#Under Bold Skies|Avengers verse

[tarnishedhalo]

"You'd never make it to the side-walk before the dogs get you."

The voice is low and deep, river water run over its own gravel, but there's a hint of acerbic humor beneath the words. It belongs to the man poured into the seat to Clint's left. Long legs clad in denim and ending in strap-laced boots, polished to a dull shine. Black Prada dress shirt immaculately pressed with the sleeves rolled up to the elbow, extensive tattoo on one exposed forearm, a Louis Moinet Meteoris watch. Wide shoulders, muscular build. Strong jaw, a few days worth of stubble, high cheekbones, precisely messy spiked hair and dark green-hazel eyes that seem to watch him like a hawk. Neither the oldest or youngest guy in the group, he also carries a sense of self-confidence that many lack. Neither his voice nor his hands shake and if anything, he looks almost bored.

His eyes dart from where the man's mauling the Styrofoam cup ~something he can already feel his sister having a coronary about~ to the way his knee moves. Classic signs of nervous tension and discomfort. Riley does it when he's feeling impatient, so maybe that's another motive. One question that comes up is why this poor guy chose to turn up at the meeting, a group therapy session. He looks a million years behind on his sleep. Reminds him of better days when all he could do was hurry up and weight and if it weren't extremely intrusive, Riley would scan the surface of the guy's thoughts to try and get the right read on him.

Instead, he chooses the indirect route. He pivots his hips slightly, holds out a hand. "Riley, Lieutenant. Retired."

It was a desperate effort to show the others he was true to his word about staying sober and getting help. Sam had suggested that he should go to a vet’s meeting rather than alcoholics anonymous. The idea was he needed to work through the post traumatic stress disorder he developed during battle against Loki’s army to start to heal and help keep his sobriety. Of course, Steve agreed with a tone that left no room for argument. Not that he would dare, already feeling as if he was walking on thin ice with the team...which only added to the anxiety he already had.

After putting it off for several, Clint's hand was forced with waking from a nightmare so violently he woke several of the others, standing in the hallway soaked in sweat while he was lectured on the dangerous path he was choosing.

His knee bounced anxiously while he watched the veterans steadily arrive and take their seats around the room, fiddling with the cup of stale coffee in his hands. More than anything, he wanted to leave. Run back to the Tower to find the bottle of bourbon Tony had hidden in the lab. But he didn't move from the chair, instead allowing his gaze drop in silent shame to the floor. Every other person in the room was a hero, whereas he was just simply someone who couldn't keep his shit together. They deserved better than to have him sitting there among them.

Clint glanced over his shoulder at the door, wondering if there was still time to slip out before everything began and - more importantly - if he could come up with a viable excuse as to why he left.

@tarnishedhalo

[averil-of-fairlea]

One Little Chance

Finally, a silent night. For now. 

Standing on the rooftop of Avengers Tower, you enjoyed the peace and stillness that would soon be broken by the thunder and dazzle of fireworks exploding in the distance, loudly welcoming the strike of midnight and a new year.

To have access to this spectacular view, you had to put in a formal request, go through a psych eval and agree to have your vital signs monitored during your allotted time up here, which was of course under surveillance. 

You were only allowed within a secure, safe area, with boundaries clearly marked by bright beams that chirped a sharp, deafening screech if you got too close. 

You didn’t mind the necessary overkill. The view was worth the hurdles, and was exactly what you needed. 

You had until just after midnight to enjoy the sights. Then it was back to real life and the yearning in your heart for James Buchanan Barnes. 

Up here, you could tuck your love for him in the back of your mind. Only a view as spectacular as this could do that. 

Still, you couldn’t help but wonder about him, wonder how he was spending this celebratory evening. 

A verse from an old song drifted across your mind - a song with equal parts hope, melancholy, apprehension and boldness. All the things you felt when you were near him.

“Oh, but in case I stand one little chance

Here comes the jackpot question in advance

What are you doing New Year's, New Year's Eve?”

“It’s freezing up here.”

Bucky’s voice rumbled behind you. Startled, you whipped around, eyes wide, as you went into emergency action mode. 

“Are the comms down?” you asked. Immediately, a humanlike voice spoke through your earpiece, informing you that your vitals were elevated and that you might require medical attention. 

Bucky’s earpiece must have received similar information, because at the same time you both responded, “Negative.” 

Your eyes met. Impish grins spread across your faces before you broke out in laughter. 

After a few seconds, Bucky held his hand up, a gentle gesture intended to calm you.

“Nothing’s going on. I didn’t mean to scare you,” he said, sincerely.

You shuddered through your coat, suddenly feeling that chill he’d mentioned. 

“Fury must have sent you,” you guessed. 

Bucky furrowed his brow and shook his head. 

“No.”

“Who, then?”

“No one.” 

You relaxed, seeing that Bucky was on the up-and-up, as always.

“I like it up here,” he said, addressing the question in your mind. “But if you’d rather be alone-”

“It’s OK. Please stay.” It felt right to have him there, somehow.

There was no place to sit in the confined safe space, so you both just stood there, peering awkwardly at each other for a few seconds. Finally, you turned around to take in the skyline. Bucky strolled up beside you. 

“So, you come here often?” you joked after a while. 

Bucky smiled. “Every now and then.”

“Why?”

He waited a beat before responding. “To think.”

“About what?” You realized you sounded as if you were interviewing him, but you were genuinely curious.

He waited a beat before responding. “It’s hard to say.” He turned to look at you, offering a soft smile.

Bucky had said that before, followed by the same glance and expression. You had a feeling it had something to do with you, and some emotion you brought out in him. Not wanting to pry or be presumptuous, you let it go.

He was truly a man of few words, and the words he did say had an air of mystery to them. But he wasn’t trying to be unreadable. His past, his pain, and his redemption had shaped him into somewhat of a curiosity. You empathized. He was probably as much a puzzle to himself as he was to others - except to you.

You “got” him, thanks to your chats, which had increased in number and depth over the past year. They began with you answering his questions about new tech, and slowly morphed into him dishing on Sam’s quirks. His Avengers impressions were spot-on, and made you laugh until your sides hurt. 

You always found Bucky easy to talk to about difficult things, even when he didn’t have much to contribute. He had an uncanny tenderness and authenticity about him.

And Bucky always listened to you. He pondered his carefully-selected words before speaking. His eyes conveyed his respect for you. He couldn’t always figure himself out, but he seemed to understand you fully, and you, him.

Every fiber of your being told you to tell him how you felt. Even if he didn’t feel the same, your heart begged you to do it. So what if you got embarrassed or rejected? In your line of work, you’d faced far more threatening scenarios. 

“Almost midnight,” Bucky said matter-of-factly. “Are you here for the view?”

“I’m here...” You stopped to take a deep breath. “To dream.” Then, facing him squarely, you finished: “About you.”

With that, you swallowed back the meton your throat and kept your eyes on his.

Bucky’s lips parted slightly. He pointed to himself and mouthed me?

All at once, in your ear, the humanlike voice announced that it was about to begin the ten second-countdown to midnight. After that, you had another 60 seconds on the roof before your visit had to end. 

Ten.

You nodded and took a step closer to him, closing the gap. Taking a chance. 

Nine.

One little chance.

Eight.

Bucky took your hand and brought you close, his vibranium arm wrapping around your waist. Although you trembled in his embrace, you’d never felt more confident. 

Seven.

Your heart raced. 

Six.

“Tell me what’s on your mind,” you said. His silence and stunned expression were killing you.

Five.

“Is it hard to say?” you asked.

Bucky leaned his forehead against yours.

Four.

“Not this time,” he said. Then, as the countdown hit “three” and “two,” he brought his mouth to your ear, and whispered the words you’d been silently saying to him every time you were together.

One. 

The far-off fireworks began showering big, brightly-colored patterns across the skies.

As your lips met Bucky’s, you saw everything with your eyes closed.

[destielfanfic]

Group Ask #164

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Ask #1 ( @astralskeleton ): there’s this fic…#1

Hi I'm looking fora fix where it's first set in a Greek theme where dean and Castile hate each other. Cas is also a huge jerk. Dean is like fighting in an arena and has a male prostitute lover instead. Then he dies and is reincarnated with Castiel but they don't know each other and have a sorta arranged marriage in medieval times. I hope this made sense. Thanks!

Found by @fuckyougently: 

Under the Falling Skies by Dean-bangs-cas-in-the-impala [NC-17, 96,800 word count]  "So, Dean." The king clears his throat, looking at the barbarian who's eating a chicken's leg and scratching his belly with a contented face. "To end this conflict, I am offering you one of my daughters in marriage, so we can become allies and good friends. Choose whichever you want." The king gestures to his three daughters, all maidens of rare beauty. Dean belches loudly and pats his belly, causing loud laughter among his warriors. He takes a good look at the princesses, shifting his gaze from one to the other. "I appreciate your offer, King Uldred, and I will accept it. Though I don't want any of your daughters," he says with a broad grin. The king frowns. "I don't understand." "I want him." Dean points at the young prince with his gnawed chicken's leg. "I'll have Castiel."

Ask #2 ( @murray07 ): there’s this fic…#2

Hello I'm looking for a fic that I read the summary for but lost before I could read it it's about Dean asking firefighter Cas (who lives across the hall from him) to speak at his class career day it seems like a great story Thank you I'm advance for any help. AND

Check out our firefighter ask.

Found by @kindathewholepoint : Tumblr ficlet - With a Heart On Fire by @puppycastiel 

Ask #3 ( @murray07 ): there’s this fic…#3

Hey I love this blog can you tell me the name of a I read a while ago. Dean is cursed and he thinks he's saying one thing but he is actually telling Cas all of the things he wants to do to him and how much he loves him also I love the prayer kink fics I've read some great ones ( from your recommendation actually) are there any others out there.

Found by @alisajbrown: 

Miscommunication by Mayalaen [NC-17, 3900 word count] Rowena decides the UST needs to stop, so she does something about it.

Ask #4 ( @alisajbrown ): there’s this fic…#4

I don’t want to be a bother, but I can’t for the life of me find this story. It’s an AU fic. I remember Cas leaving home and his mother is either really sick and about to die or already dead? He comes back home to arrange things. There’s Dean who took care of Cas’ mother and became close to her. He was also her neighbor, was the one who found her, and/or the one to call Cas home I think. I believe later at one point when Cas was worried about the amount of time he took off of work (whilst also wanting to stay with Dean) they decided to move his job to his hometown. Charlie was in it I believe as a tech and friends with Cas? I can’t remember everything, it’s all foggy. I came across Back the Way You Came by tellthenight, but that’s definitely not it. This is hurting my head, please help.

Ask #5 ( @spizaetustyr): there’s this fic…#5

So, I'm looking for this amazing fic I read not so long ago. It was an AU where angels are rare wild beasts, and Dean is a new scientist at this center where people study angels. Can is alpha angel, and Dean wants to help him get out. I remember that the fic was abandoned/unfinished?

Ask #6 ( @hellsangelgreetsyou ): there’s this fic…#6

So m lukng fr fic whr Cas is dead in it n ws canon verse frm s5 I thnk. N it ws fcsed on hw Dean Avenges hm. I do remember der being a scn whr Cas gets raped by demons in front of Balth and the dialogue "Dean Winchester will end you". Classic fic

This one requires a bit of translation.

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