and you lost your balance for a second. You thought maybe you had just thrown yourself too hard with the music, but you were wrong.

The lights began to blur and the music soon blended together in an undistinguishable beat, your ears ringing uncomfortably. Your throat closed, your mouth drying suddenly as you held to Bucky’s shoulders, suddenly realising it was getting tough to breath. You’d heard stories about this happening to people.

You’d been roofied.

Bucky instantly noticed your change in state as you struggled to continue dancing, having to lean against him as your balance was seriously out of whack. He called your name but you couldn’t respond, you’d somehow managed to swallow your voice box.

You tried motioning to him that you needed air, that you needed to get out of the nightclub and probably to a hospital. You regretted not keeping a closer eye on your drink, having been a little too preoccupied with making sure Steve and Bucky were okay.

After several attempts, Bucky seemed to finally understand as you struggled to move any muscles, your last action was to fist his jacket in your hands. Over the continuous ringing in your ears, you could barely hear Bucky call for his best friend.

Your vision was cleared so you could see Steve, but you felt like you were trapped in your own body. You couldn’t speak, you couldn’t move, all you could do was hold onto Bucky tightly.

Bucky scooped you up in his arms, carrying you through the crowd of people out the door. The cold night air wasn’t enough to free you from the entrapment, but you were relieved nonetheless to have left the club.

Steve hailed a cab and you managed to hear them pick up the word hospital amongst their numerous discussions. Bucky slid the two of you into the back seat as Steve jumped into the passenger’s.

Your eyelids began to grow heavy as blinking became harder to resist. Bucky held you tightly against him, as if, should he let you go, you would shatter beneath his fingers. You wanted to comfort him, you wanted to hug him or speak. Heck, even a smile would do.

But you were barely keeping it awake. Bucky looked down at you after shouting at Steve, his eyes filled with concern, fear and worry. Your lips were parted, but you were attempting to smile at him, letting him know you were alright and everything would be fine.

You hoped your eyes were conveying your emotions, they were the last things you could control.

Your eyes lidded and the fear heightened in Bucky’s eyes as he watched you, lips twisting to accommodate shouting and swearing in the same sentences. He held your hand, holding it against his chest as he leaned over you.

You weren’t dying, you’d just been drugged. Why was he being so melodramatic?

Your eyes slipped shut again for a second and you knew you wouldn’t be awake by the time you reached the hospital. Putting all energy into your fingers, you felt them twitch against his shirt, nails dragging slightly against his chest in one last attempt of comfort before blacking out entirely.

The first thing that entered your awareness was the consistent beeping of a machine. Even in a hazy state you knew that was a machine from a hospital, tracking your heart-rate. You’d seen too many cheesy hospital shows not to know what the sound was.

You blinked as you managed to crack open an eye, the brightness blinding you for a moment as you started opening both eyes, blinking quickly to get them adjusted. Your whole body felt like lead and it was a struggle just to move your head to the side.

Bucky was lounging in a chair right next to your bed, eyes closed and face slightly relaxed as he silently slept. “He passed out a couple of hours ago,” Steve whispered on your other side and you slowly turned to him.

“H-How long have I… been out?” You ask, your throat tight and sore. Steve was watching you with fondness, looking relaxed but his eyes held all of his relief. “Almost two days. The roofie you had was strong,” He whispered, careful to not wake Bucky, who stirred for a second.

“How do you feel?” he asked. “Better than two days ago,” You joke with a croak, voice hoarse from a mixture of the drugs and a lack of use. Steve’s soft smile widened for a second before he rose. “I’ll let you and Bucky talk. He was a bit distraught,”

You move your head to look at him again, watching as his face began tensing. Steve had told you once how Bucky’s nightmares can sometimes leave him a little violent as soon as he woke up, so that must’ve been why he was there.

A hand closed around yours and Steve kissed the top of your head before walking off, closing the door defiantly to wake Bucky up from his sleep. He jumped for a second, eyes searching the room for any threats before he managed to settle back in his chair.

He ran a hand down his face tiredly, a yawn slightly echoing around the room. He finally turned to look at you, check up on you and was surprised to find your head tilted his way, eyes closed tiredly.

You had managed to doze off again, the drugs still partially in your system. But you woke again to the legs of a chair being moved across the floor and then Bucky’s scent filled your nose. You hummed happily, adjusting yourself to get comfortable again.

The air froze as Bucky realised that you moved. And hummed. You did something other than lay there still and sickly. “Bucky?” You called, arm twitching in a weak attempt to reach him.

Bucky was at your side instantly, sitting on the edge of the armchair with your hand protected with his own. You opened your eyes, not being suddenly blinded like before. You looked up at Bucky, who had bags under his eyes and looked a little grey.

You smile, trying to word a greeting but the word not reaching your lips. But the smile was enough as Bucky sighed with relief, hanging his head as his grip on your hand tightened. “You’re okay,”

“Of course, I’m okay,” You mumble, voice cracking. Bucky got up and grabbed a cup of water for you, helping you take a sip. You smile up at him gratefully, watching as he replaced the cup before adjusting the bed, allowing me to sit up.

“I’m sorry,” You mumble as Bucky takes up his seat, holding your hand. “No, doll, don’t be sorry,” He said.

“Buck,” He shook his head, raising your hand to press a soft kiss against the back of your knuckles. You smile up at him as you move your hand, using it to cup his cheek. He stood and sat on the bed next to you, his small smile falling slightly as his eyes darkened.

“I thought I lost you,” He whispered. “Buck,”

“No, really (Y/N), I seriously thought we wouldn’t be able to save you. Gone, and without me telling you how I felt,” He sighed, a blush darkening his cheeks as he attempted to look away.

“I really like you too, dingus,” You smile. Bucky smiled as well, before it broke out into a grin. Placing a hand next to your head for support, he leaned down slowly, your arm wrapping around his neck to pull him toward you.

He finally pressed his lips up against yours, his lips tasting of mint and coffee as his hand held your waist. You parted for a moment for air, your breaths mixing together in the close proximity before Bucky trailed his tongue along your lips, desperate for a deeper kiss.

You invite him in, moaning at his tongue wrapping around yours. His tongue retracted but you followed it, feeling the inside of his mouth before you too moved back, capturing his bottom lip between his teeth.

He grinned, a rumbled groan vibrating in his chest as he looked down at you.

“Oh shit!” Someone familiar called and you and Bucky jumped away quickly, rubbing at each other’s lips as blushes pooled onto your cheeks. Steve, Sam, Nat and a few other Avengers were just walking into the room when they caught the two of you.

You looked up at Bucky sheepishly, as he played with his lips, unable to stop them from tingling. “Since when did kissing become the cure for roofies?” Sam teased. “It’s called experimenting,” You say but can’t help but bite your lip tentatively.

You look up at Bucky, who’s looking down at you already, a soft look in his eyes, as if he doesn’t really mind that you were spotted. Your swoon had turned into a colossal fall and it seemed Bucky had fallen with you.

You didn’t miss Sam handing a fifty dollar note to Nat behind Steve’s back, though.

[blueyesandleatherjacket]

Wherever you will go

► Wherever you will go - Ninth Doctor/Rose Tyler. ► @legendslikestardust (Are you sure about this, transition) and @timepetalsprompts (Rose the lingerie model, The Doctor IS my home) prompts fulfilment. ► DW Verse, Mature. ► 2,146 words.

Rose Tyler had everything she needed to be happy in life. She was a famous model for an even more famous lingerie company. Everyone wanted her to work for them. They were offering her the best contracts with the best advantages and bonus, and her agent was picking the best offers for her. And that one definitely was the best. All the males were trying to draw her attention, and she liked all the looks on her, liked the fact they were drooling over her while she was parading on the catwalk in the next season’s underwear. She was swaying her hips just to feed their fantasies. They were all dreaming of a night with her, but she wouldn’t satisfy any of them. She was a model, not a prostitute. She only was a purveyor of dreams, she didn’t fulfil any. She walked out of that catwalk and reached the backstage area. All her co-workers applauded her and a dressing gown was wrapped around her shoulders. The parade was over. She had been the last one to walk on the catwalk. They had kept her for the end, for their last and best piece of work. Everyone was congratulating her as she was going to her dressing room to get changed. She smiled at them all before she closed the door behind her. She leant on it and closed her eyes, lightly sighing. She slipped out of the light clothes she was wearing and pulled on a simple T-shirt with jeans. She was barely twenty and loved the fashion of young people like her despite her being a very known model who worked for the big companies that were offering her clothes all the time. She went out of the building and signed some autographs and took pictures with fans. A taxi was waiting for her. She had a personal driver. Someone called John Smith. A tall brown-haired man with piercing blue eyes. He wasn’t really handsome with his big ears and weirdly shaped nose, but he was very polite, very respectful with her. It changed a lot from the behaviour her fans were sometimes having with her. They were treating her like an object they needed at all costs. They all wanted a piece of her. There always were extreme fanatics everywhere, and she had to deal with it. It was the bad side of the job. Thankfully, there were good people like Mr John Smith. He drove her home and stopped the car in the drive. “Here we are, miss Rose.” John got out of the car and opened her door. She stepped out of the taxi and hooked her arm around his. He closed the door and led her to the front door. He was always doing it. She remembered when he had started working for her four years ago. She was sixteen and everything was so new for her. She was so scared. She had asked him if he could accompany her back to the door. He did, and now he was doing it every time. It was reassuring her. She unlocked the door and turned on the light of the hall. “Wanna come in for a cup of tea, John?” “Are you sure about this, miss Rose?” His Northern accent was more pronounced when he was surprised. He usually was silent, only talking when it was necessary. But Rose loved his voice. It was soft and nice. Comforting. “I don’t mind at all. Working for you is a pleasure.” Rose thanked him. She tip-toed and kissed his cheek. He was even more surprised now. He took off his driver’s cap and followed her inside the house. Rose was living alone, and her home was nice. Nicer than his dull flat. He didn’t have anyone to go back to, and was avoiding going to his flat the most he could. Rose gave him a smile that warmed his heart. That’s how John spent a part of his night, sitting at Rose’s kitchen table, drinking tea, and talking – mostly listening actually – with the blonde. It was the best night he ever had in a while. He wanted it to last longer, but he was growing tired, and a yawn escaped him. “Oh, I’m sorry. I’m speaking, speaking and it’s getting late.” “It’s alright. No one is waiting for me.” “Oh.” The sadness she was showing was honest. She was feeling sad for the poor man who was overworking himself to be sure she was everywhere she had to be in time. She had plenty of friends now that she was famous but she remembered what it felt like to be alone, to suffer from the solitude. “Would you like to stay over tonight?” He looked up at her. He hadn’t expected that. He should have gone a few hours ago; but he was still there because it felt good for him to be with her. “My house is too big for only me. There’s a guest room upstairs. You can take it.” “Are you sure about this?” “I’m not letting you go with how tired you look.” John couldn’t refuse. Rose was being stubborn, and she always had the last word. He just sighed and followed her upstairs. It would be a nice change to be sleeping in a house that wasn’t empty for once. Even if that other person was the person he was working for. And that night, he fell asleep with a smile on his face. Rose felt relieved to have someone under her roof for the night. She sometimes wasn’t reassured to be home alone. The world was a scary place. So, knowing that John was there helped her sleeping peacefully. Well, almost. Since the last few days, her dreams were plagued with strange things. A blue box and aliens. A man in a leather jacket. That night was the same as usual. Traveling in the blue box with the man in leather. She never saw his face but she was always with him and having great moments. The Doctor, the man who kept running. Maybe she should write a book.

×

John was driving Rose to her photoshoot session a few days later. She hadn’t had any minute of rest since that night. Her mind had been preoccupied with the man in leather jacket. All her dreams were about him, about adventures they had, and she woke up more tired than ever. Sat at the back of the car, she yawned. John had already noticed that she looked exhausted when he had picked her up. He kept looking at her through the rear-view mirror. “You don’t look good, miss Tyler.” “’M just tired. Haven’t slept well lately.” “You should take holidays.” “And not having your comforting presence around me?” she joked. “Not for me.” John laughed, and it strangely sounded like the Doctor’s laugh. Rose was silent for a moment. They couldn’t be the same man. They were different. However, she had never seen the Doctor’s face. Maybe she was going crazy. Maybe the lack of sleep was driving her mad. She did her photoshoot, pushing her exhaustion away, but her mind was elsewhere, dreaming about planets and stars, about a blue box and an old alien. She was fully content with her life but she had the feeling that she could abandon it all just to live a life of adventures with the Doctor. The transition would perhaps be violent at first but she had the soul of an adventurer. She was ready to run for her life – somehow already did whenever fanatics or perverts were chasing her in the streets. Rose realised she was back in the car when someone beeped the honk and let out a few cursing words which caused John to grumble something. She jerked herself awake and stretched her body slowly. It caught John’s attention. He gave her a sorry smile through the rear-view mirror. “I’m sorry that woke you up. Some people just shouldn’t be allowed to drive.” “How long have I been sleeping?” “Oh, not so long. Your agent found you sleeping in your dressing room and ordered me to bring you back home.” “Can we stop somewhere for a coffee or something?” “Your wish is my command.” Rose smiled at John tiredly and lost herself in her thoughts while he was driving to the closest coffee shop he knew. He came out of the car and followed her inside to be sure she wouldn’t get into troubles. They sat down in the farthest corner, away from people, to sip their drinks. Rose didn’t speak much and it was worrying John, but he understood she was exhausted. Before they went back to the car, she made a stop to the loo. “Rose.” The cold voice surprised her and she turned around to face Mickey. Mickey Smith was her boyfriend when her career had started. They had never really broken up, but Rose had been too busy to see him again. She also had tried to get away from the Estates as much as she could. Only to be caught up with them in the end. “So that’s it? You’re coming back around, showing off your new toy?” “John? He’s my driver.” She could understand his anger. But she wouldn’t let him lash out on an innocent man who was only helping her. Mickey snorted. “John? That’s what he goes by now? Oh, wait, John Smith. Ordinary name. He’s pretending to be human?” “I don’t get it.” “You don’t… Are you kidding me?” He pinned her violently against the wall and fear overwhelmed her. That boy used to be so sweet, so gentle. What had happened to him? “His name’s the Doctor! Sarcastic alien with a stupid blue box! Is that coming back to your mind or are you too used to traveling with him to notice little humans anymore?” The Doctor. The blue box. How could Mickey know about that? New flashes crossed her mind. Memories of adventures and laughs. Memories of all the times she had observed the Doctor when he wasn’t looking. John, the Doctor, the same man. But how was it possible? “Get away from her!” John had come in and grabbed Mickey. He forced him to step back as far from Rose as possible while she stayed against the wall, her eyes closed. Mickey was staring at her angrily. “Are you alright, miss Rose?” “You can’t deny your roots anymore, Rose! You gotta come home, with me!” “The Doctor is my home!” she yelled suddenly. The memories were back now. She was no model lingerie, and John was no driver. She was Rose Tyler from the Powell Estates and he was the Doctor. He was adventure and danger, he was alien and odd, he was anger and passion, but he especially was the man who made her feel like home when he was standing by her side. Someone was tricking her mind to make her forget about him but it would never happen. She was stronger than that.

×

When she opened her eyes, Rose was laying on a bed in the med bay. The Doctor was standing at the top of her bed, his fingers on her temples. He looked rough and the shadow of a beard was covering his face. He obviously hadn’t had sleep in a while. She blinked a few times. She was confused. “I’m sorry.” His voice broke, and so did her heart. “They found you before I did. They tried to reboot you so they could use you against me. But you were too strong for them. You’ve locked your mind into a bubble. It was so hard to reach you. But I succeeded. Finally.” The words had blurted out of his mouth before she could ask any question. He collapsed on the chair close to her bed and rubbed his face. He had spent days in her mind, trying to pop the bubble the less dangerously possible, to get her back to reality. It had been nerve-wrecking for him, but also exhausting. Rose could see that their lives had been on the line so she stayed silent and made some room in the bed for him. “Are you sure about this?” “I’m gonna miss you calling me ‘miss Rose’,” she laughed weakly. He gave her a ‘don’t mock me’ look before he slipped off his boots and got into bed with her. She rolled on her side to curl up against him. She thanked him and kissed his cheek. He felt his hearts beating faster but he was too tired to say anything. He closed his eyes and slowly drifted off to sleep, reassured to have his blonde companion back to her home, back to him.