#and sassy peter was on the rise like a month ago i was so happy where did that energy dissipate to??

[harrys-strutting-dad]

please please please stop excluding peter!!!! and with that i mean the fandom not the maurauders because THEY NEVER WOULDVE DONE THAT!!!! BECAUSE THATS THE WHOLE TRAGEDY!!!! like,,,,, hello?????

[sdottkrames]

You’ll Always Be Adored By the Things You [Save]

@comfortember prompt 12: Emotional support pet

Summary: Her name is Tess, and everybody adores her.

Notes: I honestly just love Tom and his love for Tess. They are the cutest! I’m thinking about making more with Tess, so if you like this, let me know and maybe I will! 😊

Also: Lucy and Rocky were the names of my dogs growing up. Lucy was a sassy, adorable Shih Tzu, and Rocky was the kindest, gentlest Boxer you’d ever meet. They both have since passed (they lived very long, happy lives) but I wanted to add them in this story somehow. I’m just a cheeseball. Also, Zendaya (MJ) Played a character named Rocki in a Disney show called Shake It Up, so it was a little nod to that as well.

Read on AO3: Here

“Tony, I’m really worried about him.”

May poked her head around the corner of their apartment, making sure Peter was still asleep. His breathing was too even for him to be faking, and she sighed in relief before continuing.

“He’s been off ever since the...the blip. I can tell. He’s been eating a lot less, and I looked at his grades the other day. Tony, that boy has never gotten below an A-, but he got a C+ on his last Physics test. And that’s not even including the fact that he was stabbed last night because his Peter Tingle isn’t working right.��� Her voice was rising in pitch and volume, right in time with the panic that was welling up inside her. 

May and Tony had been having weekly conference calls about their resident spider since May had found out about it, and they’d quickly picked it back up once they had been undusted. Their normally lighthearted calls filled with mostly laughter had taken a more somber tone recently. 

Tony hummed on the other end of the phone. “I’ve been worried, too.”

Those words, though not necessarily helpful, made May feel less alone. She was grateful someone was helping her take care of her nephew because he was doing a terrible job of doing it himself, as evidenced by the stab wound on his left side. He’d come home weak and bleeding the previous night, and May had hurriedly patched him up, her training as a nurse the only thing keeping her panic in check.

“I honestly don’t know what to do, May. We tried letting him come to us and that didn’t work. I’ve got a list of great therapists-”

May cut him off. “He’ll never do that. I already tried that one, and he insisted that he didn’t want me paying money for him. I even pulled the whole “your mentor is a billionaire, and he would want you to get help” card, but he was pretty adamant.”

Tony sighed, and May felt it echo deep in her bones. They ended the call shortly after, no closer to a solution for Peter than before.

The next week on their call, Tony’s voice was considerably more lighthearted. She attributed it to the fact that Peter hadn’t been injured that week, but then he excitedly announced that had “the best idea!”

May’s eyebrows rose, even though she knew Tony couldn’t see them. “I’m listening.”

“Okay. How do you feel about dogs?”

“Oh,” May breathed.

“Yeah. I don’t know why I didn’t think of it earlier.”

“Me either. He’s been asking for a dog since he was, like, 5. The only problem is,” May said, biting her lip. “Our landlord doesn’t allow dogs.”

“I’ll take care of that,” Tony promised, and May nearly snorted at the thought of their stuffy, no-nonsense landlady getting a visit from Tony Stark. She pitied the woman.

***

“Ms., ah, Levitt, is it?” 

The lady looked up from her desk, and immediately blinked in shock. Tony internally rolled his eyes when the lady blushed and started trying to fix her hair, the look on her face one he’d seen on way too many women in his earlier years.

No chance, lady, I’m married. He thought, but flashed her a kind smile, anyway. “Are you the landlady of this apartment building?”

“I am. Pleasure to meet you, sir.”

Tony shook her offered hand, not holding on for a second longer than necessary. “Likewise. I am here on behalf of the Parker family...apartment 96. I was thinking about getting Peter an emotional support animal. He blipped, and has been having trouble adjusting, and I heard cute, fluffy animals work wonders. But I understand you don’t allow those?”

Levitt’s smile hardened. “Yes, I’m afraid we have a non-negotiable no-pet policy.”

She obviously hated animals. And probably little children. Figures. Luckily, years watching Pepper hand stuffy businessmen their behinds had taught Tony a thing or two. He could handle this lady.

“Well, I took the liberty of reviewing things, and did you know that, by law, emotional support or therapy animals must be allowed in any building? That includes yours. Now, I understand that there is a fee associated with having a therapy animal, which I will cover, and of course proper documentation, which I have right here.” Tony produced the paperwork, signed by Dr. Cho, stating that Peter should be allowed a therapy animal of his choosing. “If there are any further problems, I’m sure my wife would be happy to speak to you. She and our lawyer will be handling any legal issues.”

Tony watched in satisfaction as Ms. Levitt’s face blanched, knowing she was beat. Nobody could go up against Pepper Potts-Stark and win. 

She breathed heavily through her nose once then plastered a smile back on her face, though it didn’t meet her eyes. “That won’t be necessary. We value the Parkers. The fee is an extra $125 a month. Once you have the animal, bring the proof of licensure and ESA status, and we should be all set.”

Tony had her put his card on file so the payment would come out of his account. This was his gift to Peter (and May. Though she wouldn't admit it, he knew that she also loved animals and would have bought one (or two) if they’d had the money) and then stood to leave.

“Have a nice day,” he said, giving Levitt a cheery wave before waltzing out the door. He had a kid to surprise.

***

“Tony, really, where are we going?”

“For the millionth time, I’m not going to tell you, so stop wasting your breath.” Peter huffed indignantly, and Tony shoved his arm playfully. “Patience is a virtue, underoos.”

“And pride is a sin, yet here we are,” Peter quipped.

“Yes, here we are,” Tony said, grinning as Happy pulled the car into a parking spot in front of Rocky’s Shelter and Supplies. Tony had spent hours researching adoption agencies around, wanting to find a really good one to support, and Rocky’s had been one of the best he’d seen. Plus, they had a great variety to choose from. (And no, he hadn’t been crying looking at all the animals, who told you that?)

Peter’s reaction was everything Tony had hoped for. The kids brown eyes got impossibly larger, and filled with tears.

“R-really?” He squeaked. “But our apartment doesn’t allow dogs.”

Tony grinned. “I threatened to sic Pepper on her.”

Then Peter was hugging Tony around the middle, murmuring an unbroken stream of thankyou’s. 

“I heard you’ve been wanting one for a while, and May and I figured having a furry companion might help with everything. You gotta promise-“

“That I’ll take care of it? Of course I will! I’ve been preparing for this my entire life! When I was 11, I made a PowerPoint presentation demonstrating proper care of a dog, just to show Ben and May I would take care of one. I wanted a dog soooo bad. I can’t believe I’m actually getting one.”

Tony chuckled at Peter’s rambling. “I’m glad you’re excited. But I was going to say you gotta promise that you’ll take better care of yourself, too.”

Peter nodded fast, his curls bouncing, which was endlessly endearing. “I promise!”

“Then lead the way.”

They spent time with a number of different dogs, taking their time to find just the right one. Tony could tell he was going to have to physically restrain Peter (And himself, if he was being totally honest) from buying every single dog in the shelter. The kid dragged him to every cage, exclaiming how cute each “pupper” (what even was this generation’s lingo?) was, and blinking back tears at nearly every one. 

Then Peter met Tess.

Tony had started believing in love at first sight when he’d seen Pepper in that purple dress she’d worn to a charity event years ago. Then he’d been absolutely sure of it when he’d held Morgan in his arms for the first time, the love he felt for her so strong and immediate and real that it had chased away the fear of becoming his dad that threatened to paralyze him. 

But feeling it and witnessing it was two different things.

He wondered if he’d looked like Peter when he’d laid eyes on the two most important and precious women in his life. The little gasp, the soft smile, the look of complete awe. Basically, the definition of the heart-eyes emojis.

“This one,” Peter breathed, his voice thick with emotion. “Can I meet her?”

The lady helping them, a sweet girl named Lucy, unlocked the cage and brought the beautiful grey pup over to the room for humans and dogs to meet, and as soon as Peter was close enough, she was all over him, her tail thumping with abandon.

“Yeah, I think we’ll take her,” Tony said over Peter’s delighted giggles.

***

Tess loved everybody, but it was no secret who her favorite was. No matter who she was with or what she was doing, as soon as Peter was in the room, she was right by his side. She was his shadow, following him around like a planet following the sun.

So Tony should’ve realized that something was wrong when she came trotting into his lab without Peter.

Granted, it wasn’t uncommon for her to come get pats from someone else when Peter wasn’t available, like when he was at school or on patrol or asleep. But Tony should’ve known that at 4 PM on a Thursday, Peter should have been doing none of those things. It was a lab day, Peter’s day off from Spider-Manning, and too early for the normally energetic kid to be asleep.

As it was, Tony was so focused on fixing Dum-E (who had spun too hard showing off for Peter the other day) that he just patted her head without looking. He nearly dropped his screwdriver when Tess gave a high pitched yip.

Tony finally looked up. “What’s the matter, girl. You gotta go out?”

Tess barked again, high pitched and insistent, her big eyes so expressive he could almost see what she was thinking.

“Peter,” he gasped, his stomach plummeting all the way down to his shoes. “Where is he, girl?”

Tessa tore out the door needing no further prompting, Tony right on her heels. She stopped outside Peter’s door whining anxiously, and Tony quickly opened it, dread filling him.

His first reaction was relief. There was no blood, at least not that he could see. Then his worry returned even stronger because Peter was laying on the ground not moving and there wasn't any blood. At least blood made it easier to identify the problem!

“Friday!” He choked out, rushing to Peter’s side. He was still breathing, but it sounded noisy and labored. He was also conscious, but Tony couldn’t tell if that was a good thing or not because there was so much fear in his eyes, and it broke Tony’s heart right in two.

“Dr. Cho is already on her way, sir. If I may, it appears Peter is having an allergic reaction, going into anaphylactic shock. You must keep him awake until the Dr gets here,” Friday answered.

Teas whined again, nudging Peter’s hand.

“Good girl, Tess. You’re such a good girl!” Tony said, patting her head then turning to Peter. “Well kid, if you didn’t want to do lab day today, you could’ve just said so. No need for all the theatrics; that’s kinda my department.”

Tony kept rambling, slapping Peter gently whenever he started to close his eyes, until Cho was rushing in. She quickly stabbed him with an epipen and started to prepare him to go to the infirmary, pausing when Tess growled, the first time she’d ever done that.

“Easy, Tessa-girl. She’s helping Peter. Let’s go with ‘em, yeah? You can keep watching our boy.”

They made their way to the infirmary, where Peter was being given medicine to combat whatever had caused him to react that way. Tony nearly doubled over laughing when he heard what it was, the stress making him slightly hysterical. It really wasn’t funny.

“Peppermint?” He asked Peter later, once Peter could talk and had been deemed out of the woods. Tess was curled up as close as she could to him, and Tony was sitting on the chair next to the bed.

“I just wanted a peppermint hot chocolate from Starbucks. I used to love those,” Peter pouted. “But apparently Peppermint is toxic to spiders. I guess I hadn’t had any peppermint since the change.”

“Well how about never do that again. My heart cannot take that stress.”

Tess whined in agreement.

***

Tony was quickly learning that Tess was a lot like Peter. Her ability to get everybody to love her, for one, and her penchant for cuddles.

Which is how Tony found himself one Friday night squished on the couch with a teenager tucked tightly into his side and a 30 pound dog laying across his lap while watching Bolt. They were both happily situated, Peter nearly purring as Tony ran his hands through his hair and Tess’ tail thumping gently against Tony’s leg. He pretended not to like it, but he was so comfortable, he quickly fell asleep.

He didn’t sleep very long.

Soon after his eyes closed, he woke up in a panic, his heart beating rapidly, a sense of panic overwhelming him. He couldn’t remember what the dream that woke him up had been about, which only made the sense of foreboding worse. He closed his eyes again, pretending to still be asleep as he quietly struggled to get his breathing under control.

Suddenly, a weight settled on top of him. He opened his eyes in surprise, and realized Tess had climbed into his lap, putting her head on his shoulder and her front paws on his chest. It was strangely comforting, her weight and warmth, but surprising nonetheless.

“Whatcha doing there, girl?” He chuckled.

“Pressure therapy,” Peter answered. “Something I taught her to do whenever I’m having an anxiety attack or sensory overload. It helps. She must’ve sensed you were panicking.” 

“Huh.” Tony shook his head in wonder.

“You alright?” Peter asked, tentatively.

“Yeah. Just a bad dream. I don’t even know what it was about, just left me feeling anxious.”

Peter nodded, and slid his hand into Tony’s. Boy and dog didn’t move a muscle until Tony’s heart was a normal rhythm again. Or...maybe a little while after that. They really did love snuggles. And Tony...yet another thing they had in common.

Luckily, he loved them both right back just as much.

[amazingmsme]

Avenger Hazing

AN: All I’m gonna say is that with how long it took me to finally finish it, I better see some notes.

It was hard being an Avenger. It was even harder being the youngest one on the team. What with the stress of school and a normal social life topped with being a superhero, along with the secret fear that he was somehow letting everyone down, Peter had a lot on his plate. He strived to fit in both at school, and with the other Avengers. Most of the time they went out of their way to help him feel accepted, but there were definitely moments when he knew they still saw him as a child. They were never maliciously mean or anything like that, but they would tease him more than the older team members.

"This is an adult beverage. Why don't you get some juice?"

"Better not stay out too late, it's a school night."

"I'm gonna run to McDonald's. Peter, you want me to get you a happy meal?"

"Whoa, slow down on the sweets, don't want you bouncing off the walls. Literally."

"Hey, if it isn't the itsy bitsy spider!"

Peter always laughed it off. He knew they were just joking, but sometimes the comments would grate on his nerves. 

"Maybe we shouldn't watch that one. We don't want to give the kid nightmares." Peter didn't say how he had already seen the movie more times than he could count.

"In kindergarten? Wasn't that like five years ago for you?" He bit his tongue, wanting to tell Clint that he was well into his junior year of high school.

"A girl? Is she cute? You got a crush on her squirt?" Peter tried to turn his head away to hide his blush. "Look how red he is! He totally has a crush!" He just sunk deeper into the couch, burying his face behind his phone.

"Your hands are so much smaller compared to mine!" Thor too? He really couldn't catch a break.

~~~~

He went down to the lab to work with Tony. He just needed to get stuff off his mind, and experimenting always helped him relax.

"You okay bud?" Tony glanced at him from over the top of his safety glasses.

"Yeah, why?"

"Oh I don't know, maybe because that's the fifthteenth new web fluid formula you made in the 45 minutes you've been down here."

Peter sighed; he should've known he wouldn't be able to hide it from Tony. "It's just that the other Avengers have been..."

"Hazing you?"

"Yeah, that."

"I noticed. You want me to make them stop? Cause one lecture and I'll make sure they never do it again."

"No, no I can deal with it. But sometimes it feels like they only see me as a little kid, and that they forgot I fought toe to toe with them."

"Trust me, they know. They just want to forget they got their asses handed to them by a 14 year old."

"Yeheah, I guess so. I still wish they wouldn't tease me so much though."

"Have you ever teased them back?"

Peter was taken aback by the question. "What? N-no, they're the Avengers!"

"So are you."

"You know what I mean. What am I supposed to say when it's someone like Ms. Romanoff or Captain Rogers?"

"Just say the same thing you'd say if it were me."

"M-Mr. Stark?"

"Look, all I'm saying is, they're probably doing it to get a rise out of you. They want some sort of reaction. But if you're not comfortable enough yet, I completely understand. I mean hell, it took you three months to sit like a normal person when you were in my company, and another four for you to relax completely."

Peter laughed at that, and Tony smiled.

"I'm serious though. If it ever gets to be too much, you just let me know."

"Thanks Mr. Stark."

~~~~

Tony made sure to keep a closer eye on the others after that. If they picked on him more than usual or if Peter seemed too uncomfortable, he'd step in.

"Alright that's enough."

"Leave the kid be."

"Go pick on someone else."

"Stop bullying my kid."

It made Peter happy to know Tony cared for him so much. It was a relief, and having him there helped him to relax and be more like himself. He started to get more comfortable with the team, even when Tony wasn't there. They still teased him, but after his talk with Tony he didn't take their verbal jabs too personally. And some of them were pretty funny, if he was being honest.

He was sitting on the couch, finally having finished his homework. He watched as various people passed through the living room, greeting him as they walked by. He leaned back into the cushions and closed his eyes, letting all the stress from school melt away.

"Must be pretty boring in here all by yourself." Peter opened his eyes, craning his neck backwards to see Bucky walk over to the couch, trailed by Sam.

"Not really, I just finished my homework so I was taking a break."

"Man I don't miss that," Sam said, taking a seat next to him.

"Thankfully I only have one more year before I go to college." Bucky nodded thoughtfully, "Nice." He turned the tv on and started flipping through the channels, looking for something to catch his eye. He finally gave up his search, settling with Go! Diego! Go! An odd choice, to say the least. He snickered to himself, and Peter glanced at him, then at the screen, and all became clear.

"Oh ha ha, very funny. Find something else please." Bucky's eyes glinted with mischief, "Oh but I chose this just for you. I thought you'd like it."

"I used to. When I was five," he made sure to put emphasis on his words to get his point across, but Bucky just grinned.

"Wasn't that long ago then."

Peter rolled his eyes, looking down at his phone to avoid eye contact and mumbled, "At least I had colored tv when I was born."

Sam, who had been eating pretzels, started coughing, startling Peter. He patted his back, making sure he wouldn't choke, completely oblivious to the shocked expression on Bucky's face.

When he was finished almost choking, Sam said, "Ohoho mahan, that has got to be the funniest damn thing I've heard come out of your mouth."

Peter's mouth twitched into a smile, "Really? 'Cause it wasn't even that funny," he said modestly.

"It's just 'cause it was aimed at me," Bucky said, sending a playful glare at the two of them.

"It was funny Barnes, and you know it," Sam said, pointing at him with a huge grin on his face. He slung an arm around Peter's shoulder, bringing him in closer. "I'm honestly surprised you had the guts to say anything."

"W-well I wasn't really thinking. If I was I probably wouldn't have said it."

"Well I'm glad you did, cause I needed a good laugh, even if it almost killed me." Peter smiled shyly, ducking his head down. He caught a glimpse of Bucky sticking his tongue out at him, but when he shot his head up, he acted as though he were innocent.

"And you try to say that I'm childish."

"Another jab! You feeling bold today Peter?"

He shrugged, "Maybe I'm just finally starting to feel comfortable around you guys."

"And that means insulting me?"

"It means I'll retaliate if you try and tease me, like you've all been doing."

"So what you're saying is, you won't put up with our bullshit without giving us some of your own?" Sam clarified, and Peter nodded. "It's about damn time. All I kept hearing about Spider-Man was how quick and witty he was, and I was starting to think maybe they were talking about someone else."

Peter laughed, although it was a slightly nervous one. "I was worried that I'd make you guys hate me or offend you if I said anything. I guess I'm not afraid of that anymore." It was true. His walls had broken down, and he knew he didn't have to be scared of making the others hate him over something he said.

The smiles both men wore were genuine, "I'm glad Peter."

~~~~

He was a lot more bold after that. The Avengers were pleasantly surprised when he made a sly pass at Strange one morning while they were eating breakfast, and now if they tried to give him a hard time he'd shoot right back with a sassy remark of his own. The change wasn't unwelcomed.

Peter liked hanging out with the Avengers. He wasn't as nervous around them as he once was, and he found their reactions when he smarted off quite entertaining. He could see why they liked doing it to him, but he was more than happy when they eased up on their teasing. All except for Sam and Bucky of course. Those two were relentless.

He found himself on the couch in the living room yet again when two familiar faces plopped down next to him. He looked up from his phone, greeting them, "Hey guys." He was in a very heated discussion about how the giant fossilized dinosaur that was recently found was totally real and not just "fake news" and had to throw the cold hard evidence in MJ's face. He sent her the screen shot from National Geographic's website, only for her to reply, "Snopes, or it's fake." His face scrunched up in annoyance. He knew she was doing this to mess with him, but that didn't mean he had to like it.

Sam looked him up and down, taking in his seemingly sour demeanor, "Man, what's eating you? You look upset," he voiced his concerns.

Peter simply huffed out a breath, "My friend's just being annoying," he said and then grumbled to himself, "I'll show you the Snopes... Ha just like I fucking said!" The two men on the couch shared a confused glance, thinking it best to leave him be. Teenagers... They can be so weird sometimes. Peter sent the screenshot to her and smugly waited for her response.

"Fake."

He wanted to scream in frustration, but thought that if he did then she'd somehow know and get her cruel satisfaction. So instead he just took a deep breath and stared at the tv, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Damn what did they say? You look like you have a frog in your mouth!" Bucky exclaimed. That sure as hell got his attention. "What?"

"Whenever you stare into space like that you make this face that looks like you're hiding a frog in your mouth," Bucky teased with a wide grin, nudging his shoulder. Peter brushed him off with a half hearted glare, "That's just my face, and it doesn't look like that!" he cried out defensively. Sam couldn't help but laugh as he nodded, "It totally does!"

Peter rolled his eyes, deciding to ignore them, "Well then me and my frog are just gonna sit in silence," he said defiantly, turning away from them and directing all of his attention to the tv. Tony was right, they just wanted a reaction from him, just like MJ. So he wouldn't give it to them.

"Aw c'mon man, you know we're just teasing."

"..." Ah the silent treatment. Truly the pettiest of tactics. Well if Peter was going to be childish, then two could play that game. Or rather, three.

"Rrrrribbit," Bucky croaked from low in his throat. And he might've been imagining it, but he swore he saw a hint of a smile. Sam seemed to catch on and joined, "Rrribbit, ribbit!" Peter's smile was noticeable by now, but he was doing his best to hide it. Bucky gasped, "Is that a smile I see! You better watch out, you don't want Kermit to escape!"

"Shut up hobo!" he said, referring to his lazy clothes and shaggy appearance. Bucky's jaw dropped open, "You did not just say that to me! You're gonna pay!" He sensed the oncoming attack and was able to roll over the back of the couch successfully, but Bucky was quick on his tail and easily caught him a second later.

"You think you can get away with calling me a hobo?" he queried. When he shrugged Bucky hoisted him over his shoulder making him let out a small shriek. Peter looked to Sam, "Mr. Wilson hehelp!" Damnit, the kid always turned on his innocent charm when he wanted one of the team members on his side, but it wouldn't work this time.

"Sure, I'll help. What do you need me to do Buck?" Said man tossed the boy onto the couch and grabbed his wrists before he could make another run for it.

"Sit on his legs, we don't want him running off again, do we?" Sam complied and chuckled to himself, "This gives a whole new meaning to the term babysitting."

"Just because you guys are old doesn't mean I'm a baby-waitno! Mr. Barnes stoooop!" his snarky demeanor quickly melted away into panic when he saw Bucky leaning over him, a long string of spit dangling over his face before he slurped it back into his mouth with a laugh. "You're so gross."

"Watch it," he warned with a poke, noticing the slight flinch and giggle that left his lips. A sadistic grin found its way onto his face as he met eyes with Sam. "Now what was it you said about us being old?" he asked, letting his hands rest right above his underarms. Peter had a feeling he knew where this was going and squirmed, already giggling in anticipation.

"Mr. Barnes dohohohon't!"

He chose to act ignorant, as though he had no clue as to what he was about to put him through, but he knew all too well. "I'm not doing anything, why are you laughing?" he teased with a knowing grin.

"Behecause I know what you're gohonna dohoho."

Bucky tilted his head to the side quizzically, a few strands of hair falling in his face. "And what am I gonna do to you?"

Let me get one thing straight: Peter Parker is a smart kid. But this isn't one of his brightest moments. He answered quickly and without thinking, because if he had been thinking, he surely wouldn't have fallen for this trap so easily. "Tickle me." As soon as those words left his lips, Peter realized his mistake. His eyes grew wide as Bucky flashed him a wide, feral smile.

"Well since you asked so nicely."

"No wait I didn't mean ihihit!" He rushed to amend his mistake, but Bucky was already skittering his fingers in his armpits. Peter screeched and pulled at his arms, but his grasp around his wrists held strong. He could tell he was struggling to keep him pinned though.

"Damn how strong are you?" Bucky asked, switching hands to hold him down. Peter managed to worm an arm free and on reflex, shot his hand forward, flicking his wrist to web him.

Only he wasn't wearing his webshooters. He froze in fear as both men stared at him in shock. Sam had a hand covering his mouth and Bucky's gaping mouth slowly morphed into an evil grin. Peter gulped and tried to scoot back, but Sam sitting on his legs prevented him from moving too far.

"Did you seriously just try to web me?" The amusement in Bucky's voice was evident. Peter chuckled nervously, wrapping his arms around his torso for protection.

"Would you believe me if I said no?" he tried.

"Not a chance."

"Worth a shot," Peter shrugged. His nervous smile grew the closer Bucky got.

"Any last words?" Sam asked.

"Go easy on me?" That made them laugh and Bucky shook his head fondly.

"We'll see." He hovered his hands above Peter's stomach, wiggling his fingers as he inched closer. He squirmed as giggles bubbled out of his throat, much to their amusement. "Dude I'm not even touching you," he teased.

"Ihihi can stihil feel ihihit!" He tried to curl in on himself to stop the ghostly tingles, but to no avail.

"Wait so you can feel it? With your Peter tingle?" Bucky asked, continuing to hover over his stomach. Peter covered his face in embarrassment, "Dohohon't call it thahat!" he whined.

"I think I've built up enough anticipation, what d'you think Sam?" he asked for his opinion.

"I have to agree. I mean, he did call us old, and we're not getting any younger," he said, reaching forward and squeezing the kid's knee. Peter yelped out a laugh and kicked out his leg, but Sam kept him pinned as he kept squeezing, skittering a few fingers on the back of his knee. Peter threw a hand over his mouth to try and muffle the embarrassing stream of giggles, but to no avail. Bucky finally let his hands descend and they skittered all over his stomach. Peter let out a squeal, his eyes squeezing shut and nose crinkling adorably.

Bucky chuckled to himself as he walked his fingers up his ribs. "The itsy bitsy spider, crawled up the water spout," he sang the nursery rhyme slowly, each finger worming between his ribs until he reached the top. "Down came the rain and washed the spider out!" He raked his hands down his ribcage, making his shriek and thrash around on the couch. "Out came the sun and dried up all the rain," he formed his hand into a claw and vibrates it into his stomach.

Sam grinned and said the last line along with Bucky, squeezing his thighs as the other walked his fingers back up his ribs, "And the itsy bitsy spider crawled up the spout again!"

Peter's laughter kicked up a notch as he tried uselessly to bat at the offending hands. "Plehehease, you've hahad your fuhuhun!"

Sam snorted, "Pft, yeah right, we're only just getting started."

"Yeah, you can't just stop eating after only one chip, you gotta keep going!"

Sam's brows drew together in confusion. "Seriously, that's the best you could come up with?"

"Hey I'm a little busy at the moment, so watch yourself or else you're next," he threatened playfully. Sam conceded with a chuckle.

"Okay you win."  

Meanwhile, Peter was still laughing his head off. He had given up on trying to free himself and succumbed to the torture they dished out. He threw his head back, laughing loud and free.

"You wanna take back what you said about us being old?" Bucky bargained and blinked in surprise when Peter shook his head.

"You're lihihike a huhundred years ohohold!" Bucky narrowed his eyes with a malicious smile stretching across his face.

"Wrong answer."

"Amazing. I've never seen someone already in a casket pull out a shovel and dig even deeper," Sam said in slight awe. He adjusted himself, grabbing the teen's feet in a headlock. He started kicking out and squirmed under their hold, protests flying from his mouth.

"I'm sorry I'm sorry! But I don't lie and I already knew you'd punish me more for lying I had no choice!" he tried to explain himself. His words dissipated into hiccupy laughter as Sam raked his blunt nails down the soles.

While he was thrown into hysterics, Bucky sniffed the air, "You smell that Sam? That's bullshit." Sam couldn't help but chuckle. Peter tossed his head back and forth.

"No it's not I swear!"

Bucky simply shrugged his shoulders, an unsympathetic smirk on his face, "Sure, but I don't really care." He drilled his thumbs into his hips, making him buck like a wild bull. He latched onto Bucky's wrists, not really trying to push them away, instead just needing something to ground himself.

The frantic laughter had caught the attention of  one super soldier, and he followed the echoing noise through the expansive halls. Finally landing upon the scene, he smiled to himself and leaned against the doorframe, watching as his best friends took the poor kid apart.

Sam reached up and scribbled on the backside of his knee, drawing forth a loud and embarrassing snort. Peter's hand flew up to cover his mouth while the men laughed along with him. "We're gonna have to call you Spider-Ham if you keep snorting like that!" Sam teased.

Peter blushed a deep red, "Shuhuhut uhuhup!" He squealed when Bucky's hands started to squeeze and knead his sides before letting out deep belly laughter.

"Alright I think the kid's had enough," Steve spoke up, knowing from personal experience just how cruel they could be.

Bucky stuck his lip out in a mock pout, "Aw but look at him! I could keep this up for hours!"

Peter looked at Steve, pleading, "Mihihister Rohogers hehelp!" He was his last hope.

Steve rolled his eyes, "Let him breathe Buck."

Sam came to a stop, letting go of his legs. Bucky wasn't so quick to listen.

"Let me just do one last thing. You know what it is," he sent a wink towards his best friend. Steve shook his head with pity and chuckled. He gave Peter a sympathetic yet amused look, "Good luck."

Peter paused while taking in some much needed breaths, his brows furrowing in confusion. "W-why do I need-"

He was interrupted when Bucky leaned down and blew a loud raspberry on his stomach. Peter's eyes crinkled shut as he curled in on himself, shoving at Bucky's head to try and push him off. He took in another deep breath of air before blowing, shaking his head back and forth.

"FUHUHUCK!" Peter screamed out. Bucky's facial hair made it ten thousand times worse, and raspberries where just totally unfair. Bucky pulled away a shocked expression plastered on his face. Peter flopped back on the couch, panting.

"I never thought I'd live to see the day when Spider-Man said fuck," Sam said.

"And in front of Captain America no less!" Steve joined in. Peter raised his hand weakly, batting the air.

"Sorry sir."

Steve couldn't help but laugh, "You're alright kid. I know it was justified." He leaned against the back of the couch with one hand as Bucky helped Peter into a sitting position.

"You okay?" he asked. Peter nodded.

"Yeheah, my stomach just hurts from laughing. Not a bad pain though."

Sam reached over to ruffle his hair, "I'm glad to hear that."

"You guys suck though," he said, biting back a grin.

Bucky raised his brows, "Oho, bold words for someone as ticklish as you."

"Yeah, but you wouldn't attack me again. Not now anyway," he said with a shrug, having already recovered. Enhanced senses and strength, and all that.

Sam leaned back into the couch, crossing his arms and studying him. "And what makes you so sure?"

"Well, uh, cause, he won't let you," he said, pointing at Steve. Said man looked down at him quizzically, but a certain fondness clear on his face. Bucky just tilted his head back and let out a hearty laugh.

"Oh please he can't do anything, he's almost as bad as you," he said. To prove his point he reached up behind him and squeezed his hip. Steve jerked away, barking out a laugh. He was able to catch his wrist before he could do it again.

"Don't," he warned, voice commanding. Bucky held his hands up in surrender.

Steve sighed heavily, but with a smile on his face. He looked down at Peter, who still grinned from ear to ear. "I think they're gonna be the death of both of us kid." Sam and Bucky only chimed in their agreements. His smile only grew, "Good thing they're ticklish too."

"What no way!" Peter said in excitement.

"What?!"

"You're dead Rogers!"

Steve was already giggling as he ran across the room. "Make sure to go for Sam's ribs, and Bucky's thighs make him scream like a girl!" he shouted from down the corridor. Peter couldn't be happier. He finally felt like one of the team, having endured all their teasing and hazing, he was accepted. That didn't exclude him from things like this, instead only making him feel more welcomed. And like he said, whatever they dish out, he can serve right back.

[cchellacat]

No Good At Goodbye

Darcy/Nat past

Angst. Heartbreak. No happy ending.

Darcy wipes her eyes, catching the tears before they can fall. She’s so tired and just wants to sleep because everything just hurts. It’s been two weeks and it’s silly to be so upset. She knows it is.

She hadn’t realised at first what she was feeling, it’s not like she was expecting it to happen. The idea of falling in love with someone hadn’t crossed her mind at all.

She and Jane had moved to the tower four months ago. Thor had decided to live permanently on Earth, baring any giant intergalactic threats and then Stark had insisted on financing Jane’s work and having her move to NY. It was great that the job now came with decent healthcare and a free apartment, not to mention the extra zeros on her pay-check, that had been a nice surprise. But the best thing about living at the tower? Getting to meet new people and make friends.

She hid it well, but Darcy wasn’t great at making new friends, she had always been a little too snarky and weird, but here? Here the weird and the snark was embraced!

She’d hit it off with the two science minded Avengers right away, Tony and Bruce were both funny in their own way and just as wicked smart as Jane. She’d gotten to know Pepper and Peter and settled into a happy little routine.

Just as she was relaxing into this new feeling of almost family, Clint and Natasha had returned from whatever hell hole they had been infiltrating. Clint was hilarious and easy to get along with, Natasha had been more difficult. But Darcy had figured she couldn’t give up at the first hurdle.

She wanted to get to know her, the red head had both fascinated and terrified her.

Sitting in the lab she tapped her pen off the desk. Thinking back, it had probably been too late from the first moment she had finally gotten the courage up to ask the pretty assassin a question.

They had talked some and Darcy felt like she’d succeeded in getting Nat to like her, at least a little. Over the next month she had slowly but surely started making a point of taking to her everyday. They had settled into an easy friendship faster than Darcy could have imagined.

The first inkling Darcy had that she was falling for her had been a text message. Nat must have put herself into Darcy’s contacts when she wasn’t looking because when the message popped up Nat’s name and picture appeared with it.

Butterflies flew in her belly and she’d felt breathless as she pressed her thumb to the pad, unlocking the phone. Reading the message a blush had crept up her cheeks as she smiled, thumbs dancing over the screen as she replied and agreed to meet for coffee and a chat.

After that they met up every morning for coffee and few weeks later, lunchs became the new normal within a few weeks if that dinner nearly every other night had followed.

Darcy knew then she was falling hard for her. Wanted to kiss her so fiercely it made her mouth water. That’s why when it finally happened she’d been so surprised.

It wasn’t her that made the first move. It was Nat. Threatening to put her over her knee if she didn’t stop teasing her. Darcy’s response had been out of her mouth before she could think It over. A Sassy, “yes Ma’am”, before arching her eyebrow. Natasha’s hand suddenly falling to her leg and caressing her skin just above her knee had shocked her silent and still. Her eyes wide, frozen as Nat slowly moved her fingers in circles along her inner thigh, a soft question from the red head, asking if she wanted her to stop. In response Darcy had let her knees fall open as she leaned in, kissing Nat for the first time. Fuck it had progressed quickly after that.

Darcy looks up as a commotion in the corridors has half the lab floor on their feet in concern.

She spots the bright red hair first, even among the sea of tall bulky men, the deadly assassin was always easy to pick out, even distracted as they were, there was a bubble of space around her.

There was a man on a gurney, shouting in Russian. It looked as though he were struggling to get away, the glint of metal as an arm breaks free and flails at Steve has her stumbling back a little in surprise. Shit. The Winter Soldier...

She seeks out the red head again with her eyes, Nat’s name forming silently on her lips, watching as she stumbles through the double doors, into operations, banged up and bruised and with Darcy unable to decide if she would welcome her help and company or push her away as she had before she left on mission.

Darcy wars with indecision, Natasha had slowly pushed her away over the course of a few weeks. Missed coffee dates, always busy and then the text messages and soft smiles had disappeared all together. Darcy had had no idea how to deal with it. She’s not stupid, she got the hint and she’s slowly stoped from leaving her once lover messages, she wasn’t going to push. But at the same time, she had been her friend and that meant something to Darcy. Maybe Natasha didn’t want her in her bed anymore, but Darcy had felt more than just lust for Nat. She genuinely liked her, cared about her, even if Nat no longer felt the same.

She put down the pen and followed. It wasn’t hard to get past security, some instinct told her where to look. She found her sitting in the locker room. Glassy eyed and staring at the floor.

“Nat? .... Are you okay?”

She feels like and idiot. Of course she’s not okay. The assassin looking shocked and a little like she might cry.

Darcy makes her way over and sits beside her. Not quite close enough to touch, but close enough to feel the heat radiating from her body.

She studies Nat carefully as the red head ignores her. She looks bone tired and grief stricken, Darcy’s heart aches for her. She reaches one arm tentatively around Nat’s shoulder and hugs her. At first all Darcy feels is the resistance, the way her body stiffens at the weight of Darcy’s arm, and then it changes. Nat curls into her side, let’s her head drop to Darcy’s shoulder and hides her face in her neck.

Darcy wraps her other arm across and hugs her tightly. She doesn’t say a word, feels tears prick at her eyes. She’s not sure if they’re for her or for Nat. Pain radiates off the other woman, Darcy bites her lip and presses a kiss into Nat’s hair.

She’s not sure how long they stay like that, her arms around her slender form as the red head cries silently into her skin, but by the time Nat raises her head and pulls away, her tears have dried and Darcy’s arms ache from holding her.

“Thank you...”

The words are a whisper of quiet, but she hears them.

“Always.” She returns simply. It’s true, it doesn’t matter that Nat no longer loves her that way, how she feels for the woman was never conditional on Nat’s feelings for her.

“Will you stay for a little while?”

Darcy knows how much is pains Nat to ask, can hear the reluctance in her voice, understands the why. It still doesn’t matter though.

“Of course, whatever you need.”

She averts her eyes as Nat changes, using wet wipes alone to clean off dirt and blood from her skin, then changing into soft black leggings and an oversized sweatshirt from her locker.

Darcy follows dutifully behind as Nat gestures her to follow, eventually leading them down the hall to medical where Darcy finally gets her first proper look at the Winter Soldier.

He’s in a bed, eyes closed, chest bare apart from the sensor pads and two good sized gauze pads taped to him where Darcy guesses they dug bullets out of his flesh. His skin is pale and grey, lips bloodless as his chest rises and falls to the slow steady beat of the monitor.

Nat curls up in one of the chairs by the bed as Darcy takes her own seat beside her. She’s thankful for the silence in a way.

It means she can’t ask the questions that even in her head sound selfish and bitter.

Is he why I wasn’t enough? You knew he was alive and I suddenly didn’t matter ? You pushed me away so cruelly because he was what you really wanted, was I just a fling? A shiny distraction to fill a space you were keeping for him?

She sucked in a slow breath and refused to let the hot tears leave her eyes. It doesn’t matter how she feels right now. She has to be better than that, she has to rise above her own selfishness and be there for her friend, because no matter the personal cost, she wants Nat to be happy, she deserves to find peace and love, nothing will change that and Darcy will do everything in her power to help Nat get that; a happy ending, at least one of them should have it and Darcy knows it won’t be her, it never will be.

They sit up the whole night, watching him sleep, listening to the sharp beep of the monitors. At some point Nat reaches out a hand and Darcy grasps it firmly in her own. She won’t let go, she holds Nat’s hand in hers, thumb rubbing soothing circles into her skin.

She’s not sure when it happened, but at some point her eyes had closed, heavy with exhaustion as she nodded off. The dream she fell into was one full of shadows, she felt trapped as she seemed to go in circles, never finding a way out. Every corner she turned, far into the distance she would see her, Natasha, the bright red of her hair flashing in the gloom like an ember, leading her on. Darcy keeps following the elusive apparition until she comes to a sudden fork in the maze. Before she can fully fall into a panic in her dream she startled awake.

The room is quiet and she blinks slowly trying to recall where she is. Natashas back is to her as she perched on the hospital bed, Darcy can hear the quiet murmur, two voice one baritone low speaking quietly. She stands slowly, feeling as though she’s out of place and utterly invisible. She backs from the room slowly, she knows she’s not soundless, not like they can be but Nat never turns her head, never even acknowledges that she leaving them to their privacy.

Darcy pauses in the doorway, eyes lingering one last time on her once lover. Her heart breaks a little more, her teeth sunk deep into her bottom lip before she turns and walks away, the long hallway yawning before her. Empty and as alone as she feels in her soul. There’s nothing left for her to do here, no unfinished business.

By the time she makes it back to her room she’s made her decision. It’s time to go, time to move on with her life. But she can’t do it here, waiting and watching as the love of her life forgets her existence. So she packs her bags, writes a note for Jane and one for Tony and she leaves. Maybe one day she’ll come back when it no longer hurts to breath. But until then she needs to go. Nat made her choice a long time ago, it was never going to be Darcy.

She’s not running away she decides, she’s just facing the truth. She fell in love but Nat didn’t and that was okay, there was no blame to be doled out, it simply was. If she was easily forgotten, well, she’d never really expected otherwise. She was and always had been replaceable. She knew though, deep inside, that nothing would ever replace Natasha in her heart, because she had given it to the woman freely, attaching no conditions or expectations: it was what it was. A part of life, another lesson learned, another loss. One more wouldn’t kill her, she’d survived the rest. Maybe one day she could look back and smile, but for now she let the tears fall as she boarded the train.

Now was the time to try and heal.

[thesassybooskter]

THAT KILLER SMILE by Juliet Lyons: Excerpt & Giveaway

NOW AVAILABLE/SOURCEBOOKS CASABLANCA

THERE WILL BE HEAT…

Vampire Catherine Adair gave up trying to find her perfect match ages ago. But that didn’t stop her from founding London’s super successful vampire dating site. When a smoldering vampire overlord from her past launches an interspecies speed-dating service, Catherine vows to crush the competition….

 WHEN THESE TWO COMPETE

Ronin’s new venture is purely about getting Catherine’s attention. He hasn’t stopped thinking about her ever since the night she gave him the cold shoulder. Nobody gets away from Ronin McDermott that easily…

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  Excerpt

Cat

My first thought when I see the smashed lock is, How on earth did a burglar make it past Mrs. Colangelo?

I shove the door open and step inside. There, sitting—no lounging—in my Laura Ashley recliner and stroking Wentworth, is Ronin fuck weasel McDermott.

My eyes bulge as I absorb the preposterous scene of him sitting with my pet in his lap. He looks like an infuriatingly hot James Bond villain.

“Evening, Catherine,” he says with a nod of his head.

I glare into his intense blue eyes, fists clenching. “What the actual fuck are you doing in my apartment?”

He cocks a brow before rising from the chair, taking Wentworth with him. The latter stays snuggled under his arm, as docile as a newborn lamb.

Pointing at Wentworth, I hiss, “Did you glamour my cat?”

A cloud of confusion passes across his handsome features. “Why on God’s earth would I glamour a cat?”

Without missing a beat, I snap, “That’s what you do to get people to like you.”

He feigns an injured look before setting Wentworth down on the carpet. Then he reaches into his shirt pocket and pulls out a tiny object. It twinkles beneath the light. “You dropped this earring in my office. It must have fallen out when you kissed me.”

I snort in derision. “Ha! Yeah, I kissed you. Good one. And you came all the way here, broke in to my apartment just to return it to me?”

“I’ll get the lock fixed,” he says, placing the earring on the coffee table. “And I didn’t break in as such. One of your neighbors let me up.”

I shake my head. “Let me guess, an Italian lady in a robe?”

He smiles and I try not to notice how it softens the hard lines of his strong features, how his cool-blue eyes are suffused with warmth.

“There’s a chance she believes lover boy next door is bisexual.”

“What the hell did you tell her?” I ask, folding arms across my chest. The mention of Peter comes as a shock. Being in the same room as Ronin McDermott, I’ve already forgotten he exists.

“Nothing she didn’t secretly long to hear. So who is this guy anyway? Should I be jealous?”

My stomach flips, my mind skipping back to that moment in his office when I left him with a hard-on in the presence of Playboy bunnies. “Jealous?” I try to inject venom into my voice, but my heart isn’t in it. “Tell me, did you enjoy yourself with those girls the other afternoon?”

His brows knit. He looks genuinely flummoxed. “What girls?”

I toss my bag onto the sofa. “Meant that much to you, did they?”

He stays frozen to the spot, brows drawn. “Do you really think I care about other girls?”

His voice is low, as cracked as splintered glass. Suddenly, it seems as if all the oxygen has been sucked from the room. As I meet his burning gaze, it’s like the last couple of days—work, my date with Peter—never happened. I’m back in his office right before his lips landed on mine.

Except this time neither of us budge.

“You’re a sickness,” he says at last in that same fractured tone. “Don’t you see? A sickness in my veins.”

My brain sifts through responses at a hundred miles per hour, but my vocal chords remain frozen in my throat. I watch him like he’s a tiger, waiting for him to strike.

But he doesn’t pounce. He sighs instead, his jaw tightly clenched. “I’ve never wanted to upset you, Catherine. I’m sorry for what I did that night—biting you and giving you my venom. I shouldn’t have lost control like that.”

“No, you shouldn’t have,” I snap.

“I’ll be honest,” he continues. “I’d be lying if I said I didn’t start the speed-dating nights to get your attention. But I had no intention of ruining your business. In a way, it’s a compliment.”

My jaw drops in disbelief. “A compliment? Are you completely unhinged? Do you really have your head shoved so far up your ass that you don’t get why I can’t stand you?”

He shakes his head, holding out his hands, palms up. There’s desperation in his voice I’ve never heard from him before. “I’ve never once tried to play the ancient card with you. I never will, no matter how badly you piss me off.”

I stare at him, half believing he doesn’t have a clue, half-angry this is just another of his manipulative games.

“This isn’t about details. It’s about the bigger picture. One you’ve never bothered to try and get your arrogant head around. Who am I, Ronin?” The happiness the evening brought is leaking out of me faster than air from a burst balloon. To my horror, a sob escapes my throat. “What am I?”

“Is this one of those bizarre feminist questions?”

“For fucks sake, what am I? Answer me.”

His eyes flash in anger, but he doesn’t flinch. “A woman. A vampire. A neurotic shrew half the time.”

“A vampire,” I repeat, ignoring the last bit.

He looks utterly and completely blank.

“You have no idea. Do you?”

When he doesn’t answer, I open the busted door as wide as it will go and wave an arm toward it. “Goodbye, Ronin.”

If he wasn’t such a misogynistic playboy, I might experience a pang of guilt as I watch him skulk past me, defeated.

Outside he pauses, spinning around to face me. “I rang you,” he says. “Every day for a month after we slept together.”

“I know,” I whisper, staring at my Dolce & Gabbana boots. “I changed my telephone number on day three.”

He emits a short, hollow laugh, and when I look up, the hallway is completely empty. I hear the slam of a door as he exits the building onto the street.

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About Juliet Lyons

JULIET LYONS is a paranormal romance author from the UK. She holds a degree in Spanish and Latin American studies and works part-time in a local primary school where she spends far too much time discussing Harry Potter. Since joining global storytelling site Wattpad in 2014, her work has received millions of hits online and gained a legion of fans from all over the world. When she is not writing, Juliet enjoys reading and spending time with her family.

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THAT KILLER SMILE by Juliet Lyons: Excerpt & Giveaway was originally published on The Sassy Bookster