#Steve Rogers x Howard Stark

[sleeplessmidnight26]

New story!

Like Father Like Son

Steve Rogers is dating Tony Stark. He's just moved in with Tony recently and they're enjoying their relationship. But when someone from the past mysteriously time travels to them, things get complicated; and, Tony finds out just how alike he and his father are.

[thesebright-lights]

I honestly love Steve Rogers/Howard Stark as a pairing- mainly because it has so much potential for drama and angst (my favorite things).

Obviously Tony doesn’t like Steve at first because his dad was so obsessed with finding him that he let it get in the way of his family- what does he do when he realizes that Howard was in love with Steve the whole time? What if Steve can only see Tony as a reminder of Howard, and all that he lost? All that they could have had.

Eventually the tension results in a fight of some sort- lots of yelling, maybe some violence, depending on how you want it to play out. Eventually, though, I’d love it if they come to share an almost like, father-son relationship? Maybe that sounds weird, since I think Tony is biologically ten years older than Steve? I don’t know, its just a thought.

[marvelatrarepairsbigbang]

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[literaryavenger]

Pre-serum Steve, excitedly: I have a secret!!

Y/N, grinning: You're a woman trapped in a man's body?

Bucky, piling on: You're a men trapped in a woman's body?

Howard, looking out from the kitchen: You're a little boy trapped in a little girl's body?

Steve, exasperated: I am a man in a man's body!

Y/N, without missing a beat: we're not talking about your nightlife.

[chloe-skywalker]

Be Safe - Bucky Barnes

Bucky x Fem!Reader

Warnings: mention of Bucky losing his arm

Word count: 1,138

Summary: 1940’s - What if they found Bucky after the fall? What if HYDRA never took him?

Authors Note: Neat little idea I had and I LOVE it!

Masterlist

Avengers Masterlist

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“You promise that you’ll both be safe?” Y/n was worried about her boys. Y/n and Peggy were very similar in the way they fought alongside the men. But they weren’t allowed to go on every mission. When they couldn’t be there it made the two women more anxious. Peggy worried about Steve, and Y/n worried for her friend Steve, but mostly for her husband Bucky. Jame Buchanan Barnes. The love of her life.

“We’ll try.” Steve smiled at his lifelong friend.

“We’ll come back, doll.” Bucky stated reassuringly. He smiled at her and kissed her cheek. “Promise.”

“You can’t promise that.” Y/n wished she could just believe him but that's not how war works.

“I’ll come back to you, doll. I promise and I’ll bring this punk back with me.” Bucky rested his forehead to her’s, not a worry in his eyes. He truly believed the words he was telling her.

“We gotta go back.” Steve spoke up standing next to Peggy. Steve smiled at Y/n as the couple pulled apart. “Bye, y/n/n. We’ll be back soon.”

Peggy and Y/n stood next to each other as the two women watched their men leave. Y/n couldn’t help the feeling that something was gonna happen.

^     ^     ^

Y/n tired to keep busy, keep her mind off the fact that Bucky was in danger.

Luckily they came back before nightfall of the next day. Peggy and Y/n smiled as they saw Steve, knowing Bucky wouldn’t be far behind. But when Y/n saw him on a stretcher that's when her heart rate picked up drastically.

“Bucky?” Y/n said out loud in shock at his state before her eyes. “Oh my God.” she covered her mouth at the site of him missing his arm.

“He’s stable, okay? They're gonna help him.” Steve pulled y/n into him, comforting her the best he could. Steve held her tight hoping to calm her, knowing how scared she must be. Bucky was covered in blood and missing his arm.

“What happened Steve?” Y/n asked pulling back some to look up at the blonde. Peggy rested a comforting hand on Y/n’s shoulder. Y/n was trying to keep her emotions in check. Be strong but it was getting increasingly harder.

“He got shot out of a train. I-I couldn't grab him in time and he fell.” Steve stuttered as he explained, telling it just made it feel more real. Scarlier.

“It’s not your fault.” Y/n reached out to hold Steve’s hands tightly, trying to comfort him. Knowing Steve he was taking all the blame for Bucky being hurt.

“It feels like it.” Steve dropped into a nearby chair, putting his head into his hands.

Y/n sat beside him worried for Bucky as well, but also staying strong for Steve.

^    ^    ^

“Y/n?” Bucky said in a rough voice but loud enough for her to hear.

“Right here Bucky.” Y/n spoke up scooting closer to his bed. Bucky had been out of it for a couple days. They had transferred him to a hospital in the city back in brooklyn the morning after they got back to base. Y/n hadn’t left his side since.

“Where’s Steve?” Bucky asked, turning his head to look at his wife.

“He’s right outside.” She told him lifting his hand to her lips.

“He’s blaming himself isn’t he?” Bucky grimaced, feeling more pain the more he woke up.

“Yeah.” Y/n nodded sadly knowing Bucky doesn’t even blame him for what happened. But Steve doesn’t want to believe it.

“What do you remember?” Y/n questioned him, secretly hoping he didn’t remember to much of the traumatic accident.

“I remember being shot at and hanging off the side of the train. Then nothing.” He told her with a shake of his head and watery eyes.

Y/n explained to him what  Steve had to her in the last couple days of what exactly happened. There were lots of tears shed. Y/n had Steve come in when Bucky was ready. The two talked and Bucky tried to assure Steve there was nothing he could have done.

Bucky had to say in the hospital for a couple weeks but once he left Bucky and Y/n had gotten a call from Howard to come to his lab. So the couple headed to Stark’s  lab to find out that Howard had been hard at work making a bunch of different prosthetic arms for Bucky that were incredibly advanced. He wanted Bucky to be able to have finger control, and to possibly have feeling from the arm, so he could feel hot and cold and touch almost as if it had nerves.

“How’s it feel?” Howard asks, biting his thumb anxiously.

“Good. I can feel heat, cold, touch, just like you said.” Bucky nodded honestly, he was really impressed and immensely grateful. Grateful for everyone's support, and all their hard work to help him.

“Great! That was the goal.” Howard clapped with a huge smile. He felt relieved it had taken a lot of tries and hours to work it all out. But he wanted to give Bucky so normalcy back.

Howard walked away to give Bucky a moment.

Y/n walked closer to Bucky. “You okay?”

Y/n noticed Bucky’s demeanor had dropped once Howard walked away.

“Hmmmhmm.” He hummed not looking at her but at the metal arm now attached to him.

“Bucky I don’t want to push but you have to talk to me.” Y/n pleaded talking lowly so no one would hear her.

“Its not the same.” Bucky mumbled, sadness evident in his voice. He honestly didn’t expect it to be like his real arm, but still it was odd to feel things but feel them in a new way.

“It’ll never be the same. But at least it’s something and Howard is doing everything possible for it to be as much like your real arm as it possibly can be.” Y/n felt bad for him but knew he didn’t need pity. He needed support and someone to tell him the truth in a kind way.

“I know.” Bucky nodded knowing she was right. The arm was made out of the same metal as Steve’s shield, and it had a lot of features that wouldn’t be around for many many decades.

“I still love you. Arm or not my love for you will never change.” Y/n smiled, leaning up to kiss his lips lovingly, hoping to ease some of his insecurities that he is not used to having.

“I love you too. Thank you for sticking with me.” Bucky smiled at her, grateful to have her with him. Staying by his side through everything.

“Always.” Y/n promised. Nothing would separate them. Nothing.

Taglist:

@gruffle1 @padawancat97 @starkleila

[jackiequick]

What If Bucky Barnes saved a life that day? | MARVEL Fanfic

Pairing: Jason Grey Underwood & James ‘Bucky’ Barnes

Setting: Flashback to December 16, 1991

Summary: It was a old winter night when a crash happened that would swirl the weekend for a world wind, as both eyes met in the chaos of it all. Becoming a interesting sight of secretive events. An old memory coming back to life?

Characters mentioned: Howard Stark, Maira Stark, Tony Stark, Steve Rogers, Elizabeth Stark, Daniel Sousa and Peggy Carter

Marvel Au fanfic

Warning: Angsty fic with some fluff

———

Gravel crunches under the tires of the Rolls Royce as it trundles up the country road. The Winter Soldier peers through the scope and adjusts his grip, his finger ghosting over the trigger. He's been in position for hours, has watched his targets for over two weeks before this. He knows their routine.

Inside the car sat Howard driving as Maria chatted on the phone with Peggy and Jason trying to figure out a way to nap quietly. Tony was at home he refused to go and stay with his godmother Peggy Carter instead.

This is the first day of a long weekend in the Stark Family country estate. They were meant to meet some people there in the upcoming weeks.

But no one will think to look for them until at least Monday.

The Soldier takes careful aim. If he misses, he will have to eliminate his targets individually. This is much cleaner.

He fires.

With the silencer, the shot is noiseless, but the blown tire is not.

The expensive Rolls Royce had been on the final turn before a wide country driveway. It skids onto the soft shoulder, and flips on its side to slide down a steep ravine. Having the family gasping for air, shielding themselves for comfort and deeply coughing as the car takes a spinal shock.

Screaming and yelling were silence soon enough. Groans can be heard from Jason squeezing his eyes shut as a trickle of blood ran down his forehead and a few shards of glass scarred around him, his pain increased. He felt dizzy, nasty feeling twirling in his stomach and his airways feeling like they shut down for a moment.

Snapping in and out of consciousness at whimpering and soft yelling he recognized. However you could’ve sworn he was dead by his chest not puffing.

Carefully, the Soldier packs away his rifle and makes his way down the slope, dragging piles of dry brush behind him. No one will see the wreckage from the roadway.

The Soldier sees that the woman has been ejected from her seat. Maria Stark. She is dead. He mentally crosses her off his list.

Ripping away the car door from its hinges, he peers inside. Howard Stark trickle of blood coming from the corner of his mouth waking up in soft mumbling, alerting the others in the car.

Howard Stark opens his eyes, glances over an somewhat conscious Jason as he looks at the Soldier. There is no anger or fear in his gaze -- but something else. Something that gives the Soldier pause. This is not an expression he has seen from his targets before.

Jason’s eyes flickering open falling onto the Howard, before looking at The Solider in pain, trying to search for his gun under his seat.

He locked eyes with the Solider seeing right into his soul. His steel blue eyes deep in an unknown word he can’t trace. The pain behind the lifeless face he gave, pausing at their actions. He doesn’t pull his gun on him, one bit. It was unspoken line between both parties.

"Bucky," Howard muttered. His hands fumbling weakly at his seatbelt, but his gaze is unfocused and vague. Dying, Jason knows it. But he hears his friend say, "Don’t hurt my son if he’s next…”

The word rattles around in the Soldier's head for a few moments without purchase. Jason waits for him to make a move, trying to figure out what happened that his last breath hasn’t come. But nothing.

Howard however takes a battling breath, then his shoulders lower. He dies with his eyes half open.

His attention snaps back at his words, knowing he meant every word as Jason weakly kicked open the door. The Solider finished the job for him tugging him out of the car, scooping up the blondes hand in his. Both men locked eyes once again, confused about the quick actions.

He could snap his neck, pull a gun on him or something.

In the Soldier's pocket is a lighter -- the authorities will assume the fire sparked from the car crash and caught dry brush. The flames will cleanse all evidence he was here.

Bucky... don’t hurt my son if he’s next..

Finish the assignment, the Soldier thinks. However a part of himself couldn’t murder the blonde. He didn’t have it in him to do it. None of them would know. He wondered why the man didn’t say a word to him yet, just staring at him a glint of trouble in his eyes as he felt his hand.

Jason just he recognizes those blue eyes, allowing the man to grab his bicep now as the other was occupied by a handheld gun trying to comprehend why he wasn’t dead yet. Then it hit him, his target included him in the flesh with the dog tags around his neck or at least his wristwatch, for extra evidence of his job being completed.

His eyes wet as all he could do was follow the instructions the Solider—Bucky—gave him. Then he turns and walks into the forest with him. The Solider’s work is not complete. He will be expected to end him.

It's only then he realizes he doesn't want to. His memories felt like they were split in two when they reached a hotel. Jason told him before entering that they will need to straighten up they’re hair and clothes, coming up with a cover story to tell the recipients. Bucky refused to comment on the request but eventually gave in.

An odd couple who needed to stay the night and thankfully she brought it.

Once entering the hotel room, Bucky finally let go of his bicep not realizing he might’ve left a bruised on the blonde. The room was somewhat cozy with beds, the lights were deemed reasonable, tiny kitchen, table with chairs and a bathroom. His eyes flicker titled his heads getting a better look at the man who sat down in one of the chairs.

It rattled Bucky’s brain at the moment seeing him again in full lighting, having not seen him in the longest time. He hasn’t aged a day! It pained him as he watched his movements, trying to remember the night they met. It came in patches across the entire trip here. The memories.

That night and the morning afterwards. It stunning. His smile and glimpse of joy in his eyes.

Everyone dressed in their finest whites and browns laughing teasing one another across the room. But Bucky’s eyes stayed that weekend on the blonde man chuckling with his buddies sharing a beer. With Howard Stark.

His pals were having fun. So, all he wanted was some alone time with the man, ready to enjoy himself and he did.

His voice brought him back to the present day.

“You can take a seat, you know? Get comfortable. I’m not your handler or anything. You took me as your hostage tonight. And for what, Bucky?” He said, his tone was calming but slightly bruised feelings. Tired and hurt.

“Okay..” Bucky replies softly taking a seat, unzipping his suit a bit to allow himself to breathe, “…my mission seems to not be complete. I was expecting to end everyone in that car.”

“So why didn’t you? For the last half hour I have been trying to comprehend why you did pull the gun on me? We were in the forest, you could’ve done it..”

“Because I couldn’t. The look in both of your eyes…I didn’t’ want to. Why didn’t you defend yourself, hmm? The whole time you were silent.”

“I couldn’t defend myself assuming your actions, so I waited for you to make your decision. Now your keeping me safe, why?”

“I don’t know..”

“Yes you do. You don’t remember right? But when my—Howard said your name…you paused. I saw a look in your eyes, you regret it. You heard what he said about his son and you paused. Then looked at me.”

They locked eyes again. Jason hitched a breath, his eyes scanning every feature his face. The look of confused as if he wanted to admit something but couldn’t due to his orders. But he didn’t need to know why he murdered, the only other man to look at with such kindness and the women who took him into her heart with so much love.

The dead know everything. He would just have to accept that one day, but that didn’t mean he decided to not get a swing at Bucky for his actions. He just needed some satisfaction, some answer. By the second swing to the face, his body crumbled in pain from accident. The brunette guided him back to his seat holding his wrist.

He glared feeling weak as he looked up at Bucky again. Some urgency in his face to tell him. Both men knew it. It was silent. It was only then Bucky’s mouth opened and shut, hesitate to say it even though both men knew it all too well. He remembers all of it.

~~~~~

Hours came and went. Jason went on to take a shower after Bucky did. It was a kind offer. It was his only time to actually think.

He was flabbergasted at the sight standing underneath the water that fit his face. In that room held the face of the man he didn’t expect to see. He remember it all too well.

That weekend after that mission, he just met Howard thinking he would never see that man ever again in his life. But he was very wrong! Jason had tears in his eyes missing him so badly, the smell of his cologne still in his nose.

He remembered Howard and him being brought up to a bar. The 107th and 106th gang was there. He was talking with his buddies, along with Howard who was more interested in the bartender. She was hot.

But his eyes fell onto the one of prettiest brunette around. Sergeant Barnes.

Hell he would’ve dated him.

Honestly Jason always had a thing for brunettes since he had Howard and Violet but he loved Angie more than his life itself. As well as his darling Maria, he loved her so much.

Damn the respect people, including himself had for that man.

He remembered both men chatting afterwards enjoying each other’s company. Laughing and teasing one another every once in a while. He looked at him with such kindness and respect. It felt good.

Then he remembered the words that kickstarted the rest of the night and morning after.

Hey, Barnes stole a jeep! Yelled Howard so loudly half of bar heard it.

Next thing he remembered was all three of them riding across the streets, dropping the genius off once he saw the bartender from earlier clocked out, leading him and Barnes alone. The two rode off into the night, passing through street lights and stores glancing over at each other every so often. It felt like a breath of fresh air, laughing the whole time.

They talked about life after the way, family they were waiting for them, and hopefully new opportunities to take upon once it all over. Seeing each other again and heading to vacation for a while. He asked Bucky if he had a lady waiting for him at home and his response was a simple no. Jason remembered his eyes perk up hearing that teasing him on any lady would love to have him.

He remembered the jeep coming to a stop near a park bench on a high hill. Nobody around, just pure sliver dollar silence as the cloudy skies cleared up to reveal the moon and stars. The smell of the flowers and air as he followed the brunette up the hill, sliding over to seat next to him at the benchmark and nice autumn breeze that blew past them.

The way Bucky teased him asking if he had a chance with a girl. His reply was a honest, ‘No, i don’t know if i will settle anytime soon.’

‘Why not?’ Was his response with a smile.

‘I feel like I forgot what normal is meant to be.’

‘I get that. I feel like I didn’t really know how to live before.’

‘Hmm. Maybe, we shouldn’t settle for normal.’

The next morning. It was a sight to see. The sun was coming up, the orange light turned the field into liquid gold shining down on both men. Bucky’s head rested on his shoulder as his hand placed on his shoulder snoring softy. His own head nuzzled against the brunette humming in his sleep, waking up as the sun hit his eyes.

Jason smiled at the memories.

Since it was weekend full with sightseeing, training with his pal and meeting new ones. Sneaking off with Bucky and Howard to the stores then heading off to the restaurants for a quick bite. It was a delightful surprise how comfortable he felt about Barnes, the sweet warm in his eyes and the charming smile that he portrayed everywhere they went.

———

But now in that very room sat the brunette with longer hair, deep blue eyes and a body language that said an unknown things. He barley cracked smiled however he remembered it all. The memories that were made and he actions he took.

To anyone who knew Bucky Barnes, would say he was a bit of a distant distraction from the normal life. He dated plenty of men and women in his time. Always had a thing for people with a respectable background. Something he would come to apparently appreciate in the future.

His mind flew back to that weekend with Underwood. The laughter they shared, the drinks, the running from the bar onto the jeep that night and the hopes to see one another again.

Bucky even gave the man his number and a cheeky wink before he took off to return fight the war.

But he didn’t get the chance to call him. Or even received a phone call since he fell off that train…

The last thing he remembered before waking up to that laboratory full of scientists was dreaming about that weekend. That smile and laughter that escaped Jason’s lips. The grin he gave everyone and the wink he returned to the night.

God! If he wasn’t in this situation, he would run over to the blonde and tell him everything he knew.

But he couldn’t. He shouldn’t. He spared his heart by letting him live.

Bucky Barnes cared way too much to murder the man who gave him, a lifetime of memories.

He felt stupid.

But he shouldn’t. He deserved to smile. To see the man he cared for again.

“Bucky..?” Asked the blonde, coming out of the shower with wet hair and a white t-shirt giving him, a gentle smile.

“Hmm.” He responded, sucking a breath flickering his eyesight towards him.

“What’s going on that pretty little head of yours? You can tell me..”

“I um..you won’t like what you hear…i can’t..sorry.”

“I can tell enough. Your working for the other side against your will..you’ve been manipulated by them. I don’t know why you killed my..doesn’t matter.”

“…did you love ‘em?”

“Yeah..with all my heart..”

“I’m sorry..I’m so sorry.”

Bucky stood up, he wanted to run. He tried to escape the room, his hand was on doorknob as his voice hitched. He was tired. Annoyed. Sad. Hurt. He looked over his shoulder to look back at the blonde.

The kindness in his eyes. He paused, letting go on the handle as he turned around to face the man. His head dropped in sorrow, facing the floor as he felt light fingertips crawl up his chin, lifting his head to meet the green eyes. Bucky wouldn’t admit it but he missed the starving touch of someone’s warmth against his cold face.

That comforting gaze that would soften his cheeks.

His blue eyes met the green eyes once again. He wanted to let his shoulders fall but he feared it would show weakness. He wanted to let out a sob, but he feared he would let his guard down. But he wasn’t with anyone who would hurt him.

He hoped that Jason wouldn’t try to hurt him, yeah sure he killed his friend however, he could see something else in his face. Sorrow and compassion. Comfort. He was in a vulnerable position.

They both were.

Jason didn’t think he would admit the words that slipped his lips but they did.

“I’m not gonna hurt..i can’t blame you for what you did. It wasn’t your fault. You hear me Bucky? It wasn’t your fault...i just missed your voice..i wish i gotten your call..” The blonde admitted with a soft gaze.

He needed to hear those words.

The brunette shoulders finally fell as his guard fell down, tears slowly shaking down his cheeks. He wouldn’t expect forgiveness for what he did, but he gotten caught up in a tingled mess. Bucky’s head fell onto Jason’s shoulder as the blonde run a hand across his back, whispering softly to his ear that he wasn’t his fault.

Never was his fault. It was a guilt they would be have to carryover until the end of time.

He’s not the villain here, he’s the victim of a crime scene. He didn’t want to do it, but he knew the whole mission had to be done.

And now, here he stood in the arms of the man who showed him some kind of love. Compassion. Reassuring words. Kindness towards him after all the mistakes he did.

He wasn’t in stupid Russia. He was in the arms of someone who treated him like a human. Not a weapon to be experienced with.

“I missed you so many times…” Jason told him, his feelings were hurt but his heart was beating quickly for the brunette in front of him.

Feeling that reached up to the surface again after years of forgetting that heartbreak. It was a weakness inside him, when he looked at someone like Bucky Barnes.

Love? Was it some kind of love? Lust?

Possibly. It was a single weekend they both shared but it felt good. Freeing from the issues the world has been facing. A war.

Bucky eyes were pooled as a sob reckoned his body, he crumbled into Jason’s arms. He remembers the warmth and kindness theses are showed him that late night.

All he wanted now, was to faced him and beg for the blonde to help him with the hidden wound he tried to patch up eariler but failed to do so. However he knew he didn’t need to beg for help, he was already getting it. He was allowed to let his guard down for once in a long time.

It felt good, real good.

“J..JJ..I’m sorry.. I’m so sorry for what I did.” Bucky admitted with a chocked sob, “I didn’t expect to see you again after all theses years..and I have to return back soon…but I don’t want to..”

“I know you don’t…I know you have to return but when you do, I want to know that you survived so long and I’m proud of you. You did the hard part and one day you will get a better break..” Jason told him, trying to find the words to express how he felt.

“When..?”

“I don’t know when or how you will get a chance to breathe again but you will Bucky, all I could hope is for you to be happy one day...and for now, I’m going to give you one.”

“Huh? JJ I can’t let you do that..I’m already in so much trouble soon..”

“Let me fix your wound..like I used to?”

“I’ll like that…uh, are you okay?”

“I will be..”

Jason gently guided Bucky to the edge of the bed, waiting for him remove his jacket so he saw the badly cleaned wound. He found a first aid kit and started to clean it correctly, with such ease and gentleness asking if it stings every so often. Bucky started to smile down at the blonde who cleaned his wounds. He noticed the cuts and bruises on his face and arms.

Bucky winced as he softly muttered, “Sorry…”

“Don’t be..I’ve been though worse.” Jason said with a soft smile.

“You got better at this..”

“Yeah well, with the plenty of injuries I kinda had to..”

“You’ve been injured before?”

“Fights and missions in my own line of business..”

“How are you still alive?”

“Same as you, my body is frozen in time. But that’s a story for another time…”

“…are you uh, married? Kids?”

“Oh? Um, no. I couldn’t find anyone who could deal with my burdens. I mean I loved and lost before but i wouldn’t want anyone to suffer a lie that isn’t theirs..”

“Do i wanna ask?”

“I think it’s best not to. I mean, I’m not asking for anything about your line of work or lifestyle. We don’t need to talk about it.”

“Where are you going after this?”

“I uh, don’t know yet..I need to keep the wounds on and build another cover story. But I’ll figure it out later..”

“And now?”

This time, Jason looked up with a soft smile once he finished cleaning and patching him up correctly, as he shrugged. His green eyes burden so much hurt, love and confusion that carried so much depth behind that. Bucky would’ve loved to take that away, anyone would have given him a chance to breath during this time.

He doesn’t know what he did to describe or even deserve this one thing from him.

But sure as hell he was grateful for it.

“Do you ever…wonder what life would’ve been like if none of this ever…uh..um, happened?” Bucky asked, sounding kinda stupid the way his words slurred, “.. I would’ve loved to hang out with our buddies a lot more and date around..”

“Well I would’ve been married, with a kid or two..we would’ve lived closed by to your house..” Jason said with a small smile taking a few pauses as he thought, “…maybe you and me would sneak off for a night at the bar..”

“…I would’ve married Dot..god I loved her..and you would’ve gotten Angie..that was her name, right? I remember her eyeing you a lot..”

“Yeah, Angie Martinelli..I loved her way before I knew she would’ve been friends with Peggy Carter..but times change.”

“You haven’t..”

“You can say that…”

“What about us? If I wasn’t Hydra…where d-did you work after the war?”

“Uh, the SSR..now it’s SHIELD..you would’ve loved it. Hell, I think you would’ve loved Elizabeth.”

A smile crept up Bucky’s lips at the reminder of Elizabeth Stark’s name.

She was smart, sweet as candy, gorgeous, a wildcard and a total badass in his eyes. He got flashes of her face and the moment they met after he was rescued by the others. She was one of the most beautiful and kindness ladies he ever met, greeting each other with so much respect.

She teased him about a dates and he gave her his number. As they were spending night just chatting on the phone at hotels and campsites available for calls. He remembered promising another date before the war ended.

But never did live up to that promise. He hoped she was alright.

Jason noticed the look on his face and gave him a gentle smile, “Hey..it’s alright. We all miss her.. and i know you did the best you could do with the time we had in the war..”

“I know..I know..sometimes I wish I didn’t fall into the woods and that I held onto that railing…but it wasn’t my intention for any of it..it never was. I had a clear goal that day and it got turned into something else…I’m sorry for everything..” Bucky admitted looking down for a moment.

“It wasn’t your fault, okay? None of us could’ve predicted any of this to happen to our lives..but we are surviving and that’s all we can do..”

“I can only imagine what you’ve seen and been though over all theses years..”

“Don’t worry about me..I can handle it…or so I hope I can….what else do you remember?”

“A lot of it..sometimes it comes in flashes..”

“Such as?”

“…this blonde haired man..tall..blue eyes..”

“Ohh..”

“There was a old knock off comic book, I saw it a few days ago…Captain America, I think it is was?”

“Yeah, a lot of countries and states still sell them…and? You remember anything..?”

“I um..I know him, I think i do? I know I do…who is he?..Rogers…”

“...he was your best friend, Bucky…Steve Rogers.”

The name rattled in Bucky’s brain for a few short minutes as he stayed silent. Searching his eyes waiting for a sign as he stayed biting his bottom lip, sniffling trying to remember.

He remembers it. The face, the name, and the sound of his voice.

His best friend til the end of the line…

Jason took out his wallet, rummaging though the brown leather until he pulled out a small picture. A tiny one of the night at the bar that a photographer grabbed. He handed it to Bucky, as his fingers crossed the old photograph as his eyesight got blurry. Fresh tears came rolling in.

“Steve.” The brunette muttered, as the flashes of memories came back better than ever, like someone clicked the undo button.

“You have this?” Bucky asked mumbling about the picture in his hand.

Jason nods, “I like to keep old photographs in my wallet..that one was supposed to be for Peggy, uh Carter, to keep..she wanted it framed.”

“He looks..i look..oh god Steve..how could i—? How could I forget his face of all people?”

“It’s not your fault. HYDRA..they did it. They don’t want you to remember of this, because they know something might happen..”

“…did they ever take you..?”

“They tried. Once. In the 40s, a lot of Russian men and women. They kidnapped me during a mission..they almost wiped my mind..i mean, they kinda did..”

“..you don’t remember a lot either?”

“Some memories came and went..just like you, the situation it feels a little fuzzy. But I’m okay. We’re both okay…do you remember anything about Steve?”

“I remember a lot..before and after the war when i fell, I remember the memories of him..”

Bucky had a look in his eyes as if he’s reliving a memory. He let out a light chuckle and sniffled, “..he’s a little punk. I told him to not do anything stupid…”

Jason just watched Bucky in that moment. He didn’t say a word. Just listen to him as he mumbled and muttered softly with a light smile at his memories. A look in his eyes seemed to return as he watch him.

Some lightning of gentle glee in the brunette’s eyes as he talked, running his fingers crossed his long brown hair and catching the other man’s eyes every now and then.

“..do you remember your full name..?” The blonde asked softly, after being silent for so long leaning against the bed.

“Mhmm…more or less..i don’t like it..” The brunette admitted, matching his soft tone.

“..James Barnes..I always liked Bucky better..”

“..i think i was a good friend, right? I was good enough that it became my nickname..?”

“Well, I remember you did say that Steve gave you that nickname when you were kids..so i think you were a great friend..”

“..and was i good to you?..am i good to you?”

“What do you think?”

“..i think i was good to you?..i hurt you though..i hurt a lot of people’s feelings..i know it..”

“It wasn’t you. I can’t blame you, for hurting me or those people..”

“..why are you so good..to me? The world has been cruel to me..”

The blonde gave him a small smile, tugging some hair out of his face for a second and let out of a breath before standing up. Jason knew why he was good to Bucky Barnes. The world is a cruel place fulled with cruel people and niceness isn’t something everyone gets. He should know.

In his eyes, the brunette deserves some kindness and attention after everything.

“The world is cruel and hard and if it sees any bit of light..it will crushes it. And you deserve a chance to feel cared for, not be seen as a weapon. Or an experiment..” Jason said with a soft gaze.

His words meant more than he lead on.

“It sounds like your talking from experience..” Bucky replies, fumbling with his sleeves.

“I sorta am. And how i seen it, your more than what they made you to be.”

“You know…your the only thing that makes sense right now to me..thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

———

The rest of the night went as follows. The silence of fallen snow along with the sound of plates clanging together then dropped into the small sink. They were able to get food and water from the hotel, and able to find some form of entertainment on TV.

Hell, they found some extra clothing left in a closet to borrow for some time.

Both of them stayed in comfortable silence, giving all smiles and having conversations.

It was late. Very late into the night when tiredness started to take fold. It was mostly Jason who was tired, trying to nurse a tiny headache meanwhile Bucky was just resting his head on a pillow.

“You should rest..” Bucky said softly, resting his head against his curled in arms.

“You first.” Jason replied with a soft tease in his voice, looking over his shoulder.

“Hilarious..at least take a nap.”

“I’m fine..”

“What’s wrong?”

“Should i be the one to ask you that?”

“Jason. What’s going on?”

“..how can i rest knowing what i know now..? I’m not mad about anything, just sad and tired..surprised.”

“Why?”

“It’s Christmas time, Bucky. I lost a lot my friend beforehand..my nephew hates his father..and some others are god knows where..”

“..i’m sorry. It’s my fault your gone..they’re gone.”

“No it’s not..our Christmas was already a messy one, before you showed up..no one really cares about the holiday too much anymore.”

“So i sorta saved your Christmas?”

“I guess you did.”

Both men let out a small chuckle at the last comment. It was the holiday season and here they are in the mist of it all, hiding out til morning or early afternoon. It wasn’t so bad, per say since they weren’t alone in the slightest bit but they would’ve liked it to be in better circumstances. Jason knew he wasn’t gonna enjoy this holiday season as much as he used to, and seeing Bucky was a surprise to say the least.

But a serious secret he would have to keep, like other things he kept secret from the world.

He knew he would have to return back home soon, change his whole identity once again and transfer any information onto new documents, like he did every December reach the end of a decade.

Bucky watched him, move across the room to reach forward and grab a few dusty books from the small group of shelves. It confused Bucky onto what he was he doing, seeing the man pick up a napkin and a pencil. He watched him scramble and scribble onto the napkin, crossing things down as he went. He justified his own actions against the questions he had, leaning over to get a closer look at the actions Jason silently took.

It made him wonder how much times he did this in pure silence as the TV played as background noise. His bets were 15 times a day, once every couple of months? He saw titles of different types being scripted on the napkin, but it wasn’t clear to him because of subtle it was written, where it look like a small riddle or rhyme in a children’s book.

He watched Jason pick up on the paused that he made, looking over at the TV Christmas movie that was set up on the screen.

“What aren’t you telling me?” Bucky muttered, turning the volume of the movie up to an 8.

“Hm?” Jason answered, resting book against the bedside table.

“The napkin. The books. You look like a mad man.”

“Hilarious, Barnes. I’m just tinkering with something, a new theme..”

“N-new theme?”

“Uh, new alias, I guess..”

“Walk me through this, for I can understand what you mean..because I think I get it.”

“You were sent to murder Mr and Mrs. Stark, not knowing they would have an extra passenger seated in the back, right?”

“HYDRA assumed that Stark would have a party or something following him to his drive but they didn’t confirm that being the case. They want anyone who was in the car, as witnesses or something to be dead..you were there.”

“Exactly. I was there, they didn’t even bother to confirm if Stark would have another passenger there like his son or his best friends. But they want evidence of the murder, you shot the sirens and cameras right?”

Bucky gave him a look as if he was stupid or something, of course he shot the cameras. Jason cleared his throat after that look he received, getting his answer. That was also when Bucky realized what he means and where he’s getting at. A new cover story, an alias and everything after tonight. It made him wonder how many times has he done this routine before.

Bucky sighed, “I see what you’re doing. I get it, I do and you won’t tell me anything about the alias to keep you safe..for HYDRA doesn’t ask me question, they might as well wipe my mind after this mission is over..”

“Hm, yeah. I’ve done this before and I’ll do it a million times over.” Jason repiled, handing the brunette an old school pin from his jacket marked with dried up blood and sighed, “This is mine.”

“What the hell is this?”

“Old school SSR pin, every single agent had one. Howard had copy in his jacket pocket that you didn’t take, they won’t know the difference between the signs of the pin, that’s your evidence.”

“Ja-I can’t take it. It’s yours..it’s evidence but still..”

“They might want evidence, Bucky. I won’t need it, not where I’m going. I have everything else at home..I’m glad Howard died with his pin in his pocket, it meant he created everything he could for the organization’s future and I would have to return back to SHIELD without mine..”

“You’re an idiot. They will know you don’t have yours, won’t they?”

He shook his head this time, he had that one covered. With all the years he lived, he made sure he had a copy of everything he could possibly own and could be used for travel tucked away in a small area at his house. Certain items stayed within that box and others were thrown away, to not stir any controversy over him. Jason wasn’t that stupid.

It made Bucky wonder however, if he didn’t murder Jason Underwood allegedly since it seemed like that name died for the public a long time ago, then what alias did he take down within that flamed car earlier? It was better he didn’t know that particular name until later, when asked. He just nodded instead with a soft sigh.

The rest of the night was spend a rather sleepless one, due to Bucky wondering and reloading his equipment, packing up everything needed to return back to work soon. Meanwhile Jason stayed sat on the bed, trying to rematch up his own wounds and rewrite in his mind the way to get back home without any deep questions. His cover was the easiest part, he was badly hurt which was truth and wasn’t thinking straight due to having an unlimited amount of time.

His mind ran across to only responsive person he knew who would grab him what was needed was Daniel Sousa, no questions asked, without Peggy on his back door for too long pondering what happened.

Bucky was half asleep, his head rested on the pillow with a soft smile watching the blonde chuckling softly to himself. Jason was resting in his bed with his hands behind his head, staring at the ceiling humming a soft tune as his eyes glanced over at the brunette who was staring right at him. His piercing blue eyes connected with his green ones in a shimmer of the bedroom lights. If it wasn’t for the night he wouldn’t have blushed more easily as he should have.

“What? Can’t find the confidence to look me in the eyes, Underwood?” Bucky said with a grin, chuckling as he let out a sigh he didn’t realize he was holding. He might as well be flirting.

“Watch it, Barnes. Last person who looked at me that way, i ended up on a hill in France.” Jason added shaking his head, returning the effortlessly warm grin.

“Ohh who was the lucky one?”

“You know who. For someone who just finished a murder mission, you’re awfully flirty with me.”

“I didn’t want to do it..you know that. It’s just seeing you all relax..makes me forget about everything, you know?”

“I know..despite that whole look of yours, I’m actually digging the number you’re wearing..it’s stupid..I’m delusional.”

“If you’re delusional then I’m sure as gone.”

The two of them softly chuckled.

Jason softly smiled, “Hey.”

“Hm?” Bucky replied staring back at him again.

“You look..good.”

“I uh..I feel good.”

They shift in their respective positions, rolling over in bed to face the other person in a more comfortable manner. Despite all the stress and frustration that they feel about tonight, the moment they looked at each other’s faces, it all melted away.

Hydra, being on the run, Shield, keeping lies to themselves and begging for the truth not to come back to haunt them—all of that? It drifted over to the back of their minds like it was nothing.

Funny, how seeing someone who you missed so much time with can do to a person.

As if, it was written in stone by the gods above to somehow be interwoven in each other’s life one way or another. Jason and Bucky shouldn’t be allowed to share such a secretive moment together, tucked away in some hotel room after such a harsh encounter, yet here they are. Both cold and alone in the mist of the night, despite the central heating system wrapping around the ground, it seems like it would barely survive the hours up ahead.

“I missed you..” Jason admitted, as his voice lowered to a whisper but the brunette heard it.

Bucky was taken back by his words as he melted a little and returned to confession, “…so did I. I uh, I missed you a lot..”

“It was some silly night but I remember it, you know?”

“You remember the rest of the week? We sneaked off to every other store to find the best souvenir but ended up at a ice cream parlor instead.”

“Didn’t we share an ice cream together?”

“Cause they only had a couple scoops of Rocky Road left! You do remember.”

Bucky roared a laugh as Jason grinned.

The Winter Soldier wasn’t in his eyes, nor was the Agent at SHIELD in his own.

Just two old men, Jason Grey and James Buchanan.

There was a lot bending on their hands with the horrific incident that occurred in front of their eyes, yet neither side had the slightest intention to bring it up again for a long time. Yes, Jason could’ve shot him while stuck in this hotel and Bucky could’ve done the same at any point, but they didn’t dare to do so.

Jason knew if he did, HYDRA would’ve been after him in a matter of weeks and it would take longer for him to recover and return home to his life in California. Bucky knew if he killed him, it would’ve been another kill in his books that would haunt him forever and he made a silent promise to Howard Stark to not go after his son, in response he needed the blonde to return home alive.

Aside from the obvious mess brewing upon them and lack of self respect, if it was up to Jason and Bucky, the two would run away together. Be hidden away from the world until everything died down and they could start somewhere else, have a better chance to escape the chaos and breathe.

Yet, it wasn’t in the cards for either of them.

Instead both men ate whatever snacks found in the refrigerator and vending machines in the halls, watching the crappy old movies on television as they stayed chatting until dawn…

…the morning sunlight peaked through the shades of the hotel that very first alarm to strike upon the room, cracking open the notion that this wasn’t a dream, everything that happened last night was just fact.

The second clue to this alarming trend was that the other bed was emptied out, paneling over the bed closes to the door as glimpses of the blonde and brunette snoring calmly. Fully clothed, wearing some fabric they found in one of the closets comfortable enough to rest in. Bucky’s hand lay across Jason’s chest as the blonde hummed in his sleep with his fact turned toward the brunette’s direction.

Both curled underneath the blanket for warmth, breathing deeply into the air surrounding the room. The pillows were soft, the mattress kept itself polished and comfortable, as blankets were stacked one over the other beneath the pair.

The third striking feature of the set was the moment Bucky slowly turned to his left, letting out a soft groan as he fluttered his eyes open. He squeezed his eyes for a second to breathe in the silence and light that filled his senses, meeting the sleeping gaze of the blonde man.

He only felt a slight smile reaching his lips, as the memory of last night slowly wired in his brain, where the two were watching on a movie then nodding off on his bed unexpectedly, the temperature dropped as it resulted in finding a couple more blankets to keep warm. A part of him should shiver and regret this folding turn of events that took place.

But he couldn’t shake off the pressure of leaving him in the hotel alone after all of this is over. If it was up to him, he wouldn’t think twice and find a way to escape this situation, bringing the other with him for just a little while. Despite the high urge to do something about it, he couldn’t get himself to disappear from the bed and leave the key behind.

Instead he stayed, watching every tall tale feature the blonde had to offer his memories.

“..mornin’..” Mumbled Jason softly and ever so gently as his eyes stayed closed.

It almost startles Bucky at the sudden voice reaching his ears but nonetheless he smiles, “..m-morning.”

There was a peaceful silence that drafted between them.

“How did you sleep?” Asked the blonde, slowly opening his eyes turning to get a glimpse of the brunette.

And by god, James Barnes wasn’t allowed to look this well at the crack of dawn. His long dark locks curled around the edges of the pillow, his blue eyes shining in the sunlight and the cool metallic hand rested on his chest just as comfortably.

After a long second, Bucky responded, “I uh, I slept well actually..”

“I bet.” Jason joked, bringing a light smile to his face.

That caused a crash of light chuckle to fill the air.

The morning went pretty well. The two stayed in bed staring at the ceiling and stealing glances half of the time, enjoying the light banter. Eventually Bucky crawled out of bed and got himself in the shower, then soon went Jason’s turn to freshen up.

After a long period of time of declining interest in food, Jason’s stomach growls as he grabbed himself a sandwich from the hotel bar and a couple of drinks from the vending machine. He may or may not have taken a couple of bucks out of the brunette’s wallet that morning.

But he repaid him with a sandwich and a bottle of water, despite Bucky’s light glares he couldn’t be bothered to give a remark as hunger strikes. He just ate calmly and hummed a small smile to the man.

Sadly enough, the time they had spent together came to a close. Items were packed, stitches were wrapped and clothing was tucked away for any cleaning lady to come in later. Jason sat on the bed buckling his bootstraps and cuffing his socks into place, as his gaze turned to the man who was fumbling with his jacket once more. Bucky nodded, getting the last clasp secured on his jacket and swung his bag over his shoulder.

The two had a seamless idea to leave the hotel one after the other, in order to not stir up any wondering eyes or glimpses of controversy in the air. Yes, the thought was more than simple for anyone to follow along if they were looking too closely but neither was willing to take that chance.

Barnes was first to leave.

Neither said a word, just kept their gaze afar from another.

As Bucky stood by the door, his hand hovering over the doorknob, a sudden wave of emotion washed over him once his gaze fell on Jason for the 5th time this morning. He couldn't bear the thought of leaving without expressing the depth of his feelings and gratitude towards the man.

He didn't know if he would retreat or regret this later on, however at the moment, he didn't care to dwell on those thoughts.

With a swift and decisive movement, Bucky turned around, closing the distance between them in an instant. A finger hung under the blonde's chin, staring into each other's eyes. Without a second later, his lips met Jason's with a gentle and tender touch, a silent testament to the unspoken words that lingered between them.

For a brief moment, time seemed to stand still as they shared the intimate embrace, the weight of their emotions hanging heavy in the air.

Jason's initial surprise quickly melted into a reciprocal response, his body instinctively leaning in to meet Bucky's kiss. Their lips moved together in a dance of longing and affection, each moment filled with a sense of warmth and belonging that neither wanted to let go of.

When they finally parted, there was a softness in their smiles, an understanding that transcended words. It was a silent agreement, a shared moment of mutual affection and longing that bound them together in ways they couldn't fully comprehend.

A couple of milliseconds past, standing there in pure silence.

Bucky once turned to leave, a smile graced his lips, his heart filled with a newfound sense of peace and contentment. The door closed behind as he turned towards the steps leading himself to the first floor of the hotel.

Jason watched him go, still slightly breathless from the unexpected kiss, a part of him couldn't help but chuckle softly to himself, shaking his head in disbelief at the whirlwind of emotions that had swept over them both.

And as they went their separate ways, the memory of that fleeting moment lingered in the air, a reminder of the small yet somehow profound connection they shared...

//

Ahhh! Couldn't resist writing for this unexacting pairing, this has been in my drafts for a year now and decided to finally post it. Anyways let me know what you think. Remember to like, comment and share

Tags: @gaminggirlsstuff @gcthvile @missstrawbs2001 @cherrysft @rickb-chaos @starkleila @infinetlyforgotten @meiramel @sherloquestea @buckysteveloki-me @yetanotherwells @nakiaswg @carellmcu @ximehs @xgoddessoffandomsx

[t0omanyfandoms]

Bucky would definitely have "no touch" days but he would still buy you little gifts to show that he still loves you and isn't mad at you.

[incorrect-marvel-because-why-not]

Missing scene from CATFA, based off of the movie and comments in Agent Carter:

Steve: God, if only someone loved me… Peggy: standing behind them with roses Bucky: holding box of chocolates Howard: has balloons and a card [in Agent Carter she says "I loved him too" and I know what they meant but I thought this was funny] Dum Dum: facepalms This is sad.

[kjwaikiki]

Stony fic idea:

I’m back on the Avengers train after a YouTube au trailer deep dive and I have a fic idea. I am throwing out the idea of timelines, canon, and pretty much everything.

My big fic idea is that Howard is still alive and Tony is young, maybe early 20s at the oldest, when all the Avengers shenanigans take place. Maybe that means Howard and Maria have Tony even later on in life or maybe they are just younger, I do not know I am disregarding pesky things like timelines.

Now the main point of this fic is that it is Howard who helps with the Avengers and backs them up being sort of like a benefactor. Steve is of course ecstatic to see and work with his old friend again, but he notices something is off about Howard. He asks some questions, does some digging and finds out that Howard had a son. Of course Steve asks Howard (or maybe Maria if she is around) but doesn’t really get a clear answer other than the fact that Tony and Howard had a fight a few years back and Tony hasn’t been in contact since.

Steve tried to do something nice for his friend and tracks Tony down. Eventually he finds him working on sustainable energy sources in some remote lab in a foreign country (or whatever you imagine I am not too clear on this part). Steve introduces himself and tries to convince Tony to go home or at least talk to Howard. Tony is not impressed, Howard has been an emotionally distant father at best and now he has Captain America come to his place of work to drag him home like a stray dog! Needless to say Tony is not impressed and kicks Steve out on his ass.

Steve is stubborn though and continues to bagger Tony throughout his day to day. Tony has carved out a nice little life for himself among the locals and he does not appreciate Steve ruining it for him. Eventually Tony agrees to talk to Steve and explain the fight and why he will not go home. It turns out that for a little while after Tony graduated college he was able to work well with the old man. They collaborated on a lot of projects and seemed to be getting along well. Until the next Stark Expo when Tony found out that all of the inventions Tony had made everything he designed was being patented as a Howard Stark invention, as solely a Howard Stark invention.

Tony was of course hurt and more than a little angry so he decided that his next idea would be one he kept to himself. His next design turned out to be Iron Man (in its infant stages Tony thought of it as combat armor for troops or even remote controlled soldiers) and from the idea of the Iron Man suit came other ideas like the Arc Reactor and J.A.R.V.I.S. until suddenly Tony was sitting on a cache of technology that would change the world.

Unfortunately Howard eventually found out about Tony’s inventions and shut him down. They had a terrible row that basically boiled down to Howard calling Tony a spoiled, selfish child who didn’t know the powers that he was messing with. Tony in response called Howard a hack who hadn’t invented anything worthwhile since the war and was so desperate to stay relevant that he’ll steal ideas from his son. The fight ended with both of the men storming off angry and Tony went back to an apartment he owned in the city to cool down for a few days. Tony figured that he’d give the old man a few days to calm down and then show him the tech he was working on with the clear stipulation that he gets credit for his inventions.

Only Tony’s plan doesn’t work out because when he goes back to Stark headquarters he finds that he has been terminated from his position and locked out of his lab that contains all his inventions and J.A.R.V.I.S. and all his bots. Tony calls up his dad, yells at him a little and then pleads with him to at least let him get his stuff. Tony even tells him he can keep the suits but he wants his bots and J.A.R.V.I.S. Howard says no. Tony threatens to get lawyers involved. Howard asks with what money. It dawns on Tony that Howard has effectively cut him off or at least he thinks he has (Tony has a personal bank account not connected to his father he has been squirreling away money in for years). Tony is angry and hurt and leaves the country and from there he applies for a gets the job he is currently working in. After that he cut off all contact with his father and erased himself from all digital software (Steve found him through luck, good old detective work, and being able to charm the pants off of little old ladies).

Steve is aghast because he never thought Howard could be capable of something like that. Tony brushes him off and tells him he doesn’t want to talk about it anymore. Somehow the idea of drinks is brought up and Steve mentions he can’t get drunk. Tony takes that as a challenge and whips up something in his lab that can actually get Steve drunk. They both get drunk and tumble into bed together.

In the morning Steve is surprised and horrified to find that he slept with his friend’s son (who is a lot younger than him). Tony is understandably hurt by Steve’s reaction and all of Steve’s attempts to explain himself just make it worse. Eventually it culminates in a fight and Tony kicks Steve out. Steve leaves and goes back to the U.S. where he tells Howard he found Tony and confronts him about the fight and how he treated his son. Howard tells Steve that he was just trying to protect Tony.

It turns out that Howard was following Obadiah’s advice for the inventions and didn’t take credit because he wanted all the glory but rather to keep Tony out of the spotlight (Obie worded it in such a way that it made it seem as if people knowing how brilliant Tony was would put him in danger). The fight was because Tony was messing with dangerous substances and even people without Howard’s knowledge (Tony had interested buyers lined up for some of his tech). Steve then brings up Howard cutting Tony off and Howard says he always knew about Tony’s other bank account and that he cut him off because he knew he was safer away. Howard had started to suspect Obie was involved in some shady dealings and had started to investigate him. As Howard dig deeper he uncovered some dangerous secrets and a lot of illegal activities.

Obie knew how brilliant Tony was and Howard knew that if Obie knew he was on to him then Obie would just get rid of him and move on to making Tony his cash cow. Howard pushed Tony away to protect him and fully intended to bring him home after the mess with Obie was over with. The only problem was that once it was all over with Howard couldn’t find Tony and he had no way of contacting him. He hired private investigators but they turned up nothing and eventually he gave up.

The next part of this fic are fuzzy to me but I think eventually Steve brings Howard to Tony and they have a chat. There is a lot of yelling and even some crying before finally they delve into the bigger issues:

Tony: “You are a shitty father.”

Howard: “I know I want to be better.”

Tony: “To be better you have had to actually be something in the first place. You were never there in the first place.”

Howard: “I’m trying Tony.”

Tony: “Why? So you can steal my ideas and pass them off as your? Live out your long gone glory days through me?”

Howard: “Because you’re my son and even though I don’t always show it, I do love you.”

That is the turning point in the fight and Tony and Howard make up with some awkward hugs and even more awkward tears. Tony agrees to go back to the U.S. and give working with his dad another try (with some heavy stipulation) Howard looks ecstatic that he has his son back and that is about where it dons on Steve that he has miscalculated. Because now Steve has to live in close quarters with Tony who he has grown to like and care for in his weeks pestering him to come home. Who Steve has kissed and held and heard moan. Who Steve would very much like to hear moan again. Who is the very young son of his dear friend, Howard. Howard who is looking at Steve in gratitude and has no idea that Steve has slept with his son. Steve is in for a really hard time.

I don’t really know where the fic ends from here. Maybe Howard eventually finds out and goes into overprotective father mode because that is his SON his CHILD who is barely an adult and Steve was alive during the Great Depression! Maybe Steve tries to dance around Tony and their sexual tension as the Avengers watch on amused. Maybe Tony eventually catches on to the fact that Steve is very attracted to him and starts teasing him everywhere, in public, around his dad, when he is working out, in the communal showers, etc. There are endless possibilities and I think it is really fun to imagine them all.

[rainbowsuitcase]

crack

Steve looks him in the eyes exactly once on the quinjet from Germany, flinches away like he's been burned and does his best to not even look in his direction again.

As far as first soulmate meetings go, Tony thinks this one could have gone better.

He tries to confront Steve about it on the helicarrier, but when he shouts, "So we're just not gonna talk about it?"

Steve replies, "No," in such a harsh and definite tone that it shuts up even Tony.

After the battle, Steve and everyone else moves into the Tower and Cap does his best to avoid Tony at all cost. And while Tony is the absolute best at avoiding personal conversations, even he has some kind of a limit.

When he's in the kitchen and Steve steps out of the elevator, notices him and makes to turn right around, it just bursts out of him. "Okay, what the fuck is your problem with me?"

Steve opens his mouth but hesitates to say anything, so Tony continues.

"Because I get it, okay? I don't exactly love you either. But we should at least fucking talk about it."

"Tony," Steve sighs. "I don't have a problem with you."

Tony snorts. "Could've fooled me."

He can actually see Steve's jaw clench. "The problem," he says quietly, "is that you're a Stark."

"Well, fuck you too, Rogers."

"No-" Steve clicks his tongue, frustrated. "Tony. You're Howard's son."

Now, hatred of Howard is something Tony can more than handle. "Okay, sure." He nods. "I hate that guy too, fuck him, he was an ass-"

"He was also my soulmate."

"What."

Steve stares at him.

Tony wants to scream.

Maybe they really didn't need to talk about it.

[nessieart]

The Way Back. IV

WC:4.9k

eventual bucky x reader. maybe steve x reader. im still deciding dontshootme

Summary: These powers were meant to help people. Help The Avengers, your family. It felt like every time you used them, something bad always happened. Maybe someone has the answers, somewhere.

Masterlist

AN- not really proofread, all mistakes are my own. please enjoy!

Previously:

Howard nodded along, giving you soft, encouraging words whenever you would pause. He took the empty tea cup from your hands, placing it on the nightstand. he waited a moment more, searching for any lingering signs of tears or heartache.

He clears his throat, "Maybe you should look for a way back to your time, honey," he says quietly. His eyes dart away from yours when your head snaps up.

"But-"

"I know," his reassuring smile is sad and doesn't reach his eyes. "Maybe you just need the closure of seeing Tony okay," It's hard for Howard to talk about his son he doesn't have, only knowing about him from the stories you've told.

"What about you?"

"You need to stop worrying about everyone ese, Y/N. And worry about yourself."

You sigh. It feels like a weight is lifted off your shoulders, "I'll think about it, ok?"

Howard nods, his hands falling on top of yours and then squeezing, "Get some rest, kid."

The next few weeks go by quickly. You haven't made your mind up to visit the Sanctum or not yet. So, you throw yourself into organizing the Stark Expo. Contacting vendors and scientists, the list Howard gave you is long, and you wonder if even half the people will respond because of the war over seas.

You're surprised to hear back from almost all of the people on the list. Using Howard's blueprint of the grounds, you set the vendors and creators all throughout the area, making sure to place everyone just far enough apart to not be overwhelming.

One evening, Jarvis drops you off at the Expo fair grounds. Things were still in the process of being built, so you wanted to make sure everything was getting done the way you envisioned it.

"Don't worry about picking me up, J, I'll manage," you smile at him through the open window.

"Alright, Ms Stark. I'll see you later," his smooth English accent carries through the car, and then he drives away.

After entering the fair grounds, you notice a new recruitment banner across from where the main stage would be. A few people were lined up outside. Some were a little eager, while others seemed anxious.

Huh, that's new.

Towards the back of the line, one familiar head of brunette hair stands out, his head bowed low and hands shoved deep into his pockets. You hedge close, maybe it was just your eyes playing tricks on you.

"James?" You ask. You can see his side profile now, getting closer. His head shoots up, eyes wide as they move to focus on you.

"Ch-Charlotte? What, uh, what are you doing here?" Bucky looks up the line, then back to you, stepping out of line to make his way over.

"I could ask you the same thing," you nod toward the sign above. "Thinkin' of enlisting?"

Bucky stares at you for a moment, your arms wrapping around the folder full of permits and city code enforcement papers to your chest. One of his hands comes up to run through his hair. He seems exhausted but puts a smile on his face anyway.

"Well," his hand still in his pocket pulls out an envelope, "I've been drafted, actually," the smile doesn't reach his eyes you notice now, as he looks at the offending piece of paper in his hands.

"Oh, James," you place a hand on his forearm, "I'm sorry." You had no idea he was drafted, Steve never mentioned it.

Bucky shrugs, "My dad seems to be happy about it. Says it'll force me to grow up and take responsibility," he sighs. "My ma, not so much." He shrugs.

"And what does Steve think?"

Bucky shoves the envelope back in his pocket, eyes skating across your face and then off to the side. "He doesn't know. He's been trying to enlist since they opened the first doors for recruitment." Bucky grimaces, "But he's so," he stops and paces away from you, eyes lingering on the ENLIST NOW! sign.

After a few minutes of him being lost in thought, you step closer, peering up at him through your lashes.

"James?" When he slowly drags his eyes to you, you continue, "It's OK to be afraid. No one would think any different."

"Go out dancing with me Friday night," he says suddenly. You laugh, but it doesn't deter him.

You eye him when he turns to you fully, "I'll think about it, pretty boy." The grin he gives you is blinding. "But you have to invite Steve, and maybe I'll say yes." Bucky nods in agreement.

"Ms. Charlotte!" Someone calls, and you turn to see Dr. Erskine, clipboard in hand, and he waves. You return his smile and wave.

Before you walk away to talk to Erskine, you give Bucky a serious look, "tell Steve about the draft. He'll understand. You're his best friend, James, he can't stay mad at you for long." You squeeze his arm before you depart.

When you're halfway to the doctor, Bucky snaps out of his thoughts, "Charlotte," he calls, and you turn to him with a tilt of your head, "how do you do it? How do you know so much?"

You smile and shrug, "comes with the territory," you wink. When you reach Dr. Erskine, he shakes your hand with a smile. "Hello, Doctor, wonderful to see you again."

"Please, Abraham. And it is a pleasure to see you, my dear." He places his hand on the small of your back, ushering you inside the building. You spare one last glance behind you toward Bucky. His eyes are already on you. A light dusting of color goes across his cheeks at being caught.

"Friend of yours?" Abraham asks when he too looks back at Bucky.

Bucky ducks his head and moves to the back of the recruitment line.

"Sort of. A friend of a friend kind of thing."

"He is signing up for the Armed Forces?" Erskine asks. He leads you into his office, leaning against his desk. He offers you a chair in front of him. You sit, pulling at the paper edges inside your folder.

"Not exactly. He was drafted. Things don't really go well for him later in life. Seeing him like this - before - is nice," you absentmindedly say. You look up at him and forget who you're talking to. Eyes wide, as he tilts his head at you. "I- I mean. Shit."

Erskine gives you another once over. Your heart pounding against your rib cage. You could talk your way out of a lot of things. Being friends with Tony for so long and now Howard, you were really good with talking your way out of trouble.

But there was something kind in Abraham's eyes that made you want to tell him everything. Maybe you did, Howard was the only person who knows your secret. You suspect Jarvis does, but he's never brought it up.

"If-if I tell you something, you don't have to believe me - or maybe you'll think I'm crazy, but um-" you look up at him, his eyes still kind, he gives you an encouraging smile. "I'm from the future," you cringe a bit. At least with Howard, he was a man of science. And maybe a little science fiction. He believed you after he saw that faint glowing scar on your chest. He also claimed he was the smartest man alive. Of course, he'd believe you.

Sure, Erskine was a man of science, creating the serum that changes Steve's life forever, but -

You see him nod, eyes taking measured glances across your features.

He hums. It seems like ages before either of you say another word. He puts his clipboard down, hands resting on the desk, and he hums again. Then nods resolutely.

"I see," is all he says. And you're terrified of any word out of his mouth. Your eyes are wide and unblinking, glossy with held back tears.

"How far in the future, my dear?" He isn't condescending when he asks. It's genuine, and you stare at him for a long moment.

It's different telling someone else, someone other than Howard, or Jarvis. It makes it real. Even though literally being in 1943 didn't make it any less real. This seems almost freeing maybe?

"2018," you say quietly. There's a deep breath in, and he's on his feet. You still think the worse, despite the kindness in his eyes. You wish now more than ever, for your phone. Shoot off a text to Howard to come and save you. But there's no one here to save you, but yourself.

"Did we win?" Is all he says, "Do we - I mean -" he looks sad, looking down at his shoes.

"We do."

Bucky had waited for you after your encounter at the Stark Expo grounds. He wanted to meet up again. So you agreed for coffee the next day. And then agreed to go dancing with him and Steve a week from Friday.

**

"What do you mean, 'going out'? Out where?" Howard has his hands on his hips, brow pulled low over his eyes. He's across the room, but you can see him clear as day in the mirror of your vanity. "With who?" he takes a step forward, now crossing his arms over his chest.

"Friends," is all you give him. He scoffs.

"Since when do you make friends?" Where did -" he stops, eyes going wide, then narrowing. "Are these 'friends', boys?"

You scoff again, "they aren't boys, Howie," you fix a rogue strand of hair, rolling your eyes at him in the mirror. "They're friends of mine from -" You stop short because you've said too much now. Howard's arms drop to the side, eyes wide and pleading.

"Y/N, please tell me, it's not who I think it is…"

"it's just dancing, Howie," you turn to him. "I've been doing nothing but work to keep my mind off where I am. I'm stuck here, Howie! I can't ever go home! And I just want to live my life. I - I never got to just… be. I've been fighting for so long, and I'm tired. Howie, I'm so tired."

You look up, trying not to mess your mascara up with unshed tears. You sniffle.

"Can't ever..Y/N.." he takes a step forward, closer to you. "You didn't?"

You look down at your feet, "I went a few days ago," you say quietly. You shrug, "Just to make sure."

Howard paces in a circle, head leaning back as his hands come up to his face as he sighs heavily. The sound muffled, "You told me you changed your mind," his hands come down to rest on his neck and whirl around to face you. "You told me you wouldn't!" There's a glassy shine to his eyes, and he blinks away when you give him a look.

**

For some reason, the giant oak doors seemed ominous here, now, then they did while you lived here.

The New York Sanctum was more intimidating this time around than the first time you stood here with Stephen. You knock on the hard wooden door, the sound echoing and wood hard against your knuckles.

And wait.

The heavy door opens, you half expected Wong to answer with his usual bored attitude, but it isn't him. And you're in a time where you don't know anyone. The Ancient One probably isn't even here in New York. Not that that would ever stop her.

"May I help you, miss?" The man at the door says. He looks down his nose at you, eyes squinting and taking in your attire. As if slacks are a new invention, you roll your eyes.

"I'm here to see The Sorcerer Supreme," you muster up as much confidence as you can, lifting your chin a little higher when the man at the door scrunches his eyebrows in return.

"There is no one by that name here," his accented voice says harshly. He shifts to close the door in your face. "Now please, leave."

You stick your foot into the door before it closes, your hands glow blue for a moment, the Mystic magic forming around your wrists as you hold the door open with your palm. The man on the other side of the door stops, his eyes wide as he stares at your Magic.

You push your way in, side stepping the man and moving further into the foyer. Only a few relics are different in this time. There's no giant Hulk-sized hole in the grand staircase either.

Things are familiar, yet nothing is the same.

"You misunderstand me," you say. The man whirls around, slamming the door closed behind him, as you lean against the banister. "I wasn't asking to see her. I was telling you."

The man does his thing, arms coming around and stance wide to defend, the orange glow of his Mystic Magic spin around his palms.

"No, you misunderstand. I am the protector of this Sanctum, and you will not go further, demon!"

You scoff, "I'm not a demon, dude," rolling your shoulders as you stand," I'm from the future." Your Magic rolls down your arms in a blue glow, the Mystic symbols spinning around your wrists and fanning out to hover around your palms as you mimic his stance.

He doesn't seem to budge. Even with your admission, he goes to attack.

"That is quite enough, Roland," a soft but demanding voice says from the top of the staircase.

You really half expect to see Stephen, but the sight of the Ancient One brings a smile to your face, and tears spring up and burn the back of your eyes as you grin up at her. You turn from the man, Roland, shaking your powers from your limbs and bowing in greeting to your old master. When you stand back up, her eyebrow is raised in amusement.

"And who might you be?" She says as she descends the stairs. "You are no ordinary human if you can see past the perception filter of the Sanctum. And you are trained. Maybe not…" she hums, accessing you.

You wait as her eyes search you, looking for something off - or other - about you.

"My name is Y/N. I'm from 2018. We've met, or we will meet. In the future," you tell her. It's fast and jumbled as you try to get your words out coherently.

The Ancient One hums, arms crossing behind her as she stops in front of you. "How did you get here in 1943?"

"Madam, you can't posi -" Roland goes to interject, but the Anciet One just holds up her hand, never breaking eye contact with you.

"We - my friends and I - were fighting against a mad man," you shake your head at the memory. "He was - is - after the Infinity Stones. He already had 3." You take a deep breath. Willing yourself to continue, you haven't thought about what happened on Titan in a while. Trying not to think about the worst case scenario. Maybe Tony, Stephen, and Peter were okay as long as you didn't think about it.

"he took my friend. He has the Time Stone," At your words, the Sorcerer Supreme takes a step back, eyes widening slightly. You gulp, "my friend was going to give it to Thanos. The mad man with the stones, to-to save my life." You look down at your feet.

"Before the Stone could get to Thanos, I grabbed it, crushed it against my chest," at this you unzip your jacket, showing her the faint pulsing glow of the scar on your chest, "and then I was waking up in a hospital bed here in 1942. A year ago."

When you look back up, she's studying you again. Maybe to see if she can catch a lie, maybe. "What is it you want from me?" She asks cautiously.

"Use the Time Stone to send me back. I have to go back!" You plead. It's silent for a while. The Ancient One paces around the foyer.

She stops after what feels like an eternity, "This friend of yours, the one with the Stone. Is he the Sorcerer Supreme in your time?" Her back is facing you. She turns her head to look over her shoulder at you, and you nod.

"Sort of," you shrug. And when her eyebrow raises at your answer, you tell her. Tell her of how you met Stephen, how you both went to Kamar-Taj and your time together. She trained you to hone your powers. "I- I haven't been able to use them since coming to this time."

"You still haven't answered my question," she says softly, taking in your reaction closely this time. She nods solemnly. "Ah, I see," she holds a hand up when you go to speak, silencing anything else you have to say.

"I think I destroyed the Time Stone," you say after a while. The Ancient One led you to her study, a large room with bookshelves lining the walls. It smells familiar, old leather bound books and incense.

You sit in front of her desk without her prompting you. There's a small smirk on her face.

"So? Can you send me back?" Your leg bounces impatiently.

"I do not believe you destroyed the Stone. Though, I am surprised your - hm - Dr. Strange gave up the Time Stone to begin with," she began. She gave you another once over. "I do believe it sent you here for a reason. However, that reason may have yet to make itself known." She pauses again, eyes focusing in thought.

"I suppose it couldn't hurt to try," she smirks.

You followed the Ancient One to the vault where the Eye of Agamotto is kept. The doors opened as she neared it. The Stone floats out of its cradle and hovers in front of you. It feels like an eternity as you stare at the Stone. You release a breath after it drops into your hands.

The room begins to glow green, and your powers pulse from the scar. It knocks your breath straight from your lungs. Your powers pulse again. It feels like your body has been asleep for the last few months. It's tingly, and you can finally breathe for the first time. Blood flowing to places you seem to have forgotten existed. Your powers beam to life, engulfing your hands in blue.

"Fascinating," the Ancient One mumbles, she moves around your body, accessing the dual glowing from you and the Stone.

"Now, what do I do?" You ask. The glow around the room seems to dim and brighten with each breath you take.

"Try what you did before. We may never know until you replicate it."

You nod, hands glowing a little brighter, you bring the stone to the scar on your chest. You feel a pull tug at the center of your chest, you think of Tony and Peter. Think of Stephen.

When the Stone meets your crystalline scar, there's a blinding green light and a ringing in your ears.

As the light fades, your eyes readjust to your surroundings. The Stone was no longer in y our hands. Your breath hitches at the thought of being back in your own time.

And then the light fades, and the room comes back into focus.

The Ancient One had a serious look on her face, thoughtful and determined. "I see," she says, waving her hands to show the Time Stone back in its place within the Eye.

Tears spring to your eyes, they burn as they come forth, then dribble down your face.

"I'm st-stuck here."

**

You step out of the portal in an alley, a block away from the bar Bucky had told you about. It took a lot of convincing on your part to reassure Howard you would be fine.

You fought aliens and Gods and murder bots. What could possibly go wrong on one night of dancing?

You laugh to yourself quietly as you make your way down the street. It felt really good to use your powers again. The flood gates opening and pouring out, your powers rushing forth felt like cold water on a hot summer day.

Refreshing. Revitalizing.

One day, you'll get used to people giving you odd looks. Only because of your clothing of choice this time, and not because you were an Avenger.

The bar comes into view, and there's a small pit of anxiety crawling up your sides. You inhale a deep breath to calm the sudden onslaught of nerves.

"It's just dancing," you mumble as you open the door. "It's just Steve…and," you glance around the dimly lit room. The music is moderately loud. It smells like smoke and alcohol, stale peanuts, and old beer.

You see him leaning against the bar, one elbow propped up holding a drink and his other hand in his pocket. "Bucky," you exhale.He looks young, is your first thought as you step into the bar more. He's handsome, is your second thought. Youthful and carefree, it's nice to see. It brings a smile to your face. The last memory you have of Bucky is him beaten, bloody, and broken, leaning on an equally beaten Steve as they walked away from you and Tony. Cold and heartbroken in Siberia.

You shake your head, dismissing the thoughts from your mind. Bucky's eyes scan the room, and they land on you. He straightens and smiles bright. It's lopsided and boyish.

"Hey, soldier," you greet him when you stop in front of him. Bucky ducks his head a little, not used to the title.

He takes a sip of his whiskey, eyes roaming your figure. His eyebrows scrunch slightly.

"Charlotte, you - uh - you look ni- beautiful," you think you see a blush rise to his cheeks.

You chuckle, "thank you, James. There's one thing you need to know about me. I don't 'do' dresses," you smirk. He nods his head very fast.

In a sudden burst of confidence, Bucky leans in toward you, a hand hover over the small of your back. You have to tilt your head back to see his face.

"I mean it, you look beautiful, doll," his eyes sparkle as his boyish smrik grows. What a charmer.

"I bet you say that to all the girls, Bucky," you tease, placing a hand on his chest. You push him away slightly so you can order a drink for yourself, but Bucky steps back into your space, holding your hand to his chest.

He looks over your shoulder for a moment, then down at you as he lowers his face next to your ear.

"Maybe, but I'm here with the prettiest dame in Brooklyn tonight. And there's nowhere else I'd rather be."

Oh, he's good. You bring a hand over your mouth to stifle the laugh that wants to bubble out.

"Alright, soldier, buy a gal a drink first," you chuckle. It earns you a bright smile, and Bucky turns to get the bartenders attention.

As you gaze around the bar, you see a familiar head of blonde hair, then realize he's leaving. You turn to Bucky, "why is Steve leaving?" Bucky stiffens next to you. He looks at you from the corner of his eye. "James…?"

Bucky shrugs one shoulder, trying to give you his famous smile, "Don't worry about, Steve. You don't know him like I do. He'll be fine," he hands you your drink, and you glare at it.

"Bucky," he winces. He usually prefers people call him Bucky, but he's gotten used to you calling him James. He doesn't like it. He likes the way you call him James. He hates it.

You turn on your heel, letting out a frustrated sigh as you storm your way out of the bar.

"Charlotte!" You hear Bucky call out, but you ignore him, pushing open the door and stepping out onto the sidewalk.

There's a street lamp right outside the bar, and another on the corner. That's where you see Steve. He's standing under the light, his shoulders slumped, and his hands in his pockets.

"Steve!" You call out as you speed walk toward him. He spins around, eyes frantic until they land on you.

"Charlie? What - "he looks behind you, maybe looking for Bucky, but you shake your head.

"What happened? I thought we were goin' dancing?" You give him a hopeful smile. He avoids your gaze, shuffling on his feet. "Steve?" You reach for his hand, and he lets you take it.

"I told Bucky I'd only agree to go out if you'd be there, too." Steve's head whips up to look at you, eyes wide. "So? Will you come back with me?"

Steve's eye shift between yours, "You mean it?" he asks quietly.

You giggle - down right giggle, something you never do, "Of course, I mean it, Tough Guy. You do look rather handsome, and I'd hate for all the ladies to miss it," you wink at him.

There's a blush creeping up his cheeks, and the street light makes it seem fluorescent. Steve follows you back to the bar, never once taking his hand from yours. He never really noticed until you both are back inside and standing next to Bucky again.

"Now, was that so hard?" You ask the both of them.

Steve goes to tug his hand from yours, "People are staring, Charlie," he tells you.

You snort, taking Bucky's drink from his hand and downing it in one gulp. It burns a little, but you welcome it.

"So what? Let them," you try to tug Steve to the dance floor, but he digs his heels in and pulls his hand free from yours.

"I - uh, I don't dance," he says as he sits on a stool.

"Oh."

Bucky pulls you to him with an arm wrapped around your waist, "C'mon, doll, I'll dance with ya." He grabs your hand and spins you in place and leads you out onto the dance floor.

You don't know how to dance to the upbeat jazz, but Bucky's a good leader, and you've only tripped over your feet a few times, but he doesn't seem to mind. He pulls you close a few times and dips his head down to run his nose along yours, but he always pulls back again when he swings you out for a dip or spin. It makes you laugh, your face hurting from smiling so much.

You and Bucky are out of breath when you catch up with Steve. He found a table in the corner out of the way. It's darker here, and Steve's nursing a beer as he eyes you both.

Bucky helps you sit, tucking your chair in, and he leans down between you and Steve. "I'll grab a round of drinks, be right back."

Your face still hurts from smiling so wide, and you turn to Steve, "I've never danced like that before," you say out of breath. Steve's brows furrow in question. Surely you've danced plenty, you're a sight to look at. Pretty and curvy in all the right places, lots of men would trip over themselves to get to dance with you. But he doesn't say any of that out loud.

From where you're sitting, you can see the majority of the bar, dance floor, and entrance. You can see Bucky leaning against the bar, ordering drinks, a playful smirk on his lips seems to be his default look.

"How come you came tonight if you don't dance?" You ask Steve. He fidgets in his seat. "It's OK if you don't dance, but sitting here watching people, watching Bucky dance with girls. It can't be fun."

Steve huffs and looks back towards the bar, Bucky looks over then, sending Steve a smile, then looks at you with a wink.

Before Steve could reply, the door to the bar bursts open. A frantic looking man paces around the entrance for a minute, and Steve turns to see what the commotion is.

You catch the man's eye, you jump up, chair knocking back and falling to the floor. Steve jumps and looks at you.

Howard catches your eye, you see him visibly relax, you both rush towards each other, and your hands immediately land on his face.

"Howie! What the hell?" There's a cut under his eye, and a bruise forming under the other, his lip is split, and his hair is a wild mess. There's a few faint scratches across his cheek, and oil or dirt smudges across his forehead.

His hands grip your wrists, and you notice a few of his knuckles are split. "Lab accident," he shakes it off. Code for something else. There's no lab at the house. Listen, honey. I uh -" he looks around the bar, noticing a few people staring and muttering. "I need your help, please?"

Your shoulders slump, "but," you look back to your table, Steve and Bucky have concerned looks on their faces. Howard squeezes your wrists, his eyes pleading.

"OK, Howie," you sigh, "I'll come with you."

"That's my girl," he smiles brightly, all previous signs of anxiety vanishing in the blink of an eye. Howard pulls you along, out of the noisy bar and across the street to his car. Fancy and flashy for this side of town.

Before you could reach for the handle, a call of your assumed name comes from the sidewalk across the street. You turn your gaze back to Bucky, and Steve, looking hopeful you'll change your mind and come back.

"Hold on, Howie," you tell him as you make your way back across the street. "I'm sorry, I- um, wouldn't leave if he didn't ask." Your eyes bounce from Bucky to Steve.

"Coulda told us you had a boyfriend, dollie," Bucky all but bites out. He doesn't meet your eye, glaring across the street at Howard, who was leaning against the hood of his car with his arms crossed. "Got yourself a rich fella, yeah?"

You snort, failing to hold in your laughter, "Oh, James, Howard isn't my boyfriend. He's my brother," you laugh again when he and Steve snap their heads to you. You cup one side of each of their faces, placing a quick kiss on their cheeks. In turn, they flush, cheeks turning hot as you retract your hands.

"Stark!" Howard calls from across the street. You can tell he was getting restless. You give Steve and Bucky a wink before you turn and jog over to Howard, "Yeah, yeah, Stark, hold your damn horses."

Bucky and Steve share an equally shocked expression, "Stark?!" they gape after you as Howard starts the car and drives off down the dark street at a very questionable speed.

**

[sleeplessmidnight26]

Coming April 24, 2024

Like Father, Like Son

Rating: Explicit

Warnings: N/A

Pairings: Steve Rogers/Tony Stark, Steve Rogers/Howard Stark

Other tags: Bottom Steve Rogers, Top Tony Stark, Top Howard Stark, Time Travel, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Family Drama

Summary: Steve Rogers is dating Tony Stark. He's just moved in with Tony recently and they're enjoying their relationship. But when someone from the past mysteriously time travels to them, things get complicated; and, Tony finds out just how alike he and his father are.

[captainsophiestark]

A Reverse Steve Rogers

Jack Thompson x Reader

Masterlist - Taglist

Requested by @hawaiianpizzaenjoyer !! Thanks for the request, and for being so patient while I got it done! I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it!

Fandom: Marvel

Summary: Y/N, an Avenger, friend of Tony Stark, and the one who helped Steve Rogers adjust to the 21st century after he came out of the ice, gets flung back into the 1940s when something goes wrong on a training mission. She has no idea how long her stay in the 40s might be, but one way or another, it's going to be interesting.

Word Count: 4,684

Category: Fluff, Humor

A/N: This doesn't follow any of the season 2 timeline lol, just some vague stuff put together for the sake of this story.

Putting work into an AI program without permission is illegal. You do not have my permission. Do not do it.

"We could always just find another ticket for her and make up a reason for her to be there on her own..."

"Yeah? Like what? At this event, anybody with the slightest hole in their story is gonna stick out like a sore thumb.”

I looked between Peggy Carter and Daniel Sousa as they talked, frantically trying to figure out what to do with me tonight. They were currently in the middle of breaking up a secret society in Los Angeles, and they had a mission disguised as a date tonight where they'd be infiltrating a fancy party being thrown by said society.

Unfortunately for them, I'd landed in their laps (pretty literally) this afternoon, and accidentally thrown a wrench into their whole operation.

One minute, I'd been doing a training mission with the Avengers. The next, I'd been falling on top of  a desk in the SSR in 1947. I still didn't know exactly what had thrown me back in time, but no matter what the cause, the fact didn't change that I was here, and would be for the foreseeable future.

I'd almost had a heart attack when I'd looked up to see THE Peggy Carter, founder of SHIELD and total badass, standing in front of me. I think I freaked her and Daniel out a little by fangirling the minute I got up off the floor, but a stranger landing in the middle of their super high-level organization probably would've landed me in the interrogation room anyway.

Thankfully, I knew Steve Rogers pretty well, and so did Peggy. I'd mentioned his name briefly when trying to explain how I knew who she was, but then I'd been able to use what I knew about Steve and the stories he'd shared with me to convince her I was telling the truth about time travel.

Since then, we'd done some brief introductions and I'd been let out of the interrogation room. I'd been given the bare minimum details of the mission to understand the conversation, and now I sat on the edge of a desk watching Daniel and Peggy talk as they tried to adjust their plans.

"Perhaps Mr. Jarvis would be available on short notice to take her as a date..." mused Peggy.

"Whoa, Jarvis? Oh my gosh, the real person Jarvis is alive and walking around right now. That makes sense," I said, mostly talking to myself.

"That still doesn't solve the problem of them not being on the guest list," continued Daniel, he and Peggy only briefly glancing my way at the outburst.

"Maybe Howard could help us secure another two."

"He already wore out his welcome with these guys to get you in there the first time."

"Did you just say Howard? As in Howard Stark?"

Peggy and Daniel groaned in unison.

"Don't tell me you're a big fan of him too?" groaned Daniel.

"His ego's already big enough as it is," Peggy agreed.

"No, it's not that, I- uh... nevermind." I pushed off the desk, waving off thoughts of Tony. I still wasn't clear on how this time travel stuff worked, and I didn't want to go telling people about Howard Stark's currently nonexistent son without more assurance it wouldn't have any crazy impact first. "Look, you guys clearly don't have space for me in this mission. The best path is a small team, specifically a couple, who can enjoy the night like a regular date while still gathering intel and handling the mission."

Peggy and Daniel shared a look, and I could see an entire conversation passing between them. I continued.

"I might not know much about the forties, but I'm still a capable adult. I'm an Av- I was on a team with Steve to take on missions around the world. I'll be fine handling myself for a bit while you guys take care of business."

"Are you sure?" asked Peggy with a frown.

"We don't want to completely abandon you. Disappearing from your own time and reappearing in another can't be easy," added Daniel.

I gave them a faint smile, momentarily overwhelmed with memories. I'd first met Steve when he'd shown up in the future and needed someone to help him adjust. I'd been a SHIELD agent at the time, responsible for liaising with Tony Stark, so they figured helping a living legend adjust would be nothing compared to that.

They'd been right, and we'd hit it off the bat. When Tony eventually formed the team, I'd been on the roster. And now, I was the one being faced with adjusting to another time.

"It's not easy," I said to Daniel, the smile still on my face. "But I also don't need babysitters when those babysitters have important, world-saving duties to attend to. I actually have a little bit of an advantage, going back in time. I took history classes and whatnot, so I at least have some idea of how this world works."

"Well, if you're sure-"

"Alright! Sousa, Marge, fear not! The cavalry is here."

I turned at the sound of a new voice, but not before I caught Peggy and Daniel rolling their eyes so far back into their heads I couldn't see the pupils. A tall, blond man in a suit was striding across the room towards us, and a second after I started sizing him up he noticed me and did the same.

"Who's this?" he asked, coming to a stop in front of us. Peggy and Daniel didn't answer right away, apparently working together to gather mental strength before entering the conversation with this guy. I just leaned back a bit against the desk and watched.

Peggy and Daniel took a second to make significant eye contact, then sighed as one. Daniel turned to Jack, and Peggy subtly shifted closer to me.

"She's somebody who does a job like ours, but from the future," said Daniel. Jack just stared at him for a minute, then looked to me, and then back at Daniel.

"Sousa, despite what you might think, I'm not stupid."

"Jack, I get that it's hard to believe, but if you actually listen for two seconds-"

Jack huffed and crossed his arms while Daniel kept talking. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Peggy leaning in towards me, and I blocked out the boys' argument as she whispered to me.

"Y/N, I have a favor to ask of you."

"Hit me," I whispered back. Peggy sighed.

"Jack has recently had a moral epiphany," she started. I took half a second to give her a curious glance, and she just rolled her eyes in response. "It's been mostly nice, both to have him on our side and to finally have him respecting me and Daniel and anyone that's not an older man already in power.

"That said, we don't have space for him on this mission. All he's going to do is be a nuisance, and he's far less likely to agree to being benched than you."

"And I take it you have a solution for this?"

"Yes. But it would require throwing you under the bus to keep him occupied tonight."

I paused for a second, giving Jack another good look. He and Sousa were still in the middle of a heated argument while Sousa tried to convince him I was actually a time traveler, and even though they both seemed exasperated, Jack also seemed to be enjoying the back and forth. A smile tugged at the corner of my mouth.

"Peggy Carter, it would be an absolute honor to assist you on a mission," I said, turning to her with a smile. "Even if it means spending the evening learning about the forties from a slightly questionable teacher."

"You're a lifesaver," she said, giving me a smile back. She pushed off the desk, moving towards Daniel and Jack to interrupt them but shooting me a wink first. "And don't worry, I'll give you an actual introduction to the decade after this mission is over."

I nodded, then Peggy got Jack and Daniel's attention to put their argument to rest and explain the situation. Jack raised an eyebrow when Peggy told him his job would be keeping me company, but she phrased it well enough that it didn't quite sound like babysitting for either of us. Finally, he agreed, and Peggy and Daniel headed out for their event, leaving me and Jack Thompson alone in the bullpen of the LA SSR.

He stood by the windows, staring out at the traffic below as I spun around in a swivel chair. I kept looking at him, but he didn't look over at me once, at least not that I could catch. Finally, after a few more rotations, I huffed a sigh and pushed myself up. I put my hands on my hips, but Jack still didn't look over.

"Alright, I'm bored out of my mind, which should not be a possibility less than three hours after I suddenly appeared in a different time period," I said. Jack finally looked over at me, raising an unimpressed eyebrow as he did. I continued. "You're supposed to be helping me adjust to this place, since I don't know how long I'm gonna be here. Believe it or not, it didn't take me that long to adjust to this office."

He sighed heavily, but stepped away from the window anyway, stopping a few feet in front of me with his arms across his chest. He stared at me for a few seconds without saying anything, and I just stared right back. I crossed my arms to mirror him and he snorted and rolled his eyes.

"You're really from the future?" he finally asked.

"Did the twenty minutes Peggy and Daniel spent convincing you not settle this matter?"

He grunted, then finally dropped his arms back to his sides.

"Fine. What do you want to do then?"

I grinned. "Any good places to grab a drink and a dance around here?”

****************

"This is only my first week in LA, so if this place ends up being terrible, it's the city's fault and not mine," said Jack as we stepped out of the cab together. I'd taken a second to find a dress to steal from Peggy's emergency disguise stash at the SSR, since my 21st century mission clothes would probably cause a riot if I went out in them, and then Jack and I had jumped in a cab to a spot in town he'd heard about.

"Boooo," I teased as he paid the driver and we headed in together. "You can't consider the possibility of the night being a failure before it's even started! It's a jinx."

"A jinx?"

"Yeah, you know. Like bad luck."

"I know the definition of the word jinx," he scoffed. "I just think it's ridiculous you believe in them."

"Oh, yeah, of course. Actually, I didn't want to tell Peggy and Daniel this, but in the future we've discovered that a lot of things people dismissed as superstitions or bad luck are actually true. Like jinxes. Oh, and breaking a mirror? That actually will mess you up! We didn't realize it until science advanced a little further, I think in the seventies, but it's true."

Jack stared at me for a few seconds, and I stared back with a perfectly neutral expression on my face. Then, he broke into a grin and nudged me with his shoulder.

"You're messing with me."

"I definitely am."

He scoffed and shook his head, but the smile didn't drop off his face. He sighed dramatically, looking up at the club in front of us, then held out his arm for me to take.

"C'mon. You're the one who wanted to experience the time period."

I smiled up at him, then looped my arm through his. He pulled me a little closer, and I'd be lying if I said my heart didn't speed up a bit as we walked into the club together.

Immediately I got hit with the music I associated with the swinging jazz of the 1940s as we stepped into a world of men in suits and women in old-style dresses, all twirling across the dancefloor together.

"Whoa," I breathed. Suddenly, it started to sink in that I was actually in the 1940s, more than 80 years from everything and everyone I knew. A new surge of sympathy for Steve welled up in my chest.

"You alright?" asked Jack, nudging me a little as we stood in the doorway. I took a deep breath in and out, then slowly nodded. "Okay, good. Let's go get a drink.”

I huffed a laugh as he pulled me through the crowd and towards the bar. We managed to find two stools, and Jack pulled my seat out for me before I sat down. I couldn't help giving him a slightly bemused look, which he grunted about as he took the seat next to me.

"What?" he asked.

"Nothing," I said, waving him off. "Just, you know... forties."

He turned to stare at me, his eyebrows knit together, but the bartender appeared before he could question what I was talking about.

"What can I get the two of you?" asked the bartender. Jack turned to me, letting me go first.

"I'll have an old fashioned, please."

Both he and Jack looked at me for a second, but I looked right back at both of them like they were crazy for questioning it (because they were). After a second, Jack shrugged and turned back to the bartender.

"I'll do the same."

The bartender nodded, then moved away to make the drinks. I turned and gave Jack a smile.

"Thanks for buying," I said. "I didn't have my wallet on me when I got sucked back in time, and even if I did, I don't think the bartender would be able to accept the kind of bills I carry. I'm not trying to get arrested for counterfeiting a few hours into being in the past."

Jack chuckled. "Sure thing. So, an old fashion, huh?"

"Yeah. It's Ton- uh, it's my friend's favorite drink. He got me drinking them, too."

"Hm. Future sounds like a wild place."

"Honestly, I'd say 1940 is a little wilder."

The bartender set down our drinks, and Jack put a few bills on the table. Then, once he was out of earshot again, I turned to Jack with a smile.

"Cheers," I said, raising my glass in toast. "To new experiences and getting to know each other and this weird ass trip back to the past."

Jack smiled, although I could tell he was fighting it, and clinked his glass with mine before we both took a sip.

"So, Jack Thompson... tell me about the forties."

Jack and I spent the next hour talking about everything from foods that hadn't been invented yet (ranch dressing!) to the weird, national popularity of baseball and how I couldn't wait to see people start getting the memo about the NBA. Some of it was informative, even helpful, but for the most part we just... talked. Laughed. Joked around and enjoyed each other's company like people who'd known each other much longer than a few hours.

For some reason, it just felt easy. Going into this, heading out with someone who was clearly a confident, if not arrogant, man from the 1940s, with Peggy's warnings on top of everything else? Well, let's just say I didn't have the highest of hopes. But by some miracle, whether it was our equally loud and teasing personalities or that fact that I proudly didn't know anything about baseball beyond the fact that games took way too long, rather than the ignorance or indifference he had been expecting... Jack Thompson and I got on like wildfire.

"I'm just saying, when you're watching a legend play, that's the only part of the game that matters!" Jack continued, defending his baseball stance. "And DiMaggio's a legend."

"Yeah, no shit," I scoffed, rolling my eyes to go with it. Jack snorted at my language, but I caught him grinning at me all the same as he took a sip from his drink. "But, unlike in other sports, your legend's only playing for like fifteen minutes out of every hour. Still boring!"

Jack opened his mouth, clearly ready with some other comeback that would do absolutely nothing to change my position, but before he could, the band started up with something I actually recognized.

"Oh my God!" I cried, setting down the now-empty glass that previously held my second old fashioned. "This song- we have to go dance!"

"You know this song?" asked Jack, only looking slightly bemused as he set down his glass and I dragged him towards the dance floor.

"Yeah. Steve plays it all. The damned. Time," I said, finally coming to a stop in the middle of the floor. I moved to drop Jack's hand now that I'd gotten him out here, but he just squeezed it tighter and pulled me closer. "It's one of the only songs from the forties he plays that I can actually stand."

Jack scoffed, wrapping an arm around my waist as we started twirling across the floor together. "You're actually friends with him? Sousa wasn't making that whole thing up?"

"What? No. Actually, I'm the one that helped him adjust to the future not long after he woke up in my time."

Jack nodded, looking thoughtful. "So that's why you recognized Carter? Sousa said you almost fainted from excitement when you first saw her."

"No. I mean, sort of, I guess. But I would've known her even without Steve. She's only the coolest, most badass woman and intelligence pioneer the world has ever known," I said. Jack snorted, and I scowled. "What? You disagree?"

He shrugged. "I mean, I'd probably argue there are some other intelligence pioneers that deserve mention. But... I guess no, I don't necessarily disagree. Just don't mention it to her, alright? I'll deny it, and I don't need her immortalization from a time traveler being thrown in my face every time I work a case with her for the rest of time."

I laughed, and Jack gave me a knowing smile before spinning me out and away from him. He twirled me across the floor before pulling me back to him quickly. We moved in perfect harmony, picking up our pace to match the band and putting the other couples to shame. We quickly got lost in our own little world, to the point that everyone and everything except the music disappeared. When Jack sped up, I sped up a little more, and we easily met each other's challenges, stupid smiles on our faces the whole time.

When a slower song started playing, Jack and I finally relaxed the pace, forgoing the elaborate dance moves to just sway in place and catch our breaths for a minute. I was still a little lost in our moment, enough so that I didn't notice someone else approaching us until he shoved himself part way between me and Jack.

"Hey doll. Mind if I cut in?" The guy leered over me, totally ignoring Jack as he reached for my hand without waiting for my answer. I scoffed, my tired-but-happy smile instantly turning into a scowl. Jack seemed equally frustrated and moved as if he was about to step in and do something about it, but I decided to just take care of it for the both of us.

"Actually, yeah, I do mind," I snapped, fixing the guy with an unimpressed look as I snatched my hand out of his reach. He seemed incredibly surprised by my response, but I plowed ahead anyway. "I'm dancing with someone already, and even if I weren't, I have no interest at all in dancing with you. So... scram. Or beat it. Or whatever people say now."

The man just stood there for a second, open-mouthed, blinking at me in stunned silence. Then, his expression shifted into a scowl and his face started to turn red.

"I- You- How dare you-!"

"Dude, get lost," I said, crossing my arms and staring him down as I talked over him. I glanced over his shoulder to Jack, who also looked shocked but in a pleasantly surprised way, and addressed him. "What's another good way to tell someone to go away?"

He shrugged, a delighted smile growing on his face. "Take a powder?"

"Really?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. Jack just nodded, so I looked back at the rude guy. "Alright, take a powder. Hit the bricks. Take a long walk off a short pier. Other creative ways to say leave. I want to dance to this lovely song with my dance partner here, who is not you, so... yeah. Take the blatant instructions."

The man whirled around to Jack, like he expected him to say or do something to reign me in. Jack just shrugged again.

"You heard the lady. I'm not gonna tell you anything she didn't already say."

The man scowled, whipping back to look at me again. I just met him with crossed arms and a look that told him I wouldn't be budging an inch. He spluttered a few more incoherent words in indignation, then stormed off the dance floor and out of sight. I sighed, then faced Jack again.

"How wildly out of place was that for the time period? Both him and me?" I asked. Jack grinned.

"Him? Not very. You? Insanely," he said, taking my hand again as we went back to gently swaying in place. He tugged me a little closer to his chest, and I smiled. "I gotta say though, I sure enjoyed watching it."

"Good. Because I don't actually care at all, and I had a lot of fun doing that."

Jack laughed, throwing his head back before fixing me with a brilliant smile. He twirled me out and away from him again, then pulled me right back into his chest. We swayed together, closer than we'd been all night, and to my surprise I started noticing more than a few butterflies squirming in my chest as I stared up at the SSR Chief. Hm, noted the more logical side of my brain as we moved across the crowded dance floor. Nice, my heart replied as Jack's strong hand laid firmly on my waist and my hand traveled to the collar of his shirt.

Jack and I spent the rest of the night at the club, enjoying the music, the dancing, and each other's company until the place turned on the lights and threw us out. A few times, other men came up to hit on me and "steal me away" from Jack. Each time, I dressed them down and sent them on their way, and each time Jack just grinned and watched me do it. I could still tell he was ready to jump in, that his instinct was to take care of it for me, but he seemed to enjoy watching the jerks splutter and babble in shock and surprise as much as I did.

Afterwards, when we wandered back out onto the LA street together, Jack insisted on escorting me back to Howard Stark's place, where I'd be staying with Peggy. It was going to be incredibly weird staying at Tony's dad's house, meeting him and the real-human Jarvis, but I could process that later. Right now, I wanted to focus on the amazing, less-weird parts of being in the 40s. Specifically Jack Thompson, who I'd just spent a wonderful night enjoying this new time period with.

Jack hailed us a cab, and I rested my head on his shoulder and watched the city go by as the taxi took us out of the city, to the massive Stark mansion. It was basically a 40s version of Tony's Malibu house, and a pang of sadness tightened in my chest when I realized I had no idea when–or if–I would see my friends again.

I took a deep breath and shook those thoughts out of my head as the car came to a stop. All of that was a problem for later, not now. Jack got out first, holding the door for me and offering a hand to help me out, which I took. Rather than dropping it once I stood, he wrapped it around his arm as he asked the cabbie to wait and escorted me towards the house. We stopped on the porch and turned to face each other, and I realized I actually really didn't want the night to end.

"Thanks for showing me around the forties," I said, giving Jack a small smile. "It was actually really fun."

"You don't have to sound so surprised," he griped, but a smile made its way onto his face all the same. "So... I don't know how long you're gonna be here, and obviously we've got a lot of other work to do with Carter and Sousa tomorrow, but... maybe I could take you out again sometime. There's still a lot of forties you haven't seen yet."

"I'd like that," I said, a warm feeling welling up in my chest. I hesitated a second as Jack and I stared at each other on the doorstep, then decided to say fuck it and keep doing what I'd been doing all night: following my impulses. "Quick question: in the forties, if I kiss you on the first date, is that going to scare you off or something?"

Jack grinned. "It might get a raised eyebrow from the cabbie, but I sure as shit won't be complaining."

"Good."

With that, I grabbed Jack's lapels and tugged him towards me, leaning up just a bit and giving him a kiss. It was short, really just a quick peck since we'd just met, but fireworks exploded in my chest at the sensation anyway.

Jack's grin stayed in place as we pulled apart, and his hand lingered on my waist an extra second before dropping to his side. He took a step backwards, towards the waiting car, even as his eyes stayed on mine. I rested my hand on the doorknob, watching Jack and trying to stay in the moment even as he walked away.

"Welcome to the forties, sweetheart," he called as he made it down the porch steps and into the driveway. "I'll see you at work tomorrow."

I waved, a smile on my own face to match his. "Can't wait."

Jack gave a short wave and one last grin before getting into the cab. I watched as he drove away, a smile still on my own face even after I knew he couldn't see it. Finally, after the lights of the cab faded back into the LA night, I turned on my heel and walked into the house.

I'd been in the 40s for less than twelve hours, and I knew for a fact that I hadn't even scratched the tip of the iceberg on exploring the time period, or what frustrations being eighty years removed from everything I knew would bring. But, despite all that, I'd had a blast tonight, and tomorrow I'd get to start working with THE Peggy Carter. Whether I was only here for another few hours or it turned into months or longer, I couldn't help being excited at the idea of everything that was yet to come for me, not least of all my next date with Jack Thompson.

[queenofthegayships]

Steve Rogers and Peggy Carter

I don't like them together, and its not even a bias. I thought she was kind of annoying at best, becoming very possessive very quickly. which like, go woman, go after what you want

But then she shoots at Steve.

First off, its highly unlikely she would have known the shield would protect Steve.

The shield is vibranium, the rarest metal on earth and not widely known. It was made with the last bit the world had available to them (as far as Howard was aware) and I doubt Howard would have advertised it or it's qualities to people, even in his own circles. Besides, vibranium looks like any other metal so even if she had known of its existence, she wouldn't have been sure that what Steve was holding was vibraniam.

Second, the gun she fired at Steve came from a table of what looked to be experimental and unfinished weaponry.

They were in what was probably Howard's starks research and development facility. And again, the table of weapons the guns came from looked to still be in development or at the very least, laid out for inspection and testing. This means that Peggy wouldn't have known that the gun was 1. Reliable 2. Safe to use and 3. Functional

Third, she fired a weapon in an enclosed space with no ear protection.

I mean, really? She's an agent for fucks sake, she should know better (even if the practice of ear protection wasn't widely taught at the time) And even then, she was risking the bullets ricocheting off into a room of experimental and likely volatile projects and innocent people.

Finally, with all of that, what gave Peggy the right to shoot at Steve?

Because she saw him kissing another woman? Is that REALLY an excuse? Absolutely not. For Peggy to react in such an extreme way over something so small just doesn’t sit right with me. It’s a massive overreaction that, to me, paints her in a very possessive, unhealthy light. She didn't even bother to try to ask him what had happened and she knew Steve by that point. She KNEW he wouldn't just be throwing himself at women, he could barely talk clearly with one. And what part of that kiss gave "consensual" on Steve's part? It was clear he was uncomfortable. The lack of communication here and the absence of Steve’s voice in the situation further highlights the power imbalance in their budding relationship.

At this point, Steve and Peggy weren’t in a full-blown relationship, just mutual attraction and some shy flirting. This makes Peggy’s behavior even worse. It wasn’t just a case of an overemotional reaction between two partners, it was a reaction between two people who weren’t even officially together. Instead of talking things out, she resorts to violence, major violence, because pulling a GUN on someone you are supposed to like is a huge red flag. Peggy’s behavior crosses a line from emotional overreaction to controlling, and it's alarming to think how much worse it could’ve gotten in a more serious relationship.

As for Endgame. I absolutely disregard that as canon. The way they resolved Steve's story in that movie feels wrong to me, and I don’t think it fits with the development of his character throughout the earlier films. Steve’s journey, his trauma, and his growth all lead to a different outcome, one that doesn’t involve going back to Peggy. The entire Endgame conclusion feels like an attempt to please fans, but it sacrifices the deeper emotional and character growth Steve underwent in the previous movies.

Besides, they knew each other for only 3-4 years and probably only saw each other intermittently during that time, with Steve often away chasing Hydra and Peggy occupied with her own SSR missions. It seems pretty clear that the attachment Steve had to Peggy wasn’t natural or healthy, and honestly, it comes off as a bit strange. Though his attempts to move on were probably skewed because of the reminder of her involvement in SHEILD, and for some reason placing Peggy's niece, of all agents, to spy on Steve in the Winter Solder. (I'm not even going to bother getting into Sharon)

[evadne01]

Marvel Masterlist

The right choice

Summary: Steve gets back from his quest: giving back the infinity stones.

Relationship: Sam Wilson & Steve Rogers

It was you?

Summary: Steve looked up at Tony Stark, Natasha's best friend. Were in moments like this that Steve disliked his familiar relationship with Natasha. If he wasn’t Natasha’s cousin, he wouldn’t have been in the same room with Tony Stark.

Relationship: Natasha Romanov & Steve Rogers, Tony Stark/Steve Rogers

We are on the cam 

Summary:

After three months, Bucky and Tony had broken up, due to some misunderstandings that hadn't been mentioned to Steve who, on his part, hadn't insisted. Because, feeling extremely guilty, Steve had a crush on Tony.

He had fallen in love with his ex's ex, which, of course, wasn't good news.

How could he tell Bucky?

And how could he explain to Tony about his past relationship with Bucky, without sounding like a slimy creep?

Relationship: Tony Stark/Steve Rogers

I born in a messed up century

Summary:

Steve shouldn't be surprise: human never change.

Or, maybe, they can still surprise you, in their own way

Relationship: Steve Rogers/Tony Stark

It all started with a favor

Summary:

After The Winter Soldier events, Sam, Steve and Natasha found themselves in the same house, forced to stay hide to be safe.

None of them are angry about the situation.

Relationship: Sam Wilson/Natasha Romanov/Steve Rogers

You come back to me

Summary:

Bucky was a merman.

Steve was his friend and then he disappeared.

Saving a boy from drowning, Bucky couldn't believe who he was.

Relationship: Bucky Barnes & Steve Rogers

Hey I just met you, but this is my home

Summary:

Tony Stark has his first crush, Steve Rogers, in his house.

Steve talks about Howard.

Relationship: Tony Stark/Steve Rogers

I am enchanted to meet you

Summary: Tony tried to find his soulmate with an association of matchmaking.

Relationship: Tony Stark/Steve Rogers

In the pages of our lives

Summary:

Steve Rogers had always been a soldier.

Without any war, he doesn't know what to do.

A memory of his old life is what he needs to overcome his difficulties.

And, maybe, something new.

Relationship: Steve Rogers & Bucky Barnes, Tony Stark/Steve Rogers

Don't wake me up 

Summary:

Bucky Barnes had feared that Steve would have choose to stay in the past with Peggy.

He was so happy to be wrong

Relationship: Bucky Barnes & Steve Rogers

Nicknames

Summary: "We won't have nicknames" Steve said.

Relationship: Bucky Barnes & Steve Rogers & Sam Wilson

I can't make it without you

Summary: Bucky had always been there for him, now it was Steve’s turn to be there for his friend.

Relationship: Bucky Barnes & Steve Rogers

It isn't a date! 

Summary:

It wasn't a date.

Bucky just wanted to discuss the best way to set up their presentation, which included meeting to discuss their presentation.

Relationship: Bucky Barnes/Steve Rogers

I am proud ~ Then why am I screaming?

Summary:

Bucky Barnes and The Winter Soldier were two different things.

When one existed, the other had no place.

I got your back 

Summary:

Sam could tell something was off.

Steve had been far too quiet, too cautious. Too guarded, as if he were preparing to do something very, very stupid.

Relationship: Bucky Barnes & Steve Rogers, Steve Rogers & Sam Wilson

What is happiness?

Summary:

Steve had always had problems.

He was not the son his parents would have wanted, he was not the student his teachers would have wanted and he was not the American his homeland would have wanted.

Relationship: Bucky Barnes & Steve Rogers

Just, happy birthday

Summary:

Sam sighed, sitting on his couch, listlessly watching the news.

He had no one to spend the day with, his sister busy with keeping tabs on their business’ family. He hadn't even thought of taking some time off and joining her, just to relive the old traditions for a while.

Relationship: Steve Rogers & Sam Wilson

America's ass

Summary: Otherwise, right now he wouldn't be watching Steve Rogers from afar, like a lovesick man, knowing that he would never be loved back.

Relationship: Steve Rogers/Sam Wilson

Never again

Summary:

He had wanted to wait for Bucky, but he had been too tired himself to even think about carrying out that plan.

He would see him again in the morning, the blond thought, as his eyes closed, and sleep enveloped him.

Relationship: Bucky Barnes/Steve Rogers

Why is he beeping at me?

Summary:

"It's talking. That thing is talking."

Natasha, his guide that day, giggled. "It is a phone."

Steve looked at her. "Phones aren't like that."

Relationship: Steve Rogers & Natasha Romanov

I love you, I hate you, I hate that I love you 

Summary: When did they stop being each other's support, when did they stop being there for each other?

Relationship: Bucky Barnes & Steve Rogers

Why him?

Summary:

Steve nodded, before looking at him warily. “It's going to hurt, right?”

Howard grimaced, before deciding to be honest with Steve. He didn't want to start their partnership with a lie.

"I'm afraid so. Your cells will have to grow all together, bringing your cell mass, muscle mass, skeletal tissue, epithelial tissue and general structures to a higher level. Your metabolism will speed up, and fatigue will be reduced. It will be a very quick process, so that means it will also hurt a lot.”

Steve looked at him with bleary eyes. “I understand until ‘I’m afraid so’. Then I only heard some rather difficult terms and finally again that it will ‘hurt a lot’.”

Relationship: Abraham Erskine & Steve Rogers, Steve Rogers & Howard Stark

Walk a mile in my shoes

Summary:

"We've angered some sort of witch or wizard, I don't know." Bucky began.

"And she decided that, since we loved speaking in each other's names, we might as well take on their likenesses." Sam finished, a devastated grimace on his face.

Relationship: Bucky Barnes & Steve Rogers & Sam Wilson

The Blip

Summary: Steve and The Blip

“Are you suggesting that I am ignorant?”

Summary:

"With all the channels available, are you going to watch Focus?" Bucky asked and Steve looked at him. "What do you have against Focus? It's a general knowledge program. Which wouldn't hurt you, honestly."

Bucky threw him a pillow. “Are you suggesting that I am ignorant?”

Relationship: BUcky Barnes & Steve Rogers

The chains that drag me down 

Summary:

He heard the echoes of the people who had been friends with him in the past and knew that even if he turned around, he would find no one.

He was marked by ghosts and had no way to free himself from them.

Remembering him

Summary:

Steve had trouble understanding where he was at times.

Or rather, he had trouble understanding when he was. What year he lived in.

Relationship: Steve Rogers & Howard Stark, Steve Rogers & Tony Stark

Saving you 

Summary:

"A siren?" Bucky asked, confused and upset.

Mermaids did not inhabit those seas. They were too inhabited by man, too little wild.

Relationship: Bucky Barnes & Sam Wilson, Bucky Barnes & Steve Rogers

We aren't a couple!

Summary: Steve and Peggy weren't a couple. Why Sam and Bucky couldn't get it?

Relationship: Bucky Barnes & Sam Wilson & Steve Rogers, Steve Rogers/Tony Stark

Missing you 

Summary: Sometimes Sam wished Steve was still there.

Relationship: Steve Rogers & Sam Wilson

Coffee and cars

Summary: Bucky has a no day. He finds comfort in an unexpected person.

Relationship: Bucky Barnes/Tony Stark

Things changed

Summary:

The Serum changed Steve.

Howard is curious to see how much.

Relationship: Steve Rogers/Howard Stark

I should thank you 

Summary:

Tony Stark finds out he has a biological child.

Tony is totally ready to be a better father than his own.

Relationship: Peter Parker & Tony Stark, Michelle Jones/Peter Parker, Michelle Jones & Ned Leeds & Peter Parker

Compassion isn't weakness

Summary:

Tony Stark thought being nice was being weak.

He met Steve Rogers, and he knew he was wrong.

Relationship: Steve Rogers/Tony Stark

I am here ~ where are you?

Summary:

Bucky Barnes survives the Snap.

And someone else didn't.

Relationship: Bucky Barnes & Steve Rogers

Smile for me, smile for us 

Summary:

Bucky thought too much sometimes. Especially when the people he met repeated his darkest thoughts and his deepest fears; thoughts and fears that troubled him deeply.

Fortunately, he was never left alone. Fortunately, he was loved.

Fortunately, he always had a reason to smile.

Relationship: Bucky Barnes/Steve Rogers

Loving you like a song 

Summary: Bucky and Steve have a romantic date

Relationship: Bucky Barnes/Steve Rogers

Four weddings and an half 

Summary: Bucky and Tony's relationship through their friends' weddings.

Relationship: Natasha Romanov/Sam Wilson, Peggy Carter/Steve Rogers, Jane Foster/Thor, Bucky Barnes/Tony Stark

You belong with me

Summary:

Why couldn't Steve realize that what he was looking for had always been by his side?

Why couldn't Steve see that they were meant for each other?

Relationship: Bucky Barnes/Steve Rogers, Sharon Carter/Steve Rogers

I need you ~ please come back 

Summary: Bucky waits for Steve to wake up.

Relationship: Bucky Barnes & Steve Rogers

Was it worse die or stay alive with guilt? 

Summary: A missing scene from when Bucky and Steve are going to Siberia

Relationship: Bucky Barnes & Steve Rogers

The asocial roommate 

Summary: Sam and Bucky are roommates

Relationship: Bucky Barnes & Sam Wilson

Meeting the friends

Summary: Bucky and Steve tell their friends that they have a relationship.

Relationship: Bucky Barnes/Steve Rogers, Avengers Team

Hold on, I still want you

During the events of Dark Phoenix, Jean doesn't kill Raven. She kills Charles.

Erik mourns the loss of his old friend.

Erik Lehnsherr/Charles Xavier, Raven | Mystique & Charles Xavier, Hank McCoy & Charles Xavier, Jean Grey & Charles Xavier

You've already done enough.

Erik didn't know what he was doing, standing in front of the Westchester estate.

He should have left. He knew he was no longer wanted, not now, not after everything he had done, said, caused.

Erik Lehnsherr/Charles Xavier

The Beginning of Everything

Charles Xavier was seventeen when he found out that were other mutants like him and his sister.

And he was seventeen when he helped the CIA against Shaw.

It does not matter.

“Jean almost died.” Raven gulped.

"Also Charles.” Erik shook his head. “When he jumped into the ocean for me, when he took a bullet in the back because of me, when Nur tried to possess him while he was saving me from myself…” Erik glanced at the girl. “Charles always takes risks for his students. For his children.”

Erik Lehnsherr/Charles Xavier

The mistakes I made

Charles, Raven and Erik post-Apocalypse end in First Class time and meet their past selves.

Things are fixed.

Between the lines of fear and blame

“Charles?”

Her eyes widened, as she looked at her brother.

He changed, they both did. His hair were longer (his hair were dirtier), his eyes were always blue (he had dirty bags under them, as if he didn’t sleep since a long time), he was smiling (his features weren’t the same anymore, the time has passed for all of them, not kind with any of them).

“We’ve come for you, Erik and I.” Charles told her, kind and gentle, always kind and gentle. “Together.”

****

Or: A different way the scene in Paris could have gone (DOFP Canon Divergence)

Sunset light on us

The search for mutants wasn’t going badly.

Some were interested, some hesitant, but anyway, Charles just loved the feeling.

Finding them, talking to them, touching the surface of their minds…

Singing in the rain

Erik, confused and fascinated at the same time, shook his head, saying. "Really, Charles? After all this, you sing a song about singing in the rain? When it’s raining?".

Charles didn't respond right away, but instead continued to hum quietly, until he approached Erik.

Please, not again

When Moira started shooting at him, Erik wasn’t even surprised.

He wanted to scream at Charles that that was what humans did: they turned against the different, the special, the better, they fought against improvement because they knew they would be left behind, fought, defeated, forgotten.

You are the king to my queen

The next morning, the day of their mission in Cuba, Charles found a metal king outside his door.

We want the same thing

“NO!” Charles screamed, and for the first time in his life, he didn’t need to focus his power.

There was a simple choice: let Erik die or be enough to save him.

And Charles wasn’t going to lose Erik—not to a bullet.

For old times' sake

“Thanks, Erik.” Charles said, at the end of the old-time chess game. “It was fun.”

Erik smiled, putting the pieces away. “And you cheated only a couple times.”

“You can’t cheat at chess, Erik.” Charles shook his head, amused. “I thought you, of all people, would know that.”

Gimel

"I can do whatever I want with what I've won." Erik smiled, tilting his head and pushing the offered chocolate forward, trying to tempt Charles with that offer. "And believe me, watching you eat this chocolate is the only thing I want to do with my prize."

When you call my name it's like a little prayer

“I dedicate this to my unrequited love.” Charles smiled sheepishly. “And that’s such a cliché, isn’t it?”

Julie giggled. “Okay, lover boy! Show us what you wrote for your love.”

A hope of peace

He and Erik had that bond, Charles wasn't the only one who felt it, he was sure of it.

So, he had noticed the coin Erik sometimes played with, when he was lost in thought and his gaze would rest violently and intently on a wall, as if he were imagining something different, or someone different, right there in front of him.

I will always protect you

“Thank you.” Erik murmured into Charles’s hair as the two of them climbed into the jet that Erik had easily repaired with a wave of his hand.

“You don’t have to thank me, Erik.” Charles smiled. “There was no choice to make.”

The perfect blend

The only thing Charles couldn’t bear not to have was his cup of well-brewed English tea, not the American swill they tried to pass off as real English tea.

“Are you done insulting the American state and its soulless employees?” Erik gave him a bored look from the wheel of the car, having learned the hard way not to let Charles drive the car.

Or:

A conversation about tea brings Erik and Charles to share some things about Charles' past

Oh, this is a surprise

Erik couldn't be said to be unoriginal in his affections.

He could have said it so many times, during their road trip to find the mutants, during one of their chess games, or maybe while Moira was doing one of her dives demanding Charles' attention as if she had some right to that.

Instead, Erik had decided to use his actions.

I would always rather be happy than dignified

Cherik Jane Eyre AU

Here to return to the General Masterlist

[drummingbird]

I have a little brain worm I have from time to time about a Howard stark x Bucky Barnes fic idea where basically, they met before the war, the fall in love during the wall, Bucky falls, Howard becomes obsessed with finding Bucky and Steve and recreating the super soldier serum. He succeeds in recreating a serum but his experiment goes slightly wrong and he ends up becoming a super soldier. Then they find Bucky, he helps him through recovery, Tony is born yada yada yada you don’t care.

The main point of this post is that in that AU the Mamma Mia movies totally exist and Howard plays Skye bc there’s is no way in hell that you can convince me that the Agent Carter version of Howard stark who owns his own film studio wouldn’t JUMP at the chance to act in a movie filmed in Greece where the ENTIRE cast was drunk the whole time lmao.