#fandom free bingo: gingerbread edition

[nicoline1998enilocin]

Love is in the air || Part 2 || 60th Birthday Special ✨

PAIRING || Fiancé! Robert Downey Jr. x Fiancée! Pregnant! Fem! Reader

WORDCOUNT || 5.2K

SUMMARY || While the road to pregnancy hasn't been the easiest, you're very excited to go through all the small and big moments with the man you love by your side, and when you can finally hold the little girl you've been protecting for the past nine months, your world is finally complete.

RATING || Explicit (E)

WARNINGS/TAGS || RPF | Pregnancy fic | Kid fic | Established relationship | Referenced issues with conceiving | Explicit sexual content

SMUT || Light dirty talk | Pregnancy kink | Daddy kink | Mention of a breeding kink | Hand job | Teasing/foreplay | Implied unprotected sex | Aftercare

A/N || This story is very special in honor of Robert's 60th birthday! I hope you will all enjoy it as much as @ccbsrmsf1 and I did while I worked on it! Thank you for everything again, bestie, I appreciate you and love you from the bottom of my heart! 🤍

EVENTS @fairytalebingo || Love at first sight @fandom-free-bingo Gingerbread Edition || Happy tears | Just let me take care of you | Hiding their face in the other’s neck | Best friends @fandom-free-bingo Gingerbread Edition || Admiring from a distance | “Just let me adore you.” | Dimpled smile | “A ‘yes’ would have sufficed.” | Cold hands | Teddy bear | Hugs from behind | Whispering to one another @fictionaldelightsbingo Under The Sea Edition || Eating a watermelon

Photos: @ccbsrmsf1 || All other graphics in this post are made by @nicoline1998enilocin

Main Masterlist || Robert Downey Jr. || Part 1 || Part 3 (COMING SOON!)

Baby's first kick

Tonight will be one of your first appearances in public since you found out about your pregnancy, and Robert can’t be more proud as he watches you get ready to join him on the red carpet. The two of you will be attending a movie premiere for a movie in which he is portraying his most famous character – Tony Stark – once again, and the butterflies in your stomach are slowly getting wilder with every passing minute.

“Can you help zip me up?” you ask as you’re standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling mirror that is built into your walk-in closet. The warm light in the closet makes you look like you’re glowing, which combined with the pregnancy glow you’re sporting makes you look nearly angelic.

“Absolutely,” he says, and nearly instantly you feel the fabric of the dress closing around you with every move of your fiancé’s skilled fingers. Within no-time you’re ready to shine on the carpet alongside him, and he comes to stand closer to you, giving one of his favorite hugs; the hugs from behind where he can place his hands on your beautiful, growing belly, ensuring both of you can melt into each other’s touches.

“How’re you feeling tonight, Gorgeous?” His thumbs rub over your belly as he meets your gaze in the mirror, and you can see the pure love in his gaze.

“I am still a little bit tired, but the nap I took earlier definitely helped. Though I’m very content in your arms right now,” you say as you put your hands on his, letting the warmth of them seep into your cold hands. You allow your eyes to slip shut for a moment, wanting to take in every last second of this intimate moment for as long as you possibly can. Robert hums softly against your temple as he sways gently back and forth, making you feel relaxed to a point where only he can get you.

“Do we really have to go to the premiere? I’d rather stay home with you and cuddle up on the couch with some ice cream and a rom-com.” You let out a small sigh at the end of your question, and you feel your fiancé smile against your skin as he thinks about your offer.

“Hmm, on any other night I would have loved nothing more than that, but tonight I do have to go. I’m the star of the movie after all, and I don’t think they’d be happy if I of all people would not be in attendance,” he says, making you smile. You love his self confidence, and it’s one of his most attractive traits, and it often makes you chuckle, just like it does now.

“A yes would have sufficed, but I’m glad to know we’re on the same page when it comes to you being a star. I’m still very proud of you winning that Oscar last year,” you say as you turn around to face him, and his cheeks heat up at the mention of his Oscar win for his role as Lewis Strauss in Oppenheimer. It’s the only moment that comes close to finding out about the little girl growing in your belly, but it’ll never top it.

“I’m proud too, Gorgeous, and I’m happy to have won it with you by my side.” He smiles lovingly at you before leaning down and capturing your lips in a featherlight peck that has the butterflies fluttering wildly in your belly. His thumbs gently rub over your arms as he takes the time to enjoy the moment, making it feel like you’re on cloud nine right now. As you gaze into his dark eyes, you can’t help but melt a little on the inside, your heart nearly leaping out of your chest from excitement.

“I believe it’s time we go, otherwise we’ll be late,” you tell him with a glance at your watch – which matches perfectly with all your other jewellery – and he nods before kissing your forehead and letting you go. Before you know it you’re in the car that will take you to the premiere, your hand interlaces with Robert’s the entire ride there. Your free hand is on your rounded belly, which has become your natural pose ever since you started to show, and you can’t get enough of touching your bump.

“Are you ready for the red carpet, Gorgeous? I know it’s the first time in a while you’ll be in the spotlight,” he asks in a soft tone, and you take a second to think about it before nodding.

“I am, though the nerves are also very present. It’s my first pregnancy so it’s a little nerve wracking to share it with the world but I’m grateful you’re there with me. That way I won’t be thrown in the deep end.” The spotlight has never been your thing, but for your husband-to-be you’ll happily endure the paparazzi, interviews and millions of eyes on you as you know how happy it makes him to show off his wife-to-be.

“We’re going to be alright, I promise. Thank you for coming with me tonight,” he says with a small smile and a squeeze in your hand, which you quickly reciprocate.

“I love you, Robert.” His entire face lights up at your little declaration of love, pride blooming in your chest at the sight. Seeing him happy always makes you happy, too. Not long after, it’s time for you to walk down the red carpet together, and you interlace your fingers with his right before stepping on, flashes going off everywhere the moment you’re in their line of sight.

You hear both your own and Robert’s name everywhere, photographers giving instructions and trying to get your attention, but all you can focus on is the man holding your hand and your daughter who’s happily growing in your belly. Everything else feels like it’s going by in a blur as you make your way past all the photographers, and then it’s time for the two of you to have some individual photos taken.

While posing for the camera – your hand on your bump again to ground yourself – you feel Robert looking at you, and when you look over you can see that he’s admiring you from a distance. Right as you’re about to walk over to him again, you feel something that has you stopping in your tracks immediately, your gaze focused on Robert’s as he looks at you with a hint of concern on his features. Within a few large steps he’s by your side, his hand on your belly out of protectiveness, but you can’t stop smiling.

“She just kicked for the first time,” you whisper to him, and he looks at you with disbelief.

“Are you- Did she really?” Robert asks with a broad smile, and you nod excitedly while you can’t stop smiling. Your daughter just kicked for the first time, and the moment is captured for the entire world to see, though you don’t notice any of them. All you care about is Robert as he sinks to his knees, kissing your belly that goes paired with loud wooing from the onlookers.

“Can you kick again for Daddy?” he asks your bump with a broad smile, and even though it’s very faint, he can still feel it. The last time he felt this happy and proud is when you said yes to marrying him almost a year ago, but to go through this all over again is like a gift from heaven. Robert then quickly gets up before cupping your cheeks and kissing you in a burst of pride and happiness, the smiles on your faces making it even better.

“I can’t believe our baby girl finally kicked! It’s a miracle!” he exclaims towards all the photographers, earning both of you some applause and more enthusiastic reactions. While tonight was already amazing, it got even better by the fact that the baby you have made with the love of your life kicked for the first time. It’s truly an unforgettable moment for everyone.

Daddy's voice

Throughout your pregnancy, there are a lot of things that change, but one thing that has stayed the same from the first moment it happened, is Robert talking to your daughter as you’re lying in bed in the evening. No matter how tough or long the day has been, and no matter what has been going on, their little daddy-daughter talk will always take place. It’s a piece of your routine you happily stick to, and tonight is even more special than usual.

“Hey, little girl. Are you awake? Your mommy and I have been awake for much too long already, but that’s what happens when we attend movie premieres and award ceremonies, as you know,” Robert starts off, his face on eye level with your growing stomach as you’re comfortably lying on your side. His hand is splayed on your side and stomach, the warmth seeping into your skin.

“But tonight was even more special, because your Daddy has won another award to add to his collection. And we did it thanks to you! You’re our good luck charm,” he says with excitement in his voice, and you can’t help but smile. Tonight has been an incredible night that will go into the history books as one of the best nights ever, as Robert winning any award is always amazing. But he’s also right, you’re both convinced she helped as your good luck charm.

“I’m curious to see how many more we will win, too,” your fiancé then tells your growing daughter, and this is met with the sweet gesture of a kick, which catches you both off-guard. Even though she’s been kicking more and more during the day, she’s usually pretty easy going during the night, giving you plenty of opportunity to get your much-needed sleep while you still can.

“Did you- she kicked!” Robert exclaims, his eyes wide with wonder as his fingers glide over the spot she just kicked, happy tears gathering in the corners of his eyes. The human body during pregnancy will always be amazing to him, and moments like these make him even more proud to become a dad, especially knowing you’re carrying his baby, the little girl of your dreams who’s a result of your shared love.

“She did! She’s been kicking a lot of course, but it’s extra special she kicked now of all moments.” You let your fingers glide through your fiancé’s hair, letting the soft strands glide through your fingers as you bask in the moment.

“That, and I know she agrees with the statement that she’s our lucky charm.” You can’t help but chuckle at his comment, and you hum in response, your heart filling with love as he presses soft kisses to your growing bump - his facial hair tickling the sensitive skin which makes you laugh as a result. Then, right as he’s about to pull back, your daughter kicks him again right where he pressed the kiss, making your husband-to-be even happier than before.

“Hey, I was giving kisses to your mama, don’t kick me away!” he says in a faux-offended voice, making you laugh even harder than before. This is met with a few more kicks from your daughter, and Robert can’t help but look at it with a sparkle in his eyes. He’d known love before, but moments like this make him realize what true love is. Lying in bed with you as you share the special moments together is not something he would want to miss for the world, and this routine is definitely one you’ll enjoy for as long as you can.

Weird cravings

“Robert?” you gently shake your fiancés arm as you try to wake him, your belly rumbling in hunger as you try to get his attention. He has always told you that you can wake him for anything, and while you were hesitant at first, you do it a lot more now that your cravings are coming at every time of the day, no matter what. Your baby has a knack for odd cravings, but it’s never been a problem for him, and you’re certain now won’t be any different.

He groans softly as he turns around, his eyes slowly opening as he turns around to face you.

“What’s on your mind, Gorgeous? Are you having one of your cravings again?” You can feel your cheeks heating up at his question, and the roughness of his voice from lack of use sends a shiver down your spine. Still, you hum in response and within seconds he has found the glasses that are on his nightstand, ready to get you anything and everything you and your daughter are craving.

“I- I’ve been having a craving for eating watermelon. The thought sneaked into my head right before falling asleep and I’m so hungry that it’s the only thing I’ve been wanting for the past 30 minutes.” Your voice lowers as you admit shyly that you’ve been thinking about it for a while, knowing you could have woken him up much sooner. For now, Robert decides to let that comment slide, though he does make a mental note to talk about it later, as you’re always allowed to ask for whatever you want, whenever you want it.

“If you and our little Princess want to eat a watermelon, then that’s exactly what you’re getting. Do you want me to cut it up and bring it here, or are you coming with me to the kitchen to enjoy it there?” For a moment you think about the options, but you really don’t want to be too far away from him, no matter how comfortable the bed and sheets are. After letting him know you’ll be happy to join him, you climb out of bed before walking over to where he’s patiently waiting on you, your fingers intertwining with his before walking to the large kitchen together.

As soon as you walk into the kitchen, the light immediately turns on to a dim setting, giving enough light to do what you need to do, but not so much that you’re immediately blinded by it. Robert helps you to sit on one of the bar stools before placing a kiss on your nose, leaving you smiling like a teenager who’s in love with his crush before he swiftly moves to the fridge, where a small watermelon has been waiting for you to be enjoyed.

“Slices or cubes?” he asks, though he already knows the answer.

“Cubes, please!” you say with a happy tone, and he quickly gets to work on slicing the fruit, popping a piece of the juicy fruit in your mouth before taking one for himself, too. Soon, the entire watermelon is cut up in bite size pieces and a bowl is filled with them, allowing the two of you to eat them more easily. He walks over to your side of the kitchen island after washing his hands and putting all the dishes and scraps away, wanting to be close to you as you enjoy the fruit you’ve been craving so badly.

As you reach for the bowl, you see you husband-to-be lifting his hand and bringing a cube to your lips instead of his own, and you smile before leaning in and closing your lips around the juicy fruit, a soft moan escaping as you enjoy the coldness as well as the sweetness of the pink fruit, your eyes slipping shut as you take in the moment. There’s not many things more intimate than moments like these where you feed each other, and you can’t get enough of it.

“One more?” you ask after swallowing, and he chuckles before bringing the next piece to your lips, his eyes trained on the way your mouth takes the piece of fruit so effortlessly, your face lighting up from excitement as the sweetness makes you do a little happy dance in the chair. It doesn’t take long for it all to be gone, and you’re starting to get sleepy again as you lean against his side, his arms gently holding you up.

“Let’s go back to bed, okay? We have a long day ahead of us, and you need to get all the sleep you can get,” he tells you, and you hum before getting off the chair and letting him guide you back to bed. With your craving fulfilled, you fall asleep like a log, your fiancé’s arm protectively wrapped around your belly as you’re pulled against his chest. He will happily help you fulfill any and all the cravings you can have, no matter how odd they may be. And soon, he’ll find out exactly how odd they can get.

“Can you hand me the pickles?” you ask Robert as you’re trying to reach the Nutella that’s stored in the large pantry. He’s been helping you by putting some of the groceries away, but you suddenly get a massive craving for something sweet and tart, and you know exactly how you want to fulfill it.

“Of course, but don’t they need to go-” is all he can say before you’re taking both the pickles and Nutella to the kitchen counter, where you swiftly open both before grabbing one of the pickles and dipping them into the chocolate spread without hesitation. The entire time, Robert looks at you with a combination of horror and wonder, as he’s both curious and a little horrified at the combination you’re currently enjoying.

“Thank you, Handsome. I really needed this,” you say before taking another bite of the pickle, a satisfied smile on your lips as you do. He shakes his head before walking over to you with a smile and kissing your head lovingly. No matter how weird the cravings will get, he’ll always be happy to indulge you in every single one, as he wants nothing more than to see you happy.

Satisfying all desires

If there’s one quote Robert lives by, it’s “happy wife, happy life”. Despite the fact that you two haven’t tied the knot yet, he still aims to please and make you happy in every way he can, and one of those things is to satisfy every single desire you could have. Whether it’s the craving for pickles with Nutella, to be relaxing in a warm bath so you can destress and read for an hour or two, or to spend your entire evening and night having the most mind-blowing sex you could ever desire, he will not deny you a single thing.

But the same thing can be said for you satisfying Robert’s desires, too, as he loves nothing more than to tell you how much he loves your growing bump every chance he gets.

“S so big and beautiful- fuck-” Robert groans as you spread your legs to let him get settled between them, his cock nearly aching from how hard it is as it’s dribbling precum. While the two of you have extensively explored his breeding kink - which has gotten you pregnant in the first place - it was a nice surprise to discover his pregnancy kink, too, and neither one of you can get enough of it.

“Are you talking about me, Daddy? Or this beautiful cock of yours?” You ask as you lean forward to wrap your hand around his length, the hardness a stark contrast against the silky soft skin wrapping around. A soft groan is audible at your grasp as well as your words, and you can’t stop smiling as he leans in closer, his lips now next to your ear.

“Both,” he whispers, the hot breath ghosting past your ear making a trail of goosebumps appear on your neck. As he crawls even closer you let go of him, allowing him to take his place between your legs where you need him most.

“But if there’s one thing I’ll never get enough of it’s seeing you pregnant- the growing belly that makes me go wild at every second of every day, the glow that makes you the most beautiful of angels, and every single thing that comes with it, it all drives me wild in the best way possible, Gorgeous. I will never get enough of you and your body, and I’m adoring every single change that goes along with you carrying my child.”

“Robert-” is all you can say before he captures your lips with his, the possessiveness of it catching you off guard in the best way possible. You’re clenching around nothing as he lets his fingertips explore the skin on your neck, down to your breasts and hardened nipples and over your growing belly, all the way to the most sensitive spots on your inner thigh. Not a single spot is forgotten as he keeps your mind preoccupied with the kiss, making it very intimate and perfect.

“You can lie back and let me do all the work tonight, hot mama. You’re mine to take care of, and you’re growing a human inside you, so just let me take care of you, okay? Just let me adore you,” he says, and you nod while biting your bottom lip, the smirk on his lips turning you on even more. His lips take their time to kiss every inch of you, paying special attention to your sensitive, hardened nipples until you’re begging for more, which is when he finally moves down to your now dripping pussy.

The rest of the night he takes his time to build you up to the highest of highs before gently allowing you to come down, his own pleasure being pulled from yours. He’s unable to stop telling you how much he loves you, telling you all about how ‘’fucking sexy” you are when pregnant, and fucking you completely dumb with his long, thick, veiny cock until you cannot think straight anymore. By the end of the night you can’t do anything other than hiding your face in your fiancé’s neck as he works you through your last orgasm of the night, your entire body trembling from all the pleasure it has endured.

“I love you, Gorgeous. And you know what I love most about you?” he asks as he peppers your face in kisses. You hum in response, unable to let out a single word.

“What a good girl you are for Daddy.”

With those words, he lifts you off the bed and towards the shower where he ensures you’re washed thoroughly while praising you the entire time, and the closeness of his body against yours the entire time is something you’re craving more than ever. He doesn’t leave your side for even a second, and when you’re snuggled up in bed - after Robert ensured the two of you have some clean, dry sheets to sleep on - you’re slowly falling into a deep, dreamless slumber in his arms.

An unexpected babyshower

The text you received from Robert - telling you to be ready at 12.30 PM as a car will pick you up - is going through your mind as you’re sitting in the back of the car he had sent to pick you up, as it was short and simple, but it also left countless questions for you to think about when getting ready. He’s currently on set to reprise his role of the (in)famous genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist Tony Stark, and he shot you the text between scenes, leaving your return message unanswered to this very moment.

After rummaging through the clothes in your closet for a little while, you finally settled on wearing a light pink, knitted dress that shows off your pregnancy belly beautifully, combined with some boots and your hair tied up so it’s not in your face. Your make-up is light and you’re keeping the jewellery simple, too, as you’re wearing your engagement ring, a small necklace with the letter ‘R’ on it, and the diamond earrings he bought you on your first anniversary.

As soon as you arrive on the set where he’s filming, you’re let out of the car before being taken to the set where your husband-to-be is currently filming a fight scene, the concentration and determination clearly visible on his handsome features. He’s always been passionate about acting, but when it comes to his role as Tony he is passionate on a whole different level. The moment the fight scene is over he looks over to you, and his face splits into a wide grin, that has your heart beating faster and your own smile widening, too.

“You’re a sight for sore eyes, Gorgeous! You’re looking even better than I expected,” he tells you as he cups your cheeks, his thumbs rubbing your cheekbones gently. Then he leans in for a kiss, your lips instantly parting to allow his tongue to find its way to yours, ready for a dance of passion as the world around you seems to fade. It’s only until someone next to you clears their throat that he pulls back, leaving you flustered in the best way possible.

“I’ll have a quick change, and then I’ll be all yours during lunch, okay?” he asks, and you nod before kissing his lips again, and he quickly runs off the set, leaving you to talk to some of his Marvel co-stars you haven’t seen in a while.

“How’s the pregnancy going? All I hear from Robert are the good sides, but you and I both know it’s not all that great,” Scarlett asks as she looks you over, and you laugh at her comment before telling her about the little girl in your belly, though you don’t get to finish your story before Robert has returned again.

“I’m sorry about needing to break up whatever this is, but I will need to lend my lovely wife-to-be for a moment,” he says and Scarlett wishes you luck before getting changed, too, getting ready for the surprise Robert has been planning for a few weeks now. Almost everything is ready to go - all that’s left is for his fellow cast members to make their way over to the part of the set that has been redesigned for the afternoon.

“I know you’ve talked about wanting a baby shower a lot, and while this might not be what you had in mind, I still hope you will enjoy this, Gorgeous. All you need to do is enjoy your time here, and to let yourself be spoiled rotten, as this is just as much about you as it is about little Carol,” he says as his hand gently strokes the side of your belly. You nod excitedly before standing on your tiptoes to kiss him, his facial hair scratching your face softly.

“Thank you, Robert. Not only for the baby shower, but for everything. I’m the luckiest girl on earth with you,” you say as you’re whispering to him, and he smiles widely before leaning in, this time taking the lead in the kiss as he gently dips you backwards, his hand supporting you so you’re not falling over. While your heart rate goes a mile a minute and you’re trying to catch your breath after he pulled away, the Marvel cast is ready for your baby shower, and they’re all wearing one or multiple pink items.

The afternoon is spent catching up with everyone, opening many presents; one of your favorites being a teddy bear that has red and gold details - the colors Robert often wears while playing Tony Stark. Each gift is very thoughtful and you’re giving everyone the biggest of hugs as you open their gifts, unable to stop smiling. Then it’s time for some more catching up with your favorite foods to go along with it, as well as some of your pregnancy cravings which are mostly getting weird looks from all the men.

“If you knew what it’s like to be pregnant, you would know these are some of the best combinations around!” you joke before dipping a pickle into a fresh jar of Nutella, making everyone shudder and laugh at the same time. It’s an unforgettable day, and you couldn’t be happier to have a partner like Robert by your side through it all

Robert's birthday present

From the moment you and Robert discovered that your baby was supposed to be born in the week after Robert’s birthday, you have jokingly said that it would be funny if your daughter would be born on his birthday. The universe must have listened somehow as you were rushed into the labor and delivery ward of your closest private clinic as soon as you arrived. Robert can’t stop smiling at the thought that his baby will be born on his birthday, and there’s simply not a better gift on earth than that.

The labor lasted for a grueling 14 hours, but at 10:19 PM, on April 4th, 2025, you’re finally saying hello to the little girl growing in your belly for nine months. It’s been a long road, but to be at this point right now, holding your daughter in your arms for the very first time, you can’t help but let the tears flow as you look down at her.

“She’s as beautiful as you are, Gorgeous. She has the same rounded cheeks, and beautiful lips, but oddly enough has my nose!” Robert says with a chuckle as he’s standing by the side of your bed, admiring the little baby in your arms.

“It’s a beautiful nose, though, and it fits her perfectly,” you tell him, not looking away from Carol for even a second. The moment she was first put in your arms felt like love at first sight, and a wave of relief washed over you as the relief sank in that the worst is finally over. As you look at your daughter, you see more and more of your husband-to-be in her small face - his perfect nose and the color of her eyes before she closes them as she falls back asleep. But you also see bits of yourself in her - the color of your hair, and a hint of your dimpled smile are also visible.

Together they make a beautiful mix of you both, and it’s an honor to have her in your arms after everything you went through. But to know she’ll be sharing a birthday with your best friend and the man you fell for all those years ago, is something that makes you prouder than anything.

“Happy birthday, Robert,” you whisper as he’s gently stroking your daughter's cheek with his thumb, just the way he always does it to you.

“The happiest,” he whispers in return, making you smile wide. He couldn’t have wished for a better present on his birthday, and he never imagined he’d be fortunate enough to welcome one more child into this world, but this time with you. The woman who’s been there for him through good times and bad, and who has loved him like no one has ever done before. You’re the love of his life, and he is yours.

And now, your love for one another is wrapped in a small blanket while wearing a blush pink onesie and a matching hat, proudly displaying her name: Carol Downey.

[fandom-free-bingo]

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[vintagebuckybarnes]

Soft Smiles, Hopeful Hearts

Pairing: College Student! Best Friend! Loki Laufeyson x College Student! GN! Reader

Total Wordcount: 1.4K

Summary: For years, you and Loki have been in love with one another, but neither of you has taken the first step to take your relationship to the next level. This won't stop Thor from trying to get either one of you to take that step. When you two go to the spring dance together, his dream of seeing you two get your happily ever after might finally come true.

Tags & Warnings: Canon divergence | No powers AU | College AU | College Student! Loki | College Student! Thor | Genderneutral! Reader | College Student! Reader | Meddling best friend/brother | Childhood best friends to lovers | Mutual pining

Story Rating: G | General

Author's Note: This is my first story, which includes Loki and Thor, so I hope you will enjoy it! It was a hoot to write this, and I'm looking forward to what you all think of this story 💜

Writing Prompts @fandom-free-bingo Bug Edition: Dancing together @fandom-free-bingo Gingerbread Edition: Surprise kiss | Happily Ever After

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“I think you should ask them to go to the spring dance, Loki. You’re both head over heels in love with one another! And if you wait any longer, someone else might have asked before you. I’m not planning on seeing you sulk for weeks on end because you didn’t dare to ask Y/N to the dance,” Thor says, his thick Australian accent drifting through the library. He’s ‘studying’ with his brother, Loki, and some of their friends for an upcoming exam, but as usual, there’s more talking than studying happening.

“First- I’m not head over heels in love with anyone; I love them like a friend and nothing more-” Loki says, though the flush on his cheeks tells everyone something else entirely. You and Thor grew up next to one another, but when you were six, Odin and Frigga adopted a four-year-old Loki when his parents gave him up.

From that moment on, the three of you have been inseparable, and wherever one of you was, the other two were always close by. Over the years, the boys have grown rather protective of you, but while you and Thor have always remained friends, Loki has developed romantic feelings for you. However, he has never found the courage to admit this to you. What Loki doesn’t know is that you’re in love with him as well, and the only person who knows is Thor.

For years, he has been trying to get the two of you together, setting you two up on dates by first agreeing to go out with you both, then suddenly saying “something came up,” but to this day, nothing has happened. Despite this, he’s still trying to get his wish by seeing you two living Happily Ever After together, and he’ll try everything in his might to get his wish.

“And second, I don’t think I’m going to the dance. You and Y/N should go, though. They’ll love this year’s theme,” Loki says, his voice cracking a little at the thought of not going with you. His struggle to keep his emotions in check is evident, and he quickly bends himself over his textbook, which makes his raven black hair fall beside his face like a curtain.

“All I’m saying is that you’ll probably regret it if you don’t ask,” Thor shrugs before dropping the topic, instead moving on to the next College Football game this Saturday, as he is the team's quarterback. Loki has stopped listening for a while and is only snapped out of his thoughts when one of the chairs at the table moves back, only to be occupied by the most beautiful person he has ever seen: you.

“Hi! I hope it’s okay if I interrupt your studying, but I figured I’d bring you both some lunch,” you tell them with a chipper voice, making Loki’s heart swell with love and his mouth curl into a smile at the sight. You put down a brown bag in front of them, and Thor immediately rips it open to find a few meaty sandwiches, some with a plant-based spread, and some fruit and a black coffee on the side.

For Loki, you have made a salad with all his favorite toppings, with two apples and an iced coffee to go with it, and you’ve also put a little note in both of their lunches, just like you always do. It’s become a habit from when you were small because your mothers used to do it, and when all three of you moved into an apartment near the Campus, you started doing it as a joke, but now it is something they always look forward to.

“You never interrupt us,” Thor says in his rugged voice, and you smile at him before looking over at Loki as he reads his note. His eyes grow wide as they speed over the letters written in neat, dark green handwriting.

“Wait- Are you really asking me? Out of all people?” Loki asks, his tone unsure as he holds the note tightly in his hand. His heart races as he reads the words, “Loki, will you go to the Spring Dance with me?” and you nod enthusiastically. You and Thor have been talking about this moment for a few days, and eventually, he gave you the idea of slipping the question into his lunch with the note, which worked a charm.

“Well, I believe we should go and look at some outfits then because I’d love to go to the dance with you,” Loki says with a charming smile, his eyes sparkling with joy. You jump out of your chair to wrap your arms around his neck, hugging him tightly in the process. His long, nimble fingers clutching your shirt as if he’s afraid that you’ll disappear if he doesn’t. The entire time, Thor is looking at you both with a massive grin on his face, pride beaming off him the entire time.

The night of the Spring Dance has arrived, and you’re putting the finishing touches on your outfit. Loki has opted for an emerald green suit with subtle gold accents, and his hair is styled in a bun with a few loose pieces in the front to frame his pale features. As you look in the mirror, you admire your all-black outfit paired with a simple necklace Loki has gifted you, a small emerald hanging on it. He gifted it to you when you graduated high school together with Thor, and you’ve always worn it on special occasions.

“Are you ready for the reveal?” you ask before walking out of your bedroom, where Loki promised to be waiting on the other side of the closed door. After a soft ‘yes,’ you open the door, revealing your outfit to him, and you can’t help but take an extra look at him, as the suit he is wearing appears to be sculpted by gods. As the man in front of you takes in the sight, it’s like love at first sight all over again, and he cannot get enough of how you look.

“Wow,” he whispers before extending his hand and bringing yours to his lips to kiss it softly. As soon as his soft lips are on your skin, you feel your heart nearly leaping out of your chest from the surprise kiss, and your cheeks start burning in excitement.

“You look amazing too, Loki. You always look stunning in this green color,” you tell him, and his cheeks turn bright red as he looks away, wanting to hide his flushed cheeks. You two are still holding hands the entire time, and it feels very natural when you fully intertwine your fingers with his.

Then, as soon as you’re ready to go, Thor is dressed in a classic tuxedo, and Jane Foster, his date, is dressed in a classic red gown. Loki orders an Uber for you all to share. You’re excited about finally going on a date with someone you’ve been crushing on for a few years. It took a lot of courage to ask him finally, but as soon as the confirmation left his lips, you wouldn’t be able to stop thinking about that night.

The beginning of the night seems to go by in a blur as you’re spending it dancing, laughing, drinking, and having fun with Thor, Loki, and Jane. Then, the DJ starts a slow song, and Loki stretches his hand out again, silently asking for the two of you to dance together. A slight shock goes through your body when your hand touches his, and Loki smiles as he guides you to the dancefloor like a true gentleman.

“Are you enjoying yourself tonight?” he asks, his hands on your waist while yours are on his shoulders. You’ve rarely been this close to him, but you can’t get enough of the smell of his cologne and how his smile brightens his features each time he looks at you.

“I am, but it’s mostly thanks to you. It wouldn’t have been as fun without you here, Loki.”

Then, the one thing you’ve been dreaming about for a long time finally happens, and all you hear is the blood rushing in your ears and Thor screaming a loud ‘YES!’ as the two of you finally share your first kiss together. It has been long overdue, and it feels like perfection when you take your time to enjoy the moment. The moment feels like it’s over all too soon, but the smiles on your faces say it all: This is the beginning of your Happily Ever After, and you’re happy to be sharing it with Loki.

Navigation | Loki Laufeyson Library

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✨ Tag List ✨

@late-to-the-party-81 | @angelichwv | @arcadia-smith

[leaderpinhead]

Vil - Ski Lift Terror

Day 12 of Fluffcember 2024 Prompt: Skiing (Fluffcember) & Feeling for the Other's Hand (Fandom Free Bingo) Rating: General Pairing: Vil/Yuu Notes: For the Anon ask who requested Vil/Yuu today. It may not be exactly what you expected, but I have a soft spot for Vil/Yuu, so I enjoyed writing them. :)

Vil knew of Yuu’s fear of heights. She wasn’t very subtle about it, freezing if she ever looked down from a height higher than a stepladder. Her fear was why Vil didn’t tell her about the ski lift until their small group was in line waiting their turn. She stiffened the second she noticed the first cable car climbing slowly up the mountain. 

Vil grabbed her elbow before she could squeeze past Cater and Kalim behind them. “Where do you think you are going?” 

Yuu tugged at her arm. “Back to the lodge. They were serving hot cocoa at twelve sharp. Don’t want to miss it.” 

Vil pulled her back into her spot in line. He anchored her arm by locking their elbows together. “They serve hot cocoa at all hours of the day.” 

“I’ve heard it’s sweeter at twelve sharp.” 

“Your taste buds only detect spicy flavors.” 

“Hot sauce in hot cocoa is a common pairing.” 

“Maybe in the world you live in. In the normal world, those two do not mix.” 

Yuu actually whimpered when the next cable car stopped in front of them. Her stiff posture forced Vil to pull her towards the cable car, but he couldn’t force her to step into it. He gestured for Cater and Kalim to enter first. Jack gave Vil a knowing look, but he didn’t say anything as he helped his younger siblings onto the lift. Epel and Grim followed, neither of them pausing in their bets for who would win their planned race down the mountain. 

Vil sighed and adjusted his grip on his skis. “Are you going to waste all the practice we did at the lodge? What was the point of learning the basics of skiing only to back down at the last second.” 

Yuu remained stiff while the next couple in line entered the cable car. It was quickly filling to capacity, and Vil instinctively knew that their group would be separated. He shot the employee a questioning look. The young man thankfully picked up on his query and gestured for them to step off to the edge of the cable car platform before ensuring everyone was safely inside the cable car. 

Vil pulled Yuu off to the side. The cable car started with a shake and slowly climbed to the summit. Vil could see her eyes tracking their journey up the mountain. Her elbow squeezed his. “You didn’t say anything about being carried up the mountain in a death swing.” 

“It is a cable car, not a death swing. How did you think we would reach the summit in a timely manner? Walking?” 

“Teleportation,” she promptly stated. She pulled at the strings of her hoodie beneath her puffer vest. “You teleport everywhere else in this world. Why can’t you take a magic mirror from down here to up there? For all the magic you boast about having, sure seems like a convenient means of travel.” 

Vil wanted to roll his eyes. He knew deflection when he heard it, and he wouldn’t fall for such a poor attempt. “The only way up the mountain is the cable car. Now, we are not wasting the hours we spent practicing. We will ride the next cable car.” 

Yuu shot him a glare to express her distaste for him ordering her around. Vil quirked a single eyebrow and waited for her to argue further. She grumbled under her breath and hung her head. Vil tapped the bottom of her chin. “What have I said about grumbling? You were the one so eager to get out on the slopes. Will you allow one small thing to stand in your way? A short ten-minute ride up the mountain?” 

Yuu silently squinted at him, but she didn’t grumble again. When the next cable car arrived, the lift employee allowed them to get on first. Yuu hesitated at the entrance of the cable car. Vil untangled their arms to offer her a hand. After a silent battle with herself, she allowed him to help her up into the lift. 

The cable car was spacious enough, and Vil and Yuu automatically positioned themselves in the farthest corner from the door. More people quickly filled the space until he and Yuu were pushed up against the window. Yuu kept shooting quick glances out the window, nervously adjusting her grip on the skiing equipment she carried. 

Vil sighed as if this was the most inconvenient part of their trip. “I am sure the others have already made it to the summit. I should have invited Trey along instead of Cater. Seven knows I could have used the extra hands to keep you all in line. Jack has his hands full with Kota and Roxie, and I would never imply playing chaperone to a group of your peers supersedes family.” 

“Jack’s a wonderful older brother,” Yuu murmured. Vil didn’t chide her for her mumbling this time. “His little sister is a bit of a menace, though.” 

Vil gasped and placed his free hand on his chest. “I take offense to that statement! Roxie is my little prodigy.” 

A smile twitched at the corners of Yuu’s lips. “That explains the drama queen attitude.” 

Vil huffed in mock offense. The cable car lurched to a start. Yuu’s tentative smile vanished. She glanced out the window as the cable car moved. Her face turned paler under her dark gray knitted hat. 

Vil casually sidestepped into her line of view. He sighed again. “There is no need to be so jealous of a little girl. If you wished to spend more time observing my beauty routines, you need only ask.” 

Yuu’s snort sounded forced, but she wasn’t fighting his invasion of her space. There was a small, nearly unnoticeable tremble to her voice. “Jealous? You really do think too highly of yourself. I would gladly let her have her eyebrows relentlessly plucked in my place.” 

Vil lightly clicked his tongue. “Roxie would never allow her eyebrows to become the bushes you spawn. She has already mastered the art of tweezing along with exfoliating and moisturizing.” 

“Poor girl. So young and already corrupted by your beauty standards.” The car lurched again, this time to a stop. Yuu’s hand shot out to grab Vil’s jacket. He could already see the panic lighting her eyes despite him blocking her view of the window. “Why are we stopping? Is the car stuck? Did the cable break? Are we falling? I’m gonna vomit.” 

Vil leaned forward to force Yuu’s flicking eyes to focus on him. He reached for the hand clinging to his jacket and gave her fingers a tight squeeze. “We are not falling. The cable cars stop at short intervals to allow riders on and off at the stations. The car will start again in a few minutes.” 

Yuu’s flicked across his face like she was trying to decide if he was lying or being honest. Vil had never witnessed one of her anxiety attacks in person, but he had heard of them from the few who had witnessed them. It was an uncomfortable thing for those peope to recount because Yuu rarely showed any weakness. Vil knew how difficult it was to maintain an appearance—to be strong-willed even in the face of utter disappointment or rage. For Yuu to allow such an innocuous fear to overwhelm her meant she was truly terrified, whether it was rational or not. 

Yuu’s throat visibly bobbed several times. She didn’t say anything, but her grip quickly transferred from his jacket to his hand. She tightly squeezed his fingers. Vil squeezed back when he felt her arm tremble. He kept his eyes locked with hers, knowing the moment he looked away—the moment he gave her time to focus on anything else—she would dissolve into a full-blown anxiety attack. 

Several minutes passed before the cable car lurched a third time. Vil hadn’t realized Yuu held her breath until it escaped her in a large gush. He propped his ski equipment against a nearby bench to wrap his arm around her and hold her upright. A faint, almost crazed, giggle escaped Yuu. “The skiing better be worth it because if it’s not...” 

She trailed off, whether because she had lost her train of thought or simply had no trail to start with. Vil squeezed her hand again. “Trust me. Once we reach the summit, you’ll thank Jack for inviting you on his family vacation.” 

“My feet will be on firm ground, so there’s a lot I’ll be thanking.” 

Vil shook his head, but a soft laugh escaped him. He waited until he felt like she was sturdy enough to stand on her own before grabbing his equipment again. Their hands stayed locked together for the rest of the ride, and Vil managed to distract her again by playfully mocking the cat ears sewn into her hat. 

Jack gave him a wide-eyed stare when they stepped off the cable car together. Vil ignored him and focused on Epel and Cater taking an impromptu photoshoot with their snowboards. Yuu lightly squeezed his hand before releasing him. Her pale face had regained its color, her cheeks rosier thank to the cold breeze that assaulted them the moment the cable car opened. “Thanks. Sorry for the freakout.” 

Vil dismissed her with a casual wave. “The only apology I will accept is you beating Epel and Grim in your silly race.” 

Yuu smiled and left to grab Grim before Roxie and Kota could make him into their sentient snowman. Vil pointedly ignored Jack’s continued stare and turned his attention to Kalim, who was perilously close to tumbling down the mountain where he leaned over the guardrails. Jack still managed to intersect him, ears flicking outside his knitted hat. “So, you and...” 

“Absolutely not.” 

Jack obnoxiously smirked. “That puts a wrench in Roxie’s ten-year plan to marry you.” 

“Don’t even joke about such things.” Jack’s grin somehow got even bigger. Vil lightly huffed and gestured at Kalim. “I would hate Jamil stalking me down for allowing Kalim to break a single bone on this trip, so if you’ll excuse me.” 

Jack grunted, but he was still smirking when he called his siblings to him. Vil grabbed the back of Kalim’s collar and dragged him to the start of the ski trail. His mood lightened again while he watched Yuu “trash talk” with Epel and Kota, the youngest boy looking as eager as his brother to show off his snowboarding. She had no problems launching herself down the trail on her skis with Grim strapped to her back, and Vil was admittedly happy her fear didn’t compromise her enjoyment for the activity. 

He still told her later when they had returned to the lodge that hot sauce and hot cocoa did not mix after watching her pour half a bottle of the sauce into her mug in absolute horror. 

[eros-heartache]

Oh, Hell. Bound.

Pairing: Edward Nygma / Oswald Cobblepot

Rating: Mature

Word Count: 539

Warnings: brief mention of blood, Potential TW for claustrophobia 

Summary: Oswald wakes up in the dark, bound and disoriented.

Events:

@whumpuary 2025 // Day 1 // Headache & “This will Hurt”

@fandom-free-bingo //Gingerbread Edition // Locked in the Trunk

[dawnepiphany]

Chapters: 2/8 Fandom: Kingdom Hearts (Video Games) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Kairi/Sora (Kingdom Hearts), Aqua & Kairi (Kingdom Hearts), Kairi & Kairi's Grandmother (Kingdom Hearts) Characters: Kairi (Kingdom Hearts), Princesses of Heart (Kingdom Hearts) Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Character Study, Relationship Study, Inspired by Shoujo Kakumei Utena | Revolutionary Girl Utena, Puella Magi Madoka Magica References, Book of Prophecies (Kingdom Hearts), Other Additional Tags to Be Added, fairytales - Freeform, Kairi can sense people's auras, Non-Linear Narrative Series: Part 1 of Tied By Two Keys Summary:

Princesses are special girls with a magical power inside their hearts. Forces of darkness would steal the light of the princesses for themselves, so princes must keep them safe. Kairi dives into the world of fairytales and learns the truth about the Princesses of Heart. The princess struggles with her desire to be a prince instead, the fairytales' author has an ulterior motive, and a witch and a huntsman hold the key to everything.

For @fandom-free-bingo​ Gingerbread Edition, prompt: A Whole New World

[voiceoffenrisulfr]

When the Wolf Howls - Chapter Four

"I Have Always Found That Plans Are Useless, But Planning is Indespensible."

𝐏𝐀𝐈𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒 -> James "Bucky" Barnes/Original Nonbinary Character(s). Secondary Pairings; James "Bucky" Barnes/Clint Barton, James "Bucky" Barnes/Steve Rogers, James "Bucky" Barnes/Natasha Romanov, James "Bucky" Barnes/Clint Barton/Steve Rogers/Natasha Romanov

𝐒𝐔𝐌𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐘 -> The small gang gets closer to their goal, but an unexpected interaction pauses their progress.

𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐃𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐓 -> 2279

𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒 -> (M) Snowstorm, risk, unknown (general adventure type stuff), unknown assailant.

𝐀/𝐍 -> Check it out below, or on AO3 here!

<- Chapter Three

Dividers by us! <3

- ‘Free Space’ – @buckybarnesbingo (B049); - ‘If You Believe’ – @fandom-free-bingo (Frosty Edition); - ‘Annoying Sibling’ – Fandom-Free Bingo (Gingerbread Edition); - ‘“Don’t Look at Me, This Wasn’t My Idea”’ – @fourormore Bingo (2024); - ‘Fighting Back or Fighting Back… Unsuccessfully’ – @julybreakbingo (Flash); - ‘Caught in an Explosion or Caught in a Storm’ – July Break Bingo (6x6).

We proceeded without too much difficulty, though I watched Sleipnir intently. While my own senses were sharp, the horse had a mystical sense for danger and an understanding one wouldn’t have expected, and I found myself growing quite fond of the creature. Intermittently, however, I would be reminded of his lineage, and had to swallow the urge to pull my partner from his back. The steed would eye me, as if sensing my doubt, and the anthropomorphising part of my brain couldn’t help but think he looked almost apologetic, informing me that he was no happier about his lineage than I.

I wondered if he had any sense of who his father – mother? – was. I wondered if he was aware that he was dead. I wondered if he’d care either way, if he did understand the concept.

I wondered if he felt the same darkness in his heart, and fought every day to be better than those that came before. Or maybe he tried, but secretly thought he could never outrun that darkness.

I blinked, shifting my eyes away from his.

I think I’m overthinking this a little too much.

My mind turned instead to the other child of Loki that dwelled in my thoughts. If Sleipnir was the good that had come from the trickster god, then Fenris was surely considered to be the evil – just as dark and torturous as his father, but with far more capacity for ending the world than the son of Odin had ever shown. Loki himself had proven largely content with extracting a more personal apocalyptic pain – good for the world, admittedly, though not so much so for my own bubble of it.

I turned my eyes to my partner, chewing worriedly on my lip. I’d thought Loki was the last of his kind we would ever have to face – and yet here I was. He and his bloodline seemed determined to haunt me to my last.

We passed into the mountains without issue, the peaks less intimidating than those surrounding Asgard. Nevertheless, the shadows cast over us made me shiver, fingers clenching around the reins. Bug glanced back at me with concern, and I forced a tight-lipped smile, my nod letting them know I was okay.

But I couldn’t help the way my eyes skimmed every crag and recess, half-expecting to see the mangled body of the Spiders that had haunted my dreams after my frantic search.

We could see the border in the distance when Thor stiffened, raising his hand to still us once more. His head was cocked, looking off to his left, but I was focused on the land before us.

The divide between Nornheim and Varinheim was clear – from long views of soft meadows and rough rock to the all-encompassing, blinding white of snow and ice, glimpsed in short bursts between mist so thick it looked as though one could choke. Instinctively, I coughed, clearing more clinging debris from ash-coated oesophagus, and Thor shot me a look of fury, eyes narrowed. With a jolt, I recalled the warnings he’d given as he explained the map to us.

‘The Domain of the Dark Man. Not somewhere you want to go.’

He’d seem nervous at the thought, eager to avoid whatever creature haunted this corner of a distant realm – except now neither realm nor creature were quite so distant, and his nerves were returning. With an apologetic wince, I ducked my head, fighting the immediate need to cough that arose as he slowly guided us forward once more.

I was almost relieved when the sound of horseshoes on rock became the softer thump of metal on snow, though each crack and growl and roar and howl of the ice had my heart stuttering.

And then the almighty cold wreathed itself around me and I gasped at the pain of it, air coming like knives in my lungs. Before me, Mars curled in on themselves, trembling violently. Even the great god leading our party ducked his head and hissed audibly, the wind whipping his hair around his face.

“Thor!” I called, voice hoarse from the dry, frigid air. He looked back – with some difficulty, owing to the cape flapping into his vision – and I gestured. “We can’t see a thing. We need to wait out this storm!”

He nodded once, glancing around himself, and then beckoned Sleipnir closer, leaning down to mutter indecipherably into the horse’s ear. Slip leant out a soft nicker, the sound carrying on the wind, and broke into a brisk trot, leading our eclectic party along a path only he could perceive between towering blocks of ice and wind-whipped chasms.

It wasn’t long, however, until we were led into the shelter of a colossal slab of rock, the ground around us protected from the ever-falling snow. A cavern yawned ahead of us, a dark hole in the ragged surface, and I hesitated as the horse didn’t slow.

“We’re… Going in there?” I clarified quietly, the shelter allowing for a lower tone, the rock echoing my own voice back at me.

“I would trust Sleipnir with my life – and, more importantly, that of the pair of you,” Thor added, glancing back at us. With a stiff nod, I loosened my grip on the reins, giving Glaðr her head and letting her follow Sleipnir into the darkness.

The night was as uneventful as the one before, though sleep eluded me just the same. The roar of the wind and the sound-smothering effect of the snow left me feeling helpless, left to simply stare at the mouth of our temporary shelter, gazing into the swirling, white abyss.

Thor slept easily now, reassured that the storm would keep any potential chance encounters at bay – ‘even the wolves wouldn’t venture out in such weather’. But no comfort assuaged my anxiety; with my love curled close against my chest and snoring softly, I knew I wouldn’t find peace until we were far away from this place and the horrors it contained.

The dawn brought with it an eventual end to the storm’s raging, an encompassing silence falling with little warning. A weak, sickly glow radiated through the mouth of the cave, the true light of day approaching with startling speed, and I strained my senses, casting out feelers for any creatures crawling from their holes, hungry after their enforced captivity.

The distant sound of powder crunching under light footsteps had every muscle in my body hardening into steel, pausing only momentarily before sliding myself from beneath Mars, careful as I lowered their sleep-warm cheek to the sleeping bag.

I hadn’t any idea what I’d face beyond the security of our cave – but it didn’t matter. I’d face anything for my dozing soulmate, snoring lightly on the ground behind me in a brief respite from their innocent quest.

A shadow shifted in the light streaming from the mouth, and I dove at the vaguely humanoid shape, half-blind at the difference in the brightness glaring off the fallen snow. My adversary landed in the drift beneath me with a soft oomph of air leaving lungs, before a blow to the side of the head had me tumbling down beside them. Dazed, I blinked, wondering what manner of beast had the power to swat me aside so easily as my ash-lined throat burned and spasmed, the cold doing little to ease the pain in my chest.

Firm hands on my shoulders pinned me down, and I snarled, legs curling up to throw my attacker from me. Icy, metal fingers on my jaw, shaking roughly, paused me in my attack, and the words broke through the sound of my heartbeat deafening in my ears.

“... A grip, would you? It’s us, you goddamn idiot!”

Blinking, I squinted at the silhouette in the light, taking in a mouth set in a firm line and long, dark hair falling around features startlingly similar to mine. “... Win?”

He rocked back onto his heels, rubbing the side of his jaw where my fist had found its mark, the skin already shifting to a startling purple. “Hey, dumbass.”

My gaze flickered over his shoulder, and I started in surprise, another set of identical eyes peering back at me, uncertain and concerned. “Tem?”

The meekest of us offered me a timid wave, chewing his lip, gaze darting back and forth across the barren, boulder-dotted landscape. I winced sympathetically; Темнота remembered our time in Siberia better than Winter and I, and the wind-swept snow piling around his boots was likely an unpleasant reminder of the hells he’d endured. “What are you all doing here?”

“Clint called. We got here as fast as we could.”

My head tipped back to find the sailor looming over me, arms folded, one eyebrow quirked in amusement. “Seems my boy is the fiercest of the three of you, hm? I’m not surprised.”

I grunted and pushed my brother off, eyeing my former headmate with mild irritation and embarrassment. “Was that really necessary?”

Snorting, Win offered me a hand, pulling me to my feet as I rubbed at the throbbing spot above my left ear. “You came for me first!”

“You snuck up on us! How was I supposed to know that y-”

“Yeah, well, we had to catch up – someone decided to go off and risk our Bug’s life without even bothering to-”

“-had an option! You know Mars; they’ll do what they think is right, even if-”

“-stopped them! It’s not like you couldn’t-”

“What in Odin’s name is all this shouting about?”

Win and I turned our blazing eyes from one another to take in the half-conscious God of Thunder stood in the mouth of the cave, yawning as he rubbed his eyes. He stiffened only briefly as he took in the new arrivals, nodding at each of my brothers in turn. “Winter. Temnota. I thought you might find us eventually.” His brow creased a little as he took in the sailor looming by Win’s shoulder – defiantly fragile, but willing to risk life and limb to defend his lover against any possible threat. It was admirable, really – if a little amusing. “And this must be Lieutenant Tyne?”

Greg nodded, shooting me one last glare before extending a hand to the towering blond. “A pleasure.”

They shook politely, and I bit back a grin as Greg winced infinitesimally, seemingly bearing the brunt of Thor’s disapproval at his harsh awakening, his skin blanching whiter around the god’s fingers.

“Mars?” Tem pressed timidly, fingers twisting in front of himself. My smile was more genuine at that, touched as always by my brother’s shyness.

“Aslee-”

A dark-haired, fabric bundled blur streaked past me, squealing with surprise and delight as they flung themselves at the pair stood waiting, one arm wrapping tight around each neck. “You’re here! How are you here?! What are you doing here?!”

“We came to find you, Crazy,” Win laughed, scooping them bodily from the ground and spinning them around. “What were you thinking, disappearing like that? You could’ve died!”

“Yeah, yeah,” they mumbled into this shoulder, legs dangling and wriggling happily. “You can skip this part; I already got it from James.”

“You haven’t had it from us,” Tem retorted, his voice unusually stern as he frowned minutely. “We were worried about you, Mars. You were gone, and we didn’t know if you were okay.”

They slid to the ground, humbled, head low. “I know. I’m sorry.”

Tem’s hand found theirs, grasping gently, and he pulled them to his chest, metal fingers smoothing their hair. “It’s okay. You’re okay, and that’s the most important thing. Just… Maybe don’t do that again? I mean, you definitely would, if the same situation arose, and we both know it. But, y’know… Ideally, don’t.”

They chuckled weakly, face burying into his neck. “I love you. I’ve missed you.”

They caught the boys up as we continued to walk, hands waving as they discussed their plan of action. Win and Greg were just as incredulous as Thor and I, but Tem simply nodded along, eyes lighting up.

“If Bug thinks they can do it, then they can do it,” he argued stubbornly, arms crossed across his chest.

“Now isn’t the time for your blind faith, Temnota,” I growled, jaw setting. “Don’t encourage them.”

“Someone should be on their side,” he muttered, sullen, and I shot him a glare.

“We’re all on their side – that’s why we’re here,” Win interjected, a hand finding our brother’s shoulder as he glanced at me pointedly. His expression said it all – Tem was the one we protected at all costs, nurturing his sweet, innocent nature and keeping him as wholesome as we could. Win and I had been embittered by our experiences – Win in particular had a grief in his soul that seemed unable to be lifted – but despite everything, Tem stayed light-hearted, eternally joyful and optimistic. We didn’t discourage or dissuade him, not ever, and I’d broken an unspoken code in speaking to him harshly. He was an adult, that much was certain, but his rose-tinted approach to love and the parts of the world he deemed safe were almost childlike in nature, and reprimanding him felt like kicking a puppy.

“Win’s right,” I agreed softly, reaching out to squeeze his hand apologetically. “We all just want our Bug to be safe – it would be great if we could help Fenris, too, but their wellbeing comes first.”

Tem nodded slowly, his expression relaxing. “I think they’ll be okay. They’re a really good dog trainer.”

I hummed my agreement, watching my partner speak with their former headmate, eyes alight with excitement. “They are,” I agreed quietly, unable to settle the nerves writhing in my stomach.

[evadne01]

We could have it all - who said we couldn't

Chapter 4: Wake up, the sun is rising

@fandom-free-bingo, gingerbread edition: "I need you"

[redlightofdawn]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Arcane: League of Legends (Cartoon 2021) Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Silco (Arcane: League of Legends)/Vander (League of Legends) Characters: Silco (Arcane: League of Legends), Vander (League of Legends) Additional Tags: getting in a fistfight because someone offended your loved one, you should see the other guy Summary:

Vander doesn't appreciate when people talk shit about Silco.

@fandom-free-bingo​

[blackwood4stucky]

author: aspen blackwood | fandom-free-bingo

event: gingerbread edition

casting a spell on your heartstrings, you're caught in my snare | 🅼

fills | free space, alt: gasping for breath dryflowers [nick fowler x ransom drysdale] | main pairing icyvampires [robert pronge x vlad tenev] | background pairing series: bleak are the heavens, darker the gods synopsis: A retelling of Proserpina and Dis Pater.

do you trust me with your scars enough to show me your heart | 🅴

fills | falling asleep on one another, moving closer in bed stucky [james "bucky" barnes x steve rogers] series: wonder if it's room in heaven for savages snippet: Steve hesitated by the entryway to the kitchen. Just being around Ma Winnie made him nervous given how he felt about her son.

aspen’s vault: fics masterlist | aspen’s world: bingo & events participation masterlist

[holylulusworld]

House hunting

Summary: Steve wants to have a place on his own.

Pairing: Steve Rogers x Bestfriend!Reader

Warnings: a little angst, fluff, best friends to lovers, haunted mansion trope, mentions of death/accidents/murder

Square filled for @fandom-free-bingo "Gingerbread Edition": Haunted Mansion AU

“House hunting is boring, Steve,” you whine. “Why can’t we buy a Christmas tree for the communal room instead or Christmas presents?”

“You promised to spend the day with me,” Steve points out. He crosses his arms over his chest and gives you a stern look. “Promises are meant to be kept.”

You sigh, deep and long. “Yes, Captain,” you mutter under your breath. If only you’d have known that Steve wants to look for a place to get away from you and the others and not have some good old-fashioned Christmas fun. “Let me get my coat and boots.”

“You don’t look very excited,” he chides because you promised to be there for him today. “If you don’t want to come with me, it’s fine.”

“No, no!” You are quick to reply. Steve is right. You promised to go with him. Letting him down only because he wants to do something you don’t like would be wrong. “I’d like to spend the day with you. It’s just… I’ll miss you here if you move out.”

“I’ll miss our late-night conversations and movie nights, too,” he shyly admits. “But you can visit me anytime.”

“Yeah,” you don’t sound very convincing. “It won’t be the same, though.” You push the sadness away and force a smile on your face. “But I can come over for a sleepover if I’m not on missions.”

“Anytime,” he replies, returning your smile. Steve’s smile is not fake like yours, and it makes you feel even sadder. “You’re my friend.”

“Yup,” you pop the “p” and point at your coat. “Let’s go before someone snatches the house you want out of your hands.”

“You’re such a cute couple,” the real estate agent coos. Your heart flutters, but you know she only tries to sell the house to Steve. Complimenting you is simply another sales pitch. “Do you want to have children? This house is perfect for a family.”

“Uh—we’re not together,” you hastily say to stop her from embarrassing you in front of Steve. It’s not that you never daydreamed of having a family with Steve, or at least becoming more than a friend to him. He doesn’t see you that way. “We’re friends, and Steve asked me to come with him.”

“Oh,” she chuckles. “There’s always hope, right?” She elbows you, and you roll your eyes. Great, now Steve looks at you like you’re some stray kitten.

“How many bathrooms does it have?” Steve tries to save you and him from the awkward conversation. This is not the time or place to discuss how you feel about each other. “What about the kitchen? Is it brand-new or used?”

While the real estate agent talks to Steve about the house, you feel a cold shiver run down your spine. Somehow, it felt like someone put their hand on your shoulder.

“Make him yours before it’s too late,” a voice whispers in your ear, and you believe you lost your damn mind. “Don’t let him go. Never...never..never.” The voice chants, and you want to scream.

You shake the invisible hand off and hurriedly follow Steve and the real estate agent. You’d rather not stay alone in one of the rooms. The house is nice, but it gives creepy vibes.

“Uh—stupid question,” you clear your throat to get the real estate agent’s attention. “Did someone die in this house, or did anything happen in here?”

She blinks a few times and swallows thickly. Ah, there is the catch. You know something was off with the house and the price. “Well,” she tries to play it cool, but you can see the panic in her eyes, “the owner fell down the stairs and died, unfortunately. She was only twenty-four.”

“Oh, that’s sad,” Steve nods thoughtfully. You watch him rub his arms as goosebumps erupt over his skin. He must’ve felt it too. You’re not crazy. “Anything else I should know?”

“Her fiancé found her,” she admits under Steve’s intense gaze. “The police weren’t sure it was an accident, but they never… arrested him.”

“Fuck, that’s a murder house, Steve!” You grab Steve’s wrist, harshly tugging at it to make him follow you out of the house. He laughs it off and shakes his head.

“Doll, there’s no such thing as a murder house. It’s a good price, and the house is huge. Let’s have a look around.”

You whine and shake your head. “No. It’s haunted. They talked to me…”

Steve and the real estate agent look at you with amusement. They don’t believe you.

“How about I hold your hand?” Steve offers. He takes your hand and holds it gently. “For me. Let’s take a look.”

“Fine,” you grumble. “If I end up dead, I’ll haunt you in this house.” He smirks and wraps his arm around your shoulders to make you feel safe. You relax, hoping ghosts are scared shitless, knowing a super-soldier is here to protect you.

“Let’s head upstairs to take a look at the master bedroom,” the real estate agent goes ahead. You bite your lower lip, chewing on it when the stairs creak loudly. It sounds like they cry anytime she climbs up another step.

“Steve, I’m telling you something is wrong with the house,” you whisper as he guides you upstairs. You shudder because the house suddenly feels so much colder. “Please, let’s leave.”

“Ghosts are not real, doll,” Steve assures you. He pecks your temple. “After we are done here, I’ll invite you for dinner.”

“If I’m still alive,” you whisper, making him chuckle. “I mean it, Steve. If I die here, it’s your fault.”

The staircase seems to be endless, and you’re tired and out of breath when you reach the top. Even the fucking stairs must be haunted.

“Please follow me,” the real estate agent says and waves you closer. “If you go to your left, you’ll find the master bedroom.”

You stop in your tracks watching a vase drop to the ground. No one was even close to it, but it just fell to the ground and shattered into pieces. You scream and hide your face in Steve’s chest.

“Stevie! Let’s get out of here! Please!”

“Marry her! Marry her!” A creepy voice chants, and your blood runs cold.

You grab Steve by his upper arms and shake him. “What else do you need to hear and witness? That’s a haunted mansion, and we are going to die here if we stay!”

Steve looks at the broken vase. He shrugs while ignoring the voice coming from the bedroom and guides you closer to the door.

“MARRY HER! SHE’S YOURS!” The voice screams louder, and Steve stops in his tracks. He furrows his brows as the voice screams your name.

“Okay, I’m out of this for good,” you cry, and grab Steve’s wrist. “The ghost knows my name!”

“Uh—I think we should leave,” Steve hastily says. Before you can agree, he grabs you by your waist, throws you over his shoulder, and runs down the stairs—never looking back.

“Mission accomplished,” Tony says as Bucky, Clint, Bruce, and Peter join him to watch you and Steve feed each other with strawberries.

On your way out of the house, and toward freedom, you and Steve finally admitted your feelings for each other. Promising to be together in another life if you don’t make it out of the mansion. Facing a haunted mansion and ghosts made you see there’s more to fear than ruining your friendship.

“What if Steve ever finds out we tricked them?” The fake real estate agent asks. She smirks and takes off the mask she wore. “Next time, I want a real mission, Stark. Not some rom-com shit.”

“Don’t get your panties in a twist, Belova,” Tony snaps at Yelena. “Now let me enjoy watching my real life performance rom-com. I had to buy a fucking mansion to get these idiots together…”

[vintagebuckybarnes]

Vinny's Bingo Challenge Library

My blog is for adults (18+) only, and most of its content is intended for mature audiences. Remember that you are responsible for your media consumption. If my content is not your cup of tea, navigate to blogs other than mine.

✨ Any Fandom Fluff Bingo

✨ Avengers Assemble Bingo

✨ Bucky Boy Bingo

✨ Fandom Bingo

✨ Fandom Bingo: Valentine Trope Flash

✨ Fandom Free Bingo: Bug | Dream | Gingerbread | Half-Baked | Medical

✨ Flufftober: Fluff Bingo

✨ Hyalconian Love Bingo

✨ July Break Bingo: Broken Hearts | Post-July 2024

✨ MultiFandom Flash: Round 1

✨ Sebastian Stan Bingo

✨ Stucky Bingo: Round 6

✨ Sweet & Spicy Bingo: Beginnings

✨ Winteriron Bingo

✨ Coming Soon!

All the graphics you see in my posts are made by @vintagebuckybarnes unless stated otherwise.

[leaderpinhead]

Jamil - Gingerbread Competition

Day 6 of Fluffcember 2024 Prompt: Gingerbread House (Fluffcember) & Building Gingerbread Houses Together (Fandom-Free Bingo) Rating: General Pairing: Jamil/Yuu

“What exactly is the point of this?” Jamil asked. His eyes flicked across the table in front of him. Bowls of colorful hard candies lined the center of the table, their contents previously picked over by eager hands. Piping bags filled with varying levels of icing were left scattered across the table. Two small houses made of hard gingerbread sat directly in front of them. “And why are we the only ones doing it?” 

On the other side of the room, the rest of their group sat bundled around the fireplace while Epel’s grandmother recounted previous sledathons. They looked almost comical surrounded by a group of children also attending the festival. Yuu stood beside him with her sleeves rolled up to her elbow. She still wore her applepom hat despite the comfortable temperature of the assembly hall. “You grumble too much. Pass me that piping bag.” 

Jamil pinched a corner of the bag between his fingers and slid it across the table for her to reach. His hands felt sticky just watching her grab the bag. She squeezed a large dollop of icing onto the crease of the roof. “Idia says this is practically mandatory. His anime waifus did it in some episode.” 

Choosing to ignore Yuu adopting Idia’s slang, Jamil silently watched her decorate the gingerbread house. Her lines were wobbly and there were patches where she put too much icing. When Jamil pointed the mistakes out to her, she huffed. “It doesn’t have to be perfect. It’s just supposed to be fun.” 

“That glob of icing looks like snot from a runny nose.” 

Yuu grabbed a handful of sprinkles from a nearby bowl and threw it at the runny icing. Only a few sprinkles adhered to the icing. The rest bounced across the table. Jamil was unimpressed. “Now it looks like rainbow snot.” 

“I’ll combine it with your snot if you don’t stop critiquing my work,” Yuu snapped. She grabbed another handful of candy and started sticking gumdrops to the side of the house. Jamil didn’t expect them to stay on, but the icing worked surprisingly well as glue. “But I guess that’s all you can do.” 

Jamil crossed his arms. “What does that mean?” 

“You’re obviously intimidated by my creative genius,” Yuu said, gesturing at her haphazardly decorated gingerbread house. “Why else would you be quaking in fear?” 

Jamil snorted. “If there’s any quaking happening, it’s from the sheer lack of hygiene. I caught one of the children sticking a gumball up his nose before putting it back in the bowl.” 

Yuu automatically reached for a gumball. She stuck it to the very front of her house. “Beautiful.” 

“You’re a menace.” 

“At least I have a personality.” 

“It wasn’t my personality you were staring at earlier.” 

Jamil smirked when Yuu immediately snapped her mouth shut. He’d caught her staring at him several times after they received their warmer outfits. Much more than the others, who were all dressed similarly to him. 

Yuu huffed and returned to decorating the house. “You can’t distract me with your tactics. I still know that I’m better at decorating than you.” 

“Excuse me?” 

“You heard me.” Yuu shook her piping bag at him. “You may be able to cook a curry, but gingerbread is clearly above your skill set.” 

Jamil wasn’t gullible enough to fall for her taunting, but he decided to indulge her anyway. He grabbed one of the fuller piping bags (meaning less hands had touched it) and sidestepped to stand directly in front of the other house. “If you insist playing this game then I suppose I have no choice but to oblige.” 

“This isn’t a game,” Yuu insisted. She started piping the sides of her house with more enthusiasm. “This is a competition.” 

“A competition?” 

“Loser makes me curry.” 

Jamil hid his widening smirk by bending over his gingerbread house. “That’s a poor prize if you ask me. Ace has told me the horror stories involving your food.” 

“Ace has horrible tastes.” Yuu flicked a gumball at him. “You better get to decorating. Our judges are very impatient.” 

“Judges?” 

Yuu didn’t answer, so Jamil shrugged and focused on decorating too. To his surprise, fifteen minutes later, the children crowded around their table. They now wore various styles of knitted caps he had seen many visitors to the festival wearing and had the shrew, judgmental stares only children could accurately convey. Idia also slid up to the table, his weird giggles prompting Yuu to scold him for scaring the children. The children oohed and ahhed over Yuu’s conglomeration of icing, candy, and gingerbread. They barely reacted to the precise lines and carefully placed gumdrops on Jamil’s house. 

Jamil delivered a whole pot of curry to Ramshackle Dorm after they returned to the campus and pretended to be offended while they quipped back and forth about the rigged “competition.” 

[eros-heartache]

Fenced In

Pairing: Evan "Buck" Buckley/ Eddie Diaz

Rating: Teen and Up

Word Count: 679

Warnings: Alcohol use

Summary: Eddie starts boxing again and hides his injuries after a brutal match until buck confronts him

Events:

@whumpuary 2025 // Day 3 // Black Eye

@fandom-free-bingo //Gingerbread Edition // Dont Make Me Laugh

[dawnepiphany]

Chapters: 1/8 Fandom: Kingdom Hearts (Video Games) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Kairi/Sora (Kingdom Hearts), Aqua & Kairi (Kingdom Hearts), Kairi & Kairi's Grandmother (Kingdom Hearts) Characters: Kairi (Kingdom Hearts), Princesses of Heart (Kingdom Hearts) Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Character Study, Relationship Study, fairytales - Freeform, Inspired by Shoujo Kakumei Utena | Revolutionary Girl Utena, Puella Magi Madoka Magica References, Alternate Universe - Fairytales, Book of Prophecies (Kingdom Hearts), Other Additional Tags to Be Added Summary:

Princesses are special girls with a magical power inside their hearts. Forces of darkness would steal the light of the princesses for themselves, so princes must keep them safe. Kairi dives into the world of fairytales and learns the truth about the Princesses of Heart. The princess struggles with her desire to be a prince instead, the fairytales have an author with an ulterior purpose, and a Witch holds the key to everything.

@fandom-free-bingo​ Gingerbread Edition

Prompt: Tucking Into Bed

[voiceoffenrisulfr]

Paws for Applause - Chapter Five Eurasier

𝐏𝐀𝐈𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒 -> James "Bucky" Barnes(&) x Original Nonbinary Character(&) (Soldierbug&, pluralpoly)

𝐒𝐔𝐌𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐘 -> Actions have Consequences.

𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐃𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐓 -> 2784

𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒 -> (T) Ominous warnings. 

𝐀/𝐍 -> Check it out below, or on AO3 here! Masterlist can be found here. Dividers by us!

<- Chapter Four

Prompts used; - ‘Date Gone Wrong’ – @anyfandomfluffbingo; - ‘Stealing Clothes’ – @eclipsingbingo; - ‘Everyone’s Queer’, ‘Web’, ‘“It’s Not Just Sails and Knots.”’ – @fandom-free-bingo (Gingerbread Edition); - ‘I’ve Built My Dreams Around You’ – Fandom-Free Bingo (Gingerbread Edition); - ‘Passed Out’, ‘Hiding in Plain Sight’, “‘He Should Never Have Come.”’, ‘Ominous Warning’ – Fandom-Free Bingo (Tolkien Edition); - ‘A Nerd in the Dark – Fandom-Free Bingo (Tolkien Edition); - ‘5 Times They Held Hands Platonically & 1 Time it Means Something More’, ‘Blatantly Staring at Their Bare Chest or Immediately Looking Away’– @julybreakbingo (Summer); - ‘”See Something You Like?” – July Break Bingo (4x4); - ‘Separation Anxiety or Cornered’ – July Break Bingo (6x6); - ‘Sensory Deprivation or Sensory Overload’ – July Break Bingo (7x7).

I awoke in the faint light of dawn, Mars’ body curled against my side, one hand wrapped in my shirt as they snored gently. My fingertips trailed through their hair, releasing a soft sigh from their parted lips, my own curling with a tender smile at their unconscious inhibition.

We’d kissed until the sun begin to rise, and then they had talked – endlessly enthusiastic to share stories of table-top campaigns and dog-related studies and little-known facts about flora and fauna of the world as they slowly succumbed to unconsciousness, until they eventually fell silent – mostly - as they passed out. I’d lain awake, unable to settle the staccato beating of my heart, watching a spider weave its web in the corner until my own eyes had finally grown heavy.

They sighed quietly in their sleep and moved closer, one leg shifting to drape over my hips, and I stiffed as they pressed against me, my half-hard length twitching at the pressure. I felt my breathing grow heavier, and bit back a groan as they shifted again, swallowing dryly.

I should move. I need to move.

You need to-

Control yourself.

Slowly, and with more than a little reluctance, I slid my body away, lungs seizing in alarm when they stirred a little.

“Hm… Buck?”

I was sitting on the edge of the bed by the time their eyes flickered open, and glanced back with a soft smile, leaning down to press a gentle kiss to their forehead while surreptitiously keeping my lower body angled away. “Good morning, beautiful.”

With a light blush, they reached out, and the feeling of their sleep-warm fingertips against my arm made me tremble. “Trying to sneak out?”

Their tone was light, but I detected the undercurrent of fear, and I scoffed, brushing my lips over theirs. “Only so far as the front of the building,” I assured them, inclining my head towards Zeus eyeballing me from his bed. “A little morning relief. I’ll be back in a few minutes, I promise.”

Struggling into an upright position, they yawned, back arching, and I grinned at the endearing mess of their hair, earning a deeper flush and a self-conscious hand raising to smooth the tangle in vain. “It’s bad, I know,” they chuckled, shrugging. “It always is, no matter what I do.”

“It’s cute,” I reassured them, cupping their chin in my hand to kiss them again, keeping my mouth light on theirs – I was finally about able to stand, and didn’t want to have to explain my persistent inability to move. “You’re cute.”

Grinning shyly, their hand trailed down my arm to slip into mine, squeezing. “Want company?”

I let out a quiet sound of joy and nodded, my grip tightening in theirs briefly. “That would be nice.” I stood as they slid from the bed, tugging my sleep-rumpled shirt over my head and searching through the holdall that contained all of my possessions for something somewhat cleaner with a morose sigh. “I need to go to a laundromat soon… Running out of stuff to wear…”

By the time I turned back towards them, Mars was sat motionless, gaze trailing over my exposed chest with lips slightly parted. Instinctively, my hands moved to cover the mess of scars at my shoulder – until I realised that their eyes weren’t lingering on the carnage, but instead moving over curves of muscle and sinew as their heart picked up. “See something you like?” I teased lightly, and they flushed, eyes flicking quickly away.

Despite my complaint about my absence of clothing, my sweatshirt found its way over their head while I was in the bathroom, and I paused with a snort in the doorway. “Comfortable?”

They grinned, the sleeves hanging far past their hands, and wrapped their arms about their chest happily. “Very!”

We were, for the first time in a while, spending the day apart. Mars reluctantly admitted that they should open the shop, and I begrudgingly confessed that my clothing situation was becoming dire.

Zeus accompanied me to the laundromat, his tail thumping gently as he sat beside my feet, the picture of pure innocence and professionalism. His settle training was coming along well, and he was more than happy to stay where he was told, contentedly watching the world go by – it was his leash manners that still required the most work, as accustomed as he was to being able to drag along anyone who dared hold the other end.

When the chatter and the sounds of the machines and the humidity began to make my breathing hitch and my head spin, I found myself sat on the floor with my back to a bench, my beloved companion lounged half across my lap to keep me grounded until the hitch in my breathing began to fade. Before… Everything, I’d never struggled so intensely with sensory overload – even the adjustment period for my heightened senses hadn’t proven quite so disabling.

My fingers twitched whenever I thought about Mars, anxiety at our being apart bubbling just below the surface. I marvelled at how invaluable they’d become to me in such a short space of time, so much so that despite my repeated insistence not to settle here and accumulate more things, I found myself spending the afternoon frequenting clothing and appliance stores, unconsciously creating a home in my small apartment.

I admired my handiwork as the evening wore on – fresh sheets on the bed and new curtains over the window, a hastily-constructed chest of drawers holding several new outfits and topped with a lamp – before changing. Mars and I had agreed to meet for a date in the evening, their joyous acceptance coming with a sweet blush that made my heart ache with adoration.

I was falling hard, and I knew there was nothing I could do to pull myself up.

“It’s not just sails and knots.”

We were walking down the harbourfront, their hand slipped into mine to keep their small fingers warm. We’d held hands before – an act of comfort and support – but it felt different now, a new kind of need in their grip. They were gushing enthusiastically about the ships along the shoreline, telling stories of the HMS Victory and the wreck of the Mary Rose, regaling me with stories of how the latter was raised from the depths despite its damage, and the former’s exploits in battle. I listened with an adoring single-mindedness as we walked for miles back and forth, lost in their passion and the breadth of their knowledge.

“You like ships,” I noted eventually, and they laughed, a hint of colour pricking at their cheeks.

“I do.”

We’d sat opposite one another in a small, intimate Italian – chosen after my own careful internet-based deliberation and eaten until we were fit to burst, the stroll opted for in an effort to ease the discomfort we both felt from gorging ourselves on bread and pasta. It was a mild evening, but the breeze on the water brought a chill, and eventually they began to shiver despite our ceaseless movement, and I gently directed them back toward the apartment.

We both grew quieter as we approached my building, anticipation making the air heavy. I’d told them I’d done some updates – I didn’t tell them that I was beginning to build my dreams around them – and they were excited to see it… But something unspoken filled the space between us, the fluttering of their heart audible to my enhanced senses.

It wasn’t until we were at my apartment door, the sound of Zeus snoring coming loud through the wood, that I finally pulled them closer, my lips meeting theirs with more urgency and longing than before. A soft whimper escaped them as their arms wrapped around my neck, and I grunted, lifting them easily against me, their legs locking around my waist as my free hand fumbled with the key in the lock.

Distantly, I was aware that something was amiss as I closed the door behind us, but their back found the wall and I pushed the thought from my mind, fingers roving and caressing, imploring and searching and-

“You got a dog.”

They yelped, and I quickly lowered them to the floor, whirling to face the intruder who dared violate my space.

Steve was sat quite openly on the sofa, his gaze averted to the mastiff who had opened one eye to consider us as we’d all but fallen through the door and disturbed his slumber. I exhaled sharply, relieved and annoyed in equal measure, and folded my arms across my chest, shifting to largely obscure his view of the person stood panting lightly behind me.

“Steve?” I snapped, jaw set. “What the hell are you doing here?”

He stood with a sigh, moving to pick up my lamp and consider it briefly before responding. “You’re drawing too much attention to yourself, Buck. The rumours are starting about the metal-armed man in the pacific northwest.”

I narrowed my eyes, irritated at the intrusion. “You’re the one who told me to live my life, Steve. That’s all I’m trying to do.”

“I can see that,” he replied softly, glancing at the figure half-hidden behind me. “Seems like you had a good night.”

“Hi, Mr. Rogers, I, um-”

“Leave them out of it,” I snapped, interrupting their sweet introduction with a hand reaching back, searching silently for theirs. “They’re- Look, I’ll be more careful, okay? You’ve made it more dangerous by coming all the way out here. What if you were followed?”

“Tony’s still at the compound – I’ve got Nat keeping an eye on him,” Steve replied, waving a hand. “And it might not be a matter of just ‘being more careful’, Buck! If Tony’s already heard the rumours, he’ll be starting to narrow down the range already, and it won’t take him long to figure out where you are.”

My heart thrummed in my chest, anticipating his next words as he glanced at Mars and then back to me.

“You need to move on, Buck. Your position is compromised. It isn’t safe here anymore.”

“All three, really?” I snorted, shaking my head. “Wasn’t that overkill? Any of those sentences would have stood just fine on their own; you’re always one for the melodrama, Stevie.” Mars’ hand tightened in mine, silently acknowledging the change, and I squeezed back lightly.

“Melodrama?” he repeated, shaking his head. “Buck, I risked everything to-”

“That’s not my name,” I interjected softly. The quiet breathing behind me hitched in surprise, and I glanced back at them, finding a warm, mahogany gaze locked on mine, comforting and enveloping.

“What do you- I haven’t called you James in- Fine,” he sighed, audibly frustrated. “James, I-”

“Winter.”

That one shut him up.

He simply stared at me in confusion and concern, mouth working wordlessly for a few moments before he regained his composure. “I-I’m not- I’m not going to call you that. You’re Buck. You’re not whatever they did to you- not some attack dog of HYDRA who-”

“I’m not Buck,” I interrupted, eyes narrowing minutely. “I’m… Buck-adjacent. I’m Winter.”

Steve’s eyes shot back to the person sheltered behind me once more, full of worry. “You- whoever you are… You should leave. I don’t think this is the best place for you right now.”

I felt them hesitate uncertainly before their hand began to slip from mine, but my fingers quickly tightened, turning bodily away from Steve.

“Don’t,” I murmured, the thumb of my free hand smoothing softly over their jaw. “Please don’t go, not unless you want to.”

Steve made a low sound of frustration, turning our attention back towards him, the hand in mine resettling in place as I looked away. “Look, I don’t care what you call yourself – Buck, Winter, whatever! He’s going to find you, and it isn’t going to be pretty when he does. He’s going to kill you, Buck! Why aren’t you listening to me?!”

“Excuse me – Mr. Captain America, Sir?”

I glanced back in surprise, Mars’ timid voice wiping away my own furious response. “What are you-?”

They ducked under my arm, sidestepping me neatly, and their arms folded across their chest. “With all due respect, Mr. Rogers, Sir – I, um… I think maybe you’re the one who isn’t listening, Sir. I’m sorry, but-”

“This doesn’t concern you,” Steve interjected, eyes narrowing minutely. “Look, I appreciate that you’re concerned about Buck – it’s sweet, really. But-”

I saw the change before spoke. His spine grew straighter, any uncertainty fading from his posture as he stared down my oldest friend, radiating annoyance. “You’ve been told – several times. His name is Winter – address him as such, or get out.”

Steve glowered, then hesitated infinitesimally when Greg didn’t back down, eyes flicking to me with uncertainty. “… Think about what I said, okay?” he muttered, fists clenching by his sides. “I’ll be in touch.”

He pushed himself past the pair of us sullenly, his eyes finding mine to stare imploringly as he moved around me. Whether he saw my irritation or something different – something very un-Bucky – was unclear, but he recoiled, mouth opening slightly before closing with the click of colliding teeth, and he turned his back.

“He should never have come.”

Greg and I were sat opposite one another on the sofa, my legs folded underneath me and the metal fingers tapping out an irregular pattern on the ceramic of my mug. He’d made us both a hot drink, and settled down to watch me with a concerned frown. “Was he right, though?”

My brow creased, and I cocked my head. “About Tony? I mean, yeah – if he finds us, it won’t be-”

Greg interrupted me with a shake of his own head, jaw tight. “That you should leave.”

I held my mug a little tighter, bristling. “Trying to get rid of me?” I snapped, eyes narrowing as I stared into my drink. “If you want me gone, you don’t have to-”

He rolled his eyes to interrupt me, his gaze soft. “That’s not what I meant, Win, and you know it.” I glowered some more, unwilling to let my irritation fizzle so easily, until he reached out to put his hand lightly on my arm. “I know you’re scared… But you don’t have to push us away, okay? I’m not trying to make you leave. I’m just asking the question.”

My glare flicked to his hand wrapped lightly around vibranium, and I softened minutely. “Yeah. I know.”

“We’d be heartbroken if you left,” he continued, inching infinitesimally closer. “Getting to know you guys has been incredible. And the pup,” he added, inclining his head pointedly towards the dog assessing us from the freshly made bed.

I blushed predictably, looking away. “Yeah… It’s been… I mean… You know,” I fumbled, shrugging a shoulder uncertainly. “It’s been nice.”

He laughed at that, the gravity of the moment lifting, and leant back a little. “I’ll try not to get too big-headed under your overwhelming praise, soldier,” he teased, shaking his head.

Snorting, I took a sip of my tea, leaning my side against the back of the sofa. “It has, though. Been nice, I mean. We haven’t…. Connected with anyone in a really long time. And never as us, you know? Not that we knew there was an us – before you folks, I mean. Or at least, not one that we knew about, I guess?”

He let out another soft chuckle, his temple finding the cushions alongside mine. “I know what you mean. I don’t think we’ve been quite so… Out-and-proud with anyone since… Ever, actually. Most people don’t understand. Some try to, but…” He let out a soft sigh, gazing off into the distance thoughtfully. “It’s a hard thing to grasp if it’s not something you experience.”

“It’s a beautiful and terrifying thing, to be known,” he added softly, his voice dropping. “There’s a lot of ways that being seen can get you hurt.”

I nodded and swallowed dryly, my gaze flickering to his lips. “There’s a lot of ways it can be good, though.”

He hummed in agreement, and my eyes closed as the back of his fingers skimmed my cheekbone gently. “… Winter?” I made a soft, curious sound in response, and I could hear the smile in his tone as he continued. “I’m going to kiss you. Is that okay?”

No sooner had my lips turned up and I’d breathed my agreement than his mouth was on mine; gossamer-soft and feather-light, it was unexpectedly delicate for this intimidating and resilient man – until I let out a hushed, contented sigh, and he groaned, hand slipping from jaw to hair to pull me closer to him with a hunger I’d more expected.