#but he'll just have an excruciating headache for like a week

[leapofaith-au]

Mugs, ya need a break- I know it'll cause the other two to go out with whatever bicker they have but that crack doesn't seem like a good sign-

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[ashton-ryder]

Ash closed his eyes just for a moment or two, the pain had been exhausting wishing he could go to sleep and forget it hurts. And he felt like he was allowed to rest his guard and close his eyes for the first time since they locked him up. And so he rested with shallow breaths as she examined the bones, or whatever mess they've ended up in.

He only brought his blues back to Ruth when he felt her hands settle on his leg, ready like how she popped his shoulder back just a few weeks back. His hands searched for something to grip on, finding the edge of the mattress but he didn't expect the confusing words to spill out of her mouth then. "..what?-- fuck-" Ashton could only bring up a confused word before he let out an excruciating choke of a yell and bit down on his lips from the sob, with a hand digging into the mattress and the other into his arm, putting pain somewhere else to distract from the worse pain below.

His ears were ringing from the shift of the bone, brain partially writhing in pain, and partially trying to understand the news she so conveniently tried to tell him then, just in time to hear her apology cut through the pain. Ash gave her a look of disbelief, as if she was just messing with him on a regular day, "a lie?? I don't trust you anymore," in between deep breaths, he scoffed and grumbled in jest as he tried to recover from that ordeal, feet growing numb from the shift back of joints. But still, the tone was familiar, more like him again, more alive than he was minutes ago, "I thought I was gonna need to have a stern talking with Oscar." It wasn't that he wouldn't approve if it were true, but no one was allowed to break her heart, he felt protective over his best friend in that regard. Not that he'd know if he'll ever get to speak to him again.

He sat in silence for a moment or two, seeing her prepping to wrap the ankle up, deciding to mirror her ask as the adrenaline from pain still a haze over his coherent thoughts with a minor headache, "did I tell you I kissed Jeremiah?" as if continuing their conversation that morning on the rooftop, never finishing it the moment their house of cards of the Wexley came crashing down. But like her own tactics, it seemed better to fill the silence for something to focus on.

despite the fact that they're in the same room together, and she's able to help in the best way that she knows how, there is still the tremor to his voice. she's worked enough shifts to know that his ankle is a radiant pain, the kind of injury that leaves people shouting that she shouldn't touch them. but ash has never said that, not once, not even when it hurts.

she stared back at him, studying his face for anything more than just pain and exhaustion. she didn't know what exactly she was looking for, a trace of fire that showed they were still themselves. her nod is a subtle agreement, although she's not going to tell him that it's a close second. instead she prepares a wrap, before moving her hands to the fine bones of the ankle.

there is no x-ray, there's no way to know how many cracks have been made, or what's shifted there is only one large ugly protrusion that has to be making it near impossible to stand. she places her hands where she's going to have to push, and turns back to him with a sentence that's meant to do nothing more than catch him off guard: "did i tell you i kissed your friend oscar?"

if he looks at her alarmed or surprised at the topic, she doesn't see, she'd busy realigning his bone with all her might. it scrapes, and then it's in place to be wrapped. "sorry." and just for a moment her voice sounds normal. "that was a lie." if only they could both laugh, look at each other from across the couch with chilled cans of root beer. the details of this room trying their best not to stick in her mind. "so much for trust."

[queenofslytherin71]

You're my home now

Chapter 4: Flashbacks.

Pairing: Bucky x mermaid reader.

Summary: Bucky Barnes discovers a beautiful stranger passed out on the beach. ( I suck at summaries.)

Word count: 2014

Warnings: None that I can think of.

A/N: Sorry this chapter took so long. There's still two chapters left after this one. Enjoy.

TAGLIST IS OPEN.

Bucky sat at the counter, opposite Steve, both drinking their coffee. Bucky must've been on his seventh cup that morning. Bucky has been like this since he last spoke to you. Grumpy and annoyed. If only he could build up the courage to speak to you, make it all right. He hated not being around you and not seeing you smile. Whenever you walked into a room he was in, you'd avoid his gaze or just leave.

"You need to go talk to her Buck," Steve said.Bucky ignored Steve. Steve placed his mug in front of him and sighed.

"You can keep ignoring me, but you and I both know you're the one who made a mistake. This separation between the two of you are not doing you or Y/N any good."Bucky rubbed his face.

"I know Steve. It's just I don't think I can make this right. You should've seen how she looked at me. God I'd do anything to make it all okay again." Steve noticed the sadness in his best friend's eyes.

"Then go tell her."

"Tell her what?"

"Oh come on Buck. You're in love with her and it looks to me that she feels the same way. She's not going to wait for you forever you know."

"What if she doesn't want to see me? You know how stubborn she can be."

"Please. She can't be more stubborn than you." Bucky rolled his eyes, before he stood up from his chair and left the kitchen.

"Y/N's in the training room!" Steve yelled.

"Thanks!" Bucky called back, changing his direction.

"Come on Y/N it's been two weeks," Natasha said holding the punching bag still."Go talk to Barnes, he's been really sour lately," Natasha added.

"No. It's better this way. He obviously doesn't want to be more than friends." You replied as you slammed your fists into the punching bag.

"But what about the almost kiss? That must've meant something huh?"

"That was just a spur of the moment thing."

"Yeah right." Natasha snorted.

You stood still as a blinding pain shot through your head, making you almost fall over. Your eyes closed. You were in the water again. The place felt so familiar, but you couldn't place it. A school of colorful fish swim past you. You turned your head in the direction they swam and saw a silhouette of an even bigger fish swimming towards you. You heard the feint sound of your name.

"Y/N."

"Y/N!" Natasha yelled. You opened your eyes and saw Natasha standing in front of you holding your shoulders tightly, looking very worried.

"Are you okay?" She lowered her arms to her side.

"I think so. I need to tell you something." You filled her in about the strange flashes with the headaches you've been having since your fight with the HYDRA agent two weeks ago.

After you told her everything you've seen, she was silent, thinking about what you said.

"I think this stuff you've been seeing could be flashbacks from your life before. You say you're in the water right? The ocean to be exact and Barnes found you on a beach. Maybe your memory is returning slowly?"

"I don't know Nat, it's so frustrating and don't let me even talk about the headaches. If feels like my skull is splitting in half," you said as you rubbed your temples.

"We'll figure it out Y/N. You want to continue with training?"

"Yeah."

"You sure?" Natasha said eyeing you warily.

"Uh huh, just need some water first." You walked over to the bench in the corner of the training room and took your bottled water, hastily pouring the water down your throat. Natasha climbed into the sparring ring.

"Wow. You are thirsty."

"You have no idea," you said after you gulped the bit of water that was left. You felt very light headed as you walked over to the sparring ring. The pain returned to your head and shot throughout your whole body. You crumpled to the floor crying in agony. Natasha jumped out of the sparring ring to your side.

"Y/N! Y/N!" She yelled as she shook you. Seconds later Bucky came into the training room and saw you on the floor. He immediately ran to your side.

"What happened?" Bucky demanded from Natasha as he tried to calm you down by holding your head in his lap.

"I don't know. She earlier said something about a headache, but this looks like something else."

"Just make it stop... Please make it stop. It hurts," you begged between sobs.

"We need to get her to Bruce," Bucky said as you thrashed in his grip.

"It's okay Y/N. It's okay. Hold on." Bucky whispered. His voice sounded almost broken. You stopped thrashing as your vision blurred and the pain in your body began to make you numb. You passed out, but you vaguely remember someone lifting you up.

You were in the water and this time it finally made sense as the information of your past rushed into your head. It didn't help that it came along with excruciating pain, but you finally understood as you looked down at the bright blue tail where your legs once was.You're a mermaid. You felt like you belonged there. The ocean was so colorful and majestic. Everywhere you looked there was pink and orange coloured coral or a school of purple and green fish swimming past you. You once again saw something big swim towards you. At first you thought it was a big fish, but as it got closer you realized it was another mermaid. A much older one in fact. She had long grey hair and grey eyes that was filed with wisdom. Her friendly face you could see that was once beautiful, was now full of wrinkles. The aged mermaid smiled at you.

"Who are you?" You asked.

"Come back to us. Answer the calling." Her voice was smooth and flawless. The image of her was fading.

"What? No. Please help me."

"Answer the calling," her voice now a mere whisper as she disappeared.

"Bruce what's wrong with her? Why is she in so much pain?" Bucky asked worriedly as he pointed to your sleeping figure.

Bruce bit his lip as he stared at Bucky, Natasha, Steve and Tony that has all gathered in the lab.

"I got the results of Y/N's blood tests back a week ago and I've had my suspicious all along, but I wanted to make sure." Bruce pushed his spectacles back up his nose. The whole room was quiet in anticipation as they waited on Bruce to tell them.

"She's not human," he said flatly.

"What do you mean she's not human?" Tony asked.

"Well technically she's only half human."

"Half human, half what?" Bucky inquired.

"Half fish."

Everyone couldn't stop questioning Bruce about you, everyone except Tony. When he heard Bruce say half fish, his eyes widened with shock and realization. He quickly left the room.Bruce sighed.

"Everyone please relax. Let me explain. Y/N is known in mythology, as a mermaid. The last few months I noticed a change in her behaviour. She gets more dehydrated than any person I've seen which explains her big intake of water. When she's not in the water a lot, her body gets physically weak that's why is attracted to the pool so much. She's has regular human cells and also cells of a fish, but her fish cells have been more dominant over her human cells lately, causing her to go through pain and dehydration. She's in transition."

Bucky needed a moment to process all this information.

"It makes sense that you found her on the beach Barnes," Natasha said.

"Can we sedate her if she wakes up with pain again?" Bucky wondered.Bruce shook his head.

"I'm afraid not. It could disturb her transformation and just make the pain worse than it already is."

"Then what can we do?"

"Take me back," you said. Your voice was raw and scratchy. Everyone turned to see you awake. Bucky practically ran to your bedside.

"Doll how are you feeling?" He said as he tenderly ran his fingers through your hair.

"Weak." You smiled up at him and felt comfort in his blue eyes as you fingers toyed with the necklace around your neck.

"What can we do?" He whispered so only you can hear.

"You need to take me back to the ocean. I remember everything Bucky." Bucky looked up at Bruce and the others.

"So it's true?" You nodded.

"If I stay here I'll die. I've been out of the water far too long."

On the way to the beach you sat in Bucky's lap. The trip was short and silent. Bucky held you tightly against his chest, afraid that this might be the last time he'll ever see you again. When you arrived Bucky carried you in his arms in a bridal fashion towards the docks. Bruce and Natasha remained behind.

"I'm sorry Y/N." He whispered.

"What for?" You asked weakly. You took in a breath of fresh salty air.

"For not telling you how I felt about you that day. I was an idiot to shout at you. I know it's a little too late now, but you have to know that I love you Y/N even if this is the last time we'll ever see each other again."

You didn't answer. Bucky looked down and saw that your eyes were closed and your body still.

"Doll?" His eyes widened with fear.

"Y/N? Y/N!" He yelled as he tried to wake you. He slumped to the floor of the dock as he held you. Silent sobs racked his large frame. He whispered your name over and over again.

"Come back to me. Come back to me."

Then he did the only thing he could think. He picked you up again and walked till he reached the end of the docks. He gently placed your legs in the water as he held your middle tight. For a moment nothing happened, until he felt you stir in his grip. Your eyes fluttered open. You turned your head and saw Bucky as tears rolled down his face.

"Let me go Buck. It's okay." He didn't want to let go of you at first, but he hesitantly did. You slowly eased your entire body into the water.

After a few minutes you resurfaced. The dark circles under your eyes were gone, your skin was glowing. Your eyes were bright and full of life. You smiled up at a astonished Bucky. You raised your tail from the water for him to see.His eyes were full of wonder as he saw your tail. It was brilliantly blue and the sun shone down on your gills making it look more shinier than it already was. He was amazed at how swift and graceful you flipped your fins.

"Wow," was the only word that he could think of. You giggled. You swam towards the dock where he crouched. You raised yourself from the water and sat down beside him. He noticed the soft curve of your breast, hidden under your long hair that reached your waist. He tried to look away, but your beauty overwhelmed him.

"You're so beautiful." A blush crept along your cheeks.

"Bucky. I'm gonna have to leave for a while." He swallowed hard, knowing this was coming.

"When will you be back?" His deep voice was filled with hope.

"I don't know."

"But remember I will always come back to you," you said as you reached up to carress his scruffy cheek. He closed his eyes and leaned his face into your touch. He kissed your thumb before you pulled your hand back. You reached around your neck, taking off your necklace and placing it in his hand.

"I want you to hold on to it till I get back."

"Is that a promise?"

"It's a promise." You said before you dived into the water, leaving Bucky on the dock with your necklace clutched in his fist.

TAGLIST: @buckybear5 @yo-yo-bro-bro @elaacreditava @scarletthornrose @jmb959 @chameerah @effielumiere