#but sam was literally a twig next to him

[lexosaurus]

Gym 101

In which Valerie forces Danny to go workout with her

[ao3]

Characters: Danny & Valerie Warnings: None Wc: 2,230

****

"You're not engaging your core, Danny. What do I keep telling you?" Valerie sighed and put down her weight. "You're going to fuck up your knees if you don't slow down and do this right."

"And I keep telling you I don't even know what that means!" Danny snapped, not for the first time this week and probably not the last.

When he told Valerie that he, Danny Fenton, was also Danny Phantom, Danny had been expecting Valerie to be so mad at him that she never wanted to speak to him again.

And, well, she had been that mad at him. Very mad, in fact. So pissed, that for a minute, Danny was worried she was going to blast him off her roof.

He hadn't stuck around long after that.

And while he was beginning to make himself comfortable in the campground called, "Valerie's Cold Shoulder," he barely had two days to settle in before she had seemingly decided that enough was enough. 

Just before homeroom began, she strode to him in the hall, pulled him to the side—literally, she yanked him around the corner by his shirt sleeve—and demanded they start hitting the gym together.

"Because," Valerie had explained at his whining, and not patiently either, "I get that you have ghost powers, but your human half is such a twig. Seriously, Danny, do you know how much you're holding yourself back right now? If you actually tried strength training, I bet you'd level up pretty hardcore in ghost fights. Who knows? You might be able to train your reflexes to dodge one of Skulker's blasts from time to time."

And well, that bruise to both Danny's ghostly ego and his human teenage boy ego had been all he needed to agree to start working out with none other than his former rival turned ally, Valerie Gray.

"Stand up straight," Valerie ordered, pulling him back to his present world of pain.

He had no idea how Jazz and his mom liked doing this stuff. At the current moment, he was pretty sure the person who invented the concept of lifting weights was a giant masochist because there was simply no way in hell anyone throughout history would have ever said, "You know what sounds like the most fun thing ever? Let's take heavy objects, lift them, do a little movement, and then put them back down in the same spot we lifted them from!"

But apparently, he was the weirdo for not understanding why there was a dedicated fanbase of people who put a metal bar on their back, put some weights on the sides of the bar, squatted into a crouch, and then stood back up.

And repeated the process.

Again.

And again.

And again. Ten times, resting, and then ten more times.

Danny weakly stood, gripping the bar behind his shoulders like it was the only thing tethering his will to live to this plane of existence, and glared at Valerie through sweaty bangs. "Okay, standing. What next?"

"We godda fix your core."

"Be my guest," Danny said. He wasn't even sure if Valerie could fix something he'd never had to begin with, but if she truly wanted to, then...whatever. He'd lost by coming here, anyway.

Valerie scrutinized him as if he was some sort of science project that wasn't quite working out how she'd hoped. Which, thinking about it for a moment, he figured that was probably exactly what he was to Valerie. 

Then, without warning, she put her hand on his stomach.

Now, Phantom was largely considered a very suave and cool hero. Well, maybe Sam and Tucker would disagree, and sure there was a whole TikTok tag dedicated to videos of him falling into random objects, but still. There were enough random people around who would agree that Phantom was at least somewhat socially sufficient.

But Fenton on the other hand was very much not. He was an awkward, goofy teen. He wasn't popular, and he didn't exactly have a lot of girls fawning over him at every turn.

Which was why Valerie, his former girlfriend who maybe he still had some deeply buried feelings for, touching him so casually was setting off all sorts of alarm bells in his brain.

"...got it?" Valerie was saying.

Certainly, she had said something.

Something that Danny was supposed to be listening to.

Oh, shit. 

"Uh..." Danny tried to re-circuit his brain.

"Here, follow my lead. Okay? Breathe," she said. "Good. Now, tighten your abs."

Danny tried his best to follow.

"No, see, you're sucking in. Tightening your abs doesn't mean sucking in. It's like, okay, think of it this way. Try hardening your abs into a brick wall. Like, squeeze them together. Now—yeah, like that. Now, can you try adding your side and lower back into that brick wall too?"

"Try adding what?"

The corners of Valerie's lip twitched up. "The sides of your stomach? You have abs there too. And there are muscles in your lower back. That's all part of your core too. Remember what I said about your core's job to keep your body stable? Those muscles are all important for that."

"Valerie, I think you're really overestimating how in shape I am. I didn't even know there was more than one ab muscle, much less that there were abs on the sides of my body."

"Well, you have them, ghost boy."

"Doesn't help much if I can't feel them."

Valerie rolled her eyes. "Well, just try your best."

"Yes, Ma'am." Danny did his best to follow her lead while also struggling to ignore the fact that her hand was still on his stomach. 

He was so glad Tucker wasn't here to see his face. He could only hope that Valerie had come to the conclusion that the redness he could feel burning from his cheeks was proof that he was way more out of shape than she thought he was. That was still pretty embarrassing, and likely not even all wrong, but he would take it over the truth.

"Okay, now reset your shoulders. Stop hunching so much," she said.

"But the bar feels weird," Danny defended.

"Yeah, yeah, you'll get used to it. Stop looking down so much. You want your spine to be straight."

"I know." 

Half of what Valerie had been telling him for the past week was to straighten his spine. He couldn't help it if his back was a visual representation of his many years of late-night gaming. 

"Okay, now squat down." She leaned forward, and her dark eyes were just inches from his own. "No—look at me the whole time. Don't drop your eyes to your feet."

Oh, his face was burning burning now.

He slowly lowered his body, focusing on staying balanced as best as he could. Having a bar on his back was still a new sensation, and Valerie was refusing to let him load any weight onto it. Apparently, everyone started from an empty bar until they got the hang of the motion. Danny wasn't sure if that was something Valerie was just saying to be nice to him, or if that was actually true. 

He did try asking, and she just got offended that he would dare think so low of her that she would lie about something gym-related, and then she told him to stop screwing around and focus on the exercise.

So, it was fifty-fifty at this point.

"Keep going down," Valerie instructed, stepping back and thankfully removing her hand from him in the process.

Seriously, that had been the longest several seconds of his entire life and half-life combined.

"But I thought you weren't supposed to go past ninety degrees or something?" Danny asked from his invisible chair-like position in his squat.

"No, that's a lie. I think they just tell that to people who have butt-wink or bad mobility or something."

"The hell is butt-wink? See, now I just think you're making stuff up."

"I'm not! It's actually something you're doing right now." Valerie pointed at him in the mirror. "See how your pelvis is tucking in and curving your lower back? That's butt-wink." She moved to stand next to him and lowered down in a squat. "See my lower back? It's straight. This is how you want to be."

Danny wasn't aware that working out would just give him more things to be self-conscious about. He tried to straighten his lower back, but it was almost impossible to do so without feeling like he was going to fall on his ass. "Okay, then how do I fix that?"

"Well, I'm not exactly a doctor, so I'm sure it could be caused by a few different things. But the most common one I've heard is that butt wink happens when your core is shit. But it could also just as likely be an ankle and hip flexibility issue too."

Danny rolled his eyes. "As we've established, my core is shit. And I'm not flexible at all. "

"Yeah, I know," Valerie lamented. "I can't believe you've been fighting as Phantom for all these years and you haven't gone to the gym even once. Isn't Sam really into working out or something? Why didn't you ask to be her gym buddy?"

"Because I value my life." Danny paused. "My half-life, whatever. Tucker worked out with her once to prepare for the President's fitness test they did freshmen year, and I didn't stop hearing about it for months. She's ruthless."

"You know what, I believe that."

"Yup," Danny grunted, lowering to do another squat.

Two down, about five million more to go.

People actually enjoyed lifting weights? They came to the gym willingly? As in, of their own volition?

They seriously sweated and lifted heavy objects in a room surrounded by a bunch of equally sweaty, smelly strangers who were lifting other objects? 

And they thought it was fun?

That seemed absurd.

Valerie scrunched her nose at him.

"What?" Danny asked, his voice teetering past the line between speaking normally and whining, but he was far too exhausted to care. "Why are you looking at me like that? What am I doing wrong now?"

"No, it's just—" Valerie tilted her head. "Try widening your stance more. And maybe try pointing your toes out a little bit. That should help with your form. I mean, ideally, your ankle mobility would be better, but given it's pretty shit right now, this might be the best fix."

"God, I'm hopeless. Just give me the word and I'll leave."

"Oh, stop. You're not hopeless. You just need to stretch more. And train more."

Danny shuffled his feet and bent down into another squat. Having a wider stand did make the squat feel easier, but he wasn't about to admit that to her. "No, I am definitely hopeless. It'll be a blow to my ego, but I think I can emotionally recover if I leave the gym right now."

Valerie punched his arm, though it had no real power to it. She'd long since stopped legitimately trying to hurt him. 

Nevertheless, he would have sooner let Skulker capture him than pass up an opportunity to verbally torment Valerie. "Wow, I can't believe my ally is trying to beat me up and murder me in public. Especially while I'm trying to better myself in the gym."

"Oh, shut up." Although she tried to look angry, Danny could see the corners of her lips quirk into a smile. "Alright, your form is looking a lot better. It's still not perfect, but it's way better than when we started."

"Thank god."

"Maybe in a few weeks we can start adding plates."

A few weeks?

He must have let his internal expression show, because she once again snapped with, "It's normal for people to only squat the bar when they first start. It's way more important to get proper form than to lift heavy. You see that guy over there?"

She nodded across the room at a man doing chest presses. He was using weights that Danny could only dream of, pumping them up and down with a confidence that Danny was sure rivaled even Dash.

So the man looked alright to Danny, but apparently, that was the wrong conclusion to come to, if Valerie's critical eye was any judge.

"See how his elbows are basically straight out from his body? And see how he's not extending his arms all the way when he presses? He's rushing through the exercise. It's bad form, and while it may feel cool to lift heavy, bulky weights, if you can't even do the exercise properly, you just end up looking like a fool." She turned back to him. "Remember, you're in a gym. That means you're surrounded by people who have been doing this shit for years. Trust me when I say you're not going to impress anyone by rushing through the exercises to try to look cool."

"Aye-aye, captain."

It wasn't like he was going to impress anyone with the way he was wobbling while attempting to squat the naked bar, anyway.

"Alright, that's enough of a rest, I think. This time, let's actually do eight reps."

"Literal torture."

"Keep the whining up, and I might just call my blaster out."

Danny could see it in her eyes that she wasn't joking.

And so, he began.

****

[read more of my fics here]

[live-laugh-legolas]

Oh, I really like your headcannons!!!! I would like to ask how do you think the members of the brotherhood (especially Gandalf) would react to the fact that the reader has wings and is also going on a journey (this was inspired by the valkyries, so I imagine how she would fight with these wings)

The fellowship x winged!reader

Aragorn:

-A huge weight is lifted from him knowing someone like you is on their side

-I also totally think he would be prone to motion sickness

-So if you ever have to fly him over a large gap or something he will need to sit down for a little

-“I’m never doing that again”

-He will help you preen your wings after battle to get the blood and dirt out of places you can’t reach

Legolas:

-He has absolutely heard about legends about your people

-He is so honored to get to meet you

-Watching you fight is so fascinating

-Will just take a moment to watch before almost getting beheaded in his distraction

-Calls you “birdie” in elvish

Gimli:

-You do literally anything with your wings and he is like “YEEESSSSS!”

-He’s such a cheerleader

-We also know he loves the powerful girl bosses

-So you are a top tier in his opinion

-I imagine that a winged being wouldn’t like being underground so he tries to keep you distracted with stories while in Moria

Boromir:

-My first thought was that Boromir would be like Thor when he met the Valkyrie

-He’s such a fangirl

-Ngl, after seeing you fight he’s a little timid

-I mean everyone else saw that right? You just decapitated that orc with your wing

-So badly wants to show you to his brother who would be awed

Frodo:

-He doesn’t know much about your people but he’s adamant to learn everything

-He is so thankful you will be helping him on this journey

-When he gets exhausted from lack of sleep because of the ring you carry him on your back and he can hold onto your wings

-Have him help preen your wings to get his mind off of his troubles for a little

Sam:

-Thinks you must be an angel when he first sees you

-He’s a little intimidated

-Ok, maybe a lot intimidated

-But that’s only because he thinks you must be one of the most beautiful creatures to walk middle earth

-He is concerned what you will eat if what was caught for dinner was a bird

-Would it be weird if you ate chicken? It feels unethical

-Actually probably gives a stern talking to whoever caught the bird because what if it was upsetting for you

Merry:

-Take this hobbit for a flight

-He will be so excited

-He would absentmindedly pet your wings (if you were ok with it)

-Maybe just give him a feather to play with

-He also makes so many bird jokes

Pippin:

-He doesn’t want you to think he is disrespectful

-So he doesn’t ask

-But he really wants to pet your wings

-They just look so soft and silky

-Until they are dirty from battle; but would help you pick twigs and dirt out of them

-“so…um…do you take dirt baths?*

Gandalf:

-He probably knew you before the council, and probably is the one who invited you

-You have been friends for a while

-He is vague but smug when someone asks about you

-He likes to see people’s reactions to you

-You’re like his party trick; he’s like ✨tada!✨*jazz hands to your wings*

-It gets old, but not to him

-He rides on an eagle and you fly next to them

-He refuses to let you fly him anywhere unless absolutely necessary

-But will be a backseat driver even though there is nothing to backseat drive about

———————————————————————

I love a winged reader and I have my own little oc in my head that I regularly have in this scenario. I’m a sucker for winged characters ngl. I don’t really know the Valkyrie so idk how accurate this will be to them

Also I may update this at some point cuz I don’t think I did a good job with it especially considering how much I think about this just in my own time; so sorry

[ladylilithprime]

When In Need

Series: Fluffy Faerie Tales

Fandom: Supernatural

Pairing: Sastimmy/Jamstiel (Jimmy Novak/Sam Winchester/Castiel)

Rating: Teen and Up

Tags/Warnings: Half-Fae Sam Winchester, Jimmy and Castiel Are Twins, Selkie Jack Kline, Sam Winchester Is Jack Kline's Adopted Father, Brief Allusions to Canon-Typical Violence, Stealth Crossover: Guardians of Childhood

Summary: Since the Magical Revelation, strange things tended to happen a lot more often and openly, and it was usually best to check with a magical before deciding if something was cause for alarm or just another Thursday. And then Jack came home from school with two shadows.

For: @fluffyfebruary challenge!

Prompt: Day 19: Shadow

Read on AO3

EVER SINCE THE Magical Revelation had happened in the year 2000, it had slowly become more and more commonplace for humans to encounter literally fantastical things in their day to day lives, particularly if they lived in one of the openly Integrated cities and neighborhoods that were cropping up all over the place. Quite a few misunderstandings had happened over behaviors that humans saw as threatening while other species were honestly trying to be friendly. Cas and Jimmy had seen quite a few things once they got to college that would have been quite strange to them growing up, and relied a lot on their magical dorm mates to help them sort out what was actually cause for alarm and what was just another Tuesday.

So when the door to Lighthouse CommodiTeas opened to let in a rather distracted Jack who appeared to be muttering to himself, Jimmy didn't immediately twig to something being off. Even when Jack joined the line at the counter rather than going straight to his usual after school corner table to start on his homework, it was a little odd but not cause for alarm. It was only when Jimmy caught sight of the second shadow along the floor next to Jack's extending from the boy's feet that Jimmy started to get concerned.

He handed off the iced Unicorn Berry Latte he had just finished making, gave Charlie the covert "calling in the big guns" sign, and ducked into the kitchen. "Hey, boss, got a minute?"

Sam, alerted to the potential trouble more from being called "boss" by Jimmy than by his tone, set down his pen and closed the notebook around it. "Category?"

Jimmy shook his head with a grimace. The category system was a nice shorthand for the types of customers that meant capital-T Trouble and usually required the half-faerie's special brand of encouragement towards good behavior. A category one to two was usually a particularly entitled Karen-type who wanted to speak to the manager. Category three was the harassment types, the ones who thought a barista was there to service them in other ways besides just making a drink or warming up one of their cookies, muffins, or scones. Category four was the religious bigots who occasionally came in with crosses or a petition to try and make the "devil's creatures" leave their neighborhood even though Avalon was one of the most heavily magical boroughs on Seven Mile Island. Category five was the violent types, and those usually got Sam's attention from the yelling well before someone had to come back and get him.

This wasn't something Jimmy knew how to categorize. "What's it mean if Jack comes in talking to someone I can't see and has two shadows?"

"Did he look scared or hurt?" was the predictable first question, which Jimmy also wasn't sure how to answer.

"He didn't look scared, exactly," he said, frowning as he thought back. "Preoccupied, yeah, and he got in line rather than go to his usual table."

"Hm," Sam frowned and got up. "I'm glad you came and got me. It's probably nothing to worry about, but..."

"Better safe than sorry?" Jimmy offered as he followed Sam back out to the front counter.

"Something like that," Sam agreed, sounding a bit preoccupied himself now. Charlie finished handing off the change for the customer just ahead of Jack and slid away to make the man's drink just as Sam and Jimmy got to the register. "What's going on, kiddo?"

"Mixy Nox needs help, Father," Jack said solemnly, with more formality than Jimmy had ever heard from him. He looked up and his eyes flared a strange dark silver. "Please, my prince."

The hairs on the back of Jimmy's neck stood up. That was not Jack's voice speaking, much deeper and carrying an undercurrent of something that scratched at the back of his mind like branches on a window in the middle of the night. He glanced up sharply at Sam, hoping for a clue as to whether this was cause for alarm or not, but Sam didn't even so much as flinch.

"What do you need, Nox?" he asked softly, his own expression going very serious.

"There is a boy," that strange voice intoned with Jack's mouth. "His name is Matthew Alphonse Pike. His father is a real estate developer in the territory called Oklahoma. He has been warned of a curse on the land on which his company means to build houses, that Kahnanesgi will protect the land from defilement. He thinks sacrificing his son, who has affinity for Kahnanesgi's children, will break the curse."

"Idiot," Sam hissed under his breath even as Jimmy bit back a curse of his own. The Revelation had brought back a lot of superstitions and fearmongering with the knowledge that magical beings, creatures, and old gods were very, very real, and the government didn't always have a handle on stopping the more extreme groups from doing something incredibly stupid. Jimmy rubbed at the ring on his left thumb and resisted the urge to press close against Sam's side. "Alright, Nox, come on out of my son and we'll go talk about how to help your boy and the price it will cost."

Sam held out a hand, and Jack shuddered before a dark silver light seemed to seep out of his skin to form a glowing orb that hovered in Sam's palm. Jimmy caught Sam's eye, read the pleading there, and nodded shortly, taking his place as Sam stepped back and swiftly carried the floating orb into the back. Jimmy looked down at Jack, possessing only one shadow now and looking a little pale around the metaphorical gills. "You want a hot cocoa, Jack?"

"Yes, please, Mr Jimmy," Jack mumbled, shivering a little before seeming to settle. He looked up, a little sheepish. "I'm sorry if Mixy Nox scared you. Their physical form is kinda stuck in a tree back in the main courtyard of the Summer Palace, so they hafta connect with someone to talk when they're running errands between the Realms. It doesn't hurt, s'just kinda cold."

"So long as you're sure you're alright, I'll take your word for it," Jimmy said, mentally resolving to double check that verdict with Sam just in case. Jack still looked rather cold and the hot cocoa was going to take a bit to make, so Jimmy shrugged out of the open flannel shirt he'd been wearing over his uniform T-shirt and leaned over the counter to drape it around Jack's shoulders. "Go on and sit down and I'll bring your drink out to you."

"Thanks, Papa J!" Jack chirped, burrowing into the flannel and all but skipping over to his usual table, leaving Jimmy to stare after him and try to convince himself that he had actually heard the boy say that.

And then he shook himself and traded places with Charlie to go make the mug of hot cocoa.

[crimsonblackrose]

.

The sekai taikai people have shown up.

I love how they crash the interview for Silver and Amanda's curtsy with her karate adjacent.

Johnny: We will (win) and when we do I'm going to shove that pony-tail straight up your ass (Amanda starts giggling) You can translate that.

Johnny checking on Miguel and telling him he won't force him to compete, blaming that and himself fully for Miguel running away.

Is this what fatherly advice sounds like?

K.O by Robby, whose just teasing Johnny.

SATO'S PHOTO IS ON THE DOJO WALL NEXT TO MR. MIYAGI!!!! Did Chozen bring that from Okinawa?

Johnny proving he remembers the story. Though it's not the story Daniel planned to tell.

They also showcase the abandoned warehouse. With Sam kicking a watermelon

Sam gets watermelon all over Gunther Braun. And Johnny uses a Rock reference to try and smooth it over and Gunther Braun goes all in on it, apparently Rock is his hero. Gunther Braun: Show me more. Johnny: Yes, sir.

While Robby and Sam show off their ability to balance together on the wheel, Eli leans over to the guy next to him from Sekai Taikai and starts wiggling his eyebrows. What are you doing?

What Johnny told Kreese threw him, so when Tory comes for advice Kreese tells her to do what's best for her. (Good advice)

Tory's mad at Kreese for giving up on the plan after she's gone through so much but his advice is good. Look after yourself. He is trying to do right by her.

The students are inhaling pizza faster than Amanda and Carmen can get them on the table.

I'm pretty sure Amanda's apron says LaRusso American Born Italian Made

Johnny sitting in the living room with Eli, Robby and Miguel to figure out which one wants to fight.

Miggy's little yeah I did that face

Awww Robby and Miguel already talked about it and they picked Hawk.

You know what they used to call me? Twig

Kenny's face lol

Silver shows Kenny the silver bullet, a move that rips the dummy and strikes with enough force between the ribs to take someone's breath away.

Mitch distracted by the girls and the smoothie bar. Hint 3 I think that he won't remain loyal.

Eli's hair is green.

Kenny seeing Robby traded sides and is now talking to Anthony pisses him off.

Hate to say it, but he's right.

Silver did you pay off the ref again?

They didn't show it this time, as slowly as they did in the tournament, but Johnny says Hawk made contact in bounds.

Once again Johnny is right, This is directly after the strike, Kenny isn't out of bounds.

The way the ref looks at Tory then Tory looks at Silver and realizes this game is rigged too.

Kenny grabs Hawk's leg and goes for the knee with his elbow the way once was done to Daniel and has been done a lot in this show, I think Hawk even did or tried to do it to Kenny. Kenny gets a warning for that but Eli says he's okay.

Johnny once again being the fastest to get to a student's side. Miggy's soft: Hawk?

Johnny very softly leans down next to him and asks what's wrong.

Hawk struggling to breathe: I...can't....breathe. Johnny looking around shouting to ask where the medic is

the medic showing up the ref calls it a forfeit even though in the all-valley they literally get a half hour.

They help him up and Hawk leans against Johnny.

It's kind of a mirror to after Sam's loss. Though eventually Daniel stops to stare down SIlver and Johnny continues with Hawk alone.

Tory realized Silver was cheating again and peaced out. Good for her.

Daniel warns Sam that they're fighting dirty and in the background Johnny is sitting and talking to Hawk who the medic is still checking on.

Devon steps onto the mat, surprised she's fighting Sam because Tory left, only to meet Johnny's gaze, seeing him rubbing Hawk's back.

One bonus of having so many sensei's is Johnny can care for his injured students and stay with them.

Ref said no point for a shoulder hit. And everyone is confused because it should be because she got her below the shoulder, and she blocked the point Devon got.

If I was Silver I'd be pissed this guy kept looking at me after every bad call.

Sam has to ensure every point is completely undeniable.

I love that Johnny is cheering from the back with Hawk. One of the unnamed background dojo students puts a hand on Hawk's shoulder as comfort when Cobra Kai gets to qualify.

Our Eagle-fang/miyagi-do dojo also qualifies.

Chozen and Johnny hug...but no one hugs Daniel other than Sam, but that was earlier when she beat Devon. (She also hugged Chozen which was very sweet) (Johnny and him fist bump, and even though it looks like they're going to hug Chozen and Daniel just sort of slap each other's backs/shoulders while staying at a distance) Poor Daniel, all he's ever wanted were hugs from Mr. Miyagi and now pretty much the only one giving him hugs are his family. Y'all need to hug him some more.

Like Johnny runs into join the merriment and cheer on his kids while Daniel just stands alone and stares down Silver.

Awww Johnny looking at their students then stepping forward "We are Miyagi-do" and Daniel looking at him, realizing probably how hard that was, stepping next to and in front of Johnny to say "And we are Eagle fang"

Daniel's speech is so good.

Summary of both their journeys.

Okay, Johnny and Daniel do a sort of side hug back pat after that too. I think both pleased with the other.

I like Eli telling Sam, "Maybe some day we'll both win"

Johnny has plans to take her and Rosa to dinner and a late night movie. That's cute. I love that Johnny also hangs out with Rosa and likes her, especially since Carmen's last two guys hated Rosa.

The way Johnny tells Robby and Miguel that as a way to be like you can use our place to host the celebration. The way Miguel totally gets it and just grins.

Miguel trying to clean up his apartment, the courtyard is already trashed. Robby's sitting on the kitchen counter.

Miguel this is too many people. How did this happen. (Poor boy's first party while his parents are out freaking out. Even though he has permission from Johnny) Moon texted a bunch of people from East Valley.

Sam ubered there.

I would like to point out, technically Sam and Miguel are broken up and she's made no notice of anything that they might be back together.

I do love that every time in this show someone tries to escape unnoticed (Usually Johnny) something keeps them from letting that happen. I.e. Sam trying to leave when she catches Miguel and a random girl kissing.

I think Chris puts two and two together when Miguel calls after her and Sam runs off in tears.

Tory coming to tell the truth about the All Valley

[dirtychocolatechai]

get some | b.b | teaser

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Female Reader

Warning(s): smut - sex toys, n00ds, teasing, dirty talk, sexting

Notes: This has been sitting unfinished on my drive forever 🙃 but look at me now 😎 I’m not dead I promise lol. You can thank get some by ghosted for the sudden inspiration to finish this.

The soft ping of his phone alerts Bucky to yet another text message. There’s a chance it could be Sam but most likely, it’s you being a giant pain in the dick. Literally.

You’ve been teasing him all afternoon.

Flirty became suggestive, suggestive became direct, and direct became downright filthy as pictures followed words. The last selfie popped up several minutes ago; a dildo with a fat head and thick veins - his favourite to fuck you open with, your pretty little pussy spread wide around the girthy shaft as you whimper and cry, “ I can’t - oh my fucking god...B-baby, please - too much, too much,” - resting on the bed next to a certain one sleeved, navy leather jacket.

Goddamn it.

You don’t even have to explain what you plan on doing, and that makes him as irritated as he is turned on, pants tight and cock throbbing so hard it hurts. Thank god he’s wearing black...

There’d be no hiding the massive fucking tent in his pants otherwise.

Bucky can’t help grinding a rough palm down on his erection in the vain hope it’ll alleviate some of the pressure. It barely helps, does nothing more than make him suck air through his teeth in a low hiss and bite off a strangled curse.

It’s almost too much and he feels like a goddamn teenager all over again, reduced to palming himself desperately beneath a table all because you’re a fucking tease and know what buttons to push, cheeky smile on your face and eyes glittering with mischief.

You like winding him up and watching him go, see how far you can stretch his self control before it snaps like a dry twig.

Shit...

He knows it’s such a bad idea but his impulse control is shot to shit.

TBT

[holyhellpod]

4. Fambily

In this episode, we skim the surface of the fambily dynamics in Supernatural, which are--ah. Dicey at best. 

Apple | Spotify | Google

Transcript under the cut!

Content warnings: domestic violence and family abuse

[Growl]

Ah, the Winchesters. Where do we even start. Unhinged, deranged, and continually traumatised in every way, Sam and Dean complete each other. At least, that’s what the show wants us to think. Despite the ways they betray each other, lie to each other, and  piss each other off, they are fambily. And fambily is the most important thing. The concept of Fambily in the show Supernatural (2005-2020) takes many twists and turns throughout its run. In the first five minutes of episode one, the heteronormative, nuclear family of John, Mary, Sam and Dean is ripped apart by an unknown, antagonistic force that represents all the evil in the world. It creeps into a nursery and eviscerates a white, blonde mother while preying upon a 👶, I mean, how much more evil can you get? It’s fantastic that, in the later seasons especially, Supernatural embraces this idea that fambily doesn’t end in blood, but blood doesn’t always mean fambily. By the end of the series, the fambily concept has expanded to include two dads, an aunt and uncle, and a thirty-year old infant. I’m going to talk about the finale in its own episode, so that my ire will have its proper outlet. 

When the show starts, Sam, Dean and John have each other, and only each other. By the time season 2 really kicks off, Sam and Dean don’t have John anymore, but they do have Bobby Singer. The concept of the triumvirate follows them throughout the series as though they’re in a less sexy Italo Calvino novel—first Sam, Dean and John, then Sam, Dean and Bobby, then Sam, Dean and Ruby, then Sam, Dean and Cas, then Sam, Dean and Mary, then Sam, Dean and Jack. It’s broken in seasons 13-15 when Cas comes back and they have a family of four, and then five when Mary can stand to see her boys.  

But the Winchesters are not the only fambily in Supernatural who matter. In season two, we’re introduced to the Harvelles, mother Ellen and daughter Jo, who are a hunting fambily who run a hunter pub in the middle of whoop whoop. A pub that Eric Kripke famously hated, and rejoiced when he burnt it down at the end of season 2, because the Winchesters and by extension everyone they know aren’t allowed to have anything good ever. It’s revealed in season two episode “No Exit” that John got Jo’s father killed on a hunt, which obviously affects Jo more than it does Sam and Dean. 

[Editing note:] Okay I’m editing this episode, and I’m not happy with it. I’m not going to scrap it completely because I think I do have good points to say, but the general analysis of this episode is so surface level. It is basically contributing nothing to the conversation. And I started this podcast in order to actually contribute something to the culture. I could make a bunch of text posts on tumblr or I could spend hours and hours and hours and hours of my life to something that — I don’t know. Is it bringing me joy? Not at the moment. But, yeah. So I’m not going to scrap this episode completely but this is my way of saying from now on the episodes are going to take as much as they will take and I will commit myself to having deeper and more thoughtful analysis. And if I have to spend an entire episode on one aspect of one thing, I will. I could be at university right now studying a masters or a PhD in fucking literary analysis but instead I’m sitting on my bed making a Supernatural podcast because it brings me joy. It does. It really makes me happy and I don’t want to abandon this project, because people are listening to it. I don’t know why, I don’t know what you like it about it, but you’re listening. And I just think I owe it to myself to make things that I support 100%. So I’ll continue this episode and hopefully this rambling hasn’t put you off it completely. But from now on, I’m going to really, really talk about things that matter in regards to Supernatural… Kind of an oxymoron. Kind of a contradiction. But things that contribute to the cultural consciousness instead of just rehashing the road so far. That’s all I want to do. I want to contribute. I want to say good…ful things. Okay this is making me happy. It’s already working, it’s already making me happy. I’m just going to keep rambling and laughing. Okay so, more thoughtful analysis, deeper analysis. Things that make you think. Things that make me think. Instead of just a bunch of words that mean nothing. Okay, continuing on.

Okay to figure out which episode this was I had to watch a little bit of season two, and I’m still on my season 13 rewatch. The difference between the two seasons. I don’t know if I can even put into words the growth this show has gone through, and the characters have gone through, over the last 15 years. It would be like summarising my own growth by combing through my extensive diary collection and the years of societally- and governmentally-enforced heterosexuality that has plagued my entire life. Those boys are babies in season two. The bootcut jeans alone. Sam is literally 23 years old. I don’t even talk to 23 year olds. I block them on social media.  

The Harvelles are a blip in the Winchester map. While the actors Samantha Ferris and Chad Lindberg did attempt to resuscitate their cultural currency months after the show ended by participating in an event — okay I can’t. I can’t even go into it. Like, clearly Samantha Ferris heard back from her representation as soon as she started posting those tweets and realised she wouldn’t continue to get money if she endorsed, well, the gays. And Chad Lindberg was just using the clout to push his Etsy wares like a 14th century merchant, so I gotta respect the hustle. But Jo and Ellen die in season 5 episode “Abandon All Hope” and are barely mentioned again except the episode Ash appears in, season 5 “Dark side of the moon,” Jo in season 7, “Defending Your Life,” and Ellen in the season 6 episode “My heart will go on.” They didn’t exactly leave what you would call a lasting impact for the next, you know, ten seasons. 

To be honest, I’m not sure when it’s revealed that Bobby’s wife died after being possessed by a demon. It’s made clear in season 5 “Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid,” and I did not have to look that up, because season four and five are burned into my retinas like a particularly nasty sun flare. Bobby outlines the horrific way he killed his wife, because why not throw some spousal violence into the mix, and later in season 7 “Death’s Door,” it elaborates on their life together. I saw this sentiment expressed on TikTok, which we all know as the foundation of cultural knowledge, which was that fambilies don’t need to be two parents and children. Fambilies can be spouses or partners. You don’t need to have children in order to be a fambily. I think that’s a very nice sentiment and I’ve chosen to adopt it for these purposes. Bobby and his wife Karen are a fambily. While Karen wants kids, Bobby chooses not to have them for fear of becoming like his father and repeating the trauma he inflicted on Bobby. Bobby and Karen’s fambily dynamic is ruptured in the same way that John and Mary’s is—by an intrusive, demonic force that brings Bobby into the hunting world and ends Karen’s life. But by the time we see him at the end of season 1, Bobby is already ingratiated into Sam and Dean’s lives as their surrogate father, and this bond only deepens as the show progresses. Bobby expresses the sentiment to Dean to not be like John, that Dean is already a better man that his father ever was. Isn’t that what we all want to hear? That we have superseded our parents and outgrown them in ways they could never comprehend? Don’t we just want to be better than the generations that came before us, in order to mould a better world for the generations that come after us? Don’t we want to make things easier for our children, and our friends’ children, and our siblings’ children? Dean is a better man than John, and Bobby is better man than his father ever was. It’s about breaking the cycles of intergenerational trauma. I have to believe that Sam, Dean and Bobby did this, because then it’s possible for me to do the same thing. Include here that speech about representation in media that I didn’t bother writing for the last episode. Bobby is the surrogate father to Sam and Dean, a better father than John was, a better hunter even. He crafts an entire network of hunters who report to him, as seen in the season 6 episode “Weekend at Bobby’s,” and he continues to act as Sam and Dean’s mentor until his death in season 7 “How to win friends and influence monsters”. An alternate universe version of Bobby is introduced in season 13, which I have my reservations about, and he and Mary get together, which again, why. Season 13 is so hard to sit through. 

A fambily that is introduced late into the series and is simply NOT given enough screen time is the Banes fambily. In season 12, “Celebrating the life of Asa Fox,” we are introduced to the Banes twins, Max and Alicia, who are by far the most gorgeous hunters we’ve seen in the series. They are hunters raised by a witch, Tasha Banes, who doesn’t appear yet, and they manage to survive the trial by fire that is overcoming the demon Jael. Later in this season, in the episode “Twigs and Twane and Tasha Banes,” both of which are written by the late great Steve Yockey, we are introduced to Tasha in a way that seems awfully familiar: Alicia calls Sam to say their mother has gone missing on a hunt, and hasn’t checked in in a few days. By the end of the episode, Alicia and Tasha are dead, and Max has ostensibly sold his soul for the power to bring Alicia back. The Banes twins’ storyline directly parallels Sam and Dean’s from the pilot, but it’s a tragedy from the outset. We already know Tasha is dead and they can’t save her, however, like Dean does for Sam at the end of season 2, Max chooses to save Alicia at the expense of his own soul. Spin off when. Banes twins series when. I’m waiting. They were in two episodes and I’m still thinking about them. The Harvelles are dust. 

In season 7, “Reading is Fundamental,” a waifish 17 year old honour’s student Kevin Tran breaks into a rehabilitation facility to steal a tablet. This starts a chain of events that ingratiates Kevin Tran in the apocalyptic, death-succumbing world of the Winchesters, starting with Dick Roman, head leviathan, and continuing, but not culminating, with his death at the hands of Gadreel, who was possessing Sam, it’s a whole thing. Any time you attempt to summarise anything on Supernatural, you sound like a lunatic. And I say that as someone who has a supernatural podcast, with an audience of only supernatural fans. We are lunatics, but we’re lunatics together. Kevin’s arc was cut way too short, but we at least got to see him with his momma Linda in the beginnings of season 8 with the unfortunately named episode “What’s up, Tiger Mommy?” It introduces Linda Tran as a capable and worldly woman, hell bent on protecting her son. She offers up her soul among other things in exchange for Kevin and the tablet with him. During the episode, she is possessed by Crowley, and Dean attempts to kill him, which would mean killing Linda as well. Kevin considers this the ultimate betrayal and leaves with his mum. Later in season 9 episode “Captives,” Linda is reintroduced as a captive of Crowley, who escapes with Sam’s help. Back at the bunker, she reunites with Kevin, who is now, thanks to the Winchesters’ incompetence, a ghost 👻. My macbook keeps suggesting little emojis in the smart bar so I just gotta put ‘em in. That’s the last we see of Linda, so I’m drawing my own conclusions about whether she gets to live a long and happy life. Kevin is a fan favourite and despite my reservations about Osric Chau which I will not get into like ever I really like Kevin too. He outsmarts Crowley many times and shows remarkable tenacity to get an impossible job done. His desire to see his mum again, the driving force behind his actions, mirrors Dean’s desperation to have his fambily together again like they used to be. I would call this a parallel but I don’t believe they purposefully did this, I just think they accidentally rehashed the same tired storyline they’ve been peddling since 2005. But yeah, if I was Kevin and all I had was my mum, seeing her again would be the driving force for my actions as well. Kevin’s father is never mentioned, and it honestly isn’t a big deal, which is great. Sometimes fathers are just absent, and you don’t need throw a hissy fit about it or make it your entire personality, Dean.

Missouri Moseley, played by the inimitable Loretta Devine, is introduced in the first season, episode “Home,” in which she helps out on a case involving Sam and Dean’s childhood house. We find out that Missouri is a long-time friend of John’s and helped him to understand that supernatural forces were behind Mary’s death. She is Sam and Dean’s first point of entry into the world of the Supernatural, and they didn’t know it until they meet her in “Home”. In season 13 episode “Patience,” another layer to Missouri’s character is added with the advent of her family: estranged son James and granddaughter Patience Turner, who is also a psychic. We get a lot of backstory for Missouri in this episode, even if it is sloppily written and contradictory to the way they initially set her up. If Missouri and James had been travelling when he was a child, why was she stationed in Lawrence in both 1983 and 2005? What did he mean that Missouri was hunting? I can’t be bothered unpacking the confusing bits of information presented in this episode. It’s not a good episode and I really don’t see why everyone goes apeshit for Bobo Berens. He kills Missouri in this episode, in a really horrible way. Like the history of Supernatural’s racism and misogyny should not be dumped on one man, but nor should it be perpetuated and it is continually throughout the entire show. Confusing, contradictory and badly written backstory aside, she is an interesting character, and her willingness to sacrifice herself to save her family echoes that of Mary in “Home”. I’m actually really mad that Patience never gets to have a relationship with Missouri, and later in season 13 episode “The Bad Place,” Patience’s father tells her that if she leaves to help The Winchesters and uses her psychic abilities, she’s not welcome back in his house. To me that’s just unnecessary. We have a family that has already been ruptured by the death of Patience’s mother, further ruptured by Patience’s father cutting off contact with Missouri, and then to go a step further he disintegrates their family unit by kicking Patience out. Like how much loss do the Moseley-Turners have to endure? It’s really just cruel at this point. But Patience does find family with Jodie, Donna, Claire, Alex and eventually Kaia, and while I love the concept of found family and this found family in particular, it comes at the expense of biological family, which is something that the show has pushed from the very first episode. So that’s evolution in itself. Going from “fambily is the most important thing to these characters” to “found fambily is where we find love” is great, but ripping apart a biological fambily like the Moseley-Turners, and indeed starting the episode by saying Missouri has been shunted out of her son and granddaughter’s lives for trying to bring her son comfort, is just fucked. Like, I couldn’t name a single Bobo episode that I actually like without having to comb through them. I’m trying really hard not to shit all over him because as a writer I know how much that sucks and I know how hard is it for any marginalised writers to get a start, but I’m allowed to have my vendettas. 

If you’ve watched the “Runs In The Family” angels MV from 2010, and only if you’ve watched the “Runs In The Family” angels MV from 2010, you will understand just how jacked up the angel family really is. The angelic counterpoint to Sam and Dean are the archangels Lucifer and Michael. We are introduced to two different versions of Michael—one in season 5, who possesses their dad in 1979 and their brother Adam in 2010—my god that was literally over a decade ago—and Apocalypse World Michael, played by four different actors: Felisha Terrell, Christian Keyes, Jensen Ackles, and Ruth Connell, who plays Rowena. I don’t know what in the hell Jensen Ackles was doing performance-wise when playing Michael, but I consider it a federal crime akin to drug trafficking or money laundering. As for Christian Keyes playing Michael, Andrew Dabb, you know what you did and you’re going to have to live with that.  

In season 5, during the apocalypse, Michael and Lucifer only interact in the last episode, “Swan Song,” but the entire season is built around their conflict. Lucifer disobeyed their father, and Michael as God’s most powerful weapon must defeat him. It’s meant to mirror Sam’s descent into, uhhhh, badness or something, disobeying John to run away to Stanford, or, like, drinking demon blood? It’s unclear. Lucifer and Apocalypse World Michael interact in season 13, and Michael kills Lucifer only to take over Dean’s body and start a season-long arc of, like, bad acting and barely thought-out plots. I would say to Jensen Ackles “don’t quit your day job,” but this is literally his day job. 

The angels as they’re introduced in season 4 are warriors of god, and all they know is obedience and killing. Even Cas can’t break out of the cycle of killing his angel siblings, and often justifies it by saying that it’s for the greater good, that he needs to do it to take down a stronger force like Raphael or Metatron. Anna manages to break free of her family by falling and becoming human, but when Cas betrays her and the angels capture her, she is lobotomised, tortured and sent back out to kill Sam. Then she’s burned to a crisp by Michael possessing John, not the last time a woman would burn to death on this show. The angels are dysfunctional at best, and actively hostile to each other, especially Castiel, the infamous spanner in the works. I could write an entire academic paper about how the angels think of Castiel as this rebel slut who murdered his way to the top and is going to be the downfall of angel kind, but Dean thinks of him as this little nerdy guy with a harp he carries around in his back pocket. Which honestly Cas would love because he’s obsessed with Dean and wants to touch his butt. I don’t know what else I can say about the angels without turning this into a dissertation, so I’ll continue on.

While all seasons of the show are about family, season six is especially about matrilineal family. It introduces the concept of the mother of monsters—Eve—and focuses on Mary as a solution to the loneliness the characters feel after her death. Samuel Campbell, Mary’s father, is brought back to life and manipulated by the promise of seeing his daughter again. He asks Sam and Dean what they wouldn’t do to see Mary again, which is kind of the general thesis of the show. What wouldn’t John, Dean and Sam do for each other? Dean sells his soul. John makes a deal with the demon who killed Mary. Sam teams up with Ruby to kill Lilith in revenge, which begins as a suicide mission because he doesn’t know how to handle his grief for Dean. The difference is that Samuel betrays Sam and Dean, his own grandchildren, for the promise of seeing Mary again. This cardinal sin alienates him from being a good guy, because good guys never betray Sam and Dean. Sam and Dean are our protagonists! Our heroes! The bringers of the light! The knights in shining armour! The white on rice. The cherry in cherry pie. They are the ones we’re meant to align ourselves with, because it’s their story the narrative is telling. And anyone who doesn’t align themselves with the Winchesters is an enemy who needs to be defeated.   

We’re introduced to the character of Gwen in the first episode of season 6, “Exile on Main Street”, and she says in the episode “Family Matters” that Samuel, the patriarch, doesn’t like her very much because she reminds him of Mary. While Samuel, Christian, Gwen and co are technically family, Dean has no connection to them past bloodlines. And as I said before, while family doesn’t end in blood, we learn throughout this season that blood doesn’t always mean family. Gwen dies in the episode “And Then There Were None,” because of course she does, and Mary doesn’t come back, at least not in this season. 

In “Family Matters,” the alpha vampire, played by the irreplaceable Rick Worthy, mentions that “we all have our mothers,” referring to Eve, the mother of monsters, the one who spawned every other monster and who has been trapped in purgatory ever since. Eve is pulled from Purgatory to wage war against the hunters and Crowley because they have been preying on her first borns, the alphas. I love Eve. I love her. She’s my favourite villain after Metatron. Mainly because I think she is like… sexy as hell. Like wow I am just so attracted to Julia Maxwell and this, like, bored smokey affect thing she does where she barely moves her mouth when she speaks and her strong brow makes her seem so intimidating. I don’t know anything about her personally, but I feel like she would’ve bullied me in high school, and I’m into it. It’s really hard to judge just from this one role whether she’s a good actor because Eve has such limited range and few things to do, but I really wish she’d gotten more screen time. Yeah, she’s doing the bare minimum and I’m completely obsessed. But Eve isn’t just a monster, she’s literally THEE milf. The original milf. And I really think she should’ve stayed around, but since they kept Lisa alive they had to kill at least one high profile woman. 

Continuing with the family storylines in season 6, Dean tries to establish a family with Lisa and Ben, and for the most part succeeds. He gets a job, plays the role of the doting boyfriend and stepfather, and protects them as best he can. I’m going to spare you the rant perched at the tip of my tongue about how this is at best a lavender marriage or staying together for the kid, and that Lisa only exists to be an ideal for Dean, not an actual partner he can grow with throughout the rest of the show. It’s his first attempt at a fambily outside of Sam, Bobby and John, and it fails miserably because Lisa isn’t a good match. The fact is, she will never be able to fit into the hunting world because of the way the writers wrote her—as mother and girlfriend archetype, and we’ve seen how well they do with those—in fact they actively paralleled it in “Exile on Main Street” where they had Dean hallucinate Azazel coming back and pinning Lisa to the ceiling. It couldn’t be more obvious that they don’t respect her. At least they didn’t fridge her for Dean’s man pain. It’s honestly horrible because Dean put so much effort into believing this was his one chance at happiness, and when it crumbles like a tim tam in hot tea he beats himself up for it and uses it as an excuse to never be happy. 

He does seem to be happy for the most part with Lisa, but because Sera Gamble doesn’t know how to write interesting or complex female characters, when Sam reenters the picture it once again becomes about the original premise: two brothers on the road, fighting the forces of evil. There’s no room for any women in that sphere. Up until this point I think—correct me if I’m wrong—there has been one female hunter who survived, and she was in one episode. The hunter Tamara in season 3 “The Magnificent Seven,” whose husband died in maybe the most sadistic way anyone has died on this show. Don’t rewatch it, just google it. All women die, including Mary, their mother, who is brought back in season 12 and killed in season 14. AND FOR WHAT? For WHAT Andrew Dabb.

Often, the loss of a parent, child or significant other is used to excuse bad behaviour and terrible choices. The hunting life causes Mary’s whole family to die before she can escape it, and because she makes a deal with Azazel for John’s life, the same demon John makes a deal with, Azazel kills her anyway. John abused his kids and brought them into the hunting life, because he was obsessed with getting revenge for Mary’s death. Sam does the same thing when Jess dies in the first season, and it starts a 15-season long arc of pain and misery. He sets Lucifer free in the season four because he is obsessed with getting revenge for Dean’s death and obsessed with the power drinking demon blood gives him. Then again, Sam is actually right for saving people by exorcising demons, which is literally the first part of the family business motto,  instead of just gutting them with the demon knife, but because Dean doesn’t agree with it, it’s bad. Sam always wants to do the right thing, he just gets a little caught up in the details. But you know what? Bloodfreak rights. 

When Cas dies in season 13, Dean is so overcome with grief, a grief that echoes John and Sam’s, that he mistreats Jack and threatens to kill him. In season 14, Nick, Lucifer’s vessel, boo snore hiss, kills everyone involved with the murder of his wife and child before he finds out that it’s actually Lucifer’s doing, and then he tries to raise Lucifer from the empty because he’s addicted to killing? Whatever, stop employing Mark Pellegrino. Stop writing men as obsessed with getting revenge 

The biological fambilies in Supernatural suck shit. Honestly every time I watch an episode about fambily I’m even more glad I don’t talk to mine. Dean and Sam need to spend some time away from each other, while they’re both still alive. Their fambily dynamic gets better as the show progresses, and I was pleased to see in season 12 that they do away with the codependency, constantly sacrificing themselves for each other, isolating themselves, betraying everyone they know for each other—they started to act like, you know, normal people. And that’s good. Sure, the show would not be anywhere without John sacrificing himself for Dean, and Dean sacrificing himself for Sam, and honestly that’s what made those first few seasons amazing. But after a while it becomes lazy writing, not parallels. A parallel that Supernatural pulled off is Sam comforting Magda in season 12 episode “The Survivor” in the way he needed to be comforted in season 1 and 2 as a psychic child. A parallel is Dean preparing Cas’s body for cremation in season 13  in counterpoint to the way Cas remade Dean’s body in season 4. This show can absolutely do parallels, some of the most beautiful parallels ever put on screen, but the last season was such lazy writing that I cannot forgive it. 

This has been an overall negative episode of Holy Hell, and that sucks. I don’t want to be so negative. I want to talk about the good things that Supernatural did, and share in joy with you all, so now I’m going to talk about the only positive I see with fambily in the entire show. 

For Dean, everyone older than him is a parent to disappoint, and everyone younger than him is a little sibling to protect. Cas is the exception, as there’s no way to define Dean and Cas’s relationship without acknowledging the reciprocal romantic ways they care about each other. Dean says on multiple occasions that Cas is like a brother to him, and that he’s Sam and Dean’s best friend. He actually drops the line, “After Sam and Bobby, you are the closest thing I have to family,” on Cas in season 6, and he acts like it’s nothing, but you can see in the expression on Cas’s face that Dean just recontextualised the entirety of Cas’s being in one sentence. Cas falls for Dean, gives up his family for Dean, and decides to follow him in the first act of free will we see on screen. And Dean, who has never known love without pain, says to Cas, you are fambily to me, I actively choose you, you belong in my life. But to belong in Dean’s life is to follow his plan, and when Cas doesn’t, he is punished for his hubris. Dean loves him, and he never even admits it.

Charlie becomes like a little sister to Dean, as does Jo. Jack is unequivocally Cas’s son, but becomes something of Dean’s son as well and some would argue Sam’s son. Claire becomes Cas’s daughter, but imprints so much on Dean that many, myself included, have come to consider Dean her father as well. If you subscribe to the idea that Dean and Cas are old marrieds, Dean would be Claire and Jack’s stepfather, and they would be a nuclear fambily all on their own. In season 14 “Lebanon,” when John says to Dean that he thought Dean would have settled down with a fambily, Dean says, “I have a fambily.” Just thinking about it gives me goosebumps.

Cas chooses to be a part of Claire’s life in season 10 “The Things We Left Behind” because he feels guilty about what happened to her after he possessed Jimmy, but after getting to know Claire he cares for her. The crime that is Claire and Cas not interacting after season 10, my god. That’s his daughter, you ghouls. But Claire and Dean do get more moments together. Dean, Sam and some British guy save Claire from turning into a werewolf, and Claire and the rest of the Wayward Sisters save Sam and Dean from the Bad Place. The Wayward Sisters are a found fambily all on their own, and since I could devote an entire episode to Jody’s little brood, I have chosen not to talk about them much, because this episode is at least half an hour, 34 minutes, and it would take up too much of my time. Claire is one of my favourite characters and I’ll be talking about her in the next ep, so stay tuned for that. 

Even before Jack is born, Cas becomes his protector. He goes from trying to convince Kelly to end her and Jack’s life, to being her pseudo-husband and the surrogate father to her child. To me personally, it’s the best thing this show has ever done. Cas, Kelly and Jack love each other in a way that is so wholly uncomplicated, that is so pure and so good. Once Cas becomes Jack’s protector, there’s never any question of whether they would hurt or betray each other. He is Cas’s son, his baby boy, and he loves Cas so much that he resurrects Cas from the empty. When they meet for the first time in season 13 “Tombstone” after Cas comes back, they fit into each other’s lives so easily. This is the part in writing this where I was absolutely sobbing my dick off. There are so many moments between them that show the kind of love that each of these characters deserved. Sam and Dean deserve to have that love from their father, and so does Cas. And together they build a family unit around caring for Jack that does indeed end the intergenerational trauma that plagues the Winchester fambily.

And that’s why season 16 is so important to me. I can make things better. Dean sorts his shit out, all of his shit: his alcoholism, depression, ADHD, borderline personality disorder, suicidal ideation, sexuality, gender, the fact that Cas is literally the love of his life and he gets to save him from the Empty the way Cas saved him from Hell. They plant flowers in the field where Dean spread Cas’s ashes in season 13, and they get married at Jody’s cabin with all their loved ones left alive. Claire walks Cas down the aisle and Jack is the flower girl, because he’s literally a three year old baby. Sam and Eileen raise a bunch of rugrats and the Wayward fambily continue the hunting legacy and have a Sunday afternoon roast every week. Dean and Cas raise Jack right, they cut up oranges for soccer practice and watch all his school plays. He and his cousins grow up knowing what it’s like not only to be loved, but to be looked after, to have all their needs met. They grow up normal, and the trauma that plagued their family is a thing of the past. It’s good, you know? It’s just fucking good.

[1pepsiboy]

The Sky to my Bird (CB Short)

POV: First person (Y/N)

Word Count: 3,264

Warnings: Colby as a wolf, stupid shit, slight violence

Description: While Colby and (Y/N) are out on a perimeter run, they’re attacked by rogues. Colby is badly injured and (Y/N) has to fight off the rest. Then (Y/N) has to make the decision to save him by becoming his one or not. 

What would you do to save your best friend if they were about to die?

***

Colby and I always continued to try to outdo the other in everything; sometimes wasn’t intentionally. It was a natural extinct. We liked to challenge each other to grow stronger and made sure we were on the top of our game. It was basically training non-stop.

Now, there was one position that Colby had me beat at. He was a Beta in our pack, which meant he was a second in command. That was one thing in particular that I had never been able to challenge him at as he was born to be a Beta and chosen by our Alpha. 

That was until now.

Our Luna’s second in command was captured and killed by a rival pack of rogues who banded together to get revenge, and she directed me as her new Beta. Considering I had no experience in such a role, Colby said he’d help me out. Aka another excuse to push me more and get me alone on perimeter checks; not that he’d admit that was the real reason he volunteered the time.

Perimeter checks were to secure our pack’s land; to keep everything in order. Only Betas cleared out or other packmates who the Alpha and Luna deemed worthy of the responsibility.

The check today was vital. There was warning of the rogues being back. Rogues were wolves that left their packs or were never part of one, and they usually craved some sort of authority power so they seeked out real packs to destroy. Colby and I needed to lock down the traps and if necessary, to send word to the Alpha to send fighters out to the stakes. Even with how serious the matters were, Colby still managed to make it all fun and games.

“C, slow down!” I laughed, barely out of breath as I sprinted to catch up to him.

“Betas don’t slow down, (Y/N)! Just catch up,” he yelled back, and he only seemed to push himself harder.

I rolled my eyes and kicked in everything I had to get side by side with him. He looked over with a smirk spread on his lips; less shocked and more proud.

I pointed up ahead of us. “There’s another we need to lock.” It wasn’t necessary as he knew where the posts were too, but sometimes he didn’t pay attention.

Colby skidded to a stop, leaves and twigs flew up and fell back down by his feet, and he chuckled.

I shook my head as I came to a stop that was less dramatic. “You’re such an idiot sometimes. Discreet is what we’re going for, you know.”

I poked his chest as I walked by. I crouched down to toss a branch into the metal that was hidden in the brush, then waited to hear the snap before I reached to touch it. I used one foot to push down one of the jaws and my hands to lock in the spring again; whoever happened to step, run, or fall into this would have one hell of a day.

“But being discreet isn’t always fun. Come on, nothing ever happens.”

When I straightened back up, Colby attended the other jaws we had hidden nearby. Yes, wolves trained to fight in battles, but if we could reserve as much energy as we possible, we’d do that. Our wolves could only extend for a certain amount of time.

I shot him a look as we began to work on securing the rope net. “I bet you just jinxed us. Thanks, piss ass.”

That earned me a “hey!” 

I laughed with a smirk. No we headed out to the final post 10; each post was about five miles apart from each other. Number 10 was the farthest from the house, roughly fifty miles, and it made me a bit anxious every time we went out here. Our kind had the stamina to run at high speeds, but this was at least a fifteen-twenty minute time span away on a good amount of energy.

I tightened the sailor’s knot on the rope and stated, “Okay, we’re good to head back.”

“Damn,” C muttered.

I rolled my eyes to cover the skip of my heartbeat. I’d be lying if I didn't feel the same that it wouldn’t just be us in the next half hour. I was positive Sam and his mate, Katrina, were going to want to go do something together when we arrived. After C and I were cleared off duty anyway.

I didn’t say anything as we started our run back. Colby was a bit ahead of me because I let him take the lead; I was better with being the caboose, the one who made sure everyone else in the group was there. It was silent for some time. I noted the amount of posts we went by to keep track.

My ear twitched a little as I heard something in the trees besides us. I didn’t slow down though. I kept up at my same speed.

‘You heard that too, right?’ I asked through our telepathy. 

Colby’s pace slowed down to be slightly closer to me, but not noticeably different. ‘Yeah, just keep going.’

My breathing stayed at a steady pace while my head remained straight, but I used my preferential vision and hearing to keep an eye on our sides. Part of me itched to transform right now, though I bargained her not to. Whatever or whoever it was, we didn’t want them to know we were aware of their presence. 

“Colby!” I screamed when a wolf jumped out from the side and tackled him to the ground. Colby was quick to transform into his fairly large, black as night coat. He stared down the wolf who stood only a few feet away. His already blue hues glowed a luminescent cyan now; his Beta blues. 

‘(Y/N), I’m alri-‘

The chestnut wolf pounced at him, going straight for the throat. They had him pinned, but Colby kicked his hind legs into the other wolf’s gut, causing them to release. C snapped back at them, ripping some fur out. There were snarls, more fur being torn out, and some blood. It was a mixture of both, and it was not pretty to watch. 

Colby laid on the ground with a gash in his side. It was large enough that our mending wouldn’t heal it fast enough for him to fight more. Whoever this wolf was, they were trained to fight a Beta like C. They were sent here on purpose.

I hurried to C’s side and looked into his eyes.

‘Colby, it’s really bad,’ I stated, lightly brushing my fingers over it. His blood stained my fingertips, but I didn’t care.

He winced. ‘I... know.’

Tears fought their way into my ducts, but I held them back. I was pissed. You didn’t mess with anyone I was close with, and that included our pack. I transformed and turned around to stare the wolf down; I hovered over C protectively. I made sure my fiercest Beta blues illuminated as I snapped my teeth.

‘Who sent you? Why are you on our land?’

To my surprise, a light voice chuckled. ‘You’re so cute. To protect him. He’s not your one.’

I narrowed my eyes and deeply growled. ‘You didn’t answer my questions, fighter.’ I spat out the last word in hopes it’d get under her fur.

‘I’m pretty sure you’re smart enough to figure it out on your own, Beta.’

I licked my canines, revealing them more now, and growled once again. ‘Leave. And tell your mates to go back where they came from.’

The rest of her wolf friends came out. They had us completely surrounded. So seven to one was not an ideal ratio. Not even close. None would be much more preferred.

‘How you feeling, C?’ I asked.

I didn’t get an answer. That only made my heartbeat quicken. I took a quick glance to see his eyes barely open. I could sense his breathing was slow too.

Oh no. That bitch!

I snarled and snapped my teeth once again, and growled the loudest I’d ever in my life. ‘You cocky, low ranking bitch! I will happily give you what you deserve.’

With all the adrenaline that kicked into me, I jumped at her. I gripped her throat right away and tore back. She wasn’t having it though. Her claws dug into my stomach. I didn’t whimper much. I bit at what I could. Finally, I had my whole mouth clenched over her throat and brought her up in the air to smack her down. I tightened my jaw, feeling the metallic taste touch my tongue, and ripped back to tear out anything vital that would have kept her breathing.

‘Alpha, Beta Colby and I need help at post 5,’ I informed and rammed into the wolves that started to attack Colby in his weak state. I set myself over C and snapped at anyone who came too close.

I noticed no response from our Alpha, so I tried our Luna. 

Nothing. Why weren’t they responding? Literally no one replied to the distress call. 

I guess we were on our own. We could do this. 

The group licked their canines, snarling at me. They were all low rank fighters. I was a God damn Beta!

I called on the spirits to let my Beta blues burn as much as they could and growled, letting foam bubble out. I swear I could feel my body grow, every single muscle and vein surged. ‘You’re all dead meat.’

I pounced at the wolf that was closest to me and grabbed them by their neck, then swung them into the wolf next to us. I forced another into one of the metal jaws nearby. It’s leg snapped and they were trapped; any move to leave and their leg was gone for good. I noticed that three fled; cowards. That meant there were two left to deal with.

I observed the situation more, keeping light on my feet, and I jumped at the wolf closest to me. I ripped at the neck and made an instant kill. From the corner of my eye, I could see the last wolf making a move on me, but they were hit out of the way by a large branch and thrown in a tree. The impact alone broke their back.

I watched C collapse to the ground, the gash in his side bigger from tearing when he played baseball. This was not the time he should decide to start playing sports. 

I couldn’t stop the whimper that escaped from my throat. I took a couple deep breaths to try and calm down, then I transformed back and went to his side.

“You’re a freaking idiot. I had them.”

“I got… your back… always.” Beads lined his forehead and he sheened from the pain. He was clearly holding back heavier pants. His skin was becoming paler by the minute, making the black ink on his wrists and arms more prominent than usual. 

“Sshh. If you have my back, you will shut up until I can get you back to the house and Kat can help the wound.”

I observed how bad it was. I was scared that any movement could make it worse, but I needed to get him back or he’d bleed out. Kat could help him, I knew that, and then his wolf mending would take care of the rest. 

“I’m going to transform back. I need you to hold onto me the best you can after I get you on my back.”

In aching pain, I transformed back into my coat and carefully drug C onto my back. I waited until I could feel his hands holding onto some of her fur. It was only a twenty-five mile run to the den. You got this. 

Every mile caused my wolf more distress. She whimpered constantly. I told her to push it aside and just keep going.

‘(Y/N), please stop... Don’t do this to… to your wolf.’

I shook my head, panting. ‘You need to get back, C. I’m not letting you die.’

About two miles out, there was a dash of fur next to me and I groaned. The best I could, I defended against the wolf’s attack. We tumbled around before I tore their head off. My wolf was fed up. I came to a rolling stop and transformed back into my human form mid-air.

Colby held on during the kill, but the transformation tossed him a few feet ahead of me.

“Shit,” I muttered.

I forced myself to get up, sweat and dirt covered my shaking body. Hell, I felt like I only made his wound worse. I was going to be the reason he died. 

But... I was more than happy to see the pack house through the cracks of the trees’ leaves.

I made my way to C and grabbed what I could of his torn shirt, then hooked my arms underneath his armpits and shuffled backwards. I didn’t have much strength left. I'd never externalized to the point that my wolf wouldn't accept me being in that form anymore. Eff all of this.

I collapsed to the ground in the lawn of the den. Relief flooded me.

"C, we made it. You're gonna be okay. You’re gonna-”

His eyes were closed and it looked like he wasn’t breathing. My body shook more out of worry as I kneeled beside him to check his pulse. It was more faint than before.

I swallowed hard to fight the tears. Though the pinching was difficult to keep away.

Sam, Colby’s best friend, and Katrina, his mate, came running out of the pack house. Where the hell were they when I made my distress call? Sam couldn't get much closer than a couple feet. His jaw set as his breathing became heavy.

Only one solution came to mind to save him. My last resort. It was a ritual meant to be saved for the one and be done in a sacred place. It couldn’t be undone. We only get one. This was life or death though, and I'd be lying if I said I never imagined it being anyone else.

"Elderly spirits, I am calling upon you for a bonding. Please."

Unnaturally, my canines grew out as I was in human form and winced at the excruciating throb that followed. This was for him. For us. I pushed myself to bring my mouth close to Colby's neck.

"I accept you, Colby Brock, as my one. The sky to my bird."  

I closed my eyes and sunk my canines into his neck. His warm, metallic liquid filled my mouth. I swallowed what I thought I needed then pulled back, and licked the wound I inflicted to heal it.

Colby's eyes shot open, his wolf's Beta blues in full glow, and he growled lowly as he looked in my direction. "What did you do, (Y/N)?"

"I accepted you as my one,” I whispered.

"Why… would you… do that?" He coughed and rested his head back into the grass, his injuries beating him again.

"To save you. Now accept me and bite to complete the bond, so the spirits can heal you."

He shook his head. "Why me? I'm no good."

"Bullshit," I spat, furrowing my eyebrows.

"You're more than good. You've always pushed me to grow and get better. You're all I've ever wanted. I thought you felt the same. Please, C. I don’t want to live without you." I rested my forehead on his chest, tears sliding down my cheeks. I could sense his heart failing again and I cried harder as I placed a kiss.

There was a small, painful grunt as a set of hands lifted my head up. Colby's canines were lengthened and he looked me in the eyes. "I accept you... (Y/N)... as my one. The sky to my bird."

I wiped the wetness away and brought my neck close to his mouth. I closed my eyes and prepared myself as much as I could. Surprisingly, I moaned out when I felt his pierce in my skin. It felt like I was filled with a sense of newness; it rippled my sensations, intensifying every part of me. I craned my neck back as Colby licked his tongue over his wound and smiled when I looked back into his eyes. I let go of my light grip on his arm and watched him get lifted in the air. I levitated next and held back the short yelp.

Colby's eyes were closed as he let the spirits begin to mend his wound and replace all the blood he'd lost. Suddenly, my chest pulled upwards to the sky and I momentarily couldn’t breath as a whiteness floated out of me; my soul. His soul intertwined with mine before they returned into their opposite bodies, which fully completed the bond. Then we were lowered to the ground.

I pressed my lips against Colby’s; slightly impulsive. His hand tangled in my hair as he held the back of my head to keep me there for a moment longer. 

“You’re stuck with me until we die, piss ass.” He smirked. 

I could only roll my eyes with a smile. I had that coming. Someone cleared their throat and I looked back in their direction.

“Now that’s finally happened. What happened out there?” Sam asked, gesturing at the woods. 

The happiness I felt from the bondage escaped away and was replaced with worry and anger. An odd mix. 

“They’re back,” I replied. “We need to warn the others.”

I got myself up, then reached my hand out for Colby to take. He barely made any noise of pain as he stood. Despite the new, my body still ached. I knew I overextended and I was afraid I wouldn't be able to transform again for a bit. I hope they weren’t going to do a full front attack.

Colby caught on to my emotions. He wrapped his arms around me tightly and kissed my head. “It’ll be okay.”

“Seriously, what happened?” Kat stepped forward to be closer to the rest of us. 

I pulled back to look her in the eyes. “They attacked us and injured Colby.” 

“(Y/N) kicked five other wolves’ asses all on her own, made a few run on fear,” Colby inserted, clearly amused and slightly turned on by it. 

‘Watch yourself there,’ I commented, eyeing his lower area.

He rolled eyes and shoved me lightly. 

“Did you let the Alpha and Luna know?” 

I nodded. “Yeah. I’d sent a distress signal, but no one responded. We were out at post 5. I’m sure the ones who fled have informed their group leader. They could be attacking us again and who knows how many there will be.” 

Colby’s hand encased mine. “Let’s go inform. Betas’ duties.”

“As mates now,” Sam teased, raising his eyebrows up and down. 

“Yeah, everyone called it happening soon,” Katrina added, smiling wide, and she took Sam’s hand.

We were bonded for life. I didn’t want to know what the damage would be now if one of us got hurt. But also, this made us stronger by a lot. They definitely wouldn’t know what was coming. Even if I couldn’t transform, I would find a way to protect the land. 

The hand in mine squeezed and brought me back to reality. 

“Thanks.” Colby nodded, a goofy smile crossed his lips. 

“Any time.” I smirked. Then I pointed to the den. “Come on, mate.”

[Mer Sterf]

[sunflowersteves]

The price of Freedom

Modern Mob!AU

3/11 Natasha Romanoff

Steve Rogers x fem!reader

Author: @cap-n-stuff​

Chapter summary: Steve has agreed to help you escape the treacherous Russian mob. Now, you’ll need Sam’s help to escape. What happens when the Council figures out your plan? [Heavily based on John Wick]

Ба́ба-Яга́ means the boogeyman.

Song for Chapter: Algorhythm by Childish Gambino

Word Count: 3.7K

Author’s Note: Sorry this has taken me so long. I thought I would’ve updated sooner but with everything going on, it’s a bit harder to. I also think my updating may be even sparser since I’ll be starting online school on monday but I will still update! Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Warnings: angst, some fluff, swearing, mentions of murder and illegal activities, character death, mentions of violence and blood, SMUT!! vaginal sex, dirty talk,[if you are not 18+ do not read] 

Main Masterlist // Series Masterlist // Previous Chapter // Next Chapter

Steve sat in his motel room, running through his thoughts. He cursed at himself for acting like he didn’t care. Even if I do have resentment towards you, I don’t hate you. I would never put you in danger. I owe you that. That just repeated in his head over and over again. He never thought that he was just doing this because he owed you, not once. He was so stupid for letting you think that. He knew the quip was formulated from the pent up resentment but how could he say something like that? 

Despite the pain, he’s still in love with you. He’s so helplessly in love with you that he literally dropped everything all together to help you get out. After years of zero contact, he’s still putting you first. You will always be first. Having you by his side for the last 24 hours has helped him see that.

Ever since you left, he hasn’t been happy. He slept around constantly so he could forget about you. Even Sam and his best friend were a bit worried about him in his constant endeavors of other women. He had changed. He became this womanizer that had leftover panties lounging around the room. When you left, he thought he couldn’t love again. So, he slept with any woman that would sleep with him. 

But who is he to fool himself greatly? He wanted a family. Back then, he had always told you that family was never a priority. Despite being in love, he just didn’t give a fuck. Everything was so easy to lose and his family was rough around the edges so why would he ever want anything like that?

Now, losing you had made him realize that he wanted little feet padding across the floor while his arm was around you as the two of you relaxed on the couch. He wanted to wake up to a little body crashing on top of his to wake him up but you pulled them in, snuggling together as a family. He wanted to go to the park with your child on your shoulders and run around getting dirt on yourselves.

He wanted you. He wanted your legs to slightly kick him while you slept. He wanted to come home and prepare dinner for you as you sat on the kitchen counter, sipping a glass of wine and watching him intently. He wanted to have a family dinner with you by his side and your little one playing with the food. He was a fucking idiot to not see what was right in front of him. He’s so much an idiot that you’re finally here again, right in front of his face and the only words that come out of his mouth “I owe you so that’s why I’m here.”

He guessed you left because you can’t have a family, at least with him. If you wanted out, then why would you be in a family from the life you’re directly getting away from?

But he still never knew exactly why. What didn’t help was that even when he asked others in Tarasov, they would always respond with “It’s classified.” The only thing he could do was guess. He knew you always wanted a family but you always convinced yourself that you weren’t worthy of having one. He knew that in this world, having a family is a difficult task and with you already protecting your niece and sister, it would be damn hard to protect Steve and a little one as well. 

What was crushing him at the moment was the idea that someone else was going to have a family with you. Sure, he valued your happiness above all and he would give up anything for you but the thought of you being with someone else made his heart shatter. Someone wrapped around you? Someone fucking you into a mattress? Someone waking up to your smile every day? He could throw up just thinking about it.

Being held with his thoughts in a cramped space made him feel uneasy. So, he rushed out of the room and went to the dusty soda machine, putting a dollar inside. He picked which soda he wanted and pressed the numbers that corresponded. He paused, hearing a snap of a twig in the deep woods next to him. He whipped around and squinted, trying to look past the tall thick trees. He gulped and hoped that it was just an animal. He also really wished he had his gun on him right now.

The two of you were huge targets for The Council since no one just ‘escapes.’ He continued to watch the wooded area, eyes darting over anything that moves. He was then drawn back to reality as the thump of his soda hit the bottom of the machine. Without batting an eye, he bent down and quickly grabbed the soda. He didn’t want to waste any time, wanting to be right back in his room. He looked over one last time, making sure that no one was there and then walked towards his room. Before he could open the door, he paused. What if he saw you? There could be the danger after all. He then slowly turned to look over at your hotel door, thinking about apologizing. 

Before his brain could catch up with his body, his fist went ahead and pounded on the door. He waited for a little but his spine ran cold as he never heard you move. Were you okay? He continued to knock, only louder this time. He really hoped you were okay. Still, no answer and he swears this door was going to be broken if-

You swing the food open and relief washed through his whole body, “Steve…” He sees the Glock in your hand as you rest it on the table near the door. His eyes widened a little as all you’re in was a bathrobe. His gruff voice startles you a bit. “Hey...Can we talk?” You nod and open the door more, indicating for him to come inside. He puts the half-empty soda on the table and strides to the left, trying to be as far away as possible and making sure to not make any eye contact with you. After closing the door, you just stood to wonder why he was here, near the doorway of the bathroom. You feel Steve’s eyes on yours while you lean in the bathroom door. You suddenly became flustered, realizing that you’re not even in any clothes. 

Steve just stands frozen, mentally tries to get his shit together. He can’t let himself get distracted by you but it’s damn hard. He’s here for a purpose. But all he could think of was your naked body under that robe, squeaky clean and glistening skin and-

He shook his head but then blinked as he saw the blood seeping into your thin white robe. “Y/N…” You look over at the wound on your shoulder, from where that woman had seeped a knife in. “You’re bleeding.” You wave it off, trying to mask the pain that suddenly seeped over you. How did you not notice you were bleeding? You were so wrapped up in your thoughts that you didn’t even feel it. “I’m fine, Steve. What did you come here to talk about?” You definitely didn’t realize how big this knife wound was and your breath hitched. Losing this much blood was not looking good for you. 

He just shook his head, not even bothering to answer your question. His body came forward and you were about to stop him, telling him again that you were fine but he grabbed your hand and led you to the bathroom. Steve then grabs your hips and lifts you on top of the bathroom sink. You just shut up and let him, knowing how protective he is over you. Even though you are the most feared assassin globally, Steve has always been super protective.

“Where’s your first aid kit?” You tell him where and he went to go fetch it. You peeled back part of your robe where the wound is, hissing at the cold air made contact. Steve arrives back into the bathroom shortly and spreads out what he needs on the other side of the sink. 

He stands right next to you, making sure that the only thing touching you was his hand that was about to clean the wound. He takes alcohol swabs and starts cleaning the blood around the wound, watching as discomfort takes the place of your features. You moan in pain as he swipes over the wound. And he just looks at you with guilty eyes as you wave him off and slug down the glass of whiskey that happened to be next to you.

He then grabs a needle and stitches and turns towards you. He gulps after realizing that the best angle was right between your legs. He slowly walked in between your legs,  feeling his hot breath fan across your face and he stared right into your eyes. He couldn’t help but just stand there for a minute, gazing at the face he’s missed too much. His eyes trickled from your eyes to the shape of your nose, and finally your lips. You just stiffened. If there wasn’t an open wound on your shoulder you would definitely make out with him right now. 

He got his mind back on track and slowly started to stitch your wound. You gasped and subconsciously gripped his arm, nail digging into his skin. He blushed from the feeling of your gaze on his figure but he masked it, continuing to stitch the wound. After he was done, he made sure nothing was wrong and he went to clean the needle but he stopped. He felt your eyes on him and he couldn’t help but look back at your gorgeous face. He stood there, placing the needle down in the sink and leaning even closer to your body.

“Steve…” You trailed off, your noses barely touching each other. He was too irresistible. Here you were, trying to protect him and yourself from doing anything rash but his mouth just looks so kissable. You silently said “fuck it” and quickly attached your lips to his. He swallowed your mouth, lips folding together. His hands came up to grab the back of your neck, pulling you into him even further. 

Your lips touch with fervor, desperately trying to get closer and closer to each other. He pulls back, panting but he quickly starts kissing the nape of your neck. God, it had been so long. Too long.  His large hands lower, massaging your breasts and pinching his fingers on the hardened nub. You whine at the overwhelming sensations and the feeling of him on you. You were already so wet, a pool starting to dampen the robe. 

No words were shared as his large hands moved up to caress your shoulder, just underneath the wound. His lips sucked and bit on your neck, making you whimper at the feeling of his lips touching your body again. You tried to slow your pounding heart but it was pointless. You can’t believe you left, Senegal was definitely not worth missing the feeling of his lips attacking your neck. His tongue swiping over your sweet spot and you gasp. He smirked and concentrated his sucking there, your toes curled as the bathroom was filled with your moans.

You quickly jump into his arms and he catches you, hands securely holding you up from your legs. Your legs wrap around his back, you could feel his hard cock through his jeans. You shove your lips back onto his, fingers pulling at his blonde locks making him groan on your lips. He starts to walk to the bed, the heated, desperate kiss never breaking.

He felt so good, your hot bodies caressing against one another. You really, really missed him. You missed those red lips and his broad chest against yours. You missed those hands, large and delicate. His lips tasted like sugary soda, and your teeth clashed with one another. He set you down for one second and started taking off his clothes which prompted you to quickly take off your robe.

He then laid you on the bed, hands gripping your hips. “Fuck, doll, you’re already so wet for me.” He lowered his head and swiped his tongue along your wet pussy. You withered at the sensation, completely enamored by him and only him. He practically smacked his lips together, savoring your taste. “Oh, how I’ve missed the taste of you, doll.” You yelped as he grabbed your thighs, pulling you closer to him, and with no warning, he started to pound into you. He chuckles at your cry, “Can’t help it, baby, it’s been too long.” He takes one hand and starts to massage your breast, relishing in the feeling of it against his hands.

All you could do was whimper and moan with your head leaned back. The sound of skin slapping against each other was loud and sinful. “Fuck I’ve missed that cunt, doll. So good for me.” You felt so tight around his hard cock that made him moan. And you really missed the feeling of his cock inside of you, the slight sting from his stretching to his rapid pounding inside of you. His thrusts fogged your mind, your mouth barely able to spout out words. “F-Fuck, S-steve.. Steve… Shit.” 

His grunts skated across the room as he pounded harder and your hands cling onto the fabric of the bed, leaving you a moaning mess. That knot in your stomach started to coil and Steve came down to give you sloppy kisses that started down from your breasts to your face. “F-Fuck, Steve.” He licks his lips, “You’re so fucking perfect, taking my cock like that.” Your hips start to buck, and he pounds even harder and faster. “I know you’re close, baby.” 

You lower your hand and start messaging your clit while Steve cursed. “Oh, baby, that’s it. Play with yourself. Fuck.” You gasp and your jaw practically hits the floor, his moans stopping him from completing a whole sentence. “Come around me, doll. Shit… I wanna feel you... Oh fuck.” Your back arched as you came all over his cock, your walls squeezing him so. You struggled to breathe as gasps continued to fill the room, your eyes fluttered close as Steve rode out your high. He couldn’t take it any longer from your cunt continuing to squeeze his cock. He growled, still pounding into you as he released his cum that filled you up. All he could do was stare in awe as it leaked out of your pretty cunt.

You two clean yourselves up and go back to bed, wrapping yourselves up in the blankets and snuggling up against each other. His hand starts tracing patterns on your side, a goofy smile never leaving him. He then looks over with concern, “I completely forgot about the wound, are you okay?” You laugh, looking over to inspect it. “It doesn’t hurt very much. Nothing a swig of whiskey won’t hurt.” He chuckled, moving a piece of hair out of your eyes. 

“You know, I initially came in here to just talk to you.” You playfully roll your eyes and turn your head, “Oh really?” He nodded, staring back at the ceiling with a small lopsided smile on his face. “I-” Someone started wiggling the door handle and the two of you just stared at each other. 

Steve runs into the bathroom to grab his gun while you run to the table you left it on as well. You two were so dumb and wrapped with the sensation of each other that you didn’t even hear anyone try and break-in. Well, until now. Steve, only in his boxers, throw you the robe and you quickly put it on. 

You both aim the gun at the door and the door bursts open to a blonde woman holding an assault rifle. Steve lowers his gun a tad bit, confusion taking over his features. But the woman continues to point it at the two of you and cocks it back.

“What do you want, Sharon?” She smirks at the two of you clearly naked before she came in and the smell of sex filling her nose. “He’s good, isn't he?” You look over at Steve and his head is hung low. “He’s really good when he-” “That’s enough, Sharon.” She smirks and steps a bit closer. You knew that you had a clear shot right now but you have a pistol and she has an assault rifle, you have to be a bit smarter than just aiming a gun and shooting.

“You know, Stevie, I didn’t want to do this because you’re a pretty good fuck but oh well, good things have to come to an end.” She points the gun at him and presses on the trigger. You yell, trying to jump in front of him but Sharon abruptly falls on the floor. Both your heads snap up to see the red-headed woman from earlier.

You and Steve quickly aim again but she shoves her hands up in the air. “I come with no harm.” You and Steve share a look and don’t seem to trust her. She can definitely tell so she continues, “Look, I know it was bad earlier but I promise you, I’m no longer going to harm you.” She sets her gun down on the ground and slides it over to the two of you. You and the red-headed woman stare back at each other.“You don’t remember me, do you?” You shook your head as Steve took your gun and put it on the table. He then goes into the bathroom to get a shirt. “I’m Natasha.” You nod, still not ringing any bells.

“Ты спас меня, баба Яга” [you saved me] Steve walks back into the room and leans on the wall, watching the two of you. “I did?” She nods. “I was new to the Tarasov at the time, probably around 15. I was sent on my first mission and was told to kill ten people but what they didn’t tell me was that I didn’t have any bullets.” Your eyes flashed over to hers, remembering the scared little girl that was about to die from corrupt men. “I was about to die, two men had caught me and were about to shoot me in the head but you came in and slit their throats. You then gave me a gun, with real bullets, and stalked off while I shot the rest of the men.” Steve raises an eyebrow a small smirk dancing on his face, “You really like saving people.” You give them a small smile but turn your attention back on Natasha. “Then why are you here?” 

She reaches into her pocket and gives you a small piece of paper. “I realized that the Tarasov can’t tell me what to do all the time. The Council doesn’t dictate me either so I want to help you, regardless of a debt that has now been repaid.” You take the piece of paper and Steve shrugs over at Sharon. “What about her?” Natasha walks over to her and slightly lifts her up. “I’ve got her. You two go ahead and get some rest.” She then takes Sharon over her soldiers and walks out of the motel room. “Why don’t we go to my room? The lock isn’t broken.” You nod and Steve helps you get your things and takes it to his room.

There's indefinite silence, you’re both laying on the bed, trying to sleep but all you could do was stare at each other. Steve is trying to formulate words to tell you how much Sharon didn’t mean to him and how much he wants to be with you but it feels like there’s a frog being lodged in his throat. You were trying to do the same but trying to get the courage to tell him that he shouldn’t be ashamed of Sharon.

“Look, y/n, I-” You shook your head and closed your eyes shut. “You don’t need to wait for me, Steve.” His heart plummets all the way down to his feet. He doesn’t want you to think that he’s moved on. He didn’t want you to think that he never pictured you underneath him when it was just some random girl. He didn’t want you to think that he didn’t still love you.

He grabs your wrist, scared that you were going to close yourself off. “I still want you. Sure, I tried to move on. Tried to forget you but… I can’t.” Your heart beats rapidly as you just stare at Steve in surprise. But you quickly try to mask yourself as that blank assassin. You can’t let him get to you. Not when you can protect him from the truth.

Steve then stares directly at you, looking into your gorgeous eyes as he tries to explain himself. “I want you to know that I’m sorry for earlier. Not just for Sharon, which she definitely never meant anything but also for saying that I’m just doing this to repay a debt. You don’t owe anything. I’m doing this because… I still love you.” He looked at you with wide eyes as your face turned into a full frown.

“Steve.. Stop.” His eyebrows furrowed and you sit up a bit more, “What do you mean? It’s the truth.” You just shook your head again. You really didn’t want to talk about this, especially not with him. He can’t know what you’ve done. He can’t know why they sent you to Senegal.

“Steve, you can’t love me.” His grip on your wrist tightens but you don’t fail to have a blank face.“What? Why?” You shook your head, “You just can’t.” This time he’s directly in front of you, eyes darting around your face. “y/n whatever it is you can tell me.” His pleading eyes never leave you and you can slowly feel yourself sinking in.

“Steve… Please... don’t.” He cupped your cheek, moving the pad of his thumb across your cheek. “Y/n. You can tell me anything… Please.” You paused, watching as his soft eyes trailed yours. All you could do was try to swallow the big lump that was forming in your throat. 

“That night that I left for Senegal? I was assigned to kill your father.”

Next Chapter

[were-all-idjits-here]

Still Alive, Part II: Purgatory A La Astra

Summary While watching the season 7 finale of Supernatural, you're zapped from your world to a world where everything that happened in the show is real. Sam's real. Dean's real. Monsters are real. And so is Purgatory--where Dean's currently trapped, unbeknownst to Sam. How convenient that you end up getting zapped into his backyard. But now for the hard part: trying to convince Sam you're telling the truth. 

Pairing: Dean x Reader

Warnings: angst, cursing

A/N: It's been awhile since I've seen this part of the show and I don't 100% know how astral projection works, so I'm sorry for any mistakes. Thanks so much for reading. 

~~Read here on AO3~~

What was it with going to sleep one place and then waking up in the next? You blinked, slowly sitting up as you rubbed your eyes and took in the dreary, dark forest around you. This had to be a dream, right? You took a moment to scan your surroundings, jumping as several twigs snapped a few yards behind you. You quickly rose to a crouch, your hand closing around a large branch that had fallen from one of the trees. When there was no further sound or movement, you slowly began to get up. Right as you found your feet, a dark shape suddenly slammed into you, knocking the branch from your hand. You winced as your back hit the hard bark of a tree and were pinned in place.

“Where’s the angel?” a rough voice asked.

Your eyes flew open, coming face to face with none other than Dean Winchester. You stared for a moment, your mouth moving but no sound coming out. This had to all be some sort of acid dream…

“Answer me!” Dean pressed you further against the tree and you could feel the rough bark scraping you through your PJ shirt.

PJs—wait, you were in the PJs you had bought at the Target by the motel. The same ones you had worn to go to sleep in the motel room. You hadn’t been wearing them when you’d first made contact with Sam. So at least that part was real. But how the holy fuck did you get to Purgatory? You squeezed your eyes shut, trying to recall anything that might be helpful and remembered during your research at the library, you’d found out the motel had been built on top of an ancient Native American site that was supposedly used for astral projection. There were stories that some of the old magics used still lingered. Maybe something had happened while you’d been dreaming?

“I don’t, I’m—Jesus…” You didn’t know what to say. Having Sam Winchester point a gun at you in a normal backyard of a normal house was one thing. Dean Winchester holding a makeshift machete to your throat and pinning you against a tree in Purgatory where he’d been trapped with nothing but monsters for six months: completely different level of oh, fuck. “I’m not a monster, I swear—”

Dean eyed you for a moment with an expression you couldn’t identify. You hadn’t even gotten used to the fact that the Dean Winchester was standing in front of you when he reached a hand into his pocket and whipped it up to your face. You flinched, expecting a punch, but were met with water splashing over your face instead. Next, he roughly grabbed your palm and pressed a small silver ring into the middle of it. When nothing happened, he frowned, staring at you for a minute before taking several large steps back. You leaned on your knees for support as you caught your breath.

“You’re…human,” he finally said, staring at you as if you’d grown a second head.

You nodded, rubbing the sore spot on your neck where the machete had been. “I…I don’t know how I got here. Sam dropped—”

“Sam?” Dean walked closer, his eyes large and hopeful. “My brother, Sam? Sam Winchester?”

“Yeah.”

“Is he looking for me? Are you helping him?”

You nodded. “Sort of. Apparently, the motel I’m at is famous for old magic that’s still hanging around from the Native Americans that lets you astral project, so I’m not sure if that’s how I got here.”

“So where’s Sam?”

You took a moment to look Dean over while you tried to figure out what to say. He was covered in dirt and grime, the strange gray pallor that hung over Purgatory making it even worse. Dried blood coated his face, hair and clothes, which were also torn and dirty. He’d already been here six months, but still looked like he could pick you up and crush you with his bare hands.

“I…don’t have a good way to explain without telling you everything.”

Dean nodded, motioning you deeper into the woods towards a small fire burned with a bag next to it. Dean sat a few feet away, still wary of you. You launched into the same tale you told Sam, trying to keep it concise as strange sounds circled around you in the dark, unsurprised when Dean started giving the same quiz about his life that Sam had. When he was finally satisfied, he turned his attention to the fire and was quiet for several minutes, absentmindedly picking the grime out from under his fingernails with the tip of the machete.

“You don’t think I sound insane?” you finally asked.

“I don’t think anything is insane anymore,” he replied, finally returning his attention to you. “Plus you showed up in Purgatory completely clean and in…” he grimaced, “cat PJs.”

You glanced down at your shirt. “What’s wrong with cats?”

“They’re cats!”

“It’s not like I have matching bottoms!”

“Yeah, well, at least you have that going for you.”

“Hey!”

Dean shrugged, trying to appear annoyed, but it seemed like he was relieved to have contact with another human being. Albeit an astral projected (if that’s what had happened) one. “Anyway, why are you helping Sam find me? Why not just go home?”

You paused as you thought about what you wanted to say. “Just after watching so long and getting so attached to you guys, I just wanted to help where I could. Plus, Sam has no idea how to get me home anyway. And, I’ve already had this conversation with Sam and I’m not having it again: my life at home is shit and worthless and I know the hunting life fucking sucks, but at least you’re doing something. You’re helping people and saving people and I want to be a part of that.”

“You can’t seriously want to stay here—”

“I can and I’m going to.”

“This isn’t a life you want, kid.” He gestured to his surroundings. “Look where it got me. Maybe you don’t have much back at home, but at least you’re safe. There aren’t monsters.”

“There are monsters. They just look different.”

Dean stared at you as if trying to pull something from your eyes. You stared back with just as much intensity, trying to let him know without words how much you needed a purpose. You weren’t stupid, you knew the risks of this life. But your life back home was going nowhere. Despite the risks of the hunting life, at least you could do some good, leave a legacy if the worst should happen. You could save people and maybe even save yourself.

Dean shrugged. “Okay. But don’t say later that you didn’t realize what you were getting yourself into.”

“I won’t. But that’s not what I wanted to talk to you about. There’s a way out of here. Well, for humans at least.”

“According to the show?”

“Yeah. There’s a portal. Humans aren’t supposed to be here, and the portal will help you escape. There’s a vampire named Benny that can take you to it.”

Dean thought for a moment. “I need to find Cas first. The show doesn’t say where he is, does it?”

You shook your head. “He just kind of shows up. I think you need to find Benny first, then you find Cas.”

Dean nodded. “Okay, but how do we get you back to…the motel or whatever? I’m assuming you and Sam will be waiting on the other side of wherever this portal leads?”

“Um…”

“What? Is Sam okay?”

“Yeah, he’s fine, he just…sort of…”

Dean’s eyes were an intense green in the dark that seemed to yank the information out of you at will. “He what?”

“He, um, said he didn’t know if he believed me and every time I asked him how we would move forward, he just danced around the question and kept saying he would be in touch to figure out how to get me home. He put me up in a motel close to his house—well, his girlfriend’s house—and just told me to stay put.”

Dean’s face was an unreadable wall for several seconds. He finally turned away, but you could see the information had bothered him. “I’m sure he’s just trying to keep you safe while he figures something out.” He turned his eyes back to you. “You’re sure you want to become a hunter? You’re 100% positive that’s what you want, that this life is better than what you have at home or what you could possibly have in the future at home?”

“Yes, 100%.”

Dean signed. “All right, well if you’re gonna be dumb, you should at least be smart about it. If I make it out of here alive, Sammy and I will show you the ropes.”

You nod, breathing a sigh of relief.

“By the way, what’s your name?”

“Y/N.”

A shrill noise suddenly fills your head and you squeeze your eyes shut as your head rings. When you open them again, you recognize the motel room ceiling above you. Daylight spills in through the gap in the curtains and as you glance around the room, you realize the shrill noise is your phone ringing. You see Sam’s name on the screen and quickly sit up to answer. “Sam?”

“Hey,” you hear his voice on the other end. “How you holding up?”

“Um, I’m okay. Just woke up.”

“Sorry if I woke you.” He sighed. “So, I have this friend name Lee that I called to come help you. He’s a hunter and has dealt with some weird, interdimensional shit before and thinks he can help. He’s on his way to you now and says he should be there in about three days. You got everything you need till then?”

“I think so…You mean help me get back home?”

“Yes, and you are going.”

You swing your legs over the side of the bed and let your hands fall into your lap, sighing. “Sam, we’ve had this conversation—”

“Yes, we have, and you’re going back home.”

“What about Dean?”

“Y/N…Just, he’s dead, okay? There’s no way in hell he’s alive.”

“Yeah, because he’s not in hell, he’s in Purgatory, Sam. Literally every single detail of the show has been accurate so far. Why wouldn’t this be? I know I’m some stranger, but if there’s even a chance he’s alive, don’t you want to take it? He would do it for you.”

“I’ve gotta go, but Lee should be there by Friday, okay? Until then, let me know if you need anything.”

“Sam—” You resist the urge to scream as the line goes dead. You let your phone fall onto the bed before heading into the bathroom, your screaming bladder something you can no longer ignore. You do a double take as you walk by the mirror. On the back of your light gray PJ shorts, there are two dark mud stains. Your mind flashed back to the dream and how real everything had felt, the passage about this motel still having old magic floating around and your conversation with Dean. You knew he was alive and you knew how to get to him. If that wasn’t enough for Sam, then it would be enough for you. You still had three days to get out of town before Lee got here and forced you back home—forced Dean to stay trapped in Purgatory for another six months. It was time for a road trip.

***

Tag list: @totallyluciferr​ @ dr7girl @ pillowjj 

[love-fireflysong]

Day 20: Dare

Fandom: Until Dawn Character(s): Beth Washington, Josh Washington, Hannah Washington Words: 1728 Rating: General (minor language, plans to poison your best friends and yourself!) Author’s Notes: Super late holy shit. But it’s fine. Have some cookies. Just don’t take any from Josh...

This fic is not sponsored by Dare Cookies. Honestly, that’s probably a good thing.

When Beth walked into the kitchen that morning, to say that she had not expected the sight before her would not be a lie. There were many things she anticipated seeing when walking into her kitchen, Josh covered head to toe in white powder was not one of them. Well, that was a lie actually. Truthfully, Josh was exactly the type of person she could see running a secret coke lab, just not from the family kitchen. At least, she really hoped not. Reporting her brother for running a cocaine lab in the middle of their kitchen was not what she intended to start her day with.

“Are you, are you covered in flour?”

While Josh didn’t move from where he was standing at the counter, he did look over his shoulder at her affronted. “Um excuse me. This is cornstarch, not flour. Learn the difference Beth, god.” He gave a disdainful sniff, and then proceeded to sneeze violently into his arm.

Beth rolled her eyes. “Sorry. Cornstarch. Why in the world are you covered in cornstarch then.”

“Making cookies.”

Beth just stopped to stare at her brother with narrowed eyes, mouth opening and closing as she tried to find some form of words, only to groan and rub at a spot between her eyes. Words were quite literally failing her right now, and she didn’t even know where to start.

“Hey Beth, what’s taking so long—why is Josh covered in flour?”

Beth turned to see Hannah behind her, who stopped to stare at Josh in turn. Before she could figure out how to even start answering her question, Josh had butted in with exasperation. “It’s cornstarch, people! God, does no one in this house know what basic fucking baking supplies look like?”

Beth ignored Josh, an easy feat when he’s been part of their everyday lives since before they could talk, and gave her twin a flat, unimpressed look. “He’s making cookies. Apparently.”

Hannah’s forehead creased in confusion. “But, cookies don’t need cornstarch...”

Beth nodded slowly in agreement, her next words coming out as a tired sigh. “They also don’t need soy sauce, mustard, and mayo, and yet, here we are.”

True to her words, surrounding Josh on all available surfaces were bags upon bags filled to the brim with numerous bottles of soy sauce, mayonnaise, and two(!) kinds of mustard. All of this was ignoring the dozen boxes of cookies scattered around the kitchen and the roughly four bags filled with cornstarch alone. There were questions out there that Beth never wanted the answers too, and this right here was roughly seven of them.

Unfortunately for her, Hannah didn’t share the same thoughts. “Do I want to know what kind of cookies you’re making?”

“No, no you don’t. I don’t want to know. Neither of us want to know. So let’s just grab our shit from the fridge and get back upstairs where it’s safe.”

Josh ignored Beth just as easily as she did him earlier, instead reaching over to grab one of the bottles of soy sauce and proceeded to dump almost the entirety of it into what she hoped was a bowl. A bowl of what, she didn’t want to know. “Special cookies, Han. For three very special people.”

“...if those cookies are for us, I will end you here and now Josh, don’t think I won’t.”

Josh snorted as he lifted his whisk to inspect the consistency of his soy sauce/cornstarch concoction. “Oh please Beth. We both know that you could probably snap me like I twig.” He grimaced for a second, seemingly unhappy with the thickness, and added some more cornstarch. He coughed at the rising cloud of white that erupted from the bowl. “Nah, these are for me, Chris, and Ash later.”

“Alright. Gonna be honest here. Was not expecting to have to call the police because there was a murder-suicide pact tonight.”

“Sad thing is, probably the least exciting call they’ll ever have coming from our house.” Hannah gave a long-suffering sigh as she reached for one of the empty boxes of cookies on the table nearby, this one Ultimate Maple Creme.  “Is there a reason you bought like, a million boxes of four different flavours of cookies?”

Josh shrugged nonchalantly at the question, and reinspected his brown sludge. Happy now with the results, Beth and Hannah watched him reach of a plate of what they recognized to be the cookie halves of the Ultimate Fudge Chocolate. “We’re playing truth or dare tonight.”

Hannah held up the empty box of Dare brand cookies higher. “I don’t think that when people play truth or dare, they mean the cookie brand.”

“Yeah, well, that’s because you don’t share my brilliance. See, this is how we can tell that I was the only one who got any imagination in this family.” Josh started to carefully take his thick sludge and began to ice the cookies with them.

Hannah was a little more hesitant with her next question. “What exactly are you doing to all these cookies anyways?” Once again, not a question Beth wanted the answer to.

This time, Josh did fully turn to face the two of them, and oh boy was he a sight. He was almost completely covered in cornstarch with random flecks of soy sauce and mustard covering his hands and the apron he had probably stolen from the home-ec room at school. In one arm was a bowl filled with what Beth assumed to be the unholy amalgamation of soy sauce and cornstarch and the other held the whisk, covered in said mixture. The large, maniacal grin on his face and insane look in his eyes was enough to complete the image that their brother had officially snapped. “Oh, am I glad you asked, Han! You see, this is where my brilliance comes into play! I am slowly and painstakingly replacing the creme in every single one of these cookies with my own!” He waved the whisk wildly and Beth backed up to hopefully avoid the spray of brown, but it was thick enough that nothing actually flew thankfully.

Beth hated herself for the words coming out of her mouth, but they were out into the world before she knew it. “And what kind of cream is that?”

Josh changed the tone of his voice so resembled that of a teacher giving a lecture. “It changes for every cookie of course, but they all start with the same cornstarch/water base as a thickener. From there, it all changes! For the maple, I add some dijon mustard for color. Chocolate gets soy sauce. Lemon, just a smidgen of regular mustard.” Josh turned back to the row of chocolate cookies on the counter. “And the coconut gets mayo, simply because an icing of just cornstarch is boring and I am not all about that life.”

“Kind of making it sound that your not all about life in general right now.”

Josh didn’t give much of an answer other than a shrug. “That’s because you don’t understand my genius.”

“Evil genius more like.”

“Is there any better?”

God help her, but Hannah moved closer to watch over Josh’s shoulder as he continued to ice the cookies. “And what are you doing with the normal fillings?”

Without looking, Josh pointed towards a couple of containers to the left of him. “Failures and fillings are over there if you want them.”

Beth was definitely more then a little hesitant when she looked in the bowl of ‘failures’. Only to sigh in relief at the sight of what was just a bowl of broken cookies that Josh hadn’t managed to separate properly. Which wasn’t a surprise. These weren’t exactly Oreo’s he was dealing with, so it was probably harder to split these without one or both sides of the cookie shattering. The other container was just filled with maple and chocolate creme centers as he promised. She reached into the first bowl and picked out a maple one that was missing about a third of the cookie on top, popping it into her mouth as she handed Hannah a similar chocolate one.

“Surprised that these are even here. Thought you would have eaten every single mistake.”

The look that Josh gave her was so unimpressed that she almost choked on the cookie in surprise. “Beth. I have been at this for literally hours. Trust me, I got sick of these things like two hours ago. There were so many mistakes.”

Hannah stuck her hand in a bowl to grab another broken chocolate fudge, but carefully added some of the discarded maple creme on top. “So how exactly is this game supposed to work? Whenever someone picks dare they have to eat a cookie?”

Josh shook his head in clear disappointment as he gestured at himself. “Oh Hannah. Hannah, Hannah, Hannah. Once again, only one who has any imagination, right here.” He returned back to his tray of cookies, carefully placing the other half back on top of the soy sauce creme, cleaning up any that leaked over the edge as he did so. “Of course not. It’s very simple really. Someone picks either truth or dare, and the person asking asks their question or gives their demand. The fun comes in refusing! If anyone refuses to either answer the truth or do the dare, then they have to eat a cookie as repentance.”

Beth watched Josh put the tray of now completed ‘chocolate fudge’ cookies into the fridge to harden as she ate a piece of maple creme from the bowl. She noticed that there was already a couple of other trays in the fridge and made a note to warn Sam not to touch a single cookie when she came over later in the afternoon. “And are Chris and Ashley aware that there are going to be cookies?”

“Nope.”

She sighed. “Are they even aware that they’re gonna be playing truth or dare tonight?”

“Nope.” 

The pop of the p was so self-satisfied that Beth turned to look at Hannah, but saw that she was already on her phone before she could open her mouth.

“Already putting Poison Control on speed dial.”

“Probably a good idea honestly.” Josh didn’t even pause from grabbing the four boxes of lemon creme’s, another four containers of cornstarch, and two bottles of regular mustard as he replied.

[jaspers-levis]

Your People

Reader request by @isitmine

Sorry this is so late! I promise I did not forget; real life just butts in sometimes.

You sighed, taking in the vista before you and adjusting your pack. At first the views had been breathtaking, awe inspiring, totally worth the chilly nights and damp socks. Now they were just a reminder that you had yet another hill to climb, another mountaintop to summit, another arduous stretch of trail to battle through before you could stop for the night. A month ago you had thought this was the best course of action you could have taken given the circumstances. Now you weren’t so sure.

You took another deep breath, feeling the thinner mountain air whistle through your airways and began the descent into the forest again. Your keen hearing tracked every creature within a mile radius; you could scent a deer about a quarter mile away grazing with her fawn. The wolf in you licked her chops, stomach rumbling, and you made a face. In wolf form, raw meat was delicious. In human form, not so much. Rummaging in your pack, you pulled out a granola bar and continued on your way trying to make each meager mouthful last. According to your map, the next town wasn’t terribly far away. You could probably make it by nightfall. Hopefully.

Really becoming homeless and wandering through the forests of the PNW was not your original plan, but when you first shifted your father panicked and aimed his shotgun at you, triggering your own violent reflex. You hadn’t intended to put him in the hospital but it was either that or be shot to death in your own backyard. You left that same night; packing your bags and taking off before your family could condemn you to a zoo or asylum. Their beliefs were incredibly rigid and definitely could not explain what happened to you, let alone accept what you were now. So you left.

One thing you hadn’t quite expected was how lonely it was out here. You’d had a rather large group of friends back home that you’d cut off to prevent your parents from finding you, and the radio silence was killing you. You just wanted to be able to tell one person about what was going on, relieve the stress, have a partner in understanding what was happening to you. Someone who could talk to you before bed each night. Someone you could look at and shake your head over the weird growth spurts, the dizzying switch between a wolf brain and a human brain, the twigs and leaves you often found in your hair after shifting back. It would be so nice…

A snapped branch several hundred yards away brought you out of your thoughts long enough to realize that whatever it was was HUGE, a predator, and smelled… familiar? Hastily you dropped your pack and shifted, regretting not taking off your clothes before you did so. Damn it, you’d really liked that shirt!

Wolves melted out of the shadows like the first rays of sunlight through the clouds; one minute there were none, the next you were surrounded. You bared your teeth, hackles rising, your tail high and wagging ever so slightly at the tip. Your eyes darted from wolf to wolf, trying to keep track of them all before they tore you to pieces. 

Hello, the largest black wolf greeted you. His size and scent indicated he was the leader of the pack. We do not mean you any harm. We did not know there were any other wolves like us in the area

Confused, you backed up, tail brushing against another wolf who snarled at you in warning. 

Jake , stop it, the black wolf admonished. What is your name, and how did you get here? What brings you to our territory?

Uh, Y/N… you replied haltingly, your mental voice not as strong as his. I’m just passing through.

Why don’t you come with us? You can get something to eat and we can talk more easily, the black wolf said, not unkindly though his tone implied that refusing the offer was not a choice. My name is Sam and this is Jake, Quil, Jared and Seth.

Reluctantly you picked up your backpack in your mouth and followed the wolves, your keen nose noting the now-obvious scents of a rather large wolfpack layered over the other forest smells. You detected at least several more wolves’ scents; good lord, you’d never thought there would be even one other wolf person in the world, let alone a huge pack! 

The five of you ran for about twenty minutes, emerging from the trees at the edge of a clearing housing a cozy little cabin. As a human, the hike would have taken the rest of the day and you were grateful in some small way that you had skipped that. Dropping your bag at the edge of the trees, you ducked behind the trees for a quick moment of privacy, shifting into your normal form and pulling on a pair of sweatpants and a ratty hoodie from your bag. You winced; they could use a wash but they were some of your last clothes left. It would have to do.

Sam and the rest of the boys were waiting for you to change, their copper skin glistening with rainwater and their dark hair damp. Somewhere they’d all found sweatpants or cut off jeans to pull on, though most of them remained shirtless. Sam reached out to touch your shoulder gently, his eyes the same kind, dark brown as they’d been in his wolf form. “Come along, let’s get you inside. I’m sure you’d love a hot meal,” he guided you forward, his warm fingers burning right through the thin material of your sweatshirt. The rest of the boys closed ranks around you, escorting you like a captive. Your nerves jangled as you entered the house, uncertain of what they wanted from you.

“Hey honey! You’re back early,” a sweet voice called out from the kitchen, and a second later a gorgeous woman poked her head around the wall, her silky dark hair a curtain around her perfect face. “Oh! Who’s this?” she asked, leaning her cheek into Sam’s kiss as he wrapped her in his embrace. It was clear the two held a deep affection for one another, a connection you’d chased all your life. 

“Emily, this is Y/N; we scented a wolf along the northern border and found her. Another female wolf… I wish Leah was here,” Sam sighed, resting his cheek against her hair. Emily turned her face towards his with a smile, revealing a jagged violent scar. You gulped and averted your eyes quickly to avoid staring. How in the hell did she get that?? You sniffed quickly, but you only smelled the men and your own wolfishness. Emily was completely human. 

“Well, come on in Y/N, let’s get some food into you and we can talk. I just put dinner on!” Emily reached out her hand and took yours, pulling you further into the house with a warm smile. “We need more girls around here,” she confessed, whispering into your ear conspiratorially. “Too many men!”

You gave her a weak smile, still nervous of the hulking escorts behind you. “Thank you,” you whispered as Emily sat you down in between her and Sam, beginning to heap a generous amount of food on your plate. The rest of the pack settled in at the table, pretending to ignore you while tracking your every move from the corner of their eyes. You didn’t detect any malice in their demeanor, only curiosity and a vague suspicion regarding your presence in their midst. Understandable, given you were a strange wolf on their land.

The men finished their first helpings in a matter of minutes, reloading their plates almost in the same breath. You took your time, savoring each bite despite the hunger that had gnawed at your stomach all day. After your first helping, Sam leaned back and looked at you expectantly. “Y/N, let’s get down to business. Let’s start with how you can turn into a wolf, and where you come from.”

You swallowed the last bite of food as if it was a lump of charcoal, staring hard at your plate. Emily chafed your hand gently under the table and gave you an encouraging smile. You gave her the tiniest slip of a smile as you took a deep breath and began your story. “I am from just north of Vancouver; I hitchhiked my way south these past couple of weeks and then headed west. My plan was to hike along the coast,” you began, dodging the main question. “I left home three weeks ago to get away from my family; they don’t quite… understand the wolf thing. They wouldn’t, even if I explained it to them,” you sighed sadly, and Emily threw a protective arm around you.

“You shifted in front of them,” one of the younger boys guessed with a sympathetic face. You thought his name was Seth? “My sister did the same, by accident of course. Our dad had a heart attack, literally.”

You winced. “Yeah… only I attacked my dad,” you confessed and Sam put his hand on your shoulder, gently squeezing. “To be fair, he was holding a shotgun and threatening to shoot me. I was an abomination in his eyes.” You smiled without humor, tears streaming down your face silently. 

Emily wrapped both arms around you then, with Sam holding you both close. “Sh, it’s okay honey. You’re not an abomination, it’s not your fault,” Emily kissed your hair gently as you cried into her blouse. She smelled of tangerines and soap, an incredibly homey scent that calmed you the longer she held you. 

“Y/N, you are not an abomination. You’re a shapeshifter,” Sam told you, stroking your back soothingly. “Of all people, you are extremely lucky that we found you. You’re one of us somehow, and you’ve just come home to us.”

Curious, you looked up at him through your tears. “A shapeshifter?” 

Sam nodded. “There is a legend that the Quileute people were descended from wolves,” he began, relating the history of shapeshifters in their tribe and how they usually spring forth due to the presence of vampires. “Recently there was a coven of vampires in the area for several years, hence the transformation of our current pack. I suspect that there may have been a vampire nearby when you shifted, and that you perhaps have Quileute blood.”

You sat back, stunned. Your father had not shared much about your mother after she’d passed, but you remembered her long dark hair like a curtain of silk, her glowing russet cheeks, her careful traditions she held despite them being so different from what the other families in the neighborhood. The Quileute name was familiar; you were sure you’d heard her mention it when you asked about her history with a child’s curiosity. The people that sat around you now reminded you so much of her… 

“I know you are one of us,” Sam reassured you, tucking a strand of hair behind your ear and cupping your cheek gently. “I can smell it, and when you were in your wolf form your mind sounded familiar. You are one of us,” he repeated, the warmth in his dark eyes heating your cheeks with a blush.

“Please say you’ll stay,” Emily begged hopefully as you broke your gaze from Sam’s before your blush could give you away. “Even if it’s just for a little while. Learn how to be a wolf. Stay with us. We can’t completely undo what happened with your father, but at least you’ll be safe here with us.”

“Are you sure…?” You asked, looking around the table with a nervous hope beginning to take root in your chest. The rest of the pack nodded enthusiastically, each talking over  the other to welcome you, to plan wolf lessons, to invite you to pack events, explaining pack rules…

“Please stay with us, Y/N,” Sam asked seriously, his voice low. “You belong here, with the pack. We want you to stay. Emily and I want you to stay.” Emily nodded enthusiastically at his words, her gorgeous face earnest. 

“Please stay with us. We need another girl around here to even things out, and clearly you were meant to find us someday,” Emily clasped your hands in hers.

You only hesitated a moment. “I’ll stay,” you confirmed, grinning broadly for the first time in a month. Your spirits suddenly lifted, your heart light with the knowledge that you had found your pack. A family that would understand you better than your actual family ever would. Your mother’s people. Your home.

Sam and Emily were at the heart of it, tucking you in their feverish embrace, the first tendrils of affection wrapping themselves around the three of you. You had never expected to feel this way about practical strangers, but your heart knew theirs on some base, instinctive level. These were your people, and nothing could shake that conviction.

[destielstuffandthings]

For @to-ship-or-not #15- Shouldn’t you be with him? Destiel angst and with a happy ending

“It’s not that easy, man. You don’t get it,” Dean grunted. He hacked his way through the bushes with his machete, ducking out of the way as a branch whipped over his head. “It’s complicated.”

“More complicated then gettin’ our asses handed to us every day ‘n night?” Benny reached up and snapped the branch off and tossed it to the side. “Come on cher, fess up. You got it bad for the angel.” He held his hand up in defense as Dean turned to glare at him. “It’s obvious, Dean. You ain’t exactly subtle. Goin’ ‘round here yellin’ at anyone who’ll listen ‘Where’s the angel?’ and choppin’ their heads off when you don’t get the answer ya want? Look, I get it. Killin’ is necessary down here but, buddy, you’re goin’ straight up feral lookin’ for the guy.”

Dean balked. Not even Sam was ever this blunt about whatever was going on between him and Cas. He shook his head and whipped his machete into the dirt next to his feet.

“You don’t get it, man. I owe Cas everything. He pulled me outta hell.”

“I get that brother. Been in a tough spot with a few good men before. I owed ‘em my life.”

“No, Benny. Literal hell.” Dean squatted down and balanced on the balls of his feet, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I was torturing souls when Cas came down into the pit and yanked my sorry ass out.” Dean closed his eyes and sighed.

“Well, shit, cher. I didn’t know nothin’ about that.” Benny sat up against a tree trunk next to Dean and let out a groan. “Hell,” he huffed. “Can’t even imagine what that was like.”

Dean sighed. “It was better than here. Didn’t know Cas back then so I didn’t have to worry about the asshole gettin’ hurt. But now, he’s out there somewhere and I can’t find him.” He ran his hand down his face and over his mouth, looking off into the woods. “If he’s hurt---”

“I’m sure he’s alright, Dean. Guy’s an angel after all. He knows how ta take care’a himself.” Benny patted his friend roughly on the shoulder. “Does he know?

“Know what?”

“That you’re in love with him,” Benny said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Dean huffed and shook his head. “Yeah,” he stood and rolled his shoulders, “pretty sure he does. Been goin’ at this for ten years.”

Benny’s eyes widened as he stood. “Ten fuckin’ years? The hell is wrong with---” Benny scoffed, “Shouldn’t you be with him by now?”

Dean nodded. “Probably. If I ever find him and get outta this place, I’m gonna tell him. No more hidin’.”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~One Month Later~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

“Fuck,” the demon screamed, it’s voice echoing throughout the canyon. “I told you I don’t know! God, p-please!! Stop!”

Dean’s eyes were bloodshot and his face was spattered with blood. He pressed his knife harder against it’s throat. “Why the fuck don’t I believe you? Your pal over there,” he tilted his head to the other side of the river towards a demon Benny had just finished sucking it dry, “said you two were trackin’ him. Tell me where you saw him last an’ I’ll let you go, s’long as you don’t try anything stupid.” His eyes narrowed as he sliced the demon just enough to let a drop of blood trickle out.

The demon shook underneath him, searching Dean’s eyes for any sign of lying.

“Ok,” it breathed in relief, nodding it’s head. “We saw him up river just a few hours ago. We were headed that way when---,” it looked over to see Benny wiping his mouth, stalking towards them. “He can’t be far. He’s weak, he didn’t even care that we were following him. He looked like---like he wanted to get caugh---”

His last words were cut off by Dean plunging the knife into it’s throat. It gargled and spasmed until Dean felt it take it’s last breath.

He stood and wiped the blade clean on his pants, never taking his eyes off the demon.

Benny walked up behind Dean and looked over the mans shoulder. “Anything?”

“Yeah. He knew where Cas was. Up river a few hours. Let’s go.” Mechanically, Dean turned and headed north. Benny sighed and followed close behind.

They hacked and slaughtered their way through the woods until they came to a clearing. The water pooled into a small pond that was surrounded with brush and vines. The small makeshift beach was littered with body parts and used weapons, blood soaked into the dirt turning it an eerie shade of red. In the middle of the chaos stood Castiel, breathing hard and staring at the carnage around him.

Dean’s breath caught in his throat as he laid eyes on him for the first time in months. He dropped his weapon and started running towards the battered angel.

“Cas,” Dean called out, running as fast as his legs could carry him.

The angel raised his hand to his forehead, squinting to block out the sun.

“Dean?”

Dean slowed down a fraction before running into the angel, wrapping his arms around his solid frame.

“Fuck, Cas I never thought I’d see you again,” Dean whispered, nuzzling his face into the angels shoulder.

Castiel wrapped an arm around Dean and held his weapon tight with his other hand. “Dean,” he brushed his lips across the mans ear and squeezed him tightly, “don’t move. You were followed.”

Before Dean had a chance to speak, Cas moved Dean behind him with a sweep of his arm. He held his angel blade chest high and pointed it at the person in front of him. “Leave. Or you can join your brothers fate,” he growled, gesturing to the bodies strewn on the ground.

Benny laughed and raised his hands. “I’m guessin’ you’re Cas?”

Castiel felt Dean grab his forearm. “Cas, this is Benny. He helped me get to you.”

The angels arm fell to his side as he frowned. “My apologies. I’m used to---”

“Killin’ anything that gets within spittin’ distance?” Benny huffed and smiled.

“Yes,” Castiel said bluntly. He turned to Dean and looked him over, noticing a gash on his side. “You’re hurt.” He reached out yo inspect it before Dean smirked and batted Cas’ hand away.

“M’fine. Just glad we finally got to you, Cas. I missed you. I thought---”

Castiel glanced at Benny before returning his focus to Dean. “I also thought the worst. It seems as though your new friend kept you alive, for which I am grateful,” he said in Benny’s direction without taking his eyes off Dean.

“I’ll uh...I gotta---,” Benny pointed to a hedge of trees in the distance, “I’m just gonna go over there and---yeah.” He awkwardly made his way out of earshot and settled against a tree, closing his eyes as he smirked.

“I don’t like him,” Castiel scowled, staring off into the trees.

Dean scoffed. “You don’t even know the guy, Cas. I wouldn’t have made it if it wasn’t for him.” He rubbed the back of his neck nervously. Now or never he thought. “He uh, probably glad to get some peace and quiet now. I kind wouldn’t stop talkin’ about you.”

Castiel nodded. “Yes, I suppose it did take some time for us to be reunited. I assume he knows what I am?”

“Yeah, yeah he knows. But that’s not what I’m talkin’ about, Cas.” Dean moved his head so it was in Cas’ line of sight. He locked eyes with the angel for the first time in months. “I told ‘im how much you meant to me, and that I wouldn’t be alive if it weren’t for you. Told him---,” He sighed and twisted his fingers into Cas’ sleeve, “I told him how much I love you.”

Castiels eyes widened. He looked at the man in front of him, watching the blush grow heavily on his cheeks and ears. He reached out and rested his palm against Deans cheek, sweeping his thumb over the thick hair on it and sighed.

“If I had known that getting lost in Purgatory was the answer to you finally saying that, I would’ve----”

Dean pulled Castiel in flush against his chest. They were both still covered in blood and dirt and God knows what else, but nothing had ever been more perfect than when their lips finally touched.

It was a soft, careful kiss. No rush or urgency behind it. Testing the waters, Dean held the back of Cas’ neck and brushed his tongue across the angels bottom lip.

Castiel sighed into the kiss. With a roll of his jaw, Dean opened willingly and took what Cas gave him. They held each other close as before pulling away for air.

In the distance, they heard a deep chuckle and a twigs snapping as Benny wandered off into the woods, leaving them to get properly reunited.

[xxgoblin-dumplingxx]

Trial Run

“Steve,” Bucky shouted over the Blonde’s rambling about a really great new girl in data entry that Bucky could probably get along with, “no.” Steve stopped dead in his tracks and tilted his head, looking at Bucky, “What, you scared?” he asked.

“No,” he said, “I’m patently uninterested.” Bucky shoved his gear into its storage space and sighed. It had been a long fucking day and a longer fucking mission. The last thing he wanted to do was talk to Steve about his current lack of a girl to warm his bed. Steve of all people who’d been a steadfast virgin until a couple near-death experiences had shaken the Catholic Guilt out of his head. “C’ mon, Buck.” Steve pressed, “you gotta get out there some time. And these modern dames aren’t all bad.” 

Bucky pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. It was irritating, Steve’s mother hen bullshit since he came out of cryo. Steve was still romantic. And an optimist. And a massive pain in his ass. Even after 70 years. Sometimes it was comforting but as he listened to Steve ramble about something called a kindle or a twig or a whatever, he prayed to a god he hadn’t tried to talk to since Germany. He prayed hard. For patience. Somewhere, in the back of his mind, he heard his mother and sister Rebecca laughing at him. 

It made his head spin. All the apps and all the social justice things, and the faux pas Steve was firing at him. And then it hit him. You. You were the perfect answer. A field agent that was never at the Compound and when you were, no one ever saw you. You were too busy doing reports for the UN or working on any number of impact campaigns. And you had just walked into the bay, heels clicking crisply. You gave both men a sweet smile but Bucky for a wink. A wink Bucky knew the meaning of. It was fall and you’d been introducing him to horror films. You’d promised to show him the Scream Movies if he brought you something with caffiene in it. Mostly because the current “Get healthy” thing was cutting back on caffeine and you thought that was a crock of shit. 

Bucky waited until you were out of earshot before he blurted out, “I can’t. Y/N and I have a thing.” Steve stopped again, sputtering at him, “That Y/N? The one that just walked by? The one with the nose piercing and the tattoos?” Bucky nods, “I mean. Yeah. She’s a nice girl.” Steve folds his arms, “Uh- huh,” he said, “And how long has this been a “thing”?” Bucky snorts, “I don’t really know. I mean. We text a lot. Watch movies... I took her to go get some of her shit from her ex-boyfriend's house and get her rabbit back. It just kind of... is.” Steve shakes his head, “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me,” he said accusingly. Bucky shrugs again, “You were having so much fun telling me how to live my life I never got the chance.”

Steve gave Bucky a glower and Bucky could only smirk. It was still satisfying to get Steve’s goat. Knock him down a peg every now and then. Steve made an exasperated sound and walked out of the bay, flinging his hands up in irritation. 

Bucky let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding. “Oh fuck,” he groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose, “What did I just do?” He could only ponder for a moment before the alarm bells started ringing and he started running. He had to get to you before Steve could. He had to or he’d never live it down. That Blonde asshole would ride him about it for the next 70 years at least. 

_______

When Bucky pounded on your door sweating and panting, he wasn’t expecting you to open the door in your jammies. Cute tiny shorts with robots on them and a tanktop. A sheer-ish tank top that showed him that your nose was not the only thing you had pierced. “I-need,” he panted, “I- need you to pretend.” He coughed and you held out a hand, “Christ Bucky, if you need laid that bad I can probably grin and bear it,” you joke, a little alarmed. Bucky barks a laugh and takes a deep breath, pushing hair out of his eyes, “Y/N this is serious,” he panted, “I need you to pretend to date me.” You snorted, “You’re fucking with me right?” you ask. Bucky shakes his head, “Please! If Steve ever finds out I’ll literally have to die just so he’ll get off my dick.” You sigh, “If Steve ever finds out what?” 

Bucky turns red to the roots of his hair and hangs his head, “That we're not really dating or anything,” he mumbles. You gasp and thud your head on the door frame, “James Buchanan Barnes, you fucking didn’t.” Bucky shifted his weight uncomfortably, “I panicked,” he said, tracing the pattern in the carpet with his toe. You can’t help it, you laugh and take his hand, “You? Mr. Brooding Calm? You panicked.” Bucky can’t help it, he smiles a little sheepishly, “He threatened me with Tinder,” he said holding up his hands, “I’ve seen Sam on that app. It’s a fucking nightmare. And you walked by and I just. It’s the first thing that came out. I’m sorry, please. I’m desperate. I’ll do whatever you want.” Bucky looks like he might actually start begging for a second and it softens you a little, even if you are irritated. 

As much as you don’t want to be a part of the macho bullshit, he looks so young. And so fucking confused. 70 years ago dating wasn’t the hellscape it is now. Not for someone handsome and charming. And he didn’t mean to drag you into your own personal definition of hell. You kiss his cheek and smile a little, “I have one condition,” you tell him, grinning. Bucky can’t help it. He smiles. “What’s that, Sugar?” he asks testing out the pet name on you. Not that one, he decides. Too common. 

“You pay for the beer on movie night. And we never put olives on the pizza again.” you tell him. Bucky groans, “Can’t I just repay you in sexual favors?”

You shove him gently, “Dream on, mister. I’ll fake date you but I’m not gonna fuck you... This is just a trial run. Help you get your sea legs.”

“And get Steve off my back,” he adds. “And that,” you agree, nodding.

Tags: @lancsnerd @stevieang​ @golddaggers @blameitonthecauseway​ @qxeen-of-hearts @process-pending@xmarveled​ @beautybyfire, @etherealwaifgoddess, @mschellehitt, @mistressoftorture @thorfanficwriter

[supernaturaltfwmeme]

12 Days of Dean Winchester

Dean plans a Christmas you will never forget.

December 13th

20:39  

A small town just outside Lebanon, Kansas. The night was pitch black; you could barely make out your hand in front of your face. A young boy around 10 was walking back from a Christmas fair he had attended with his friends and had decided to take a shortcut through a farmer's field to make it home in time for his nine o’clock curfew. The wind whistled around him whipping at his coat making him pull it tighter around his body. Suddenly the boy hears a noise kind of like a twig breaking, although it was so dark even the light from his phone torch wasn’t enough to let him see who or what made the noise.

“hello?” the boy called out “is someone there?” he got no response. Getting a weird feeling in his stomach the boy started to pick up the pace until he heard another noise. Rustling coming from the tall grass next to him.  

Deciding not to stick around to see what the noise was this time, the boy decided to run as fast as his little legs would carry him. Glancing back, he caught sight of a familiar scarecrow, except it wasn’t in the middle of the field like it should have been, but rather on the path where he had just been walking. The boy stopped, watching the scarecrow for a minute confused before he watched it turn its head towards the boy and almost seem to smile before slowly starting to move towards the boy.  

Heart pounding in his chest the boy started to run again yelling for help as he went. In the dark and his panic, the boy ran straight into something, dropping his phone as he did so and falling to the ground. He scrambled to find his phone and when he pointed his torch up, he noticed the scarecrow leaning over him before showing its sharp teeth and grabbing him. The boy let out a blood curdling scream and that’s the last anyone would ever see of him...

The Bunker

December 14th

Y/N Singer was waiting impatiently in the bunker for the boy to get back, they said they had a surprise for her and she couldn’t wait to find out what it was. Suddenly she heard the familiar sound of the heavy metal door creaking open and ran to the bottom of the stairs.  

In walked Sam and Dean followed by an oh so familiar red head.

“Charlie?” you squealed, running up to the woman and giving her a hug, before turning to the brothers. “this is the surprise? You bought Charlie here?” you asked excitedly.

“not quiet.”  Dean answered with a smirk “you know how you used to love big family Christmas’ with us and your dad and you were sad you didn’t get to have them anymore?”  

“well we invited Charlie, Cas and Gabriel to spend Christmas in the bunker with us and have our own family Christmas” Sam explained.

“Sam you didn’t?” “actually Y/N it was all Deans idea” Sam admitted pointing to Dean who looked a little flushed. You ran over to Dean pulling him into a big hug, clearly excited. “I can't believe you organised all this for me.”

Dean hugged you back tight “of course I did. I’d do anything to make you happy Y/N” he admitted, whispering the last part so only you could hear.

“And we bought a tree. If we’re gonna do Christmas were gonna do it right.” Charlie added.

The boys left to go get the tree and ornaments from the car leaving you to catch up with Charlie.  

“I can’t wait for this, Dean has literally planned so much stuff for us to do, he’s put a lot of thought into it yano Y/N” Charlie said raising her eyebrow at you. She was always suggesting something was going on with you and Dean. You wished but no you were just really good friends.

“well Deans always wanted a real Christmas; he’s probably just planned this for everyone.”  

“And here was me thinking denial was just a river in Egypt.” Charlie rolled her eyes.

“Did somebody order an angel for thier tree.” Gabriel yelled, suddenly appearing behind you and Charlie making you jump.

You just turned around punching him in the arm before saying “Are you trying to give me a heart attack? Don’t do that.” Gabriel just laughed.

“Missed you too kiddo.” he replied pulling you into a hug.  

“who wants to decorate a tree?” you heard Dean yell as him and Sam walked into the room carrying a Christmas tree. Cas following behind Carrying a box labelled ‘Decorations’.  The boys placed the tree in the library and Cas placed the box on the table. Something about that box was familiar but you couldn’t quiet put your finger on it.

“Dean how much time did you spend planning all of this?” you asked in disbelief

“this aint the half of it sweetheart” he smirked at you “we’re doing secret Santa too.” he said before walking over to the table and grabbing a bowl that you somehow hadn’t noticed.

“right everybody take a piece of paper, if you get yourself we re-draw. Whoever's name you pick you have to get a Christmas present for but you can’t tell anyone who you got.” Dean explained mainly for the angels in the room.  

You all took turns pulling names from the bowl. Sam went first, looking at his piece of paper and smiling when he realised, he got Charlie. He knew exactly what to get her.

Gabe went next, he pulled Cas. Then Dean went a smirk on his face when he pulled your name, this was going better than he planned. He was getting you a present anyway.

After dean Charlie went pulling Gabriel’s name. Cas went next pulling Sam’s name leaving you to go last leaving you with Dean. For the first time in a long time you were really excited about Christmas.

You all spent the next couple hours decorating the bunker and the tree with the decorations the boys got. You had seen them before but you didn’t know where, you made a mental note to ask Dean about it later.

After you were done you we’re all sat around having a few beers catching up. You weren't even sure you'd all been in the same room at the same time before. Suddenly Sam’s voice cut through the conversation interrupting you all.

“errm guys I hate to break up the festivities but I think I found us a case.”

Part 2

[avintagekiss24]

Piper’s Creek [6/10]

Pairing: Sam Wilson x Bucky Barnes x Steve Rogers

Word Count: 3002

Warnings: language, shape shifting/animal transformation

Rating: M (for language)

Link: AO3

Summary: Sam Wilson is a simple man. He likes to do simple things, like going fishing on a warm summer day. Little does Sam know, this fishing trip will not only lead him to his soulmate, but into a world of ancient folklore.

Square Filled: C2 - Never the fall that kills you for @buckybarnesbingo

B5 - Sam Wilson for @stuckybingo2019

A/N: 5 parts down, 5 parts to go! We’ve got a full moon in full effect in this part...

@waltermittie is responsible for the artwork! Have you guys followed her yet???

Sam rolls over onto his back and stretches out his arms and legs, letting out a breath and a groan. He drops his hands back to the bed and rolls back over on his side. He slides his hand across the sheets, expecting to feel another body, but comes up empty. He cracks open an eye, his vision blurry with sleep and finds the spot next to him vacant. He takes another breath and picks up his head to peer into the bathroom, but sees no movement. 

“Bucky?” He calls groggily, letting his head fall back onto the pillow. 

Night has fallen over the small cottage. Sam is beyond sore, his muscles aching from their vigorous session hours earlier. Bucky’s weight and strength had certainly caught the air force veteran by surprise. He’s exhausted, and feels as though he’s been hit by a semi, but Bucky has managed to check off another box on Sam’s wish list. Sam Wilson loves a strong man.

He rolls over onto his back again, sprawling his limbs out on the mattress as he opens his eyes slowly, “Bucky, come back to bed.”

A loud thud sounds through the house suddenly, followed quickly by glass shattering as it crashes to the floor. Sam springs forward, eyes wide, mouth agape as his breathing quickens. He jumps when the front door slams against the wall and is followed by quick, heavy footsteps that quickly disappear. 

Sam throws the covers off of him and shuffles into his boxer briefs. He peeks around the threshold of the bedroom door and focuses his eyes on the wide open front door as it slowly swings back closed, creaking all the while. A lamp is shattered on the floor next to the couch, the tea kettle on its side on the kitchen floor. The couch is pushed out of whack, now sitting cockeyed and right up against the small, square table that once held the lamp. 

A loud whelp comes from outside. Sam snaps his head back toward the door as fear floods through his body. A blood curdling scream follows soon after and Sam’s heart falls to his feet. Bucky. He rushes toward the door and throws it open, stopping dead in his tracks as he catches a silhouette in the moonlight. Bucky is on all fours in the dirt, his head down between his arms. His breathing is heavy and ragged between his screams as his fingers dig into the dirt beneath him.

Bucky snaps his head up suddenly as the muscles in his back flex and ripple, his body contorting in unnatural ways. He screams again as his shoulders roll with the pain and his head falls forward again. His body jerks in an awkward way as his muscles tense. Tears stain his cheeks as he cries out, his screams becoming strained as they dissolve into deep growls. His head snaps up again and that’s when Sam sees it. 

The high, full moon splashes light over Bucky’s crumpled body as he turns. His ears go from round and human to long and pointy. Fur coats his body as he jerks and stiffens. Bucky lifts his hand from the ground and Sam watches as it morphs into a large paw, long, sharp, black nails elongating from the tips. This is so different from what Sam had seen before. Within the blink of an eye, Bucky would go from human to wolf, wolf to human. No fuss. But this? This is painful. This is slow and agonizing. This is the curse. 

Sam snaps back into the present and runs from the porch to Bucky’s side. He kneels beside him, placing both hands on Bucky’s back and side, “Bucky,”

“Don’t!” Bucky shouts, scrambling away from him, “Go back inside.” He grunts as his words become strained, “Sa-am, ple-please, go.”

He screams in agony again and Sam’s eyes go wide as the man before him dissolves into pure beast. Bucky’s long, dark hair literally shrinks away, replaced by more grey and white fur. His screams morph into a howl as his head contorts, that sweet, almost boyish face turning animalistic. His teeth sharpen as he barks and growls, spit and slobber dripping from them and wetting the dirt. 

Sam watches in horror as the transformation completes underneath the bright moon. His breath is shallow and shaky as the animal bays at the moon loudly, standing on its hind legs. It falls to its front paws seconds later with a thud, its tail swishing back and forth as it sniffs at the ground. Sam stands slowly, never taking his eyes off of it, and starts to back his way toward the house, praying all the while. 

A twig snaps in the woods off to the left and they both snap their heads toward it. Sam freezes for just a second before shuffling backward, not expecting the step of the porch that soon. He slams his heel into it, losing his balance and crashes down to the wooden porch with a very loud, very noticeable thud. Fucking great. 

The animal snaps around to face him, dropping his head in an aggressive stance as it trains its eyes on the vulnerable Sam. Sam’s mouth drops open as he stares back into its empty eyes, taken aback by how different they seem. Even in wolf form, they were always deep and full of warmth, love even. But now, they were flat, dark - cold. There was no sign of Bucky left. 

Sam watches as it stalks toward him, its heavy feet thudding against the dirt and gravel as it moves. Its growl is low, rumbling through its chest as it approaches. Its ears are laid back on its head, head low as it snarls at him, snapping its jaws as it barks. Sam stands quickly and takes a defensive stance, balling his fists as his mother's words float through his mind. You can’t punch your way out of everything, Samuel Thomas! 

“I don’t know if you can hear me Bucky,” Sam starts, his breathing heavy as adrenaline flushes through his veins, “But you need to back the fuck up. I will punch the shit out of you.”

It stops, snarling and baring its teeth at Sam before standing up on its hind legs. Sam swallows harshly as his eyes slowly move up it’s towering frame, “Oh fuck.”

Loud honking comes from the forest as artificial light breaks through the trees. The werewolf falls back on all fours and turns, hunching toward the ground as the lights wash over him. A black truck screeches to a stop, gravel, dirt, and dust whipping up around it as the back end swings out from behind it. Steve swings open the door, the butt of a gun stuck in the crook of his arm, the barrel trained on the wild animal in front of him. 

“Hey!” He shouts, drawing its attention from Sam, “Beat it, Bucky.”

It starts growling again, turning from Sam and trotting slightly toward Steve. It barks loudly at him, swiping his paw in the dirt as it lowers its head and tucks its ears back again. It lunges toward Steve but he doesn’t flinch. He shoots a warning shot in the ground toward its feet causing it to retreat slightly. It lunges again and Steve shoots again, this time grazing it on his hind leg. It yelps and takes off toward the treeline, Sam watches as the shrubs and smaller trees bend and break as it runs through them. 

“Shit,” Steve mumbles under his breath as he scans the trees for any sign of the animal returning, “You okay Sam?”

Sam nods quickly, swallowing again, “Yeah, I think, I think so.”

“Head back inside. I’ll watch out for him for a few minutes.”

Sam doesn't need to be told twice. He scurries back into the safety of the house and closes the door, before moving to the window to watch Steve pull his truck up to the house. He shuts it off and moves onto the porch, standing watch for a few minutes before finally coming inside. 

“Are you sure you’re okay? He didn’t nip you or anything?” Steve asks, looking over his front before reaching out and running his hand along his arms.

“I’m good, he didn’t even get that close,” Sam says as Steve turns him around to check his back, “What did you shoot him with?”

“It’s just tranquilizer darts if he gets out of hand. Usually, he just runs off but some nights he gets… rowdy.” Steve lets out a heavy sigh and runs his hand through his long, blonde hair, “Fuck, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have left you here alone. With everything earlier, I just wanted to give you two some space. It totally slipped my mind that tonight was a full moon.”

Sam runs his hand over his head, “Jesus, I am in the middle of a movie.” 

Steve smiles as he scans Sam’s nearly naked body, “Listen, you should probably get some sleep. Sex with Bucky can really creep up on you if you’re not careful.”

Sam glances down, forgetting he’s in nothing but his boxers and throws his hands in front of his crotch. Embarrassment flushes through him, causing him to chuckle nervously, “Oh, sorry, this is probably awkward as fuck for you.”

“Not as much as you would think. I’ll keep an eye out for him, but we probably won’t see him again until the morning.”

Sam backs awkwardly toward the bedroom door, running his hand over his head again, “Oh shit,” he breathes as he stumbles into the door, “Sorry, I just… oh wait, this is your room, you wanna- I can stay on the couch, it’s really no problem. I-”

“It’s okay, just try and relax, okay?” Steve smiles, “Get some sleep.”

Sam nods quickly, “Yeah, okay. That’s… yeah. Good-good night.”

Sam backs into the room, shutting the door softly and falls back onto the mattress, covering his face with his hands. Full moons, werewolves, and hundred year old boyfriends. Sam Wilson sure knows how to pick ‘em. 

-----

The morning comes all too quickly for Sam. He cracks his eyes open as the sun spills into the room and over his heavy body. He sits up slowly, rubbing his face as he lets out a breath. His muscles are tight and still sore, his head throbbing with a sharp, pounding headache. The smell of tea overwhelms his senses and he glances to his left, finding a steaming cup sitting on the small nightstand. His clothes are washed and folded neatly in a pile on the small chair in the corner, shoes tucked right underneath. 

He grabs the cup and takes a sip, closing his eyes as the warmth of the liquid spreads through his body. He grabs his phone as he stands from the bed and scrolls through the thirteen missed texts and calls from Natasha and Wanda. He rolls his eyes before tossing the phone on the bed and heading into the bathroom.

He stops when he spots a third toothbrush in the holder, when yesterday, there were only two. A new towel and washcloth is thrown over the towel rack and a space is made on the countertop. He smiles. Steve must like him. 

Sam showers quickly and steps out of the room as he pulls his shirt over his head. Steve glances over his shoulder as he stands at the sink, washing a few random dishes, “Morning.”

“Morning,” Sam greets with a smile. “Thanks for the tea and the clean clothes. I didn’t uh, plan out my stay very well.”

Steve smiles gently, “It happens.”

“So um,” Sam starts, glancing around for Bucky, “Did he come back home or?”

Steve shakes his head, “Nope. This is the fun part after a full moon. We gotta go find him.”

Sam watches as Steve moves through the kitchen and toward the front door, “We gotta find him?” He questions as he follows the slightly taller man out into the morning.

“Yeah, he doesn’t really recognize anything when he turns like that. He just runs the woods until the sun comes up and then he falls out. He’s out here somewhere.”

“That’s why you live out here, then? Away from people?”

Steve nods as they step through the treeline behind the house, “Yep. So he doesn’t get hurt and he doesn’t hurt anyone.”

The two men move through the trees and grass, scanning the brush as they slowly make their way through the wooded area. It falls quiet between them, Sam stealing quick glances. He remembers the picture of the small person Steve used to be, versus the burly man he is now. He’s rugged now with long hair and a thick beard, the traces of the sickly man long gone. 

“So uh,” Sam starts as he glances off toward the trees, “How did you two meet?”

Steve drops his head as he kicks at the rocks below, “It was a long time ago. It was back in New York, upstate. I couldn’t sleep one night so I went for a walk and saw some naked guy in a lake.”

“Sounds familiar,” Sam laughs. “That was what, late thirties? Early forties?”

Steve smirks, “1942. How did you know that?”

“My friend Wanda, she’s an anthropologist and Sokovian, which means she is naturally drawn to the unnatural,” Sam laughs. “She uh, she’s into all of this kinda stuff. She found a little bit about you and Bucky through some message boards or something.”

“Ah,” Steve nods as he shoves his hands into his pockets. “Modern technology just won’t let two hundred year old men live.”

Sam laughs, “It’s all loose information. Nobody can confirm anything, there’s like one picture of you from a few weeks ago, another from the early 2000s, and then one from like, 1940. You look like a completely different person, to be honest. Wanda had to show me the similarities between the pictures.”

“You sound close to her,” Steve starts, looking at him. “Wanda.”

“I am. I uh, I met her through her wife, Natasha. We’ve worked together for something like ten years now, so, yeah, they’re my buds.”

Steve smiles again as he drops his head, watching his feet as the push forward, “That sounds nice,” he says softly, “Bucky wishes we could have friends like that, but it’s, it’s just too dangerous.”

Sam looks over at him, catching the sudden change in his tone, “What does that mean?”

Steve takes a deep breath, expelling it through his nose, “It’s- we can’t have a bunch of people knowing about us, especially Bucky. If word gets out about him,” His words fall away as he shakes his head, “We just can’t do it.”

Sam stops, reaching out to place his hand on Steve’s shoulder to stop him, “So what are you saying? I can’t have them in my life anymore? That’s not fair.”

“Life isn’t fair, Sam. Things are going to be different for you from now on, you just have to get used to it.”

“No.” Sam scoffs, shaking his head, “No, you don’t get to tell me what’s going to be different. They’re cool, okay? They’re not the kind of people who run their mouths about other people's business. We’ll be fine.”

“Oh, you think so? You think it’s not going to slip out that their best friend is mated with a hundred year old werewolf?” Steve furrows his brow as he purses his lips tightly, “If you choose to stay with us, they go. It’s that simple.”

“Ain’t shit that simple!” Sam shouts. “I have a life, a job, friends, family! I’m not going to give them up just because you say so. It’s not up to you.”

“I have protected him for seventy-seven years.” Steve says softly as he steps up to Sam, “If you think I’m going to let him get hurt over some fling-”

“Fling?” Sam repeats angrily, squaring up to him, “That’s what you think this is?”

Steve laughs, “Bucky’s taken plenty of lovers before, all named Sam, and not one of them worked out. And guess who’s been here every step of the way?”

“You know what man,” Sam starts before he’s cut off by a moan. 

They snap their heads at the sound and move toward the edge of a small hill. Bucky lays at the bottom, complete naked, curled in a ball. Sam and Steve rush toward him; Sam brushing Bucky’s tangled hair out of his face once they reach him, “Bucky? You okay?”

Bucky grunts in response as Steve glances over his battered body. He’s got a few nicks and scratches along his torso and sides, his hands and feet are covered in dirt and blood. He almost made it injury free. Steve places his hands on his thigh as he eyes a rather large, bloody wound. He squeezes gently and Bucky recoils, hissing as pain rips through him.

“Stay with him. I’m going to go back and get something to patch him up before we move him.”

Sam cuts his eyes toward him as Steve retreats and then returns his attention toward the woozy Bucky, “Sammy?” He croaks, smiling softly as he tries to roll over, “Sammy, baby.”

“Shhh, it’s okay. Don’t talk, okay?” Sam whispers, sweeping more hair out of his face, “Steve will be back to stitch you up.”

“I fell,” He says as he rolls over onto his back. 

Sam tilts his head as he glances over his face. That face is back. That sweet, boyish face. His eyes are back to their piercing blue - a bit cloudy, but warm, “You fell?” He asks softly, running his hand down Bucky’s cheek.

He nods, lifting his hand slowly and pointing toward the top of the hill, “This fucking hill gets me every time.”

Sam laughs as he glances over his shoulder, “Well, it’s never the fall that kills you.”

Bucky chuckles, his voice scratchy and dry, “One day, I honestly think it will.”

[mcueveryday]

The Missed Train

Title: The Missed Train

Pairing Steve Rogers x ofc (named)

Word count: 1,122

A/N: So… I wasn’t even gonna write this, tbh. I haven’t even introduced my Steve OC yet, and a lot of people have not seen the movie yet, so I was hesitant to write it, let alone post it.

BUT—I was taking a shower the other day, and that final scene came to my mind and it played along with my OC and it BROKE. ME. I was literally sobbing in the shower and I just had to write it. So, bear with me. This won’t be the last of my OC, though. You’ll definitely see how they met and all that. But for now, enjoy this and cry with me.

I’m not tagging my taglist because I don’t want to spoil the movie to whoever hasn’t seen it, but both @meaganottiz02 and @isthiswhattheycallwriting asked me to tag them, so here it is.

I hope you like it, I really worked hard on it and tried – and failed – not to cry while writing it. As always reviews are always welcomed!

Warnings: ENDGAME SPOILERS. LOTS OF ENDGAME SPOILERS. DO NOT READ IF YOU HAVEN’T SEEN THE MOVIE. I REPEAT. DO NOT READ IF YOU HAVEN’T SEEN THE MOVIE.

Also, angst and heartbreak. A little bit of fluff.

I REPEAT: ENDGAME SPOILERS. READ UNDER YOUR OWN RISK.

 SPOILERS AFTER THE CUT. YOU’VE BEEN WARNED.

“You know that trains come and go, right? So love is like that.”

 Bucky watched as Steve disappeared from the platform, going back in time to return the Infinity Stones back to their respective eras, a feeling of uneasiness on the back of his head.

“How long is it gonna take?” Sam asked Banner- Hulk… Professor Hulk? Bucky still didn’t know what to call him.

“For him? However long he needs. For us? About 5 seconds.”

Both Sam and Bucky turned to the platform then, listening to Hulk countdown for Steve’s return. The only problem was, Steve didn’t come back.

They all looked at each other, surprised and worried looks in their eyes.

“What’s wrong? What happened?” Bucky asked frantically. Bruce started moving around the machine, trying as fast as he could with only one working hand to bring Steve back.

“Come on, Bruce!” Sam called.

“I’m working on it!”

Bucky then felt something change in the air. What, he wasn’t sure, but something changed. He turned to the lake, noticing an old man sitting on a bench. Was he there all along? He looked… familiar…

“Sam?”  Bucky said in shock. No, it couldn’t be… Could he?

Both he and Sam walk towards the old man. Sam gives Bucky a questioning look, to which Bucky replies with a nod and Sam makes his way to the old man.

Bucky was right. That old man was Steve. He watched as Sam and Steve talked a bit, and when Steve gave Sam the shield and Sam looked at Bucky with a question in his eyes, he simply nodded. Sam was the best option for Captain America. Bucky wasn’t ready for that kind of responsibility. He had his own demons to work on, he couldn’t handle the pressure of the shield.

Sam left then, and Bucky took this as his cue to sit next to his best friend. They sat in a comfortable silence for a moment, both enjoying the view, trying to think of something to say.

“You’re old, punk.” Bucky says, earning a chuckle from the older man.

“I am.” Steve said with a smile.

Bucky didn’t have a lot to tell Steve. He knew why he did it. He just had one question.

“So… did Amy know?” He asked, his elbows on his knees, looking at Steve through the corner of his eye.

Steve sighed. “Yes. I told her the night before I left. She said she was fine, she understood why.”

Bucky simply nodded, eyes back on the lake. Bucky and Amy bonded while they both were in the soul stone. They were there for each other while they waited - hoped - to get out of there.

“She’s going to need you, you know…”

Bucky turns his full attention to him then.

“Steve?”

“She’s going to need you there. She’s the best girl this century’s got.”

They heard a twig snapping behind them, and turned to see the small brunette behind them. She was looking at Steve with a serene look on her face. She walked towards them , to which Bucky could only respond with a small smile and a curt nod, standing up and leaving. He noticed her eyes were a bit red and puffy, clearly showing she had been crying.

“Hey you.” She said with a small voice.

“Hi.” Steve smiled at her.

“It’s been a while.”

Steve barked a laugh, the skin at the corner of his eyes crinkling. “It has.”

“One could say it’s only been a couple of hours.”

She then sits next to him on the bench, hands on her lap. He noticed she was wearing jeans, a t-shirt, and a hoody. His hoody. It was too big on her, but she still looked as beautiful as ever and made his heart flutter like it did every time she wore his clothes.

“How did life treat you?”

“It was good. Everything I imagined it would be.” He said after a sigh.

Amy nods, biting her lower lip. “I’m glad.”

They both stayed silent for a moment, until Steve took Amy’s hand in his old wrinkled one. That was the moment she saw the wedding band on his finger.

“I’m happy for you, Steve. I really am.”

“Thank you, it means a lot.”

She squeezed his old hand, tears starting to pool in her eyes. The moment one lone tear rolled down, she knew she wouldn’t be able to hold the rest back.

“It’s just…” Her voice broke, “You were my Peggy…”

She then leaned her head on his shoulder. “I just wish I was yours…”

He kissed her head, squeezing her hand tighter. He knew this day would come. She had cried the night he told her he was leaving to go back to Peggy. He saw it in her eyes. She tried holding them in for his sake, but he knew she cried when he left the room after she kissed him one last time. It may had been decades for him, but it’s been a couple of hours for her. She’s got every right to still be upset about his decision.

“I’ll always love you, Amy. You’ll always hold a special place in my heart.” He wasn’t lying. He did love her. She had been there for him since the Battle of New York. Seeing her again after he fought his 2012 self walking around Stark Tower made him stop. 5 years had passed since he lost her to the snap, and when he saw her in 2012, his heart skipped a bit.

But, when he traveled to the 70s and saw Peggy, he realized he loved Peggy more than he ever loved Amy. Amy was his new beginning, his second chance at life, but he had never moved on from Peggy. When Amy came back and she tackled him in a hug crying, he made the choice of going back to Peggy.  He knew it’d hurt Amy, he knew that. But he needed to go back to the love of his life.

Amy sniffed on Steve’s shoulder, tears rolling freely down her face. She sat up straight then, giving him a teary smile.

“I love you so much, Steve. I truly am happy that you lived a happy life.” She said.

“You’ll find the one, doll. I know you will.” He smiled at her.

She leaned in and kissed his soft cheek, both of them standing up.

“Can you walk by yourself, or do you need assistance?” She joked, to which Steve chuckled.

“I’m not that old, you know…”

“Yeah, you’re just 105 years old, not old at all.” She snickered.

He smiled lovingly at her. He did love her, but not as much as she loved him.

“Well, I have to go. I promised Pepper to play with Morgan today.” She started to leave, then turned around, smiling at him, her eyes still puffy.

“Bye, Steve.”