#i'll get to replies and comments soon-ish i swear

[cultofsappho]

ok I don't normally post this kind of thing about my own writing, but I'm so emotional rn about how much attention The Domestication Of Household Spiders is getting lately

idk what happened but like a week ago there was a huge surge of popularity over Spider-man!Alex AUs and people have been recommending my fic. In the last week-ish, it's gotten more kudos and comments than the last two or three months combined. it just hit 400 public bookmarks and 150 comments, I've never got this much on any fic before and I'm speechless

This couldn't have come at a better time, and all these comments are finally making me smile. I've been sick with covid, then recovering and going back to a nightmare at work, and a bunch of other messes in my personal life at the same time. And then, all this love starts pouring in from the internet when I really needed it ❤️

I desperately want to write more in this AU, but I just don't know if finishing anything is in the cards right now, with everything else going on :(

Thank you so much if you read my fic, or left a kudos or comment, and thank you so much if you recommended it recently. seriously, this helped me so much and I'm so grateful for the love ❤️ I swear I'll reply to comments soon lol ❤️

[vagrantblvrd]

Jeremy’s initiation into the Fake AH Crew:

Successfully mug Gavin.

There are rules, of course.

1. Jeremy can’t kill Gavin.

“What? Why would I - “

“You’re new. Trust us, that won’t last.”

2. Jeremy can’t shoot, stab, or otherwise injure Gavin.

“...I’m starting to feel a little concerned here.”

3. If he doesn’t mug Gavin by midnight, he fails.

“Does he turn back into a pumpkin?”

From the stories he's heard as part of B Team this should be easy. There's a running joke that Gavin gets mugged all the time. The main crew will shell out a few bucks and send some poor schmuck to mug him. Listen to him shriek about it over the comms or on a phone call, and try not to lose their shit when he realizes who sent the damn mugger in the first place.

This should be easy enough, but no.

No.

Jeremy's life for the rest of the day is like a Roadrunner cartoon.

He cannot mug Gavin for the life of him and it’s infuriating because Gavin manages to evade him time and again without ever seeming to realize someone’s trying to mug him.

HOW.

A little before midnight Jeremy finds himself flat on his back in the middle of the desert rethinking the life choices that have brought him to this particular moment in time.

The flaming wreckage of his car - his car - is off to the side, coyotes howling in the distance and Jeremy has no idea how he got here. (Somewhere between his meeting with Geoff at the penthouse and now there was a gang attack at some point. A terrifying high-speed chase with the cops with at least one helicopter involved. The water in his boots remind him there were boats too, the details are unimportant.

After a while, he realizes he can ear an engine approaching and looks up to Gavin driving up on his Faggio.

Jeremy groans and drops his head back down as Gavin parks that dumb bike of his. Hears him walking over and tries to see how many constellations he can name, so of course that's when Gavin leans over him, amused as all hell because of course he knew what was going on the whole time.

Jeremy groans and closes his eyes, hands folded on his chest because he is done.

“After all that, you’re going to give up so easily?” Gavin asks, and he sounds like he’s laughing.

Jeremy’s eyes pop open, angry, annoyed, and oh, boy, did he realize the reason for the rules about this bullshit game the Fakes play because there were moments he was tempted over the course of the day. Had his gun on him the whole time and everything.

It takes a moment, but Jeremy suddenly realizes Gavin's dangling is wallet over his head. Holing on to it with his forefinger and thumb.

Jeremy’s eyes narrow.

Gavin smirks, waggling his wallet as his eyebrows go up, and Jeremy -

He slowly rises his hand, fully expecting Gavin to snatch his wallet back out of reach the moment Jeremy gets close – some Charlie Brown and the football jackassery – but he doesn't. Just watches Jeremy with that dumb smirk on his face as Jeremy's fingers close on it. Tugs it out of Gavin's hold with suspicious ease.

“Not quite midnight, yet,” Gavin says, glancing at the that ridiculously expensive watch of his and back down at Jeremy, smirk shifting more towards a smile.

A few moments go past,the wheels in Jeremy's head slowly turning, and then it clicks.

He mugged  - for a given definition of – Gavin before midnight. 

He did it.

Jeremy starts laughing, normal amused kind of thing that slowly turns a little hysterical because what the actual fuck???

As he's rolling around on the ground cackling to himself because his day has been a complete nightmare, the rest of the fakes pop up and watch him. Look a Gavin who shrugs, like he has no idea why the hell Jeremy's acting like a loon.

The Fakes have had some trouble spot flare up here and there the past little while. Gangs working for them getting a little too greedy, pushy, that kind of thing. And they figured it would be a good idea for this Dooley kid to get a taste of what things were like for the main crew in these kind of situations. 

Had someone else from the crew watching the entire time, ready to step in if things started to look a little dicey. If Jeremy in over his head, but he didn't. 

Might have gotten a little bit...creative with his approach to problem solving, but he handled himself just fine. Impressed the others a time or two, enough for Geoff to call Gavin up and tell him they'd put the poor kid through enough for one day, let him mug him already.

Jeremy stares at Gavin and the others while they explain, ask him if he still wants to be part of the main crew after all this, and he sighs.

“You're all assholes,” he says, forearm over his eyes, laughing again, but it's the incredulous, happy kind this time. “But fucking fine, I accept.”

Everything goes pretty smoothly for a while after that, Jeremy settling into the main crew like it's where he was meant to be, but a few months down the road he starts experimenting with fashion. Pushing the boundaries. 

Starts out small with little flashes and pops of color here and there, waits until the others are used to catching little glimpses of purple or orange from the corner of their eye while they're on a job or pulling a heist. Start to associate the colors with him, and then come the cowboy hats and so on and so on, Jeremy explaining he's trying to make a name for himself with the crew.

The others all have these reputations, you know? Jeremy would absolutely hate to let them down, so he's trying, here.

And then word starts getting back to the others about the Fake AH Crew member who wears purple and orange and enjoys cowboy hats.

 This "Rimmy Tim" fellow and the horror that follows when they realize what Jeremy's been doing all this time when he strolls into the penthouse in full Rimmy Tim gear, shit-eating grin on his face because yes, this is indeed payback for the hell they put him through during his initiation.

This horrendous character he's created who must be colorblind or simply have no taste whatsoever to think his ensemble is in any way fashionable.

Jeremy tipping his cowboy hat at them and moseys off somewhere, whistling as he goes, oozing smugness and a definite air of satisfaction while the others watch in awe.

[fuyuweb]

─ WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF WE BROKE UP?

feat. MY HERO ACADEMIA bakugo, denki, tamaki

genre. fluff (ig)

Xtra. gn! reader, mild-ish swearing, this is kinda long (esp bakugo's), !! reader films this for a TikTok !!

essentially asking the character(s) to ask you what you would do if you two broke up, then proceeding to say "I'd get back with my ex". The thing is, your ex would be them because you just broke up. i hope that makes sense!!

Italics + Bold = dialogue

BAKUGO KATSUKI is totally mad at first! "Suki! Ask me what I'd do if we broke up!" He looks up from his desk where he was stationed, doing homework. "Why would I." Answering in his gruff voice, he narrows his eyes, trying to figure out what you're planning. "Just do it!" "Fine, what would you do if we broke up?" He puts down his pencil, crossing his hands and raising an eyebrow. "well I'd get back with my ex." You fucked up. "Ha?! The fuck do you mean?! Fine! Fucking go back to his sorry ass! Do it and I'll beat 'im!" He stands up ready to blast something. *Cue you laughing" "Sparky, you'd be my ex." He automatically stops everything he's doing, sits back down, and grabs his pencil. "I fucking knew that shut up."

TIKTOK COMMENTS;; GOODBYE HE WAS SO READY TO FIGHT??; why is his voice hot tho?!; PLSSSS BAE THE WAY HE SHUT UP HAD ME CRYING

DENKI KAMINARI will take a while to process! "Bub, ask me what I'd do if we broke up." You zoom in on the boy sitting across from you on the couch, who automatically looks up from his phone. "Huh- Oh uh What would you do if we broke up?" With a sly smirk, you reply "I'd get back with my ex." confused?? like wdym bro "Huh? What do ya mean? Wait...y/n that wasn't very nice. that was really mean." HE'S SO TINY PLEASE HUG HIM??? "Denki, you'd be my ex." confused x2!! Is super lost. "But- you- he- they- OHHHHH" finally gets it :straight:

TIKTOK COMMENTS;; HE WAS SO CONFUSED GOODBYE- ;; bae i thought we were dating /j ;; HE SPOKE IN TINYSUHBHHDB

TAMAKI AMAJIKI is really scared! "Tama, ask me what I'd do if we broke up?" Tama in context, is really focused on doing the laundry, so as soon as you say that he completely freezes. "h-huh? why would you say that...are-are you breaking up with me?!" Already in the corner, abt to cry. "No! Just ask me." *cue you sweatdropping* " *sniffles* What would you do if we broke up?" "well i'd get back with my ex." Why would you say this to him :straight face: what is wrong with you "EH?? A-AM I NOT GOOD ENOUGH?! IM SORRY YOU CAN GO BACK TO THEM i wanna leave and go home" YOU'RE TERRIBLE- anyways, you had to explain it was a just a joke, and he be your ex. It took 3 hours to convince him. you're terrible. *cue clip of you and him cuddling by the end of the tiktok*

TIKTOK COMMENTS;; HE WAS SO SCARED POOR BABY?? ; aww cute couple! *blocks* ; WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT TO HIM </3

a/n. finally all done! if you wanna, requests are open! i always take requests <3

[imaginesbymk]

PINK + WHITE.

—chapter nine ; with heat & wet skin.

summary: teresa’s permanent resignation from the peaky blinders leads her to a whole new chapter of working in an art museum. but little did she know her best life would be butchered some time later when her former lover tommy shelby gives her no choice but to return to the peaky blinders after they make new enemies, with the leader, of all people, being the man teresa fell in love with one night after a wedding reception back in post world war; luca changretta. 

pairing: luca changretta x OC x tommy shelby

tags in this chapter: swearing, implied nsfw, drinking, mentions + drug use

[ chapter index / meet my oc / wattpad link ]

MASON was quick on his feet when he was given the slightly odd request Teresa had asked him to do last minute. It had nothing to do with the gallery or with separation of last minute business meetings to be scheduled in the margins of the diary. It was just that he had to safely track down a dangerous man. Luca Changretta was still in England, hot-headed with a plan.

Teresa loved fur shawls. Though she detested how the cheap ones she could afford wore out from time to time, from the "fur" falling out like leaves from a tree in autumn, or even its colour turning from new to depressed (and even she grew so envious over the women who wore the luxurious, expensive ones at parties). Tommy Shelby never bothered with buying her what she wanted, which she was fine with, but one man with the Italian genes spoiled her with one that she kept in her closet. A grey-ish white. Teresa often takes one look at it, before sliding it over to reach the silky see-through shawl when she is simply relaxing in her home. At parties she debated even thinking of taking it out, but then there was the other shawl that was made of black fur, and it closed together with a silver clip to keep her shoulders warm.

The fur shawl was just like the painting she avoids at her own work. Both were so beautiful and timeless, both sharing personal meaning. But tonight, it finally saw light from staying in the wardrobe closet for too long. Teresa held it out in front of her, then clutched it in her arms.

The bar was built together with grey walls, none sound-proof. On the other side you could hear the jazz band playing music for the party, or footsteps from the owner or a bartender heading out back for more stocking of gin. If you were on that side, you'd hear the giant doors spring open from the doorman that allowed Teresa to enter inside. The man at the counter watched as her dress fell all the way down to her heels, not too long so she wouldn't trip. Her hair was in its curls once more, and wrapped around like comfort was the fur.

She reached a booth and set her purse on the table. "White wine."

"Ma'am-" the server goes.

"A man will be joining me very soon." Teresa made a smile, as the unescorted woman if Luca were to not show up. Had she imagined if Luca burned the invitation letter she mailed to his hotel, or simply tossed it away, in future to be used as scratch paper, or even as a roll up (if Luca is one of the many people that did snow), she may have just wasted her time getting dolled up just to not be served at her booth.

"Last time I met up with a woman at a bar, she proposed a deal, and lied straight to my face."

She shot her head up.

Those eyes.

Looks like her night wasn't going to waste after all. "Are you talking about Polly?" She watches as Luca Changretta helps himself on the other side of the booth, the same server coming over to Teresa with her white wine.

Teresa waited while staring down at Luca's own glass being poured with four fingers of whiskey. Luca glanced at Teresa's outfit, not answering her question. "You're wearing the shawl I got you? I can't believe you still have it."

"What, like I got rid of it? Why would I give it to someone else who would treat it like a rag?"

"Hm." Luca took a sip. "So, why did you summon me here? Actually, I know the answer to that one. You're a businesswoman, as we both know. You invited me here to propose some kind of deal, eh? Like I got the time to spare one more fucking thing before I go do what I came to England to do?"

"I know about the vendetta, Luca." Teresa began. "And I know the deal you made with Polly, which was a lie, by the way. I know about that. What I also know is that you don't just plan on crushing the Peaky Blinders. You have more on your mind. You're so greedy that you would want to overthrow Alfie Solomons as well. If he were to betray Tommy with the deal you made with Mr. Solomons, you know you and your men would come after him as well and take over his business."

Luca nodded. "I had a feeling you knew. I had a feeling Tommy Shelby brought you back to Birmingham, no?"

"I know your patience is wearing thin, and you're done giving people more time. But then there's me."

"Right, forgive me," Luca places a hand on his chest. "Why not talk about the royalty in front of me as well? What could she possibly request for this time?"

"I wanna know why I was never sent a Black Hand."

Luca laughs, trailing his fingers around the rim of his glass. Whatever Teresa said or did, she definitely wasn't laughing. Nothing seemed funny to her on her end. She did, however, miss that laugh of his. It was more of a chuckle, but she loved it like it was honey in hot tea. "Let me tell you something. It's best to stay out of this, right? Since you resigned, messing with us is like throwing stones at the devil."

"I'll play in the snow with the devil to prove you wrong."

Luca scoffs harshly. "So you're one of those people that snorts white lines just to feel good?"

"That was just my own figure of speech, Luca. I don't do Tokyo," Teresa replied. She cringed at the habit Arthur and Michael carelessly picked up on. "It's everyone's thing now, but not mine."

"That makes two of us." He took another sip. "I'm doing you a favour here, Miss Griffith. Stay out of this and do your own thing."

"There's no need for you to call me that," she comments.

"Why the hell not? Formalities are a thing of the past now?"

"You're talking to me as if we just met. We had something together."

"Yeah, had."

Teresa gave a glare, grabbing her wine. Luca smirks. "All right. Whatever you say. Jesus, kid. You're so fuckin' difficult."

"Kid," she scoffs at his remark. "And Ada Thorne is on your list and she doesn't get her hands covered in blood. So why wasn't I included?"

"You feel left out?" Luca snickered.

"I just wanna know why. I know damn well you haven't forgotten about me. Even if what we had to you was just for pleasure, you found out that I was once a Peaky Blinder."

Luca stares. "You wanted out because you felt like it would devour you forever, so I respected your wishes. You told me why you threw in the towel. And I know you're not a Shelby, you don't wanna be a Shelby."

The server comes up to them. "Sir? Ma'am? Would any of you like to hear the specials tonight?"

"No, thank you." Teresa smiles.

"More whiskey," Luca says. "And for the lady, she'll have more wine." Teresa raised her brows. She didn't mind more wine, would she care so much about knowing her limit before it was time to wince at the tab?

"I forgot you love whiskey," Teresa points out.

"Italian whiskey," Luca made a hand gesture. "As I was saying... have you thought long and hard about this, as to why I'm here? As to why I want Tommy Shelby dead, how I now want everyone dead?"

"Your father." There was a pause between the two. The jazz band transitioned their music to a much slower song this time, and it started easing the nerves in both the former couple's systems despite the volume of alcohol consumed. "Arthur Shelby killed your father. John Shelby killed your brother Angel."

"If things didn't happen the way it did, my men and I would be cozying up in New York counting stacks by stacks."

"And I wouldn't be seeing you here," Teresa added. "Almost ever again," Teresa thanks the server for the excess wine refilling in her glass, then Luca's. "Now can we talk about the giant elephant in the room?"

Luca furrows his brows.

"I know why you left, Luca. I know it's been five years, but you really just packed up and left. I've never seen you so frantic until that day when you were running to the train." Not even an eye bat. "I grew miserable ever since."

"Can I say this?" Luca leaned forward, placing the cuffs of his tailored suit that it laid flat on the tablecloth. "Whatever emotion you saw in my eyes on that day, whatever it was, it was for the sake of being alive for my family. Someone's gotta help keep the business up and runnin'. None of it works if I'm not there."

Teresa stares at Luca. This man wasn't wrong. It wasn't like he was running everything in his family all on his own. His father led the family in Birmingham that Angel was a part of, even his mother lived with them, but what makes New York so important and comforting to Luca must have felt like a whole outlet of anything he ever accomplishes, how many Tommy guns he can hold and keep in his home like picture frames, how many men he has to hire from Sicily and America just to help kill one family. All of that was justified when he boarded that train to the Liverpool docks.

"Oh," Teresa straightened her back. "So much for being the big, bad capo."

"Be careful," Luca warned, pointing a finger at her. "Don't question a gangster's honour."

"You know I crack jokes here and there," Teresa's lips curled into a smirk as it reached the rim of her glass.

"So do I," said Luca.

She looked down at his hands that rested on the table. His experienced, non-scrawny hands that had a black hand tattooed on his wrist, one with a crown, and maybe some other new ones Luca got over time. She used to kiss all of them, even the one on his neck that was a cross. His right hand was wrapped with big, gold rings on two fingers, except he only kept his ring finger free of anything, that was something she wanted to bring up. "You got all those rings on your fingers but not a wedding ring.

"Not like you got one on yours, either. Unless you took it off before coming here," Luca jokes.

She shakes her head. "I've been too busy to fall in love with another soul. But you? You didn't tie the knot with Viviana back in New York?"

Luca scowled, knowing Teresa hadn't forgotten about that woman as he did. "No. I still see her occasionally."

"Yet you haven't done anything with her? Never bothered to find anyone to satisfy your mother?"

"My mother says any woman from New York or even from the old country would do."

"What did you say, after?"

"Mamma, you're killin' me.'" Teresa had to chuckle at that, Luca smiled at her. He then looked around the bar, seeing how more of the guests had gotten up to dance with their dates as the jazz music cranked up their higher tunes like a machine. "Don't tell me we're gonna be sitting here all fuckin' night. You wanna dance, Miss Tour Guide?"

The nickname he gave to her the first time. Did he really sit in front of her and tell her he couldn't remember everything they had, then? "I'm a little rusty," Teresa declines.

'We gotta stretch our legs somehow. I ain't even see your whole getup for the night."

Teresa had no problem getting up from the booth. She stepped out so that her heels were shown as well, and she placed the fur shawl down on her seat so her shoulders were out. The dress wasn't purchased by Luca, but by her, and she felt like a Grand Princess, like a little girl playing with their mother's dresses and makeup. She was never too insecure about her looks since it never bothered her, but she felt beautiful, and she wondered if Luca will still ever see her as beautiful whether or not she is clothed in front of him.

Luca kept on staring. "Then perhaps we can head somewhere else," he suggests. "Somewhere we're both quite familiar with."

How and why didn't matter, the young man who looked to be around Arthur Shelby's age paid no second thought to his surroundings as he aggressively snuffed the thick lines of cocaine that formed on the ledge up his nostril. He begins wiping away any excess off his face, exiting the balcony seats just as the Italian mobster escorts Teresa inside the dark theatre to their respected spots.

"You're a lover of theatre," Teresa spoke quietly as the show resumed to its first act.

"If you dress like one, you are one." Luca hooked his leg over the other, folding his hands on his lap.

It was silent, not the awkward or tense silence, but silent to respect and see the performance. Silence or absolute noise, the stage was the latter. The good kind of noise. The skimpy dancers twirled with batons, the man and woman playing the perky main lovers belted the note they must have spent days and nights rehearsing over and over.

Luca knew there would be performances every night back in New York City. There was always something to do and somewhere to go, otherwise you'd be glued to your chairs at home.

The show was about to end, and Luca, for the first time in God's glorious mysterious time, took Teresa by the hand and curled them together on his lap, his eyes were fixated to theatricality in front of the hundreds of people.

Teresa reacts, slowly looking down. It was nearly dark, but she could feel the giant, lumpy rings from his fingers bump into hers. He always held her hand during a show, and would only let go to join the applause when a number came to its big finish, or when the grand finale brought hypnotic joy and bliss in each audience member's senses like himself that he just had to give the standing ovation.

But just as the audience erupted in deafening applause, cheers and whistles, Luca and Teresa remained the only two members seated, their hands still holding.

HIS hotel room was neat and tidy before he left, now the sheets on the giant bed wrinkled like aged skin when Luca held Teresa down to remove her stockings. She missed his touch. The feeling of being pinned on a bed as he dominated over her, practically tearing what she wore for the occasion just to see her underneath as a sight for his sore eyes, it was definitely there, and her heart pounded.

"Luca," she breathed out a moan. He kissed her softly, now only responding with pacing movements, from positioning her to grabbing the protection from the nightstand drawers. Though he was careful with the dress and fur shawl that was set on the office desk he sat in earlier, within seconds her brassiere was tossed on the floor. With the help from Teresa, she managed to undress Luca from head to toe by just sitting up, and he was now unclothed from the fresh tailored suit his uncle made back in Mott Street.

They kissed again, and Luca went in.

+ me writing "smut": 🧿👄🧿 but ooooo shiiiit their “business” meeting was quite a night lol.

[rogue-barnes-16]

THE MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE OF NATASHA ROMANOFF (part III/?)

Summary: after the too convenient disappearance of Natasha Romanoff, the Avengers —a local biker gang— search for help in the most unexpected place in order to get their friend back. Will it help, or will the situation just get more twisted and dangerous?

Pairing: biker!Bucky Barnes x Reader

Genre: angst-ish (biker gang au)

Tags:

The mysterious disappearance of Natasha Romanoff:

@shirukitsune @retrxbarnes

Permanent taglist:

@notexactlythatgirl @thisismysecrethappyplace @sofreakinmanyfandoms @pizzarollpatrol @bubblycypress87 @1a-girl-has-no-name1 @loislp @lovenaturefirst @dyanna-corona @2ptonpt @goodnightmode @disneyprincessbuffyannesummers @mannls @cutie1365 @catch22inareddress @mybooradley @sebastianisasnack @butifulsoul125 @unlikelygalaxygiver

Warnings: language, kinda angsty but not too much

A/N: third part of these because I think I'll go crazy if I stay in this kind of semi-hiatus any longer. Hope you enjoy my darlings <3.

The mysterious disappearance of Natasha Romanoff masterlist

Rogue-barnes-16 masterlist

BUCKY’S P. O. V.

Her hands were on the sides of my ribcage to provide her some balance while I was riding to the nearest diner.

It was an odd, though familiar feeling. The way her grip on my leather jacket briefly tightened when I took a turn, or the contact her the front of her legs made with the back of mines.

And I really really didn't want to stop driving, because I had missed that feeling, even if I wouldn't admit it out loud, even if I wanted to think I had moved on.

But I started to slow down the moment we reached the nearest diner's parking lot, and her hands left my jacket to hold herself steady using to the back of the bike.

As soon as the bike was parked, my feet reached the ground, still straddling the vehicle for us to be safe while taking off the helmet.

Once I had accomplished that task, I looked over my, slightly turning my torso to see if Y/n had done the same.

"Wow! okay" I chuckled while that magnetic girl I had just met in the bar —thanks to Carol— combed her recently messed hair with her fingers. "that was... Wild." her eyes were still widely open, but a half smile was now tugging the corner of her lip. "such a ride."

"first time riding a bike?"

"first time in bike with you" she replied, climbing off in a very surprisingly smooth way . "you really gotta slow down, I didn't even have helmet, boy."

I mimicked her movements and grabbed my things before approaching her. "well, I can fix that." we walked side by side to the bar. "I'll get you one."

"you seem pretty confident about me riding with you ever again."

"got a feeling you'll end up liking it" I replied with a smug smirk, opening the door of the establishment for her.

She shook her head no, peeking at me with a half smile tugging the corner of her lips. "Keep dreaming, Bucky."

"with you?" I questioned, following right behind her back into the bar, where both the gang and Carol waited for us. "Always."

"Cheesy."

READER'S P. O. V.

I let the helmet rest on my seat between my things while I combed my hair with my fingers. No matter how short or covered it was, with or without helmet, it always ended up tangled.

I had forgotten that minor inconvenience of riding a bike, specifically with the man I rode with.

"Ready?" he asked, holding the handlebars firmly. I gave him a lazy nod in response and proceeded to hop off the bike. "Let's go then." he walked side by side with me to the diner and when we reached the door, he opened it for me.

As soon as we sat down on the booth that was the furthest from the patrons of the place, the waiter came to take our order, which were just two black coffees, one of them iced.

Bucky waited until we had our coffees to speak, in order to avoid nosy ears, I figured. "It was two days ago." he started, swallowing the first sip of his coffee. "Nat had been keeping an eye on a guy for a while." I motioned for him to continue.

"Why would she do that?" I questioned with a frown. "Thought you were that type of gang, now were you?" I added with sarcasm.

"Wait a fucking second, will ya?" I motioned him to keep going with my hand. "the dude was following this girl." I tilted my head with confusion. "Stalking her."

"I got it the first time, James, I'm not that dumb." he muttered something under his breath, taking another sip of coffee. In reply, I just scoffed. "Why help that girl in particular?"

"We owed his brother a favor. Big one" he added, not quite focused on what he was saying. "Tasha's gonna scare him y'know? But turns out this guy wasn't a creep." he nursed his cup. "He's a rival gang member."

I opened my eyes widely, letting myself fall against the backrest of the booth. "Holy fuck." I always had assumed the Avengers were the only gang. Never in my time with them had I heard about a rival gang, I only knew that was dangerous shit.

Bucky’s blue eyes flickered to me, realizing too late that this was completely new information to me. "Yeah... I told Natasha to quit, we could protect this girl in other ways." he shook his head no. "she said she'll stay, just in case what was happening involved us."

"And then she dissappears." I sighed, massaging my temples, wondering what the fuck I was thinking when I decided I would help. "Bucky, I really don't see why I'm the only option."

"I-- listen." he lifted his gaze subtly to check no one was observing us. "I'm not supposed to be tellin' ya this."

"But you're gonna do it anyway."

He straight up ignored my comment as he mirrored my posture. "we have an inside problem."

"a something or a someone?" I was now definitely regretting the decision of going to my ex's house to lend a hand to his gang. "fuck, James, you better tell me it's a something and not a someone."

His sorry eyes and pursed lips killed my lame hope. "you want me to lie?"

"Yeah, for once I actually want you to lie." he clenched his jaw and diverted his eyes from me. "I went to your place and you have a fucking mole." Bucky’s gaze returned to me intently, shushing me. "don't fucking shush me" I retorted, internally freaking out. "I just put myself in danger 'cause I was stupid enough to decide to help."

"You're not in danger." he replied in low voice.

"okay now, you don't fucking know that."

"Whoever the problem is, they ain't there."

"Yeah sure." thousands of different scenarios that ended up with my corpse in a ditch went through my panicking mind as I stood up to walk away. "this was the worst fucking idea I've ever had." I mumbled under my breath, stepping out of the diner.

The fact that I didn't hear Bucky’s heavy combat boots after me in order to try and change my mind was surprising enough.

What was also surprising was finding another bike approaching the parking lot of the diner, and Clint almost jumping off it.

He took off his helmet way too fast for it to be safe before close to shouting my name. "Y/n!" For some reason, I stopped walking to wait for him to get to me. "Listen--"

"I'm out, Clint. I'm sorry." my apologies were genuine, because I knew how much Natasha meant to the dirty blonde man.

"No! Fuck- hold on for a second please." he begged, raising his hands in front of me to stop me. "I don't know what Barnes told you but--"

"Said that you got a mole inside."

"Fuckin'... Okay, I know you feel like your life is in danger if you help us but listen," his eyes spoke how desperate he was to get to his bestfriend on time. "Nat... You know I can't lose her and I swear if you help us, I'll protect you with my life okay? But please, Y/n... I'm sorry you got mixed into this but we- I really need you to help us."

I clenched my jaw, trying to meditate coolly about my reply to his beg.

I had put my feelings aside in order to think clearer, and that was one hell of a headache, given the people who were involved.

"Y/n please. Please, I swear on my fucking life I won't let anything bad happen to you." Clint assured me in a whisper. "please."

BUCKY'S P. O. V.

I stayed sat in the booth for a brief moment after Y/n had left.

I really didn't know what else I could do to convince her to help us. I didn't know how to make her believe me, to assure her that she wouldn't get hurt on my watch.

I didn't know how to get her to trust me if I promised to keep her safe at all costs, because once you break someone's trust —specially someone's like Y/n's— there was no going back 99% of the times.

"Fuck."

I rushed to the door, attempting to reach Y/n, because I had to convince her. I owed it to Natasha, to Clint, to Sam, to Steve; I owed it to myself, because I kept losing my grasp on Y/n, and in this situation, letting her leave wasn't an option anymore.

When I got out, both helmets in my hands, I saw Clint in front of Y/n, practically begging for her aid.

"Clint... I'm sorry. I really am..." she spoke. "I can't."

"Yeah, you can." she spun around at the same time as Clint's eyes laid on my form over the girl's shoulder. "you can, and you have to."

She was suddenly fuming. "what the hell did you just say?"

"Bucky shut the fuck up and stop making it worse." Clint warned me while Y/n took a couple of steps towards me.

"You have to." I repeated as confident as I could whilst my heart pounded in my chest. "You have to, that's why you came all the way from your fancy ass apartment in Manhattan." it was the fourth sort of conversation I had with the girl I hadn't talked in a year, and I had decided to push her buttons. "'cause no matter how you fucking hate me, y'know you won't be able to sleep at night—"

"Shut the fuck up, Bucky." Clint repeated, almost hysterical as I went on, my eyes locked with Y/n's in an attempt to make her know I meant every word.

"—if something happened to Natasha when, knowing you could've, you refused to help." Y/n pursed her lips, refusing to retort anything. "whether you like it or not, I know you Y/n, and I know you're not gonna leave."

It was the riskiest stunt I had pulled in a while, but after a dreadful instant of silence, I realized it had worked.

"You're so goddamn confident about it, aren't you?"

"I also know you're probably considering leaving, just to fucking prove me wrong."

Silence again, her eyes dug into mines as she closed the distance between the two of us to grab her helmet. "You're so full of yourself."

"I'm right, though." I couldn't help but retort with the lightest tinge of amusement in my tone.

"I'm riding with Clint."