#and always felt himself out of place and inadequate because of it; because they're the greatest craftsmen of their age

[tathrin]

@the-smartass-under-the-mountain oh that is fantastic yes. It sounds to me like you have a story to write! (please?)

#either version would be amazing! #and theres always that one elf/dwarf whose brain work opposite #like an elf that does need everything in An Assigned Place bc memory is for Songs ans Genealogy not Hammer Location #and they end up getting along with the dwarf smiths better bc FINALLY someone understands that the tongs live on the 2nd shelf #or the dwarf that works seamlessly with elves bc they can hand off tools to each other without even glancing up from their work

A thought on Elves and Dwarves (as inspired by my roommate and I and the one place where our brains really don't line up):

Elves with perfect memories, who know exactly where they put that thingamajig even when they last set it down twenty years ago, and thus can always find whatever it is they're looking for amidst what looks like total disarray to everybody else.

Dwarves with perfectly ordered spatial awareness, who are so accustomed to the layout of their workshop or forge that they can lay their hands on any tool in there without even looking, and always set everything back where it belongs out of ingrained habit.

Elves who never ever put things back where they belong, because "put that away neatly so you can find it again" is simply not a concept that exists in elvish minds, because it doesn't need to.

Dwarves who will look right past the thing they're looking for if it's not where it belongs, because it's not where it belongs, why isn't it where it belongs, where did you put it you daft elf...?

Elves and Dwarves in the smithies of Ost-in-Edhil, ready to go to war over the arrangement of their tools, and Celebrimbor on the brink of tears desperately trying to keep the peace here that he never managed to in Nargothrond.

(alt: could easily be done the other way around too, with elves always putting things away because then the thing is always where it's supposed to be, even twenty years later, so you can find it again, because they have so many more important things to hold in their memories than where they last put down their favorite hammer, and after a few hundred years you fall into the habit of expecting things to be where they belong so you don't even look to find them somewhere else; and dwarves who have such an innate sense of their tools and their workspace that they don't need to have "proper places" to put things away, because of course they remember where they put their hammer, what kind of a question is that, can't you just feel where your hammer is wtf???)

[comfortless]

He definitely has a complex about being considered middle aged. Me personally, I see him as one of those guys that tell you they're a couple of years younger than they actually are, in the beginning, cause be feels too old for someone younger and (in his mind) 'cooler' than him.

I feel like joining the army at such a young age must've made him feel like an adult way too soon, and maybe back then he must've felt superior like 'All the people my age only care about love and having fun, I'm way too mature for those silly things'. (Could be a copping mechanism to deal with the fact that he wasn't getting love anyway, and wasn't included in all the fun his peers were having. Rejecting those things altogether are a way to take back control and make himself feel better, he's too busy becoming a real man anyway). But now that he's older he does feel like he missed out on things, and regrets not being a silly teenager when it was acceptable and expected at that age.

He makes me think of that one Yves Olade quote that goes like "I thought so many things & never said a single one aloud. I choked on such longing I couldn’t spit out. Yes, desire is so different when God bore you hungry. I could have devoured anything and still have been starving." When you get no love from your parents is one thing (still hurts) but when you get cast out in other social circles also, it makes you feel bitter like nothing else on this earth. It creates this feeling that you're the one that it's being inadequate for even daring to want connections to other people and you begin to resent people and yourself for wanting to be around them. There's this shame that settles on top of your chest when you want love but you feel like that's the cause of all your suffering in the first place, like you're doing it to yourself. This reminds me of another quote : "in front of my mother and my sisters, i pretend love is cheap and vulgar. i act like it's a sin- i pretend that love is for women on a dark path. but at night i dream of a love so heavy it makes my spine throb- i dream up a lover who makes love like he is separating salt from water." (Salma Deera, "salt"). I feel like this might apply to younger Konig, when convinced himself that love is for weak man to protect his poor heart. But now that he's older and has the money, the position and the body of a real man he needs to get a taste (just a small one, just once) of what he had missed out on in his youth. He finally feels deserving enough to attempt to have real intimacy with someone, not just quick hookups that leave him more hungry.

FEEL FREE TO NOT ANSWER THIS I'm just in a silly mood and had to psychoanalyse my babygirl real quick. Also, sorry for my English =))

how could i possibly just leave this in my inbox, anon?! this is all so correct…

thank god he wears that hood, because even on the field the sun isn’t hitting him too much - (he thinks) he can pass for early thirties. not that any lady who takes an interest in him is really considering his age much anyway, it’s always the shy “how tall did you say you were, again?”s or “what is your real name?”s that are telltale signs of interest. they ogle his build, the accomplishments he will prattle on about given the chance, the haunted look in his eyes and the strange lilt to his voice, the scars and lines only make him look cooler. if only that wasn’t such a rare treat.

he’s just in his head about things always. he missed out on the sweet, awkward dates: the mutual rush of adrenaline from holding someone’s hand for the first time, sneaky pecks in the schoolyard, passing notes and calling throughout the night. he never got to experience having his parents drop him off at the theater to take some girl from class out or… hell, even getting to go with a friend who wasn’t gossiping behind his back. König’s never gotten to live like any other, normal person, he’s been denied that since being birthed into a world that did not want him as much as he did not want it.

so, of course he’s bitter. he’s horribly bitter even now when things have finally started to fall into place for him. he’s got a stature even Adonis would be nervous around, a savings account so stocked he isn’t even sure what to do with the money, an impressive title, his own place, a car, and some of the soldiers even consider him a friend. he gets invited out every now and then, doesn’t mind downing jäger and listening to his men talk about their current affairs: what women they’re seeing, or how their children are, where they plan to go on leave. he takes to living vicariously through them. he even finds it fit to lie, pulls up a picture of some random woman every now and then to boast about how he made her come undone on his bed last leave with a stupid laugh. the truth is that no, last leave he bought a nice fleshlight, took a thirteen hour depression nap, maybe went on a long hike and had a film marathon on his own.

having a woman show him any interest immediately activates some self-destructive behavior: he’ll hound her (screw double texting, it’s moreso in the dozens. little “miss you”s and stupid accusations he immediately wishes he hadn’t sent), either withdraw into himself if he even feels slightly abandoned or become even more intense and clingy. no one’s ever loved him, not properly, so how is he supposed to know how? if his own parents hated him, then who is going to have the patience and understanding to teach him? his approaches are almost childish, the way he goes from boyish and giddy to closed off and pitiful. /: and the self-loathing only amplifies during these times, because my god he should be more disciplined than this by now. all that being said, i do think he would settle and be as well-behaved as a neglected bull could be if he feels his affection is being reciprocated. he just needs time (and a good therapist).

squealing at the poetry and how much thought you’ve put into this message. <3

Yves Olade is sooo good to quote from for him! i think that “You can have my heart if you have the stomach to take it. Kiss me hard enough to invert me.” suits him just as well, especially when it comes to the trepidation and fear amidst the sparks of him finally, truly having someone be selfless and loving with him.

König in love is a very special topic to me!! there are so many different ways this rabid dog could take to handling it and by and by he always seems to choose the most aggressive / uncanny approach, held back by a leash that no one’s ever thought to untie, constantly growling and leaping at anything that gets too close just to simmer down to whimpering and begging the second he’s pet just once!!

[xnewtiebooty]

Newt headcanons for Newt day!

Canon-verse:

Newt will step up to the plate, take on a leadership role when the situation calls for it, but honestly dreads it. He hates feeling that kind of pressure, those expectations placed on him. He feels inadequate and like he falls short where others (Thomas and Alby) have succeeded. He prefers his role as second-in-command. It gives him a platform for his voice to be heard, and be taken seriously, and he can still assist where needed, provide advice to the others and keep them in check. (Honestly, as far as I'm concerned this is just canon.)

Newt is a (power)bottom.

AU:

Newt, to everyone's shock and disbelief, is more of a coffee drinker than tea. He enjoys the occasional cup of tea, of course, but simply drinks coffee out of habit. He'll usually just take it with cream, but definitely enjoys adding Irish cream or peppermint syrup on occasion. 

Newt's favourite colour/s are blue and purple. He also likes deep reds.

His favourite season is fall. The colours of the trees changing and the smell of fallen leaves, as well as the scorching heat of summer finally dying off and the approach of Halloween and the other holidays are all reasons for this. 

Newt often wears turtlenecks and jumpers - partly because they're simply comfortable and versatile, but also to hide his scars. He hates it when people stare as if he won't notice, his brokenness physically displayed for everyone to see.

Newt plays the violin.

Newt always enjoyed running at night, before he broke his leg. It felt like he could breathe easier, run faster in the cool night air.

Now, he's more of a swimmer. It's therapeutic for his leg, and he enjoys being in the water.

Newt pierced his ears himself when he was 13.

If you were to ask any of them, his friends would compare Newt to a cat, personality-wise. However, he's both a cat and dog person.

Newt prefers wine over beer, mostly. With some exceptions, beer, in his opinion, tastes like piss.

Newt enjoys reading, listening to music, and drawing. He dabbles in writing too, on occasion. It gives him purpose to create something and put it out into the world, makes him feel like he's contributing in some way.

When he was younger, Newt wanted to be a veterinarian. However, he didn't end up pursuing it because he realized he wouldn't be able to cope when he lost patients. Yet, he still helps in other ways. He likes to volunteer at the local animal shelter, and works at the doggy daycare.

Newt enjoys surrealist horror and mystery, and has seen David Lynch's complete filmography. 

His favourite shows are Twin Peaks, Hannibal, and The Following. 

Newt often has candles or incense burning in his room. It helps him to de-stress and creates a calm, relaxing environment. 

Newt's history hyperfixation was Ancient Egypt.

Newt loves the smell of petrichor, and particularly enjoys cold, dewy mornings after it rains.

Newt is a Cancer + Virgo moon.

Newt drives a 1956 VW Beetle (black.)

[domthedevil]

hi could you write a fic where mc is in a poly relationship with the brothers but they're a virgin and the brothers had been placing bets on who will be their first. levi, being the ball of insecurity that he is, didn't believe mc when they told him they wanted him to be their first. their reasoning being that since he's so shy he would they more comfortable and because of his personality he would be much more gentle than what they think the others would be. and could you do it with female anatomy and they/them pronouns? and the genre would be smut. i'm sorry my nd brain focusses on details so much i literally never give small prompts on my requests, you can ignore this if you don't really like it!!

It might be my corruption kink appreciation, but I love virgin!MC and This was perfect! I had plenty to work with and I hope you enjoy. 💋

Be Gentle

Warnings: Levi x afab!mc, loss of virginity

There was no way you would give your first time to him. Levi was experienced, but when compared to his brothers it mattered little. They weren’t filthy otakus like him. It didn’t matter how much you loved him and everyone, he was always going to feel inadequate.

When his brother’s began discussing how to approach you on the subject, Levi instantly threw his usual tantrum of self pity. And when Mammon mentioned that there’s no way an otaku could properly take care of a person’s first time, Levi locked himself away in his room for the rest of the night.

He was shocked, to say the least, that you came to him one night, with flushed cheeks and glazed over eyes, he was shocked when he heard you tell him:

“I want it to be you Levi...I know you’ll take care of me.”

“M-me?”

“I want you Levi...please be...gentle.”

Levi knew it was important that you were sure. And when your lips met his and arms wrapped around his neck, he threw out any doubt he had before. Your eager kisses and tight grip told him everything he needed.

“Levi...”

Your breathy sigh was hot against his ear. Trailing kisses up and down your neck, Levi’s soft touch made you almost tremble. Tracing over your clothing slowly, his hands paid attention to your sensitive areas. Making sure you were more familiar with his touch before feeling his fingers on your naked body. However it only made you want more.

You shifted underneath him, just enough to remove your clothing. And just enough for him to remove his. Though he was in charge, you knew this was the only way to get more of what you wanted. And his hands were eager to give you everything you needed. Pinching and twirling your nipples; Levi made sure to give you the attention you deserved. Moaning against his touch made his own cock stir. He almost wanted everyone else to hear you. But for now your voice was his.

“D-do you like this MC?” Though it was his usual stutter, there was an erotic edge to his tone.

“Yes. L-Levi...” you whined a little as he gave your sensitive peaks one last squeeze before replacing them with tongue.

Every touch made you melt. A warmth was building between your legs. You could feel how wet he was making you. And you wanted more. You didn’t have to ask though, Levi ran his fingers over your wet folds, coating his fingers in your slick arousal. It felt good having someone else’s touch on your virgin heat. And when his two fingers slipped inside you, your entire body tensed. Even your own fingers didn’t feel this good.

As he slowly curved his fingers up inside you, Levi’s other hand began to rub at himself. Your twisted expressions made him lose some of his self restraint. He was determined to seem as cool as possible while he shared your experience. But really he was overly eager to please you. He buried his face into your breasts to help you relax around his fingers. Giving your nipple one last rough nibble, Levi looked over your breathless expression. You looked like you were enjoying yourself.

“L-Levi. I don’t know what do.” Between the quiet moans leaving you, you huffed your words. “Tell me where to touch you.”

“H-here, MC.”

Levi’s soft hand took yours, leading it to his hard cock. You felt the warm, smooth skin and almost purred. He felt soft and firm at the same time. The breathy moans and sighs told you he was enjoying the way you played with him, like an otaku with a new toy. Now both of you were were moaning and breathing heavy. Levi took the chance to kiss you deeply again. Intertwining his tongue with yours as he stealthily slipped another finger inside you.

“Hnnn! Levi. It feels tight.”

“I-I know. But I’m here. I’ll move slow.”

“Okay. I’ll try.”

You did your best to take your mind of the discomfort, kissing Levi helped. His fingers moved in short, slow strokes. He wanted to make sure you knew you could trust him. That he actually is capable of being a great lover. A great boyfriend. But you already knew that. Why else would you come to him for such an intimate and memorable experience?

Your pulsing walls relaxed as he quickened his pace. Letting his fingers do the work to stretch you out.

“I love you MC.”

“I l-love you Levi.” Your heated whisper followed as his fingers moved from within you. “I’m ready. My heart’s pounding.”

“M-mine too.” His smile met yours as he brought his member to your entrance. Rubbing the head of his cock in your slick fluids.“If it hurts. I’ll stop right away okay?”

You nodded as you held out your arms. You needed him to hold you so badly. He pressed his chest to yours as his tip made its way inside you. Still tight, Levi groan slightly as he moved slowly into you. Honestly he could have cum just from that. Your own moan was muffled against his lips. A quick but sharp pain scared you slightly, you couldn’t help a small tear falling from your eye. Arms wrapped around Levi tightly as you whimpered. He made sure to hold you back just as tight.

“MC? Are you okay?” Levi used the pads of his thumbs to wipe away your tears.

You nodded against his forehead, adjusting to the new feeling quickly.

“You can move. I’m ready.”

Levi was soft and slow, relishing in the warm walls that were feeling this for the first time. His cock was long and curved, hitting deeper than you’d ever been able to finger yourself before. You had to cover your mouth to hold back some of your moans. Though it was foreign, the pleasure followed soon after.

Though his hips were slow, the heat in your core was already building. There was one spot that seemed to make you moan louder. He aimed for that spot within you. Not knowing what to do with your hands again, you held his shoulders as he leaned up to look at you. You both looked into each other’s eyes as his hips picked up speed. The erotic look you made had his hips moving even faster.

“I feel weird Levi...I’m really hot on the inside.”

Fuck. When you say such cute things like that, how can he hold back?

“That’s good MC. Don’t be scared. You’re with me.”

The short breaths and whimpers leaving you told him how close you were. Your first orgasm being penetrated, and it was all his doing. He felt a since of pride as he continued to buck into you.

A shiver ran up your spine, and back down to your toes. You felt almost a snap that left you moaning and crying out loud. Levi watched with worry and arousal as you reached your peak. The way your walls moved around him left him almost a drooling mess.

“I can’t hold on MC. I’m coming.”

Holding you tightly to his chest, Levi drilled his cock roughly into you for what felt like forever. All the spots he was touching before were now being hit in precession. That same heat built in your core, but faster than before.

“Me too. Oh Levi. It’s really good.”

A few more thrusts and he stilled, shakily, inside you. A warm, overflowing sensation filled you up. Levi was filling you up with cum.

“Nnngh! M-MC. So good. I-I felt so good. How are you?”

“I’m sore...but...Levi that felt so great. I don’t think anyone else could have made me feel as comfortable as you.” Levi’s chest filled with pride again, and of course absolute adoration of you. “And I...I love you. Can we do it again?”

Levi had to cover his face a moment. Already he was back to being red faced and stuttering. Of course you would be doing it again.

[marshmallowprotection]

Hey if it's not too much trouble, could I request saeyoung and saeran (ge and alters) with an mc that feels insecure about their intelligence? I dropped out of college last year to figure out what I want to do before getting too far in debt. It sucks feeling lost while being told to just try harder :/ I love those boys, but they're like super geniuses lol and I feel like I would constantly comparing myself and feeling inadequate

Seven had to learn everything that he's ever learned under an extreme amount of duress. It wasn't because he wanted to learn that fast and it wasn't because he was really excited about it. He didn't really have a say in the matter in there was no ifs, ands, or buts about it. 

That wasn't to say that he wasn't excited about learning because when he was growing up, he really did want to learn everything. It was because he didn't really have that opportunity. But, he has a disconnect from the rest of society when it comes to the values of accomplishments.

That is to say, he may be smart to you, but there's plenty of things that he's lacking in life skills. There's a lot that he doesn't know, but he's not going to get graded on those things. In the same way that you wouldn't be graded on your own life skills. You don't have to be book smart to be smart.

Intelligence this doesn't work that way. You may not be able to take a test, but you do have the emotional maturity of someone well beyond your years. You were able to extend a hand to him and help him believe in himself. He finds that much more admirable, personally.

Ray quite literally had no choice. He was able to start learning slowly at first, but once he was taken away, he had to learn everything as fast as he could. He may be able to do that naturally, but it didn't come easy to him. He would sit there for hours and in tears because it was just so much information to cram in all at once. It was frustrating and he felt like he wasn't good enough.

There's a lot of things that he knows he's not good at and that he has no idea how to do. When he Compares himself to you, he feels like you're the smart one and the one with the most experience in this life. He never would have thought that you thought of yourself as inadequate compared to him. 

You're smart in your own way and it doesn't really matter if you can't do what schools want you to do. That's not what makes you intelligent at the end of the day. What makes you naturally cunning is your ability to share parts of yourself without fear.

Suit Saeran could say the same as Ray in this circumstance. There was no choice, no rhyme, no reason. They had to learn everything or else they were going to get in a massive amount of trouble. He dealt with it grit his teeth and so on. He's insecure about a lot of things as well because there is so much that he doesn't know. 

You seem to possess an innate ability to know how things work on an emotional level. It's something that scared him because it's something that he doesn't understand. 

You just know how to do things that he doesn't know how to do. Yeah, he may know more than you about this or that, but that doesn't mean that you're any smarter or any dumber than he is. He's not exactly the most comforting person in the world so he's not going to say this stuff to your face. 

He might even be prone to use your insecurities against you. But there's always this lingering feeling that he's envious of you because you're smart in a way that he isn't.

GE Saeran definitely has his shortcomings. There is so much that he doesn't know. He's mentioned it before that he's always been envious of the fact that you were able to even go to school in the first place. 

It was more so that you had the choice, and the fact that you could step away from it if it wasn't for you. He never really had a choice when it came to things that he learned. He doesn't seem that your pathetic or weak because you decided that it just wasn't the right fit for you. It's not the right fit for everyone.

Saeran would never think of you as lesser because you simply couldn't take a test or two. You're smart in a way that he's envious of. It's your empathy and your ability to be kind in the face of what should be great cruelty. There's things that people just have naturally inside of them that they learn inherently, and you're lucky to have that. He comments on that often. 

However, he does understand that you feel poorly about yourself when you think about the limits that people have reached. In comparison to the RFA, on the surface oh, it does seem like everyone just got where they wanted to be instantly. That's just not how it works. 

He can tell you that right off the bat. It takes a long time to get to where you want to be oh, and you're still working on yourself. He can relate to that. You both can figure these things out together.

[imaginetonyandbucky]

Winter soldier Tony and Bucky fluff (I love those prompts sorry). Steve or the team find Tony and Bucky's dynamic to be strange but mostly because Tony and Bucky had spent most of their lives being dehumanized so their interactions are nonverbal, as they began to heal though they began to experience new things together. (Actually being able to reach out and touch one another without their handlers getting mad since touching outside of maintenance is a big no-no so they're both touch-starved). 1/

(Sorry my prompt is long) So seeing as they're getting used to actually being human the team ends up surprised when they see Bucky and Tony suddenly cuddling - at first they hadn't realized it was a thing seeing as Bucky and Tony hid the fact they would actually hold hands or hug, their punishments were severe and being with decent human beings doesn't mean they aren't wary still. But, they begin to trust the team thus now they get to witness the fluff themselves. It makes Steve happy.

“Mechanic!”It echoed through the lab, even as the door slammed open. TheMechanic set down his tools and stood at attention, awaiting hisorders.

Threefield agents were carrying the Asset. The Mechanic suppressed anexpression of dismay. He had known that the Asset was going intobattle with the SHIELD team known as the Avengers. He had known thatthe Asset might be damaged. He hadn’t expected to see the Assetthisdamaged.The goggles with their high-tech precision targeting system weregone, as was the facemask with its specialized filtering. The arm wasdented and still sparking from some internal short. There was bloodon the Asset’s side and leg. A very lot of blood.

“Youwill repair the arm,” the handler told him. “A medic will comesoon to examine the rest of him. Stay out of the medic’s way.”

Andif repairing the arm required being in the medic’s way? TheMechanic already knew the answer to that: find a way. The Mechanicnodded his understanding. He was not required to speak.

Theagents laid the Asset in the maintenance chair. The Asset’s lipspressed tightly together, his skin covered in a sheen of sweat, andhis eyes were wide and wild and confused until he saw the Mechanic,and then he relaxed minutely.

TheMechanic picked up the Asset’s metal hand and squeezedreassuringly.

“Whatare you doing?” the handler snapped.

TheMechanic did not flinch, though providing comfort to the Asset -- ortaking comfort from the Asset -- meant punishment. Sometimes, theymade the Asset administer it, though probably that would not happenthis time, since the Asset was in such poor condition. The Asset’seyes remained locked on the Mechanic. “Testing grip strength,”the Mechanic answered evenly. “Inadequate grip strength isindicative of faults in the primary cluster servos, the secondarypower supply, a loss of pressure in hydraulic--”

“Shutup and just fix him,” the handler growled. “God damned Avengers.”

TheMechanic squeezed the Asset’s hand again, and bent to work. If theAsset was damaged enough, they might leave him in the Mechanic’slab overnight.

TheMechanic did not look at the calendar. The Asset had been gone fornine days. The Mechanic had gone longer without seeing the Assetbefore. Months, sometimes years. But that was when the Asset was instorage. This time, the Asset had been taken. Kidnapped by theAvengers.

TheMechanic did his work. He did not ask whether the Asset had beenbadly damaged in the fight. He did not ask whether there wereretrieval operations in place. These things were none of his concern.He was not worried.

Whenhe felt -- and then heard -- the explosion from the front of thefacility, he was not afraid. His guards left to go investigate thecommotion, and the Mechanic did not hope.

Whenthe Avengers burst into his laboratory, weapons raised, the Mechanicsnatched up the energy weapon he had been upgrading and pointed it attheir leader, at Captain America.

[’ware the readmore!]

“No,”said a voice the Mechanic knew. The Mechanic looked through theweapon’s sights and saw the Asset, standing with the Avengers, asif he were one of them. “Mechanic,” he said. His eyes spoke forhim. He did not want the Mechanic to hurt the Avengers.

Slowly,in confusion, the Mechanic lowered the weapon, unable to look away.

“Bozhemoy,” the Black Widow breathed. “It’s Tony Stark.”

“You’renot a prisoner,” Captain America told him. “But with the remnantsof Hydra out looking for you, it would be safer for you to stayindoors.” The Avengers had brought them to a safehouse. It was alarge house, but still crowded with so many people in it.

TheMechanic -- Tony, as the Avengers insisted -- looked at the Asset.(Bucky, now.) Bucky frowned and bit his lip, the shook his head, justa little. He didn’t want Hydra to find them. The Avengers, atleast, hadn’t tried to separate them, or put Bucky into storage.

Therewere no cells in the house, unless they converted the hidden weaponsroom. Tony and Bucky were to share a room. Even if there werecameras, it was a kindness. A weakness, perhaps, except that Buckyseemed ready to ally himself with the Avengers. Tony looked back atCaptain America. “Understood. What are my tasks?” Bucky waswatching intently.

“What?Nothing, you don’t have to do anything,” Captain America said. Heseemed taken aback.

Tonykept his face impassive. No work meant no food; that had always beenthe rule. “Understood,” he repeated. He would work out what hiserror had been, soon, and then they would allow him to work.

Whenhe was certain the Captain was done with him, he retreated to thecorner of the room, crouching against the wall. Bucky moved to standbetween him and the Captain.

TheCaptain looked like he wanted to say something, but then he shook hishead and left.

Buckycrouched next to Tony against the wall, close enough that Tony couldfeel the heat coming off him. Tony looked surreptitiously around theroom for cameras. He didn’t see any, but there might still behidden ones. “Orders?” he asked, careful not to let his lipsmove.

Buckyshook his head. “I knew him,” he said.

Theyfed him, even when he didn’t work.

Tonythought it was a trick, at first, but Bucky herded Tony into a seatat the table and watched him as he wolfed down the portion they’dbrought. None of the Avengers tried to take it away, though severalof them exchanged looks that Tony didn’t know how to read.

Hawkeyewatched them with an unnervingly steady gaze. The Black Widow stoppedhim with a hand on his arm and a low whisper in his ear. Tonycouldn’t look away from where she was touching Hawkeye, so gentlyand obviously. Surely, any moment, the Captain would notice.

TheCaptain didn’t notice, or he didn’t care. That was...interesting.

WhenBucky had finished eating -- and it seemed the Avengers understoodabout Bucky’s increased metabolic requirements, which was good --he followed Tony back to the room they had been assigned. Slowly,hoping none of the Avengers were looking, Tony reached out and put ahand over Bucky’s human arm, just as the Black Widow had touchedHawkeye.

Buckyfroze at the touch, staring at Tony with wide eyes. Tony glancedtoward the door of the room, then back to Bucky. He squeezed alittle. It’sokay.

Whenthe Black Widow approached, some days later, she stopped just outsideBucky’s reach, showed her hands, and said, “I won’t touch him,I promise,” before turning her attention to Tony.

Soshe knew that Bucky was protecting Tony. Probably, from the way shelooked at them, she knew that it was more than a relationship ofconvenience. But she didn’t threaten to hurt them, or report themto the Captain, or try to use them against each other. Instead, shetold Tony, “I know it’s hard to sit and do nothing for so long. Iwant to make it absolutely clear that you’re under no obligation,and no consequence is attached if you refuse my offer.”

Tonyconsidered that, as Bucky shifted his weight. “What offer?” Tonyasked.

“Wehave equipment that needs to be repaired,” she said. “Clint and Ican do it, but if you’d like to help, we’d certainly appreciateyour expertise.”

Tony’shands itched for work, even without the threat of withholding hisfood. “Yes.” He stood up, ready to follow her to the laboratoryor wherever they were doing their repairs in this safehouse.

Buckystood as well. The Black Widow eyed him for a moment, then nodded, asif she understood. Maybe she did.

Itwas a relief to hold tools, to be useful, even if it was for theAvengers. It was a revelationtowatch the Black Widow and Hawkeye working together.

Theytalked often, and not just about the work. They speculated idly aboutpeople they knew. Argued pointlessly about movies. Told jokes andrated them on some impossible-to-quantify scale of badness.

Andthey touched.They touched constantly.A hand on an arm or shoulder or knee. When they sat together, theytouched from shoulder to knee. A kiss on the cheek or the top of thehead. The Black Widow leaned into Hawkeye’s side, rested her headon his shoulder.

Tonyglanced at Bucky as he worked. What would that be like, to touch sointimately on a whim?

TheCaptain came in, and Tony tensed, inwardly bracing for the inevitableanger. But there was none. The Black Widow didn’t even straightenfrom her position against Hawkeye’s side. The Captain touched, too,before he left -- a hand on Hawkeye’s shoulder, a light touch ofthe Black Widow’s arm. He reached like he wanted to touch Bucky,but Bucky went still, and the Captain pulled back.

Hawkeyeleft not long after that -- there was only so much maintenance a bowand quiver needed. But Tony was still working, repairing damage tosomeone’s armor, when the Black Widow got up to leave. “This is asafehouse,” she said before she left the room. “The cameras allpoint outward.” She left, then, and they were alone in the room.

“Mechanic,”Bucky said in a whisper.

“It’sTony now,” Tony reminded him.

“Ithought you didn’t want the name they gave you.” Bucky was closeat Tony’s back, so close Tony could feel the warmth radiating offhim.

Tonypaused in his work, but didn’t look around. “If they will give usthis,” he said slowly, “they can call me whatever they like.”

Bucky’shands were on his shoulders, then, and Tony’s breath stuttered outof him. Bucky leaned forward until his weight was propped againstTony’s back, and his arms came around Tony’s chest. “Tony,”Bucky breathed.

Tony’shands trembled, and he put his tools down quickly. He pushed backagainst Bucky’s bulk, let his arms reach up to wrap around Bucky’sneck. “Bucky.”

Bucky’sbreath skated down Tony’s neck and they were both shaking. Tonyfelt the rise and fall of Bucky’s chest against his back, and itwas enough, for a time. More than he had ever dared to hope for.

“Ilike it here,” Bucky admitted. “I want to stay with them.”

Bythe time he’d been with the Avengers for a week, Tony had learnedthat they preferred their names to their designations, outside ofcombat. Steve and Natasha and Clint and Bruce and Sam.

Bythen, Tony had learned that the team were friends as much asteammates. By then, Tony had learned that Bucky was consideredSteve’s friend, even if Bucky could barely remember Steve.

(“Ido remember him,” Bucky told Tony one night, breathing it intoTony’s skin, in the dark of their room. “It’s all jumbled up,but it makes me want to protect him.”

“Likeyou protect me?” Tony wondered.

Buckyshook his head. “You’re different. You’re special. You’remine.”

“Butyou want to protect him, too.”

“I’vedone it before. I think.”

“I’llfollow you wherever you go,” Tony promised. “Even into theAvengers.” Tony could remember nothing before Hydra. But the nextday, he made some changes to the Black Wi-- to Natasha’s electricdisk weapons, a minor upgrade he’d been thinking about since hefirst saw them. She rewarded that with a warm smile and a carefultouch on his arm. He was considering upgrades for all of them, now.)

Thatnight, after dinner, Tony stood up to help clear the table --everyone took turns, even Steve -- and as he passed by Bucky, Buckybrushed a hand across Tony’s back, solicitous. Tony turned to lookat him, eyes wide, but Bucky just nodded slightly.

Tonyswallowed hard -- just because the Avengers touched each other didn’tmean he and Bucky were permitted -- but no one said anything. Natashasmiled a little, Clint met Tony’s eyes but then looked away.

Theywere allowed.

“Youcould come watch TV with us,” Steve said, leaning into the doorwayof the workroom. “You don’t have to work all the time.”

Tonyglanced up from Sam’s wings. “The upgrade isn’t complete,” hesaid.

“Itwill wait for morning,” Steve said. “You work too hard. Youshould get to relax.”

Tonyhesitated, hands sliding over the joints of the Falcon wings. Helooked at Bucky. Bucky looked back, impassive. Tony’s choice.

“Yes,”Tony said. “We will come.”

Stevelooked pleased. Bucky smiled, too. Tony felt the warmth of a correctchoice.

TheAvengers greeted them as if they were friends, happy to have themthere. They were given a seat on a small, two-person couch. Tonysensed that was Natasha’s doing; she seemed to understand more thanthe others.

Whenthey sat on the couch, Bucky put his arm around Tony’s shoulders,drawing him close. Tony stiffened a little, out of habit, and thenrelaxed into it.

TheTV show made no sense, and its science was execrable. When Tony wasfinally unable to hold his peace and complained, Bruce looked aroundat him with a wide grin. “Thank you! I’ve been telling these guysthis for months!”

Samthrew popcorn at Bruce. “It’s TV, the science doesn’t have tomake sense! Just go with it, man!”

Bruceheld out a hand in demonstration and looked at Tony with raisedeyebrows. Tony couldn’t quite suppress a soft laugh, or a happywriggle. He had won Bruce’s regard.

Buckysqueezed him a little closer, and that felt like a reward. “That’smy Mechanic,” he murmured, low, for Tony’s ears only.

Theywatched another TV show. It, too, made no sense, but at least itbroke no laws of physics. By the time it was done, Tony was lyinghalf-draped across Bucky’s chest. It was allowed. No one seemed tobe upset by it. Steve, in fact, was watching them with a small smile,as if he were pleased.

“I’vebeen remembering more,” Bucky told him as they were changing forbed.

“Tellme,” Tony said. He sat on the side of his bed.

“Stevewas... He was always good,” Bucky said. “Not always smart.But good.He wanted to help people.”

“Evenif they didn’t deserve it?”

Buckysat next to Tony, took his hand and laced their fingers together.“Steve thought everyone deserved help,” Bucky said. “Exceptmaybe bullies. The kind of people who hurt others just to get theirway, or just to be mean.”

Tonymulled that for a while, half-distracted by the slow stroke ofBucky’s thumb against his. “Hydra hurt us,” he said, finally.“Were they bullies?”

“Yeah,”Bucky said. “They made me hurt you, even though I didn’t wantto.”

The Avengers hadn’t hurt them, but theyhurt Hydra, when it was possible. Historyis written by the winners.Whohad said that? Maybe the Avengers were just stronger bullies. “Are the Avengers better?”

“Thinkso.” Bucky lifted Tony’s hand and pressed a soft kiss to hisknuckles. “Wish you could remember, too.”

Natashahad shown Tony a set of photographs, people Tony had known beforehe’d been with Hydra, she’d said. Most of them had beenunfamiliar. One or two made his head hurt to look at, but didn’tfill him with the spark of recognition. He shook his head. “I’mnot like you,” he said. “I might not get it back, what they took from me.”

“That’sokay,” Bucky said. “You’re mine, and I’m yours. No matterwhat.”

“Promise?”

“Promise.”Bucky let go of Tony’s hand and brushed his fingers down the sideof Tony’s face. “Can I kiss you?”

“Yes.”The word hadn’t fully left his lips before Bucky’s hand was underhis chin, turning him toward Bucky.

Bucky’seyes were wide and dark in the dim light, calm and slightly crinkledat the corners with a smile. “My Mechanic,” he said fondly, andpressed his lips to Tony’s.

Tony’sbody seemed to move without his direction. He twisted closer toBucky, one hand pushing into Bucky’s thick hair, the other curlingaround Bucky’s neck. His mouth fell open and Bucky licked into it,tentatively at first and then with more certainty, more passion.

Bucky’sarm was around his waist, holding him close, as Bucky explored hismouth, slow and thorough.

WhenBucky pulled away at last, Tony’s eyes fluttered open -- when hadhe closed them? -- and Bucky was already watching him. “What isit?” Bucky asked.

“Ithink... I remember kissing someone,” Tony said slowly. He proddedat the memory. He didn’t know who it was, barely rememberedanything but the feel of lips under his, the warm press of a bodythat definitely wasn’t Bucky’s. “Before.”

“Sothey didn’t take everything,” Bucky said. He kissed Tony again,short and sweet. “Maybe you’ll get more of it back.”

“Maybe,”Tony allowed. Biology wasn’t his science, but he knew enough toknow that brains were strangely resilient, sometimes. “I’m stillyour Mechanic.”

“Always,”Bucky promised.

~ @27dragons