#hippietaco writes

[levi-inthesun]

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Summary: An unexpected visitor is waiting for Bucky.

A/N: okay, I might make this more than just a drabble, but I wanna see if people like it first. Please let me know what you think! 

Tags: @dungeons-and-awkwarddragons, @madamewombat

It would be gross under-exaggerating by saying it had been a rough day. All Bucky wanted to do now was take a hot shower and sink into his large, soft bed. He turned his door knob and shoved it open with his shoulder.

Maybe I’ll just go to bed now and shower in the morning, He thought to himself.

Bucky threw off his t-shirt and jeans and pulled on a pair of sweatpants.

“HOLY SHIT!” he yelled out in shock as he turned around, seeing a female figure sprawled out across his bed. The body stirred, turning over to lay on her back.

“Maggie?” Bucky whispered, slowly approaching the bed, “Is that really you?” he asked.

You felt the bed dip down next to you and was slowly pulled from your sleep. Blinking your eyes open, you were met by the confused/shocked face of James Buchanan Barnes.

“Hi handsome,” you mumbled, a sleepy smile spreading across your face.

“Please tell me this isn’t a dream,” Bucky softly said, “Please, please let this be real,”

Bucky watched as your goofy grin turned into a mischevious smirk and instantly regretted his choice of wording.

You launched yourself up and pinched Bucky’s sides, “Damn it Mags!” he yelled as moved to tackle you, but you dodged and began to tickle him.

“No!” he yelled, laughing so hard tears were beginning to fall from his eyes, “Stooooop,” he whined. Thankfully you were distracted momentarily by laughing at him and he pulled you into his lap, wrapping his arms around you tightly.

You didn’t fight it. This was exactly where you wanted to be.

Bucky’s voice gently caressed your ear, “Damn I’ve missed you, doll.”

You simply nodded, knowing if you opened your mouth to speak you’d start to cry.

He held you tightly, only loosening his grip so that you turn and wrap your legs and arms around him, resting your head on his shoulder, breathing him in.

“What brings you back so soon?” he finally asked, pulling away to get a good look at you, “Uh, also why are you covered in blood?”

“Don’t worry, that’s just an old stain,” you said shrugging, looking down at your dark green scrubs. “I’m back because I was injured. Now, before you freak out,” you said, placing your hands on his chest, “I am okay and I’ve recovered, okay?” Bucky nodded, eyes glued to yours. “During a mission, we were ambushed. I was able to take out a couple of men before I was hit. A grenade had been thrown at me, but it missed by almost 10 feet and I was able to get a bit further away before it went off, except I was hit by shrapnel and shot, absolutely destroying my left leg.”

You moved to sit next to Bucky and pulled your pant leg up to show him the prosthetic that connects to your leg mid-thigh. Bucky reached out and gently traced the line separating machine and skin.

“What were you doing in the middle of everything? I thought you were stationed wherever your camp was so that you’d be prepared as soon as the injured came back?” He asked, shifting to caress your cheek.

“Normally yes,” you said quietly, “but this was a high-risk mission. In order to keep as many of our men alive, I needed to be there. We had really good intel, but you know, something always goes wrong.” You rolled your eyes, nudging Bucky, trying to lighten the mood.

He let out a soft, half-hearted chuckle before pulling you closer, inhaling deeply, desperately wanting to remember everything, the way you smelled, how you felt in his arms. Everything.

“James,” you pulled away and cupped his face in your hands, “I’m not going away again, I was discharged.”

You watched as his eyes lit up, “Does that mean?”

“I’m here to stay, Bucky. I never have to leave you, not ever again.”

Finally, Bucky pulled you in and your lips connected to his as silent, salty, happy tears flowed down your cheeks.

You were finally home.

[levi-inthesun]

By the Way,

Avengers, OC

Summary: Helen, an employee at the Avengers Tower finds herself adopted into the family of superheroes. Little do (most) of them know, she has been keeping a secret.

Spoilers: GAY.

It’s just fluffy and cute. I’m just living out my gay dreams here. In another life, I’d have a soft but go getting girlfriend. (i am in a straight passing marriage. #bi)

“Heeelleeeen!” Steve called out in a whiny tone as he walked into your office, “Are you coming tonight?” he asked plopping down on the large chair that sat across your desk.

“Uh yeah, 8 o’clock, right?” you asked as you hit send on an email.

“Yes. We haven’t seen you around much lately, find a man worthy of your time?” he asked as he wiggled his eyebrows.

“Something like that,” you commented.

You and Steve talked for a few more minutes before he ran out to go do something else, throwing in that you could bring your new beau by anytime.

Once the door was closed, you let out a sigh.

You had been working at the Avengers Tower for a little less than a year, however, you quickly moved up the ranks and became close to the Avengers. Probably a little too close, but they were the closest thing you had to a family.

Yet still, only a select few knew the secret you tucked away in your heart. You knew you couldn’t hide it forever, in fact, you didn’t want to. But, past experiences told you it was best that only a few knew.

You finished up with your work for the day at 7:40 pm, having a massive project dumped on you at the last minute. Thankfully, you kept a few pairs of clothes in your office and threw them in your bag as you headed to the residential floor of the tower.

“Helen!�� Wanda called out as you walked off the elevator, it took you a moment to respond to your excited friend because a text you hadn’t seen yet had taken up all your attention. You smiled widely as you responded.

“Helen?” she called out again.

This time you noticed, “Oh! Sorry, Wanda!” you said as you rushed over to hug her. She just rolled her eyes at you before you hurried to the bathroom to change.

You threw on your jogger style sweatpants and a comfy t-shirt before throwing your long dark hair into a bun on top of your head. When you emerged everyone was there, arguing about what game should be played.

“Monopoly!” Clint called out, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

“No!” you interjected as you sat on the floor in front of one of the couches, “No way are we going through that again.”

“Aw come on, you’re just mad because you lost,” Clint said dismissively.

“If I remember correctly, we are all still mad at how hard you cheated all of us. Monopoly is banned.”

A few others nodded their heads and Clint gave up.

“I suggest twister,” a silky voice suggested. You all turned around to see Loki and Thor having appeared behind you. When you made eye contact with Loki, he added, “Helen has been jeering on about how she could be me at any game, any day. I say it’s time to prove it.”

You rolled your eyes but everyone cheered and soon you were facing off against Loki in an intense game of Twister.

“Alright, right-hand red!” Sam called out.

You thew your arm up and over Loki’s body and grinned as he tried to not allow the motion to knock him down.

“I think you just wanted to get close to me Helen,” Loki said with a wink, causing you to scoff.

“Psh, whatever Loki, you know I like girls.”

The words came out before you could even realize what you were saying and your eyes grew 10 wider than normal and a blush spread over your face.

Loki was so shocked that you said the words aloud, and so casually, caused him to fall on his face.

“You win!” Wanda called out, trying desperately to lighten the tension that fell around the room.

You got out of the weird position and stretched a little and turned to face everyone, keeping your eyes on the ground, refusing to look anyone in the eye.

“Uh, yeah so um, by the way,  I’m gay,” you finally said. You didn’t look up until you felt two sets of arms wrapped around you, shocked to see Bucky and Steve hugging you.

They pulled back slightly and grinned at each other before looking back at you, “We love you no matter who you love,” Bucky whispered.

You felt relief wash over you. The two 100 plus-year-old men were the ones you were worried most about. Anxiety told you they’d reject you and tell you it was unnatural, just as you’d heard before. The relief was so strong that you felt tears begin to prick at your eyes.

“Hey, what’s wrong?” Steve asked gently.

“I-I got it in my head that you guys wouldn’t want to be around me if you knew,” you whispered.

For some reason, this was hilarious to the two men who quickly burst into a fit of laughter, causing heat to crawl up your face.

They saw your reaction and quickly regained control of themselves, “Sorry Helen, we weren’t laughing at your anxieties. It’s just so funny because, well we figured you knew,” Bucky explained.

“Knew what?” you asked. Confusion was written all over your features.

Steve grinned at you and leaned in, “We are gay.”

“What?!” you finally called out, “How? How did I not know?”

“We just figured you did,” Bucky shrugged, “we’re pretty obvious about it.”

You thought back to all the times you’d hung out with the Avengers and suddenly images of the tender looks and gentle touches came to mind and everything made so much sense.

“Damn,” you said quietly, “you guys really weren’t secretive,” you said out loud, mostly to yourself. Then you started to laugh.

Like, really laugh. The kind of laugh that comes from a broken place realizing that you aren’t so broken anymore. The kind of laugh that will end in happy, delighted tears.

The night went on. Loki graciously accepted his loss, even though he felt you used your gayness as an unfair advantage. You were now playing Sorry when your phone started to buzz.

You looked over at it and smiled before turning back to the game.

“Uh, Helen,” Tony said, “aren’t you gonna get that?”

You blushed slightly and said you’d call back later.

“That is her, isn’t it!” Steve said much too loudly.

“There is a ‘her’?” Tony asked just as loudly. “You HAVE TO PICK IT UP.”

You threw up your hands in defeat and answered your phone just before it went to voicemail.

“For a minute there I thought you were going to ignore me,” he voice said knowingly over the line.

“Put it on speaker!” Peter whisper yelled.

You rolled your eyes but obliged.

“Now, why would I ever do that?” you responded.

“I don’t know, maybe because you are hanging out with your super cool friends.”

“You don’t get use that one, you are in freaking Paris right now even though you know how badly I want to go!” You shot back. You looked back up at the people around you remembering you had an audience, only to see them all leaning in, with what looked like heart eyes. “Oh, uh, babe? About my super cool friends, they demanded I put you on speaker.”

“DID YOU FINALLY TELL THEM!” she squealed.

“YES!” everyone responded back, practically at the same time.

“YAY!” she yelled. “If I were there I would kiss you so hard right now. Wait, I’m going to switch to video call, you have to introduce me to everyone.”

The switch was made and you went around the room and introduced everyone to your girlfriend. When you got to Bucky and Steve, you braced yourself for what they were going to say.

“So Ana, I’m not sure if you are aware of this, but your girlfriend has a terrible gay-dar,” Steve began explaining what happened earlier that evening and Ana just laughed.

“Yeah, I know she does. It took until our third date for her to realize that they were dates and I was hitting on her,” she said shrugging.

The two men looked over at you and shook their heads as if they were saying ‘typical’.

After a while, you were able to sneak away to finish the call with your girl, alone.

“Hi,” you said with a shy smile on your features.

“Hi,” she said back, “I miss you.”

“I miss you too, way too much,” you replied.

“About that. Listen, I was actually hoping that when I get back, we could move in together? I am just so tired of being away from you.”

Ana watched lovingly as you took in what she was saying. You practically were glowing at the proposition.

“Yes. Please, let’s move in together.”

Ana had gotten back two weeks later, and by the end of the month- after long hours apartment hunting, you were both finally settled. Deciding the best way to celebrate would be to have a housewarming get-together, you were waiting impatiently for your friends to arrive.

“Hey,” she said, wrapping her arms around you from behind, “they’ll make it, okay? You don’t need to worry.” She placed a kiss on your cheek and you turned to face her.

“Yeah, I’m just… they’re my family, and you are my family… I just want tonight to go well,” you responded heavily.

“Listen to me, okay?” she said as she pulled you to the couch and onto her lap. “I’ve already met everyone, yeah it was over a video call, but we all love you, and I have a good feeling that we are all going to love each other. Oh, please don’t cry,” she said as she wiped tears from your eyes.

“They’re the good kind, I promise,” you said as you leaned in to kiss her.

Everyone showed up right on time.

And Ana was right, like always.

[levi-inthesun]

The Man No One Saw

Summary: Everyone thought they knew Captain America. He was dependable and could be trusted to do the right thing. He would always be there for the American people, hell even the world. He encompassed the ideal American values everyone could be proud of. He was strong. He was traditional. Patriotic. He was everything everyone wanted to be.

However, only a few knew Steve Rogers.

He was born decades before the one he was currently living in. On the outside, he was this… absolute hunk. On the inside, he would always be the skinny, chronically and devastatingly sick kid from Brooklyn. He did his best to show the world what they wanted, but in the quiet moments, his guard went down.

A/N: this was inspired by this post. I listened to This Is: Steve Rogers playlist on spotify by Bella Olivia while I wrote this.

Chapter 1

You were already running late for your shift at the New York Public Library. Cursing to yourself quietly when the subway left without you.  

“How dare you!” You mumbled angrily under your breath. Accepting your fate, you took in a few deep breaths and shot a text message to your boss letting them know. Anxiety threatening to take over, you practiced a few tools you had learned in therapy:

1. Is this in my control? No.

2. Is there anything in my power I can do to change this? Besides texting my boss no, it will be quicker catching the next train than to take a taxi.

3. What are my choices? I can freak out and probably start sobbing in this very public place, or I can accept that what has happened has happened and do my best to let go.

For the remainder of the time you were in the station, you focused on your breathing and scrolled through social media to distract you. Every so often feeling the smooth beads on your bracelet to ground yourself.

Finally, the train arrived and you weren’t as late to work as you thought. Once you put your belongings away and checked your appearance in a mirror you hurried gracefully off to start shelving books before you needed to go read to some kids.

Today was for kids around 10 and you were reading The Little Prince, one of your personal favorites, memorialized forever on your body as a small tattoo on your upper arm.

You began like you always did, giving a quick summary of the book, in a way that would get the kids into it to help quiet the chatter. As you read, they listened quietly, drawn in as the little boy appeared in the middle of a vast desert.

“And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.”

At that moment, you looked up and saw a man standing there listening, intrigued by the words the Little Prince had just spoken. Since you did this multiple times a week you were pretty good at determining if a random man standing there was a) a father, b) a predator or c) and intrigued passerby wanting to remember what it was like to be a child again.

This man was definitely a, C. He looked on with wonder, listening intently, not hushing the child nearest to him or staring creepily at the group of children. So you smiled and continued on, and for some reason, you felt like you were reading to him more than the other kids.

The first chapter ended and you thanked everyone for coming, who then, in unison, thanked you for reading to them (including the tall man in the back). You encouraged everyone to come next week to find out more of the adventures the Little Prince had gone on and who he meets.

Kids went to their parents or chatted with friends they had made there while you stood up, smoothing down the denim skirt you were wearing and going to put the book in its spot for the weekly reading spotlight. You saw the man looking around aimlessly and figured he either didn’t know where to find what he came for or wanted to talk to you. You decided it was the former, easing your anxiety in deciding it was work related.

“Excuse me, can I help you find anything?” you asked him with a polite smile.

“Uh yes, thank you, let me just pull it up” he pulled up what he was looking for on his phone. At that moment you recognized him, but you worked in New York City and were used to helping celebrities or well-known people, so you stayed professional, like you always did. “I am looking for this book,” he says, showing you a title on his phone.

It was A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith and you had just shelved it before the reading, so you knew exactly where it was, “Excellent choice, follow me.”

You took him to the book and handed it to him gently, “Is there anything else you need help finding?” you asked automatically.

“Actually yes… that book you were reading? Unfortunately, I won’t make it next week, but I would love to hear more, even if it’s just a kids book.” he said a little sheepishly.

You looked at him, feigning (but maybe not really) shock.  “Only a kids book? Sir!” you said placing a hand dramatically over your chest, “This book is not just a children’s book! I didn’t read it until after I got through college and it changed my damn life. So you take that back right now!.”  You kept your tone playful, not wanting to offend him.

Luckily it went over well and he laughed, “I am so sorry, I take it back! And maybe you can tell me more about it… over coffee?” he was smiling widely as he asked and all you wanted to do at that moment was throw yourself into those strong arms and tell him  ‘yes, whatever you want,’ but you restrained yourself and smiled, blushing at his request.

Instead of answering, you led him the check out station and began checking his books out. He was looking away, nervous and probably slightly embarrassed that you hadn’t answered him, so he didn’t notice you scribble something on the receipt, then stick in just inside The Little Prince.

You spent the rest of your shift very, very distracted at the thought of going out for coffee with Steve Rogers.

When Steve got home later that evening, he was still thinking about you. How cute you looked in your striped button up that he could have sworn had little cat heads all over it and your denim skirt. How into reading the book you were, only broken when you spotted him, even still you quickly got back into it and he may be crazy, but it felt as if you were just reading to him. Remembering the books he had stowed in his bag, he pulled them out setting A Tree Grows in Brooklyn down on the counter and picking up The Little Prince. He opened it up to see your messy cursive on the receipt.

Call me when you finish :)

He wouldn’t admit it for a long time, but Steve Rogers did a happy dance, right then and there. After which he immediately dove into the book, reading until early morning when he reluctantly put it down to get at least a few hours of sleep, where he dreamt of a boy and his rose, a pilot and a fox.

When he woke to the sound of a very unwelcome alarm, he shut it off and slowly sat up, looking out the large windows of his apartment, which was provided by Tony, so of course it was much grander than he would have picked, but he was growing to love being able to look out over the city. He got dressed and left for his daily run, making it back in record time just so he could read the rest of the book.

You were shocked when you got a phone call later that day, the voice saying they finished the book and was wondering when you would be free to meet up for coffee.

“Well, I mean, I am not doing anything now? Would that work?”

The voice answered much too quickly for someone playing it cool, “Yes! Do you have a favorite spot to get coffee?” “Believe it or not, it’s right by the library. Meet me there in an hour and a half?” “Can’t wait, doll.”

And the call was over. You automatically looked down at your outfit of choice on this lazy day off. Sweatpants and a shirt with actual, non-ironic holes throughout. You booked it to your closet and allowed yourself 10 minutes to stress out about what the hell you were going to wear to your date with Steve freaking Rogers, finally settling on a comfortable, but still flirty red shirt dress and a pair of sandals. You added a pair of stud earrings and put your hair into a low bun, that way if he was dressed up, you wouldn’t be too casual, and vice versa.

You had time to spare, but figured it wouldn’t hurt to be early. You popped your earbuds in and started listening to your Beatles playlist, making your way to the Subway Station. The ride went smoothly and no one tried to bother you, thank heavens. Once you got there you sat on the steps by one of the lion statues and basked in the early fall sunshine, only closing your eyes for a second, soaking it all in when you felt a tap on your shoulder. Readying yourself to politely tell some rando to leave you alone, you were surprised to see Steve, 10 minutes early. “Hi!” you yelled, cringing when you realized your volume. You quickly turned off your music and stuffed your phone and headphones into your bag.

“You know, you are gonna lose your hearing if you listen to music that loud. By the way, Ob-la-di is a good choice.” he smiled, and you thought that that is something you could easily get used to. Then his face changed to an annoyed look and you thought you were doomed until you looked over your shoulder where he was looking to see a group of people who looked familiar. “Sorry, when I told my friends I was going on a date they didn’t believe me, saying they’d need to see it for themselves. They’re… relatively harmless though, and they promised once they saw you they would leave us alone.”

“That’s okay,” you shrugged, “shall we head to ingest liquid, golden, sustenance?”

He nodded and held his arm out for you, which you took without hesitation. You guided him to the spot, literally across and down the street from the library. When you entered you were welcomed by the chime of a bell, music playing softly (right now it was Two Ghosts by Harry Styles), the smell of coffee, and your favorite barista/southern belle behind the counter. “June!!! I thought you had the day off?” she asked before noticing the tall, handsome man you were currently still attached to. “Oh, definitely a day off, I see. What can I get started for Y'all?”

You requested your regular, and Steve ordered an Americano.

You found some seats in a more secluded area (not that that was difficult. Most people ordering coffee at 5pm were heading to work and not staying, or planning a late study session). Once settled, Steve pulled out the copy of The Little Prince he had borrowed from the library, as well as a notebook filled with notes. You smiled and pulled out your well worn, well loved, very marked personal copy. Someone brought your coffees over and you smiled and thanked them before looking back at Steve.

“So, I just realized you never gave me your name.” You said, knowing full well you both knew his name. “I was just thinking about how I didn’t know your name was June. It’s Steve by the way.” He held out his large hand and you shook it firmly (at least you attempted a firm handshake. It is kind of difficult when his hand practically swallowed yours). “Good to meet you Steve, and its actually Juniper, but I generally go with June.”

“Juniper… that’s really cool. Would you mind if that is what I call you?” he asked, eyebrows raised in questioning. You smiled. Most people thought your name was weird or too hippie-ish. “Yeah, I would love that actually.”

Steve took a sip of his drink, giving you a chance to look him over. He was wearing a light blue denim button up, sleeves rolled up to his elbows that not only hugged his biceps nicely but made his eyes look darker than they were the other day, and dark fitted jeans with converse.

After taking a drink yourself you both got into the book, pointing out favorite parts, what was personally identified with, as well as some questions Steve had had. One of your favorite parts was hearing about his relationships. “So the fox… honestly, it sounds very much like my friend Bucky. We used to be really close, but then we separated and... well he was extremely different. He had gone through some really terrible things that are difficult to imagine, but when we were reunited, he was very reluctant to, for lack of another phrase, be tamed. It took a while, but now we are even stronger than we were before. It’s like we are tamed to each other, haha.” Steve realized he was getting more personal than he had anticipated and felt a little awkward, but he was happy he felt like he could be honest around you, even though you had just me.

His favorite part was just watching your eyes light up anytime one of the things he brought up was something you loved about the book as well. You were so passionate about this one children’s book and it was like it opened up a whole new place in his heart.

Hours later, your coffees were cold and barely touched, but there you sat, his hand gently resting on yours from across the table. Talking about the book had led to other favorite books, which you both had quite the list to look into, then other things that made you happy.

You adored the days it rained. You felt like it was washing the city, and yourself clean. Steve couldn’t get enough of watching the sunrise over the city, everything still quiet. You love look on peoples faces when they were learning new, exciting things. He loved how his dog greeted him every day.

It was nice to talk about things that made you happy, rather than hobbies. You always felt stuck with that question. Reading was an obvious one… but other than that? Naps, food, coffee… those aren’t really hobbies as much as they are necessities to survive.

Steve wasn’t really sure either what he would say if you had asked about his hobbies. He ran every morning, but that was to get out of his head. Saving the world? Surely she knew who he was, but he wasn’t ready to dive into that yet. It felt nice to just be Steve, rather than Steve Rogers, Captain America. That is why he focused on what made them happy, he was more interested in what made you happy, anyways.

Eventually, Mary came up to let you know they were closing. You blushed slightly and apologized to your friend, who hushed your fears.

“Well, I guess we should get going…” you trailed off and bit your lip, not positive what to do next. “Do you own any of the books on your list? I would be honored to be able to read your personal copy of even just one, get a look inside your head a little more.”

You smiled widely, “In fact, I own all of the books on my list. I live in Brooklyn though, so if it is out of the way I can always bring a few next time I see you?”

There were two things about your statement that excited Steve beyond belief. 1. You lived in Brooklyn. 2. You wanted to see him again.

“I happen to love Brooklyn, it’s no problem at all unless you would be more comfortable oth-” You cut him off. “Honestly, I would love for you to come over and be impressed at my massive book collection.”

It was settled and Steve held out his arm for you again as you both chatted aimlessly as you walked to the subway station. It was late on a Saturday, so the train was noisy with talking from people going to or from parties and clubs. You pulled out your earbuds and handed him one as you plugged them into your phone, putting the other in your own ear. You clicked on another one of your favorite playlists, hitting shuffle. 

Wild Hearts by the Bleachers came on, and you blushed slightly, hoping he wouldn’t notice, but he did. As the 45-minute train ride continued, you could feel your hand take a life of its own as it inched closer to Steve’s, which rested on the seat next to yours. The anticipation of holding his hand was practically killing you, so when Steve closed the distance you felt relief, as well as a pleasant tingle, wash over you. Once you worked up the confidence, you rested your head on his shoulder… more like arm with his height compared to yours, but it was nice all the same, and Steve melted towards you.

Once your stop came you stood up and pulled Steve along until you were walking side by side. The The music was stopped and put away and you both walked in a comfortable silence to your apartment building.

You watched as Steve looked around with an almost sadness as you walked the streets of Brooklyn. Of course, you knew of his history, everyone did, but you would wait until he was ready to bring it up. Just because you knew what books told you about what happened didn’t mean it was the whole story, or that you had a right to know.

Suddenly Steve stopped in front of a run-down building that was crumbling to the ground.

Steve couldn’t believe it was still here. The last time he had the opportunity to be in Brooklyn inconspicuously he hadn’t been able to find it. Yet, on his way to the apartment of one of the most beautiful, witty, honest and intelligent women he’d met since Peggy, was his childhood home. Where he spent his entire life sick, trying to stand up for himself but always being saved by Bucky. And suddenly, he was that tiny person again and felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude as well as the feeling of being undeserving to have you holding his hand. A tear slipped through and he prayed you wouldn’t notice. Instead, he felt your kindness through a simple hand squeeze. He took a few deep breaths and decided it was time to keep moving.

You continued leading him to your apartment and unlocked it, before you opened the door you smiled at him mischievously.

“Now, I have spent a long time working on my book collection. If for some reason it isn’t impressive, you have to pretend it is otherwise whatever this,” you motioned between the two you, “could have been, isn’t happening.” Steve nodded in agreement, “You got it doll.”

You blushed slightly, biting your lip as you turned around and opened the door, letting him in.

What Steve then saw was incredible. You had hundreds of what seemed to be carefully selected books, shelved neatly throughout your entire, albeit small, apartment.

You watched as Steve walked around, mouth hanging wide open, staring at the shelves on shelves and shelves of books. He then turned to you, mouth still open, and held out his arms motioning to it all with wide eyes.

“Okay, okay, you didn’t have try so hard to make me feel like you were impressed, it’s okay. Appreciated though.” You smiled genuinely, even though you were trying to tease.

“Oh, well okay then.” Steve playfully rolled his eyes before grinning at you.

You both stood there looking at each other for what felt like a few beats too long, so you blurted out the first thing that came to mind. “I like ice cream. Do you want some?” Before waiting for him to respond you walked over to the freezer to pull out the tubs of ice cream you had and two spoons. “Uh yeah, I could go for some ice cream.” Steve walked over, noticing there weren’t any bowls.

Seeing his confusion, you explained, “It is more fun to eat it out of the container unless you’re afraid of germs or whatever.” you shrugged, hoping he didn’t think it was weird.

“Sounds good to me.” He replied, grabbing a spoon and the pint of mint chocolate chip. You grabbed the other, moose tracks. and headed for the couch.

“Okay, so earlier you said you have never seen Doctor Who.” You opened up the moose tracks and took a big bite before continuing,  “would you maybe want to watch an episode?”

“Yeah! It sounds really cool!” he answered, taking a bite of the mint chocolate chip.

As you both watched, you placed the tubs on the coffee table and scooted closer to each other, every once in a while getting a few bites of either kind.

Suddenly, looking at you as you watched the TV, Steve felt the need to be closer to you, to kiss you. He scooched even closer than before and put an arm around you, to which you responded by leaning on his chest, fidgeting slightly with your spoon. You could feel him control his breathing as you did the same, both heartbeats going like crazy as the next move was anticipated.  Being suddenly overwhelmed by him and his smell with the hint of mint ice cream and coffee, you looked up at him. You knew, oh boy did you know you wanted to kiss him, but what sealed the deal was the tender look on his face. He had already been looking at you, so when your eyes locked with his, his breath hitched and he carefully leaned over.

“Juniper, may I kiss you?” he whispered as he tenderly stroked your cheek.

“Yes.” you sat up and met his lips halfway.

He was gentle and giving and never had you ever felt someone kiss you this way. Not when you were in a 3-year long relationship with someone who you had thought was the love of your life. Not ever. You could kiss Steve like this and never have it go anywhere else forever and be insanely happy and content.

You felt Steve’s lips leave yours, and move to your cheek and your neck. You sighed as his lips made contact, propelling yourself even closer to Steve.

Soon, the kisses were hurried and hungry, yet somehow, he was still gentle and attentive.

Suddenly though, you pulled away, biting your lip nervously. “Is everything okay?” he asked, his face now covered in worry lines, “did I do something to make you uncomfortable?”

“No! Oh no, you are wonderful.” you practically sighed at the thought of your bodies together. “I just… I wanted to let you know now that I don’t want to have sex with you yet… not that I don’t want to have sex with you because wow I really do, I just feel like it’s too early even though I feel so comfortable around you its… inhuman. BUt I wanted to let you know before we got to that point and before I lost my resolve to tell you.” You held your breath as you waited for his reply.

He thought for a moment before responding, “I agree. Thank you for letting me know,” he leaned in and placed a kiss on your cheek. “I don’t have sex this soon as well, but if it is okay, I would love to continue kissing you, if you would like to still do that.”

You were amazed at his response. The last date you had told that to called you a tease and sat there silently until you got out of his car.

“That sounds wonderful, I would like to keep kissing you… Thank you, by the way, in my experience most guys respond terribly…”

Steve leaned in and gently took your face in his hands. “Those sound like some pretty awful guys.” You smiled and shifted to kiss the palm of each of his hands before wrapping your arms around his neck and getting lost in his kisses.

[levi-inthesun]

Hey cutie. I was looking for some prompts and saw “Emotions are a luxury I just don’t have time for,” and I immediately thought of Joyce x Hopper.

Monday, again.

He grunted and willed himself out of bed. Cigarette? Check. Coffee? Check. Uniform? Check. Jane up and ready for school? Check. She made eggos, again. He loved it secretly and showed it by giving her a quick smile.

Jane practically floated (or maybe actually floated?) to the car and was beaming the whole way to school. He would have asked, really, but he just couldn’t get himself to.

She hugged him and bounced off to meet her friends in front of the school, and he pulled away from the curb and headed to the Hawkins Police Station.

Work was, well, boring. The gate to the Upside Down was closed now, but he still secretly blamed things that happened on the paranormal, silently wishing that something, anything would happen in the small town again.But no, he was back to petty neighbor complaints and parking violations instead of monsters and decay inducing parallel universes.

He should be thankful, right? They weren’t in danger any longer. The lab was shut down and Jane was officially a Hopper. He had a family again and they were safe.

On the other hand, Joyce was no longer a daily part of his life. She went back to taking care of Will and Jonathan and her job at the store and getting over the death of Bob Newby. He was solving petty crimes and taking care of Jane and getting over the death of Bob Newby… He didn’t know him that well, but the images of his death replayed in his mind practically every day. He could only imagine what it was like for Joyce…

Joyce…

She got up early just like every other day to make breakfast for her growing boys, happy that once the darkness of the mind flayer was out of her boy, he was finally eating again, and well. After making breakfast she would watch as Jonathan and Will made their way out to go to school. Nancy would pick up Jonathan, and Will would ride with his friends.

Then to the store where she helped check customers out, and wish them a good day, and ask if they needed anything. And then she would remember the times Bob would come in to see her if a customer picked up something he used as an excuse, and she would smile. Every once in a while she would excuse herself to the back if the memory of his brutal death surfaced, and she would ride through it, just as her therapist told her to.

Then she would think of Hopper and how he had been there for her. How he smiled at her at the Snow Ball while their kids were dancing their little hearts away. Then she would go out and take a smoke break and smile again as she remembered how his fingers danced against hers when he passed her a cigarette.

And then she would miss him. And missing him would turn to anger. And the anger made her cry.

She knew she was being stubborn, she was always stubborn, but so was he.

The more he thought about Joyce, the more he would almost drop everything and just go to her. He didn’t consider himself a romantic, but when he thought about running to her, everything felt right. He even stayed up late sometimes and imagined what he would say, how he would kiss her if he got the chance, but that is where it ended.

“Hopper, the phone is for you.” Lucy, his receptionist told him.

“This is Hopper,” he said gruffly.“Hi Hop, sorry to bother you at work, but uh… never mind. I’m sorry.”“Joyce? Is that you?” he said much too quickly for his liking.

“Yeah, yeah it’s me.”“Can I help you with anything?”“No, no, I thought someone had maybe stolen something but I just found it. One of the kids must have used it.”

“Well, okay, if you say so.”“Goodbye Hop.”“Bye.”

She hung the phone back up on the wall and stared at the new blue one for a moment when suddenly, something sparked inside of her and she was fuming. She grabbed her keys and sped down to the station.

“HOPPER!” she yelled as she threw open the door, officers and the receptionist looking stunned as she marched back to the Chief’s office.

He had obviously heard her startling entrance and sprang from his chair, but his feet were glued to the ground.

She walked into his office without knocking. “What the hell is wrong with you Jim?!”

He stood there, wide-eyed. She only used his first name on rare occasions, and he generally tried not to relive those terrifying moments.

“Nothing? Huh? Well fine.” Before continuing, she took in the sight of him and felt that familiar pang in her heart. “Why did you stop coming around?”

“What? I… well… you didn’t need me anymore. Your kids are safe.” He said, still stunned.

“I… I didn’t need you anymore?” Her voice rose as she continued to talk, “Why would you think I didn’t need you anymore? Who gave you that right to decide? Huh?”That is when her face fell. She took a deep breath, turned around and started pacing slightly, trying to relieve the tension she felt all coiled up inside her.

He sat down in his chair and placed his head in his hands roughly. “No… no… that’s not it, I-” he looked back up to the pacing woman in front of him, sighing. “I can’t do this Joyce. I wish I could but I just can’t. I hope you can understand.”

“You can’t do this?! YOU CAN’T DO THIS?!” she surprised herself with the sheer volume of her voice and quickly brought it back down. “No. I don’t understand. I don’t understand because of… of… well… I… We… I thought we had something. I… I cannot be wrong about this. I was there! I felt it and I am sure you felt it too!”

He couldn’t bring himself to look at her. Not now, not when she’s said that. Unfortunately, he had to. “Joyce, listen, please. Emotions… emotions are a luxury I just don’t have time for. Please, it’s nothing personal I just… I can’t.”

She would have walked out right then and there, but suddenly there was another girl on her mind.“Emotions… are a luxury? What about your daughter? Your Sarah and now Jane? You have to be there for her, you have to allow yourself to feel things or you could lose her.”He opened his mouth to speak but shut it again quickly.“I know losing Sarah was hard, and then you lost your wife and it seems so much easier to just detach and not let it get personal, but it is so, so much harder that way.” She had quickly changed moods and was trying to ignore the anger she was feeling. She loved Jane just as much as she loved her own children.He saw the switch flip and were he capable of literally melting he probably would have. How could he keep pushing her away when she so selflessly thought of Jane?“I… just… I…” No matter how hard he tried he could not get the words out, so instead, he let out a frustrated sigh that was more like a quite yell for help.

“I’m just… I am going to give you some time. Let me know when you’ve figured something out. Not even for me, but for Jane.”

Then she was gone.

[levi-inthesun]

“If you got your nose out of those stupid books and your head out of the clouds maybe you would actually have some friends!” said by Drax the Destroyer

Done and Done.

You were sitting in the most comfortable chair in Peter Quil’s ship, The Milano, reading like normal. This time it was a random book you found on the ship that was surely left by accident. Your attention shifted from the words on the page when you heard loud footsteps that could only belong to the one and only Drax the Destroyer.

“Hiya Drax, what’s going on?”“Um, nothing is ‘going on’.” He eyed you weirdly.“What I mean is, what have you been doing today?” “Well, I awoke at exactly 5:40am, stretched a little bit before sitting up in my bed. I then stood up and walked the 5 steps to the bathroom where I…”“Drax! I do not need your step by step explanation of everything that has happened to you today! Just… anything interesting?”Drax thought for a moment before responding, “No. If you do not wish to know my daily doings, then you should not ask.” He said in what you assumed was the sassiest tone he could muster, which was exactly like his tone for everything else. You rolled your eyes slightly before returning to your book.“You know, if you got your nose out of those stupid books and your head ‘out of the clouds’ as I have heard Peter say it, maybe you would actually have some ‘friends’.” 

You looked up at the massive man in shock. You knew that Drax was not as versed in interacting with people, but the nerve he had just shown! You were starting to get pissed when you realized there was a form hanging around the doorway.“You look mad,” Peter observed.“Yup.” You said popping the p, trying to focus back on your book and not make a big deal out of what Drax had just said to you.“I uh, I heard what Drax said, that was quite the douche-y move he made there.” “What!? You heard?! Why didn’t you stop him?!” Your volume started to rise slightly as you spoke.“Well if you can imagine,” Peter said calmly, “I was very surprised. But, worry not, I’ll talk to him.” He said as he walked over to you and planted a kiss on your mouth. “DRAX!” he yelled down the hallway.Not too long after you heard the same heavy footsteps from just moments before.“Oh yes, hello Peter.” Drax said before turning to you, to see you had been looking up at Peter, “Ah, I see you took my advice, now you have a friend!” Drax said ‘happily’.“Drax,” Peter said in his most commanding voice, “What you said to y/n was not okay, you can’t just go around saying stuff like that to people, okay?”“But it worked!” Drax said simply.“No Drax, Y/n is my girlfriend, we are romantically involved and were already friends!” Peter said, obviously annoyed.“Oh! You two are involved romantically? Does she like music and like to dance too?” He asked.“Yeah, why-”“Well, looks like you found someone equally as pathetic as you, I congratulate you both.”

Drax walked off leaving you and Peter to stand there, mouths gaping open.

[levi-inthesun]

Main Masterlist

Requests/Asks are always open!!!

(gifs are NOT mine)

Fanfiction

One-Shots Two-Shots & Multi-Chapter Compilation

Non- Fanfiction

Poetry

[levi-inthesun]

I was in such a good writing groove

and now it’s gone.

but I FINALLY have an update for Highway to Hell! I posted two updates to my new two WIPS so i will post the update for highway tomorrow :)

[levi-inthesun]

Summer at Camp Duff

Chapter 7

Where Steve Sneaks in and Surprises Stella

That weekend had been hell. The family reunion was awful, your parents had been awful and all you wanted was Steve. However, by the end of the reunion, you were just wanting to get back to the campground.

Finally, Monday came around and you breathed a sigh of relief. No more family. Just you, the woods, your coworkers and more letters from Steve. You were so grateful Steve had been so understanding, plus, it was an excuse to call him on the phone and hearing his voice got you through the weekend. He told you he would be pretty busy the next few weeks and anticipated fewer letters, but every day, you got another letter from Steve. These were a little shorter, but the fact that he was making time during training made your heart melt just a little more.

Four weeks had gone by and you were nearing the end of the summer. Just four more and you would be done. But four more also meant leaving for college, and you haven't spent enough time with Steve. In fact, the last time you saw him was as he drove away leaving you in the parking lot of Camp Duff.

You had time to yourself for the first time in too long and were taking advantage of it. You packed a backpack with food, your hammock and anything else you might need and let your supervisor know where you were heading off to.

The hike wasn’t too long, but it was far enough away that you knew no one would bother you. You set up your hammock and lounged in it, taking a short nap.

You had been out for only a few minutes when you heard a *snap!* and “Oh, Shit!”, then someone tumbling to the ground. You quickly rubbed your eyes and looked out, only to think you were going crazy. Sitting up quickly, you looked at the person in front of you. “Uh, are you going to say anything or just stare at me? I am generally okay with either, but you do know a photograph would last longer.”

“STEVE!” You jumped out of the hammock as gracefully as you could and barreled straight into him. “Hey, Stell. I miss you too,” he said while holding you as tightly as he could.

You both stayed like that for a few minutes before you both got in your hammock. You were so glad it was huge and could fit both of you. You rested your head on Steve’s chest as he filled you in about everything going on, the kids, training with Hopper, his parents. Steve started playing with your hair as you told him stories of camp and how you were nervous for it to end because you still weren’t sure what you were going to do.

“So, I was thinking,” Steve shifted slightly, getting a better view of you. “Uh, what if, you know, we… well… traveled? Or moved away? Or… anything honestly…” he trailed off and you stared at his stupidly beautiful face. “I don’t want to talk you out of going to college, I know that that is important to you and I will not be the one to take that away. But since neither of us really know what we want…”

“Steve, that sounds amazing. I would love to honestly do anything or go anywhere with you.” You looked up into those warm brown eyes of his and the desire to kiss him became overwhelming. Luckily, Steve felt it too and closed the gap, resting a hand on your cheek as your lips moved with his.

Once you both felt more satisfied than you had been since Steve left, Steve got out of the hammock and began setting up a tent.

“Steve, what is that for?” 

“Well, I didn’t make this drive up here to simply say hi and kiss you once, even if it was amazing.” He diverted his attention back to you from the tent he was setting up to give you a goofy smile. “I am going to camp up here. Now, I know you won't have much time to spend with me while you are doing your job, but that is why I brought these,” He fished through his backpack and pulled out two walkie-talkies. “Anytime you are free, just call me and I will meet you anywhere.”

You took the device he was holding out to you and quickly set it in your own bag. Steve was kneeling on the ground, still struggling with the tent. You watched him for a second longer before joining him and helping set it up. You were showing him where the poles went when he wrapped his arms around your waist and started peppering little kisses on your neck and shoulders. “Steve,” you giggled, “This tent will not ever get set up if you don’t stop distracting me!” “Oh, so… you want me to stop? Because I will… I mean even though I’ve been thinking about holding you, and kissing you for an entire month…” he shrugged and let go. You instantly missed his touch and glared at him playfully. “I am taking that as a no,” he smirked. He was about to pull you towards him when you interrupted him. “Let me please finish setting this up so that I know you’ll actually have some shelter to sleep in.” Steve gave you puppy dog eyes in response. “Please, Steve? Trust me, this is not what I want to be doing right now, but you need to know how to set this up.” He conceded and you showed him how to set his tent up. As soon as the last pole was in place Steve had practically tackled you and had pinned you to the ground kissing you deeply.

That week was better than the whole last month combined. Even if things were going wrong, you knew Steve was in a little tent not too far away. You found yourself sneaking off to see him, or meet him during the day or night any time you had the chance, while still making sure you were doing your job.

Friday rolled around and once all your kids had been picked up by their parents you were booking it up to where Steve was.

Except he wasn’t there.

He wasn’t in any of the other spots you two had met up at.

Or in the field, you guys had gone stargazing so long ago.

You were starting to get worked up and panicked when you couldn't find him.

You were about to give up when you saw a form with fluffy hair sitting at the edge of the dock, swinging his legs in the water, the walkie-talkie by his side.

You quickly made your way down the dock and sat down next to Steve. You felt silly for getting so worried and tried to hide it, but he knew. Somehow, even over letters, Steve always knew.

“Hey, what’s wrong?” the concern only growing on his face as you turned to him and sniffed a little. “It’s okay, whatever it is, it’s going to be okay, okay?”

Steve scooted away from the edge and wrapped his arms around you, pulling you closer.

“It is so stupid.” you finally managed to get out.

“I am sure it isn’t. Please tell me?” he asked gently.

“I… I couldn’t find you, and I forgot about the walkie-talkies… when you weren’t at your little camp spot or any of our other meeting places I… my mind went to the worst-case scenario…. Uh, you know… Demogorgon or some upside-down shit… it sounds so stupid now but it just felt so real…”

Steve placed a soft kiss on your hair and held you tight. “It isn’t stupid, I promise it isn’t stupid.” his voice came out barely above a whisper.

You both sat like that until you felt more grounded, then you both picked up your stuff and were making your way to your cars.

“Uh, Stella?” you heard John’s voice behind you two, “Oh, hi Steve.”

“Hey John, is there anything you need before I leave on my weekend?” you set your stuff on the ground and Steve began loading things in the trunk.

“Well, can talk for a moment?” he asked awkwardly.

Panic started to rise in you and you followed you to a nearby bench. John was always so chatty and never seemed to have issues talking to people unless something bad had happened.

“Look, we just got a call from the Hawkins Hospital… something has happened to your parents. They couldn’t tell us, but you might want to go straight there. And, if you need to take time off, just give me a ring and it won't be an issue.”

You sat there in a daze for a moment, letting the words sink in. Steve had been close enough to hear what was happening and was by your side in a second. “Thank you, John,” Steve said as he led you to his car. He quickly unloaded your things from your car and threw them in his, before driving to the hospital.

[levi-inthesun]

Prompt List

Send me a prompt and person(s)! I write Marvel, Stranger Things, the Southside of Riverdale and Harry Potter. I do not write NSFW/smut.  :)

1. “Will you just stop for five minutes so I can explain?!” 2. They are like the sun 3. Truth or Dare 4. “I would really like to kiss you… if that’s okay…” 5. “If you got your nose out of those stupid books and your head out of the clouds maybe you would actually have some friends!” 6. “How the hell did we end up here?” “I have no idea, remember when we used to be happy?” 7. “Wow I cannot believe I am telling you this, but I have had the biggest crush on you since… well forever.” 8. “I DON’T HATE YOU… ok? I… I wish I hated you.”

Songs

9. Dance, Dance by Fallout Boy 10. Skinny Love by Bon Iver 11. Still Into You by Paramore 12. Leave a Trace by CHVRCHES 13. Fake Happy by Paramore 14. Rewrite the Stars from The Greatest Showman 15. You Always Make Me Smile by Kyle Andrews 16. Little Things by One Direction 17. You Really Got a Hold on Me by The Miracles 18. Over You by Ingrid Michealson & A Great Big Word 19. Tee Shirt by Birdie 20. Here Comes Your Man by Meaghan Smith 21. Unsteady by X Ambassadors  22. Delicate by Taylor Swift 23. Mother & Father by Broods

@dungeons-and-awkwarddragons @bigexplodingstar @missykrissy91

[levi-inthesun]

Summer at Camp Duff

Part 6

Where Steve Says Goodbye and Stella Stays Behind

Part 5

A/N: This one is pretty short. Not sure if I’ll have one, or two more chapters, we shall see!

The last day arrived and everyone was practically buzzing with excitement. Your group was practically jumping up and down as they awaited their turn to present their skit, and soon they were on stage. They were funny, warm, and just a little inappropriate, but you expected nothing less.

Before you knew it, parents were pulling up to pick up their kids. All that was left in your group was, well the whole upside-down gang. You were all sitting down on the grass chatting when Dustin suddenly stood up and made you promise you would see them before you left for college.

“Yes, Dusty I pinky swear I will see you guys before I leave,” you held out your pinky to him and he happily took it. 

Suddenly a loud honking was coming from the pickup spot and you could see Hopper and Joyce standing outside the car, Hopper’s hand pushing into the horn. Everyone gathered their things and ran over to them, all talking at once about everything. It wasn’t until you heard a gentle voice calling your name that you walked over.

“Stella, thank you for taking care of everyone. If I had known you were the one with them, I wouldn’t have worried so much.” She said smiling warmly and embraced you in a big hug.

“Oh, Mrs. Byers, I was here though, you didn’t have to worry,” Steve said sassily to his pseudo-mom. “Oh no, I always have to worry when you’re around,” she said, letting go of you and embracing Steve.

“Whatever,” he mumbled into her shoulder.

All too soon, everyone had given you hugs and everything was piled into the Hopper-Byer’s car and they were driving off, leaving you and Steve walking to his car as slowly as you both could manage.

“So uh, this is it huh?” Steve said sadly. “Oh, I mean as in, I won't see you for a while, because you,” he said dropping his things and pulling you closer to him, “are mine.”

Steve watched as a huge grin erupted from your sad face, “That’s right Steve Harrington,” you said biting your lip slightly, “I. Am. Yours.” you said booping his nose between words.  Steve smiled at the silly act and smiled still as he kissed you senseless, pushing you up against his car.

“I could stay like this forever,” Steve whispered into your neck, placing lazy kisses on it.

“Mmmhmmm.” you agreed. You didn’t want this to end. You didn’t want Steve to leave. You didn’t want to be at summer camp all summer long instead of having lazy days in Steve’s bed.  Just the thought of it made your already tender heart break just a little more and a few tears ran down your soft cheeks.

“Hey, hey hey hey, it’s okay,” Steve started, noticing the change in your demeanor. “Listen, what are you doing this weekend? Shouldn’t you have like, two days off? We could go somewhere, just the two of us?”

You shook your head sadly, “No, it’s my weekend to be up here… But, I’ll have next weekend off!” You remembered.

“Perfect! Next weekend I will whisk you away from all of this, okay?” you nodded and Steve wiped some of the stray tears from your face, “in the meantime, I will write you every day, and if you ever have a chance,” he said pressing a piece of paper into your hand, “call me?”

“Okay. Okay, we can do this. I can do this.” you said, more to yourself than to him.

“Yes, we can. I adore you Stella Williams and I am not letting you go.”  All you could do was nod and bury your face in Steve’s chest.

Finally, he loaded up his car, gave you a long kiss to remember him by, and drove away, leaving you there looking like a sad puppy.

That weekend, all you had to do was make sure no one messed with the campground... There were a few other counselors there, but you did your best to avoid them, wanting some time to yourself.

Even though it was only two days, you went on little hikes and went swimming, all the while, Steve was on your mind. Monday rolled around and you were getting some things ready for the new wave of kids when John came around with the mail. “Hey, Stella looks like you got a letter.” He said, smiling. You took the letter from him and ran off to find a quiet spot to read it. My Darling Stella,

It has only been like, a day since I saw you last and boy do I miss you. Even the shitheads won't stop talking about you whenever I’m around, so you are literally always on my mind. My parents were here today, and have given me a lot of shit about… well, life. It sucks. They keep badgering me about going to college, but I just don’t feel like that’s for me, you know? I think I might actually do a little internship or whatever with Hawkins Police. I’ll basically be following around Hopper all day every day. He’s pretty cool so it wouldn’t be that bad, plus I think I could be a really good cop. Who knows.

Sorry I have to keep this one short, especially since it’s the first letter I am sending you. I have to go babysit.

Yours, Steve Harrington

You read and re-read the words in his messy handwriting over and over. Damn his parents for not listening to him! He would make an amazing police officer if he wanted to be. Unfortunately, you heard horns honking as the parent’s dropped their kids off. You folded up the letter neatly and put it back in its envelope before putting it in your back pocket.

That week had been a doozy. Some of the kids in your group weren’t getting along, and then Suzanne broke her arm the third day and you rode with her to the hospital. You kept getting your hopes up though. Anytime you saw someone whos hair even slightly resemble Steve’s you would get butterflies. Then they’d turn around and it wasn’t him.

You finally found a moment to yourself and wrote back to Steve.

My Steve,

This week has been insane. I took a girl to the hospital since she broke her arm. I had told her not to go off of that one rope swing since the water wasn’t high enough, but she didn’t listen. Obviously, since she broke her arm. I think you would make an amazing cop. I was just talking to some Paramedics, and they sound like they have a pretty cool job, too, just in case you want to keep your options open. I am sorry your parents aren’t listening to you. That’s really shitty. If I were there we could run away and never have to deal with our shitty parents ever again. Boy, do I miss you. Not even just because of all this, but my co-counselor this week has been awful. He talks shit about some of our kids, and some of the other counselors. No doubt he’ll be talking about me after this week. Ugh, he’s looking for me.

I AM VERY EXCITED TO SEE YOU THIS WEEKEND!

All my heart, Stella Williams

Steve was true to his word. He would send you letters every day, even if you could only respond to every couple of letters.

Finally, the weekend was almost there. Just two days until you’d see Steve when you got another letter. This one was from your parents.

Stella,

We hope camp is going well. We know you have this weekend off and we have a family thing that you are required to go to, no exceptions.

We expect to see you at the house as soon as possible on Saturday

Mom and Dad.

[levi-inthesun]

Do you trust me?

Peter Parker x OC (chronically ill, mobility aid user) Colette “Coco” Barton

Once your mom and dad split, you both moved in with your Uncle Clint, your mom’s brother. Having access to the medical team at the avengers compound ended up changing your life, in more ways than one.

A/N: OKAY I AM POSTING THIS NOW. Multi-chapter fic. PLEASE give me constructive criticism. I want to grow as a writer.

Tags (I figured you might want to be tagged?): @bigexplodingstar  @dungeons-and-awkwarddragons

4000+ words

Chapter One

Just weeks after your 18th birthday, your mom, Norah, finally had enough. Your dad had been getting fed up with you being sick all the time and thought you were faking. He had started treating you badly after you had had a really good day, seemingly out of the blue. He yelled at you saying you were a lying, ungrateful daughter who took advantage of him and your mom. Your mom tried fighting for you, but then your father began fighting your mom. Ending in their divorce when it started escalating. Clint had been as active as he could be in his sister’s life, but with the avengers taking up most of his time when he isn’t at home with his wife and kids, it’s his wife Laura who keeps tabs on you and your mom the most. Once the divorce was final, Clint and Laura insisted on you and Norah moving in with them, at least until they could get everything together. Although if it were up to them, especially Clint, you guys would move in permanently.

“Coco, are you getting up today?” your uncle called down the hallway.

“Yeah Uncle Clint, I think so!” you were getting dressed for the first time in about a week. The stress of the divorce, the move, and your illness had rendered you bedbound.

“Okay, Laura has some breakfast going for you and the kids” he knocks on your door and you let him in “Norah has some job interviews in the city today and left early. She didn’t want to wake you up” he informed you as he pulled you into a gentle hug, kissing your hair.

“You off to work?”

“Yeah, I’ve just got some meetings today though, so I should be back tonight.”

Grabbing your cane to help you down walk down the hallway, you followed Clint as he led you to the kitchen.

“Well good morning sleepyhead!” Laura sang as she saw you, scooping  some eggs and bacon onto your plate. Aunt Laura was maybe the most understanding out of everyone about your illness, besides your mom. She had been there by her side throughout the entire process of you receiving your diagnosis, as well as how much harder your father had made it on the both of you. Uncle Clint and Aunt Laura were some of your biggest supporters and you would always be grateful to them.

What you didn’t know was that Clint Barton didn’t have any avenger related meetings that day. Clint had set some up with Tony, Bruce Banner, Dr. Cho, and the other medical staff. He wanted to see what they knew about your illness, and what they could find out. The Avengers compound had the most advanced medical and research technology. Clint knew that if you were going to have a shot at leading a life with less pain, and maybe more mobility, they were the ones who could help. “Alright you guys, I have Colette’s medical records here. All I am asking is that you look it over, and think about the things we have talked about today. I hate seeing my niece in so much pain and I feel like this is her last shot.” At that Clint excused everyone, thanking them for their time.

A month later

You had taken it easy lately, finally recuperating from all the changes going on. Looking outside your window, the sun was shining as spring was just starting to warm up. You had been feeling fairly good that morning, so you decided you would take a little walk around the Barton farm. Your doctors had told you that you ought to keep moving when you could, not wanting you to become weaker or lose some of the muscle you had built up from physical therapy. After eating breakfast, you pulled on a few extra layers. Even if it wasn’t all that cold to the others, it caused you a lot of pain. You’ve had a degenerative joint disease that got really, really bad in high school. After that you started experiencing widespread, chronic pain in your connective tissue as well as fatigue. It killed any chance you had at furthering your love of running. Once your illness continued to progress, your mom had pulled you out of school and you began taking courses online. The school district, not wanting you to fall behind during flare ups, set it up so that you could do school all year long. Your illnesses limited your abilities drastically, so you put all your effort into your classes, because of this, you ended up graduating early, but just barely.

Plugging headphones into your phone and grabbing your cane, you slowly made your way to the expanse of land your Aunt and Uncle lived on. SHIELD had made sure Clint’s family would be safe, in fact, no one really knew about them besides those closest to the arrow shooting superhero. It was nice, being out here. You could actually hear yourself think. While living in the city was nice, all the traffic and noise had given you a difficult time, especially when your brain became foggy, whether out of the blue or because of the pain.

The brain fog was one of the most frustrating things that happened for you. You were incredibly smart, which is one of the reasons you were able to graduate early. You always caught on to things easily, and as it turned out, you had a knack for science and music. You loved the way science allowed you to solve problems, which let’s be real, you had a lot of problems. Before you had gotten really sick you had hopes of getting further into scientific research, wanting to try to help people like yourself. But that was one of the things your illness took from you. You never felt like you could have any plans for the future; never knowing how many months or years until you were completely bed bound because of pain. That’s where music came in for you. It was a way for you to escape and express yourself.  You could play just about any instrument you picked up. You played less now though, the joints in your fingers had been causing you more pain. In addition to playing, you had playlists made for the different kind of days you were having, mixtapes your parents had made for each other when they were teenagers, your favorite albums on vinyl, and racks on racks of CDs.

When you were at home, you preferred to use  these to listen to music instead of  always plugging into your phone. In fact, you had quite the love hate relationship with your phone. Sometimes it was your lifeline, your access to the outside world, your ability to communicate on extremely bad days. Other days it was a reminder of the life you should have had. You would get texts from old friends at random times about dates they were going on, colleges they were going to, how much they missed the “old” you. Then there was the internet. You would see people succeeding in everything when most days you could barely get up in the morning. Usually it only made you feel sad, but on occasion, you would get angry.

Unexpectedly you felt someone tapping on your shoulder, pulling you out of your thoughts. You took your headphones off and turned around to see your cousin Cooper.

“Hey Coco, there are some people with dad here to see you. Mom asked me to come get you!” his smile was insanely wide. Who would be here for you? The only people Uncle Clint and Aunt Laura ever brought over were the Avengers…. No. no no no no no. You had heard so many stories about the amazing things they’ve done. How they are constantly saving the world. Why would they want to meet you??? You were panicking a little bit as you made your way back to the house with Cooper. You checked your reflection in the window before you entered cursing yourself for not bothering to do much to your appearance today.

“Ah! Here she is! Colette, let me introduce you to my coworkers” Your uncle said as he winked at you. “This here is Tony Stark, Dr. Bruce Banner, Dr. Cho, and  Peter Parker” he pointed out each of them as they all shook your hand. Except for Peter. He just looked up at you with wide eyes and gave you an awkward smile.

“Uh, it’s a pleasure to meet you all” you said politely, still confused.

Until it clicked. Two out of the four had the title of Dr. while you knew Tony Stark was a genius. You knew nothing of Peter, except that he was cute... What in the world was Uncle Clint up to?

“May I ask why you are all here?” you said, turning to your uncle who had the biggest smile you had seen from him in a while. He had been working a lot lately, even though you didn’t see much on the news about the team of heroes.

“I thought you told her already Legolas” Tony looked at him sternly.

“I wanted to surprise you, Colette. I have been talking to them about your condition and we may have found something to help you!” He was beaming as he explained to you what they had been meeting about before you interrupted him.

“Uncle Clint, you know I love you, and I know you mean well. But don’t you think you should have talked to me and my mom before you started this whole thing?” you came off a lot angrier than you meant to but it did the job, stopping him in his tracks. “You disclosed private medical records with people I don’t know. Yeah they may be the best but that isn’t something you can just do! This… this…. I just can’t right now.” Looking your uncle in the eyes again was a mistake. You could see he was hurt, and you know he means well, but this isn’t something you could take lightly. “It was nice to meet you all, but I need to excuse myself.” Picking your cane back up and turning the music back on you walked back out the doors as quickly as possible. After you carefully made your way up the shaky ladder, leading to the little tree house Uncle Clint had made for your cousins, you slammed the door.

“Aaaah!” you scream into your hands, burying your face in your arms as you sit against one of the walls. “I can’t believe this!!! Why didn’t he just ask me!!!!” you continue to yell to yourself.

“Hmm, that went well” Bruce said turning to look at the others.

“Wait wait wait. Clint, you didn’t talk to Coco or Norah about this??” Laura asked her husband incredulously, “you should have known how she would have taken it, and now you are going to have to explain to your sister why you upset Coco so much.”

Clint looked down at his feet awkwardly. The other avengers, hadn’t ever seen Clint like this and began to feel a little out of place, except Tony who was trying with all his might not to snicker too loudly at the sight of Hawkeye looking so defeated at the hands of his own niece.

“I-“

“Hey I’m home! Is Coco up and about today?” Norah Barton walked in, surveyed the group in front of her, noticing your absence. “Clint, what is going on?”

“I need to explain something to you sis… you aren’t going to be too happy with me” he looked at his sister like he was going to be sick.

They went upstairs, and the avengers heard quite a bit of yelling from Norah. She was very protective of you, especially about your health. Near the end of her marriage to your father, he had signed you up for some experiments behind her back. Not wanting you to ever feel like you weren’t the one in control of your health, she chewed your father out. That was the beginning of the end.

While everything was going on, no one noticed Peter slip out.

As you sat in the tree house, the music playing in your ears began to annoy you. Taking off the headphones you opted to instead listen to the quiet whistle of the wind.

-A few more minutes passed when you heard a quite knock on the treehouse door.

“Go away!” you try yelling, but it comes out more exasperated and tired than anything “I really don’t want to talk right now Uncle Clint.”

“Um, yeah, it’s uh, it’s me, Peter. Peter Parker? I saw you come in here and it’s been a little while since you left and just wanted to check on you.”

“Oh, I didn’t hear you come up. How did you get around all the security bells?” You open the door to see the boy, who looked about your age, hanging upside down.

“AHH! WHAT. HOW ARE YOU DOING THAT!” accidentally screaming in his face he turned bright red and fell onto the little porch. “OhmygoshIamsosorry!” You helped him back to his feet and let him in.

“It’s okay! Really! After I was bitten by a spider in highschool I got super powers, allowing me to stick to things, which is how I can hang upside down. I also made these webs to help me swing around…. But I really just wanted to tell you something…. That was really crappy what Hawkeye did. He should have told you he was meeting with us and talking about you… If I or Banner had known, we really wouldn’t have gone along with it until you were on board.” The smaller avenger looked down at his hands as he spoke, nervously playing with them.

“Thank you, Peter. I really appreciate that.” He finally looked up to you and smiled, causing you to blush, suddenly extremely conscious of the other, you took a step back to create a little more space between you and the very cute superhero . You sit back down and pat the floor next to you before continuing. “I really didn’t mean to make a big scene back there. I just… because of my dad I never really got a say about my health. He resented me, and felt like I had been a waste of money…. Anyways, since mom and I left I finally had control and I couldn’t help but feel like my uncle just tried taking that from me, whether he realized it or not.” You bit your lip and looked back up at Peter, who was staring. Now it was his turn to blush as he stared at your lips. You felt a flurry in your stomach and thought you were going to be sick for a moment, before you realized that it was butterflies, not your normal nausea.

“That makes sense.” Peter snapped his head back to face forward “It would suck to have your privacy violated like that. Again, I’m really sorry. I should go back, but I uh, I hope I see you around Colette!” He smiled even bigger than he had earlier and it caused more butterflies to start rioting inside you.

“Yeah, okay, that would be great. I should actually head back in there too. Mind if I walk back with you?

With a quick nod of his head he helped you up. You were about to make the slow climb back down the ladder when all at once, peter was behind you talking.

“Hey, can you just, trust me for a minute?” he said delicately, his mouth right next to your ear.

“What??”

“Do you trust me?”

“UhyeahsurePeterwhatsgoingon”. As soon as the words were out of your mouth, you were yanked up, flying through the air. Peter holding onto you with one arm, the other had a web connected to a nearby tree. You let out a scream, when all at once you were safely on the ground, and a whole lot closer to the house.

Turning around wide eyed you looked back at Peter who was giggling. Like actually giggling. “WHAT. THE. H-“

“COCO ARE YOU OKAY!” your mom burst out of the house.

“Uh yeah I think so?” you looked to her then back to Peter.

“Sorry Ms…. Uh Colette’s mom… that was my fault. I was just showing her my superpower to get her down from the tree house… I am gonna just go…” He quickly retreated back to where the others were waiting for him and gave you a quick wave goodbye.

“Who was that?” your mom came to stand by you as you both watch the lot of them drive away.

“That, mom was FREAKING SPIDERMAN!” you say as you turn to her excitedly.

“Well, freaking spiderman is a very handsome young man” she replied to you with a wink.

Once back inside, you and your mom eat in your room together. You haven’t seen much of each other lately since she got a job in the city, but it was near the Avengers Compound, so her brother has been dropping her off. You told your mom about everything that had happened that afternoon, from the surprise of Uncle Clint sharing your medical history with superhero friends, to the 20 or so minutes you spent with Peter. In turn she tells you a little about work and the chat she had with her brother.

“Now Coco. I know my brother went about this in the worst possible way. But…. I actually think this might be a really good opportunity for you” you gave her an unsatisfied look before she continued. “Listen. These guys are all really smart, and after chewing my brother out for the breach in information I talked to Dr. Cho, Tony and Dr. Banner for a little bit. They have some really good ideas to help you. I will not, however, push you. This is your decision. I know you have recently gotten into a good groove with your health, but you might as well hear them out, you know?”

“Yeah… if I wasn’t as mad, and quite frankly disappointed in the spy of an uncle I have, I think I would be willing to talk to them.” You smiled up at your mother who was sitting across from you. “That doesn’t mean I am not going to give Uncle Clint a hard time about this whenever I can!!”

At that your mom laughed. “Yeah, just give him a little slack. You can be a little much to handle when you want to be.”

Realizing it was getting late, your mom cleaned up your dinners and said goodnight, placing a soft kiss on your forehead. “I love you my little chocolate chip” she said as she ruffled your hair. “Yeah, love you too momma”.

After she left your room to go to sleep you spent most of the night researching your uncle’s coworkers, finally falling asleep with your laptop open on your bed around 3 am.

It had been a few weeks since you had been approached about letting the medical and scientific research team take a look at you. So when you showed up at the Avengers compound you were incredibly nervous. You were going to be staying there for a few weeks for observation and testing to see what they could find out about your illnesses.

Uncle Clint helped you bring your stuff into your new room and helped as you unpacked a bit.

“So Coco, what is up with all the music? You brought an entire music store!!!” he teased. You only rolled your eyes, him knowing full well your need for music.

“Well, I guess I will let you finish up in here. I will be just down the hall. If you need me you can have F.R.I.D.A.Y. get me”.

Jerking your head around to look at him “Who is Friday???”

“Hey F.R.I.D.A.Y. mind introducing yourself?”

“Certainly Hawkeye” a voice coming from nowhere said. “Colette Barton, I am FRIDAY, artificial intelligence and security at the Avengers Compound. If you need anything at all you have to do is ask.”

You looked wide eyed at your uncle as he shrugged and walked out the door.

“I think I am gonna like this place” you said to yourself once he had shut the door behind him.

You wouldn’t meet with the team put together until the next day so you had some time to explore a little bit. Feeling tired from unpacking, you got in your wheelchair and rolled yourself around the compound. That’s when you found yourself in a kitchen/living area somewhere on the same floor as your room . No one was there, so you decided to poke around, looking for some food. As you started to stand up to reach some cookies on the top shelf you saw a  web shoot thru the air connecting to the cookies you had wanted. Turning yourself around you saw the face who would not leave your mind since you met him.

“I was wondering if you were ever gonna show up!” He walked over to you, handing you the cookies. “I thought you would be in the lab with everyone else. How late are you here today?” He asked.

“Oh, actually everything is starting tomorrow. I’m gonna be here for a few weeks, at least” you said with a sly smile as recognition passed the boys handsome features.

“YOU MOVED IN?! THIS IS BETTER THAN I THOUGHT!” realizing he was yelling, his face flushed red again. “I uh, I’m glad I will get to see you more Colle-“ suddenly an alarm started going off. FRIDAYs voice came over the pa system telling the avengers there was a nearby threat. Suddenly you saw the whole Avenger team, Thor, the god of thunder included, running about to secure the building, not noticing you.

Within minutes everyone had gathered back. Turns out there was an animal roaming around that FRIDAY mistook as an intruder.

“Well, at least FRIDAY noticed, right?” you heard voices from down the hall. Once the alarm went off, you figured it would be best for you to get out of the way, you retreated back to your room.

Once the alarms had turned off, you put your favorite Beatles album on your record player. As sounds of Paul McCartney’s voice filled your room with the words to ‘Love me do’ you heard a small knock on your door. Instead of getting up, you decided to just ask FRIDAY who it was. Once confirming it was your uncle, Tony Stark and Dr. Banner, you had the AI let them in.

“Well, looks like someone’s got good taste in music!” the overly friendly playboy/philanthropist said as he made his way to shake your hand. “Good to see you here. It looks like you’ve started to settle in?” you only nodded your head and he continued. “Good. Listen, tomorrow we want to start you out on a series of tests that will let us see how much your joints have degenerated over time and at what rate, after that we-“ Dr. Banner spoke up for the first time since you met him. “Tony” he said, almost patronizing him “let’s not load everything off on her at once”.

“I was just explaining the day ahead of her Green Giant.” Tony quipped.

Shaking his head at Tony’s nickname he turned to you “Look, we want you to be as involved in this as possible. We can give you information and then you get to make the decisions. The first thing we are going to do tomorrow is actually give your mobility aids a bit of an upgrade, if that is okay with you?”

“That sounds fantastic! Actually, can I help? I know a bit about mechanics and would love any and all information you could give me.” You were smiling practically ear to ear. You hadn’t been able to do anything like this in a long time and you were going to take advantage of this whenever you could.

“That’s right, your mom told us you were very into science in high school. We will not hold any information from you. You are an adult, and this is your life here. We will respect that first and foremost. We will have FRIDAY let us know when you wake up and will plan accordingly. Your mother should be here around 10 tomorrow. Welcome Colette, we are all very excited.” Dr. Banner shook your hand, as well as Tony before they left, only your uncle hanging back.

“Listen, if at any time they... we” he corrected “become too much. Just say the word and we will back off. I’m sorry I didn’t give you the respect you deserved when I began talking to them about this, but I promise to make sure it isn’t overstepped again.” Smiling you pulled your uncle into a quick hug and thanked him. “I’ll let you get back to whatever you were doing, but let me or anyone really know if you need anything, okay kid?”

“Yeah, will do Uncle C.”

You fell asleep rather quickly, unfortunately, it was only to drift off into dreams of your father, and the abuse he put you and your mother through. You woke up sweating and shook your head to try to rid yourself of the images that were just playing in your mind. Knowing that was all the sleep you were going to get you started to get up, slowly dressing in a loose, gray tank top, a pair of black leggings and your sneakers. You had a random bout of energy, so you decided to do a bit of walking. Grabbing your cane, you walked to the kitchen and found a man with long, dark hair on the couch, chatting lightly with another man with blond hair. In the kitchen was a woman cooking, but instead of flipping things with her hands, there was a red energy around the spatula that she controlled, flipping the pancakes and tossing them on the pile when they were ready.

Realizing you were staring, the woman cleared her voice, before speaking, bringing you out of your thoughts.

“Hi, I am Wanda! You must be Colette!” she said, in an accent you didn’t recognize.

“Oh! Hey wanda! The scarlet witch, right? Yes, that would be me. I’m assuming you’ve heard about me from my uncle?” You say, shaking her hand. “Yes, but I think I have heard more from our little spider” she said with a coy smile. At that the two men in the living area got up to introduce themselves.

Reaching out to gently (and you noticed it was very gentle) shake your hand. Your uncle must have warned them to be soft. “Hi, Colette, I’m Steve Rogers, and this here is Bucky Barnes! It’s a pleasure to meet you.” “Oh! I know who you guys are!” you blurted out, turning bright red. “Uh… good work you guys do.” You slunk back over to where Wanda was making you a plate, when you heard a crash. Jumping at the noise you saw your Peter slide in.

“Little Spider! We were just talking about you!” Wanda said with a huge smile.

“Oh! Who, me? What why oh Wanda please don’t call me little spider you know I don’t like it!” He said very quickly. His face was turning the same shade of red as his pajamas. That’s when he looked down to where you were looking and turned an even deeper shade once he realized he just so happened to be wearing his spiderman pjs. “Oh… uh…..” “I like them!” you said “the pjs. They’re cool” a huge smile creeped onto his face, helping him feel more confident. He grabbed himself a plate of food and sat down on the counter across from where you were at, glancing up at you every so often.

Once you finished breakfast (and your secret glances at Peter) you headed back to your room to inform FRIDAY that you were ready for today’s testing to being.

Chapter 2

[levi-inthesun]

The Summer at Camp Duff

Part 3 (1 of 2)

Where the Hair-iams Have a Lake Day

A/N: Whaaat posting twice in one day??? This one is really short, just some lead up to the second half of part 3, where we get to learn more about Stella and the mysteries surrounding her :)

Part 2

“Alrighty little Hair-iams! Get your swimming suits on, it is time to go swimming!!” you called out once your group made it back to the cabins.

Soon there were 10 pre-teens jumping into the lake. You were currently sitting under a canopy applying sunscreen to your long freckled legs. You were wearing your red and white striped swimming suit and a pair of high waisted shorts.

“Hey Stella!!! Come join us!!!” Max yelled from on a little square dock in the middle of the lake.

“Alright, give me a minute!” you shimmied out of your shorts and finished applying sunscreen to your hips since your one-piece had high cut legs. After waiting a few minutes to let your skin soak in the sunscreen, you walked down the long dock where Steve was standing, watching the kids.

“Hey Steve, you know there is a lifeguard, right? You’re allowed to swim and join in. Actually, we are encouraged to.”

Steve looked over at you and nearly choked on the water he was drinking. You looked stunning in your bathing suit, but he also noticed he could see the hundreds of little scars covering your hip.

He realized you were still talking and he was still staring. He knew this wasn't the time, or place to talk about it and knew you didn’t want to talk about it, so instead, he scooped you up and jumped into the water.

You came up from under the water to see Steve wearing a shit-eating grin.

“You’re the Worst Steve Harrington,” you said splashing him, before swimming off to join Max and El on the little dock.

Steve swam off to find Dustin, who was in a canoe with Lucas.

You had been sitting with the girls for a while, when Max decided she would try to go flip the canoe Dustin and Lucas were in with Steve, leaving you alone with El.

El turn towards you and placed a hand on your shoulder. “Sister.”

“Yeah, El, I remember. Sister,” you said putting an arm around the girl.

Steve had swam over to see if you guys would help flip the canoe, hoping El could secretly use her powers when he overheard the exchange you shared with the girl. Deciding to play it cool, he splashed the two of you from where he had come up behind you.

“STEVE!” you yelled after seeing it was him. “You are gonna get it!” You jumped in and swam after Steve. After catching up to him you started splashing him back, feeling like you were 5 again since you guys were acting so immature.

You and Steve got worn out quickly, and found yourselves on a dock, laying in the sun.

“Man, I should probably head back to some shade,” you said standing up from your spot on the dock appraising your pale skin, hoping the sunscreen you put on had held up.

“Oh, yeah okay.” Steve sat up, running his hand through his hair. “Would you, uh, like some company?”

“Sure.”

Once you guys made it back, you slipped your shorts back on and threw an oversized t-shirt on over your bathing suit. You wrung out your hair and towel dried it a little before braiding it back. Steve stretched out in the sunshine, next to the canopy on his towel and watched as you finished braiding your hair.

Steve turned onto his stomach “Hey Stella, why does the back of your shirt say ‘Scout’?”, he asked.

“Have you ever read the book ‘How to Kill a Mockingbird’?”

“Yeah, it’s been a while though, I’m not sure I really remember much from it, besides booradley.”

“Okay, well, Jean-Louise’s nickname is Scout. She was always a little rougher than girls were supposed to be.” You explained sitting next to Steve while staying in the shade. “Well, once my mom realized that I was the same, she started calling me Scout. It was probably the most loving my mom has ever been towards me, so I still use the nickname.”

“Cool, I mean it fits too since you do the camp thing and all,” Steve said playing with some sand.

You continued to chat and found out more about Steve and how he became the ‘worlds best babysitter’. You smiled to yourself as he talked, you could hear just how much he loved those "shitheads" as he called them.

Part 3 (2 of 2)

[levi-inthesun]

Do You Trust Me

Chapter Three

A/N: I realized I have updated my new fic way more than this one, so here is chapter 3!!!

You woke in the morning, still remembering what had happened with Peter two months back. From dancing in the diner, sneaking up to watch a movie, and then the way he kissed you goodnight after dropping you off back at your room all replayed in your mind.

“Colette, I had an amazing time with you tonight,” Peter whispered as he tucked a piece of hair behind your ear, leaving his hand on your neck. The lingering contact caused your face to turn that all too familiar color of pink.

“I did too Peter,” you said softly, glancing up to look into warm, brown eyes.

“I hope we can do this again sometime… soon?” he questioned. At this point all you could do was nod. All the while you had both been inching closer and closer to the other.

“Good,” he said even quieter as he pulled you into a kiss, closing the distance. You wrapped your arms around him, pulling him even closer to you and you felt his hand snake around your waist. This was your third kiss that night and you were already addicted to how it felt.

All too soon, he pulled away.

“I should let you go,” he said, kissing your forehead. “Goodnight Coco”.

“Goodnight Peter,” you said before he turned the corner.

You two had easily fallen into a routine. You guys would hang out together any moment you could. Steal glances at the other as the team worked with you on your health. Small touches as you passed the other by in the hall. The hurried kisses before Peter left on a mission. Everyone knew what was going on, but somehow by not announcing it to everyone, it felt like it was your little secret.

After a while of laying in bed, you decided you would get up and get ready for the day. When you left your room, the halls were empty, which wasn’t too unusual since it was nearly noon and everyone else got up way earlier than you did.

But still, you were alone as you pulled out ingredients for omelets.

You were alone as you sat on the island, eating.

You were still alone when you got to the lab.

Confused, you decided to ask FRIDAY.

“FRIDAY, where is everyone?” your concern growing when you realized the AI had not answered you. You really were alone.

“Okay,” you said to yourself, “calm down, it’s probably just some routine checks? Right? Oh please let me be right…” you grabbed the gear Tony and Peter had made you, throwing on the other braces and compression shorts. Silently thanking yourself for already wearing the knee braces. You had been getting stronger since the braces helped with the joint pain and the pressure, so you found yourself wearing them more often. You started quietly running through the compound, after grabbing the closest weapon you could find, a handgun, trying to find any signs of another person.  You decided to check everyone’s rooms first to make sure nothing looked too out of the ordinary.

Everyone’s rooms looked alright, and you silently thanked God you haven’t run into any ‘bodies’.That’s when you found yourself in a security room, filled with little screens of the entire compound. You quickly scanned them to try and find any sign of movement.

That’s when you saw it. Peter was in his spiderman suit on the roof, and you saw Steve and Bucky running around outside. Unfortunately, there was more.  Not only were there people dressed in dark gear running around outside, but there were some on the lower floors, and one headed your way.

“Okay” you whispered to yourself. “I know how to use a gun, I just need to make sure it’s loaded, and that the safety is off,” you instructed yourself, as you checked the gun, grateful it was already loaded. You repeated the words your Uncle Clint had said to you when he taught you how to shoot. You hadn’t thought it was necessary, but boy you were glad now. At least you weren’t a terrible shot. You watched as the person got closer and closer to the security room. You found a place to hide, where you could still see the security footage playing. The person stopped right outside the room. You closed your eyes and took a deep breath, aiming your gun. They quietly opened the door. Once you had a clear target you squeezed the trigger.

*BANG!*

“Hey! Did you guys hear that! I didn’t think anyone else was in the compound.” Steve sounded worried over the comm.

Peter went wide-eyed “Colette… she’s… she… it’s gotta be her!” “Go Spidey, we can handle this on our own” Bucky shouted as he threw a lethal blow to the agent he was fighting.

Peter’s feet carried him faster than he’s ever ran before. Leaping all over the building until he made it to the residential quarters. Using what he learned from breaking into the Washington Monument so many years ago, he burst through his window. Remembering you could still be in danger, he quietly leaped onto the ceiling, knowing it would be his best bet as to not be seen. Unfortunately, the screens showing Peter creeping on the ceiling were out of sight so you thought you were still completely alone. He continued making his way thru the compound when he saw it. Two more agents had made their way in and found one of their own with a bullet in his chest. It was too late for the first one though. As soon as you saw them, you let out a calming breath and pulled the trigger again shakily, letting a whizzing bullet fly through the air, hitting him. The second agent startled, but pulled his gun out on you. He was about to pull the trigger when he heard a voice from above. “Karen! Grenade web!” a web a web shot out from where the device landed, throwing the other agent against a nearby wall, covered in webs.

“Colette! Colette are you in there!” he called nervous that he was too late, even though he watched the first agent go down and incapacitated the second one himself.

“Peter?” you cried out. You ran out to him where he picked you up in a tight embrace, breathing you in.

“Come on, let’s get you somewhere safe.”

You and Peter had been running through the compound, both on alert, when Steve and Bucky found you. Lucky for them, they were super soldiers with the reflexes of… well super soldiers, because as soon as you saw Bucky’s dark form you pulled the trigger once again, seeing it was your friend all too late.

“NO BUCKY!” You yelled as he dodged your bullet, it sinking into the wall behind him.

He looked at you, eyes wide. He took a second to recover from the surprise, then went to inspect where the bullet landed in the wall. You quickly dropped the gun, which Peter caught and put the safety on.

“Colette! You tried to shoot me!” Bucky said, shocked.

Steve, looking more impressed than shocked, “you would’ve gotten him too, that would have hit you riiiiiight there.” Steve said as he brought his finger right between Bucky’s eyes. Exactly where you had hit the other two agents.

“I am sooooo sorry!!!! Bucky! I didn’t realize it was you!” You ran over to where he was still standing, staring at the bullet in the wall.

He let out a deep breath and pulled you into a hug. Bucky could feel you shaking, and gave you a tight squeeze.

“Mmm grd u mmvd” you mumbled into the burly man.

“Coco, I have no idea what you just said”

Pulling away you looked up to Bucky sighing.

“I said, I’m glad you moved…” “You and me both, kid.”

Once the rest of the Avengers were back from various meetings and missions, and FRIDAY has been rebooted Steve updated everyone on the events of the morning.

“That’s when we found Peter and Colette.” Steve finished and Tony piped up.

“Um, does anyone know why there is a bullet hole in one of the freshly painted and redone walls?”

“Uh, yeah, Tony?” you spoke up, “that was, uh… me.”

Tony then burst into a fit of laughter.

“You... You shot my wall?” he said between deep breaths to try to regain some of his composure. “I would love to hear that side of the story!” You suddenly found all eyes on you, so you carefully recounted what had happened to you when you remembered neither you nor Peter had told anyone about the webbed up agent in the hallway. “OH CRAP! PETER!” you turned to him panicking. “THE AGENT IN THE HALL!” you screamed. He then booked it, with everyone following after. Luckily, the agent was still there, knocked out.

“Oh, well, I am glad this came up.” Clint sighed, still floored that you had successfully shot two HYDRA agents.

“Ugh blood stains in the carpet? Colette Barton where do you get off? Do you enjoy destroying our lovely home?” Tony teased.

“Well Coco, you sure do fit in here” Natasha added to the sounds of praise in your direction nudging you slightly with her elbow. “Now everyone has taken a shot at Bucky!” That caused everyone to crack up, even Bucky, but he sounded more sarcastic than anything.

After the meeting ended and the others took the HYDRA agent to be interrogated, you found yourself all alone. You didn’t like the feeling, especially after this morning. You went to go find anyone, hoping for one web shooting individual especially.

To your delight, you found him throwing together some food in the kitchen.

“Hey! The woman of the hour!” Peter said as he threw his arms around you. You allowed yourself to be enveloped in him, letting out a sigh of relief. You finally were able to relax in his arms. That’s when the adrenaline wore off and the events of the day took over you. Peter felt you shaking slightly. “Hey, hey hey hey, it’s okay. What’s the matter???” He pulled away so that he could look at you. Seeing tears falling from your eyes, he cupped your face in his hands and dropped his forehead to meet yours. You brought your hands up to rest on his forearms, and he kissed your forehead every once in a while, letting you cry.

Once you felt the last of your tears fall, you sniffed again loudly before speaking, your voice dripping with the pain and fear you had finally started to feel.

“Peter… I …. I shot people…. I KILLED people! I …. I…almost died..” “Shhh, I know, it’s okay” he whispered, pulling you into him again. “It isn’t your fault. You were protecting yourself and I would never let those bastards hurt you.” Peter continued to reassure you as you faced another bout of tears. He led you over to the closest couch and sat down, pulling you to sit on top of him, so that he could still hold you.

That’s how you were when the others found you, wrapped up in Peter, crying. You couldn’t see the tears in his eyes as he lovingly talked to you. Nor could you see Peter sternly motion for everyone to leave.

After a while you had fallen asleep like that, in the loveseat Peter had been holding you in. When you woke up, however, you were in an unfamiliar room. It was by the smell that you figured you were in Peter’s room, in his bed. You panicked for a minute thinking he had left you alone again, but he walked out of the bathroom, with wet hair and sweatpants on.

“Hey, you’re awake” he rushed over to you, forgetting about the shirt he was gonna grab. “How are you feeling??” he asked once he made it over to you, running his thumb across your cheek.

“I… I think I’m feeling better.” You looked up into his eyes to find him staring intently at you. “Thank you, for everything. Peter, I honestly don’t know what came over me.”

“Don’t worry about it Coco, I’ve gone through something similar.”

“Thank you. Um, and thank you for stopping that man…”

There was silence for a moment. The reality of earlier events settling on the both of you yet again.

“I am so glad you are safe,” he said in a hushed, almost reverent tone.

Reaching up you ran your hand thru his wet curls, looking over the boy who had so easily become your source of comfort.

Peter was about to say something, when you leaned forward, cutting him off as your lips made contact with his. He reacted immediately, wrapping his arms around you, pulling you closer, and closer still. Kissing you with more need, you felt yourself completely flush against his body, his arms sturdy and strong around you.

“Hey” Peter whispered, breaking the kiss “you mean the world to me.” “The feelings are mutual Peter Parker.” You responded with the same reverence with which Peter spoke.

Peter pulled you close again, gather the blankets to cover the both of you.

That night, you felt safe as you fell asleep next to Peter, his arm draped over you, guarding you. That night, you didn’t have any nightmares.

Tags: @dungeons-and-awkwarddragons @bigexplodingstar

[levi-inthesun]

Over You with Wanda and Pietro. The song implies it's a love story thing, but I feel like the words just got so well for the two of them especially after his death

EXCUSE ME AS I GO CRY

Over You

Wanda x Pietro (NON-ROMANTIC, Obvs)

Dear Diary, or whateverIt has been 6 months since he was taken from me, I should be okay, right? We were able to get over our parent’s passing, but then again, I still had Pietro.

I woke up today with the images replaying in my mind. How I could feel Pietro’s spirit being separated from his body, his spirit is taken away from me. I could feel it.

Why am I even doing this. I started seeing a ‘therapist’ per Tony’s incessant demands. She told me writing about my feelings would help me, but I just feel stupid…

Okay okay, I am giving this another try.

When Pietro was taken from me, it’s like our life flashed before my eyes as he fell to the ground. How he would laugh at everything I did when we were little, but in a happy positive way. It made me feel less embarrassed because my dear twin understood.

When we were trapped under the rubble from the explosion that killed our parents, Pietro held me, tighter than anyone has ever held me.

Then again when the experiments with HYDRA, Pietro held me as we both cried when the pain became too excruciating. 

We were so excited when we met Ultron. We thought he would bring peace, but oh how wrong we were.  It was he who caused my twin’s death.

Maybe if I tell myself enoughMaybe if I doI’ll get over you

I’ll get over your death.I’ll get over the empty space in my chest where my beating heart used to be.I’ll get over how handsome and happy he looked that day when we got ready to defeat Ultron with the Avengers.

Except your death is with me in every waking and sleeping moment. Always around me, much like he was in his life.

Maybe if I tell myself enough…

Without Pietro, I feel as if I am constantly falling. Falling short.

Maybe if I do…

Without Pietro, I feel as if I am living a half-life.

Maybe I’ll get over you.

Over You by Ingrid Michaelson and A Great Big World

[levi-inthesun]

The Summer at Camp Duff

Part 2

Where Steve Sees the Scars

A/N: This one is pretty short. Just some fun stuff, plus we see Stella get’s to bond a bit with Max.

Part 1

“I hear the drums echoing tonight

But she hears only whispers of some quiet conversation”

You stretched your arms over your head, and wiped the sleep out of your eyes.

“She's coming in, 12:30 flight

The moonlit wings reflect the stars that guide me towards salvation

I stopped an old man along the way”

Sitting up you looked around to see the very confused faces of the girls of team “Hair-iams”.

Max sat up and looked around. “Was it Steve’s job to wake everyone up this morning?”

“Uh, yeah I think so,” You said groggily.

“Yup. Okay, that makes sense.”

When suddenly, Steve burst through the cabin door, eyes shut, belting along to the song.

“It's gonna take a lot to take me away from you

There's nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do

I bless the rains down in Africa

Gonna take some time to do the things we never had!!!!!!!”

The song stopped after the chorus, Steve stood there for a minute, with his eyes still closed, before all the girls started throwing their pillows at him.

“Okay okay!” Steve said blocking himself with his arms “I’m leaving!!!”

Steve did as he said, quickly shutting the door behind him.

Everyone gathered up their pillows and got dressed for the day, meeting the male half of the group at the trailhead.

That day was filled with hikes, and tree climbing and adventure. You and Steve had packed everyone’s lunches at breakfast and split them up between the two of you.

Everyone was chatting happily amongst themselves as you and Steve led them down a winding trail. You both had hiking backpacks on, filled with lunches, water bottles, and the other things they needed for the day. Every once and a while, a kid would come up to you and ask you to hold onto a cool rock or flower they found, and you put it in a little baggie marked with their name in your fanny pack. During a little water break, you saw Steve eyeing your brightly colored fanny pack.

“Steve, do you like my fanny pack? I’m just curious,” you struck an awkward pose highlighting the back around your waist.

Steve laughed and appraised the different poses you did. “I do! I was actually thinking how neat it is that it matches the little polka dots on your socks. How you managed to make your hiking outfit that perfect, I will never understand.”

“Ah, I think you're just jealous” you shrugged. You were about to bend over to grab your backpack to put it back on when you felt Steve’s arms around you.

“Steve what are you-!”

Steve unbuckled the fanny pack and quickly whipped it around his own waist, adjusting the straps accordingly, and tucking his shirt in to accentuate the new addition to his ‘look’.

“Yeah, I was jealous. It’s mine now” he said proudly, snatching up his backpack and throwing it onto his back.

Soon you were all on your way again, and Steve was now getting more attention now that he was the carrier of all the cool things the kids found. You smiled fondly at him as he chatted casually with Dustin and Lucas, giving them advice about girls, which as you listened to their conversation you realized he was giving them terrible advice, but you’d let him enjoy his moment.

Once you guys made it to the end of the trail, the kids were delighted to find a good-sized pond that they could swim around in once you told them you and Steve had packed their swimsuits.

They all found little private spots to go get changed and jumped into the little pond. It was later in the day and the sun’s rays wouldn’t hurt you so bad, so you stripped down to the crop top tank top you had underneath your t-shirt, and peeled off your long socks, dipping your feet in the pond.

Steve had been talking to some of the girls, answering questions about how he got his hair to look so good when you had caught his eye. You looked so content, sitting there with your legs in the water watching the kids. The girls he was talking to realized what was going on and pushed him to go sit by you and talk to you.

You were caught up in your own mind when you felt someone plop down next to you. Steve was taking his shoes and socks off, then put his legs in the water next to you. You both sat there quietly, both sneaking side-eyed glances at the other.

A girl named Shannon had come up to talk to you and asked what some of the trees around them were when something caught Steve's eye. While you were gesturing to a particular tree, your shirt moved up, exposing the side of your rib cage where he saw hundreds of little scars. Steve froze.

There was only one thing that could leave marks like that, and he had fought them, twice without being bit. What had happened, and how had they gotten you?

Steve continued to observe you throughout the rest of the evening and was able to see more scars on the other side of your body, on top of your hip. He had already known you were involved, but this? This is next level.

It was dark by the time you all had gotten back to your cabins, and dinner had already past. You and Max volunteered to go get the dinners they had saved for team Hair-iams, leaving Steve to watch the rest of the kids as they screwed around, and he mulled over what could have happened to you.

You and Max walked quietly to the mess hall. You unlocked the doors and turned on the lights, and Max grabbed one of the two trays of tinfoil dinners for you guys to cook in your campfire. You guys had started talking, and Max began to tell her a little bit about her family and how they moved to Hawkins from California. You realized the story sounded familiar but kept quiet. Max was telling you about some of her favorite things to do in Cali by the time you made it back to the camp.

You guys set up everything on a table and everyone began putting together their own meals, and Steve threw them in the fire after writing their names on them in permanent marker.

Everyone was thoroughly worn out from the day's activities, so you guys decided to call it a night early.

It was probably around 3 am when you heard someone crying a few bunks over.

Once you found the right bunk, you realized it was Max who was crying. You quietly knelt down next to her.

“Hey Max” you whispered, “It’s just me, Stella.” you smoothed her hair out of her face as Max turned towards you.

“Please don’t tell anyone” she cried quietly, holding onto you tightly.

“I promise” you wrapped your arms around her and let her cry for a little while. Once she calmed down, she loosened her grip on you.

“Do you want to tell me what’s going on? You don’t have to, but maybe I can help.”

Max sniffed a little before nodding, “I have nightmares, well, a nightmare, every night. It’s always the same, and as hard as I try I can never change it.” “I’m so sorry Max. I have nightmares too. Is there anything I can do?” Max thought a moment before shyly asking if you wouldn't mind sleeping next to her.

You quietly grabbed your sleeping bag and laid it out on the floor next to her. You held her hand as she fell asleep.

Part 3 (1 of 2)

[levi-inthesun]

Do You Trust Me? Chapter Two

Peter x OC Colette 

A/N: sorry It’s been a hot minute since my last update, but here we go! Chapter three will be up in the next few days, and I am currently writing chapter 4!

Tags: @dungeons-and-awkwarddragons @bigexplodingstar

“Alrighty then!” Tony exclaimed as you walked in for another day of testing “Lets get this started shall we?” he had a glint of… something in his eyes. Like he was planning something and you weren’t’ sure if it was making you feel nervous or excited. Over the past few days you had loads of blood drawn, different types of scans and x rays, and they even took a sample of your cartilage (which somehow did not hurt as much as you anticipated). In addition you  had gotten an upgrade you that could have only dreamt up to your mobility aids (Your wheelchair could change between a sitting or standing position, but it had an option to FREAKING LEVITATE. You were pretty pumped about that. And then they gave you a new, much sleeker looking cane which took the pressure off of your wrist),. Today, you saw various types of workout equipment scattered across the lab connected to different machines with various wires hanging off of them.

Swallowing loudly, you turned to face the small group of people who formed your ‘team’ “I have to workout today, don’t I?”

“If by work out you mean use the equipment so we can monitor you, then yes, you get to work out today.” Dr. Banner picked up a clipboard before walking over to you. “We need to see how different parts of your nervous system are reacting to different kinds of movement, this way we can see what triggers you’ll want to avoid. Before we get started, is there anything you know already that makes you feel worse in any way?”

“Running… I can’t-” Your mom interrupted you before you could go any further, thankfully stopping the emotions that started bubbling up in your throat.

“Coco used to run track and cross country in high school, that’s how we found out about the Osteoarthritis, it’s really bad in her knees.” Your mom knows what a sensitive subject running is for you. It had been your ‘thing’. You were one of the fastest kids in your school until the excruciating pain started.

“That reminds me!” Tony practically yelled before he ran off. Coming back not even a minute later with a few odd looking cuffs. “Tony, I already told you those don’t help me. I have tried wearing knee, elbow and wrist supports. They do nothing.”

The smile on his face didn’t fade, much to your surprise.

“These aren’t ordinary braces or supports kid. Actually, Peter! Get your spidey-ass over here!” Tony called to the room he had just came out of. Peter slowly emerged from the room looking a little caught off guard. “Uh yeah Mr. Stark, what do you need? Are they not working??” looking worried until he saw they were still in Tony’s hands.

“Peter here helped me make these. Underoos, why don’t you explain to Colette what they’ll do?”

“Yeah! Okay sure! So Colette, we used some of the same technology as Mr. Stark’s Iron Man suit, but with a bit more tinkering. They should completely take any pressure off of your joints. Making it less painful for you… You could probably even run again!” he said with a huge smile on his face.

“Oh! Wait… are you serious?” Wide eyed from the possibility of running and moving without pain made you act without thinking. You walked over to where Peter was standing and enveloped him in a huge hug. Once you realized what you were doing you pulled back quickly, both of your faces reddening.

“Alright, well if you two are done flirting with each other, and might I add, quite awkwardly, let’s get started!” Tony eyed the two of you before raising his eyebrow at the boy before handing you a small stack of clothes, if you could call them that.

They had you change into a pair of spandex shorts and a sports bra, both with a small version of the stark industries symbol on them. You swiftly realized that this way they could connect a bunch of wires to you, without having to tuck underneath more clothing. It also made it easier for the braces to be placed properly.

“Hey Peter, why don’t you show Colette how to adjust the braces while Jolly Green and I get everything else set up?”

Before giving him time to react he shoved Peter towards where you were sitting trying to figure out how to get them on. Peter audibly gulped before walking the rest of the way over. You hadn’t been self conscious about being in so little clothing up until Peter was sitting in front of you.

“Here, let me help” Peter took the knee brace from you, opened it up and attached it around your knee, having a cuff below and above your joint. After helping with the other one he looked back up at you staring slightly before you cleared your throat, bringing him back into reality. He had been kneeling in front of you and was very close to your face.

“Uh, here is how you turn it on and this button will adjust how much pressure is left on your actual joint.” he quickly got up and walked away, leaving you to play with the new tech on your legs, and watched from a few feet away while you put the different cuffs on your other joints. After finishing adjusting the cuffs so that they felt more comfortable, you gave yourself a once over, realizing your shorts had buttons similar to the cuffs on your joints.

“Hey Tony, are these shorts-” “Yes! The kid didn’t tell you? Those shorts are a little more advanced than your other support cuffs, it will automatically adjust so all you have to do is turn them on. It may be a little uncomfortable at first, but you should find it’s easier and less painful to move your hips.” Tony swayed his hips at you since, well, Tony is just a little bit extra.

Peter and Tony wanted you to try running first, since that was one of your favorite pre-illness activities.

Nervously, you stepped up onto the treadmill as Dr. Cho hooked up a couple wires to different spots on your chest, abdomen and then up your spine.

“Okay kid, whenever you’re ready.” Dr. Banner said as he and Dr. Cho turned to watch the machine you were plugged into.

You decided you should start slowly since your body wasn’t used to running anymore. You turned the treadmill on and walked for a few minutes, leaning down a little to adjust your knee cuffs a little bit more. Once you realized you weren’t in pain, you hit the accelerator button a few times, and then a few more, and for the first time in 4 years, you were running. Looking to the others in your excitement, you saw them smiling and taking notes. Your mom was in the corner, watching with tears in her eyes. Spotting her put you over the edge, tears spilling from you eyes as she came over to you. You hit the “STOP” button, hopped off and embraced her. You both fell to the floor, as you both started sobbing uncontrollably.

After a few minutes passed and your tears started to subside, you remembered you had an audience. Giving your mom another hearty squeeze you both got up. You were still out of breath from running (and sobbing your eyes out), but you managed to let out a small thank you. Looking up you saw your ‘team’ with tears in their eyes too. Except Peter, who was nowhere to be seen.

After composing yourself you continued on with the different tests. Your mom had to leave about thirty minutes later for work, so now it was just you, Dr. Banner and Dr. Cho. Tony had left to work on some of his other inventions.

You were pleasantly surprised with your physical ability now that you didn’t have pain in your joints. You weren’t strong by any means, you could barely bench the empty press. By about 2 pm however, you were more than worn out and your nerve pain was starting to kick it up a few more notches. In addition to this, you were nearing the emotional stage of exhaustion. Once Banner noticed your current state he decided that what you had done was more than enough for one day. After changing back into your clothes and taking the braces off, you sat yourself in your wheelchair and made your way back to your room.

“FRIDAY, could you order me some take out from that Thai place down the street?”

“Of course Coco, would you like your usual?” FRIDAY asked in response.

“Yup! Thanks FRIDAY!”

You took a shower while you waited for your food, letting the warm water envelope your sore and tired body until you remembered you were waiting for some food. Pulling on your favorite pair of sweatpants and an old t shirt, you sat on your bed and pulled out your music collection. You decided on a mix you had made of your favorite songs by Birdy. Two songs later you heard a knock on your door. Forgetting your pain for a minute, you jumped up to open it where you saw Peter with an expanse of take out food.

“I made FRIDAY let me know when you wanted food, I thought maybe we could eat together?… sorry… I realize that’s probably weird… I can just leave these here for you.”

“Nonsense, that is actually really sweet of you Peter.” you smiled sweetly at him and let him in

“Oh, yeah, okay, no problem!” He started setting out all the food and told you what everything was.

Once the two of you had settled into eating he noticed you staring at him.

“Oh no, is there something on my face? I’ve been told I am not the cleanest eater” he said, wiping his face off with a napkin.

“No, you’re face is fine... I was… I was just wondering where you disappeared off too earlier?”

“Oh, um, I just… I had something I had to go do?”

“Are you actually asking me or are you trying to make something up?”

“Dang ok. I just. Please don’t think I am weird… actually you probably already think I am. That’s fine just. Um. Look, Colette-” “Please call me Coco” you said setting your hand on his “I already convinced FRIDAY too”.

“Yeah, okay, Coco” he smiled as the nickname left his lips. Feeling Peter’s hand move under yours (and realizing you were still holding his hand) you started to move it back onto your lap, until you saw he was turning his hand to play with yours as he started talking.

“Coco. I was honestly floored that the cuffs Mr. Stark and I had made were working. We had them tested way more that necessary because we didn’t want them to end up hurting you instead of helping. And when I saw them working, I couldn’t contain my excitement. When you broke down however, I honestly thought you were in pain and let me tell you, I was crushed just like that. I snuck out because I… well… I couldn’t stand seeing that I had caused you so much pain, I just couldn’t handle it… Tony had found me later telling me that that wasn’t the case, which I am so glad, you have no idea how relieved I was.” Peter turned his body so that he was facing you, still playing with your hand. “The other reason I left was, well, I was scared I had given you false hope about running again… and… and I knew that if that had been the case, you wouldn’t want to be around me, which would suck because I honestly think you’re the coolest person I have ever met.” At that he looked back up to you, shocked to see a giant smile on your face as you stared at his hands holding yours.

“Coco, what?” “I uh, I think you’re really cool too Peter” you looked up, meeting his eyes “I uh, I never got to thank you for the work you did on the cuffs, so… thank you” you whispered as you leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. Ducking your head away as quickly as your lips had met his face, you pulled your hand back and continued eating the food in front of you. If you hadn’t looked away so fast, you would have seen Peter staring at you with wide eyes, mouth open, his hand touching the place on his cheek that you had just kissed. Peter could feel his heart racing and was positive you could hear it too.

Standing up abruptly, Peter made an excuse about leaving as he ran out of your room, shutting the door behind him.

Once Peter had made it safely to his room, he shut his door and leaned up against it for a moment, almost in a trance before he started dancing around the room as if he had won the lottery, practically singing the words “she liiiiiiiiikes me!!!!!! I think she likes! Me! AHH!” before plopping down on his bed.

After Peter left, you started to worry you crossed a line. Dang it! I shouldn’t have done that! You internally screamed at yourself. You liked Peter, obviously. Why did you have to go and ruin everything like that? He probably just saw you as a friend.

Once cleaning up the leftovers was finished you plopped down on your bed, remembering the events of the day, you were ready to sleep. You couldn’t get your anxiety about Peter to wind down, but you did eventually fall asleep.

Around 2 am, Peter heard you screaming from his room, which was just around the corner from yours. Thinking the worst, he jumped out of bed and rushed down the hallway, throwing your door open.

Seeing you thrashing around your bed, your blankets thrown everywhere. He happened to see your pj’s, and realized you were only wearing a tanktop and some short shorts. Your screaming and panicking brought him back to the issue at hand, and away from how cute you looked in your little pajamas.

Kneeling down next to you, he tried shaking you awake.

“Coco! Wake up! It’s okay, it’s just me, it’s Peter” he continued shaking you and calling to you. After a few minutes he realized that it wasn’t getting you anywhere, he called your mom, knowing she would know what to do.

“Hello?” your mother answered the phone “who is this?” “Uh, Ms. Barton, So sorry to call so late, it’s Peter, uh, Peter Parker” “What’s wrong is everything okay???” When she heard you in the background she asked again, more sternly this time. “Is Colette okay Peter?!”

“Ms. Barton, Coco is having a nightmare, I think. I can’t wake her up. She keeps thrashing and screaming and I don’t know what to do!” Peter responded in a panicked voice.

“Okay, okay, this happens often. If you stroke/play with her hair it will help her calm down. It’s what I would do to get her to wake up.” she said hurriedly. “I am on my way, okay?”

“Okay, thank you Ms. Barton! I will see what I can do until you get here!”

After hanging up with your mom, he tentatively placed a hand on your head. Once he started playing with your hair and talking to you in a hushed tone, you started to calm down. Finally your eyes shot open in a panic.

“Colette! It’s okay, its just me.”

Looking over to the voice, you instantly relaxed.

“Peter, what are you doing in here?” you asked with shaky breaths.

“I heard you screaming. Your mom is on her way over to make sure you’re okay” he was looking at you tenderly as he continued to play with your hair. “Do you get dreams like that a lot?”

“Uh, yeah. Sometimes. They started a few years ago.” you said flatly. They were always about the abuse you faced at the hands of your father.

“Do you, do you want to talk about it? I am a very good listener.” He said proudly.

“Not right now, thank you though. I should call my mom to tell her she doesn’t have to come.”

Throughout your phone call with your mom, Peter stayed with you, still running his fingers through your long hair.

You could feel yourself relaxing more and more and Peter continued to touch you comfortingly. When he noticed you started falling back asleep, he slowly got up, not wanting to wake you.

“Hey, Peter?”

Turning back around he responded, “Sorry, I was trying to be quite.”

“No, you’re fine… I was just wondering, if you could stay, until I fall back asleep at least?”

“Yeah, yeah of course.” Peter replied too quickly.

Noting his enthusiasm, you smiled sheepishly at him and moved your blankets so he could get in with you.

“Would you… would you keep playing with my hair?” you asked as he slide in next to you.

“Of course” he whispered as he pulled you over to him.

You both fell asleep quickly.

You woke up sometime after noon. Even though you were still exhausted and not at all rested, you slowly stretched your tired limbs and opened your eyes. When you realized Peter was gone, you let out a disappointed sigh. Then, you saw  a note on your bedside table. Groaning at the movement, you reached over to pick it up.

Coco,

I was called on a mission and I didn’t want to wake you up. Sorry for falling asleep when you just asked me to stay just until you did. I remembered you like smoothies, so there is one in your fridge waiting for you.

I also was hoping, if you feel up to it I mean, and please don’t feel like you have to say yes… um would you want to go see a movie with me tomorrow night? We don’t have to actually go anywhere, there is a screening room here at the compound.

Anyways, just let me know. I should be back around 3pm tomorrow.

Try and get some rest.

Have a great day! :) Peter Parker

As you read, and reread the note, you felt the familiar butterflies erupting in your stomach and in your heart.

“Aaaaaah!” you scream, falling back onto your bed all while holding the note to your chest.

….Meanwhile on the mission...

“So Web brains, why do you keep avoiding me???” Clint asked over the ear piece as he shot an arrow at a HYDRA agent.

“What? Uh, what are you talking about Mr. Hawkeye?” He said as he swung up onto a building to keep lookout.

“You know exactly what I am talking about kid. Natasha, back me up here?”

“Yeah, you aren’t as sneaky as you think you are” Natasha’s voice came over the comm “listen, we all know you have a HUGE and not so subtle crush on Colette. You might as well man up and face Barton.” Underneath his mask, Peter was turning bright red.

“Wait, that’s what this is about?!” Clint said in surprise “I didn’t even realize… I am a freaking spy and I didn’t realize…..”

Peter didn’t reply until after he took down another agent on the roof he was on.

“Uh yeah… Mr. Hawkeye, I may have asked your niece out on a date for tomorrow night. I hope that is okay…” he said quietly, awaiting his response.

“Look kid” Hawkeye sounded a little exasperated “Coco might as well be my daughter.”

Peter’s heart dropping, assuming he was about to get told off.

“But she is an adult, and very capable of handling herself. That being said, you hurt her and you will find an arrow with your name on it stuck in that pretty little face you’ve got. Got it?”

“UHYESMR.HAWKEYESIR.”

Once the threat was neutralized, those who weren’t needed any longer went back to the quinjet. Deciding to play some games on his phone to kill time, Peter found he had a text from you.

Coco: (1pm) Hey there Spiderman! I found your note, and the smoothie, it was amazing! And I would love to go out with you tomorrow night :) Be safe!

Peter let out a happy squeal, only to remember he wasn’t alone. Straightening his face back out he shot you a text back

Back at the compound

Since you were wracked with fatigue, you decided to take it easy. You had taken a nice long bath (in the super fancy and HUGE tub you had in your bathroom), taken a 4 hour long nap, and let netflix ask you a few times if you were ‘still watching’ while binging parks and rec for the 10th time in your life.

You heard your phone go off as you were braiding your hair. Picking it up, you smiled to yourself seeing who it was from.

Spiderman: (10:50 pm) Awesome! We just have to get some intel then we will be headed back. I am excited to see you tomorrow :) Goodnight Coco :)

Without a second thought you shot him a text back before turning off the light and climbing into bed.

Coco: (10:52 pm) Glad to hear it :) Goodnight Peter :)

The next day, you went to see if Natasha or Wanda happened to be home. After no luck, you wandered over to the lab, knowing that Dr. Banner hadn’t gone on the mission yesterday. He wasn’t your first choice in having someone help you get ready for your date, but he was someone, and the two of you had grown closer recently. You felt like he was family, a second uncle, actually.

“Uh, hey Dr. Banner” you said as he looked up from where he was working “I need a favor…”

After explaining the situation, Bruce sighed before answering. “Really? Is Wanda or Natasha not here? What about your mom?” he said in an almost panicked voice.

“Nope, they’re on a mission, and my mom couldn’t get any time off today…” looking at the ground, you shuffled your feet uncomfortably.

“Okay.” he groaned “Fine. I will help you. You should know this is not my area of expertise.”

Looking back up to him, you jumped up to give him a big hug “Thank you sooo so much! I promise I will make it up to you!” you said excitedly as he gave you an awkward pat on the back.

Soon, you and Bruce Banner, the freaking Hulk, were out at a shopping mall. Banner was looking only slightly uncomfortable as the two of you looked through the racks of clothes.

“What do you think of this?” You asked, showing him a cute, short dress.

“No way Coco, your uncle would KILL me if I let you go on a date in that”.

You purse your lips and nodded in agreement, putting it back

.

After going back and forth showing each other different pieces of clothes, Bruce was the one to find you the perfect outfit for your date. It was a fitted green tee shirt dress, paired with a cream colored crochet cardigan with fringe on the bottom hem.

After trying it on, and finding some cute but comfortable shoes, you guys were headed back to the compound.

After about ten minutes of comfortable silence, you realized you hadn’t ever been on a date.

“Uh, Dr. Banner?” “Kid, we just went shopping together, I think we are on a first name basis by now. What’s up?” “Okay… Bruce? Um… I feel a little weird asking you this, but uh… I haven’t ever been on a date before…. I was pulled out of school before I could really get into all that.”

“Oh” he replied. “Well, what questions do you have… I may be able to answer them…. Actually couldn’t you just call your mom?” he looked at you with a worried expression.

“No, she has a major project she is working on… Please Uncle Bruce?”

At hearing you call him your uncle, he automatically melted, realizing you could ask him to do just about anything and he would do it for you.

“Alright, hit me.”

The two of you talked the whole rest of the ride back to the compound, and the ride back up the elevator.

Once the elevator doors opened to the residential floor, you remembered one last thing. You quickly turned around and put your arm in the way of the closing doors.

“WAIT! Before you go…. What do I do if he... Uh, you know… tries to kiss me?” you asked, face bright red.

“Well” Bruce stopped, scratching the back of his neck, obviously uncomfortable, “If you want to kiss him, kiss him back? BUT if you don’t want to, don’t. Okay? And if he tries to kiss you even if you tell him not to, kick him where it hurts and call me and a certain unfriendly green giant will deal with the kid. I’ve got to go work on somethings now, bye Coco.” You let the elevator doors close and you made your way to your room.

This might be your first date, but you had seen plenty of rom-coms to know the best way to get ready for one was to blast your favorite music.

Knowing that the artificial intelligence had a better sound set up than you, and knowing you had the residential floor all to yourself, you decided FRIDAY was the best option to get you geared up for your date.

“Hey, FRIDAY? Could you play anything by the band Haim?” “Of course, Coco” the AI responded. Soon you heard the first beats to ‘falling’ one of your favorite songs by them.

You danced around a little as you got ready, putting on some light makeup, and taking your hair out of the braids you had put them in after your shower the day before. You threw your outfit on, and ran your fingers through your hair a few more times.

Spiderman: (3:20 pm)  Hey Coco! Sorry. We are just getting back and I need a shower. I seriously don’t think I have smelled this bad in a loooong time. I’ll be ready to go around 4 if that works for you???

Spiderman: (3:20 pm) Uh tmi… sorry!!!!!!

Not a minute later he got a text back

Coco: (3:21 pm) Sounds good to me! Glad you got back safely :)

Spiderman: (3:21 pm) Thanks Coco :) I’ll see you in a bit!!!! :)

Peter made it to your room at exactly 3:59. He had rushed through his shower and tried on at least 5 different outfits, making sure he looked perfect. He was all done by about 3:45 and had been talking aloud to himself for the last 15 minutes, trying to hype himself up to go knock on your door.

“Okay Peter, you are Spiderman. An Avenger!!!!! You have fought tons of bad guys. Hell, you’ve stolen Captain America’s shield from him! YOU CAN DO THIS.”

Finally, seeing that it was about 4, he quickly checked his reflection one last time before running out the door.

You had jumped the gun and was ready by the time Peter had texted you. This had given you too much time and spent it sitting around, playing with your hair, fidgeting with your dress, and second guessed your outfit about 10 times already. When you finally heard a knock on your door, you jumped up immediately. You threw the door open, and saw Peter standing there, looking amazing. His brown hair was in it’s normal messy curls. He was wearing a fitted red short sleeved, printed button up and dark fitted jeans. You could have sworn your heart had leapt out of your chest when he finally looked up at you, a huge smile playing on his lips as he checked you out.

“Um, hey Peter” you said shyly as you tucked a piece of hair behind your ear.

“Hey Coco, you uh, you look incredible” he said quietly before giving you his arm “you ready to go?”

Looping your arm in his you nodded as he led you out of the hallway.

Of course though, you lived with a bunch of extremely protective people who considered the both of you family, so everyone, and I mean EVERYONE was gathered in the living room.

You heard Peter curse quietly under his breath before giving you an apologetic look. “Um, everyone sort of berated me for details of this evening… sorry.”

“It’s okay Peter, I assumed this would happen” you both took a deep breath before continuing on.

“Ah! There they are!” Tony said, announcing your presence.

“Didn’t think you could sneak away without saying goodbye to us first did you?” Steve said before giving Peter a pat on the back.

“Okay guys move out of the way!” you heard your mom from the back of the group “Oh baby you looks so beautiful! When did you get that dress???”

“Oh uh, actually I made Uncle Bruce take me shopping earlier.” you said, giving Bruce an apologetic look.

“BRUCE? Really?” Natasha said as she stared wide eyed at the scientist.

“Dang it Coco, I knew I should have sworn you to secrecy, I am never going to hear the end of this…” he said with a sigh as he glared at Natasha and Wanda who were in a fit of laughter at the idea of Bruce helping you shop.

“Well, thank you for helping her pick out some clothes. I’m sorry I couldn’t be there for you earlier, but looks like you were in good hands!” your mom said before kissing your temple. “Okay kids, get together! I have to get some photos!” She said excitedly.

You just groaned, looking up at Peter, mouthing the word ‘sorry’ as you two posed for some pictures.

You let your mom fuss over you for a few more minutes, surprised when not only your Uncle Clint, but Steve and Bucky fussed over you as well.

“Now Peter, you're alright and all, but if you hurt or even disappoint our Coco, we will have no choice but to murder you.” Bucky said as he glared down at the fidgeting boy, behind him Steve was standing with his arms crossed, making him look even larger than he already was. “We know where you sleep” Steve said, both of them backing up as they continued to glare.

Finally you guys made it out and away from the mass of your protectors. You had decided to get out of the compound for the evening, realizing having a private date would be virtually impossible with everyone you guys lived with. You were nervous enough without having everyone around to watch.

Once you guys made it to the car lot, Peter went to open your door.

“Colette, you really do look beautiful” he said as he let you into one of Tony’s more inconspicuous cars.

“Thank you” you said, barely above a whisper.

Peter bit his bottom lip as he grinned widely, running around the car to get in.

He put the car in gear and started heading out to the street.

“So Spiderman, where are we going?” you said as you fiddled with the radio, stopping once you found your favorite oldies station.

“Well, I figured we could go get something to eat, and then I promised you a movie, didn’t I?”

He pulled the car into the parking lot for an old-fashioned looking diner.

You fidgeted with your dress again and adjusted the cuffs you were wearing on your knees as Peter ran around the car to get your door.

The diner was mostly empty, so you guys picked a booth near the back, next to the jukebox.

.

The two of you talked all through dinner and continued way past the time you were supposed to head out for the movie, but neither of you noticed.

You loved talking to Peter. You loved how excited he got about seemingly small things, and you loved how comfortable you felt with him. Yeah you were nervous and awkward, but that was simply because this was all new to you.

Little did you know, Peter was absolutely infatuated with you. Everything you did he noticed. Like how you would perk up when he asked you about something you really enjoyed or were passionate about. Or how when you were feeling especially nervous you would bite your bottom lip and play with a few stubborn strands of hair that kept hanging in front of your face.

“Wait a second. You can dance?! How come this didn’t come up earlier??”

“I dunno. Can you dance?” he asked

“Nope. I have two left feet” you laughed to yourself, remembering the last time you had actually danced with  someone had been back in the 7th grade.

“Well, how about I be the judge of that!” Peter stood up, holding his hand out to you, wiggling his eyebrows.

“No... no way! I really don’t need to embarrass myself like THAT. You already have a lot of knowledge you could use against me!” He let his hand fall with a scowl on his face. You thought you were gonna get away with this, but instead, Peter sauntered over to the jukebox, hitting a few buttons before he dance-walked over to you as he started singing along to Be My Baby by the Ronettes, pretending to hold a microphone in his hand.

“The night we met I knew I needed you so!”

“Oh no!” you gasped hiding your face in your hands.

“And if I had the chance I  wouldn’t let you go!” He fell onto his knees in front of you dramatically as he continued, a little louder this time.

“So won’t you say you love me! I’ll make you so proud of me. We’ll make them turn their heads, every place we go!”

He took your hands, and swiftly pulled the both of you to your feet.

“SO WON’T YOU PLEASE! BE MY LITTLE BABY!” the song continued in the background and his lips were next to your ear “don’t be nervous” he whispered, “you could do anything and I’d think you were amazing”.

You bit your lip (for like the 100th time that night) and finally let Peter swing you around a small area the had staff cleared once they realized what Peter was up to. Soon ‘My Girl’ was playing and you finally let loose and was singing along as Peter continued to spin you around the restaurant. A few songs went by and you guys were still dancing and giggling and smiling widely at each other. Soon you heard ‘Dream a Little Dream of Me’ come on and Peter drew you in closer.  He quietly hummed along as you guys swayed to the song.

Much to your dismay, the song ended, and a gentle quietness grew as you took a step back to look at Peter. He was smiling down at you, his eyes flicking between your eyes and your lips. Feeling a little braver than normal, you took a small step forward. You felt your heart flutter as you both  leaned in to the other. Your eyes closed as you felt his lips brush gently on your own. Once his lips leave yours Peter pulled you in to a close warm hug with you smiling into the superheroes chest.

Soon sound of an upbeat song pulled you both out of the trance you had found yourselves in. Uprooting yourself out of his embrace, you smiled shyly towards the ground and sat back at your booth, him following your lead.

After a moment the waitress who had helped you guys made her way back to your table with the check. Come to find out, the diner was supposed to close about 10 minutes ago, but didn’t want to interrupt the two of you. In addition, the diner owner had been there and gave you guys a discount because you two had been ‘so damn cute’.

Once the bill was paid and you guys were on the road again, you finally saw the time. You guys had spent the whole evening at the little diner.

“So, uh, looks like we are a little late for our movie” you glanced at Peter, who still had the biggest smile on his handsome face, causing him to look even more attractive than you thought humanly possible. You made a mental note to try to make him smile more often.

“Yeah, wow. We sure did lose track of time didn’t we?” Noticing he was driving back to the compound, you couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed.

“Tonight isn’t over quite yet Coco, don’t worry.” He said, grabbing your hand to leave a chaste kiss, bringing back the smile he loved so much.

“Care to let me in on what’s coming next?”

“Well, I promised you a movie didn’t I?” “That you did.” “I cannot break my promise, especially without the threats Bucky and Steve gave hanging over me!” at that you laughed. You had been surprised at the Winter Soldiers protectiveness.

Once you guys had made it back to the compound, Peter parked in an odd spot. The oddness continued when he walked with you around the back of the building.

“Now, I know how good the security system of this place is, but I made a deal with Tony so that no one will bug us…. Do you trust me Colette?”

“”What?” you asked, having an odd sense of deja vu.

“Do you trust me?” “Yes.”

Peter pulled you into him, “hold on tight” he whispered. This time, you realized what was going to happen and soon the two of you were flying through the air, with you were clinging onto Peter tightly.

Once you felt solid ground beneath your feet, you let your grip loosen and let out the breath you didn’t realize you had been holding.

“Ah, I was wondering if you two would ever show up” Tony said nonchalantly. “Everything's all ready for ya kid.”

Before completely leaving the two of you alone he added “be a gentleman, or I will not hesitate to let Bucky and Steve know what happened. FRIDAY will be watching.” He  winked at you and walked off.

Peter grabbed your hand, bringing you in through the patio door and down the hallway. Soon you found yourself in a giant room, filled with large plush chairs and an even bigger screen up front.