#bruce hugs his kids like he can shield them from the entire world

[erinwantstowrite]

oh god oh GODDD im so excited for the comic strip scene to appear in fic bc bruce and petey’s hug is making my heart ACHE… specifically the way that the goober leans his WHOLE BODY into it and then bruce places a secure hand on his back and cradles the back of his head ough OUGHHH like that action is so like . yeah you sure are an uncle ben counterpart bc clearly you love this kid with everything you have and are giving him a guiding hand . but also but ALSO something about the movement is so … batman pulling robin under his cape … providing careful shelter to a kid who needs it so bad … like if im dick and i see my father figure and my kid caring for each other to the point of enacting change (bruce being emotionally intelligent and petey letting himself trust + be tactile) im sobbing and throwing up bc my heart is so full . like he cares he learned from his mistakes w me … and my baby who deserves everything gets to reap the benefits and soak up all that honest affection like AUGHHH its all worth it its all worth it

bruce makes me so emotional sometimes because the older he gets the more he learns from his mistakes and the more guilty he feels about his older children and trying to make up for it in every possible way,,, i PLAN for right after this conversation with peter and bruce, for dick to see it and bruce tug him into the hug and AGGHH they make me emotional. bruce was like "i can't get attached because peter has to go home" ans then proceeded to fail at not getting attached. but we all knew that would happen (look at his track record...)

[codenamed-queenie]

#BatsInQuarantine

I am going insane. So I poured my restlessness into one long and very detailed post and got super into it. Please enjoy this hot mess.

The Justice League, being the well-meaning virus-proof Super Friends that they are, took one good look at the news, one good look at their non-powered friends Ollie, Bruce, and their families, and collectively decided that these normal humans must be Protected At All Costs.

Now, keep in mind, Bruce is never one to roll over when it comes to being benched. 

However, he understands the importance of social distancing. He knows he needs to set a good example for his kids, and keep up appearances as Gotham’s Most Responsible Multi-Billionaire. 

So. Quarantine it is. 

But how are his kids handling it?

Dick - 

100% on board in the beginning. Gotta do the Responsible Thing. Gotta set a Good Example. Besides, guys, this is gonna be Fun. Quality Family Time is always a Must.

He lasted 2 days. 

Then he started to get twitchy. 

And as everyone knows? A Trapped Dick Grayson is a Feral Dick Grayson.

He bounces off the walls.

Literally.

“I have to climb.” 

“Dick, no.”  

“I have to climb everything.”

Has scaled the manor 16 times already. Has climbed the chandelier. The banister. Bruce. The roof. The Cave. Anything in the house that’s been bolted down and especially anything that hasn’t. 

Duke found him clinging to the wall 10 ft off the ground like Spiderman and screamed so loud it shattered glass. 

Desperate for news of the outside. 

He thrives off of it like a starving man. 

Was the one to suggest he and Barbara take a break to Social Distance from each other (”Sorry, babe, kissing spreads germs”) and experienced Instant Regret(TM) approximately 5 minutes after. 

The Family has labelled him a Flight Risk Level 1 (Most likely to say f**k it and make a break for the outside world)

Jason - 

Accidentally got trapped inside the manor with the others when Bruce called Shutdown. If he had his way, he’d be chilling in his favorite safe-house right now, binging The Witcher with Roy and Artemis, and not worrying about finding a stray brother in his sock drawer.

But he’s nothing if not an opportunist. 

The way he sees it, Jason has 3 options:

Self Improvement

Self Isolation (See Duke, Cass, and Damian)

Descension Into Madness (See Dick and Steph)

And, well, he always wanted to try a few things. Now he’s got the free time to do it.

So he settles on baking. 

Alfred’s got enough food and raw ingredients stored up to feed an army. (Not because he’s a Panic-Buying-Hoarder in times like these. But because he’s a Panic-Buying-Hoarder all the time. Just try feeding 11+ teenagers sometime.)

Uses recipes he finds off Google.

His first few attempts are, in a word, ‘tragic’.

Alfred slips him a few of his recipe cards, and Jason suddenly starts seeing Results. 

Turns out he’s pretty good at this baking thing once he gets the hang of it. 

Hope everyone’s okay eating nothing but pie, macaroons, biscuits, and whatever else Jason whips up. 

Cause that’s gonna be the only food left by the time he’s done. 

Barbara - 

Self-quarantined with her dad. 

They’ve been binge-watching classic black and white movies together.

It’s a fun time, but she’s started to get a little antsy. Loving her dad and wanting to be around him 24/7 are, understandably, mutually exclusive. 

Calls the manor to video-chat every day.

For her sanity just as much as theirs. 

Gives everyone little challenges to film on their phones and send in. She makes compilations of everyone’s submissions so they can all watch and laugh together. 

Bonus points for Creativity

One comp shows the family trying to drop Mentos into coke bottles. 

Dick did a handstand, and dropped his Mento from the second story balcony. 

Tim did it wearing the Batman cowl. The soda exploded into his face, and the rest of the video is just Bruce’s Shrieking.

Stephanie tried it, but the bottle tipped. Everyone on camera screamed as the bottle rocketed through the front window. 

She spends most of her calls having one-on-one convos with Dick.

They’ve come up with little code phrases so they can be Cheesy even with family members lurking in the background. 

She thinks the way he clings to the monitor is cute. 

Almost like he’s giving her a hug through the screen. 

(It’s easier than letting herself worry about his mental state, at least)

Tim -

Oh this boy.

Freaked out for the first five minutes before he decided ‘hey wait, Bruce is letting me stay in my pajamas all day? Noice.’ 

Now he’s just vibing.

The rest of his family is Low-Key shielding him.

He Has No Spleen, you see.

Steph: “Someone could cough on him and he could die!”

He just goes about his day, playing Animal Crossing like there’s no tomorrow, tinkering on projects, taking naps, etc. Living his best life.

Meanwhile there’s always someone lurking behind him, keeping watch, keeping him safe. 

Dick sneezed within 5 feet of Tim once (the fact that he was on top of the dusty bookshelf Tim was perusing is irrelevant)

Jason still full-body tackled him the second Tim’s back was turned. 

No one with any symptoms--

Like, any symptoms. They don’t even have to be Corona-related.

--is allowed within 10 feet of Tim. 

Tim has been wandering the manor for weeks, now, without seeing another human being. 

(He sees Dick on the ceiling sometimes, but that doesn’t really count)

He’s been trying increasingly drastic pranks and shenanigans to draw someone, anyone, out. 

But it doesn’t matter how many times he steals Damian’s sword, or sets fire to Jason’s brownie bites.

Nobody wants to risk it. 

Cass - 

No one has seen her since quarantine started.

Everyone is approximately 87% sure she’s somewhere in the manor though

Because she does eat the meals Alfred leaves out for her.

Or at least someone does, at any rate. 

(Jason and Santa top the running suspects list)

Santa was Steph’s suggestion. For some reason it snowballed. 

It’s assumed that Cass misunderstood the meaning of ‘social distancing’ and took it too far. 

But no one knows for sure. 

She is Tim’s Guardian Angel. 

People who so much as clear their throats a little too loudly anywhere near him suddenly wake up on a different floor of the house four hours later. 

Duke came closest to spotting her while he was up in the attic. 

Either that, or there’s another Creepy Sister everyone forgot to tell him about living up there.

She is silent, and watchful, sticking to the shadows, but she does leave the occasional note out to brighten her siblings’ day. 

Things like ‘helo i love u’ and ‘hop u ar ok’  mostly. 

She is bound and determined to protect her family from this invisible threat, no matter the cost. 

Steph - 

Like Dick, she was Super Pumped at first. 

(Just kind of showed up at Wayne Manor before quarantine was enacted. The original purpose of her visit is unclear, but regardless, she’s Trapped.)

Also Like Dick, her descent into madness was swift.

She is impossible to pin down. 

Not like Cass or Damian, who’ve stayed off the grid, and are therefore Untraceable. 

No. She’s impossible to pin down, because she never stops moving. 

Switches seamlessly between Zumba on top of the Giant Dinosaur in the Batcave, and furiously knitting Alfred (the Cat) a sweater with a pair of Tim’s used chopsticks. 

Braided everyone’s hair while they were asleep.

Even Bruce’s. 

She tried to do Tim’s, but somehow blacked out and regained consciousness in the attic. 

When she woke up with a scream and a furiously twitching eye, she startled Duke out of his Makeshift Fort he built out of old cardboard boxes and antique furniture. He’s had to resort to finding a new hiding place. 

Sometimes, on the rare occasions she does sit still, staring off into the distance, she’ll suddenly start laughing hysterically. This may last between thirty seconds and thirty minutes, depending entirely on how long it’s been since she’s knitted a cat sweater or done cartwheels through every room in the house.

Blew up the greenhouse out back, somehow.

Everyone has agreed not to talk about it.

Some people were built to handle prolonged time inside their homes.

Stephanie Brown is not that way.

Damian - 

Damian Wayne Cannot Be Contained.

At least not inside the house. 

He took off thirty-six hours into quarantine. 

Thanks to the security equipment around the borders of the Wayne Estate, he can’t escape the grounds. 

(He’s tried and failed multiple times. Jason and Bruce have a running bet on how many times the perimeter alarms will go off per day.)

(Jason is winning.)

He wanders the grounds with Titus as his only companion. 

The two of them run laps, practice drills, and find ways to occupy their time. 

No one’s entirely sure what those ways are. 

In fact, nobody knows exactly where Damian is at any given time. 

Only that he is Out There. 

And he’s the best security system Wayne Manor’s ever had. 

So far, he’s stopped five groups of civilians scaling the perimeter walls before the lasers and electric nets even have a chance to deploy.

They were trying to break in and steal supplies. 

(Even ones they already had in surplus. Like Toilet Paper.)

He’s also stopped Dick from escaping twelve (12) times.

Drags him back by his shirt collar and deposits him on the welcome mat. 

Usually with a note for Alfred/Jason, requesting more fruit tarts. 

Duke - 

Did not leave the attic for two weeks. 

Then Steph discovered his hiding spot (read: was dumped there by Cassandra) which forced him to relocate to the basement. 

Yes, it turns out Wayne Manor does have a basement. 

This was a surprise to Duke, who always thought that the Batcave was Bruce Wayne’s basement. 

Alfred keeps him supplied with all the necessities:

i.e. food, magazines, assorted pastries from Jason’s latest batch, usually straight out of the oven.

Duke also snagged the Manor’s Alexa. 

She has become a sort of ‘Wilson’ to Duke’s ‘Chuck Noland’.

She is his only comfort. His only ally. 

He’s determined to wait out this quarantine, doing his best to avoid the others. 

Duke has seen these people under pressure. 

He knows exactly what he’s dealing with. 

Duke: “Alexa is the only motherf****r in this madhouse I ever respected.”

*offended butler noises from the other room*

Duke: “And also Alfred.”

[americasmarauders]

Hey Luiza!! Ok so I don’t know if this is too big of an ask BUT would you maybe consider, if you’re comfortable with it, writing up (from prompt list 1) #24 that leads into #11 with Tim Drake?

author's note: has this been sitting in my ask box for, what, 4 months? yes it has. I'm deeply sorry for that, love, but suddenly life got in that way, and I found myself unmotivated and uninspired. But now, hopefully, I'll have a couple of weeks of peace and I managed to complete this request. I hope you don't mind, but I put my own spin on the prompts, slightly altering them. Hopefuly it's up to par with what you expected. I re-worked an old draft of mine, one that was supposed to be a royal!au based on Love Story by Taylor Swift, to fit the prompts. It's still a royal!au and it still has some colors of Taylor Swift, nevertheless I hope you like it.

prompts: #24: banter in which one of them’s like… “i love you” and the other person’s like “ok” and the first one’s like “say it back” and the other one’s just like “no 😝” and the first one gets frustrated because “why wouldn’t you say it back we always say i love you before we leave”

#11: when one of them is hurt by the antagonist… and their lover goes… absolutely ballistic and does everything in their power to get to the person they love, to the point in which the antagonist and it’s crew have to physically restrain them… and it still doesn’t stop them… they just keep kicking… doesn’t matter what happens to them… doesn’t matter if they get beaten in the process… as long as their lover is safe… words: 3,982

masterlist

request masterlist

#

#

She leaned to the railing of the balcony, summer air gently brushing on her skirt and her skin, a small smile playing at her lips. Her hands fidgeted nervously as she waited for her love to encounter her in that abandoned corner of her family’s palace.

A sigh escaped her lips as she attentively listened to the noises around her. The rumble of the party could still be heard, even if faintly. There were barely any rounds in that part of the castle, especially with the big ball her father had decided to throw. She had millimetrically chosen that balcony: something far enough from the ballroom, so they wouldn’t be bothered, but not too far in case they got caught. She could see the moon clearly from where she stood, its light illuminating the fountain down below beautifully. She thought about how his eyes would be beautiful under the Moon’s light and her heart fluttered.

She had been warned about the Waynes, mostly by her adoptive Father, who wasn’t exactly a fan of Bruce Wayne, King of Gotham. Their relationship was civil, but it wasn’t safe from animosities, many that had happened in their past, when both were still young princes trying to get their bearings of their upcoming roles. A war was brewing back then, a war that had not ended as of yet, and she remembered her Father telling her how palpable the tension in the air was, how exasperated his mentor was that he was as prepared to be a king both militarily and educationally. She only imagined King Bruce’s mentor felt the same.

Unfortunately, the antipathy extended to the plethora of adopted children King Bruce had. Her father always spoke of them with a corner of disdain, his lips twisting into a frown. He had to have contact with them, the trades of their kingdom depended on Gotham a whole lot, but he had shielded his children from the Wayne kids. When she was smaller, when she had just arrived in the castle fresh from the streets, she had believed every word from her Father. She had stayed away from them, actively avoiding them when she saw a pair of raven hair and bright eyes looking in her direction. When she grew up, she stopped thinking about dodging their attention so attentively, but still stayed out of their way, not wanting to get on her Father’s bad side.

The way she saw it, she didn’t exactly mess with the Waynes, in fact it was the other way around. Tim had stumbled onto her life, and he had been quite persistent, in spite of her trying to be cold towards him. He knew she really couldn’t resist him somehow, he always knew more than he ever let on, he saw the way she smiled when he’d pass through her on a stupid ball his Father threw for whatever reason. She pretended to not see him, to not feel his smile etched into her brain forever.

Tim managed to crawl his way to her heart and now she couldn’t imagine a life without his clever remarks and easy going smile. She remembered vividly when they danced for the first time. He had asked her, the first time he’d even whispered anything to her. It was like every eye was on her while she was hesitating to grab his hand. Her eyes flickered to his face, his smile faltered for a second. She remembered feeling her heart tightening at his deflation, and grabbed his hand immediately after.

His grip tightened on her hand, his smile firm and reassuring. She felt herself tense when they finally arrived on the dance floor, his other hand respectfully laying on her back. He whispered to her gently, begging to not let her eyes drift away from his. She listened to him, her heart beating fast, a mix of anxiety and something else, something better and new. He made snide comments about the people present at the Wayne ball, making laughter bubble underneath her skin. He had vanquished her nerves with a smile and bright eyes.

Hands slipped on her middle, hugging from behind. Tim’s scent flooded her, a smile blooming on her face. She moved to turn in his arms to face him, his hands allowing her movement. He was classically handsome, his blue eyes accentuated by the moonlight, sending butterflies to her entire being. His smile floored her, her hands finding his face, caressing lightly his cheeks.

“No one saw you?” she whispered, her forehead leaning on his, her breath mingling with his.

“No,” he shook his head, his forehead grazing on hers. His hands cradled her face, his eyes closed. “You look breathtaking tonight,” his voice was steady and precise.

“You don’t look too bad yourself,” she smirked, her hands falling to his shoulders delicately. Her eyes were filled with an inexplicable love, something that consumed her wholly. “I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you too,” his lips ghosted over hers, tempting her to close the tiny gap between them. She chased the smile growing on her lips, closing the space between them and interlocking their lips. Tim had promptly responded to her kiss with a gentleness only he was capable of, kindness that made something inside her explode.

She rested her forehead on his, looking deep into his moonlit eyes with an adoration that couldn’t be contained by the vessel of her body anymore. Her heart felt calm again, next to him it was like every cell of her body was finally settling into some level of tranquility. The sinking hole she felt when he was miles away back in his kingdom was rapidly filled when he smiled at her and rested his hand on her cheek. The world was filled with screaming colors once again.

“I wish I didn’t have to leave you,” he confessed, his voice barely over a whisper, his hands cradling her face carefully.

“I know, Tim,” the whisper fled from her lips, “I feel the same, but we have to, we’ve talked about this.”

“I know,” a sigh escaped his lips, defeated and resigned. He took a step back, putting space between them. She immediately felt his absence, a coldness settling inside her. His elbows rested brutally on the railing of the balcony, his knuckles as tense as his jaw. She felt it in her bones that something was deeply wrong with him, something inside him had shifted. “We could run, you know?” he suggested, his eyes finding hers once again, full of hope. “I have a safe house far away, Kon helps me keep it. We could settle down there, live a calm life.”

“Where’s this coming from, Timmy?” she whispered, her eyes closed imagining the life Tim had laid out for her.

“I’m so tired, love,” his head shook from side to side, “I'm so tired of fighting, of briefing meetings and seeing innocents die. I don’t know if I can’t take it anymore.”

“I know,” her hands rested on top of his, “but, Tim, we can’t. We can’t leave everyone behind, this is bigger than us.”

“Why not?” his voice grew with a strong tone of anger. “I just want one thing, Y/N, one thing. I want to be able to love you, without all this weight on my back that I’ve been carrying ever since my parents handed me to Bruce when I was 12. I’m exhausted all the time, I miss you like I’m missing my own heart all the time. I can’t take this anymore.”

“Tim...” she started, her voice soft and understanding, but he quickly interrupted her.

“Marry me,” he turned to her abruptly, grabbing her hands tightly. Her mouth was agape, her heart beating out of her chest. “We can get married quietly at dawn, and then we’ll live at my safe house, we’ll make it a home.”

Her eyes flew crazily over his face, looking for any hint that he was playing a prank on her, pulling purposefully on the strings of her heart. His face didn’t betray any signs of any lies, her mouth got dry and her hands started to sweat. Her brain ran a thousand different scenarios, trying to grasp onto some hope that maybe what Tim had suggested to her might work. She found none.

She shook her head, her throat tightening up. “We can’t,” she whispered, her hands slipping from his. “It wouldn’t work, Timmy. We would be hunted down, we wouldn’t have peace at all. We’d have to live a life constantly running from our past.”

“So we’d do it,” he went to grab her hands again, but she didn’t let him, his hands grasping into summer air. “I can find other houses across the continent, I can make sure we are not found.”

Tears escaped her eyes, betraying her feelings to Tim. She shook her head, her arms crossing over her stomach. “No,” she whispered, “I can’t.”

“Hey,” his fingers lifted her chin, making her look at him, “penny for your thoughts?”

She couldn’t handle being touched by Tim, his touch poisoned her thoughts. If he touched her, she’d make a decision she’d regret, and she wouldn’t have that. “I can’t do it, Tim, I can’t leave everything behind.”

“It’s not going to be easy,” he started, “but we’ll make it.”

“You’re not understanding,” her voice showed the bubbling anger and fear inside her, “I can’t abandon everything like you’re suggesting, Tim. I can’t leave all those people who depend on me, all those families that expect me to show up and give them some comfort,” she sniffed, brushing off a couple of tears running on her cheeks. “If I leave, Tim, I’d be miserable.”

He took a step back at the brutality of her words. “You’d have me,” he whispered, “I’ll love you until the end of my days, I’d never let you be miserable.”

“It wouldn’t be enough,” she replied, her knuckles tight. “I love you, Tim, with everything in me, more than the number of stars in the Universe, but it wouldn’t be enough to cover the guilt I’d feel.”

He inhaled a sharp breath, his hands gripping the railings angrily. “I’m leaving to battle tomorrow,” he stated, his voice steady and impassive.

“I know,” a mutter left her lips.

“This is your last chance before I go,” he turned to her briskly, “please, run away with me.”

“No,” she shook her head, her voice barely a whisper.

Tim huffed and left, his footsteps heavy and angry. But it wasn’t that that had broken her heart. They always said ‘I love you’ when they had to say goodbye.

Tim hadn’t said ‘I love you’.

#

#

Out of everything Tim was expecting from his day -- to dying on the battlefield, to ending a war, the list was practically endless -- he hadn’t expected receiving the letter that was in his hands.

He didn’t even know Roy knew about them. He must have guessed, though, she told everything to Roy, she loved him deeply, a love he sometimes wished resembled the love he shared with his own brothers. But things in the Wayne household were different, more secretive and cold. Sometimes, Tim thought back on how different his life would have turned out if his parents hadn’t dropped him off at Wayne Manor to run. Maybe, he would have followed in his father’s footsteps and became a fine swordsmith, maybe worthy enough to work for the Wayne family like his father before him. Maybe, it would have happened what his parents feared the most: they would have run out of business, losing every penny they owned and living in poverty for the rest of their existence.

Tim was ultimately glad his parents had made that tough decision, he wouldn’t be a Prince if they hadn’t, he wouldn’t have met his soulmate if they hadn’t.

Her. He had royally screwed up with her, he shouldn’t have pushed her too far, he knew where she stood on the subject. But he felt his impatience grow inside of him, his frustrations got the better of him and soon he was blinded only by his undying love for her and the anger he felt at the world for failing him once again.

Tim hadn’t said ‘I love you’ to her when he left. It was that realisation that pained in his chest even now, as Jason handed him a foreign letter from Roy, her brother. It was that regret that flooded him when he read the rushed words scratched on paper, his heart picking up a beat as his eyes processed the fatalistic words presented to him.

He stood up briskly from his seat, ignoring Dick rambling about the strategy they were supposed to adopt to overturn their enemy. He heard some complaints, Bruce calling after him asking where he was going. Tim ignored, only capable of focusing on the letter and his last conversation with her, the things he did not say to her and the regret he felt on the things that had been said.

Tim didn’t have anything on him other than his sword and that cursed piece of paper, but he still made his way to the stables, overlooking the weird stares he received on the way. His horse was softly munching on some hay, unaware of the ride she was about to be put on. The letter found its way to Tim’s pocket hastily, as he put on his saddle on his mare, his jaw tight with emotion.

“So that’s it?” Tim heard, closing his eyes at the voice. “You’re just gonna march to Star City, because Roy sent you a letter?”

“It’s not that, Jason,” Tim muttered, hyper-focused on securing the saddle on his horse.

“I wish I could make you do shit that easily, I would’ve made you do my field notes ages ago,” Jason liked teasing his brother, Tim guessed it was because it was easy to get a reaction out of him.

“It’s not that,” he gritted through his clenched teeth, aggressively releasing the lock of the saddle. His mare complained at the gesture. Even her found a way to scold Tim.

“Then what is it? What’s more important in Star City than here, with your army, fighting for our people?” Jason cleared, watching the anger rise in Tim’s expression quickly and overwhelmingly.

Tim shook his head, not allowing his brother to have the satisfaction of gaining a reaction out of him. He promptly got up on his horse, gently guiding her towards the exit. Jason got in front of his horse, stopping the motion completely. “Get out of the way, Jason,” Tim’s voice was low and menacingly, “I won’t warn you a second time.”

“You don’t scare me, Timothy,” Jason scoffed at his brother’s attempt of intimidation. “Get over yourself, baby bird, you can’t scare me. Now, tell me, why such a rush?”

Tim’s eyes hovered on his brother’s face, looking down at him. The letter was fished out of his pocket and tossed to Jason. His brother caught it, and hastily read its contents. “So? If they needed help containing these rebels they wouldn’t have sent you a letter,” Jason argued, his hands motioning to his brother.

“Jason,” Tim softly said, “read it again.”

His brother looked at him weirdly and did as he said. His eyes moved more slowly now, taking in the words that had ripped Tim’s heart out of his chest. “Oh,” Jason muttered, looking up at his brother once again, “oh.”

“Get out of the way, please,” Tim begged, his voice breaking.

“What are you gonna do when you get there?” Jason asked, confused at his brother’s reaction. “It’s not like you have any medical expertise, Tim, you’re not going to be able to help her.”

“I don’t know, Jason, I just have to be there,” he responded, briskly. His voice was full of contained emotion, like if Tim mad one false step everything would overflow and he would inevitably break. “I can’t lose her, I just can’t.”

Jason sighed, one of his hands resting on the holster of his sword the other on his waist. It was like he was thinking everything through, analysing thousands of scenarios Tim couldn’t even fathom. Jason was the brother everyone underestimated. He was exceptionally strong and big, he had a knack for violence no other Wayne boy had, but he was an incredible strategist, maybe the best out of all of them.

He stepped out of the way not before saying “I’ll cover for you, but I can’t promise they won’t find out.”

With that Tim ran off, the wind whipping angrily at his hair, reflective of the storm inside himself.

#

#

Tim dismounted from his horse just outside the gates of her family’s castle. The guards looked at him suspiciously, as he strode proudly toward the gate that separated him and her. He eyed the guards with an austerity he reserved for a few occasions, he never liked making people feel inferior, but his morals were askew in light of the news weighing down his chest.

“I demand to be let in,” he ordered, his voice stern and tight.

The guard in front of him raised an eyebrow, appalled by Tim’s audacity. “And who might you be?”

“I’m Prince Tim, of Gotham, and I will get in the castle, so please move,” he gathered all the authority he could muster inside him, and spoke as if he was the monarch of that kingdom.

“I’m sorry, Your Highness, but you do not have authority here,” the guard shook his head, his hand sliding to his sword slowly. Tim took that as a sign of hostility, trying in a peacock kind of way to show he was the one with the upper hand in the situation.

Tim scoffed at the pathetic demonstration, jumping at the throat of the guard and slamming him to the wall behind him. “Listen here, I have been riding for the past 5 hours, I have not stopped once and, at this point, I’m fuelled by spite and anger,” his voice was low and threatening, and he could see fear rise in the guard’s eyes. He couldn’t scare Jason, but he could scare other people. “I’m not going to be stopped by some mid-level pathetic guard,” it was weird saying insulting things to other people. Tim rarely bad-mouthed, but at that moment it felt liberating.

“Tim,” he felt a hand rest on his shoulder, “release the guard.”

Tim looked over his shoulder, Roy standing there with a calm expression, something that contradicted the feeling in his eyes. Tim shoved the guard out of his hands, dropping them violently to his sides. Roy ordered a guard to take care of Tim’s mare, gently leading Tim inside the castle’s grounds.

“She’s been asking for you,” Roy stated, his voice elusive and calm. “No one understands why, but I do.”

“How is she?” the words that Tim was afraid of saying slipped past his lips. Asking how she was made everything that had happened to her, something he had just found out, incredibly real.

“Considering that she spent the past few days being held hostage, considerably well,” Roy conceded, rubbing his hands behind his back. “A bit bruised and shaken up. But, as far as I know, well.”

“Good,” Tim swallowed the lump inside his throat, relieved to hear what Roy had said. They walked down a straight hallway, something he guessed took them from the main gates to near where she was staying.

“She told me what happened between you,” Roy manifested, filling the awkward silence growing. “She’s been beating herself up for it.”

“It’s my fault,” Tim shook his head, “I shouldn’t have said anything, I already knew her answer, it was stupid.”

“It wasn’t, trust me, if I was in the same position as you, I would’ve probably done the same,” he shrugged, turning a sharp left, “probably worse.”

Tim laughed, humourlessly, at Roy’s comment. “Listen, kid, I get it, truly. But with this,” Roy waved his hands around, “sometimes, you gotta play the long game.”

“I hate the long game,” Tim muttered, like a little kid.

“No one said it was going to be easy,” Roy scolded him, like his brother would have done. “But if you truly love her, like you say you do, then play your cards right.”

They stopped, in front of a dirty pink door, Roy’s hands gripped the handle, a small smirk on his face. Tim straightened his posture, shedding the young brother façade he unwillingly slipped on and reverting to the young Prince ways. He took a deep breath, shuffling to organize his emotions inside his brain. Roy opened the door and pushed Tim inside the room, rapidly closing the door back up.

He had never been to her room, even of all those years of courting secretly, sneaking into dark hallways, and kissing under the moonlight. Her room had always felt off bounds to him, even if it had never been expressed as such. He slowly walked into the room further, watching how every corner had her imprint in it.

She was sitting by the window, the curtains opened, a soft summer breeze gently moving her hair out of her eyes. She only wore a simple gown, almost a nightgown, making Tim feel incredibly overdressed. There were bruises littered over her arms and neck, and he felt a mixture of anger and guilt bubble underneath his skin. He struggled to contain it, hoping the people that had done that to her were already six feet underneath the ground.

Her gaze flipped to him, and his stomach somersaulted inside him. She opened a shy smile, waving timidly for him to approach her. He walked calmly towards her, his hands behind his back fidgeting nervously. She got up from her seat, and stood waiting patiently for him.

“Hi,” he whispered, in front of her. His hands itched to touch her, bring her closer and cradle her as if she was the most precious and delicate thing in the world. To him, she was.

“Hi,” she looked down at the ground, her feet bare. “I’m so--”

“No,” he interrupted her, “don’t. I’m the one who should be sorry, I’m the one to blame.”

“Tim, you didn’t do anything.”

“I did everything,” he admitted, “I didn’t say ‘I love you’,” tears sprung to his eyes, ones that he had been trying to keep at bay for a long time. “I left and suddenly you were in danger and I wasn’t there to help you. All because I was stupidly proud and bitter and I--”

“Stop,” her hands found his face, her thumbs brushing carefully on his cheekbones. “It’s not your fault, you couldn’t have known. I certainly didn’t.”

“I should have…”

“No, Timmy, you’re just a man,” she took a step closer, her body hovering next to him warmly. It was like the ice that had settled on him instantly melted when she stepped next to him, “one that I love very much. But I made mistakes that night, and so did you. And it’s okay.”

He breathed right for the first time in days. The guilt he had been carrying like a cross on his back felt lighter, almost nonexistent. A smile made way to his face, albeit a timid one, and he grabbed her hands, the warmth she irradiated seeping into him. “I missed you.”

She smiled at him, a smile no longer free of hurt, but full of more meaning than before. “There was a question you asked that night,” she whispered, her breath mingling with his, “one I didn’t answer.”

“There was?”

“Yes,” she nodded, her nose brushing on his delicately. “Ask it again.”

“Are you sure?” Tim looked into her eyes, looking for a sign of uncertainty or regret.

“Just ask it.”

“Will you marry me?” he whispered, his lips brushing hers.

“Yes.”

#

#

[tommyspeakycap]

New Beginnings

Pairing - Steve Rogers x reader

Word count - 2976

Summary - After the battle in Manhattan, a man who hates the idea of a doctor definitely needs one. A friend of Pepper Potts' lends a hand and consequently changes Steve's long-lived disposition for getting medical help.

a/n - set after the battle of New York in the avengers

Since Steve had woken up, or rather been woken up after he was found in the ice after 70 years, he had not once visited the doctor other than those at S.H.I.E.L.D when they had forced him to. For one, he didn’t ever get sick now and reason two would be that he just hates the concept. He spent a great deal of his time in doctors offices and speaking to specialists diagnosing him with all forms of new medical conditions from when he was in a child to before he was given the serum. It wasn’t somewhere he wanted to go now and those days weren’t exactly the ones he liked to remember even if he was the absolute picture of health now.

That didn’t so much apply however when he, Tony, Thor, Natasha, Bruce and Clint were finally able to stop after fighting for hours against unrelenting waves of aliens trying to take New York. They were all battered and bruised to some degree, some arguably more than others.

Steve looks around with a pounding heart. It never gets easier to think about the losses that are likely to mount up after a battle, the buildings that fell and the people who stood unable in the face of the large aliens with huge powerful guns. It only adds to the hurt that stems from seeing the city he loves reduced half to rubble with skyscrapers crumbled to the ground, flaming, flipped cars scattering the road and entire streets all but destroyed.

Before he does anything else, Steve wants to go down to the subway that he insisted the police put people in to ensure they all get out safely before he heads to meet up with the rest of the team back at Stark tower. There are more ambulances lining what’s left of the roads than he can even begin to count and he’s extremely glad they hadn’t destroyed any hospitals because they were going to need every bed that they had. He helped some people up out of the Subway with the officers and some people thanked him, some people gawked at him and some seemed too much in shock to even notice he was there. Steve stood just watching for longer than he would care to admit.

He supposes he would say he’s just taking everything in. It feels as though the world is quite the same as to when he lived in it at first. People still come together when they need to and there are still bad people who want to stand above the rest.

As his feet carry him back over crunching rubble in the direction of Stark tower to meet up with the rest, Steve can’t help but think about how he wishes his best friend could be with him for this battle. There wasn’t anyone Steve preferred to have on his side and he did tremendously miss his friend.

“No no no!” Steve hears yelling above the rest of the commotion,a noise which immediately diverts his train of thought. He turns his head to see if he can catch a glimpse of what was going on to see if there was anything he could do to help. “He has to go first, he’s got an ICH with a blown pupil. He won’t make it halfway to the hospital if he has to wait another twenty minutes!” Steve rounds the corner at a slow jog. He’s met with a woman with her hair tied back tightly out of her face, which was smeared with dirt and dust and it looked as though she had been climbing amongst the rubble to help recover the last of the people from that building. “Look ma’am, we have a kid in there.” The EMT tries to explain, but you just give him an incredulous look, “With a closed tib-fib fracture, he’ll live! This guy is bleeding into his brain, do you have one of those-” You lean closer to him, squinting your eyes and sweeping dust off of his badge, “Jack. Do you have a brain, Jack?” The EMT in front of you opens and closes his mouth like a fish out of water. “Yes ma’am.” He stutters. “Good,” you snip, “Then get the kid in a wheelchair for the next ambulance and bluelight this guy to the nearest hospital, now!”

The EMT scrambles to do as told and you push your hair back again with a heavy sigh as you walk away the second they get him in the stretcher and into the ambulance. Steve smiles slightly to himself. There’s nothing quite like a powerful woman in his eyes and no force like an angry one. He’d hate to be on that woman’s bad side and he knows now that he was wrong to think his help would be needed there. The super soldier simply walks away again with his shield held tightly in his hand. He bids a wordless respect to the woman who rolls up her sleeves again and cups her hands over her mouth, shouting out for anyone who might need help from her clearly medically experienced hands.

“Dear God, look at you lot!” Pepper exclaims as they walk in, immediately rushing to hug Tony tightly. “You all need to get checked over medically. Like now.” She says firmly, but each one shakes their heads. “The hospitals will be busy enough,” Bruce says, “I just saw a woman fighting for an ambulance. We’ll heal.” Steve agrees, folding his painful arms. “They’re right.” Tony nods. Pepper shakes her head, “I knew you’d say that, which is why Fury and I had a medical floor set up. There’s nurses there to patch you guys up and a doctor there if anybody needs one. All of you, go. Now.” Most want to protest, but opt not to at her stern words and instead follow the nurse who had come to greet them.

All but Steve.

“I’ll be fine.” He states, shaking his head and turning away. “Excuse me,” Pepper calls out to him, “Please, Steve. You really need to get seen.” She insists, but he keeps walking.

“(y/n), oh my god!” Pepper sighs heavily in relief, rushing towards you the second you walk out the revolving door that only had one glass panel left in it. “Thank God you're safe. This is one of them I was going to ask you to take a look at.” Once she releases you from the tight hug, she points after Steve who was still limping away towards the stairs. “Can’t get him to go to the med floor though.” She mutters to you beneath her breath. You shoot her a smile that says she needn't worry.

“Oi!” You call out, barely eliciting a turn of the head from the man in the blue suit. “Hey you!” You try again, you merely get him to stop walking. “Me?” He says, but still didn’t turn to look at you. He was trying to place where he had heard your voice, but his head was hurting too much to put a lot of thought into it. “Yeah, you. You better get America’s ass right back over here and march it right down to that med floor.”

Your tone makes him turn around immediately, his eyebrows slightly furrowed for a moment before he realised it hurt to do that too. He fought back a smile over those pink lips. “I thought I knew your voice.”

His response prompts your eyebrows to shoot up as you eyed him and then Pepper in confusion. “Have we met?” You ask, tilting your head slightly to the side. Steve shakes his head, “Oh no, sorry. I just saw you a while ago yelling at a paramedic over an ambulance about an ICH, whatever that means.” The blonde shrugs, offering you a slight smile. You chuckle at his words and shake your head. “Well then I’m sure you’ll do as I tell you. Save me doing anymore yelling today?”

Steve doesn’t have much more fight left in him for today and he would be lying if he said his body wasn’t aching. He could probably do with some pain killers and the cut on his arm would likely hurt a lot less, as well as be quicker to heal if he were to get it stitched up. He doesn’t say anything, but he does sigh and decides to follow you through the lobby and down a flight of stairs to the newly designated medical floor.

“Nice of you to join us, Cap!” Tony jests out, “And (y/n)!” He cheers. You only flip him off in response with a roll of your eyes as you lead the tall man behind you into one of the private rooms filled with medical supplies.

“Sit on the bed there.” You instruct, walking over to wash your hands, arms and face before you do anything else.

“I don’t think I need-”

“On the bed, Captain.”

“Okay. Sorry.”

You nod your head and turn to smile at him softly. Your smile is beautiful. It actually alleviates a little of his pain just to see it, and he truly is surprised by the softness and gentility of it in comparison to the attitude he had thus far witnessed from you in the short time he’s known you.

He groans and the medical bed creaks a little when he climbs on as you pull the latex gloves over your hands. He watches you very tentatively, attempting to eye the things that you gather from various boxes around the room and place onto the wheeled table. “Sorry for yelling at you earlier.”

Your softer voice makes him smile slightly again. “It’s alright,” Steve brushed off with a shrug, shifting himself so he could strip his suit off like you had told him to do just before you entered the room. He kind of awkwardly places the material of the suit over his boxers and the tops of his thighs. He doesn’t exactly want to sit basically naked in front of a woman he didn’t even really know. He still had a lot of his 1940’s mannerisms written into his behaviour. You turn back around to face him and don’t seem to take much notice of his huge, bare torso on the medical bed in front of you. Instead, your eyes scan his body for where to start on his injuries.

It seems as though you opt for cleaning his face first, which makes him feel slightly embarrassed to just sit and let you do it. You use a cloth and hot water for the dried blood, followed by an alcohol cloth that stings a surprising amount. You only place a steri strip over the gash on his forehead and then turn to the open cut on his shoulder. He knows that it’ll heal in less than 24 hours and he won’t have so much as a mark in its place. But it’ll heal a hell of a lot quicker if it’s closed and clean, so he allows you to begin working on it.

He hisses when you do, and you stop for a moment.

“Intracranial hemorrhage.” You say seemingly out of the blue. “What?” Steve asks, the pain in his arm dissipating. “Intracranial hemorrhage. ICH. What the guy you saw me fighting for the ambulance had. He got stuck under some rubble and it caused his brain to bleed. That increases the pressure in his head until you drill a hole to release it. Sometimes you have to take out a whole section of the skull and leave the head open until the swelling goes down around the brain. It’s super interesting.” Steve is entranced by your jabbering on, his eyes literally glued onto you as you work. Hands tentatively maneuvering a needle through his skin as gently as you can to pull the two separate sides back together.

You flick your eyes up to him to see the grin and his blue eyes shining in anticipation for your next words. “He was pretty bad considering the circumstances. A blown pupil- dilated pupil- is usually a huge warning sign that he needs treatment like, right away. He wasn’t responding to much physical stimuli, but you'd be amazed by the recovery that a lot of people with that type of injury can make within literally just a few days of the surgery. The brain is pretty cool.” You continue on. Steve doesn’t want you to ever stop talking. Your voice has apparently turned off all of the pain receptors in his body as he watches the focus pull your brows together ever so slightly and part your lips as you tie the knot at the end of his arm stitches, carefully wiping over it and placing a white gauze dressing over the wound. “Those should dissolve in your skin even if you are a super-healer or whatever.” You turn your attention next to a cut just above his kneecap.

“Sorry for the rambling, wild day. I’ll stitch that one up too then you should be good to get back to your superhero post-battle business.” Your tease makes him chuckle slightly as he watches you roll the wheeled table and your stool round to the other side of him to wipe down his knee before you start to stitch it. Steve had a tough day too, and he hadn’t yet learned how he would cope with those in modern day, but he had a hunch that listening to you might be the key. However, it comes across to him like your way was talking about things that weren’t as scary as the fact that aliens descended from the sky and destroyed half of New York City. “What about a closed TibFib then?” Steve asks softly with kindness swimming around in those sky blue eyes. “Tell me about that?”

After a further half hour finishing his stitching, cleaning him up properly and getting him some fresh clothes, you found yourself surprisingly sad to be leaving the company of the kind, attractive, super soldier you had newly become acquainted with. He seemed pretty solemn about it too, but you couldn’t tell if he was just exhausted from his day's worth of fighting. You had gotten to know each other through the short time you got to spend with him, and he was glad he had at first refused any form of medical treatment for if he hadn’t he probably wouldn’t have had you as his caregiver.

“Thank you for...all this.” He gestures to himself, referring to the stitches, his newly clean skin and clothes. “And for talking to me. It really means a lot.” Steve admits, his voice a little shy with the lightest dusting of pink flushing his cheeks. You smile without thought for the first time that day. “It’s a pleasure. Thank you for listening to me, and for not calling me a bossy bitch.” You breathe a chuckle of laughter as you turn your back to him to empty all the rubbish into the bin. So you don’t see the anger that passes through his eyes at the thought of someone ever calling you that, or the tilt of his head in irritation. You were so strong and a true powerhouse of a woman in his eyes. Clearly incredibly smart. He was pretty much smitten with you already.

“That would be incredibly rude.” Steve states firmly, “I just think you’re a very smart and a very beautiful woman. And you are incredible. Saved a lot of people today down in the rubble.”

You turn back around to see him, standing now much closer to you. “Says you, Mr Alien-slayer.” You grin back up at him. He isn’t the kind to go in for a kiss on the first date, never mind the first time ever meeting a woman, so he takes a gentle step back much to your disappointment. “I believe you called me America’s ass, earlier today.”  He corrects lightly and you turn your eyes to the ground as your face flushes red with a giggle of embarrassment as he laughs with you. “Sorry about that, Steve.”

That was actually the first time you had said his name and God he loved how it sounded leaving your pretty lips. “It’s okay. Kinda liked it, suits me don’t you think?” He turns side on and twists his back to look down at his ass dramatically and you throw your head back laughing. It’s such music to his ears and he’s yet to hear another sound since he woke that brings such a great amount of joy and warmth straight to his heart.

“Well,” you hum softly as you pull out a piece of paper and scrawl some writing down on it with a pen from your scrubs breast pocket, “If America’s ass ever finds himself in need of a stitch up or a chat, anything really, then this is where to find me.” You tuck the little bit of ripped paper into his large hand and gently peck his cheek before opening the door and walking off through the medical floor. He looked down at that little bit of paper, reading over some numbers and your name.

“(y/n),” he says softly to himself, subconsciously smiling at the way your name feels so beautiful on his lips. “What you got there, Cap?” Natasha asks as she leans herself on the doorframe of the room he stands frozen in. Steve looks up at her in surprise, “Uh, nothing much.” He diffuses, shrugging his shoulders as he takes one more glance down at the paper. “You sure?” She presses. “Yeah.” He assures. She turns to walk away just as realisation hits him. “Oh wait,” he calls after her, a shy smile on his lips.

“You know anywhere I could get a phone?”

[star-spangled-steve]

His New Partner

Chapter 48: The Final Mission

Series Masterlist

Previous Chapter

Pairing: Steve Rogers x Fem!Reader

Words: 2096

Warnings: Some anxious!Reader, pregnancy.

A/N: We’re getting closer and closer to the finish line, I can’t believe it!

Steve placed a hand on Y/N’s lower back as she pushed A.J.’s stroller, the family approaching the treed area around Tony’s, well, now Pepper’s cabin. It was the day after Stark’s funeral, and finally time for Steve to do the job that Y/N was dreading: returning the Infinity Stones to the moment they were taken.

She had asked him if someone else could do it, but the man had insisted that because of his eidetic memory, he was the only one who could execute it flawlessly. So alas, the woman agreed, though she still felt uneasy.

The last time there was time travel involved, her best friend didn’t come back. Who’s to say her husband couldn’t be next?

Steve, sensing her worries, pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. The look in his eyes said ‘everything is going to be okay’. She hoped that he was right.

“Hey, Cap. N/N.” Sam greeted as he and Bucky approached them. “Little buddy!” He bent down to get a look at Anthony in the stroller, smiling brightly at him. The toddler squealed happily in return.

“Hey, Sam.” Y/N responded, voice not entirely confident.

“You ready, pal?” Bucky questioned his best friend, earning a nod in response from the man.

Steve and Sam headed over to the desk that Bruce had set up, all of Bruce’s technological things on top of it, as well as the stones. Bucky decided to hang back with Y/N and A.J., knowing that she probably needed the support right now. He sensed her worries and gave her a reassuring smile, and she tried to give one back; the best she could.

“Now, remember, you have to return the stones to the exact moment you got them. Or you're gonna’ open up a bunch of nasty alternative realities.” Banner instructed Steve, opening the briefcase that held the Infinity Stones themselves.

“Don't worry, Bruce.” The Captain said, closing the briefcase back up and grabbing it. “Clip all the branches.”

“You know, I tried.” Bruce suddenly grew serious. “When I had the gauntlet, the stones, I really tried to bring her back.” His thoughts were lost in the memory that was Natasha as he glanced down at Steve. “I miss her, man.”

Rogers nodded, “Me too.” He quickly looked over at his love, knowing that she felt the exact same way.

He and Sam started to head over to where she was standing with Bucky. “You know, if you want, I can come with you.” Sam volunteered, always happy to help.

“You're a good man, Sam.” Steve stopped walking and stated. “This one's on me, though.” As he approached Bucky, he smirked, excited for the line he was about to say. “Don't do anything stupid 'till I get back.” Oh, how the tables had turned.

Barnes chuckled and shook his head. “How can I? You're taking all the stupid with you.” They gave each other a quick hug, and the brown-haired soldier sighed as they separated. “Be safe, buddy. I mean it.”

“It's gonna’ be okay, Buck.” The Captain reassured before stepping over to where his wife was standing, giving her a tiny grin. “Now you, little lady, better calm down.” He watched as her shoulders slumped and brought a hand up to cradle her face. “I promise you it’s going to be alright, doll. Not that difficult of a mission.”

“I-I know it’s just...” she paused, looking him deep in the eyes. “Please be careful, Steve. I can’t stress that enough.”

“I will.” He answered her in a very serious tone. “I promise.” The man watched as she bit her bottom lip nervously, and brought his thumb to her mouth, taking the lip out from between her teeth gently. He then leaned in and gave her a chaste kiss, knowing that he’ll miss her as he’s on his journey.

Her hand settled on the chest piece of his Scale Mail Suit, wanting to feel more of him and relish the moment. She gave him a soft smile as they separated, and nudged her head over to where Mjolnir was placed on the Quantum Tunnel. “You know, it’s a shame you have to bring that thing back.” She spoke quietly, not wanting Bucky, or even worse, her son to hear her.

“And why’s that?” Steve smirked, thinking he already knew the answer.

“Well, it’s, um... quite sexy that you can wield it, actually. Just like... you know, the power you hold? It’s... hot.” Y/N fluttered her eyelashes, and the man chuckled.

“Don’t tell me you’ve found it sexy when Thor’s done it all these years?” He teased, raising his eyebrows.

“No, no.” She laughed in response, moving in a bit closer to him flirtatiously. “Just you.”

Steve, really wanting to drive her crazy, simply held out his right hand and watched her expression as Mjolnir came flying into it automatically. Her eyes lit up and he grinned cockily.

“Oh boy...” she murmured. “Looks like you might be getting some toni-”

“Steve?” Bruce called out, cutting her off. “You ready to get moving?”

“Yeah.” He responded back, not taking his eyes off his girl. “Sorry, guys.” The man placed on last peck on her lips before crouching down to give her almost-six-months baby belly a kiss, then one to A.J.’s cheek as well. “Dad will be back very soon, buddy.” He told the boy, stroking his cheek, before standing up straight and walking up onto the Quantum Tunnel, giving Y/N a confident expression. He wanted to show her that he wasn’t worried, so she shouldn’t be either. He then pressed the button on his hand that made the Quantum Suit appear on his body.

“How long is this gonna’ take?” Sam questioned.

“For him? As long as he needs. For us? Five seconds.” Bruce answered.

“See, sweetie?” Steve spoke out to his wife. “You only have to wait five seconds and I’ll be right back here.”

She took a shaky breath. “Y-Yup.”

“Ready, Cap?” Banner asked, making the blond man nod in response. “Alright. We'll meet you back here, okay?”

“You bet.” The helmet then appeared on his head, sealing his body up completely.

The green man began counting: “Going quantum. Three... two... one...”

Then he was gone. He disappeared into thin air, and Y/N gave Bucky a nervous look.

Bruce spoke up again. “And returning in, five... four... three... two... one...”

Just as quickly as he had disappeared, Steve was reappearing on the Quantum Tunnel, looking almost the exact same as when he had left; the only difference maybe being a couple hairs out of place. As the Quantum Suit dissipated off his body, his wife let out a huge sigh.

“Honey. Thank goodness.” She rejoiced, running over to him as he walked down the stairs, and they met halfway in a hug. The man just ran his hands up and down her back, breathing in the fresh smell of her shampoo. “How long were you gone?” She asked.

“Longer than five seconds.” He responded, pulling her face out of his chest to look her in the eye. “I missed you.” A kiss was then pressed to her forehead, and a small giggle from A.J. interrupted the pair.

“Cool trick, dadda!” The boy smiled from his place in the stroller, prompting Y/N to take him out of it and hold him in her arms. 

Steve just chuckled at his son’s words, pressing a kiss to his head too. “Thanks, bud. I missed you as well. So much.”

“Hey, you got your shield back.” Sam smiled. “And it’s in one piece this time.” He joked, slapping a hand on Steve’s shoulder. “Captain America can serve another day.”

At Wilson’s words, Steve shared a look with Bucky, the brown-haired man already knowing what was coming.

“Actually, uh...” Steve began, glancing at each of their faces, ready to see what their reaction will be, “I don’t think I will be.”

Y/N’s jaw dropped as Sam and Bruce grew confused as well.

“What are you talking about?” She questioned.

“If this whole battle and journey has taught me anything, it’s that I can’t keep putting my life on the line like this. Not when I have a family.” The man looked into her eyes, still seeing confusion in them. “I was once told that I couldn’t live without a war. And maybe I couldn’t then, but I can now. There’s nothing more important to me than you and our kids, Y/N. I’m not going to jeopardize that.”

“Wait, wait, wait,” she spoke, “you’re done fighting? For good?”

He gave her a nod. “For good.”

She covered her mouth with her free hand and began to cry, Steve pulling her into his side instantly.

“Are you... sad?” He asked, wiping a tear from her cheek with his thumb.

“Not at all.” She sniffled. “I’m so happy. I don’t have to worry anymore.” She looked up at her husband, and they had matching smiles; smiles of contentedness, safety, and security.

“Steve...” Bruce released a breath, “good for you, man. I’m happy for you.”

“Yeah, me too.” Sam agreed. “It’s just... the only thing bumming me out is the fact I have to live in a world without Captain America.”

“Oh, that reminds me.” Steve glanced down at his shield one last time, trying to savour the exact feel of it, before holding it out slightly. “Try it on.”

Wilson furrowed his eyebrows. “W-What? Me?” He glanced over at Bucky, who nodded, signalling that he knew about this all along. Sam carefully took the shield from Steve and adjusted it on his arm, staring down at the red, white, and blue pattern. He was so confused; Steve was trusting him with his legacy? This couldn’t be right.

“How does it feel?” Rogers inquired.

“Like it's someone else's.”

“It isn’t.”

“I-” Sam tried to hold back his tears, still in a state of shock. “Thank you. I'll do my best.”

Steve grinned. “That's why it's yours.” He shook the man’s hand, the reality of what this means suddenly hitting them all.

Y/N passed her son over to his dad before giving Sam a big hug. “I’m so happy for you.” She smiled through her tears.

“You too.” Sam replied, referring to the fact that half of her anxiety would now be alleviated from this moment forward.

She walked back to her husband and wrapped her arms around his waist, both Bucky and Bruce and congratulating Wilson.

“So what are you gonna’ do now, Steve?” Banner questioned.

The blond man smiled at the thought of his future plans. “Be a dad. And a husband. I can help make plans for the new Avengers Facility, help train the newbies. Do charity. Teach an art class. Anywhere this new path takes me.”

The woman sniffled, a big smile never leaving her face. “I’m so proud of you.”

“Me too.” Bucky added, happy that his friend could finally live in peace.

Steve just smiled at them, pulling his son closer towards his chest.

“Dadda, I’m hungwy.” The toddler stated, making everyone chuckle at how clueless he was about what was going on.

“Me too, buddy.” His father agreed. “Hey, how about you all come back to ours and we can order a pizza, just hang out?” He suggested.

“Ooo, pizza!” Y/N grew excited. “Yes, please.”

“I’m in.” Bruce added.

Bucky nodded. “Me too.”

“Sounds delicious.” Said Sam. “Considering you’re going to be feeding two super soldiers, the Hulk, and a pregnant woman, you might want to order a lot, Steve.” He joked, and the blond laughed.

“I’m plenty used to it by now.”

“I just need to take down all the equipment.” Banner stated. “You guys go ahead, it shouldn’t take me long. I’ll be there in 45.” 

“Sure you don’t need help?” Y/N asked.

“It’s pretty complicated. I could probably do it faster on my own.” He chortled.

“Alright.” The woman spoke. “We’ll leave you two full pizzas.”

The group laughed as they began to walk out for the treed area and to their cars. 

“So... does this mean I’m the new boss?” Sam broke the silence, his words hopeful.

“Not of me.” Steve stated with a firm, yet playful look.

“I’m not an Avenger.” Y/N giggled.

“Right, right. Only the people who are part of the team.” Wilson spoke, a huge smirk beginning to build up on his face. “So that means... I’m in charge of... Bucky.”

The brown-haired soldier let out a huge sigh. “Only during a battle.”

“Oh ho ho, this is gonna’ be great!” Sam cheered.

“See,” Steve chuckled, “you two are getting along already!”

Next Chapter

Feedback is always welcome!❤️

[supraveng]

Moving On (3/?)

part 2

Summary: you have to confront your past….what could go wrong

Characters:  Sam Winchester x reader, former Bucky Barnes x reader, Tony Stark, Natasha Romanoff, Sam Wilson, Wanda Maximoff, Steve Rogers, Thor Odinson, Bruce Banner, Kevin Tran, Dick Roman, Maria Hill, Nick Fury

Word Count: 2508

A/N:  sorry for the delay on part 3, (work has been crazy)....hoping to post the next chapter next week

does not follow any MCU story line; attempting an MCU/SPN crossover; let me know if you want to be tagged in the next chapters

@iamwarrenspeace   

@mythandmagik    @lieswithoutfairytales   @bbmommy0902  @hailmary-yramliah  @jessyballet  @paryl @tcc-gizmachine @vicmc624​

You were in a daze and barely remembered getting back to your room, you heard Sam talking but you couldn’t grasp anything other than Thor telling you about your pregnancy.  Something that you would never expect to happen and you were certainly not ready for.  

“Sweetheart? Are you ok?” Sam looked at you worryingly.  

“Yea, uh, I um, I’m ok” you nodded “I am in need of a shower and uh, yea.”  Looking up at Sam, you saw the biggest smile on his face 

“I can tell you are worried, and I know this wasn’t your plan, but I’m so happy right now I can’t help it. We’re having another baby!” he wrapped his arms around you and pulled you into a comforting hug.  

“I love you so much, Sam” just a hug from him helped your anxious thoughts to quiet down for a few moments.  “Wanna join me in the shower?” you winked as you turned and headed towards the bathroom.

Making your way back to the common room, after a very long and rejuvenating shower, you tried your best to focus on what to do next.  Your head is spinning, as excited as you are about having another child, this wasn’t planned and kind of throws everything out of whack.  

You huff as you plop down on the couch next to Kevin, watching Morgan and Joy have a tea party in the middle of the room with all of their favorite animals.  

“So Kev, we are probably heading home tomorrow, so if there is anything you want to see while in NY, now is your chance” you tell him knowing he’s been enjoying this trip as much as you have.  

“Oh, I thought we’d be here longer, I was hoping to catch a show, but I haven’t been able to find affordable tickets, so maybe next time” he shrugs in response.

“Don’t be silly, I’m sure i can have Tony pull some strings and get you tickets for tonight, or we could move your return flight home, whichever you prefer really. Anything for Kevin Tran, world’s best nanny” you smile at him and see the small blush on his cheeks from the praise.  

“I’m serious, whatever you need, just say the word, you have no idea how relieved I am when she’s with you, because I know you take such good care of her, I don’t worry for a minute, you Kevin, are a Godsend if there ever was one”

You could tell Kevin was a bit taken back, but he rarely took a compliment well so you simply squeezed his hand and offered a sincere smile before being interrupted by Sam as he joined the girls on the floor for tea.   

“What do my girls say to a picnic then maybe a trip to the park?”   

"That sounds like a great plan, but I have an appointment with Maria after lunch so I can't make it to the park, I'm sorry sweetie" you tell them as you go to join them for tea.  

"Well, we could picnic here and maybe play down at the lake, I'm sure Tony has a kayak or canoe I can take the girls on." Sam tells you as you adjust the flower crown on his head so it  doesn't fall in his eyes.  

"Are you sure you want to take care of 2 kids by yourself? I gave Kevin the rest of the day off"

"Of course, and I need the practice" he winks as he starts to tickle the girls.  "Ok, then I will get our lunch ready while you help the girls out of these beautiful gowns and into some play clothes''

 Lunch was an event, although both girls were always well behaved, they had a tendency to make a mess, or get distracted and try to follow the butterfly that came by for a visit.  By the time you were done, you were rushing to meet Maria in time, knowing that being late was not an option.   

You knew what needed to be done but not sure how she would take the info about Roman getting away, hopefully the few of his lackeys that were picked up would get you some important info.  

By the time you made it back to the compound you were mentally exhausted, and apparently your clan had a good day as they were spread out in the common room watching The Little Mermaid.  You had to laugh at how engrossed in the movie the adults in the room seemed to be, and was Steve singing along...no, you had to be imagining that.  

Finding a seat next to Nat, you looked around fondly at your two families combining so nicely.  

“So how did she take it?” Natasha whispered without taking her eyes off the screen.  

You hadn’t told anyone what your full intention of today’s meeting was, as far as everyone knew, you were going over the mission report and strategizing the next steps, but Nat always knew everything….now that you were having two kids, you really needed to figure out how to do that.  

“Well, she’s not thrilled but understands, Furry asked if he had to buy me a farm….whatever that means” you responded shaking your head.  

She snickered and simply responded with “Clint”, you hadn’t even thought of that, “ah, well, Sam Winchester is not the Mr. Mom type, so this is my only option”    

“And are you ok with that?” she asks, finally turning and looking at you. 

“Honestly, I can’t imagine anything better” you sigh as you look over at Joy napping on Sam’s chest.  

“Good, you deserve all the happiness in the world” she gives you a small hug.  “And Tony’s throwing a dinner tonight, since you are leaving tomorrow, so be prepared”  

You roll your eyes in jest, knowing Tony would probably do something like that, “well, in that case, I’m going to try and take a nap before dinner”.   

Getting up you make your way to Sam and bend over to place a small kiss on his head, “I’m going to try and grab a nap, do you two want to join me?” you whisper in his ear, not wanting to interrupt anyone’s movie time…..and now I’m certain Steve is singing along ang actually knows all the songs.  

He smiles and nods, following behind you and into the room you are staying in

Sam got Joy settled in her crib before turning back to me, pulling me into a much needed hug.  “How do you always know when I need you?” you mumbled into his chest.  

“That’s my job” he smiled down at you “so I take it the meeting didn’t go well?”  

"It went as well as could be expected, I'm just trying to wrap my head around the time frame I gave them. Two weeks is a bit short to transition my cases to someone else and pack up my apartment but, the sooner the better I suppose" you are rambling as Sam put Joy in her crib and is now sitting on the bed watching you. 

"You are relocating?  Are you moving back to NY? I didn't realize that was an option when you made this trip…..does this have anything to do with Bucky?" he barely whispers with a worried look on his face. 

"What? Sam, no, none of this has to do with Bucky" you aren't sure why he thought that and look at him confused.  

"I…..I remember how broken hearted you were when we met, if you still love him, I would like to know…..I deserve to know since you are the mother of my children" you had never seen Sam so distressed in your life.  

He was the most confident man you had ever met, the lawyer that owned the courtroom as soon as he walked in.  You couldn't believe that he would ever be concerned with someone you used to date. 

"Oh Sam" you hold his face in your hands as you settle in his lap. "There is nothing left between Bucky and I, he was a part of my past, and might be a friend in the future,  but you are the only man I have ever truly loved with my entire being" looking into his eyes you see some relief so you lean in and kiss him softly but passionately. 

"The meeting was my resignation, or retirement as SHIELD prefers to call it. I'm leaving DC so we can all be together in Kansas all the time."  

He looks at you shocked "you quit? You love your job, I didn't think you would ever leave."  

You smile at him "I do, I love my job, but my family,  you, our kids are so much more important than any job could ever be" 

"Our kids" he whispers as you runs his hand over your stomach "we're having another baby and our family will all be under one roof….this has been an incredible day" he looks at you lovingly before wrapping his arms around you and pulling you as close to him as possible. 

"I'm sorry I didn't explain that before I left, but you know how exhausted I was the first time, there's no way I could continue this case on Roman being pregnant. Speaking of, do you think we could change the wedding date?  If we stick with our current plan, I'll be a whale walking down the aisle" you grimace at the thought of waddling in a wedding dress. 

He chuckles at you before kissing you, "whatever you want is fine by me"  

"Do you think your mom would be ok with us planning something small in the next month or so, before I start showing?" 

He laughs at your excitement to move things along so quickly "mom would love it, she works well under pressure"  

"Ok, let's try to rest before your princess wakes up" Sam and you snuggle into the bed wrapped up in each other's arms.  

It felt like you had just closed your eyes when you suddenly felt the bed shift.  Opening your eyes slowly, you came face to face with beautiful hazel eyes, had it not been for the giggles and tiny hands patting your cheek, you might have thought you were looking at Sam.  

“Joy sweetie” you whisper “how did you get out of your crib?” pulling her down to snuggle with you a bit longer.  

“Tevin hep me out” she giggles again before getting up and climbing over you to sit on Sam’s torso.  He didn’t move, but you could tell by his breathing that he was awake, and most likely ready to strike on Joy at any moment.  

It’s one of the things you love when you are all under one roof.  Not living in the same state is hard, and you both worked really hard to make things as normal as possible for Joy, but seeing them together, simple little things like this made your heart swell.  

She adored her dad, and had no idea it wasn’t normal for you to all be in the same house, but that would soon change.  Before you were too lost in your thoughts, Joy was squealing while Sam was tickling her, the fake sleep surprise attack never failed. 

Looking at them you laughed and attempted to get out of the bed, but you heard Sam whisper “let’s get mommy” and before you knew it, you were being tickled and attacked by both of them.  

By the time the three of you made it to dinner, everyone was there and of course Tony had everything catered and a full staff serving, and of course he needed to make a toast to make sure everyone knew it was an official ‘family’ dinner. 

 Clinking his glass he raised it in the air and everyone followed suit, you were about to grab the wine glass but quickly changed to the water in front of you.  

“To an ever expanding family, salut” Tony cheered as everyone followed suit and took a drink.  The table was full of laughter and chatter from everyone, even Morgan and Joy were chatting away as the best of friends. 

“So Sam” Bruce turned toward Sam “how did you propose to Y/N?” for some reason, that question got most of the tables attention and everyone was looking at the two of you.  

“Well, which time?” Sam asked with a smirk.   

You knew that this would come to bite you in the ass one day, but you had hoped it was with Sam’s family, not yours.  

“Wait…..you proposed more than once?” Steve asked, you could tell he was trying to seem like it was an innocent question, but he was really trying to understand the person you had become since you left NY.  

“Three times to be exact” Sam said with more confidence than you had expected.  You shook your head knowing everyone expected an explanation and you were about to speak when Sam squeezed your hand under the table. 

“Well, the first time was when we found out that our little Joy was on the way.  However, in Y/N defense, we were only together 3 or 4 months at that point, so it probably felt a bit rushed.   The second was about 15 minutes after Joy was born and it was a very emotional day for all of us.  The successful proposal was just a few months ago, and we went on a little road trip, and I proposed at the same chapel where her parents were married” Sam turned to you fondly and placed a sweet kiss on your cheek.  

“Wow, you are even more difficult than Pepper, I never realized that before” Tony smirked as he lifted his glass.  

“Very funny, Tony.   In my defense, the first two were spur of the moment emotional proposals and not thought through.  I didn’t refuse, but knew that you needed to really think things out before taking such a big step” you tried to explain your reasoning, but not sure if it was for yourself or everyone else. 

“They may have been spur of the moment, but they were most definitely thought through” Sam replies with a smug look while still eating and assisting your daughter with her meal.  

You looked up at him a bit confused and was about to ask more when he continued by bringing your hand to his lips and gently kissing your knuckles.  

“I bought that ring after our 3rd date, I just had to convince you that I wanted you for who you are and not what you have given to me since we met.”  

You were shocked, you had no idea he knew for that long that he wanted this life with you, it had all felt it just happened and you went with it.  You were actually speechless at this point and could see the glint in his eyes as you processed what he said.   Leaning in, you kissed him gently and looked into those amazing hazel eye, this is where you always belonged. 

[lovelyirony]

morgan doesn’t have to be a hero. she just has to know the family that was. 

(or me ignoring everything about infinity war and endgame) 

Thinking about how Tony doesn’t tell Morgan everything about Iron Man. There are books, of course. A couple of children’s authors and illustrators thought it would be nice if the kids could see heroes on something else other than a news source that also talks about casualties and how much they actually lost. 

It’s nice for Tony, too. 

No one saw the wormhole. No one illustrates him falling out of the sky, body plummeting and seeing what the future would be. 

It’s Morgan’s favorite book, seeing the team defeat the “mean aliens.” Her eyes follow each hero. She likes Hulk the best. She likes tracing along the pages, asking “whozat” every two minutes or so. 

She finds the old armor in the garage when she’s in her “investigation” phase, and correlates it to the book. 

She doesn’t think that Iron Man is that cool. She wants the armor to be pink and green, so dad loses out on “cool points.” 

She finds the armor that he’s building for Pepper, because he’s still paranoid and worried and he wants her to be safe. 

He survived one house of his falling, and he’s not sure he’ll survive another one. 

Morgan asks about the picture at the kitchen, the one where Tony and Peter are posing for Peter’s official internship. 

“That’s...that’s your family,” Tony says, because he can just picture how excited Peter would be at having a little Morgan around, crawling everywhere. “His name is Peter.” 

He never refers to Peter in the past tense. He doesn’t know if it’s for Morgan’s benefit or his own. 

He tells her all about Spider-Man. “Spidey” becomes easier to pronounce, so they go with that. 

Sometimes mom finishes those stories while dad goes to get juice pops. 

(And look at the photo for a bit too long.) 

Morgan asks him where Spidey is, once. More than once. But the first time it was...it was painful. 

“Where is he?” Morgan asks. 

“He’s...” 

Tony doesn’t know what to say. He’s not gone. No, fuck that. Peter isn’t gone. But he’s not here, and Tony doesn’t know where he is. He doesn’t know where anyone is. 

“He lives far away, so he would have to take a long time to get here,” Pepper says, smiling. “But now, we are going to travel for the kitchen for lunch! The menu today is carrots and celery with hummus, and some fresh fruit and a sandwich. What do we think?” 

“Is the fruit seasonal?” Tony asks, voice thready. “Points off if it’s out.” 

“You’re a nerd,” Pepper says. “Yes, it’s in season. Would you mind turning the washer on? I forgot to.” 

Tony nods, and Pepper grabs his hand, squeezing. 

He was so lucky to have her in his life. 

- 

And then the Avengers are reforming. Scott Lang, aka Ant-Man, aka the weirdest superhero name he’s ever heard, has a theory. 

About time travel. 

He said he didn’t Back to the Future think about it, but he totally Back to the Future thought about it. 

The problem is that it works. 

That’s not the real problem. No, it’s not a real problem at all. He thinks about everyone returning and it’s happy and good again, and- 

He’ll have to leave. 

He hasn’t forgotten Strange’s statement. 

Only one situation where this doesn’t fail. Where we don’t fail. 

And it has to be him. 

You don’t come back from something like that. 

Usually, anyway. 

Tony’s determined that he’s coming back. That everyone is coming back. 

The whole plot of Back to the Future goes as such: Marty’s life sucks, his parents’ lives are boring, and they’re not supposed to change the future. 

They do anyways. 

And it works. That’s the thing. Out of every single “time travel is dangerous” trope, Back to the Future still shows that sometimes some changes don’t affect the future badly, it just changes it. 

Tony knows that that can be done. It has to be done, because there’s no way in hell he’s going to leave Morgan. He already pinky-promised her that they’d make a picnic for her fifth birthday, and pinky-promises are the most binding contract he’s ever been a part of so far. 

He doesn’t know what he’ll do if it can’t be done. 

- 

He has to go with Steve to get a stone. He doesn’t necessarily like that because neither of them are subtle and they’re going to see his dad. 

Which is just gonna be a ball of a time. And Tony looks like Howard, just a few slight changes, but it’s undeniable. 

As long as no one connects the dots, he’ll be fine. 

They’re both like bulls in china shops. Neither has ever been out of the spotlight, and neither have been trained very well in the art of subterfuge. 

“What, SHIELD just decide to set you loose?” Tony hisses as they’re making an escape. 

“Oh and you didn’t have any time to learn?” Steve snaps back. “Let’s go.” 

- 

Natasha almost doesn’t return. Almost. Tony’s terrified to think of what would have been happened had she still been there. 

“Dumbass,” Clint mutters. “Thinking you could jump and we wouldn’t have done shit about it. You’re stupid.” 

Natasha just has a graceful smile on. 

“You’re not allowed to be the stupid Avenger all the time, Clint.” 

“Okay I accidentally blew up a microwave one time and suddenly-” 

Tony laughs. 

Genuinely laughs. 

It’s been a while since they’ve functioned like a team. Been a longer time since they’ve been one. 

- 

They get the stones. 

Hulk gets everyone back. Bruce gets everyone back. 

He’s confusing. 

But there he is, Peter. 

Tony hugs him, and he tears up, and god he’s so glad that Peter’s back. That everyone is back. 

It feels nice. 

But they still have a fight to finish and a glove to play hot potato with. 

- 

Thanos is still formidable. He’s still skilled, still has an entire army. 

Well...they’re not outmatched for long. 

Dr. Strange opens portals, leading a whole new mass of people to help. And Tony sees Danvers, which he has yet to talk to Rhodey about. God, Rhodey had been right about her being alive. 

But that’s not important. 

- 

He’s fighting one-on-one. 

Thanos is confident that he’s going to win. 

See, that’s the thing about Tony: he may not have been trained in subterfuge, but he knows all about flouting expectations. He knows that everyone had expected so many things of him that when he did anything out of the ordinary, no one paid attention. 

This is just like that. 

Thanos snaps, only it’s not enough this time. 

It’s not going to be like last time, with Peter panicking and people screaming and tragedy lining the news for years. 

No this time? It won’t work. 

Because this is the time where the hero wins against all odds and there’s a happy ending. He’s going to make it so, no matter how much of a toll this takes. He’s getting back to Morgan and Pepper no matter what it fucking takes. 

- 

Thanos is gone. His army dissolved. 

And he is satisfied. He’s tired, but happy. And he’s fairly sure that the glove has taken its toll on his body, but he hopes to god that he’ll be okay. 

Pepper is running her hands through his hair, telling him it’ll be okay, and asking anyone for help with transportation. 

There’s one person important that didn’t get blipped, and luckily, she’s a personal friend: Helen Cho. 

Sure, it’s time-intensive. 

Yes, Morgan is mad that daddy can’t read her a bedtime story. 

But...she gets to meet Peter, torture him with forty questions a minute, and Tony gets the use of his arm back. 

So it equals itself out. 

- 

The world, for now, doesn’t need a lot of superheroes. Everyone’s still settling down, no one wants anything but normal. 

This means a lot of superheroes have no idea what to do. 

But Morgan does. 

When dad gets back and is up for playing again (which took forever), Morgan asks to see the team. 

If dad is Iron Man, then it only makes sense that he knows all the other ones. And she has a lot of questions. 

The Avengers are a...a team. God, that’s about the only thing they can call themselves now. They used to be a family but everything’s changed and stilted and awkward. 

Morgan knows none of this. 

So ergo, she decides the most amazing thing ever for her fifth birthday party is to have a picnic with the whole team. Writes them invitations and everything, makes her mom trace out the words she wants to write so that it looks “extra fancy.” 

Tony’s never been one to deny Morgan something she really wants. 

“You sure you wanna handle this? You and Steve aren’t exactly on the best of terms, and I don’t think the team has actually talked.” 

“Well, no time like a five year old’s birthday party to get to catching up.” 

- 

It’s...something. 

Morgan is blissfully unaware and everyone makes so that she stays unaware. 

This involves some...awkward conversations. 

But mostly just making peace with the fact that life happened. 

And Natasha finally has another niece, even if she’s not named after her. 

“You still should’ve,” she jokes. 

“We were thinking about it, honest,” Pepper remarks dryly. “But hey, thanks for coming. Morgan’s very excited to learn how to ‘be a spy’ in her words.” 

Natasha grins. 

“I’ll have her taking out government officials in no time.” 

“Or just teaching her how to disarm dangerous people, thank you very much,” Tony says hurriedly. 

“Didn’t peg you to be the helicopter parent, Stark,” Clint says. 

“Oh trust me, he barely left the house when she was born,” Pepper says with a laugh. “And he would check everything. I had to convince him that Morgan did actually need to sleep in her crib.” 

“She would’ve been fine by us!” Tony defends weakly. “And besides, you said you did want an office space!” 

“Working in the sunroom is fine enough,” Pepper says. “And you forget that you offered to build me one, which is an offer you still haven’t done.” 

“I saved the world, you know.” 

“Oh, did you?” 

Tony grins, popping a grape into his mouth as he sees the scene unfold. 

Morgan’s having great fun showing everyone her little hideout, and where she goes on walks. 

She’s made friends with Peter and introducing him to her stuffed animals. 

Yeah. 

Life is good. 

[iliumheightnights]

Let Me Make You Proud | Tony Stark x Son!Reader

Fandom: Marvel

Pairing: Tony Stark x Son!reader

Summary: (M/N) has always wanted to make his dad proud. He not only gave up any of his aspirations and hobbies so that he could fulfill that wish, but also a part of himself. What happens when his dad starts paying attention to someone else he considers a son?

A/N: I’ve been wanting to write this for a long time so I’m excited. Warning there is just a little bit of Peter hate, not his fault, we still love him in this household. Also Tony is kind of a neglectful parent so just warning you. We have to have SOME angst.

(M/N) had just finished and turned in his essay which wasn’t due until next week. It was pretty simple to finish and now he can turn his attention to other things which were more important like these suit upgrades. Before he could get started he couldn’t help but have his eyes wander over to the small metal sphere sitting on his desk. This was the first BIG thing he ever made, it was just a small companion droid with an AI added into it, it was meant to be a friend for when you got lonely. He was so proud of it, he built it all without his dad’s or anyone else's help. He thought back to that day.

...

He had just finished screwing in the last bolt. “Done.” All that was left was to press the button and hopefully it wouldn’t blow up. It probably would. He stared at the bot for a while before pressing the button. The machine hummed and lit up. The machine was a large ball that when activated unfolded into a small robot with a face and arms.

“Hello. I’m PRYSM. Are you my friend?”

(M/N) could feel his smile growing. “Hello PRYSM. I’m (M/N). (M/N) Stark, and yes I’d love to be your friend. Come meet my dad!” He grabbed the little robot in his hands and dashed out of the room. He ran down to where he knew his dad was, the lab. Always the lab.

“Dad! Dad! Look what I made!”

Tony was hunched over his work bench typing away at something (M/N) couldn’t see. He didn’t even look up to see his son. “I’m a little busy right now bud, can it wait?”

(M/N) could feel his smile dropping. “Yeah...sure dad. What are you working on?”

Again without looking up from his work. “Important suit things. Can you please go upstairs? I need to concentrate.”

(M/N) was no longer excited to say the least. “Sure dad.”

The walk back to his room felt so much longer than it did, and PRYSM felt much heavier in his hands. Returning to his room he sat on his bed and sat PRYSM down beside him. “You’re sad. Why are you sad?”

“It’s nothing PRYSM. I just wish my dad would have looked at you.”

“He said he would later, what’s the problem (M/N)?”

“He lied PRYSM. He always lies.” He could feel the tears starting to build up in his eyes. Suddenly he felt arms wrap around him. He looked to see PRYSM hugging him. 

“I’m sorry he lied. I’m sorry you’re sad. But I’m here! I’m your friend and if you want to talk I’ll listen.”

(M/N) couldn’t but help but let out a small huffed laugh and hug them back. “Thanks PRYSM.”

“Anytime.”

…

Snapping out of his thoughts he turned back to the plans. He couldn’t get his head into it no matter how hard he tried. He eventually gave up and walked out of his room. The tower had grown significantly ever since all the avengers moved in here but it did feel nice to have more people. However, even with more people he couldn’t help but feel more alone.

The avengers have all become like family to him and they all love him, he just wished his dad did too. He knows his dad loves him, but after a while you quit believing in fairytales. That won’t stop him though, he just wants to make his dad proud. That got a lot more difficult after the battle of new york.

…

New York was on fire. It had been a normal day, people going about their daily life when suddenly there were aliens descending from a giant hole in the sky. (M/N) was on his way back to the tower when it happened. He just started running as more and more things were destroyed around him. Some of the aliens had flown right above him as he kept running, all he had to do was get to the tower.

Just get to the tower. It was a simple plan but things could never just be simple could they. Just as the doors of the tower came into view one of those aliens jumped in front of him. It screamed at him and he took a sharp turn down one of the many allies of New York. He realized his mistake as he found himself at a dead end, he could hear the alien coming closer. “Fuck. What do I do now?” The alien finally reached him and raised it’s rifle at him. He brought his arms to cower expecting the sweet release of death, that didn’t come however. Opening his eyes he noticed he was surrounded by some sort of force field. The alien kept firing it’s weapon at the shield. “Stop!” He shouted and reached his hand out for the alien to stop but as he did that the force field shot out throwing the alien against the wall knocking it out. “What just happened?”

…

Of course he didn’t tell his dad. His dad hated magic, he was already thinking his dad hated him what would have happened if he told his dad he had magic? Everything he had been working on would have been thrown out the drain. He was still lost in his head when he entered the common room he hadn’t even realized someone was talking to him.

“Earth to (M/N). Hello.”

“What?” (M/N) focused his eyes and saw it was Clint talking to him.

He loved all the avengers but Clint was always his favorite. He was pretty much more of a father to him then his own dad was. He always made sure (M/N) was okay and being taken care of. The two had become so close Clint was the only one to know about (M/N)’s powers. He knew Clint had a bad time with magic thanks to Loki but he didn’t have anyone to talk to about it and just kind of spilled it on the poor man. Clint, being the amazing person he was, was incredibly understanding and supportive of (M/N) even offering to help him figure out how to control it. He really was (M/N)’s true dad.

“You look like you’ve seen a ghost. You okay kid?” Clint’s face held that fatherly concern.

“Yeah I’m fine. I was just thinking. Maybe I should get my head out of the clouds.”

“No way! When you have your head in the clouds you always come up with the best ideas.”

“You’re just saying that to be nice.”

“No seriously. Just look at PRYSM they’re amazing and you did that on your own.”

“Thanks Clint you always know what to say.” 

“Anytime Kiddo. Seriously, always here for you.”

(M/N) continued on to the kitchen passing by some of the others like Steve and Natasha. Giving them a smile and a hello. The avengers loved him, but they also knew he was hurting. They tried talking to Tony about it but he only brushed them off saying (M/N) knew he loved him. They didn’t like that excuse so they took it on themselves to show their love to him. Entering the kitchen he was met with the grinning face of none other than the scarlet witch herself. “Afternoon (M/N).”

“Afternoon Wanda. Where’s Cosmo?”

“Very funny.” The two grinned at each other. It didn’t last long as her face dropped into a frown. “That spider kid is coming over soon.”

(M/N) looked down at the ground and crossed his arms. “Why? He upgrading his suit? Repairs?”

“I don’t know. All I know is your dad wants all of us to have, in quotes, a nice family dinner.”

“Sounds like the red wedding all over again.”

“Ha. I agree. I just thought I’d warn you.”

“Thanks wanda I guess I should prepare myself.”

“Don’t worry. It’ll be okay.”

“You say that now.”

He walked out of the kitchen and decided to go see what his dad was doing. To at least try and talk with him before Peter got here. Recently he has been spending more and more time with him and everytime he sees them together they look...happy. He would be lying if he said he wasn’t jealous of Peter. He pretty much got Tony to be his dad, while (M/N) was left behind.

As he approached the lab he heard laughing. Normally he would think it would be Bruce joking around with his dad, but this laughter wasn’t the same as Bruce’s. This laughter was a lot lighter. Peter. 

He stopped at the door and listened in. Peter was in the middle of telling his dad some story about one of his patrols. “And then I tied up all the bad guys and saved the people. But I had to get out of there fast because the cops were rolling up.” Tony laughed at that. “You did good kid. I’m proud of you.”

It felt like the entire world stood still. Those were the words (M/N) always wanted to hear from his father, but never did. What he didn’t expect even more was the next exchange that came about.

“Thanks dad.”

“Anytime,son.”

It felt like a void had suddenly grown in (M/N)’s stomach. If they had been joking it would have been one thing. But there was no light heartedness behind those words, only love. Everything that (M/N) had been giving and trying to receive back for years was just exchanged like that with some kid who wasn’t his son. But apparently more of a son than him. He didn’t hear the rest of the conversation, he didn’t want to. He just let his feet lead him back to his room.

He stayed there locked in his room for hours. He thought of everything he had done in his life for his father. He gave up almost all of his hobbies: writing,painting,singing, all of it. He gave it up so that he could follow in his father's steps and giant shadow. He wanted to be able to show his dad that he could take over Stark Industries and hopefully make him proud. This isn’t the life he wanted, He wanted to be able to go out and see friends. To travel the world. To just be a kid. He just wanted to be loved by his father. It was like he was falling off a large building and there was no safety net to catch him.

He was woken up by a knocking at his door. He hadn’t even realized he had fallen asleep. The door opened and Clint popped his head in. “Dinner’s ready kiddo.”

(M/N) groaned. “Coming.” He got off his bed and followed Clint to the table. The table was enormous, it was of course supposed to fit all the avengers. Most everyone was already sitting. (M/N) couldn’t help but notice how Peter sat right next to Tony. In the seat (M/N) normally sat at. Fan-fucking-tastic. The only seats left really were at the end so (M/N) sat at the very end facing his father on the other end while Clint sat next to him. Luckily wanda was on the other side of him. At Least he has these two. Everyone started getting into their food. There were a couple conversations going on all over the table. Steve cracking jokes with Nat and Bucky. Bruce talking to Peter about some equation. The noise just kind of drowned everything out, until Tony’s broke through it all. 

“So (M/N). How was your day?” It got very quiet at the table. It’s not like the two haven't talked but it never has been like how family talked to each other, more like acquaintances.

“It was fine.”

“That's it? Just fine? You were in your room all day. You should come out more.”

“I do come out. I just had a lot of work to get done today.”

“What kind of work?’

“Just a school Essay. I wanted to get it done so I could focus on other things.” He was focusing anywhere but his father.

“That’s good. Making sure to get the important things done. Very smart.”

It got quiet after that. You could pretty much hear a pin drop. Until Tony spoke up again. “So I wanted to get all of us together to have dinner because I have an announcement. As you know I’ve been trying to juggle both iron man duties and Stark Industries with Pepper but it has got to be just too much. So I have taken this time to step back from Stark Industries and I have decided on someone who I think can take good care of the company in my place...Peter.”

It was in the moment that (M/N)’s entire world shattered before him. Everything he had done, everything he had sacrificed had been for nothing. He tried so hard to make his father proud and this is what he gets. His father’s legacy given to a kid that swings around in a onesie.

“Pete and I have already talked about it. Pepper can handle everything on her own right now with some assistants but down the line Peter will take over-”

Tony was cut off by the sound of breaking glass. Everyone turned to look at (M/N) who was looking down, his fist was closed and the parts of his broken glass littered the end of the table.

“I’m done.” It was barely a whisper.

“(M/N)-” Wanda started to say.

“I AM DONE!” (M/N) shouted. “I HAVE GIVEN UP EVERYTHING FOR YOU! I HAVE TRIED FOR SO LONG TO MAKE YOU PROUD! ALL I HAVE EVER WANTED WAS FOR YOU TO LOVE ME AND YOU CAN’T EVEN DO THAT! NO YOU HAVE TO GO OFF AND REPLACE ME BECAUSE I AM SUCH A DISAPPOINTMENT TO YOU! I’M FUCKING DONE!” (M/N) pushed himself out of his seat and started walking back to his room. Before he left the kitchen however, he couldn’t help but notice the lego death star that was built up, Peter had brought that over to show Tony. Fuck it, Fuck them. (M/N) let his powers loose and lifted the set before throwing it across the room letting it hit the wall, smashing into pieces.

“My lego set!” 

(M/N) heard enough and walked off.

“(M/N)!” Clint called after him followed by Wanda. Tony just sat at the end of the table speechless. He didn’t realize he was hurting his son so much.

…

“You’ll be okay you know.”

(M/N) looked down at his friend and smiled. He kneeled down to talk to them better. “I hope so. I just don’t know if I’m strong enough.”

“You’re are. You’re strong enough and more. I know it.”

“Thanks PRYSM. You always know how to make me feel better.” After the whole dinner fiasco (M/N) decided to bring PRYSM back online. It had been years since their last talk. “WOW you’ve got sooooo big!” He loved that PRYSM still cared for him, even after everything. He made sure to tell them everything that happened at dinner and how he felt about it.

There was a knock on the door yet (M/N) didn’t move to open it. Whoever tried to open the door, however (M/N) locked it so no one could enter. The mystery person was finally revealed when they spoke through the door. “(M/N).” It was his dad.

“I’m sorry. I am so...so sorry. I hadn’t realized I was hurting you so bad. I never wanted to hurt you. I know it doesn’t mean anything to you now. I understand if you hate me now...I’d hate me too. I told myself when you were born that I wouldn’t be anything like my father...I didn’t realize that I would become worse than him. I wasn’t trying to replace you, I would never replace you. I love you. You aren’t a disappointment to me. I want you to know that...and I am so proud of you. I thought that you wanted to go out and see the world. I didn’t want to force you to take Stark Industries...I should have asked you. I should have talked with you. I should have been there for you so many times, Everyone tried to tell me. I wouldn’t listen though, I thought...I don’t even know anymore.” His voice was barely holding together now and truth be told (M/N) was barely keeping it together in his room. “I’m sorry. Please...let me try harder. I’ll try harder. I can’t lose you.”

(M/N) made no moves to open the door. He wasn’t about to forgive him so easily, maybe he wouldn’t forgive him at all. When he heard his dad’s footsteps fade away he spoke quietly. Barely above a whisper. “You’ve already lost me.” PRYSM rolled up to him and engulfed him in another hug. “I know people usually say you’ll have to forgive a person eventually. But that’s not true, you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to. I want you to know that whatever you decide I support you and I will be here for you.” The tears that were barely being held back were let loose at that, and (M/N) quickly hugged PRYSM back. 

The two stayed like that for a long time. Eventually the door was knocked on again. “(M/N).” Clint. “Can I come in?” He didn’t move for a bit but then got up and unlocked the door. He moved back to his bed and PRYSM as Clint entered. “Hey PRYSM.” 

“HEY CLINT IT IS SO GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN. But under such sad circumstances.”

“Hey can you give us a second?”

“Oooohhh, of course. I’ll just be over here.” PRYSM rolled off after that.

Clint sat beside (M/N) on the bed. Not saying anything for a bit. “That was some show you put on there kiddo.”

“I’m sorry for doing a Luke skywalker on the death star. But I won’t apologize for what I said.”

“I’m not here for that. What you said needed to be said. It’s been needing to be said for a long time and I’m proud of you for doing it.” 

“I did just out myself as a magic user to everyone.”

Clint laughed at that. “Yeah. You should have seen every one they were so confused. Especially Wanda and your dad. Wanda was surprised you didn’t tell her.”

“I should have.”

“That was up to you.” Clint turned to look at him. “Listen. I have always considered you a son to me. Which is why telling you this isn’t easy. You are at a crossroads right now. You have spent your whole life trying to fill your father’s shoes but now you don’t have to. I think this is where YOUR story begins.” 

“What do you mean?”

“I mean. I think you should go. Go explore the world. Try new things, meet new people. Discover who YOU are. You have spent your entire life trying to be Tony Stark; it's time for you to be (M/N) Stark. It won’t be easy. You’ll face a lot of challenges out there and you might fail a bunch of times, But I know you are strong enough to get back up. Go make friends, fall in love. And when it’s time,come back.” his face falters a bit. “Or...don’t. I want you to live YOUR life. If what you want is to never come back and just move on, then do it. I will always love you kiddo and I just want you to be happy.”

(M/N) pulled the man into a big hug as tears began to stream down his face. He might not be his biological dad, but that didn’t matter; he always loved him like he was. “Oh here’s something’s you might need. Just some extra money, a phone without a tracer and some basic necessities. See ya Kiddo.” With that Clint got up and left. PRYSM re entered the room.

“Clint told me I could come back in so blame him.”

(M/N) laughed at his friend. “It’s alright. Hey...Wanna go on an adventure with me?”

“Um Always!”

“Then let’s go.” (M/N) grabbed the bag of supplies and put some clothes in it. He opened the door letting PRYSM leave first before closing the door to his room for the last time in a very long time.

A/N: PHEW that was a big one. The biggest one I’ve ever written I hope you all like it. And yes eventually there will be a part 2 because there is still so much for it that I want to write like some reconnecting and such but (M/N) has to go on some self discovery first. Also LOVE PRYSM and imagined them to look like GORTYS from tales from the borderlands so enjoy. I really hope you liked it and keep an eye out for the next one.

[diaryofabeautyfiend]

Some warnings: Implied violence then some magical violence. Just covering my bases.

This chapter is long and it gets weird. Continuing on with a very slow burn. I hope you are all still enjoying this fic. Comments ❤️❤️ and reblogging all encouraged and appreciated. Please don’t pass this off as your own writing. I’ll find out and laugh at you.

Small Time Witch (5)

When you got back to the compound Steve’s phone rang. He walked several feet away from you to speak to whomever was on the other end. When he came back he looked flustered. “Everything ok?”

“Yeah. I’m actually going to have to run. I had a lot of fun with you today. I’d like to do it again. Maybe without stabbing?”

Before you had a chance to answer he kissed you on the cheek. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

You felt like he rushed out of there really quick and that made you nervous. You walked back towards the building from the garage and tried to call Loki. No answer. You tried Wanda but the call kept dropping. No texts from either of them. You pressed then elevator button several times. It was taking forever. You decided to take the stairs. All of the hair on the back of your neck stood up. You looked around and saw nothing. When you opened the door to the stairwell something (or someone) clocked you hard on the back of the head. You blacked out.

STEVE

Steve hated everything that was about to happen. He got the call on the way into the building that he needed to leave you there. It was time. Two masked agents would be waiting for you in the stairwell. They would blindfold you and take you to a small dark room. There, you would remain bound and blindfolded while someone would repeatedly ask you about sensitive information while you were being “tortured”. No one was going to physicality hurt you. Loki would use his methods to trick your mind into thinking you were being hurt. All SHIELD agents with high level security clearance went through this training.

Everyone was waiting in the upstairs viewing area. Steve sat down with a huff and prepared to watch. “You said this was to test her endurance under pressure. This is torture. For the record I hate this.” he said to Loki.

“Duly noted, Captain. I’ll have an ear piece and Dr. Banner will be able to monitor her vital signs. This is ultimately for her safety.”

“It’s cruel.”

“As a habit I do not deal in cruelty. I will keep her as safe as possible. I assure you no physical harm will come to her.” Loki felt guilty. He’s never experienced the emotion before but now, with a pit in his stomach, he had to betray your trust.

Nat tried reassuring Steve the best she could, “Look, Steve, we’ve all been through the real thing at some point in our careers. No one likes this. Better that she experience it now so she knows what she’s up against.”

He wasn’t convinced. Bucky sat next to him and patted his thigh. “She’s tough. She whooped your ass earlier. She can handle this.”

“How can you of all people believe that?”

“Because I have to or else I couldn’t bare it. If things get too dicey we’ll stop it ok?”

The room they were in was sound proof. They had mics to be able to hear you. It was all two way glass so, even if your blindfold came off, you wouldn’t know they were there. The agents brought you in. You were awake and fighting hard. They were instructed not to hit you or fight back but to secure you. They both looked extremely frustrated. One of them had a cut above his eye. They tossed you in the chair and slammed the door. When they went in the room with the rest of the team everyone stared.

“What the hell happened?” Steve asked

“She threw an elbow, sir. She almost got away. Had to taze her.”

Steve bounded across the room pinning the agent to the wall, “You were told not to hurt her.”

“Yes, sir. We were also told not to let her get away. We didn’t want to hit her again.” His nostrils flared and the back of his neck was red a splotchy. Nat put her hands on his shoulders and directed him away.

“Good job, guys. You can go.” They couldn’t get out of there fast enough.

“See? She did exactly what I taught her. She’s going to be ok.” He shook his head and went back to his seat. He couldn’t take his eyes off of you.

They removed your gag but kept the canvas hood on your head. You struggled against the bindings trying to free your hands. They bit at your wrists. You called out demanding to speak to someone in charge.

Sam laughed, “Damn. Is she asking to see the manager?” Mostly everyone laughed. Steve’s jaw clenched. He couldn’t understand how anyone could make jokes right now.

“She’s remembering her one day of training so shut the fuck up, Sam.”

“Sorry, Cap.”

“Does anyone else feel disgusted that we’re having a public viewing of our colleague being tortured?” No one would look at him.

Bucky was the only one who was quiet. He was remembering himself in this very situation. He knew your mind was racing which is why you couldn’t magick your way out of this. If he could only get you to calm down. That’s when he saw Wanda pressing her face to the glass. She looked distraught. He went to sit next to her. Neither of them spoke for several seconds. They held hands and wallowed in their shared trauma. “She’s screaming for me, Bucky. I can hear her.” She wiped a few tears from her eyes, “She’s so scared.”

“You can’t tell her what’s happening? Can’t she hear you?”

“Loki put up a barrier. She’s alone.”

“How can he do this to her?” Bucky was furious with Loki.

“He is doing as he was ordered. You know what that’s like.”

“Ordered by who?!” he said in a harsh whisper.

“Director Fury. The Security Council. They won’t give her clearance for this or any future missions unless she undergoes the same training as any other agent. It was Loki who convinced them to do it this way. He takes no pleasure in this.”

“Then why did he agree?”

“Because if he didn’t do it SHIELD would have. She would be in the middle of nowhere being tortured for real.” Bucky was seething. Surely Steve didn’t know any of this. He went to tell him when you let out a blood curdling scream.

Everyone was silent. All that could be heard was Wanda sobbing. Nat tried to comfort her to no avail. The interrogator asked you another question. You played dumb. You screamed again.

“I hope Loki is enjoying himself.” Steve grumbled

“He’s not. How dare you say that?! This is hurting him too.” Wanda was pushing against Steve. Her eyes glowed red. He couldn’t think of anything else to do so he hugged her.

“Nat, call down to the booth. Tell them stop. Tell them now.” She grabbed the receiver to call the booth when the line went dead. “It’s dead. Somethings wrong. I’m going down there.”

Bucky was already out of the door running to where you were.

The whole place was plunged into darkness. Wanda smiled knowing that you were fighting back. A brilliant white light emitted from the room. You were floating above the chair with your hands out. You lifted the interrogator from the ground and flung him against the wall knocking him unconscious. Steve and Wanda ran down the ramp leading to the booth to stop you. Loki was already in the room.

“Y/N! Stop this! Listen to my voice. You are safe.” You lifted your hand again slamming the door behind him. The two way mirror shattered. All of the shards of glass were pointed at Loki.

“Y/N! Please. I’m not going to hurt you.” Wanda was behind him now and tried to use her magic to subdue you. You whipped your head in her direction and pointed a shard at her throat.

“We will not be trifled with any longer.” Your voice was calm and steady. Behind it echoed many more voices. “We are the daughters of the moon. Daughters of Diana. Daughters of Hekate. You seek our power. You will receive it in abundance.”

“Enough!” Loki shouted, “I know you can hear me, Y/N. Fight this.”

“Loki?” you whimpered.

“Yes, pet. I’m here. Please. You’re safe now.” The glass dropped to the floor and so did you.

He was at your side at once brushing your hair from your eyes whispering your name. Begging you to wake up. His eyes were wide. He looked at Wanda pleading, “What have I done? What have I done?”

“Bruce! Someone get Bruce! We need help.” Bruce rushed in and instructed Loki to put you on a gurney. They rushed you into a room and started examining you. He and Tony hooked you up to electrodes to measure your brain waves and monitor your heart.

“Tony I can’t find anything medically that would be causing her to be unconscious. But look at her brain waves.” There were several lines spiking indicating that there was more than one brain essentially.

“I’ll call Strange.” Tony went pale when he looked at the monitor.

Loki and Wanda refused to leave your bedside. Steve paced the hall outside of your room. Fury walked in looking actually worried for once. “How is she?” he asked Nat. Before she could answer Bucky was lunging for him. Fury regarded him unfazed. “You wanna take your hands off me, Sergeant?” Steve pulled him away.

“Come on, Buck.”

“She didn’t deserve this.” He walked away to get some air.

“Is this how you do it? You pit them against each other under the guise of ‘security’ so you can break them down? Are you so afraid of someone else having power...” Fury raised his voice to interrupt Steve.

“Yes, Captain Rogers, I am. I am especially afraid of the one in the bed who is basically a nuclear bomb. I’m afraid of her teaming up with the other one to become a formidable force. If a demigod joins them they become unstoppable. It is my job to squash that before Loki gets the bright idea to take over the world again. Those two can be more powerful than the entire Chitauri army of they wanted to be.”

“She’s just a kid, Nick.”

“A kid with a lot of power.”

“Yep. And we just pissed her off.”

Wanda was asleep on the couch in your room. Thor patted Loki on the shoulder, “Brother, why don’t you rest? I’ll stand watch for a while.” Loki didn’t take his attention away from you.

“I’m not leaving her. What if she wakes up and I’m not here?”

“Loki? What’s come over you? I’ve never seen you worry over someone like this.”

A smile ghosted over his face, “Only over you, Brother.”

“Is this love or guilt?”

“Perhaps a little of both. No matter. She has feelings for the soldier. And, when she wakes up and realizes what I’ve done, I’m sure she’ll hate me.”

Thor’s brow furrowed, “Tell her the truth. She’ll understand your position.”

“I should have crushed their skulls. That should have been my position. I’ve hurt her. Who can blame her if she never wants to see me again?”

Thor returned to the common room where the rest of the team was sitting.

“Any change?” Sam asked

“No. I’ve never seen Loki like this.”

“Like what? Remorseful?” added Tony

“This is on all of us, Tony. We should have put a stop to it. We watched it happen. Given Loki’s criminal status with SHIELD he wasn’t really left with a choice. He did what he thought was right.” Steve scolded

They all looked up when they heard faint footsteps. “Were you defending me, Captain?” he didn’t give Steve a chance answer, “The wizard’s here.”

They all went into your room where Doctor Stephen Strange was ruminating over your chart. Dr. Cho was already there talking to him. “Dr. Banner join us won’t you?” Strange adjusted hung your films from your MRI. “What were the results of her CT?”

“Her brain was functioning at an extreme rate mostly around the hippocampus.”

“That’s her memory center” Bruce explained to Wanda who was still sitting vigil by your bedside.

“Well team medically, with the exception of the heightened brain activity, she’s healthy. Magically speaking, it looks like the spell she cast had a built in safety feature.”

“Can you fix her?”

“I can. I need everyone out. Not you.” He pointed at Wanda, “You stay.”

“I’m not leaving.” Loki said sternly

“You’ve done enough. Bye.” He waved his hand and Loki went flying through a portal into the next room. Strange waved his hand, “Let’s have some privacy. This should keep out the riff raff.”

“Can you fix her?” Wanda was hopeful

“Oh yeah” he waved a hand over you “She’s good.”

“That easy?”

“Yes. You know you could have done this?”

“I wouldn’t know how or where to even begin.”

“Yes, you do. I know you know that you are more powerful even than me. You are so afraid of disappointing those fools out there. You shouldn’t be.”

“They are my family.”

“Your family fears you so you think you have to muzzle yourself. You don’t.”

You opened your eyes and sucked in your breath, “Where am I?!”

“There she is. Y/N it’s very nice to meet you. I’m Dr. Stephen Strange. You gave them quite the scare.”

“Loki! Is he ok?”

“He’s fine. He’s the one who put you here.”

“I need to see him.” You started pulling out wires and ripping off electrodes.

“Honey let me go find him. You need to stay in bed.” Wanda was trying to stop you.

“The newest Avenger. How does that feel?”

“I’m not an Avenger. I’m helping out. I work for SHIELD.”

“Either way you’re backing the wrong team. I know what the Kale’s did to your coven. If you ever want real answers here’s where you find me.” He handed you a card with an address on it embossed in gold. He winked at you and excused himself when Loki appeared in the doorway.

“Wizard” “Sabrina” Loki cocked an eyebrow but Strange kept walking.

“Darling. Are you ok? I am so sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you.” You knew of only one other time that Loki looked this wrecked and that’s when his mother was killed. Poor guy.

“You didn’t. I mean not really. The spell has a fail safe. Only meant to scare my attacker.” He sighed with relief.

“Are you very angry with me?”

“No. I couldn’t hear your thoughts but I could feel you. I knew you were there.”

“So you knew I was hurting you.”

You put your hands on the sides of his face, “I thought you were trying to protect me.” You stared at each other for a moment. His heart was racing. He placed his hands over yours. You brushed an errant hair out of his eyes. “Darling I...”

Steve burst in the room wrapping you in a hug, “I’m so sorry I left you. Are you ok? Are you hurt?” Loki stood watching what was unfolding. You looked back at him. He raised his eyebrows and shrugged. He left the room to give you and Steve a minute.

“Steve. Shhh. I’m ok. I swear.” For reasons neither of you could explain he grabbed your face and crashed his lips into yours. Your eyes went wide then you acquiesced. Your tongue massaged his. He leaned his weight into you. When he broke the kiss he said quietly, “I’m staying with you tonight.”

“You really don’t need to. Loki will be there. I’m ok. I promise. I’m much stronger than I look.”

“I would feel better:”

LOKI

Loki sat alone on the big fluffy couch in the common room. He toyed with the frayed edge of a throw pillow. It was silent but he could hear your heartbeat quicken. Your breath catching in your chest. Your racing thoughts. He felt your butterflies when Steve came into the room. You liked Steve. He supposed the captain was a decent enough guy. That didn’t mean he had to like him.

For a moment when you were touching his face he felt something. He wasn’t sure if the feelings were yours or his. It felt deeper than just a crush. The way you looked at him. Almost like you were committing his face to memory. Your eyes studied him. For a moment he felt seen.

Thor sat next to him and pulled him in for a very firm embrace. “Get off of me you oaf”

“You’re staying with me tonight. It’ll be fun. We’ll bunk together just like when we were children.”

“Do you still snore?”

“That depends. Do you still talk in your sleep.”

“I wasn’t talking in my sleep. I was whispering spells to silence you.”

Thor smiled, “I hope you remember them.”

[animemangasoul]

A State of Darkness - A Garden of Distress

@miss-choco-chips wrote this for you. Pure angst and maaaybe some understanding/happiness in the end. Wrote this in one sitting too so it might be a bit of a mess but hope you like it anyways.

@throneoffirebreathingbitchqueen don’t know if angst is your thing hun but here you have it too. Enjoy ;)

“Bruce?”

Tim didn’t know where he got the bravery nor the strength to do this but-

“Yes?”

For some odd reason, today, it was different. He’d woken up with something.... A force? An ability? Whatever it was, it had compelled him to seek out his father and ask this very question that had haunted him since the moment he’d been invited to be part of this man’s family.

“Do you love me?”

The stunned surprise gracing Bruce face nearly made him back away and hightail it out of there, but--

Something kept him standing. Something, anything....

“Well?”

The second question seemed to shake his father out of his momentary stupor and the man stuttered for a second before running a frustrated hand through his hair. “Why do you ask Tim?”

And.... yeah... Tim heart sank. “Nothing, I just...”

“No,” Bruce suddenly cut him off, waving his hand frantically. “No. God, I didn’t mean to say it like that. Just...” A sigh. “Give me a second. Just a second. I don’t want to get this wrong.”

Biting his lip, Tim took a tiny step back. “Is there something to get wrong?” Because this shouldn’t be difficult right? A father should say yes? If he loved you he should say yes? Right? Tim wasn’t overreacting and--

“Of course I love you son.”

He froze. “What?” Was Bruce just saying this to placate him because if he was Tim didn’t want it. In fact, it made him sick thinking about it. 

“No no no Tim. Tim, listen to me son.”  

Tim eyes snapped up in surprise. The pleading was new. Was Bruce pleading with him? And, yeah... it looked like he was. 

“Tim,” his father said again, taking a step towards him, arms stretched out in his direction as if he wanted to hug him? Tim blinked up at him in confusion. 

“I love you.” This time Bruce sounded firmer, more sure. More confident.

Tim still didn’t believe him.

“Son?”

Shaking his head, Tim stumbled back. “Then why couldn’t you say that before? Why did you need a second to think? I read that parents are supposed to love you unconditionally.” Why was he talking? “And maybe that isn’t fully true because who can love someone who does nothing? And that makes sense right? Because you can’t love someone who literally just depends on you to provide for them!” Tim really needed to stop talking. “And that’s probably why Janet and Jack couldn’t love me because I was little and useless and that was fair and I get that. Little kids,... it’s difficult to determine their potentials you know. So they are harder to love, I get that. But I’ve read a lot Bruce... I have.”

Tim needed to stop talking, but---

The growing horror on his father’s face made him for desperate reason even more resolute in catching him on the lie. Because he knew, he knew Bruce knew this. It wasn’t a hard concept to grasp. It wasn’t difficult to understand.

“I haven’t been useless to you Bruce. I might sometimes feel like I have, but I haven’t been. I’ve saved you so many times. I’ve risked my life for this family. I’ve followed your code and I’ve been good. I’ve been really really good. I haven’t killed anyone. God, there have been so many times I’ve wanted to, but I haven’t!” His chest was heaving, his breath was coming out in panicked gasps... he couldn’t stop. “ And I run the company and protect the innocent and I’m not useless. Maybe I didn’t finish high school or go to college but I’ve made something of myself and according to the parental guideline 101 that means you’re supposed to love me.”

And... Oh God. What had he done!

Bruce was crying! 

Shit.

“Bruce I.....” What the hell had he done! He’d made The Batman cry! “Bruce!” he gasped, trying to grasp for him across the distance; still too afraid to move towards him but still unable to shake the instinctual need to take away his father’s hurt. “Bruce...Bruce.... I... I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to call you out. You don’t have to love me or... you can still pretend. It’s ok. It’s ok Bruce. Please don’t cry. I didn’t mean to..... I’m sorry.” The last words come out broken, pleading and God... why was he so damn pathetic. 

“Tim.” 

Was that a sob? That was a sob! Oh God.

“Bruce,” he whined, feeling his own eyes tearing up in frustration. “Please don’t cry-”

And, suddenly his father is cutting the distance between them in a flash and...two arms circle around his trembling frame to pull him close. Tim startled as he’s pressed against Bruce’s chest; large fingers coming up to run through his hair gently, oh so gently. 

Tim sniffled, blinking furiously to stifle the dying need to just break down because this was a goodbye, wasn’t it? Now that everything had come to light, now that Tim knew the truth... It was a goodbye. Reaching up, he fisted his hands against his father’s suit and buried his face in his shoulder. “I’m sorry I made you cry Bruce. I’m sorry I couldn’t pretend for you... anymore.”

Bruce entire frame shook with his words and he only tightened his grip in response, starting to sway them together, back and forth. “No Tim. Please son. No. It.... I never.... God, no.”

Sniffling again, Tim patted his father gently on the back. “It’s ok,” he muttered. “It’s ok Bruce. I understand. You got a lot of people to love and it makes sense you don’t have a lot of space so sometimes you have to make sacrifices.” A pause.” I might have miss calculated my odds,” Tim hiccuped a strained laugh. “Funny right? Me miscalculating?”

But his attempt at humour only seemed to distress his father even further. “I can’t believe.... I can’t have failed--- I... Why did I never see this? How could I just...I failed you son.”

Tim huffed. “It’s ok.” God, when did his bravery turn into Bruce comfort session? ‘That’s what you get for breaking the Batman,’ his mind hissed back at him and fair enough. Tim couldn’t really argue. ‘You break it, you fix it’ like his mom used to say. 

“I’m sorry for bringing it up Bruce. We can pretend this conversation never happened and... It’s ok.”

So what if it hurt him. If it tore him inside? Who cared if Tim was hurting?

If Tim’s hurt would only stop at the expense of Batman breaking than Tim deserved to continue hurting. His Robin, his job, Tim’s job had been to shield Batman from pain. His legacy couldn’t end with him causing it. “I’m ok Bruce. I shouldn’t have brought this up. I’m ok, I promise.”

“No,” his father whispered; obvious tears in his voice, tone dark and wary. “No you’re not son. And it’s my fault. It’s my fault and.... And I don’t know how I’ll fix this, but I will. I promise I will. But Tim...” Here he pushed him away, hands coming to rest on Tim’s shoulders as the youngest looked up to meet the watery gaze of The Batman. “I’m sorry son. I’m sorry I made you feel like you needed to earn my love. I’m sorry I hurt you and I’m sorry that you always had to act like an adult when all you ever should have been was a kid. I’m sorry I didn’t shield you from the cruelties of this world and I’m sorry you had to protect me instead of me protecting you.”

And yeah... Tim is definitely crying now because wow... wow... Bruce was apologizing to him. Him? And so many times too and-- 

“Tim?”

His lips are trembling and his face his probably blotched from his ugly crying but--

“Tim?”

But--

“Tim? Son?”

“I think,” he mutters, hand coming up to rub at his teary eyes. “I think I deserved that Bruce. The apology I mean. I think I deserved that. I deserved to hear you apologize.” He doesn’t know why he is saying it. He’d gotten his apology. He’d gotten his pity ‘I love you’ so why? “Because you hurt me and I deserve to hear you acknowledge that.” Why was Tim pushing his luck? “I deserve it,” he whispers as a last finishing touch. A reiteration of self assurance. “I deserve that.”

His father stills. Body freezing for a split second as his face pales and his forehead twitches in that nervous tic of his before it smooths out just as quickly. “Yeah son,” he breaths, pulling him close and patting his hair; his hands shaking for some reason. Tim doesn’t quite understand why. “You deserved an apology son. You did. I’m sorry it took me so long to realize. I’m sorry it took me so long to say.”

“It’s ok,” Tim says, but feels immediately the shake of Bruce’s head where his chin his resting atop of his hair. 

“It’s not kiddo. But I’ll do my best to make sure that it will be someday. That it will be more than ok. Because Tim?”

“Yeah?”

“You deserve so much more son.”

Tim pauses than. Pauses and thinks back on earlier today. Thinks back to a time even before that. When he sat in front of his computer; moments where work wasn’t too overwhelming and sleep wasn’t as needed, moments where he’d searched for understanding. Trying to puzzle together the neglect and loneliness that was his life.

Nothing had made sense then. And of course it hadn’t. Those people who screeched abuse and emotional negligence didn’t understand the sacrifice of living with a hero. That sometimes you just didn’t come first, that sometimes you had to earn your place in your family, and Tim hadn’t been good at it at first, good at deserving things, but... Maybe he was good at it now? Or maybe... maybe the point wasn’t about being good at all. Maybe it wasn’t about being good enough....

“Yeah,” he said finally, breathing in and out; closing his eyes firmly as tears slid down his cheeks. “I deserve better Bruce. I do deserve better. I do.”

[aponderingcharming]

Just a post-Age of Ultron Steve and Nat scene...just got the feels for some reason and had to get something out! Enjoy :) Steve had been watching her for hours now.  Outside of training the team and getting them up to speed on how things worked around here, she hadn’t said a word – and Nat liked to comment. Bruce disappearing weighed heavily on her every movement, her limbs that little clunkier than usual, the snap of her skills a little soft, and he noticed how the light that once danced in her eyes began to dim. As the day dragged on, Steve could almost literally see her walls coming back up and entrapping her in her own fortress of protection once again.

He wanted to help.

Natasha had been a friend to him. Someone that he trusted. Someone that he cared for.

So when he found her up late, looking out over the star-filled yet empty training grounds, he made a decision.

“Couldn’t sleep either, huh?” he posed quietly, sidling up alongside her, resting his arms on the metal rail.

The woman glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, a small, sad smile forming on her lips.

“Never been good at sleeping, actually. Always on alert. One of the downfalls of being in the spy business.”

They stayed in silence for a few moments, comfortable in each other’s presence. Steve noted that it always felt like that when he was with her; familiar, normal. Safe, he even mused internally.

It was a beautiful night. There was a stillness about the way the stars just hung there in their place, keeping watch over everything below, keeping watch over them.

Finally, “I’m sorry about Bruce.”

Her shoulders stiffened.

“Yeah, well…” she took a short pause to look down, “I don’t even know…” she cut off, swallowing hard.

“You deserve to be happy, Natasha,” Steve interjected for her, wanting her to know that he understood. “It’s not wrong to want things. It’s the most natural thing in the world.”

She let that settle between them and he took that as a good sign. He wasn’t sure how many times, if ever, someone had said that to her. But it was true, and she should know that.

“So do you,” she whispered eventually, this time making sure to look at him. Sincerity coloured her words and he inhaled deeply, allowing himself to soak in her words, too, letting them flow into the parts of him that needed to hear that.

“You know, ever since I was a kid-”

“You mean like 100 years ago?” she jested, a tad brighter.

He smirked and rolled his eyes. “Yeah like 100 years ago,” he joked back fondly. “But all I ever wanted to do was to be a soldier. End injustice, bring peace, help make the world a safer, better place for everyone. But I always saw an end to it, you know? We’d win the war, I’d come home, get married, have a family, grow old. I mean, I knew there was always a chance that I might not make it out alive, but deep in the back of my mind was this longing to have a life after the war. I’d do my part and then I’d settle down.”

“With Peggy?” Natasha asked in a quiet voice. She was looking at him intently now, eyes only on his.

Steve nodded. “Yeah, if she would have me,” he tagged on with a short laugh.

“How could she not? You’re like the perfect gentleman, Steve. The solider with a heart of gold.”

“Ah, I don’t know about that.”

“I do. I’ve known that since our first mission together. Trust me; she would have been all yours.”

He couldn’t help but smile but sadness weighted his heart. That future with Peggy was all gone now, and as much as he saw a life after war before, now it felt like war was an inevitable part of him, and that whole other part of his life didn’t exist anymore. This was his life now.

But maybe he was okay with that. Making the world a better, safer place was why he was made after all. Maybe this was his greater plan.

“Yeah, well...turns out I missed the boat on that one. She was happy though,” he said, breaking his gaze to watch the night sky again. “Lived a good life.”

Slowly, Natasha’s hand reached over to cup his upper arm, just briefly. “I’m sorry, Steve. Sometimes it’s easy to forget what you’ve lost because we get so wrapped up in everything else that’s going on.”

“Thank you,” he replied. “But we’ve all lost things. Everyone here, each Avenger, has a reason to do what they’re doing and it all stems from some experience, some loss, or longing. I suppose it helps us focus, it spurs us on. I know not everyone is vocal about it though,” his words became softer now, “and Nat I want you to know that you can trust me, okay? When we’re out in the field, there’s no one I trust more than you, and no one I would rather have fighting alongside me than you, so if you ever need to talk, I’m here.”

For maybe the second time in all the time he had known her, he could see tears shining in her eyes and she moved just that little bit away from him as if to protect herself again.

“Peggy was in my vision,” he offered, opening up more, willing her to know that she could trust him. “We were at a celebration, the war was over and we had won. She told me that we could go home. We danced, and then everyone was gone and I was left alone.” Pausing, he set his jaw and closed his eyes just for a breath of a second. “The vision showed me what life I could have had and then showed me that that life wasn’t attainable anymore. That everyone was gone and I was still left fighting a war.”

The air grew heavy between them, the truth and honesty huddling around them. It was as if they were somewhere else entirely, in a whole other realm where it was just the two of them. He waited, sensing the emotional wrestle within her body, knowing that she was struggling. Maybe he shouldn’t have said anything; maybe it was wrong to add another level to their relationship, but she had lost something today and he had learned of a part of her he didn’t know existed – the part of her that ached for a sense of home. And, boy, could he relate to that.

“I was back in Russia in my vision. At my final graduation,” she finally ground out, her voice thick. “And just being there it…it made me remember the kind of person I was. I spent years trying to run away from it all and live differently – better - and all of sudden, with a flick of a wrist, I’m brought back to that place, and all I can think about is how….how I’m a monster. That I’m a machine built for one purpose and one purpose only: to kill. And that’s all I’m good for.”

“You’re not a monster, Nat. So far from it.”

The words shot out of him before he even knew they were forming on his lips.

“Yeah, well you don’t know everything I’ve done, Rogers.”

“I don’t need to know.”

She snorted and then sniffed, tears escaping.

“No seriously,” Steve continued, this time leaning down so that she could see his face. “Natasha I’m not going to pretend that I know everything about you or your past or what you’ve done, but I do know you. I know who you are now. Are you highly skilled and a formidable opponent to anyone who gets in your path? Yeah, absolutely. You’re one of the best, if not the best fighter I’ve seen. There’s a reason you’re on this team. You don’t need super serum running through your veins to make you someone.” That drew a smile from her and his heart warmed knowing that he put it there. “But I also know that you’ve dedicated to your life to fighting for those who can’t fight for themselves. You joined SHIELD because you wanted to make an actual difference and to put a stop to those who do the things that were done to you. That doesn’t sound like a monster to me. Almost sounds like a hero, don’t you think?”

Another beat of silence.

Another sniff.

And then, “No wonder they call you Captain America,” she mused, voice still a little deeper than usual. “That was some speech.”

“Glad you liked it. But I meant it. Every word.”

The woman straightened now and turned her frame so that they were face-to-face. A gradual and tentative hand came up to rest on the side of his face, and Steve noted how he leaned just that little bit more into the touch. “Thank you, Steve. For everything. I don’t say it a lot and I don’t express it very well but-”

“Anytime,” he interjected.

Natasha moved to kiss his other cheek, her lips warm and soft. It was quick but it was tender. “Same goes for you, too.”

When she broke away, he tried to ignore the pang of disappointment. It was as though a spell had been broken and part of him wanted to reach out and pull her in for a hug, but he didn’t want to ruin the moment.

“Well, I guess I better try to get some sleep,” she announced, her body that bit looser now and the grin that formed on her mouth was definitely more like the Nat he knew. “Goodnight Steve.”

He smiled in response. “Goodnight.”

“Oh and don’t tell anyone about this, okay?” she said playfully with a wink as she was leaving.

Steve shoved his hands into his pockets and fixed his smile on the ground, nodding in agreement. “About what?” he teased back, pulling a laugh from her.

He stayed there for a few minutes longer, feeling the lightest he had felt since the mission had ended.

He hoped she felt the same way.

[pagesofivy]

Homeward Bound part 1: Homecoming

PROMPT (Commission by @minimoose23 / @avengerskeeper): Stucky x reader (named Kat/Katy). Kat is coming home at the end of her military career. She wants it to be a surprise, so she enlists the help of her friends to surprise her boyfriends. After that, adjusting to life at the Avengers Compound might be a little more than she expected.

Also for @star-spangled-bingo

Slot filled: Avengers compound

Warnings: Some angst, lots of anxiety; review each chapter before because there will be different warnings.

Chapter Word Count: 1313

Pairing: Steve Rogers x Reader(Katy) x Bucky Barnes; (Stucky x reader)

Beta:  @ladymidnightt

Read it on AO3 here!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You stare at your phone, the number pulled up on screen. A single tap could set your entire plan into motion. Taking a deep breath, you press the dial button and waits anxiously for the call to be answered.

“Katy? What’s up? Are you okay? Are you back on U.S. soil?”

“Tony, I’m back, and I want your help…” You launch into the details of your plan and his part in it, if he agrees. Once you’re through, you wait only moments for his answer:

“Of course I’ll help Katy! When should we expect you?”

“I can be in New York by Friday, if that gives you enough time?”

Tony scoffs at your doubt, “Trust me Katy, that’s enough time, I’m Tony freaking Stark! I’ll be sure your boys are occupied all day too, so you can get settled in without fear of being seen. I’ll send Happy to pick you up, just let me know when and where you land. And hey,” he pauses and his voice goes soft, showing Tony’s sincerity, “it’s gonna be good to have you home kid.”

You smile through tears welling in your eyes and reply, “It’ll be good to be home. Thank you Tony.” You two discuss a few more minor details before hanging up, and you stare at your phone a moment, not really processing what just happened. You’re coming home AND you’re surprising your boyfriends. The thought of seeing them again after so long leaves you feeling giddy as you go about the rest of your day.

~~~~

Tony immediately sets to work, calling up every superhero-type person he knows to invite them to a small “we saved the world” party. Not his regular fancy party, but a relaxing evening with the team and their extras. He keeps Katy’s return a secret from everyone except T’Challa, who doesn’t want to fly from Wakanda for Tony’s excuse, a “team-building event” as he put it. 

“Listen, catman, Katy is back on Friday so I’m throwing her a surprise party. I wanted it to be a surprise for everyone else too, but it seems you have to know.” An annoyed scoff from Tony and an amused chuckle from T’Challa break the conversation before the talking continues. “Now that you know the secret, you’d better keep it. Bring your sister and whoever else, but don’t tell them why.” T’Challa agrees to the conditions, swearing his secrecy, then ends the call.

Tony gets everything else set up, including hiring your favorite shop to cater the event and updating the DJ station. The week passes by quickly and soon Friday’s upon everyone. Tony waits impatiently for your texts, but eventually has F.R.I.D.A.Y. look up the flight information instead. He tells Happy what time to be at the airport and that he’d know who he was picking up when he saw them, still keeping the secret alive.

Making a mental note to bring your stuff out of storage tomorrow - though there’s not much - Tony starts greeting people as they show up. He shows the caterers where to set up and is alerted to a text message, It’s from you, saying you’ve landed, and he smiles as he watches his family in front of him settle into companionship.

~~~~

Being back in New York after so long is surreal, but as you make your way off the plane and into the terminal, you feel at home and at ease. Clutching your bag tighter, you make your way to where families are waiting to pick up their loved ones, and you search for Happy.

He sees you before you see him, and he shouts ‘Katy! Ms. Ball! You’re home!” He’s quickly making his way to you and looks very surprised to see you. Tony must have not told him you were coming, the rascal. You hitch your bag higher on your back and hurry to him, a big smile on your face.

“Happy! It’s so good to see you!” You exclaim when you reach him, dropping your bag to wrap your arms around him. Happy returns your embrace, still sputtering a bit in surprise, unsure what to say. You speak again instead as you two separate:

“Okay, so Tony said he’d keep Bucky and Steve busy all day, but that they’re back at the compound now. So let’s head there. Do you think I should change or stay in my fatigues?” Happy picks up your bags and gives you an up-and-down, appraising look before answering.

“Stay in your fatigues. Plus, the divider in the limo is broken, and as much as I wouldn’t look if you did change, I’d rather not accidentally see anything.” He gives you a wink and you laugh, following him to the car.

“Fatigues it is. Now, tell me what I’ve missed.”

~~~~

 The ride to the compound goes by in a blink, catching up with Happy on everything that had happened while you were under way.

“So Tony and Bruce… Created an evil A.I. that came to life?” You  let out a tired sigh. “I should be surprised, but honestly, when you put Bruce and Tony together, what do you expect?” Happy chuckles and nods as he pulls in and flashes his credentials then punches in a code. Security had really been bumped up since you had last been here. Your mind wanders, noting other changes, as Happy maneuvers the car into the garage.

As the car is parked, you’re hit with some severe nerves that leave you stuck to your seat. If so much has changed about the grounds, how much have the people changed? How much have you changed? What if too much has changed and you don’t fit in with your Avengers family anymore? Sure, you’d kept in touch with them, but the worries still settled themselves deep in your gut.

You’re so consumed with your worries that you don’t notice Happy get out until he opens the door, bags in hand. “You’re probably really nervous, but I promise they’ll all be really excited to see you and welcome you home. Tony’s upstairs with everyone, waiting, but we can go up when you’re ready. I’m fine waiting.” Ever the father, always looking out for the team, Happy is such a comforting presence to you.

Happy’s words mollify your fears enough that you feel ready to face your family. With a firm nod to yourself, you get out of the car, determination on your face. “Thanks Hap. Let’s head up, I miss my family.”

~~~~

The ride up the elevator is almost as nerve-wracking as pulling into the garage and you have to fight off the panic attack that’s clawing across your skin. Happy notices, thank God, and does his best to help talk you down, using his soothing voice and assuring you that everyone will be happy to see you; some might even cry, like Sam. And Bucky. And Steve, obviously, because Steve is the biggest baby of them all. 

As the doors open, you take a step behind Happy, using him as a shield, though he’s not much taller than you. Nobody really notices you two at first, too caught up in their own conversations, but seeing everyone there -- more people than you expected really -- brings tears to your eyes. Before you can lay eyes on the two men you’re most excited to see, you’re pulled into a pair of arms-- Tony’s. 

“It’s good to see you, Katy.” Tony whispers, hugging you tightly before pulling away and calling loudly for everyone’s attention.

“Our guest of honor has arrived!” He yells, clapping, and before they even turn everyone else is clapping along. However, the noise quickly dies down as they see you, and at first you feel self-conscious, until you’re swept up into the arms of Steve and Bucky, nearly crushed between them and the warmth they provide. Finally it feels like you're home.

Part 2

[the-omni-princess]

Inked Wrists

Author: @the-omni-princess

Summary: In a world where the first words spoken to you by your soulmate are written on your wrist, what are you supposed to do when yours simply says “hey?”

Word Count: 1.8K

Prompt:

Soulmate AU where the first words your soulmate says to you are written on your wrist and while Reader has an absolutely unhelpful 'hey' written on them, Character has something very unique and weird.

Pairing: Bucky x Reader

Warnings: Everyone lives in the tower!AU, language, fluff

A/N:

This is for @buckygrantbarnes ‘s writing challenge!!

#buckygrantbarneswritingchallenge

I’m a hoe for a soulmate!au so I hope I did it justice.

Endgame? Whose she? AU were Thanos just didn’t happen and Tony forgave Bucky :D

-

[Masterlist]

----

In a world where everyone has a soulmate, everyone chooses their first words to strangers very carefully. On the inside of a person’s wrist was their soulmate’s first words to them in their soulmate’s handwriting, signed with their initials. In your case, the initials were more helpful than the words. Plenty of people had complicated sentences, which made it easy to figure out who their soulmate was. You, however, were cursed with an absolutely stupid “Hey” in cursive, signed with the initials J.B.B. You were entirely dependent on your soulmate’s reaction to your first words, since it was too much of a hassle to ask every single stranger who said ‘Hey’ to you if they had your initials written on their wrist. Most of your friends pitied you since a large majority of them had unique first words, and subsequentially had already found their perfect halves.

The isolation from being one of the few people your age who hadn’t found their soulmates by now irked you, so you moved to New York, and joined SHIELD as a computer analyst under Tony Stark himself. He said he hired you because of your knowledge of any technological system, but you knew it was because of your ability to hack just about anything.

Now, a few months into this new job, you sat in the lab next to Bruce and Tony. They both quickly became father figures towards you, teasing and protective. With most of your family miles away, you certainly didn’t mind. You met the Avengers a few times, but most of them only really came to your lab if they had some system acting up, though they all treated you like a valuable member of the team. Though out of all of them, the only one who you hadn’t said a single word to, nor spoke to you, was Bucky Barnes. You had to admit he was hot, cute at the very least. Though him, Steve, and Tony had reconciled, and Bucky was living in the tower with the rest of the Avengers, Bucky mostly kept to himself.

Though what intrigued the most about the mysterious former assassin was his metal arm. The cybernetic limb, given to him by T’Challa as an apology for trying to kill him, was a feat of technological heaven. You would do practically anything to study it, but the super-soldier avoided your lab like the plague, though given his experience with people in white coats you couldn’t really blame him.

Tony waved a hand in front of your face, “Hello? Earth to y/n? We’ve got a system to hack?”

You came back to your senses, “Yeah, yeah, I’ve got it.” You quickly went to work breaking past the firewall to access the files hidden in the thumb drive swiped by the Avengers on their latest mission to an abandoned Hydra Facility. It took you minutes to bring up everything, “Done! FRIDAY, can you please sort through these files? Tell me if you find anything interesting please.”

“Certainly, Agent Y/l/n,” the AI responded, making you smile faintly.

“Thanks, Fri, you’re the best.” You then turned your attention to Tony and Bruce. “Anything else on this lovely Friday evening? Or did you doubt my abilities and think that would take longer?” you teased, both men smiling towards you proudly.

“That’s it work-wise, kid. Actually, though, it’s movie night, care to join?” Tony was sorting through the files already organized by FRIDAY as he spoke.

“I have nothing better to do so sure. What’s the movie?” You grinned.

“Some Disney movie, the oldies are still catching up on pop culture, Scott insisted they had to binge Disney and Pixar films.”

“Ah, I see he’s a man of taste then,” you were already taking your lab coat off. “Well, I’ll head to my room to change then.” You stretched your back as you spoke, your legs and spine cramped from sitting for too long.

“Sure, see you soon, kiddo,” Tony called out as you left.

-

A few hours later you were in comfy pajamas, a fluff blanket wrapped around your shoulders. You walked into the communal living room, the lights dimmed but still on as most of the Avengers were sitting on couches waiting for Sam, Steve, and Bucky to arrive. You sat next to Natasha, one of the few Avengers you’ve already gotten pretty close to. “Glad you could finally join a movie night y/n.” The redhead smiled at you, letting you grab a handful of popcorn from the bowl she had on her lap, her hand movement allowed you to glance at her own soul mark. She let you see it once, scribbly writing that said ‘I don’t want to hurt you’ signed with the initials CFB. You found it pretty cute how her soulmate, Clint, was the one to pull her out of the assassin life.

“Glad I’m finally joining in,” you grinned, happy to have the team opening up with you. Only Natasha and Tony knew of your not very helpful soulmate mark, both a bit too nosy for their own goods. Tony’s was also an easy one, his mark was “Will that be all Mr. Stark?” with the initials VP. It took him a week before he found out Pepper’s first name was actually Virginia and his soulmate had been taking care of his schedules unknowingly for months.

You heard Steve, and Sam coming into the room before you saw them walking in with an unamused looking Bucky. “All I’m saying is that if your arm popped off it would be the perfect boomerang!” Sam was excitedly saying, the three clearly in the middle of some long argument.

“It’s an arm, it’s barley curved like a boomerang, it wouldn’t swing back around!” Steve countered, most of the lounging Avengers now paying attention to the loud conversation.

Sam, another person you’ve grown pretty close to since you started working with the Avengers since neither of you had met your soulmates yet, quickly turned to you. “Y/n! Perfect! You’re the tech genius and you’ve studied the schematics of Tinman’s arm. What ya think? Would it be a good boomerang?”

“Hey!” Bucky warned softly, not wanting to get others involved in Sam’s schemes.

All eyes turned to you, but you simply shrugged. “All I’m saying is that if you throw your arm, I’d be more worried about the concussion it would give, not if it’s coming back.” You meant the comment as a joke, used to Sam’s antics, but he, Steve, and Bucky all went pale. You looked over at them in confusion, “What? The metal would probably hurt, or the plating gets stuck on something long before it swings back around.” The room was quiet, the other Avengers confused as to why the three soldiers looked like they had seen a ghost.

Steve was the one who spoke up, “Y/n, what are your initials?” He asked softly, glancing towards Bucky, whose blue eyes were wide, locked onto you.

The confusion was written all over your face as you said you initials out loud. Sam suddenly laughed, “No way! And you were finding every excuse to not head to that lab like an idiot, Tinman!”

It suddenly dawned on you why anyone would ever ask you for your initials. You stood, your blanket falling off of your shoulder as you took a step towards the three men, your eyes locked onto Bucky. “J.B.B.” you whispered. “James Buchanan Barnes.” The realization hit you hard, that, if you were to trust the context clues, the man in front of you was your soulmate. You pushed your pajama sleeve up off of your wrist. “I’ve had a stupid ‘hey’ written on here forever with those initials.”

Bucky took a step forward, already tugging his sleeve up as well, eyes locked onto the words on your own wrist. You both grabbed at the other’s wrist, and sure enough, on Bucky’s right wrist were the words “All I’m saying is that if you throw your arm, I’d be more worried about the concussion it would give, not if it’s coming back.”In your cursive handwriting, signed with your initials. You looked up at him, unable to tear yourself away. “I found you.” You whispered softly, your eyes welling up with tears, your heart being tugged towards the man in front of you.

You suddenly grabbed a hold of him in a fierce hug, and he quickly hugged you back, holding onto you for dear life, both of you not caring about the crowd around you. “Oh my god, it’s really you.” He mumbled into your neck, you laughed wetly, tears readily flowing down your cheeks. He was quick to wipe them, gently cradling your face in his palms, he was also teary-eyed, looking down at you like you hung the stars. “Fuck, I thought you were born the same time as me, and I would have lost you to the war, and then when they had me Hydra was always looking for someone with these initials. I’d never thought I’d find you, that you’d live out your life without me, but you’re right here.” He laughed, holding onto you even tighter.

“I’m right here, and I’ve been looking everywhere for you,” You teased, clinging onto him.

“So, soulmates, are we going to watch a movie or are you two gonna gaze into each other’s eyes all night,” Tony called out. You turned, suddenly aware everyone was looking at you. Tony was smiling, although he would admit it wouldn’t be his first choice of a soulmate, he knew how badly you wanted to meet yours so he was happy you finally did.

Bucky grinned, gently lacing your hands together. “I think we’re going to move movie night to my room, we have a lot of catching up to do.” He said, his body already pressed against yours protectively. “If you want to, of course, doll,” he added quickly, making you giggle.

“I’d love that, soulmate,” you smiled, and the goofy grin you got as a response made your insides melt.

“Well then go!” Sam quickly shoed you both out, the team laughing behind you. “Better treat her right Tinman! Or Tony, Bruce, Nat, and I will kick your ass,” he warned, still smiling at you two.

“Of course,” Bucky quickly said, already leading you to his room. “I’ve waited a hundred years for my soulmate, I’m not gonna mess it up now!” He called out and once Sam and the rest of the team were floors away, and it was just Bucky and you, he pressed you against his door, both of you wearing matching grins. “Now, where were we, soulmate?”

----

Tags:

Bucky Tags:

@cassandras-musings

Check out my masterlist! Please comment, reblog, like, and tell me what you think. For any sorta tag just comment or send me an ask.

[robertdowneyjjr]

thoughts on endgame

if you haven’t seen endgame yet please turn away now because this is full of spoilers.

seriously spoiler nation here. turn back now while you still have the chance.

are you still here?

okay then.

here i go.

it’s gonna get long.

it’s been about seven hours since i got out of the movie theatre and overall? i’m upset. and i’m fucking pissed.

also, if you don’t know this by now, i’m a tony stan. my thoughts are biased. sue me.

listen. it’s not an awful movie. overall it’s an okay film. the shots were beautiful. the actors were all excellent. there was lots of fan service and there were tons of moments where it felt really fun. we laughed. we cried. we cheered. but as much as the filmmakers would like to insist that the film is satisfying, i just don’t agree, mainly because of how they decided to end the story.

the good and the mediocre

to start off, rdj’s acting is great. of course it is. it’s rdj. he did amazing with what he had to work with and most of my crying was because of him.

tony and nebula on the ship was great. he was already so fatherly with her, teaching her how to play paper football and encouraging her. and she was looking after him too. there was so much mutual care there that i loved, and i wish that we got more interaction between the two of them throughout the movie.

that little tear he shed when he closed his eyes to go to sleep on the benatar after recording his message for pepper killed me.

when joe russo said that the film was cathartic and evans said that it’s satisfying i can only apply these words to the one scene where tony finally gets to have his outburst and tell the others off for not believing him when he said a threat was coming. he deserved that moment. his anger was completely justified. and when he called steve out specifically, saying that he said that they’d lose together but they ended up not even doing that? when he called steve a liar? that was cathartic.

nat talking about how she used to have nothing and then she got this job, got this family. when she was crying over clint and what he was doing as ronin. that hurt.

MORGAN STARK. oh my god she is a cutie and all of her interactions with tony are just the best. this is the most valid part of the entire movie and that’s that on that. tony is so soft with her and it’s clear just how much he loves her and cherishes the family that he’s managed to have despite the tragedy that happened five years ago. this relationship is perfect and instead of the rest of the movie we should have just gotten three hours of tony and morgan’s father/daughter shenanigans.

tony being domestic and doing the dishes is all i ever wanted

doctor hulk was an interesting concept and i’m glad that bruce finally managed to find a balance between bruce and hulk and melded the two together. but there were times i do feel like he was played off as a joke too much.

the stevetony content is okay, i guess. i honestly wish we got more between steve and tony settling their differences beyond tony just handing the shield back and letting steve know that he figured out the issue with time travel that they’d been having. i wish we had more of them talking and working out their differences from the past. it jumped from tony telling steve that the trust is gone to him asking steve if he trusts him a little too soon without anything ever being discussed.

like really for a film that was marketed to basically be a stevetony event it didn’t really end up with that many interactions between them so it was disappointing.

i love that in the five years since the snap the remaining heroes managed to become friends. nebula and rhodey is an especially great one. and carol and rhodey’s brief interaction at the start of the film got my carolrhodey heart fluttering.

i do like the team interactions we got, even though there weren’t as many as i expected. it does feel like they’re finally seeing each other as a team again for the first time since the party scene in aou. i especially liked when they were working together to figure out when to travel back to in order to find the infinity stones, and that scene with tony, nat, and bruce together on the conference table. i wish we got more of the tony and nat friendship throughout the mcu.

the entire travel back to 2012 new york sequence was a trip. getting to see these characters interacting for the first time again was great. to see the aftermath of the battle was fun -- how they all got drinks from tony’s bar together. they seemed immediately comfortable with each other which was nice. all of them getting into the elevator together but telling the hulk to take the stairs. and speaking of hulk, bruce pretending to be 2012!hulk and smashing things halfheartedly was kinda hilarious.

the blatant ogling of steve’s ass. oh, sorry. america’s ass. that was great. thank you for servicing the stevetony shippers. and steve’s own comment about it after he got in a fistfight with his past self was funny too.

the excessive use of the word “shit” was a great callback to aou and i enjoyed it immensely.

mark 85 is sleek af and i love a shiny gold thotty boy

the cap scenes in 2012 were nice fan service. steve getting into that elevator with the strike team -- everyone thought it was going to be a reenactment of the scene from tws. but the fact that steve said “hail hydra” instead to throw them off was genius. he looked so proud of himself for that.

i like the rhodey and nebula team up. their dynamic is really great and rhodey has some of the best lines in the movie tbh. i love him.

i’m iffy on this but i don’t like that they validated howard stark’s shitty parenting. call him abusive and leave it at that. sure, he admitted that he didn’t want to turn out like his dad, but uhh i guess he did because look how his relationship with tony turned out. but i mean i’m happy for tony that he sort of got the closure he needed?? idk. i’m not sure about this.

it was really touching getting to see thor be able to talk to his mother again. i love frigga.

tony’s version of the gauntlet is fucking badass. it’s ten times sleeker than thanos’ gauntlet and just cool as hell. and dude! think about it. thanos had to travel to nidavellir to get a gauntlet made that could harness the power of the infinity stones. tony didn’t need to do that. he made his own gauntlet with his own tech and he didn’t need to go to any other planet for that. i love one genius.

steve wielding mjolnir was amazing in that moment. it was super cool, you know. he seemed so natural with it and he was even able to call lightning with it. awesome! but once we got to the ending i was like 😒 was he really that worthy. i’m really salty, okay.

the scene when all the undusted come back, and the other heroes scattered around the world join in, and they appear at the compound for that final battle -- it was incredible and very moving. thanos thought he was gonna win but nah!!! avengers assemble!! dope.

RESCUE. we waited so long and finally we were fed.

peter and tony’s hug got me bawling like a baby. i’m so distraught.

that scene with carol coming in and getting the gauntlet from peter, and all the women coming together and saying, “she has help”?? i nutted. that was amazing.

the bad and the ugly

THE SUPREME LACK OF TONY AND RHODEY CONTENT, WHAT THE FUCK. when they landed back on earth and rhodey didn’t get a chance to hug tony...hm. did not like that! let these best friends hug, ffs. and why didn’t we get to see rhodey interacting with morgan?? this is fake as hell.

it was kinda shitty that steve and co. had to show up right when tony was having a good time with his daughter to deliver the news about the quantum tunnel and time travel to tony. because of course tony would never sit idly by when there’s a problem he can solve. especially not when he’s reminded that he lost peter in that awful decimation five years ago. it’s not in his nature to not help. so that’s what he does. he solves a problem and he goes to suit up again because he would never forgive himself if he didn’t even try.

thor......they really turned him into a depressed alcoholic that’s just playing fortnite at home instead of a ruler looking after himself and the people he was supposed to protect.....they really just erased all his development from ragnarok huh. i’m mad.

also, a lack of tony and bruce interaction?? where are my science bro moments?? they were supposed to be the two biggest brains of the team working on mechanics of time travel but we really couldn’t have seen even a brief montage of them working together to science things out? wow fake!

also now that i think about it, where were dum-e and u?? where???? where were the best bots in the world?????

idk why clint and nat were the ones to go to vormir. definitely was not expecting this at all, but fuck. okay. this is where the anger really starts. okay. i get it. i get that nat sacrificed herself so that clint would have the chance to reunite with his family after this shitshow was all over. but nat had family too. she said it herself. she found her family with the avengers. but they really decided to throw another woman off the cliff to fuel more man pain. great! just great!!

seriously, nat deserved better.

they really. they really fucking killed off tony. they really did that and they had tony sacrifice himself. and all for what? shock factor? it wasn’t necessary. they didn’t need to kill him to end his arc. he could have been permanently injured instead, to the point where he wouldn’t be able to suit up again. he would have happily accepted this as his last mission. his priority was always to get home to his wife and daughter. despite the trauma he went through over the last ten years, the ptsd he came away with after sending a nuke through a wormhole, his team’s falling out, watching his best friend fall from the sky, being betrayed by someone he thought was a friend, getting stabbed by his own weapon on an alien planet, and losing a kid that he treated like his own, he managed to find a sliver of happiness with pepper and morgan. he had a happy ending. the happy ending he had wanted for the last several years. but the filmmakers took that away from him. they took away his happiness, and not just that. they took away a woman’s husband. they took away a little girl’s father. it was unnecessarily cruel and it sends a shitty message. it’s a disservice to tony, a disservice to the iron family, and a disservice to the fans that have stuck with the mcu from the very beginning, when iron man first came out and we decided to hop on for the ride.

tony deserved better.

also, rhodey should have been able to say something to tony before he drifted off for the last time. i was glad that he was the first to find tony, but they should have had their moment. this man had been with tony through thick and thin and he deserved to say his proper goodbyes.

or at the very least, they should have had a moment during tony’s funeral where the important people delivered their eulogies and spoke the words that needed to be said about tony. an explicit acknowledgement from the characters about how much tony had done, how integral he was to their success and survival, and how he made the ultimate sacrifice to get rid of their biggest threat so that the world could be put back together.

the only consolation i get from this is that tony made that sacrifice and died on the battlefield where the rest of the team could see. that the undusted and the living both are aware of how selfless tony is (and has always been), and he gave up his happy ending to make sure that the rest of them got theirs.

well his “i am iron man” was badass too so i’m glad he got to go out with that.

TONY DESERVED BETTER.

MORGAN DESERVED BETTER.

IRON FAMILY DESERVED BETTER.

(cheeseburgers broke me)

speaking of happy endings, lmfao what the fuck @ steve? i’m pissed at this ending. that was honestly the most selfish thing that steve could have done, all because the russos have always had a permanent boner for steve’s story with peggy. it’s just so sad. they won’t let him move on. his character development is stifled. it’s so backwards. peggy had a family and lived a full life without steve, but after seeing her for thirty seconds while he was in the past, he really decided that he needed to go back and spend the rest of his life with her. he threw away everything he worked for in the present -- his teammates, an unfrozen and recovered bucky, his running buddy and overall great guy sam -- for a relationship with a woman that he shared one single kiss with and that he knew for, what, like two or three years? jesus. let him move on! let him find happiness in the present! he never gave love another chance just because he thought he thought he met the love of his life 70 years ago. who’s to say he wouldn’t have found love in the present, huh??

they did him dirty. they did peggy dirty. and tbh they did sharon dirty from the very beginning. but that’s salt for another day.

so here we have tony, dead at 53 who really only experienced true happiness for five years with the woman he had been in love with for over a decade. then we have steve, who was on this earth for 105 years, then went back in time and got another 40 or so odd years of happiness with a woman he had only known for a few short years.

sure. that sounds fair. totally fair.

fuck no, it’s not. it’s a terrible fucking ending.

that’s just shit storytelling and if this was done all for the shock factor to make sure that we couldn’t guess what happens to these characters then it was a poor decision and it completely ruins tony and steve’s story arcs.

what kind of shit ending is this.

i didn’t like it.

[jbbuckybarnes]

Alternative Endgame Ending | s.r.

Description: An alternative Endgame ending with Steve Rogers and female reader. Originally written for my friend @marmariavel . His actual ending makes no sense without the build-up that was necessary for it and I wanted to fix it. Pairing: Steve Rogers x female!reader

M A S T E R L I S T

Hurt, bleeding, angry and 100% willpower. Words describing Steve after Thanos had just fought him for the second time ever and this time he's not gonna back up. His angry face went to you for a second and you could see the giant split in the skin on his arm. "Fasten it!" you yelled. He saw you look down to his arm and did as you said. The pain on his face when he fastened the shield on his arm hurt you from just watching. His face was on Thanos and Thor that were fighting. With a look at you and a tone that was so silent and serious that he was creepy to you, he said, "Whatever it takes!" He held his hand out and seconds later Mjölnir flew into it with shock on your face, that you tried to play off before running to Thor, while Steve was fighting with Thanos. ______

He looked at you & then the army on the horizon. "Whatever it takes, Steve." you looked at him, knowing this was probably your last calm moment together forever. "Whatever it takes." he got a strand of hair out of your face. "I lo-" he started but you were interrupted by your earpieces. "Cap? Captain? Do you copy?" light was building behind you and you slowly turned around "On your left!" You looked at each other in awe and then saw more and more portals open up. Armies, multiple armies, just filling up this side of the horizon. Tears built up in your eyes as you looked back at Steve which made you hold them back. There was a battle to be fought. "AVENGERS!" everyone around you went into fighting positions. "Assemble." he almost growled and with a gigantic scream, the army clashed towards the little valley between the hills of rubble. "Y/N!" Shuri screamed and threw you some tech you've been trying out 5 years ago before she went missing. "Don't disappoint me, sister." she smiled while shooting an alien before running towards the next.  Fire started going off shortly after and you were jumped and pushed to the ground next to a big piece of metal from the collapsed compound. "Today isn't a day to die, Mini-Steve." Bucky said into your ear. He was back, he was here. You needed to hold back a squeal of happiness. The fire started to shoot at the sky all of a sudden. "What-" he mumbled but saw the flying person. Your heart eyes towards the sky were what he saw next. "Carol, you fucking badass." a grin appeared on your face. Everyone watched the ship go down in less than a minute. "Danvers, we need an assist here." you both heard Steve and stood up. Right in front of you was a pretty beat up Peter. "Hey...I'm Peter...Parker." "Hey, Peter Parker. I heard you got something for me." You stood up when he said he didn't know how she would be able to get through the whole battlefield. "Don't worry." "She's got help," Okoye said with her usual powerful stance. A group of women built around Peter and Carol and you joined in. _____

You stood there with Shuri when an absolute silence was laid upon the battlefield. "Tony..." your eyes were not able to hold back the tears after that whisper. Clint went on his knee, T'Challa did the same, so did Shuri, Bucky, Sam, you fell to your knees and saw Steve do the same. You both just lost another person that was part of your family. _____

After he was all healed up, the heart-shattering funeral was over and Bruce had recovered, Steve needed to bring back the stones. "How can I? You're taking all the stupid with you." Bucky said and then Steve went to hug you. "I love you," you whispered the one thing you wanted him to know for the last 4 years. You knew the chances of him maybe staying back in time. You hated that idea and his eyes were so uncertain when you saw him go up the stage. 5 seconds later & he didn't come back. With Sam mildly freaking out at Bruce and Bucky turning away you stood there with silent tears running down your face. He left. You didn't know what to feel, all you felt was making you lose a sob.

1 minute. It took one damn minute for him to come back to the stage. You sat on the floor in pieces, Bruce and Sam were looking at the tech and Bucky had taken a walk down the path they came from. The suit came off and a "Y/N?" came out. You looked up and your eyes widened. "Sorry, took longer than I thought." he smiled and pulled you up into his arms. "Fuck you for scaring me." you boxed his arms in the hug. "Thank you for ruining my plans and saving them at the same time." a kiss landed in your hair. "What do you mean?" you looked up. A sound came from the stage behind him. "A soul for a soul. Soulstone against the soul of my partner in crime." he smiled and the helmet went off of the person behind him. "NAT!" you almost pushed Steve away to hug her as tight as you could. "You missed me?" she had her usual smirk across her face. "So much. Especially when all women teamed up against our purple asshole." now you had tears of joy. "Wow. Can't believe you left me out of that." she joked. "You made it possible." you hugged her even tighter before letting her go to let Sam and Bruce hug her. Bucky noticed what happened and made his way back. "That was not the plan you told me, punk." he boxed him and hugged him. "Sam?" Steve said serious and made him turn to him. "Steve?" he smiled. "There is a shield waiting for you in Wakanda. I lost too many people to continue this with a good feeling and there is no person I'd rather see take my job." he smiled at him and Sam’s jaw was on the floor. "You- I can't. What?" he got out. "What do we do now, Cap?" you smiled at Sam and a flustered smiled made its way onto his face. "We take a break and help Pepper and the government after." he shrugged. "I really could go for one of Pepper's sandwiches right now," Nat said. "You can scare the shit out of everyone in that house right now." you smiled at her. "I'll just walk into the kitchen and see." she giggled. _____

A scream came from the kitchen of the house shortly after. You and the men giggled like school children at Pepper having a mild meltdown at Nat. "You can't just do that!" she had quickly calmed down. You all came in totally chill and greeted them normally. "Shit. You're gonna give me a heart attack someday." Pepper held onto the counter. "Clint will be scared out of his mind." an evil chuckle came from Nat as she bit down on the sandwich. The following hours were spent catching Natasha up on everything that happened. Tears made their way over her face, a rare occurrence before the snap but Steve and you were used to it a bit by now.

_____

You were sitting at the little lake with Steve, Bucky & Morgan. She was a mild but curious child and honestly fitting the group very well. Your feet were in the water and Morgan was switching from lap to lap every few minutes. She sat in yours when she asked, "Will my daddy ever come back?" The two men tensed up at the question and you needed to hold back tears but you could answer. "He's never completely gone. He's all around you. He made this whole world save for you and you always have a piece of him with you. Inside of your heart." you pointed at her chest and she smiled up. "You sound like him and mommy, Auntie Y/N." she giggled and a big smile came across your face. "Gonna get some more drinks," Bucky said and left. You knew exactly what he was doing here but you didn't mind. "Do you think Auntie Y/N should have a baby that you can play with someday?" you asked her softly. "Yes." she had one of those entire body smiles. "A boy or a girl?" you asked back and saw Steve smile at you both in your peripheral vision. "A girl." she smiled before climbing to Steve's lap again. "What hair color would she have, Morgan?" you continued asking and she pointed up at Steve's hair. You didn't miss the tiny hint of blush creeping up onto his face. "And which eye color?" you asked. "Blue." she giggled. "And would she a princess or a superhero?" you asked with a content smile. "A princess superhero." she clapped. "And what would be her power?" "She could do the things you can do and the things Uncle Steve can do and the things Uncle Sam can do and everything Aunt Nat can do," she said with a concentrated face. Steve and you looked at each other with a shy smile.

"I wanna go to mommy." she quickly got up and started running. "Slowly, Morgan. You don't wanna fall!" you loudly said but she was already close enough to the house. "She's the sweetest kid ever." he smiled and shook his head. "You're good with her." you smiled. A blush crept up again "I guess. But you're a natural." "Steve?" "Hm?" "Just say it." your soft, knowing and encouraging smile made his heart jump. "I love you." he smiled. "I love you too. Idiot." you rolled your eyes before finally leaning in for a kiss. "Never thought there would be a cure for all my grief," he mumbled against your lips. "You're finally accepting that you're in the now. Not in the past. You were in that bargaining and depression phase for longer than I've ever seen someone be in it. Glad to help, soldier." you winked and he pulled you onto his lap. "I love you," he said again. "Since when?" "The day I met you in Shuri's lab 5 years ago." he smiled and connected your lips again. "That's a long time to build up the courage." you ruined the moment and made the both of you laugh.

M A S T E R L I S T

[redhoodieone]

But I’m Your Kid!

A/N: Here we go again! Okay, so this is the 4th part of the, “But I’m…” series, and I’m so excited that the series has been well received. I don’t know if this will be the last one or not, because there was another idea (I’d only write this one if people want to read it), for a 5th story to the series, where Y/N is the adopted daughter of Superman and he meets Jason, Y/N’s fiancé for the first time, and the Batfamily is dreading that Superman to be a part of the family. I don’t know it could be called, “But I’m Your Father!” …but I guess we’ll see lol.

If anyone’s interested, this song helped me write this fic: Shinedown “I’ll Follow You”

OH! And since the whole Tom King drama (give me a round of applause, please), there’s MAJOR family fluff in here because I say so! 

Couples: Jason x Y/N, Bruce x Selina, Dick x Barbara.

Warnings: Mentions of sex, language, and adorable family moments. 

Introduction

It’s true the Todd family is beyond adorable. People who know them (or are complete strangers to them) can see Jason and Y/N that they’re clearly meant to be together. With Jason’s rough and tough exterior (but with teddy bear hugs behind closed doors) and Y/N’s kind and beautiful soul, the two balance and fit each other like ideal pieces in a thousand puzzles pieces game. While Jason has always been an angry, rash, and secretly sensitive guy, Y/N has been able to help him overcome his fears, insecurities, and make him feel like he belonged in the world after everything that’s happened to him.

 And he loved her for that.

 Because who knew the Damned Prince of Gotham and his Damned Princess of Gotham could be a match?

 And after only five years of marriage and a six-year-old son, Jason and I were very happy and finally at peace with their small family.

 It’s just an average Saturday afternoon when Jason brings us to the Manor to relax and spend time with the Batfamily. Alfred is in the kitchen with Tim as they’re preparing drinks and snacks for the family. Dick and Barbara are sitting beside Bruce and Selina on one couch while Jason and I hog the love seat. My husband pulls me onto his lap with an evil smirk on his handsome face.

 “I got the best seat in the house,” Jason laughs.

 “Behave!” I warn him. Barbara giggles at us.

 “Yes, please. None of us want to see that,” Bruce pleads.

 “Maybe some of us do,” Selina jokes. Bruce sighs and shakes his head at her.

 Even though Jason and I were practically all over each other, I couldn’t help but feel the heat rush to my pussy. I mean, it has been a few days since we’ve been intimate with each other. J.J, our young rebel has been behaving more needier than usual, and with him in between us in bed, it’s kind of difficult to show my husband how much I want him.

 And need him.

 It’s as if my Jay read my mind. One hand remains on my waist, as the other rubs up and down my thigh; almost pushing up my short black skirt I decided to wear to finally show off my curvy body after working out and taking better care of myself after giving birth to J.J. Jason eyes my button up white blouse that’s unbuttoned on the third button, which gives him a good view of my breasts being pushed up in my pushup bra.

 “I can guarantee you that I’m going to fucking wreck your pussy tonight,” Jason whispers in my ear, and kisses underneath my jaw. He grips me tighter, and groans heavily. “Maybe we can…you know? Try for another one?”

 “Another what?” I ask, confused.

 “A baby, doll,” he answers, as if I should have known. He raises his eyebrows, and his crystal blue eyes shine with the happiness he has fought for a very long time and cherishes every moment with J.J and me. “I…this isn’t how I wanted to tell you, but Y/N…I really want a little girl.”

 “A girl?” I repeat, shifting in his lap which makes him groan when my ass rubs against his already hard on.

 “Even though Jason just has to be gross about it…I agree,” Dick supports his brother.

 Bruce wraps a loving arm around Selina. I suddenly feel as if everyone here is thinking the same thing. Is that why we’re here?

 Is Jason’s family trying to help him convince me to give him a daughter?

Alfred comes into the living room with Tim trailing behind him. He sets down lemonade and freshly backed chocolate chip cookies. “I agree with everyone here, Lady Y/N. I would absolutely love to have a little girl running around here and brighten this dark mansion,” Alfred reveals.

 “Dark mansion?” Bruce asks. He cannot believe Alfred. “When has this home ever been dark, Alfred?”

 “I’m merely speaking about how this home has always been grim and filled with sadness before. But if I may so Master Bruce, you and the boys have lived here with your tragedies, and a beautiful little girl laughing can make this home bright and loving,” Alfred explains.

 “I have to agree with him,” Barbara mentions.

 “Maybe if you smile more and give off a more positive and upbeat vibe!” Dick suggests.

 “I swear to-”

 “Master Bruce! Language! Master J.J will hear you!” Alfred scolds him.

 “Too late, Pennyworth,” Damian says, entering the living room with my son behind him. Damian covers his entire body with Bruce’s cowl and cape, while J.J is wearing his new and improved Robin costume. I feel my heart beat faster because J.J is the spitting image of Jason; and my heart is filled with so much love at the sight of him. “J.J and I have heard everything.”

 “Everything?” I ask slowly. This can’t be happening.

 “Of course, Todd. J.J is smart enough to know everything adults speak of considering I have informed him and taught him well enough these last few months. I have even taken the liberty to teach him sexual intercourse just an hour ago, so you wouldn’t have to. I imagine speaking to children about sexual ideas and facts can be scarring for parents,” Damian confesses normally.

 Jason clears his throat. He is as shocked as I am. “What…did you say you did?” he asks quietly, with poison in his voice.

 “Oh please, Todd. Just a week ago, you, Grayson, Drake, and I were speaking about women and your mannerisms in bed at our Friday night poker game. Like how Gordon hasn’t been putting out for Grayson, and how Y/N has been distant and not ‘touching you enough’ Todd. Drake doesn’t have a sex life at the moment, so he remained alone and silent. J.J even heard the sexual discussions that night, and since you are an obvious and annoying loudmouth, you didn’t know he was behind you. He asked me questions, and I answered them truthfully,” Damian answers.

 “Damian!” Dick snaps.

 “This is why we don’t invite you to play sometimes!” Tim shouts.

 I glare at Jason who just gives me a guilty smile. Fuck I love that man so much…even when I want to shoot his kneecaps for talking about our sex life with his brothers and son behind him.

It’s silent between all of us. Just the thought of J.J (already a smart ass and smart kid in general) knowing sex at this age frightens me so much. Since my husband and J.J’s father, Jason Peter Todd has a high sex drive and is constantly thinking about sex, I fear J.J will turn out to be exactly like him!

 I can just picture young J.J telling the other kids about hand jobs, blowjobs, and tea bagging for fuck’s sake!

 “Mom...Dad...I have a question,” J.J asks, his voice soft and anxious which immediately gathers mine and Jason’s attentions. His bright blue eyes are full of innocence and curiosity. He runs a hand through his messy dark hair like Jason; like father like son. He moves closer to us and stops in front of me. He frowns. “I need answers. I need the truth.”

 “What’s your question?” I ask slowly. Even when I feel my body tense and I already fear the worst; I rub his back to ease his nerves. “You can ask us anything.”

 “Of course, kid. Ask away,” Jason encourages their son, even though he’s clearly anxious, too.

 J.J’s blue eyes sparkle with all the interest and wonder in the world. His frown turns into a smile. “I have to know. It’s been bugging me lately...where did I come from? How was I really created?” he asks.

 I instantly feel myself stunned by his question. He’s only six-years-old and how could he be wondering about this right now?! Didn’t Damian tell him about sex already?!

 Jason freezes with his eyes open wide and mouth hanging open at our son. Everyone around us is quiet and wondering how this will all play out. I gently shake him to awaken him from his daze and he forces himself to look at J.J.

 “Y-you want to know h-how you were created?” Jason asks slowly.

 “Yes,” J.J replies.

 “You want to know where you came from?” Jason asks seriously.

 “Yes,” J.J says.

 “You want to know how you were created? And you want to know where you came from?” Jason repeats.

 “Yes! How was I created?!” J.J cries out hysterically. He’s dying to know!

 Jason begins to sweat and tremble. He always did promise to shield and protect J.J no matter what. “Well...uh...you see J.J, when a man and a woman, well in your case, me and your mom love each other very much, they-” Jason begins nervously until I interrupt him.

 “Honey,” I say, hoping I can find the courage to answer his questions. I must be strong. I must be his strong mother. “If Damian already talked to you about sex, then why are you asking us about it?”

 “Uncle Damian did tell me about sex, but he couldn’t answer some questions,” J.J explains hastily.

 I take a deep breath. “Okay, ask us.” I say gently.

 “Where was I created? How did you and dad create me?” J.J asks casually, even when his eyes are clearly begging for information. His question basically covers the, ‘where did I come from’ question.

 “If you already know sex, then are you asking where your dad and I…created you?” I ask slowly. I can feel my stomach hurt.

 “Yeah Mom,” J.J says nodding his head.

 Bruce gives me a look; the look that tells me to tell the truth, or otherwise J.J will get the wrong idea about his life. I nod my head and lick my lips as well. I settle more into Jason’s lap, and he glances at me to see what I’ll say.

 “You mean location?” I ask, making sure I understand the question.

 “Yeah,” J.J confirms.

 “I believe…you were created at Uncle Dick’s birthday party,” I answer honestly. Because if my memory serves me right, Jason and I were drunk that night. After too many shots of Fireball and Patron, we ended up having sex a few times, and I knew we weren’t using protection. “Your dad and I had too much fun, and we thought about starting a family right then and there!”

 “Really? At Uncle Dick’s birthday party?” J.J asks, seemingly surprised and thankful about it.

 Okay, because I don’t think J.J is old enough to know we were so drunk and careless. If I must be honest about sex, I will be.

 “Yeah, exactly! We-we wanted a boy and that’s the place where we decided to make you, kid!” Jason adds with support for me.

 “Seriously?” Dick whispers to us. While I remain focused on J.J, I can feel Jason flipping him off behind my back.

 “Okay,” J.J begins before looking at Jason and I. “How was I created?”

 “From sex,” Jason answers quickly.

 “Exactly how Uncle Damian taught you a while ago,” I say.

 J.J shakes his head at us. “No, no I mean…” J.J trails off before he finally gives us his undivided attention. “Were you on top of Mom? Was Mom on top of you, Dad? Did you do it sideways or upside down? Or did you hump Mom’s butt like a dog, Dad? Uncle Damian says you’re a real dog is that’s true.”

 Jason’s eyes widen. I cover my face as everyone else bursts into laughter, including Alfred. J.J suddenly blushes in embarrassment, and then I realize his curiosity is not to be laughed at or ignored. I end up removing myself from Jason, and I pull J.J to me so I can hold him.

 “Don’t be embarrassed, J.J. It’s perfectly normal to ask questions, even if they’re…scary or embarrassing. But your Dad and I promise to try to answer all your questions the best we can,” I tell him. I caress his cheeks, and I decide to answer since I’m sure everyone else is just as curious as this little boy. And even though it was a drunken night, the bruises on my ass and hips proved we did in fact do…doggy style. “If you must know, your Dad and I did the last sexual pose you said, and he didn’t do it in my butt; he did it in my vagina.”

 “But why?” J.J asks seriously. “Why did you choose that pose to make me?”

 “Maybe we should stop this conversation,” Jason suggests. His body tenses and his eyes say he’s too afraid to keep talking.

 “Why should we? I want to know,” J.J replies anxiously.

 “You really shouldn’t know,” Jason tries to reason with him.

 “BUT I’M YOUR KID! AND I WANT TO KNOW RIGHT NOW!” J.J yells angrily.

 “BECAUSE IT FEELS SO FUCKING GOOD, KID! IT’S OUR FAVORITE POSITION! Trust me, when you do it one day you’ll see why,” Jason admits, lowering his voice after his outburst to answer J.J.

 “Oh my God!” Dick bursts into laughter as he and Tim fall to the floor, holding their stomachs and crying with real tears of joy. “I-I can’t believe you said that!”

 “Shut up Dick!” Barbara hisses at him.

 “At least Master J.J can rest his curious mind,” Alfred sighs.

 “Imbeciles…” Damian mutters under his breath.

 “I think you did a great job,” Bruce praises me. He and Selina stand up and hug Jason, J.J and I. “You too, Jason.”

 “Even if Y/N did most of the work,” Selina lightly teases Jason.

 Jason finally snaps out of his frozen state and smiles down at me and J.J. He picks up J.J, and uses his other arm to wrap around me. “You’re the best, you know that right, doll?”

“I’m the best too!” J.J whines.

 Jason chuckles and tickles J.J. I kiss Jason’s cheek, and I finally decide to give in. “Maybe we should have another baby,” I whisper to him.

 “Yeah? Really?” Jason asks, raising his eyebrows with a silly grin on his face.

 “Yeah,” I confirm my decision. “I really think we should. I mean, I feel like we’re ready.”

 Jason kisses me and hugs our son in between us. “I believe we are ready, too,” Jason agrees.

 “Then let’s make our family bigger,” I say strongly.

 J.J smiles and hugs us both. The idea of him being a big brother must be something he wants as well. And just when Jason and I are about to seal the deal with a kiss, J.J clears his throat to get our attention, and the rest of the families as well.

 “Yeah, kid?” Jason asks, as we look at J.J.

 “I just have one more question: if you didn’t do it in Mom’s butt, then where did you put your thingy? Her vagina is up front, right?” J.J asks, his wondering mind is at it again.

 Jason and I sigh because tonight is going to be a long night of the never-ending sex talk.

 And to think Jason and I are going to make a girl next.

 Lord help us.