#and do not get me started on toni's treatment as a character because man

[nolivingsoul]

if 7x12/7x13 aren't the last episodes in the 50s I'm afraid roberto will surpass ryan murphy in my shit list because you can't, after choosing to not wrap everyone's story in s6, spend so much time of your last season ever in a time where your characters don't remember who they are. ten episodes was my limit and they're filming 7x11 now 😵‍💫 it's not something satisfying to watch as a viewer, and especially after mistreating the bad deviant lesbian ship 🤪 like they PLAN to reunite them?? they PLAN to give them an happy ending so???? and throwing some random issues in their relationship during the last two seasons knowing damn well they need an on screen resolution, conversations and to be shown in an adult functional relationship for enough time while choosing to not give them that payback is a choice. it should be obvious but roberto doesn't give a fuck about dykes so. could've been fun had season 6 was used to tell a story tho but it wasn't the case so here we are

[sineala]

Final thoughts on the Duggan run?

Looking forward to the next one?

Can you believe there’s 3 Avengers books, Tony is on 2 of them, and the one he isn’t is based in his old house and has Steve leading it?!?! (But it’s hilarious Tony is getting the Wolverine treatment haha. I say Tony should be on all 3 teams!)

I really enjoyed the Duggan run!

I am actually very much looking forward to what Ackerman's upcoming run will bring us -- somehow I continue to be eternally hopeful about comics, but a lot of the themes he has mentioned sound good and he has clearly done the reading -- as I think I elaborated in a recent ask, but I would absolutely have taken several more years of the Duggan run.

The Duggan run has absolutely, hands down, been the best Iron Man run since I started reading Iron Man. Every run we had got worse and worse and worse, and this was just an amazing breath of fresh air. By which I mean, he made Tony suffer but in the right way. Just like I like my Iron Man comics. It was so nice to get an Iron Man comic every month and actually look forward to it! That was a really nice feeling!

I appreciate that Duggan has clearly done the reading and was using it to inform his plot to a degree I would never have anticipated -- like, I really enjoy fic where Tony is hurt and it would never have occurred to me to write a scene where when Tony is concussed he thinks he's still in the blizzard in IM #182. He's not oriented as to reality and he's reliving the absolute worst night of his life because that's just the thing he immediately thinks of. It is so awful. I love it. And given that Marvel generally doesn't refer to events more than from about five years back, I was absolutely not expecting to see it.

I also think he really got Tony's character -- the scene where he fights Feilong, gets upset with himself for letting Feilong get to him, and then goes to space to calm down... that is such a good plot element. Of course he loves space! Of course he thinks it would be calming to float there in space and listen to his own heartbeat!

If there's a downside, it's that I would have liked to see more of this comic being something other than a tie-in with Fall Of X. I mean, it was well-written, sure. I enjoyed the plot. But I also would have liked to see Tony get to do his own thing.

I think it's great that Tony is on two Avengers teams (and I'm always happy to see more WCA) and Steve is leading the third one from the mansion. I wish it were more than a miniseries, because honestly I just want the Avengers to come back to the mansion. Also I think Steve and Tony should be on the same team sometime again ever.

[seasoningyeeting]

HAPPY CAPTAIN AMERICA DAY

You probably can’t tell this from my blog, but this is like, *my* movie. It’s just…my movie. Everyone associates me with this movie, just like they associate me with Vox and Taylor Swift. I’ve seen this movie, an insurmountable amount of times, to the point of where I know the line of just about every single character, I remember when all the little music cues come in, and my entire existence is just…LITTERED with traces of this movie. I’ve tried so hard to get my claws on merch and items from this specific era of movie, and obviously, with it being 10 years old now, that’s incredibly difficult to do. It’s weird, I feel inferior most days, because my favorite things don’t really “stack up” against other people’s favorites, especially with me being so involved in the art ‘world’. Like, it’s very difficult to explain why this is my favorite movie. Because there is no meaning to it by the majority of people’s standards. But this is the movie that made me want my own TV show. The camera angles when Steve talks on the PA system are just…I can’t even. Chris Evans’ delivery choice on “absolute control”, coupled with the complete lack of outside sound, were jaw dropping to me 10 years ago, and they still have the exact same effect on me now. The witty banter between Nat and Steve actually being smart and witty, and not just “witty for the sake of her being pretty”, also stuck out to me. The mall dialogue is one of my most favorite little story telling pockets I’ve ever seen. She was funny in her own way. Yes, the physical impracticalities of Natasha in this movie still irritate me, (her hair when she comes out of Sam’s bathroom? Really? Come on.) but it characterized her a hell of a lot better than the other movies did. (Aside from her own.) Another thing I always loved, was the absence of references to other parts of Marvel at the time. Like yeah it had references, but they were absolutely necessary not just to the plot, but also for the audience to start understanding Steve as a character. His little hint of exasperation on “Stark?” while still remaining cordial with Nick, is *chefs kiss*. That ONE single line, conveys all of his feelings about Tony up to that point in time: he knows he’s damn good at what he does, but that still doesn’t negate the fact, in Steve’s mind, that Tony still has the capacity for selfishness and recklessness. I also love that one-liner, because they’ve gotta remember from a directorial standpoint, that to we as an audience, Steve has pretty much only just come back. That itty bitty line really hammers that down. His exasperation isn’t just at Tony, it’s at technology in general. It all clicks for him: this is a necessary evil. It’s a new world, and Nick even says that to him, multiple times throughout the film. And with that being a recurring theme, it shows us how flawed this iteration of Steve really was. Of course he was a good person overall, but he still struggled with putting himself on a pedestal. His internal struggle with how he views himself, is also reflected in his treatment of Bucky. Something I wish more people would clue into, is Steve wasn’t denying that fact that Bucky is different now, he was trying, to convince his equally traumatized self, that Bucky wasn’t different. His rational brain knew Bucky wasn’t the same, but we see bits and pieces of ‘irrational’ bleeding heart Steve, come back into the picture, every time they’re on screen together. Very few actors, (especially nowadays,) can act with their eyes, and nothing else. Sebastian Stan? Is the MAN of eye-acting. Even now, he remains a criminally underrated performer. The artistic genius of the costume design, making the mask and goggles two separate pieces, was also half the reason he was able to convey an entire lifetime’s worth of a character’s story, just through eye contact. And the moments where he would break eye contact were SO poignant. Because yet another thing I wish people would understand, is Bucky wasn’t triggered by Steve’s devastation in “Bucky?”, he was trigged just by seeing Steve. Cont.

[thetimelordbatgirl]

A big reason why I like the Black Panther films is that you can totally ignore everything else and the story works fine. You can forget Civil War, Infinity War, and Endgame, just watch the first film and then its sequel. I didn’t like Captain America having his third film be changed to Avengers 2.5 just because marvel wanted to compete with Batman V Superman that same year, or Planet Hulk getting a half-assed adaptation in Thor 3, or Wanda stealing the show from Doctor Strange in his own sequel. Cameos can be fun but those were a bit much. The worst offenders are the mcu Spider-Man movies because Peter is shown being pretty dependent on characters like Iron Man, Nick Fury, Doctor Strange, and even versions of himself from older movies. And both Iron Man and Doctor Strange were responsible for the villains showing up in those films.

I will say due to the...really badly handled introduction of Skaar in She Hulk, its likely we could potentially get a Planet Hulk adaption down the line hopefully, but at the same time, as you pointed out, they already took half of that adaption in Ragnarok with Hulk landing on another planet due to leaving for space at the end of Age Of Ultron (another set up that went in weird places...at least it didn't go nowhere I guess like most MCU set ups lately). And your not wrong on the others: Civil War was basically MCU trying to compete with Batman Vs Superman (and yet somehow, Batman Vs Superman is the one getting dragged still when I'd happily rewatch it over Civil War) while also giving Captain America's film to Iron Man basically, and Wanda basically took over a film that wasn't hers to the point every character is depowered just to make her look better as remember: Doctor Strange is meant to be a powerful sorcerer as is Wong and the other sorcerers and even Miss America in the comics is pretty powerful, but they all depowered just to make Wanda this powerful villain that takes over his film that should have been him facing Mordo with the set up first Doctor Strange did, but nope I guess (and given how they planned to have Wanda kill Mordo before it was cut from film...maybe Mordo escaped being in this film...at least main universe him, anyway...).

And oh god, don't get me started on the MCU treatment of Spiderman. At least when you watch the OG trilogy and Amazing Spiderman films, you know they spidey films and you see Peter doing everything on his own with his villains having some form of connection to him. MCU???? Tony Stark caused the first two villains and Peter just happens to get caught in the messes each time and No Way Home can try all it wants: Strange should have told Peter about the spell PRIOR to doing it and therefore, if Peter did still do his stupid mistake, it would be his fault, but no, Strange doesn't, and therefore Strange's fault too. Plus its funny as hell they clearly wish they got to do Green Goblin and Doctor Octopus and Electro and Sandman, but they didn't, so they drag the prior Spiderman films versions of them into this Spiderverse rip off and force a connection between MCU peter and Spiderman films Green Goblin via fridging Aunt May, because beyond that, MCU Peter has zero connection to these villains and the other two Spidey's have more development with the villains then he does.

Like, there's fun little cameos everyone whose seen prior stuff can enjoy (Doctor Who coming to mind here along with DC's Shazam! and Black Adam), and then there's the MCU having the cameos take over the whole film somehow, meaning your forced to watch prior stuff to understand. And as much as I can agree Black Panther is easy to watch because it doesn't rely on prior stuff (with the only set up being in the end credits where we see Bucky), gonna have to sadly point out Wakanda Forever does have that stupid Valentina stuff shoved in to set up Thunderbolts, though gonna assume that was on higher up's end and not Ryan Coogler's end, since its basically apart of their pattern in the MCU at this rate.

[mserm]

What Avengers line up (existing or selected by you) would you send to Greendale Community College for max hijinx and personal journeys? They can be 1-1 stand ins for the Community cast or just a general, “it would be funny/entertaining/sexy if this character had to deal with going to a bananas community college in Colorado with these other characters”. Or if you want! send an Avenger or 2 too spend a semester with the canon Community gang, MCU Tony hanging out with Troy&Abed, maybe Ults Steve talking the Shirley about god and their discomfort around The Gays™ or befriending Pierce and then punching him in the face after a while, Any!Carol and Britta NotDating but being put up on the blog “Sibling or Dating” then actually dating to Prove A Point and the messy break up

(Tony would make a good Jeff tbh, and canon or AU, I’d like to see Tony have to go take the general classes at a normal pace amongst the general populous OR other Avengers. I can see the Dean (or like say Nick Fury sr/jr) forcing him to not get any accelerated courses or special treatment so he has to attend every class and do the homework one week at a time, no doing it all in one day and just handing it in throughout! He in fact gets special treatment to not get special treatment cus the assignments are planned out for everyone else to see but Tony as special assignments he can’t pre-write lol.)

(( Why Tony needs to get a college degree and why THIS school? Maybe when he got into MIT as a teen he wanted to skip the general undergraduate year and bribed someone to let him just go straight to Engineering and the press found out and to save face his dad is making him get an undergraduate year one level amount of general credits the slow way at a not so prestigious school or he gets cut off publicly and Tony is like “pshaw, easy old man” and then there is much learning (emotional). But near of the academic year there has maybe not been much learning (academic) as Tony would crave (and also the “professors are often factually incorrect and the textbooks are from 1985) so he starts teaching his own classes in the library on a lark one episode and he gets in trouble with the teacher's union for teaching without being part of the union, this somehow leading to a strike and oops Tony's shut down the school right near exams (also there was a fire in the server room and all the marks and academic history got destroyed thanks to so,e whacky strike breaking attempts or something!) and now he’s gotta stay for another year cus NO ONE got their credits!!! And when they get back for season 2 I mean the next semester everyone is PISSED at Tony, who has to prove he DIDN’T cause the fire in order to stay an extra year because he’s attached to everyone and wanted to stay!))

(((Also, which Avengers is it? 616, Ults, MCU, a devilish mix of characters from different universes etc and what are they trying to achieve being at college? I assume Steve is trying to get used to the future/connect with the common man, Jan wants to take management or HR courses cus the Avengers NEED IT and SOMEONE has to learn how to do it properly, Myabe Jennifer is the Jeff/MC and Steve&Tony are her Troy&Abed (tho let’s be real they’re her Britta&Annie haha) etc)))

OMG thank you for this ask, there isn't an idea here that I wouldn't drop everything to read. In general this is a concept that would work really well with the Avengers because it allows everyone to be at different points in their lives and still connect with each other. Just imagine them all around the study table. It makes me Feel Things.

If I was doing a Community AU for the Avengers, I wouldn't do a one-for-one substitution but instead try to capture some of the dynamics. I also stuck with just Avengers characters and not Marvel characters in general. For the study group I'd do Ults!Tony as the too-cool-for-school type who is hiding a desperate need for human connection and quickly becomes overly invested in his friends lives. He's in community college because he was ordered to attend by a judge (seems just as possible as getting a law degree without an undergraduate). He chose Greendale because he wanted to take the Who's The Boss class. It would be a running gag that at least one member of the study group doesn't know he's one of the most famous people in the world.

MCU!Steve would be next. My favorite AU trope is when everything's different but Steve's still Captain America, except, like, it's a secret. I'm going with the MCU version because I think he's the most isolated Steve and I like the idea of him being defrosted and having nobody and then moving halfway across the country to restart his life. He never went to college and this feels like the 'normal' thing to do. He's prone to speechifying enough that he's regularly called 'the worst' (affectionate).

Then I'd add 616!Kate Bishop as my third member. She never went to college because she was too busy having an evil dad, a codependent friendship with Clint, and solving mysteries in LA. She enrolls in Greendale while hunting down a lead and then solves the mystery two episodes in, but by then she's committed to figuring out who the fuck this mysterious Steve is. She's too precocious for her own good and regularly volunteers the group for things.

616!America has transferred from Sotomayor University after a particularly messy breakup with an ex-girlfriend. After spending her life hopping between dimensions settling down at Greendale is kind of strange. She likes to threaten to punch people but really she's the most protective in the bunch.

Then let's go with 616!Pietro because you need an asshole that frusterated everyone but he is also well meaning. He's estranged from his daughter and is trying to better himself so that she might want to have a relationship with him. Constantly talks about his twin sister who's never seen throughout the show.

I chose MCU!Clint because you need someone with a real life outside of Greendale. In this AU he's actually trying to be undercover with his family and Colorado is far away from whatever villain is trying to hunt him down.

616!Riri is my last member because I wanted someone who's smart but unlike Tony, also sincere. While Kate and America are also pretty young, Riri's the one that makes everyone feel old. She's the hardest to make up a reason for why she's at Greendale. Maybe she's very close to completing a graduate degree but it turns out some of her undergrad credits were invalid so she needs to take a class and...I dunno. I'm still thinking about it.

Other characters who should show up are Ults!Thor (more righteous than Steve), 616!Sam (the reasonable one), 616!Jennifer (just having a good time), MCU!Carol (just because seeing Brie Larson would be meta), 616!Gwenpool (need someone genre aware), and MCU!Scott (obsessed with Steve.)

The whole thing starts when Tony spots Steve in a physics class he's taking because he thinks it's hilarious. He sells Steve on the idea of being his tutor but Steve invites everyone else. Hijinks ensue. No one figures out who Steve is until paintball.

[fvckyouimaprophet]

5 most underrated ships (in any of your fandoms).

Tumblr ate my response when I was mostly done with it. 😔 Not in any order.

Harry Potter: Pansy/Ginny. I love Luna/Ginny, but the enemies-to-lovers vibes of Ginsy is just impossible to resist. And Linny can be too nice. Like fluff is nice and all, but we need some conflict. Also, all femslash is underrated in the HP fandom lmao.

The L Word: I wrote out three other ships from The L Word first and deleted all of them (Jodi/Bette, Shane/Molly, and Jenny/Max). But even though all of those are underrated, I’m gonna have to go with Ivan/Kit. Ivan dancing to I’m Your Man… I melt just thinking about it.

Battlestar Galactica: Every ship in BSG is underrated because I know like 3 people I can talk to about that show, but Athena and Helo’s love story is next level. He put his life on the line for her, defended her as well as all Cylons from extinction. The biggest wife guy you’re ever going to meet.

Yellowjackets: Is it my favorite ship? No. Not even necessarily for each of those characters. But why do I not see more people discussing TaiShauna? Shauna trusts no one, but she trusts Tai? The way Tai is there for her when she wants to have an abortion, no questions asked. Even in the pilot, when they speak at the diner or wherever, there’s a spark of chemistry between them!

Riverdale: Look, I have to. I started watching Riverdale in 2017, and it ends next week. I’ve never watched 6 years of TV live, and the fact that it’s this show is… uh. Yeah. But I did, and I cried during the last episode, and I can’t believe the finale is next week. My big ships for it are Betty/Jughead and Cheryl/Toni, which are both among the largest. But underrated, I think that Betty has chemistry with every goddamn woman. And since Betty/Veronica isn’t exactly underrated, I’ll say Betty/Tabitha. I wrote a fic of them! They were cute! Also, I didn’t ship them, but the fatphobia really came through with the treatment of Ethel (all the other girls are talking about/having sex all episode long, and when we finally see Ethel’s fantasy, she is getting kissed on the cheek???), but they should have committed in the last season and had Ethel and Jughead date for some period of time since they threw everyone else together. If Reggie/Archie, Betty/Veronica, and Kevin’s fucking cop dad/Archie’s goddamn miserable homophobic uncle could all get their moments, why couldn’t Ethel and Jughead?

Ask me my top 5 anything.

[my-head-is-an-animal]

Caustic: An Origin Story

Caustic/Alexander Nox x Original Female Character

Rating: 18+

Chapter 3

The next few days were strange, my relationship with Dr Nox took a turn for what I could only assume was the better. Every morning he would insist on checking my injuries and helping me to do anything I felt needed to be done to help me recover. I just let him do whatever made him feel better, mostly it was to settle him enough to allow him to get some work done, but sometimes if there wasn’t anything to be done, he would get a little frustrated and start the day on the wrong foot.

    He seemed to enjoy applying the ointment which he did every second day, with precision and care. It was the one thing I was somewhat less happy for him to do, watching his eyes darken at the sight of my bruises was not something I enjoyed in the slightest.

    I’d walked in the morning before my meeting and we went through the same routine, the only downside was that I’d barely slept the night before due to the loud music from the flat below. I’d had an episode and I wasn’t interested in talking about it, but the ointment made me fall asleep, something I thought was incredibly embarrassing when Nox woke me a couple of hours later.

    ‘The treatment will take a little longer to kick in, but you will be fine.’ He said with a small smile. ‘You didn’t sleep well last night?’

    ‘No.’ I yawned and sat up, stretching my now healed neck. ‘Loud music from the flat below and parties all over the place.’

    Dr Nox shifted for a moment, unsure of himself. ‘Would you like to rest for a while? I don’t have anything important for you today and you have your meeting this evening.’

    ‘It’s okay, I’ve done more on less sleep.’ I shook my head, moving to get up and head into my office.

    ‘Jessica, you’re exhausted.’

    ‘I’m always exhausted.’ I half laughed, but once again, it didn’t seem to be a laughing matter.

    ‘If you won’t rest, then might I ask you for something else?’

    I frowned and once again folded my arms, having some idea of what he might have been about to say.

    ‘Will you let me pick you up from your meeting?’

    ‘No.’ I said, immediately. That flash of anger returned and it took a long moment for him to compose himself.

    ‘Why not?’

    ‘Because I don’t want you to.’

    ‘Why?’ He pushed.

    ‘The simple fact that I don’t want you to, should be enough for you to not ask me that question.’

    It was a long time before Nox spoke again, he was having a long and internal debate with himself. ‘Fine.’ He nodded once and I left his lab, listening to the sound of him getting so frustrated he threw beakers and other equipment against his office wall.

    I left early without saying goodbye to Dr Nox, assuming he was still angry with me and I went to my meeting. I found it a little easier to listen this week, easier to talk without actually saying much. They noticed and seemed accepting of it, like it was something they’d all done before and come to recognise.

    I ended up leaving a little later than I intended and walked out with another veteran medic, Antonio who insisted I called him Toni. He was a tall man with dark, mid length, curled hair and a nasty scar just about visible on his shoulder from a grenade that went off close to where he had been trying to tend to an injured soldier. Toni had an incredibly kind face with dark chocolate eyes that were the complete opposite of Dr Nox. I felt immediately welcomed into his presence and he laughed like it was the only thing he knew how to do.

    We walked for a while towards the end of town where we both lived until the fork in the road split us up for the remainder of the journey. It was at that point I heard the familiar sound of the young thugs from the previous week. I pulled my phone out and immediately called Dr Nox, whilst increasing my pace towards my flat.

    ‘What is it?’ He answered, clearly annoyed that I’d phoned.

    ‘Look, I know I pissed you off today, but I’m already regretting it,’ I panted. ‘I’m being followed by those same guys.’

    ‘Where are you?’ He demanded.

    ‘Just round the corner from my place.’ I looked back to see that they were drunk and laughing, just about to break into a run. I started first and sprinted as hard as I could towards my flat. I could just about hear the sounds of Nox yelling something on the phone, but I was too busy racing towards my building to hear him.

    Finally, I made it just in time to see the grumpy man who lived below me leaving the front door, he never looked pleased and it was enough to scare the thugs into stopping, unsure of he was with me or not.

    ‘Dr Nox?’ I panted, coughing as I tried to get my breath back.

    ‘Jessica.’ If I didn’t know any better, I would have said he was relieved. ‘Are you alright?’

    ‘I’m fine… I think.’ I leaned against the wall and wiped away the sweat away from my forehead.

    ‘You think or you know?’

    ‘Just… just give me a second to catch my breath.’ I snapped, listening to his sigh in disapproval. He said nothing for a moment while I felt my body come back to me. I stood up and began walking up the stairs to my flat. ‘I’m fine.’

    ‘You don’t sound fine, Jessica.’ Dr Nox said a little softer than before.

    ‘I am okay.’ I suddenly heard the stuttering in my own voice. ‘Just a bit shaken that’s all.’

    Nox sighed again. ‘Would you please allow me to assist you?’

    ‘I don’t need assistance, I’m fine. I just need to rest.’ I was starting to get frustrated.

    ‘Jessica please!’ In all the time I had known Dr Nox, he’d never actually been angry with me, never enough to shout anyway. I didn’t exactly know what to say. ‘I apologise,’ he took a breath. ‘I didn’t mean to raise my voice. Please let me help you.’

    It was my turn to sigh, but it was more because I was out of breath than anything. ‘I just need to sleep.’ I said, looking up and seeing I still had a few floors to go.

    ‘Do you really think you’ll be able to sleep in that place?’

    ‘What do you mean?’ I frowned.

    ‘I want you to feel safe tonight,’ he explained softly. ‘Please let me bring you to my home so you may get the rest you deserve.’

    ‘Dr Nox, I don’t think that’s really necessary,’ I heard the sound of the front door to the building opening and closing and it only made me dash up the last few flights of stairs a bit quicker. ‘I’ll be fine. I’m sorry I called.’

    ‘Jessica, you called me for a reason, if you won’t allow me to bring you to my home, then let me come to yours to make sure you are unharmed.’

    I quickly got the door open and I didn’t feel much safer, even after securing the locks, I just didn’t quite feel like I was going to get the rest I needed.

    ‘Fine.’ I breathed and sat back against the back of my sofa, watching the door for whenever Dr Nox arrived and knocked. He hung up immediately and I suddenly felt incredibly alone.

    It felt like the longest time between dropping the phone and the gentlest knock I’d ever heard at my front door. I slowly stood up, making sure to stay as silent as I could before looking through the peephole to see the front of Nox’s grey shirt. I opened the door to find he was in his work out gear, sweaty grey t-shirt beneath his black hoodie and black shorts. His grey trainers looked well worn and I realised that he must have been in the middle of a work out when I phoned.

    ‘Are you hurt?’ Nox asked, closing the door and securing all the locks while I backed into the back of my sofa.

    ‘No, I’m fine.’ I said, quietly.

    He had a gentle look to him, his pale eyes were softening as his breathing began to even out. ‘You’re shaking.’ He said gently. ‘Sit down.’

    I looked down at my hands which were in fact shaking, how did I not notice that? I frowned and just watched them for a moment. I was startled by the fact that Dr Nox’s soft fingers were grazing over my hands, I felt a warmth seeping through me which settled me somewhat, but I still wasn’t sure.

    ‘Jessica.’ His voice was low and penetrating. I took my hands away and sucked in a deep breath, trying to compose myself.

    ‘I didn’t mean to interrupt you.’ I said, quietly, leaning on my small table. ‘I shouldn’t have called.’

    ‘I would rather you interrupt me than once again get hurt by those men.’ Why was he being so kind to me?

    ‘I appreciate that, thank you.’ What else should I have said?

    ‘Perhaps a shower would help.’

    ‘The water’s off until morning.’ I shook my head, the water never worked in the evening hours and I never really cared, it was just something I got used to.

    Nox said nothing, but I felt him approach me slowly. ‘Do you have anything to stop the shaking? Or to help you sleep tonight?’

    ‘I’ll be alright, I just need to rest and let myself drift off.’ I stood up straight and stretched my neck a little.

    ‘How can you drift off with that racket going on around you?’ He was standing directly behind me and I could feel his body heat radiating off of him. It wasn’t until he said it that I realised there was a lot of noise coming from all around me, I hated it and I hated that it comforted me in a way.

    ‘It’s not so bad.’ I turned slowly to face him, he wasn’t nearly as close as I thought he was. ‘You get used to it.’

    ‘I would rather you didn’t.’

    I folded my arms and frowned at him. ‘Why are you being so kind to me?’

    ‘Would you prefer me not to be?’

    ‘No, I just… I’ve not given you any reason to be like this.’

    Dr Nox half laughed, half sighed at me. ‘Do you honestly think I would need a reason to be kind to you? Jessica, you have allowed me to continue my work undisturbed, something I have not had the pleasure of doing since I started my research. I want to thank you in any way I can.’

    I tried to figure out what his game was and why he was standing in front of me the way he was, looking gentle and being soft with me.

    ‘Dr Nox, I don’t need you to thank me-‘

    ‘Alexander.’ He interrupted. ‘If you feel more comfortable addressing me as Dr Nox, then that is your choice, but my name is Alexander.’

    I thought about it for a moment. I’d never called him by his first name before, I never had reason to. ‘Would you like me to use it?’

    It looked almost like he was at a loss, did he really not know what to say?

    ‘Yes.’ He breathed. ‘Very much so.’ He swallowed thickly and I was unsure of what was going through his head. ‘Please stay with me tonight, let me at least feel like I’m helping you.’

    I turned away, the shaking reduced a considerable amount since talking with Dr Nox. If it made him feel better, then maybe that was enough to ensure he was happy enough to work the next day.

    ‘I’m not happy about this,’ I said. ‘But fine. If it’ll make you feel better.’

    I turned back to see him trying not to grin, it almost made me lose my own composure.

    ‘Let me just get some stuff.’

    ‘Of course.’ He nodded, looking fairly pleased with himself.

    I shook my head and wandered into my bedroom to grab a few things I would need for staying the night at Dr Nox’s home. It really only occurred to me at that moment that I didn’t know where he lived, what I actually needed and what he really had planned. I was a little worried, but then again, nothing he had ever done made me feel like I was in any danger, ever.

    ‘Jessica?’ I heard him at the door to my bedroom and suddenly realised that I hadn’t packed a single thing.

    ‘Yeah, I’m just coming.’ I said and threw a few clothes into a bag, leaving the safety of my messy and small bedroom.

    ‘You’re ready?’

    ‘Yeah, let’s go.’ I said and felt him gently take my duffel bag from me. ‘You don’t need to-‘

    ‘I want to.’ He smiled, softly. ‘Please indulge me for a while.’

    I rolled my eyes and half laughed, again, knowing that this was what he was like when he cared.

If you liked this, please consider supporting me ☕ thanks for reading!

[newnewyorker93]

I posted 3,612 times in 2022

That's 1,146 more posts than 2021!

34 posts created (1%)

3,578 posts reblogged (99%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@appleteeth

@forpiratereasons

@snake-snack-stede

@auntiesuze

@laexploradoraaa

I tagged 3,607 of my posts in 2022

#our flag means death - 1,504 posts

#art - 1,094 posts

#stede bonnet - 895 posts

#edward teach - 751 posts

#blackbonnet - 522 posts

#😂😂 - 349 posts

#tony stark - 286 posts

#meta - 171 posts

#what we do in the shadows - 170 posts

#star wars - 144 posts

Longest Tag: 137 characters

#tells me how she thinks the jews are such a beautiful people then (oh so *nicely*) starts asking me don't i want to let jesus into my ❤️?

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

~~~

Ok, this got me 🥺😭

93 notes - Posted September 17, 2022

#4

Thank you so much to the wonderful @smolbus for this lovely, sweet drawing of Ed and Stede admiring Stede's new moth tattoo! (And yes, of course it's a Dryocampa rubicunda 💗💛)

The commission request was based on/inspired by my fic The Inked Moth, wherein Ed gives Stede his first tattoo :)

107 notes - Posted October 7, 2022

#3

Edward Teach (🎵born on a beach🎵)

It took all weekend because I may have gone a little overboard on the details but here's a little Blackbeard felt figure to go with the Stede Bonnet figure I made last week (and who you can see here)!

+ a few closeups to show off some of the details:

See the full post

140 notes - Posted April 11, 2022

#2

Oh, I see. You think you're cute?

Actually, I think I'm just so-so, but I've decided to carry myself like I'm cute.

The next member of the Revenge crew to get the felt figure treatment... our beloved Lucius! Lots of fun details to play around with on this one - the fringed jacket and plaid scarf, his very distinctive hairstyle, how to put a wooden finger on a figure that doesn't technically have any fingers...

And here's a few bonus looks at Stede's journal, including an illustration of some lush vegetation claimed in conquest:

See the full post

149 notes - Posted May 18, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

Fire Safety

My cross-stitch version of the Iron Man scene where Tony is trying to fly with his repulsor tech and Dum-E is being very diligent about fire safety 😄

The original patterns for Dum-E and Tony are @rebelmeg's, and then I basically had some fun improvising how to stitch all of Tony's test flight gear!

(for my @tonystarkbingo square A2 - robots)

See the full post

204 notes - Posted January 18, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[kombatfather1796]

Avengers: Endgame was supposed to be the theatrical event of the century, the grand finale of the Infinity Saga of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the culmination of the glorious (and at times, inglorious) history of the 11 year old (at the time) franchise -- and for many people, it was just that. I, however, was not one of those people.

I had such high hopes and expectations for that movie, which was clearly my first mistake, and I was hugely disappointed. Endgame was supposed to be a beautiful send-off to our core six Avengers, as they and the next generation of heroes defeated the Mad Titan Thanos once and for all, and all it served to do was to destroy the legacy of these characters we've gotten to know and fall in love with over the past 11 years (as of that point in 2019) and forever tarnish the legitimacy of the MCU going forward.

The original post perfectly illustrates how horrendously they eviscerated one Steven Grant Rogers, who, up to that point, was my favorite character. The gross treatment and writing of Steve was nothing but a massive retcon to fight back against the fandom and delegitamize the canon nature of Stucky -- even though Marvel themselves wrote Steve and Bucky with all that underlying subtext. My biggest points of contention with the thing they call Steve Rogers in Endgame are thus:

Going back in time to steal a woman's life from her -- a woman you kissed all of one time, who told you 9 years prior in 2014, that she lived her life and her greatest regret was that you didn't get to live yours, who told you in that same conversation to move on with your life -- because she was supposedly the great love of his life, the entire reason he became Captain America in the first place

The second and biggest insult and atrocity of all is while shaking up with your Nazi of a wife, you willingly sat there through all the horrors and atrocities of 20th century American History and did nothing about it. On top of that, you sat there and allowed your best friend to remain a captive of Hydra, being brainwashed, tortured, and undergoing the most vile suffering imaginable because you wanted to play house with the irredeemable character that was Peggy Carter.

Steve leaving Bucky to be tortured by Hydra was the worst offense. Amidst all the other god-awful things he did in this movie, that was definitely the straw that broke the proverbial camel's back for me. The disrespect of Natasha, the overhyped, unwarranted pedestal they propped Tony Stark on, the further ruination of Bruce, the humiliation of Thor and the mocking of his trauma, among so many other things just broke soe.yhing inside of me that has never been repaired.

Ever since Endgame, and especially because of Spider-Man: Far From Home, I've been soured and disillusioned on all things MCU. I've been lucky and grateful to find little nuggets here and there with things like WandaVision (even though it has its own issues with messing with established characters) and Spider-Man: No Way Home (which I truly only enjoyed because of the all the pandering and nostalgia-bait), but beyond that I've been largely done. There are still days where it's hard to even engage in fandom works because of the awful memories of 2019 MCU, which is why I started to pen my own Endgame Fix-it fic back when it was still popular. I never finished it, and I really need to because it may help me to finally close the door on the hurt and betrayal I feel when engaging with anything Marvel-related, MCU specifically.

the best things about tws have all been retconned

steve finding a home in the future ▸▸▸  that wasn’t a life, goes back to the 40′s.

peggy was happy with her life, wanted steve to move on ▸▸▸ goes back in time, takes away peggy’s happy life, steve does the opposite of move on.

steve and bucky find each other again, the possibilities are endless ▸▸▸ let’s separate them again and spend their lives apart.

steve meets sam and is realistic and honest about how difficult the past was and how he prefers it now ▸▸▸ have fun boiling your ham again steve. enjoy your hot ham water.

one of the best fights in the mcu ▸▸▸ now used as a cheap joke so that steve can make a hydra reference, because a very political hero pretending to side with a n*zi organization is really funny and not at all upsetting in today’s political climate!

steve, natasha, and sam’s relationship that is based on trust, mutual admiration, and respect and which has developed over time ▸▸▸ one manly tear at not a funeral and quite honestly a dickish conversation on a bench? also apparently, his current family means nothing compared to one woman who told him to move on and had a happy life.

peggy talking about how steve saved her husband ▸▸▸ steve was always the husband! those were always his kids! he was always meant to go back!

steve being a hero ▸▸▸ whatever that republican maga monstrosity was in endgame.

[likea-black-widow-baby]

One thing I loved about MoM is that Wanda is allowed to be messy.

Full analysis under the cut

The MCU's treatment of Wanda has changed dramatically from AoU to MoM. Today we'll be tracing her journey from a standard postfeminist Strong Female Character to the more layered, messy, human version of her we see now.

Wanda doesn't get to look messy in the early MCU. Her first on-screen breakdown after Pietro's death is a perfect example of postfeminist objectification.

She gets to be powerful, but she tears through Ultron bots the same way that the only woman in a spy movie struts out of an explosion in a torn tank top carrying a single giant machine gun while all the men wear practical fighting gear. Wanda gets to be powerful as long as her titties are out and she's totally unscathed.

Elizabeth Olsen commented on the stigmatization of looking messy in an Age of Ultron promo interview: “Usually facial expressions aren’t great in slo-mo, because sometimes we’ll do super slo-mo moves, and, you know, you’re trying to do effort…But what I did just then, in slo-mo, is quite literally the most unattractive thing you could ever see anyone do. It’s so weird. And Joss [Whedon] would always remind me to use a calm face because that is okay to watch.”

The result being that Wanda looks dead-eyed in the movie where she's supposed to be the youngest and least experienced. So not only was she treated poorly in terms of over-sexualization, but media's (and Joss Whedon's) obsession with the picture-perfect woman prevented Elizabeth Olsen from portraying a human-feeling superhero in a franchise about humans trying to be superheroes.

The MCU starts moving away from this in Wandavision, exemplified when Wanda has her existential crisis and spends episode 8 in sweats.

She looks messy-- not yet violent-messy, but casual. She's allowed to be a mess in a very human way-- arguably the first time we see a woman coming apart mentally without her struggle being played for laughs (see, Pepper in Iron Man 2 and 3).

Side note-- I think this kind of breakdown is different from the ways we've seen Natasha weak because Natasha is permitted weakness in a very dramatic "look how pretty and sad and hot she is" kind of way. Pepper was always cast as hysterical for fretting over Tony and, while her concerns may be vindicated by the plot later, she is brushed off in the moment like one might pat a child having a tantrum on the head.

Anyway, Wanda is allowed to be an everyday coming-apart-at-the-seams messy in a manner not previously permitted to women in the MCU. But she's still immaculate in the final fight scene.

Agatha drains her power and it briefly gives her a haunted look, but it's still fantasy-messy. No real person is looking that much like a zombie, and even if Wanda briefly looks less than flawless, it's in an unrealistic way.

Which brings us to Multiverse. At the beginning of the movie, especially during her siege on Kamar Taj, I was fearful that it was going to be another repeat of AoU, CA:CW, or IW where Wanda gets to go a little crazy but remain the immaculate-looking Strong Female Character. Here's the scene that disproved my fears.

One might argue that it's just another instance of fantasy-messy, but what makes it different is how real her bones snapping back into place is portrayed. We can hear it. We watch her body twist back into its normal shape like a puppet seized by the strings, complete with ugly cracking noises that make her body seem real and breakable. It's a move a director like J*ss Wh*don wouldn't allow because it's gross and unsexy. Like people can be sometimes.

Gif credit: @lokihiddleston

Here's where all of this has been leading. Seven years and five directors later, Wanda gets to look like a human being. Cracked lips, tired eyes, greasy hair, face blotchy. It doesn't get more real than that. I hope Elizabeth Olsen enjoyed looking like this on screen, because I sure loved watching it.

P.S.

While searching for Elizabeth's quote, I found this very well-written article on postfeminism in Hollywood and the problematic handling of Black Widow, Scarlet Witch, and Mystique.

[youngbugandtonystank]

what's the difference between what wanda did to those people in wandavision and what tony did with ultron?

I have so many asks about this. Hate asks, and people wondering what’s going on. This is the only one I’m answering.

Both of them are responsible for their actions. I’ve seen people try and take away either Tony’s responsibility for that or Wanda’s engagement and accountability. 

In Tony’s case, the Ultron program was supposed to be a global peacekeeping program to protect the people, acting as a suit around the world to prevent events like the Battle of New York. He was doing it in the name of peace and safety. Tony was rightfully scared because he was the only one who knew what was coming. Wanda intentionally enhanced that fear in him and this drove him to create Ultron with Bruce. He has responsibility for it. Same as Bruce. He owns up to this, he took full responsibility and agreed that they needed to be regulated. 

Tony Stark: A few years ago, I almost lost her, so I trashed all my suits. Then, we had to mop up HYDRA... and then Ultron. My fault.

--

Tony Stark: There's no decision-making process here. We need to be put in check! Whatever form that takes, I'm game. If we can't accept limitations, if we're boundary-less, we're no better than the bad guys.

--

Tony Stark: That's good. That's why I'm here. When I realized what my weapons were capable of in the wrong hands, I shut it down and stop manufacturing.

--

If people think he needs to be in jail for it, then I’m guessing the rest of the Avengers too since all of them have made mistakes and killed people too. As a matter of fact, after the events of Wandavision, I’m sure that Wanda should be in the Raft, but because she’s ‘a poor baby’ yall won’t think she deserves that. 

SPOILERS

It’s a big possibility that we don’t have all the info about what happened in Wandavision but we’re going to go with what we know so far. 

In Wanda’s case, she did it to appease her grief and pain, and I can understand why she would get to that point, she’s been through a lot and maybe she was about to lose her mind. Instead of recruiting Wanda after the Sokovia incident, they should’ve given this girl treatment for her mental health problems. She just lost her brother and passed through a very traumatic war zone, of course she needs assistance. Cap and Natasha were the ones responsible for her because they were training the ‘new’ avengers. Sam was with them and he used to be a counselor to veterans with PTSD. He could’ve helped Wanda with some of her traumas. As shown in the series, Wanda did the whole hex business before meeting Agatha, which means creating that little reality was all Wanda’s responsibility. Hayward and Agatha did exactly what Wanda did to Tony (and the avengers/other people) in AOU. They manipulated her and played with her emotional traumas. Hayward showed her Vision’s body parts and Agatha started to pull strings to know how Wanda did what she did and her real powers while orchestrating against her. 

Both of them have made mistakes. No one is better than the other. I don’t understand why some fans want to make someone responsible more than the other or blame one character for the other. While Wanda gave Tony that vision and pushed his self-destructive side to obsess over saving the world, he did create Ultron, what Tony didn’t predict was that the robot was going to corrupt itself. Same with Wanda, while Agatha and Hayward contributed to her trauma, she held hostage and isolated 3,892 people to create her perfect reality, ripping these people away from their identities and free will to fit her own fantasy. Don’t turn this into ‘omg poor her, it’s Tony fault that she’s this way'. I can’t believe I have to repeat this but you don’t see Peter Parker obsessively looking for the person who manufactured the gun instead of the criminal who actually killed Uncle Ben. Ridiculous that I have to repeat this example. 

Oh and about Vision’s body (damn yall have a gift to turn everything into Tony’s fault for some reason). I can’t believe some of you think Tony (while grieving for 5 years) would give Vision to Hayward. You’re either pulling stuff out of your asses or you didn’t pay attention to the show. Maria Rambeau founded and was the Director of S.W.O.R.D. In 2018 (when IW happened), this is where she came up with a new policy within S.W.O.R.D. to ground snapped agents in case they ever returned. Maria was diagnosed with cancer, then two years later (2020), she passed away. Then, Hayward was promoted to Director of S.W.O.R.D., in his first years (2020-2022) he refocused the organization’s work from extraterrestrial operations to robotics, nanotechnology and artificial intelligence, etc. There, that was the 5 years. Then in 2023 it’s when he started project Cataract, which revolved around rebuilding Vision as a sentient weapon. Tony was dead when this happened. How come yall don’t get this part? I don’t understand, do you really think his dead corpse signed some papers to give Vision to those people? LMAO

Instead of thinking Tony would give up Vision just like that, think (possibilities):

Maria was the head of S.W.O.R.D., she might have just been keeping his body safe without doing anything with him. Maybe she trusted Hayward and he, obviously, betrayed her because he’s turning her organization into something else after her death. 

One of the Sokovia Accords regulations states that the use of technology to bestow individuals (the term ‘enhanced individual’ in this book is defined as any person, human or otherwise, with superhuman capabilities) with innate capabilities is strictly regulated by the government, as is the use and distribution of highly advanced technology. Vision signed those accords ('I'm saying there may be a casualty. Our very strength invites challenge. Challenge incites conflict. And conflict... breeds catastrophe. Oversight...oversight is not an idea that can be dismissed out of hand’) The Avengers were no longer be a private organization and they operate under the supervision of the United Nations. This means they (UN) were the ones that referred Vision’s body to S.W.O.R.D., to a trustworthy leader, Maria. 

Vision died in Wakanda, not in New York. Tony was missing for 22 days after the snap, the rest of the avengers should’ve taken responsibility for his body.  

Why is it always Tony’s fault but never consider that other parties are also involved in this? 

I want to address some other asks with this one. I know some of you are angry because people are starting to blame Tony all over again, so a few things to remember:

Tony did not create the Accords. The Accords were the result of all the collective actions the Avengers have done in their superhero careers. All of them have made mistakes and the collateral damage of that was taken into consideration by the government and 117 countries around the world. He signed the accords because he knew that he could amend them with the support of the rest of the avengers and he knew about Thanos (something big was coming). 

Obadiah Stane (it’s so bizarre for me seeing that some people don’t know who this guy is, I’m guessing that the people who are watching Wandavision are too young to remember or didn’t watch the Iron Man movies at all which is highly probable) was the one selling weapons to the wrong people, not Tony. Obadiah was the CEO of Stark industries and became second-in-command for two decades. He grew jealous of Tony and began cooperating with the Ten Rings in Afghanistan, selling them Stark Industries weapons illegally. Imagine blaming all of it on Tony when Obadiah basically murdered thousands only because he felt a little green. If someone who you trust (he had no reasons to doubt Obadiah since he was like a second father-figure for him) does something behind your back (take into consideration that people like Pepper; who was Tony’s assistant and had knowledge of all of Tony’s activities and responsibilities, Rhodey; who was the liaison between the military in the department of acquisitions and Stark Industries, and Happy Hogan; who was his personal bodyguard and Head of Security of Stark Industries, didn’t know what Stane was doing either), how are you going to know about it? Tony trusted him. And when he realized what was going on he immediately stopped all of it. He worked hard to be better and people overlook that because they want other characters to look better. 

Don’t act like Tony was the only one assisting the military. All of the avengers assisted in one way or another. Natasha (who used to be an assassin) was in the Red Room, trained in the Black Widow Program in association with Leviathan and the Soviet Armed Forces, served for KGB, etc. Bruce Banner used to work for the United States government and was commissioned to create a super serum for them. Same goes with the rest, Sam, Clint, etc. Steve Rogers was a soldier lmaoooooooooooooo like, what happened to Tony with Obadiah happened to Steve with SHIELD/HYDRA in TWS. He trusted the people working in there (SHIELD), served for them, did missions for them and as soon as he found out what they were doing behind his back he turned against them. 

Knowing all of this, how is Tony always the villain for yall? I’m guessing because Tony’s popularity in the MCU, but still, aren’t yall tired of not understanding the plot and having people repeat it to you constantly? Watch the movies if you want to understand the franchise, people. Stop following the crowd. 

Also, Wanda is not a kid, she’s a 35 year old woman in Wandavision, she was 26 in AOU and 27 in CW. Hardly a child. Tony had almost her same age (38) when he realized Obadiah was selling illegal weaponry behind his back. The only reason people don’t fully forgive Tony is because 1. he’s a man and 2. he’s a billionaire. Even if Wanda was poor she still killed and hurt many people over the course of her life. Stop trying to make Tony the villain only to downplay Wanda’s actions. 

Both have killed people, both have made mistakes. They’re both responsible for them. 

[starker1975]

Stephen Strange could play around with an apple and make it rot and go back to fresh and unbitten. They tryna tell me he couldn't have done the same glowy time-turning thing for Tony Stark as he was dying of his injuries? Enough so he could be saved? Also the whole team hand-holding thing in Guardians Of The Galaxy, why didn't they try that? People give me the excuse that Quill was a half-god at the time and I'm like ??? Thor is a God! On the Avengers team they also had The Hulk, not one but two fecken super soldiers, A mighty powerful Spider-Man, Dr. Strange and his magic buddies, The Scarlet witch, and mutherfucken Captain Marvel?! They couldn't have done the same thing to save Tony? To stand together in that epic battle against Thanos and his homies? Why were the rUsSos so willing to kill RDJ off, he was like one of the best things in the entire MCU. They could have thought something up to save him if they wanted to. Also I'm PMS:ing hard and I just get so upset sometimes with how they let go of Tony in such a way. Sorry, I just had to vent! ^_^

I think you’re completely right. I even had a seven paragraph rant typed out explaining why; I backspaced it all since it was long winded, but it all lead up to the conclusion that Tony died and sacrificed everything for nothing—for people who didn’t deserve or appreciate it. Not because he had to die, but because they wanted him dead. I went over a few key moments in the MCU where his unfair treatment is revealed, but here are two main ones:

In the beginning, he was originally rejected from the Avengers, and proceeded to save everybody in the battle of NY. Then, Steve Rogers still had his name go first on the memorial placard even though he barely did anything.

And in the end, they cut the scene on the endgame battlefield where every single hero took a knee to honour Tony. (I guess we should be grateful he got a funeral since Natasha got fuck all too. Easy to see who the writers’ favourites are.)

All that to show that he’s disrespected by writers and therefore the other characters themselves. Nothing he did was ever good enough for anybody, and he was consistently written off as an irredeemable douche. They gave him his happy ending and took it away. 😃 (although I would argue over whether an ending with Pepper was ideal since she mostly complained and rejected his identity for their entire relationship—again, a writer issue bc they tend to make women discontent nags. But still.)

I don’t know. It’s just depressing really. Tony didn’t have to die and he shouldn’t have. I mean…he’s iconic and a badass, so him dying while making the ultimate sacrifice and then getting a statue and documentary etc. is an excellent fuck-you to his doubters/enemies. But of course, it’s not as effective as it should be because people STILL talk about shit his pre-IM1 character, and Beck and his minions came for the barf glasses in FFH because they couldn’t let him rest. (Not to mention Toomes in Homecoming was anti Tony too as if he caused the Battle of NY—they even make Spider-Man villains be villains of Tony they hate him so much.) (even the Iron Man trilogy villains aren’t bad people Tony decided to stop himself, they were specifically people who HATED TONY. Stane and Hammer out of jealousy etc., Vanko for something Howard did to his dad, and Killian bc Tony was mean to him once.)

And that’s all just canon bullshit. Don’t get me started on the MCU fandom. I once saw a tik tok where someone criticized the new Captain America bc his intro on the football field with the marching band was too similar to Iron Man and his cheerleaders in IM2, meanwhile Steve Rogers used to have dancers and a play while he toured the front lines??? Like out of all the reasons this fool could’ve criticized John Walker, he chose to compare his MARCHING BAND INTRO to Tony’s Expo cheerleaders. Like what a fucking reach!!! (Meanwhile golden boy Steve can do whatever he wants and still be worthy of mjolnir) That’s how much people hate him lmao. Our king should’ve just snapped Peter back and let everyone else rot.

OOPS I turned it into a long answer again. Hahahaha. Anyways. Fuck anyone who isn’t Tony Stark. That’s my point.

[lilyofthesword-writes]

Insistence

Summary: Loki is being stubborn even when injured, not wanting help for fear of seeming weak. You ignore his protests and tend to him anyways.

Pairing: Loki x Field/Combat Medic!Reader

Word Count: 2,864

Warnings/Disclaimers: Mild violence. Injuries, burns. I don’t go into gory detail. Minor character death alluded to.

A/N: This one took longer than I anticipated. I wound up rewriting it midway through. The whole combat medic has been on my list of ideas for a while with only the most basic idea in my head. Once I start writing, it veered off in a different direction.

Masterlist

“I do not require your assistance, Mortal,” Loki spat, his voice lacking the venom it was usually laced with especially when you were trying to do your job.

You scoffed, gently dabbing at the tiny lacerations on his cheek. “Well, you’re getting it anyways. What kind of field medic would I be if I didn’t help everyone on the team?”

He scowled as you brushed a rogue ribbon of inky hair behind his ear so you could make sure you didn’t miss anything. In truth, this was the first time he didn’t continuously insist on pushing you away. There was always something about him not needing your treatments or someone else needing to be tended to first - Any excuse he could use to deny help. Then again, there was nowhere for him to run this time.

Either Fury’s intel had been wrong, your team’s plans had been leaked or both. The HYDRA base you all had been sent to had been overstocked in both operatives and ammunition. Even with the legacy team that accepted Loki almost half a year ago, you weren’t prepared.

Nat had been the worst, immediately being taken down when she attempted to infiltrate the base. That was when the HYDRA members started spilling out from within and around the base. With the rest of the team providing backup, Clint was able to help you lug her back to the Quinjet where you cleaned the deep gash in her side and stitched her together again. Of course, Clint wasn’t going to stand down. He stayed by the ramp, firing arrow after arrow to keep some of the heat off his companions. You wound up having to patch up his bleeding leg while he continued to fight.

Steve was the next to return. He collapsed in a seat as you reached him. Bruised and battered, he was mostly alright save for the possibility of some broken ribs. Tony crashed-landed onto the ramp, the metal of his suit screeching and scraping as he skidded inside. He was in the same boat as Steve along with his suit quickly losing power. There wasn’t much left he could do. Thor lumbered backwards into the Quinjet, Mjolnir still boomeranging out into the field to take down what enemies he could. With the God of Thunder standing guard, Clint disappeared to the cockpit.

The engines whirred to life. “Okay, guys! Jet’s primed and ready for take off. We got everyone?” Clint called out.

You took a look around, hearing the engines ready themselves. Thor cursed under his breath as he continued throwing his hammer. Where was… Oh… Oh no.

Shoving the cotton ball doused in antiseptic into Tony’s hand, you peeled away from his side and hovered near Thor. Against the bright white snow, a twister of black, green and gold ferociously danced. Loki was still out there.

“Do NOT take off yet!” you hollered back.

With a huff, you opened a hidden compartment and pulled out a sniper rifle along with its tripod. After piecing together the barrels, you attached the small tripod and settled on the floor, taking aim in Loki’s general direction. You popped off a couple rounds onto any of the HYDRA agents who dared try to catch the mischievous god off guard.

Tony shuffled to his feet, cursing when he realized just what was happening. By this time, he had removed himself from the drained Iron Man suit. “Trade places, Legolas! Reindeer Games is still out there!” He dashed to the cockpit.

You fired again, this operative having gotten too close for comfort. Loki had turned just in time to see opponent drop dead at his feet. With a near indiscernible nod that could only be seen through your scope, he carried on, slowly making his way to the Quinjet.

Despite his own injury, Clint was swiftly back at your side. With the extra backup, an exhausted Thor was able to make it off the ramp, farther into the fray and meet his brother halfway. Clint and you kept the path clear enough for them to rush back. It was stunning to see how well they could work together when they needed to.

The moment they were in reach of the ramp, you leapt to your feet and with Clint pulled the exhausted brothers on board. The ramp lifted as you tugged Loki into sitting, and the Quinjet took off. So, here you were, attempting to take care of the trickster’s wounds after having checked on Thor.

“I am a god,” he sneered half heartedly. “I will heal quickly. This is unnecessary.” He winced lightly as the antiseptic stung his cheek.

You sighed, “Any one can heal those cuts, but just because you can do so faster than the rest of us, doesn’t mean you are impervious to infections. Just less likely to get them.”

He went silent at that, either realizing you were right or just not desiring to argue further. Done with one side, you swapped to the seat on the other side of him. With a clean, freshly wetted cotton ball, you gingerly began cleaning his other cheek. All things considered, Loki didn’t look too bad. At least, not as bad as he could have. With your freehand, you coaxed him to lift his chin up so you could tend to the lacerations on his neck.

“Why?” His voice was soft, just loud enough for only you to hear him.

“Why, what?” You copied his volume level.

“Why do you insist on this?”

You stopped your ministrations, raising your gaze to look him in the eye. His face was uncharacteristically soft as he looked back at you. Though he tried to hide it, his aventurine eyes held an unfamiliar vulnerability.

“Well,” you started slowly, carefully choosing your words. “You are a member of this team, and you should be treated as such.” Fingers still ghosting his chin, you guided him to face you. “You deserve the same treatment I would give everyone else.”

His brow furrowed as he studied you cautiously. It took him a moment before he finally spoke again. “Should that be what you wish to believe, it is fine by me.” You could hear the sharpness returning to his voice.

The god turned away, leaning back in his seat with closed eyes, effectively ignoring you. Now, you could have chosen to change seats, to move away from the cold attitude clearly directed at you, but you stayed. One, you were tired like everyone else and didn’t feel like getting up. Two, you were going to be stubborn and bug him with your presence.

Eventually a calm quiet enveloped the Quinjet, seeping into your bones. Feeling your eyes droop, you settled in your seat for as much comfort as you could get before drifting off.

You imagined hours had passed by the time you woke. Your muscles ached from the position you had fallen into, your neck being the worst. Tentatively rolling your shoulder, you tried to sit up and stretch only to find you couldn’t. Your head was resting you thought was the side of your seat, but there was a light weight keeping on top keeping you from moving. You opened your eyes to a shocking sight.

No, your sleeping position was a bit different from what you thought. Your makeshift pillow happened to be Loki’s shoulder. He, in turn, had his head on yours, probably having fallen asleep shortly after you. It seemed like he was still asleep, his chest rhythmically rising and falling in a way that could be described as soft. You could only imagine the tranquil expression on his face. There was absolutely no way you were going to look. You would probably move too much and wake him, and that would be the end of this little moment.

The rest of the team was asleep, save for Thor. Even with exhaustion drenching his body, he was wide awake, grinning like a madman when he realized you had caught him watching. How long had he bared witness to the scene unfolding? With a scowl, you pressed your finger to your lips, signaling him to keep quiet. He merely nodded, that knowing smile still plastered on his face.

The call you received from Maria shocked the lingering sleep from your body. A small team had been formed to infiltrate a hostage situation - a team that included Nat, Loki, Steve and another field medic whose name you hadn’t even had the chance to remember yet. The mission had soured once they reached the hostages. Everyone was being brought back to the compound for treatment. It was all hands on deck.

Quickly shucking your pajamas, you threw on a pair of scrubs and sneakers and made a mad dash to the Med Bay. The place was pure chaos. Most of the doctors and nurses were tending to the hostages in the main rooms. The team was near the back in separate rooms.

Spotting Maria who was attempting to direct people and bring some semblance of order to the wing, you rushed over to her. “Where do you need me?”

She flipped through the files on her data pad, not even looking up to see who she was speaking to. “Everyone has a medic taking care of them except for Steve and Loki. Start there.”

“Understood,” you nodded, leaving Maria to do what else was needed.

Down the hall, you took note of the injuries you could see of the various patients. Burns… Lots of burns… What in the world happened?

Passing by Nat’s room, she seemed mostly alright. She gave you a minute bob of her head that you reciprocated before meeting up with Steve. He had burns along one side of his body. Thankfully, the treatment would be minimal compared to some of the others.

“Hey,” he greeted you with a grimace as you began your work.

“How’re you feeling?”

He huffed out a tiny laugh, “Honestly, not terrible.”

With the top half of his suit tugged down, you gingerly cleaned and added ointment to soothe the wounds. “What happened out there?”

“One of the hostages… Well… He had an explosive… Saddled up to Trevor…”

Oh… The field medic… Oh god…

Steve sucked in a breath like he couldn’t get enough air in his lungs. “Loki tried to contain it, but… We were all a little late in reacting.”

Your hands stilled. “How bad is he?”

The super soldier plucked the salve container from your fingers. “He’ll live, but if you’re really that worried about him, I can handle the rest of this.”

“You know him.” You tried to snag the container back. “He’ll come up with any excuse to not let us help him. If he knows I left you here, he’ll insist I leave him alone.”

Steve held it away from you with his good arm like a kid holding its younger sibling’s toy out of reach. “I doubt he will do that this time,” he smiled reassuringly, a glint of knowing shining in his eyes.

Leaning on the bed, you heaved a sigh. “You’re gonna drag me in there if I refuse, aren’t you?”

“Yup,” he ended with a pop. “Now get going!” He shooed you away.

“Fine,” you groaned, playfully dramatic. “But you can bet I will be back later to make sure you did everything right.”

He let loose a chuckle. “I’d expect nothing less.”

Leaving Steve to his own devices, you went to the next room down the hall. The door was shut and the privacy blinds were closed. Was Loki hurt that badly that the others had to be hidden away?

With a quick announcing knock, you steeled yourself and pushed the door open, sliding in before silently closing it again. When you turned to face Loki, you were met with something you hadn’t quite expected to see. What burns still littered his skin looked as though they were mostly healed over, but that wasn’t the problem. With his armor off, you were able to get a good look at his arms and upper torso.

Blue. His skin was blue. Ridges meticulously adorned his arms, up his chest and even his face. It was such a stark contrast to his Asgardian form, yet it still suited him well. From unmarred, alabaster skin to decorated, indigo skin. Perfection in both forms.

“Loki?” you announced your presence as softly as possible.

His face scrunched as he squinted his eyes open to find you standing beside him. “Aren’t there others that need tending to?” The hoarseness of his voice betrayed the harshness he attempted to convey.

“We’ve enough staff to manage everyone well enough,” you shook your head with a smile.

Now that you were closer, you could see he was sweating profusely. His breaths were so shallow. Brushing away a locket of hair matted to his forehead, you found his skin warm… Much warmer than it should be. Instead of recoiling immediately, you laid your palm flush with his forehead. “You are burning up!”

You pulled away to pop outside the door. Waving down a nurse, you asked him to bring in as many ice packs as he could. What was currently stored in the room would not be enough. Returning, you pulled out all of the packs. You wrapped them in some towels so they wouldn’t directly touch his skin. Then, you placed them around Loki, hoping this would be enough until the nurse got back with you.

The god rested silently while you worked. It was only when you pulled up a chair next to him to keep an eye on his vitals that he finally spoke. “Why are you still here?” A sort of vulnerability leaked out of his voice.

“Because you need help,” you deadpanned, really not wanting this argument again.

“No.” His brow furrowed with frustration, ruby eyes staring at the ceiling. “Why haven’t you run yet?”

You brushed a little more of his tresses away from his face. “And why would I do that?”

“Are you blind? Do you not see the monstrosity before you?” He scowled, still refusing to look at you.

“No, I don’t.”

He barked out a laugh that he immediately regretted. “Then what, pray tell, do you see?”

Reaching across for his cheek, you guided him to face you, receiving little resistance. His skin was still hot but not quite as much as before. “I see a person who risked his own safety to protect a bunch of civilians. There’s no way you could be a monster even with your jötun form.”

“So, you do know what I am…” A deep frown etched across his face.

“Yes… If it makes you feel any better, only a select few know. I have to know the medical histories of all the Avengers if I’m to treat them in the field.”

Silence…

“And for what it’s worth, this,” your thumb graced the apple of his cheek, “is not scary in the slightest.”

His eyes searched yours frantically for any hint of dishonesty. A trembling hand raised and settled on yours, pressing it further on his face. His lips parted to speak but was interrupted by a light knock on the door.

With an apologetic smile, you slid your hand from his grasp. The nurse from before had returned with the ice packs. A quick “thank you” and you brought the tray in the room, shutting the door behind you. Just as you had before, you surrounded him with the new packs. Loki’s chest rose and fell more deeply as he cooled down even further, skin morphing into a pale sky blue and eyes returning to the bluish-green you’ve come to know.

“Well, you’re at least responding quickly. How do you feel?” You hovered at his bedside.

He locked eyes with you again, a cocktail of emotions swirling about despite his attempts to keep a straight face. “I-” he cleared his throat. “Better…”

“Good, good…” Your hands fiddled with the sheets. “Is there anything you need?”

Loki’s lips pursed, and he swallowed thickly. His digits brushed against yours, halting your nervous tick. “Stay?”

“Of course,” you breathed.

The corners of your mouth tugged upwards as you glided your fingers into his palm like two puzzle pieces meant to fit together, giving his hand a light squeeze. You pulled your seat closer and sat back down.

Just as you made yourself comfortable, Loki raised your hand to his face. His lips grazed over your knuckles as he whispered, “Thank you…”

“Anytime.” And you meant it. “I’ll stay for as long as you’ll have me.”

He let your entwined hands float back down to the bed as he chuckled. “If that’s the case, I do hope you are well prepared.”

“Oh, yeah?” You smirked. “And just how long do you plan on keeping me around?”

“For as long as you will have me.”

Little did either of you know, Thor had come to the Med Bay to check on Loki after he heard the news and was listening to the conversation through the closed door. He decided to leave you be for now. The congratulations and light teasing could wait until tomorrow.

Tag List: @nahthanks​

[unsupervisedpanda]

Loki x reader

Live action

"Tony!" You yelled as you stormed into the living room.

    "Some guy is here! A tall one with black hair?" You heard the man scoff behind you but ignored him.

   Tony entered the room and glared at the male who was now standing next you.

   "Loki." Tony greeted coldly.

  "Tony." The man, Loki, replied.

  "Y/n." You huffed pointing at yourself.

   Tony turned to you apologetically.

"Sorry I didn't tell you we were having a guest. He's here on house arrest." Tony explained gesturing at the man.

   "Right. Okay, but Tony we've talked about this. I work for your team and I need to stay informed." You sighed stepping towards him to straighten his collar.

    "I know y/n but to be fair he's not very memorable!" Tony defended and you glared at him.

    Tugging harshly on his collar you yanked him down so he was eye to eye with you.

   "I don't care how memorable he is. I expect you to tell me these things and to be professional." Tony gulped but nodded.

    "Right. Gotcha." He choked out and you released his collar.

   Turning around you faced your guest, Loki. You'd heard about him before, none of it good. However you'd give him the benefit of the doubt. He was from Asgard and the brother of Thor. Those were the only things you knew for sure. Everything else you'd have to learn from him. Facing him you introduced yourself.

    "Hello Loki. I am y/n l/n of Midgard as I've heard Thor refer to it." You held out your hand to him.

Eyeing you warily he held his hand out as well but Tony yanked you back.

   "Your gloves." He warned you and you blinked. You totally forgot.

   "Oh. Right." You shook your head pulling a pair of gloves out.

    Why the gloves? Because you had the ability of reading emotions through touch. Skin to skin contact gave you a rush of emotions from that person. Good or bad whatever they were feeling you felt it just as much as they did.

    Tugging them on you reached out again.

   "Sorry about that. I didn't want to read your emotions without your consent." You explained nodding to the gloves.

   Loki seemed surprised but took your hand, shaking it.

   "Noted. I am Loki of Asgard." He introduced bowing slightly.

   You quirked a brow at that in amusement and smiled.

   "Nice to meet you. I'll set up a room for you as soon as possible but until then you may stay on my floor if you so choose. Although I'm sure Thor would be more than pleased to have you stay with him." You informed him easily.

   He winced at the mention of his brother but nodded.

   "I may take you up on that offer." He smirked and Tony snarled behind you.

   "Y/n I really don't think-" you turned to glare at your boss.

   "Tony. I believe it's in your best interest to stop before you begin. This could've been avoided had you actually told me what was going on but you didn't. That being said unless Loki chooses otherwise, he will stay with me." You crossed your arms and raised a brow, daring Tony to challenge you.

    The male frowned but just grumbled as he walked away. Smirking you turned to the god.

    "Okay. Now that we've taken care of that. Would you like to stay with me or your brother?" You inquired smiling.

   "You, if the offer still stands. My brother can be overbearing." Loki grimaced.

   "Of course. Follow me." You chirped walking over to the elevator.

    "We're on floor 8(first initial). It stands for what floor level it is and who it belongs to. When we get you set up I think you'll be either floor 9 or 6. Unless you choose to stay on my floor which you're more than welcome to do." You grinned at him before the elevator doors slid open and FRIDAY told you you'd arrived.

   Stepping out you led Loki through your living room and into the guest room.

    "You can stay here for now. You'll have your own bathroom, too. We can get you a different comforter set later but until then I hope you don't mind the (f/c) set." You blushed lightly before entering the room yourself and straightening it up.

    "I'll be right across the hall if you need anything. I'll set up a passcode to my floor that only you and I know until the others calm down. I'm sure they're not thrilled you're here. That way they won't bother you." You told him as you breezed past him into the kitchen.

    "Everything in here is open to you if you want it: coffee, tea, juice. I've got a lot." You opened the fridge to prove the point.

    Fifteen minutes later you'd finished showing him around so you led him to the couch.

    He'd kept a straight face for most of the tour so when you were done you bit your lip.

   "If there's anything you need just let me know. The others may be a bit harsh but they mean well most of the time." You laughed nervously as you flopped onto the couch yourself. Pulling a pillow to your chest, you hugged it before letting out a sigh.

   "Okie dokie. I have to get back to work, make sure the others didn't burn down the main floor. You can lounge around here until you feel comfortable enough to leave. If you need me just tell FRIDAY. He'll let me know." Standing up you left to check on the others.

   Tony had probably already told them and they were probably planning an ambush on your apartment at this very moment.

    Stepping into the elevator you spoke.

   "FRIDAY I'd like to set up a security measure. No one but me and Loki can enter the apartment or floor without exclusive permission. Understand?"

    "Yes miss l/n. Security measure is now in place." The robotic voice responded.

  Nodding the doors opened with a ding.

    Stepping into the main area you noticed everyone in the living room, tension spilling into the halls.

    "You let him come here!? After everything that happened in New York!" You heard Nat yell.

    "I didn't have much of a choice!" Tony groaned.

    "He won't do any harm! He's here in peace!" Thor reassured miserably.

   "Well he should leave in pieces!" Clint grumbled.

    Steve was silent as he sat on the couch with his arms crossed, Bucky beside him.

   Bruce was about to intervene but you clapped loudly to get their attention.

   "Hello my fellow colleagues and friends. How about we play nice and not threaten our guest!" You chirped a little to sweetly.

   Everyone faced you but Nat stood up first.

   "Are you crazy y/n!? Letting that lunatic stay in your apartment!" She growled as she glared you down.

    Glaring back at her you crossed your arms.

    "Yes. I am crazy. We've been through this time and time again and I go to therapy once every two weeks for what you call crazy." You snarled at her and she took a slight step back.

    The word "crazy" was a touchy word for you. You'd been called many things in your life time. Crazy, a lunatic, a freak, and many other things because of what you could do.

   "Y/n I didn't mean- it's just he's dangerous!" She tried to back pedal but what was done was done.

   "Whatever Nat. Loki," you emphasized his name, "is staying with me. He will be until he decides to leave. You all will treat him like a person or I swear I will destroy you." You warned.

   "Are we clear?" You glanced around the room and jumped when Loki spoke up behind you.

   "I'd prefer to be treated like a god, but a person works too." He smirked.

    "Loki." You greeted nodding at him.

   "Lady Y/n." He greeted back.

Thor's jaw seemed to drop as he glanced between you two.

   Loki respecting a midguardian? It seemed impossible.

   "Look at him acting like he owns the place!" Clint started but stopped when you stepped toward him taking a glove off.

   "Barton. Did I not make myself clear earlier?" You asked stalking closer.

   The male stood up and ran behind the couch.

   "Y/n we can talk about this. Just put the glove back on!" He plead as he glanced at the others for help.

   Not only did you have the ability to read and feel emotions but you could also inflict and resurface them. Clint had been through this treatment before due to his attitude and he hated it.

   "Answer the question." You snapped and he ducked behind Thor.

   "You're clear. Crystal." He promised. He really wished he had his bow and some arrows on him right now.

   "Good." You smiled pulling the glove back on.

    "Now it is Saturday night so I do believe it's a movie night is it not?" You chirped clapping your hands together enthusiastically.

   Everyone nodded not daring to say otherwise. Tony had hired you because you could round everyone up and calm things down.

    "Wonderful. Shall we?" You asked and everyone agreed. Pulling out (f/m) you put it in and hit play.

   You sat next to Loki on the farthest end of the couch due to everyone's apprehensiveness.

    About an hour in you began to nod off. Your head leaned against Loki's shoulder as your hair fell into your face.

   Loki had jumped at the contact but relaxed when he realized he wasn't in danger. He stayed as still as possible as not to wake you up. Another half an hour later and the credits were rolling.

    Glancing down at you Loki lightly removed you from his shoulder, lying you down on the couch. Then he scooped you up to take you upstairs. Maybe this was out of character for him but you'd been kind.

   Once you were in his arms your head lolled into his shoulder. He laughed quietly as he carried you to the elevator.

   "Woah reindeer games. What do you think you're doing?" Tony questioned standing up.

  Loki stopped turning around, and lifting a brow at the man.

   "I'm taking Lady y/n to her room?" Loki raised his brow in confusion.

   "We can take her up." Steve argued but Loki snickered.

   "Go ahead and try." He shrugged passing you to Tony.

   Tony gave him a smug look as he walked to the elevator with you. Five minutes later he returned, you still soundly asleep in his arms.

    "FRIDAY won't let me in." He grumbled.

    "Yes I am aware. I'll take Lady y/n up to bed now." Loki grinned before taking you from Tony.

    "Goodnight." He nodded before walking to the elevator again.

   "Night guys." You yawned waking up just a little.

      Taking you to your room Loki tucked you in after helping you take care of your nightly routine.

    "Night Loki." You slurred sleepily before hugging a pillow into your chest.

     You slept soundly for about 3 hours before you awoke to red flashing and blaring alarms.

    Panicking you flopped out of your bed and onto the floor.

    "Loki!" You yelled as you stumbled into the hall. Loki was running down the hall to your room, stumbling into you as the building shook.

    "What's going on!?" You yelped when glass shattered a floor down.

    "This hasn't happened in 3 months!" You groaned as Loki helped you up.

   As his hand grabbed yours your head went blank for a moment. Loki was scared. He was blaming himself for the attack. He worried that someone from his past was here to hurt him. He was worried about you. He-

    You jumped when Loki pulled on you hand.

   "Are you alright, Lady y/n?" He asked and you glanced up at him.

   "I'm okay. You?" You asked stepping closer to him and pressing your bare hand to his face.

    All of the emotions he was feeling were negative. You urged a calm through your finger tips and felt his shoulders relax.

   Then he tensed up and yanked your hand away from him.

   "We need to go to the others. Find out what all this noise is about." He snapped dropping your hand.

    Swiftly he walked to the elevator and hit a button hoping to make it to the main floor.

   Sliding open the doors granted access and you were on your way. Then you weren't. Something thudded on top of the metal box and the lights flickered.

    You yelped as the elevator bounced and then stumbled into Loki's chest.

   "Sorry." You groaned and then looked up. Whatever was on the roof was walking back and forth trying to figure out how to get in.

    "Got any sneaky tricks up your sleeve?" You asked pushing yourself off of the man.

    "Maybe. Depends on what it is." He shrugged before walking over to the elevator doors.

   He inspected them for a moment before somehow prying them open. From where you stood you couldn't tell how he did it.

    "Open says me." He joked half heartedly.

    Great doors were open. Not so great you were stuck between floors.

    "Up or down?" Loki asked and you glanced at him.

   "Down. We need to get to the others."

    Nodding he crouched down and slid out through the opening, about a foot and a half wide and two feet high.

    He landed gracefully on the, you assumed, 6th floor.

    "Come on out." He called stepping away from the opening.

   Taking a deep breath you crouched to slide out the way he had but shrieked when the elevator bounced again and then the sound of screaming metal filled the small space. Glass rained down around you.

    Shaking the glass out of your hair you looked up and choked on a scream. An arm had punctured the top of the elevator.

    "Shit!" You yelped pushing yourself backwards towards the small exit.

    "Lady y/n what's going on?!" You heard Loki ask but you miscalculated how high you were and fell on your butt.

    "We have to go. Now!" You exclaimed grabbing his sleeve and running for a stair case.

    The man followed you with almost no complaint as you ran to the stairwell.

   "We need to get to the third floor." You huffed as you began to run down the stairs skipping a few at a time.  

    Loki nodded checking behind you every few moments. On the 4th floor you nearly toppled over the railing when you came face to face with a creature of some kind.

    "Holy shit!" You fell backwards and Loki leapt the railing, landing in front of you. Suddenly he had two daggers in his hands as he impaled the critter.

    "Okay thanks!" You breathed out and he held his hand out to you.

   "Try to be more aware of your surroundings." He suggested as he pulled you up.

    You nodded and he took the lead. You followed him to the third floor entrance and he cautiously opened the door. Inside the Avengers were battling it out.

    "We have to get upstairs. Y/n can't defend herself!" You heard Nat snarl as she attacked yet another enemy.

   It was probably stupid on your part but you cupped your hands over your mouth and shouted "I take offense to that!" at her.

   Everything stopped for a moment as everyone turned to face you and Loki face palmed.

    "Ignorant mortal." You heard him grumble.

   Then he swooped you up into his chest and began to 'dance' around your opponents. You yelped when an axe got a little too close.

    When you were beside the others Loki passed you on to Thor.

   "Protect the midguardian." Loki had demanded before looking to you.

"You, stay out of trouble!" He smirked before involving himself to the main battle.

    "I-" you started but cried out when Thor threw you up into the air.

  "Oh my god!" You shrieked as your stomach dropped. You know the feeling. Like going straight down on a roller coaster.

    You met Loki's wide eyes mid air and then you completed the fall straight into Tony's armored arms.

    "I'm going to have a heart attack." You wheezed as you tried to catch your breath.

    Tony laughed at you setting you down.

   "Try to stay out of danger, Chéri petite!" He warned before blasting off into a different direction.

    *Chéri petite should translate to little darling! Or in Google translates case darling little one!*

    You sucked in a breath before taking in your surroundings. No one was going to be able to protect you. Glancing around you noted a decorative sword on the other side of the room, so you sprinted towards it. You yelped when something, someone grabbed you though.

     Swiveling on your heel you turned and saw one of the creatures gripping your thigh. Shrieking you slammed your palm onto it's face and channeled your fear into it. The creature let out a miserable scream as it flinched back letting you go.

    You'd never used your power as a defence before but it did the job. Whipping back around you came face to face with a clone of Loki.

   "Shit!" You yelped and jumped in surprise when it stabbed at you.

    Stumbling back you fell onto your ass again and scrambled behind the couch as the clone threw a dagger at you.

    "Loki what the shit is this!?" You screamed and the man turned in surprise, glowering when he saw the clone.

   Sure he had the same ability but this was no clone of his.

   You let out another cry when the couch was shoved away and 3 of the critters surrounded you. Turning to your team members you smirked, although it looked more like a grimace.

    "Guys! This is not what I had in mind for movie night but talk about live action!" You giggled before turning to your opponents.

   "Give me a minute to hype myself up?" You asked and then yelped when one of the things jumped at you.

   "Or not!" You dodged and slammed your hand onto it's back. Surging an extra dose of terror into it's spine.

    Yelping it wobbled away before collapsing. You'd scared the damn thing to death.

    Turning to the other two you ran at them, sliding underneath the one and grabbing it's ankle.

   This time you channeled anger at the other one through it. Turning to the second the first one attacked it, tearing it apart.

    Breathing heavily you pushed yourself up.

     "Okay two down one to-" you screamed as you slammed into the hard floor, your arm being pinned to your back.

    "That's a neat trick you have there." The voice hissed careful not to make skin to skin contact with you.

    You whimpered trying to see what or who was on top of you. You barely caught sight of the green outfit before the person was knocked off.

    "Hands off." You heard Loki snarl before pulling you up into his chest. Then you yelped in surprise when he pulled you behind him.

   "Didn't I tell you to stay out of danger?" Loki chastised as he held one arm in front of him, a dagger in hand, and the other behind him as he guarded you.

   "Actually you said trouble." You corrected your hands on his back.

    Shaking his head he sized up his clone. It matched him so much he may have thought it was a reflection. Maybe it was.

    "Lady y/n I'm going to ask you to run to Thor. Think you can handle that?" Loki asked as he pulled out another dagger.

   "Probably. Will you be okay?" You inquired.

   He nodded and you bit your lip.

"Okay. Be safe!" You whispered wrapping your arms around his waist and then running off to find Thor.

   Of course that was easier said than done. Several times you'd tripped or gotten attacked by another monster.

   Finally you got sick of everything running at you trying to run you through.

   "Fucking hell, STOP!" You screamed throwing your arms out.

   Everyone froze. Not because you froze them with an unknown ability. Nope. You just froze them with shock.

   You'd pulsed all of your annoyance and fear throughout the whole room.

   With everyone frozen you found Thor and ran to him.

"Don't throw me this time!" You huffed and the God nodded still confused.

Glancing around the room you noted at least thirty enemies left. Taking in your surroundings you ran to the left and grabbed a bow and a quiver from one of the fallen.

Nocking the arrow you pulled the string back, surprised at how in tune the bow seemed to be with you.

Shaking off the surprise you aimed at the closest enemy. Letting the string go the arrow flew and hit the creature in the head. Your eyes widened. You'd been aiming for it's leg.

You grinned and nocked another arrow. Aiming at another you aimed at it's chest and winced when the arrow whizzed past and hit a different target in the leg.

At least you still hit something! You yelped when 3 or 4 of the opposing enemies began to run at you. Apparently they didn't like being shot at by humans.

"Thor!" You yelled and ducked when he threw his hammer as you. It quickly flung into the bad dudes turning their heads to goo before flying back into Thor's hand.

"Thanks!" You breathed out as he offered you his other hand, pulling you up.

"No problem, lady y/n." He smiled before going to help somewhere else.

Pulling out another arrow you took a deep breath before nocking it.

"Please please let me be useful!" You groaned before pulling back and aiming at one of the monsters creeping up on Loki.

"Oh no you don't!" You whispered before letting go. Thankfully the arrow his exactly where you wanted it too.

Bullseye!

Quickly you reevaluated the room and noted that there were about 14 left. Then 12. Then 9. The numbers dwindled to nothing and you huffed. Collapsing to your knees you took deep breaths.

Last time this happened you hadn't left your room. Talk about action packed.

Loki scanned the room before finding you and panicked when he saw you on your hands and knees.

Teleporting to you he lightly fretted over you, barely touching.

Looking up at him you smirked.

"I just kicked some serious ass!" You giggled and his eyes widened in surprise before he relaxed.

"You did indeed, little mortal." He smiled brushing some of your hair back.

Grinning you launched yourself into his arms, hugging him.

He toppled over falling onto his back, with you on top of him. Pushing yourself up so you were hovering over him you laughed.

"Kiss me?" You asked and then it was his turn to smirk.

"Of course, M'lady." He purred as he propped himself up on one elbow. Grabbing you by the back of the neck he pulled you down to meet his lips.

You smiled into the kiss. It was perfect considering the adrenaline rushing through your veins.

Then you heard some whoops and cheers, some coughing, and some complaining.

Pulling apart you looked up to see your colleagues with varying reactions.

Rolling your eyes you looked down at the God beneath you.

Looking him up and down you looked him in the eyes before grinning mischievously.

"How about we take this up to my room?" You suggested and the man quirked a brow.

"Anything you want, Dove." He smirked wrapping his arms around you and teleporting away.

[lesbian-deadpool]

Happy Little Accidents

Part Two: Hope

Natasha Romanoff x Reader

Words: 2,317

Warnings: I don’t think there is any?? Crying/light angst, adoption process, stress??

Request: Yes

Summary: You work on getting you little girl back. And hope that it’s successful.

A/N: It’s been a long time coming, I haven’t proof read it or anything (but when do I ever? Lol), so bare that in mind.

Ko-Fi

(Not My GIF)

***

Being a pair of Avengers and going through the adoption process was so very complicated.

On one hand, you were well known across the globe. Household names.

But on the other. You were dangerous people, with violent past's -and futures to come- with more enemies than you could count. Some of which you didn't even know existed. And who in their right minds would ever let a child into that environment? People have been turned down for much less.

However.

You were basically celebrity's. And as everyone knows, that comes with a lot of special treatment. Even if you and Natasha -And most of, if not all of your team- denied to use any of it. But in this case? For little Hope? You would do whatever you had to.

So, it was thanks to that, that you were even allowed to be considered for adoption.

And there was so much work that had to be done.

Papers to sign, meetings to attend, visits and screenings every which way. And so much more.

It was a long and tedious journey. And you still had a long way to go.

Right now, you had to watch as someone picked apart your home -once again- to make sure it was okay for your little girl to come home. Where she belongs.

You had moved not too long ago, maybe a little over two months, and in that time, it had been looked at three times. Which really made it seem like you weren't doing anything, in their eyes, considering you were busy working and renovating the whole place out at the same time.

The day after you and Natasha had to say goodbye to Hope, you knew that you had to get a bigger place than the apartment you had both shared. And began looking for new homes the very same day.

Tony's help wasn't needed, you had plenty of money, but he insisted. So when you two found a townhouse that you absolutely adored, not too far from SHIELD HQ -where you both now worked most of the time. As when Fury found out that you were both to be adopting Hope- or trying to at least, the man lowered your hours and took you off missions altogether. Just until you were all settled-, the billionaire bought it for you, the moment he got wind of it.

You were moved in three days later. Deciding to work on the house while you lived there.

"So, where would the child be sleeping?" Your caseworker asked.

"Oh, right this way," you said, leading her down the hall to the newly decorated bedroom. Natasha following behind.

You gestured to the light pink, yet slightly sparse room. "This is it."

"We still have to pick up some of the furniture. But we've been waiting for the room to be decorated first," Natasha said, excusing the bare room.

"Yeah, Hope's not going to sleep on a stack of paint cans," you tried to joke. To which you barely got a smile from your caseworker, Stephany Halla.

"It look's decorated to me?"

"Oh." Natasha smiled. "We're having a friend of ours paint a mural or two on the walls."

"Yeah, Hope has a few favourite Avengers, so he's gonna paint them. And he's been learning how to draw cartoon characters for it, too."

"He's actually trying to adopt the two kids he took in with his fiance."

"Steve Rogers?" Stephany asked.

"That's the guy," you said, nodding along with Natasha.

"I've seen him around the office," She spoke again a few moments later. "So, when are you planning on getting the furniture for the room?"

"Hopefully, within a month," Natasha replied, "But with our and Steve's schedules, things are up in the air."

It was a difficult start to the adoption process, more so than it was now. Considering that the children legally didn't exist to the world. So, everything was so confusing and thrown up into the air while waiting for the kids to be registered.

Almost like you didn't know whether you were coming or going. Everything stuck in limbo as you waited to see what kind of adoption process you would have to take. And even with all of your connections in the world, you were still left in the dark.

There was the fact that the kids were found overseas in Romania, so they could be considered Romanian. And so, you would have to go through international adoption.

However, none of the children have birth parents and were brought to America because you had rescued them. So, some would say they could be considered immigrants.

Nothing like this had ever happened before.

Babies that had been grown in a lab and saved from a further torturous life, that now needed legalization in the world's eyes.

You and Natasha had to watch as Government's essentially fought over these children you saved. Over the same child, you clothed and fed. The one you played games with and bonded with the little girl you grew to love and consider your own.

So, as the world fought for the right of your child, your little Hope, you waited. Just wishing and wanting to bring your daughter home.

But, luckily for you, the children were now classed as American citizens. Which made it ten times easier for you to adopt than it would otherwise.

Which is honestly just crazy to you, considering just how intensely hard this is.

There were times you didn't believe you could ever adopt your child.

On more than one occasion, Natasha would come to you, saddened to her core, because she truly believed that you would never have Hope in your family.

It was so fucking hard.

Natasha had rolled over one night after you two had -once again- gone through the rules and regulations of adopting. Uttering how you were, "Never going to get her back" that there was "Juts no way, they will let us adopt", as she cried into your arms.

But still, the process continued.

"Well, your home seems to be in good standing. So for. But I advise you to get the furniture for the child's room as soon as possible," Stephane commented as she began packing up her belongings and paperwork.

"Oh, we know."

"Steve did say that he was going to start work on it in the next few days," Natasha added, nodding along with you.

"Well, that's is good news." Stephane smiled. "I'll see you at our next meeting with Hope."

Natasha sighed happily. "We can't wait."

"Well, goodbye then."

You whished the dirty-blonde woman farewell, closing the door behind her.

"We get to see our daughter in a couple of weeks," your red-headed girlfriend said excitedly, dancing from side to side out of pure happiness. Her bright smile filling your soul with warmth, that travelled all the way into your bones.

You matched her emotions, hands coming to curve around her shoulder blades and pulling her close to you.

"I know, Honey. It's been so long since we've seen her. And we're gonna bring her home one day."

That was all you could say before your mouth was covered, with the crushing feeling of Natasha's plump lips against yours.

***

Nerves rattled through you, but you hadn't the faintest idea why, considering this wasn't the first time you had seen Hope. However, it had been one of the first times you were able to see her since the day she was taken away from you.

If you thought you were bad.

Natasha was far worse.

She was practically shaking. From nerves or excitement, you didn't know. But you had a good inkling to think that it was both.

You had done so much for this child in the short span of time you had known her.

And yet, you couldn't imagine your life any other way. The thought of how your life had been that time last year.

No Hope. Surrounded by missions and work. Every free moment you had was spent with Natasha, and the rag-tag group of hero's you had grown to call your family.

It all seemed so foreign now.

Like a past life.

'Wow', you thought, 'Maybe I really am growing up'.

A part of you was afraid that the girl you thought of as your daughter wouldn't recognise you or your []. And would be scared of the two strangers that had just barged their way into her life. Breaking both of your heart's.

"Mommy! Mommy!"

Was the thing that greeted you, as soon as the door had swung open. Making you realise just how stupid your train of thought really was.

Natasha rushed forward, scooping the girl up into her arms, with a bright smile upon both of their faces.

"So, I still don't get a name, huh?" you joked, walking over to the reuniting girls.

Brushing a hand over Hope's short hair. Grinning when she reached her arms towards you, ready to give you a hug of your own, which you gratefully accepted.

"Don't worry," Natasha said, rubbing Hope's back as she hugged you, "You'll get a name soon."

"I better. Or else I'm gonna have ta tickle it out of her."

Hope's squeals reached your ears as you threateningly poked her side with your fingers.

"Here, baby. I'll save you," Natasha called, pulling the giggling girl from your arms. Both of them watching as you pulled your hand's in front of your face, wiggling the fingers almost spookily as them. The girls turned to each other, "They're silly."

Then they walked away.

With you calling after them.

"Hey! I may be silly, but-... I have no rebuttal!"

Natasha laughed at this, then greeted the care worker that was patiently waiting for you both. The one that you had only just noticed.

"Hello, Stephany," Natasha said in greeting, shaking the woman's hand. You following suit.

"Hey. How have you two been?"

"Missing this little one," Natasha replied, bouncing the girl on her waist. Receiving fun-filled giggles in return.

"I bet you have. And you, Y/N?"

"Exhausted," you told her honestly, "With moving house and everything, I just want to have Hope home, then sleep for a week."

The care worker laughed at that.

"Let's hope that that's sooner rather than later, then."

Your few hour's with Hope passed faster than you ever could have imagined. You played with blocks, ate lunch, "helped" Hope colour in her haphazardly filled colouring book. You absolutely adored the way her eyes lit up, and she started dancing and flailing her arms when she saw bubbles for the first time. You almost couldn't continue blowing them because of your bright smile.

And now you were watching as Natasha spoke gently to the little girl. Hope's hand's resting on the red-heads cheeks, watching her mother with such concentrating eyes.

You adored your little family.

You just wished you could have them all home.

'One day', you thought, 'one day'.

Saying goodbye was one of the hardest things you've ever had to do.

Just like the last time.

And the time before that.

And the time before that.

And the one before that.

It just got harder and harder each and every time you did this.

Hope was crying. And so was Natasha, albeit silently, as she tried to console the toddler.

"I know, my little love, I know-"

"Mommy!" Hope cried.

"I know, angel. We'll be back before you know it, I promise."

"Mommy!"

"I know."

Once in the car, you let your tears fall, Natasha sobbing in the seat beside you.

"I don't think I can keep on doing this anymore," you admitted. Deciding it was best you explained when Natasha turned to look at you, an incredulous look upon her face, "Keep on seeing her, and not being able to bring her home."

"We'll get there," your [] reached over the centre console to squeeze your hand, "We will. You're the one who's always saying that we've got to take after her namesake and have hope."

"But it almost seems endless, Nat."

"I know, honey." She wetly kissed your tear-stained cheek. Her lips, brushing against it as she continued, "We'll bring her home. I just know it."

"I hope you're right."

***

She was right.

Of course, she was right.

She was Natasha Romanoff, after all.

It was like she just had this inability to be wrong.

But in this case? You were so fucking happy about that.

Granted it had taken a while longer -a good eight months- but finally, you were here.

Exiting the courthouse with Hope in your arms, and Natasha by your side. Bright smiles upon all of your faces, about to take the little girl- Your daughter home.

You would never have to say goodbye to her, like that, ever again.

She was legally a part of your family now. And nothing would ever change that.

"Ready to go home, sweetpea?" Natasha asked the beaming girl.

"I don't know about you," you started, "But I think this deserves celebratory ice cream."

"I think you just want ice cream before dinner."

You gave an overdramatic gasp.

"Why I would never! How dare you accuse me of such a thing?"

Natasha laughed at your antics but nonetheless nodded her head.

"I agree. This does deserve celebratory ice cream."

"Yes!" you exclaimed happily to Hope, your free arm raising above your head in victory, making the girl copy you by raising both of her arms.

She was already taking after you.

Your red-headed girlfriend sighed dreamily after you, as you chanted, "Ice cream! Ice cream! Ice cream!" On your way to the car.

She couldn't remember a time where she was this happy.

It had been a long time since then.

And Natasha just couldn't wait to see what the rest of her life would bring with the two of you now by her side.

***

Permanent Tag List: 

@imnotasuperhero, @veteranwerewolf95, @natasha-danvers, @marvelfansince08love, @higherfurther-romanova, @lesbian-x-blackwidow, @sestra-inestro, @thelastavenger-3000, @mixed-fandom-mess,

SFW Tag list: 

@peggycarter-steverogers, @natalia-quinzel,

[bulkyphrase]

Howard Stark: a fic rec list

Howard is one of my favorite MCU side characters, so I thought I'd put together a list of some of his best depictions in fanfiction.

If you've got a favorite Howard Stark story let me know because I'm always looking for more.

The Drinks are on Steve by AnonEhouse (Gen, General, 676 words)

Summary: Why can't Captain America get drunk? Howard wants to know. He is after all, a scientist.

woof by Anonymous (Gen, Not Rated, 5,085 words)

Note: This story is so fucking cute

Summary: For a prompt on the avengers kinkmeme: "...something different happens when Steve gets Dr Erskine's serum plus the Vita ray treatment... Steve does get taller and stronger, but when the first full moon hits, he turns into a big friendly looking dog. Yes, he's a weredog, not a werewolf."

More below the cut

Trophy Father by blakefancier (Steve/Howard, General, 5,648 words)

Summary: Howard wakes up in a strange place and no matter how hard he tries, he can't figure out what's going on.

Holding On (And Letting Go) by lazywriter7 (Gen, Teen, 3,723 words) tumblr: @lazywriter7

Summary: “Steve would have appreciated it.”

“Well, too bad he’s dead then.”

“You know you don’t believe that. You never have.”

“Yeah, well.” Howard turns back to his bottle. Maybe she’ll be nicer to him. “Apparently rapidly soaring hopes, followed by their unceremonious shattering, serve as extenuating circumstances.”

Peggy remains undeterred. “You still saved a Howling Commando.”

The curve of Howard’s lips against his glass is a bitter one. “Not the right one.”

Or, the fic in which Howard Stark and Bucky Barnes go for a not entirely consensual vacation.

cascades. by orange_crushed (Bucky/Steve, Mature, 152,138 words)

Note: Howard is not a huge part of this story, but his characterization is beautiful.

Summary: “Holy shit,” Howard says, crackling through the speakers. “You alive in there?” Lying is a sin, of course, but Steve’s not sure what else he can do. He’s already lied to the government and Bucky and God Almighty; and himself, himself most of all. He ought to tell the truth. That he’s not quite what they hoped for. That perhaps they should put him back into the ocean.

“Probably,” he says, instead, listening to Howard’s tinny laughter; and waits for the blast doors to unlock.

Also available as an amazing podfic read by quietnight (@quietnighty)

Midnight Oil by Takada_Saiko (Gen, Teen, 4,493 words) tumblr: @takadasaiko

Note: The other stories in this series are also great

Summary: "Stark took a swing at him right there in front of his men. You'd think a guy as smart as Stark wouldn't hit someone twice his size." - Agent Carter 1.05

Steve and the Howling Commandos are called in to come collect their pilot after Howard lands himself in some trouble over a stolen invention.

Second Chances by Takada_Saiko (Tony/Pepper, Steve/Peggy, Teen, 83,778 words) tumblr: @takadasaiko

Summary: Steve has every intention of returning the Infinity Stones to their correct place in the timeline and heading back to his own. His problems start when he makes an impulse decision to jump over to 1946 and Peggy decides to go back home with him. It only gets more complicated from there when Howard tags along with them to 2024 and suddenly Tony and Pepper have a surprise guest in their lakeside cabin.

The Scientific Method by Zelos (Gen, Teen, 5,406 words)

Summary: Written for a prompt on Avengerkink:

I read a fic the other day that mentioned how they know that Captain America's metabolism is 4 times faster, that he is 800% more resistant to drugs, etc etc. I want a fic that explores how they know that. It's up to anon whether to set it in the 1940s or the present, but I'd love to see Steve being experimented on, how long he can run, how he reacts to different drugs and poisons, how long he can go without food, etc.

“I am not experimenting on Rogers, you wretched bastard,” Howard snarled back. “He's a good man, a soldier, not a lab rat.”

“The man volunteered to be part of an experimental procedure, Stark, so in that sense he already is a lab rat.”