#im not really ready for the fatigue drop to hit tomorrow but that's just How It's Been since i had covid this last time

[izzy-b-hands]

Just got three more job apps out and on a list for employers to reach out to me if they think I'd be a good fit! (It had a lil essay spot to tell what u can do, what u like to do for work, etc and I think I did well in that spot!)

Got some filming done earlier so now all i need to do is edit that, post it, get the vacuuming done, do some Prolific, and figure out something for Housemate's bday bc Bday is coming up! (which is all I'm saying cuz i know ae will see this post. Not a huge surprise or anything but just A Little Something bc i want to 🫂)

I know im probably gonna drop tomorrow and get nothing done, but for today. For today, I am vaguely productive 🙌!

[eagehaunting]

Mystery March 2021 day 8: Home

I used today as an excuse to write out a little something on how Lewis took possession of the mansion! I hope you guys enjoy!

Lewis wasn’t sure how long he had been in this mansion. If he could focus enough to estimate, probably a few days, if worse came to worse, probably months.

And yet, he still hadn’t cleaned... Lewis turns a corner and takes in the long, dusty corridor. The many rickety doors stared back at him mockingly. The rugs hissed as they crunch under his shoes. The peeling wall paper threatened him with every step that he took.

“Lewis, what are you doing?” Comes a voice to his left, shocking Lewis out of his exhausted stupor and bringing him to look at the wall- more appropriately, the portrait. The woman with fine purple curls- Faust- stares back at him pointedly. “Well?”

“I... I wanted to get out of my room,” he admits, before his eyes wander to the mildew forming beside the portraits golden frame. “But now I remember why I didn’t want to come out.”

“Oh, don’t be like that. I know it seems difficult now, but it’ll become easier. I promise.”

His frown deepens, and Lewis sighs miserably while leaning against the wall across from her. “I know.. I just don’t think I’m ready.”

“Why’s that?”

“I haven’t gotten a hand on my powers. Not yet, ” Lewis admits, chewing on his lip. Faust rolls her eyes, but props her elbows on her frame. Even though she couldn’t poke her head out far enough, Lewis understood the sentiment.

“Lewis, look at me.” He drags his gaze to meet hers. Faust’s eyebrows soften, and she heaves a gentle sigh and leans out a bit more, letting her curls fall out and touch the dirtied ground. “Being dead is tough, trust me, I know. Being in your shoes is also hard, and I can’t imagine how much it’s hurting you to deal with what happened.” The almost condescending tone- something Lewis knew he was imagining - made him flinch, averting his gaze to the painted tree in Faust’s background. He almost regrets sharing all of his backstory with her, and if he knew she would have this tone most days, he would have kept his mouth shut.

“The house is ready to accept you, and so are all the occupants. We will stand behind you every step of the way.”

Lewis grimaces, but nods. There wasn’t a point in fighting her right now. He had a good feeling all of the other portrait ghosts would be on her side too. It only makes sense. Lewis did accept the role as the new owner... he just had to take control, let his power manifest.

Now if only it wasn’t so hard.

Clicking her tongue, Faust straightens up. “Worry not, Lewis. You don’t have to do it this instant, the moon is still out and clearly you aren’t in the right state of mind. Now...”

A distant familiar clacking of metal grew nearer. As two suits of armor step into the entrance of the hall, they cast Lewis a worried look. One that Lewis doesn’t return, instead opting to glare at the stained rug.

Faust continues, “I think it’s time for you to go back to sleep. We will figure your abilities out tomorrow.”

Lewis follows the guards up the steps, and then up another. The wall paper, bricks, and windows full of moonlight blurs together until it accumulates into one door. His door. Leading to the single highest room in the entire mansion.

The guards take their stand on either side of it, nodding to Lewis carefully and not waiting for him to nod back before stilling.

“Thank you, sir Clive, sir Ranveer.” Lewis murmurs, pushing open the door and stepping in.

The room is simple, despite the elegant state one may expect. An old, wooden bed frame, scratchy wool blankets and a silk top sheet. Light pink curtains that flutter in the open window. Lamps on either side of the bed that didn’t actually turn on.

His room, and yet far from it.

Pulling the blankets aside, Lewis crawls into the bed, nestling his face against the pillow and pretending like he couldn’t smell the light stench coming from it.

Tomorrow he will take hold of his power, and he will make this mansion his home.

His home, for him and all the spirits already residing within it.

Lewis’s eyes moisten as he falls into his ‘slumber’. Praying for no nightmares.

“Im going to take the lower path, why don’t you two take the other... don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine! I have Mystery.”

“Dont cling to Lewis too much Ar...”

The moss and slimy green walls reflected like a million eyes. All watching. All staring.

Even as Lewis peered up at his own hand, clutching his torch, knowing what was to happen... he wished more than anything that he could simply turn around.

His stomach drops, his blood runs cold. The sudden halt broke his fall, his spine bent oddly and digging behind his bellybutton.

Cold. Cold. Yet so hot.

Empty. Yet rushing. A river, but still. There was so much light at first, and then it was so dark. Growls, howls, screams of every kind...

Loneliness.

All he wanted... was for them to come back. Save him.

Of all the memories Lewis had to revisit, why did it always have to be this one?

There was still gaps, such as the moment when he hit the spike, and when he forced himself up. How he even did it, Lewis wasn’t sure, but he couldn’t focus on that when the gaping wounds in his chest filled with with and stung from the cold.

His legs still ached from the stillness and the fatigue, and from the exhaustion of being awake despite dying. He wobbled far, tracing his dead fingers along slimy walls and against currents of chittering laughs. Then the constant thought. A mantra. Over and over. Come back for me. Come back, please.

Wake him up from this bad dream.

If only he accepted that it wasn’t going to happen...

He didn’t know where he was going, nor how long he was going to walk, but Lewis didn’t stop until he was face to face with a tall metal gate that shined unlike the eyes in the walls.

The rusted lock doesn’t break, but Lewis pushes through like jelly.

The staircase was a nightmare. Transitioning from cave stone to proper granite the higher he ascended. All while the prickling sensation of being watched crept up his back and urged his weak and heavy body to move faster.

Lewis ‘wakes up’ up with a shallow gasp. Eyes wide, he pants. Slowly turning his head, a layer of sticky sweat clings to Lewis’s face. He wipes it away and peels back the blanket, crawling out of the bed as the lingers of his ‘dream’ fights to hold the forefront of his mind.

His friends... they still haven’t come back for him. The guards would have alerted him if they returned to the cave, and Lewis would have been rushing out the doors if he heard the familiar engine.

They weren’t here. Lewis isn’t sure why he kept expecting them to suddenly show up.

Pushing himself to move, Lewis hops into a float and drifts to the door. Figuring that he may as well show that he has a grasp on some of his new abilities, now he just needed to realize what his main skillset was.

The guards lead him down the flight of stairs, past the library, and the office, and to the largest room in the mansion.

The living room was filled with an air of elegance, even if covered in dust and mildew. Several portraits line the walls beside the mighty fireplace, and leading to it was two long couches and an even longer coffee table. Book cases sat in between the tall windows, and smaller spaces left unused seemed to act as their own mini lounge, with a smaller bookcase, chair, table, and lamp.

Lewis compared it to a community center before, but now it felt like a stage.

More guards file in behind Lewis, with Sir Clive and Ranveer taking their positions behind him. He could feel a heavy, although gentle pat on his back from Ranveer.

After that, the dozen or so smaller, formless and colorless ghosts fly in and take their seats on the cushions.

The fireplace before him seemed to smile at him. With its decorations acting as its wise and considering eyes.

A line of sweat slides down Lewis’s cheek. Now wasn’t the time for stage fright, but his legs lock up in their floating position. He inhaled slowly.

“Psst.”

Glancing over, Lewis catches the soft, affectionate smile on Faust’s face. She tilts her head. “You got this.”

Lewis balls his fists, ”Do I? I really didn’t expect everyone to gather for this...” he admits.

“We know.” The portrait of the priest, Father Zachariah, responds. He gives Lewis a stern look, reminding Lewis to stand straight. “We didn’t want this to be a private affair. If you are really taking over this mansion like you said you would, then we have to right to partake in your awakening.”

“Aw jeez, give the man a break, will ya?” Another portrait, Terri to wrestler reaches out and fists some of Zachariahs robe, glaring at him. “Can’t you see he’s nervous?” He then says, throwing out his hand in a grand gesture toward Lewis, who shrinks back slightly.

Tamaki, the attorney, rolls his eyes dramatically and pinches his brow. “Lewis, I can assure you this isn’t a judgment, quite the contrary. We knew that it would have been hard for you to do this on your own, so we are providing an ample amount of support throughout the activities. Do you understand?”

He nods, unsure how else to respond, although the exhaustion made Lewis want to join the spirits on the couch and take a long nap.

The two portraits of shadows, Haseeb and Ameena, also nod in tandem. “Yes, Lewis. Infact, since you enjoyed music, we wanted to bring out the excitement.... I hope you’re okay with that.”

“Speaking of which,” Faust pipes up, leaning out of her frame and narrowing her eyes at the spirits sat on the couch. “Weren’t you all supposed to grab your instruments? Where are they!”

The colorless ghosts jump and flash past Lewis in one synchronized movement, before rushing back just as quickly. Returning with old violins, cellos, flutes, clarinets, and trumpets. Two more lag behind, with a cymbals, and one final one dragging something heavy. He turns, eyes widening as a singular spirit drags a *piano* from a closet he didn’t remember being there.

”Hold on, I’ll help you.” he says before realizing he was moving, that is until he floats past to the other side of the piano and bracing itself underside. Only for the spirit to send him an anxious look.

Oh.. it’s probably too heavy for them to also lift. Lewis spots the mini orchestra and waves them over. ”We need more hands, come over here and help up.”

Abandoning their instruments, several more spirits rush and brace the other side, allowing the piano to be lifted and carried earlier.

“Yeah you deadbeats! Why do you need his command to get a move on?” Terri calls, anything but cruel however. Deadbeats... that’s an interesting term. Lewis faintly ponders as he sets the piano down, before going to retreat the stool.

At the same time, the living rooms doors open, and the puny skeletal gardener drags in the painter spirit.

“Rye! Thank you for fetching Elora.” Tamaki says.

“Oh eff off,” Rye responds, plopping down on one of the chairs and sinking down. “I was busy trying to save up my energy for tonight’s show. You want there to be flowers, right?”

Flowers?

“Yep, thats why the windows are open. Let’s wait until Lewis is prepared however.”

”N-no need to wait, I’m ready now,” Lewis squeaks out, clearing his throat as he turns and takes in the grumpy strawberry looking gardener.

Rye bobs their skull and spins away from him, “Fantastic.”

She raises her arms, and in a swift motion, glows the same ripe red color as her dress. All at once, the windows are swarmed with vines. Green foliage spilling in, connecting across the ceiling, draping and tangling amongst the curtains, and wrapping around the stone busts on the bookcases. It happened so fast that Lewis couldn’t react. Instead he gaps up at the magnificent display, watching as floral arrangements burst, forming meticulously designed patterns along the entire room.

When he finally tears his gaze away from the display, Lewis is met with calm, expectant smiles.

“Ready whenever you are, bucko.” Rye pats his arm and reclaims her seat, leaving him in the center of his imaginary stage.

Now, his anchor beats twice as fast, almost overwhelmed by all of the effort, all the eyes sim directly at him.

Pressing his finger tips together, Lewis wets his lips. Several heads tilt as they wait.

Clearing his throat, Lewis lowers his head,”... I’m sorry. What am I supposed to do first?”

Faust gasps lightly, the first to realize their crucial mistake. Ignoring Terri’s chiding, she clears her throat.

“Of course, Lewis, the first thing we need you to do, is concentrate on your internal thoughts. As you do, try to figure out which emotion or feeling is more prominent.”

A single note plays from the deadbeat sat at the piano, followed by the violin, and a growing hum from the others who hadn’t begun to playing. Lewis’s heart skips a beat, and he bites his lip as he closes his eyes. The piano continues, the notes floating through his mind and striking chords that were far from forgotten.

A new set of voices fill in the emptiness between notes, running alone side the piano and dancing along with the violin. A flute begins, and Lewis sharply inhales.

He loves music, he always has, it always made him want to dance. Grab the first person in arms length and pull them close, whether it be the waltz or a swing, it filled him with warm laughs that always spread across his face in a smile. A familiar tingle fills his arms, and Lewis is sure that he can feel Vivi in front of him, swaying as they listened to the music. The warmth grows as she fills his minds eye. Her soft scarf tangled in between them, how her skirt swirled and swished as she spun and dance, leaving him warm in the face and his chest full of bubbling warmth.

Warmth. He felt warm.

That certain warmth fills his hands, tingling at his finger tips and running along his scalp.

The room smelt faintly of decay and staleness, but a memory envelopes him, and Lewis is in his families kitchen. Dancing in place and singing at the top of his lungs with his sisters twirling around him. Cinnamon, garlic, sugars and herb fills his nostrils. The lavender and sweet floral in the air elevating the smells of their garden which he pranced through many times during the warm summer nights. The bonfires, the flare of heat from the oven, the thick humidity in a late evening as Lewis arm wrestles with his much scrawnier friend.

The warm spreads up his elbow and all along his back. Before Lewis knew it, the singing, the music grew loud, amplifying as more instruments add to the mix, and as his own voice joins them. A crash of the cymbals becomes the splash of the beach, and the laughter chittering along with it.

His heart races, and the warmth becomes hot and exhilarating as he recalls the endless nights of fondness. Of redness in his cheeks from drinking alongside his friends, on his tongue as he taste tests his fathers latest recipe, and the swell of pride upon seeing Cayennes first ballet recital.

Pride, love, happiness.

Spastic notes become fireworks. Blasting, rocketing, exploding across the night sky. It becomes the crash and crackle of buildings as he and his friends rush from burning buildings, away from spirits whose voice booms too loud. The warmth spreads to his legs, in the ache of running, carrying his friends over his shoulders in a desperate need to escape. As his heart burns in the terror of thinking they were hurt. In wanting to slam his fist into the fiends face for daring to threaten his loved ones.

The guards dance with him, metal clacking and sparking. Lights spot the area as Lewis shoots out his arms and pulls one in against his chest to spin in tandem, before releasing them in a dramatic flourish.

Anger, fear, the need to protect.

His friends, his family.

The loves of his life-

Lewis opens his eyes, and the passion fueling his movements die in an instant.

His hand glows, his arm flaring. A line of fire burns away from him, pink and flaming and just as excited as he was. Gasping, Lewis tears himself away, slipping and hitting the ground. The music screeches to a halt all at once. Everyone freezing.

“Lewis, are you okay?” Faust calls out, gripping her frame as if she were going to rip herself out of it. Concern warping her face, along with the other portraits, the ghosts, everyone.

“You were doing good!” Terri says, “don’t tell me you got cold feet!”

Tamaki nods in agreement, “it’s truly delightful to see you smile for once. I was worried we would never see it.”

Shoulders tense, Lewis’s eyebrows furrow.

That... was him?

Baffled, Lewis holds his hand in front of him, and sure enough his palm was glowing. He tenses the muscles, and he jumps as a small flame puffs out at him.

”I- wait, seriously? I did it?”

“Yes, you did. Marvelous work, Lewis.” Zachariah hums approvingly. The warmth- embarrassment and concern- floods his chest, before Lewis is smothered by smiling deadbeats swarming him in a hug. Curling around him and nuzzling their formless heads against his.

His legs twitch as Lewis rises, floating naturally instead of jumping this time, and becoming upright.

Everyone is smiling at him, faces warm and bright with delight. Warm with the same sentiment, that it was time to make this his home...

He knew it, they knew it, that had to be the entire point of everyone gathering. Not to help him, but to watch him accept them as his new family... leaving his old.

Leaving his family, and his friends...

Faust is the first to speak, eyes crinkling. “Are you ready?”

What about Vivi? Arthur? How is he going to be there for his sisters? How can he keep his friends safe if he can’t be there for them. He can’t abandon them. Because they won’t abandon him. They wouldn’t. They’re coming back for him.

”No. I’m not.”

The disappoint was clear by the stilted air. But no one argued with him. The deadbeats had sunk, their instruments hitting the ground in shock, before being lifted up and taken back to their proper places. The vines retreat and retract, and quietly, the spirits all left the living space. Even the first place seemed to grow cold, if that was even possible.

Lewis didn’t say anything to the portraits when he left the room and raced upstairs to his tower of solitude. The same thought racing through his head again and again.

They’re coming. They will.

Soon. Soon...

Soon...?

Feeling trapped and terribly homesick, Lewis crawls under his blankets. His eyes sting from moisture that shouldn’t accumulate in the sockets, but he wipes them away anyway. Pulling the blanket over his head, Lewis curls into a ball.

Why did it hurt so much reject them? Why did it hurt so much to hold off for so long?

What was he expecting? For Arthur and Vivi to pull up in their bright Orange van and pull him out of the bed, pull him into an embrace, and into the van. Whisk him away so he can embrace his mami and papi, kiss his sisters and tell them how much he missed them.

Why was he even holding out hope? They arent coming back! Why would they...

Arthur killed him... Lewis’s arms shake and he grips the blankets. Arthur shoved him off that fucking cliff with a smile on his face. He should be grateful for anyone to accept him into their family.

He wanted to slam his fist into his gut, to direct the pain from his aching chest. Lewis wanted his eyes to stop stinging.

But he couldn’t. Home was where they were, and he has been thrown away.

Lewis fell into a half sleep, living through the same memory of his death again and again. Watching as his nightmare loops with his life being torn from his grasp with a single push.

That one moment of inaction, the one second of trust. And now?

Lewis is dead.

The memory looped for a fifth time, with Lewis desperately searching for an escape from the grip of reality, when the universe finally gives him one.

An engine. It’s not loud, and it rattles lightly. Lewis pops awake, disoriented from the jarring switch from the cave to his bed, but he disregards it.

Tearing the blankets, an adrenaline thrashes through him. Warmth, heat, rocketing through him. It burns his soles as the impossible dangles right in front of him.

It can’t be, is it really them?

Are they here for him?

Lewis’s anchor skips a beat as he almost falls down the first set of steps. Before he hits the steps face first, his body vanishes in a burst of flame and reappears with a running start at the bottom. The halls wake up with the pound of his feet and his heart, and Lewis forgets that others lived on this decrepit mansion as he races to the main stairway, leading to the front door.

He expects specks of blue, yellow, and white to meet him there. For smiles to spread across their face as they run to swallow him in a hug.

Lewis freezes. Heart going still. Heat draining as he takes it in...

There’s four people, who he hardly recognizes, except for the role they were trying to play as they whisper amongst themselves.

”This place wasn’t here a few days ago.” “do you think it’s a trap?” “Do you think anyone’s here?”

Paranormal investigators...

They start to wander, poking at the busts and pushing open doors, unaware of Lewis staring at them.

It’s not them, his friends aren’t coming.

Now strangers are in ... in this mansion, disturbing the people who have been nothing but kind to Lewis.

The need to protect returns, strong and lashing as his fists ball up, tears stinging his eyes.

Teeth grinding, heat pools into his hands, and fire spits out like sparks of electricity. Finally grabbing the investigators attention as he stomps on the first step. The fire crackles, leaving a singed footprint in its place, but Lewis doesn’t care. Focusing on the bug eyed look of the four intruders who back away in mounting terror as the flames rise.

Breath coming out in hisses, Lewis growls. ”Get out.”

It was enough to send the four scrambling for the door, the engine roaring again as they undoubtedly piled in. Just in time for the suits of armor to clamber behind him, looking around in shock until they see him.

The furious gaze didn’t die upon seeing them. No. Except Lewis turns away from them and floats to the bottom step, theres a strain on his body that extinguishes the fire in his hands, but that didn’t matter.

Lewis rounds the corner, leaving a trail of smoking fire pits in his wake.

Until he’s stood in front of the fireplace, the hearth that he was instructed to simply light it to accept his place as the homes new owner and protector.

His first family protected him, but his loved ones ended his life. Now it’s his turn to ensure the safety of the only family he may have left.

Lewis’s arm wavers as he lifts it up, a ball of fire burning his palm and spitting in every which direction as he glares at the fireplace, whose glass doors open wide.

The flame shoots out, and upon making contact with the bricks and wood, the entire mansion lights up in a magical blast. Transforming peeling wallpaper to freshly striped, strewing chandeliers in every room it could fit, burning away the rot and leaving the floors warm and spotless.

Everything around him changed in an instant, but Lewis doesn’t see it.

His anchor hits the ground with a soft clink, hot to the touch and wet with tears.

[youvebeenlivingfictional]

Love Isn’t Always on Time Part Sixteen

Previous Part | Next Part | Masterlist Notes: Roessel isn’t a real place in Germany. Pretty sure. I googled it and couldn’t find anything (which is what I wanted but like if it’s a real place and Google lied pls tell me??) Not Beta-Read. Warnings: Some violence; injury CW

Summary: I had figured that, as a soldier, I’d manage war just fine, but this was brutal. I couldn’t find a single mission that I’d run in my time at S.H.I.E.L.D to prepare me.

Sometimes your loved ones believe you no matter what. Other times, you tell your loved ones that you’re a special agent from the future and they tell you to cut the shit.

—

“You alright over there?” I shot Dum-Dum my best smile, doing my best to ignore my fatigue.

“Right as rain, thanks,” I said. He smiled, patting my shoulder and he passed me to roll out his bedroll. We’d been on the road for months, slogging through enemy territory and taking out Hydra bases. It felt like the cameras were never far behind, focusing on Steve and the others. That was fine with me. I didn’t need the attention or want it. But then, neither did Bucky and Steve. I glanced up as Bucky rolled his bedroll out beside mine, plopping down on it tiredly. “Took a pretty hard hit today,” He commented, looking me over. I shrugged. “Wasn’t the only one. ‘m fine.” Bucky gave me a long look like he wanted to say something else, but instead, he kept his mouth shut and gave me a curt nod. I was slowly earning the guys’ trust back, but Bucky was even slower to it than Steve was. Maybe it was what had happened to him on that base that made him so wary of me. I had told the boys, in no uncertain terms, that if they really didn’t trust me, they had the option to turn me into Phillips, have me investigated. They didn’t call my bluff. In my clearest moments, I told myself it was a deep, lingering trust; in my darkest, I let myself believe that they still loved me. I had figured that, as a soldier, I’d manage war just fine, but this was brutal. I couldn’t find a single mission that I’d run in my time at S.H.I.E.L.D to prepare me. Some things, the fighting, the shooting, I could handle fine. But it was relentless. I kept reminding myself that things could change; that the war would end; that I’d find a way to keep Bucky safe and Steve out of the ice. I wasn’t sure how I’d do it yet, but I’d manage, consequences be damned. —

“Are you asleep?” I opened my eyes to see Steve peering down at me. I shook my head. He nodded me up and I sat up, looking around. The others were asleep; it must’ve been Steve’s watch. I got up, following Steve over to his post and sitting beside him. “How’s your arm?” I asked. Steve glanced down, eyeing the bandage of the spot a bullet had grazed only hours before. “It’s alright. Should be healed by tomorrow.” I snorted quietly, shifting in my spot and resting my chin on my hand. We sat in silence for a while. “So why’d you get me up?” I asked, looking over at Steve. He shrugged a shoulder. “We haven’t had… Much time,” He said. “For what?” “Talk. We used to talk all the time.”

“And you used to shorter. Things change.” Steve smiled a little bit, head dropping forward. I reached out, lightly rubbing between his shoulders. “How have you been handling all of this?” I asked, “It’s a lot to handle in a short amount of time.” “Think it’d be worse if I didn’t have you and Bucky around. It’s hard, it is, but… You, the Howlies…” He glanced back at the others before looking forward again. “It feels right. Helping. Not like Bucky wanted, me staying back at home.” “Bucky said that because he wanted to protect you,” I pointed out softly. He nodded. “I can appreciate that now that things are…” “Different,” I finished. Steve hummed before he turned back to me. “Did you ever think you’d be here?” I pulled my knees up to my chest, wrapping my arms around them. “Here specifically? On the forest floor in the middle of Germany? I’m going to have to say no, this was nowhere in my life plan growing up.” We shared a smile. “But,” I went on, “After being with you two for a few months, I knew I would follow you anywhere.” Steve looked my face over before he reached out, cupping my cheek. “You scared me out there, today,” He said softly. I turned my head into his hand, pressing a kiss to his palm. “And you’ve scared me every damn day I’ve known you, Steve. We might almost be even by the time we get home.” “Makes two of us.” We turned back to see Bucky coming up behind us. He settled on my other side, nudging his knee with mine. “You and I might be even by the time we get out of here, too.” I smiled, shrugging. “Maybe, but I doubt it. You on that… That table,” I mumbled. Bucky wrapped his arm around my shoulder, drawing me into his chest and pressing a gentle kiss to my head. “Won’t ever have to see anything like that again. That’s a promise.” I didn’t respond, reaching out and taking hold of one of Steve’s hands in my own. If I closed my eyes, we were back on our couch in Brooklyn.

—

“We’re not sending anyone there.” I woke up to the sound of Bucky’s voice. I wasn’t sure what was going on, but he was not happy. “We need an eye on the inside—“  That was Steve.

“And it is not going to be you.” Bucky again. I pushed myself up on my bedroll, scrubbing my hands over my face. “We’ve got our faces splashed all over newsreels, and you’re public enemy number one, Cap,” Dum-Dum pointed out, “The world’s seen all of us.” I pushed myself up, walking over to the Jeep where the others were looking over a map. “Not all of us,” I pointed out, looking down at the markers before turning my eyes to Steve. “Where’s the fight?” Steve and Bucky turned to me, horrified. “No—“ Bucky started, but was cut off by Morita: “We got a message from Phillips. There’s a base in Roessel. It’s completely new, top of the line facility. We think they’re trying to construct a new type of bomb.” “We’ve got proof?” I asked. “Scouts, some photographs, but nothing solid,” Jones said, “No one’s been able to get close enough. We need someone on the inside… I’m assuming that’s what woke you up.” “It is,” I confirmed, giving him a small, tired smile before turning back to Steve and Bucky. “You know they’ve been filming around me. I’m unrecognizable. I’ll go in, get some pictures, take some notes, get out.” Steve’s mouth was set in a grim line. “She’s our best hope, Cap,” Dernier pointed out. Steve glanced at him before turning back to me. “You’re sure you wanna do this?” “Wouldn’t have volunteered if I didn’t,” I pointed out. “Let me pack up and I’ll be ready to roll out.” “Bucky’ll drop you five miles outside of the base’s limits. We leave at 0800.” I nodded, stepping away from the truck.

“You’re sure you want to do this.” I turned back to see Steve standing over me as I rolled up my pack. “Course I am,” I straightened up, “It’s just recon, simple.” “You need to get in and out of there, and quick. There’s that—“ “Train. Zola’s train, I know. I’ll be back well before we need to make our way there.” I reached up, giving Steve’s shoulder a squeeze. He glanced around, concerned that one of the others would see before he swooped in for a quick, firm kiss. “You come back in one piece,” He ordered. I smiled, giving him a quick, mocking salute. “Sir, yessir.” —

“In all the time I known ya, this has gotta be the dumbest thing you’ve ever done,” Bucky commented dryly. I smiled. “I think you and Steve are rubbin’ off on me.” “Me an’ Steve? Oh no no. This is just Steve. All of this is just Steve,” He said, waving his hand vaguely at me while keeping his eyes on the road. I snorted, leaning back against the seat. “… You promise me you’ll be careful?” Bucky asked quietly.  I turned my head to look over Bucky’s forehead. He was frowning deeply, brow furrowed, and I knew for sure that it wasn’t the rough terrain we were driving over. “I swear, Buck,” I said, matching his tone. He nodded before he reached a hand out for mine. I took it, intertwining our fingers. He lifted it to his mouth, pressing a kiss to the back of my hand. “End of the road,” He said, stopping the truck at the tree line. I nodded, giving his hand a gentle squeeze before letting go and getting my bag from the floor.  I made to get out of the car, but I felt Bucky’s hand on my knee. I turned back to face him, brow raised, questioning. He leaned over, kissing me warmly. I leaned into him, resting my hand on his cheek and holding him close. He rested his forehead against mine. “I’ll see you in a few hours,” I promised. “You radio if you need help,” Bucky said firmly. “I promise,” I said firmly before getting out of the car. — “You promised,” Bucky grumbled. I didn’t answer, too tired to say a word. I’d been ambushed inside the factory and had barely made it out with the camera film and my life. Rather than lead them back to Bucky I had taken a long way back to Bucky’s hiding place, and had bled through my shirt by the time I reached the truck. I winced as Steve stitched my side. “… We need to get you somewhere safe to recover,” Steve said softly. I shook my head. “I’m not leaving—“ “It’s an order,” Steve said firmly, “I’ve already radio’d Phillips, you’re going back with the film crew tomorrow.” I turned my head, eyeing him. “But who will look after you two?”

— “Promise me one thing?” I asked, watching Bucky load the remaining equipment on the plane. “Why, because you keep all of yours?” He asked bitterly. “Buck,” I whined. He turned back to me, resting his hands in his pockets. “What is it you want me to promise?” He asked. “…Don’t get on that train tomorrow.”

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[min-hyyun]

God’s Punishment

summary: seeing a little brown and white kitten meowing outside your door at four in the morning isn’t exactly what you’d call an ideal all-nighter. but when receiving the kitten turns into something else, you just end up realizing that you’re in for one heck of a month.

genre: fluff n tiny angst

a/n: i love animals n everyong (i didn’t mean for this to be so long lmao srry) ((maybe an alt angst ending if y'all want???))

—

→ okay so basically, you’re in love with kittens. → and receiving one at four in the morning on a tuesday night was a very nice surprise. → especially when you’ve been drowning in work and stress that won’t stop → so let’s elaborate on this fine night. → you had just come home from the usual late night at work, and was literally about to pass out from the fatigue. → it was 3:30 am and you knew that there was no way you’d be able to make it to your room without tripping all over yourself. → so you settled for the couch that had the tv and kitchen near it. → you opened the front door, and threw your shoes off your aching feet. → “oh my god… i’m so tired.” you whined, simply moving towards the couch and falling face first into the maroon cushions. → you almost cried from the amount of pain your body was in. → you hated life the most right now. → so once you had fallen onto the couch, not bothering to even change into proper clothes are take off your make up, you were pretty much almost asleep. → that was, until there was a burst of thunder and rain started to pour down heavily. → the drops hit the windows hard, making loud noises that immediately startled you from your much needed slumber.  → you jolted up, eyes wide and mind jumbled. → you calmed down after seeing the situation outside, and got up to get a cup of cold water, getting ready to pull an all-nighter to finish your studies and extra work. → “god.. i’ll never be able to sleep if this is what’s gonna happen.” you complained, finishing your second cold glass of water. → it seemed that there was always something that stopped you from resting. → you dragged yourself to your room, grabbed the essentials needed for the night, and unhappily sat down in front of the coffee table that you very much wanted to smash. → you took out all of your work, and began to do the things you wished didn’t existed. → about 20 minutes into the session, you heard a quiet sound coming from your door. → it almost sounded like scratching. → you paused in your movements, and turned to look at the door → what the heck… → to say that you were scared was an understatement. → yOU WERE TERRIFIED ! → there it was again. → the weird, but decipherable sound that was extremely similar to someone scratching hard at the wood on your door. → grabbing the object closest to you, which happened to be a hard-cover book, you slowly stood up and tip-toed towards the entrance. → in the heat of the moment, you swung open the door, holding the book in front of your face and closing your eyes. → that was when you heard a faint meow. → wHAT THE HECKADOODLE ! → your eyes turned big, upon noticing a small, brown and white kitten who simply stared up at you with its big brown orbs, meowing once again. → “what the…” you whispered. → why was there a kitten sitting outside of your door at four am on a tuesday night meowing??????? → you bent down and hesitantly stuck your hand out to the cat, letting it lick your finger once. → this was all so weird. → “hey little guy, what are you doing out here?” as you said this, you gently thrusted your hands towards the harmless kitten. → it slowly climbed onto your hands, walked in a couple circles, and finally settled into the centre of your palms. → it nuzzled its head into the crook of your thumb, and quietly purred. → yOUR HEART ! → this cat was so cute. → it made you feel calm. → you stood up, the kitten still curled up in your palms, and looked to both sides of the hallway in the apartment building. → all the lights were off, and there was no sign of recent activity that could’ve happened. → shaking your head, you walked back inside to your apartment and quietly shut the door with your foot. → the kitten was asleep, but was awakened by the sound of the door shutting harder than you had intended. → “oops.” you smiled sheepishly down at the kitten, who had now uncurled from its position and stood up on all four legs. → you moved towards the couch again, where all your previous work healing-unicorn. → the cat meowed again, and jumped onto the sofa from your hand as soon as you got close enough. → it continued to walk around on the cushions, before looking at you again and purring. → “so…” you started, rubbing a pillow and cuddling into it. → “how did you get here?” → all it did was come towards you, use its little teeth and bite the sleeve of your sweater that was laying on a small sliver of the couch, and pull towards the other end of it. → “huh? what do you want?” → the kitten continued to pull so you complied and moved, laying your full body onto the surface. → the kitten meowed the loudest you ever heard, since it’s presence showed itself to you. → you smiled and giggled at the cuteness, letting your much-needed sleep come over you, as well as the furball who decided to cuddle between your arm and body. → okay so fast forward to the next morning. → instead of waking up on the couch you ended up on the floor. → your back ached from being against the hardwood for the majority of the night. → you sat up, mind still cloudy but slowly coming back together. → as soon as you realized that you were awake completely, you looked beside you to the couch. → well, you could only turn your head so far, until you knocked your forehead into something hard. → “ouch! what the..?” → oH MY LORD ! → THERE WAS A BOY SLEEPING ON YOUR COUCH ! → AND HE WAS SHIRTLESS ! → your eyes widened, and you shouted. → “WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN MY APARTMENT?” → the loudness of your voice woke him up, and once he laid his eyes on you, he moved back in shock. → but after a couple seconds, the shock disappeared and he gave you a slight grin. → “uh.. hi. im seongwoo..?” → you were still scared for your life LOL. → you stood up, hands trembling from the scare. → he stood up as well, and you clearly saw his defined abs. → you instantly blushed, turning away so that he didn’t see your face turn beet red. → he must’ve been embarrassed too, because he grabbed the nearby pillow laying on the couch. → “im sorry! uh, this is a little bit awkward, huh?” → a littLE BIT ????? → THIS IS VERY AWKWARD !! → “what are you doing in my apartment? i dont remember knowing a ‘seongwoo’.” you turned back around and glared at him intensely. → “you see…” he started, scratching the back of his neck, “i may or may not have been the kitten that you took in yesterday.” → you gave him a confused looked that for sure, told him he was crazy. → “believe it or don’t. all i know, is that i’m stuck with you until god decides that this punishment’s over and i can go back up to heaven.” → you gave him a suspicious look, and eyed him up and down. → he didn’t seem harmful, but there could’ve been something bad under that so-called “innocence”. → “sit, and explain everything to me in detail.” → a good hour passed by, and you now had full knowledge of seongwoo and why he was here. → so to quickly break it all down. → seongwoo’s an angel who takes care of cats. → he did something bad in heaven (by bad he means that he accidentally dropped a cat and broke its neck oOF). → so to serve time in return for hurting the kitten, he has to live on earth as your kitten/pet for a month before going back. → during the day, he’s human but at exactly 7:00 pm, he turns back into a kitten. → for the first few days, he dreaded life with you. → he was quite energetic and wanted to do a lot of stuff. → but because you were always so busy, coming home late at night and always working during the day, he hated not being able to do anything. → especially when he couldn’t go out. → a factor god put on him, was that he was basically tied to your apartment.

→ the poor guy was forbidden to leave, and seongwoo always complained about that.

→ after a couple weeks passed by, he was content and didn’t really complain or whine anymore. → you bought him stuff to do or play with so that he wouldnt be so bored all the time while you were gone. → on days that you were home, he was so happy. → interacting with someone else other than in a game was something he needed. → somehow during all of this, you managed to fall in love with him. → even though it seemed silly. → being with him throughout that one month made you happier than expected, and you came to love his craziness that you thought was cute. → not to mention the adorableness coming form him when he was a kitten. → but as the end of the month came around, seongwoo seemed to be getting more distant and cold towards you. → he always complained or was rude when you talked to him, and didn’t interact with you as much. → and when he was in cat form, instead of cuddling into your arm like usual, he slept somewhere else away from you. → you were getting sad and confused at his actions, because where did the old seongwoo go ???? → on the very last day of his punishment, you confronted him as he was getting a book to read from your shelf. → “seongwoo,” you grabbed his arm and turned him around. → he looked at you, surprised, but then furrowed his eyebrows. → “what you do want, Y/N?” → his tone was harsh, and your heart broke a little. → “why are you acting like this? i thought everything was going well between us?” → he ripped his arm out of your grasp, staring at your hand that was just resting on his a second ago. → “nothing’s wrong…” he grumbled, and stared at him. → “seongwoo, you’ve become so distant and moody. there’s definitely something wrong, just tell me.” → suddenly, he threw his arms up in the air, and shouted. → “i like you, okay!? and i dont want to go back to heaven…” → there are no words to describe the shock you felt after he said that. → “…what?” → he continued with a frustrated expression. → “i like you a lot. but i’m leaving you, literally tomorrow. do you know how much that hurts me? to leave someone you like who probably doesn’t even like you back in the first place?! my heart hurts, and its been hurting for a while now! i dont even know how i fell for you, maybe it’s because you smell really ni-“ → you cut off his rambling with a tight hug. → you smiled through the fabric of the sweater he was wearing. → “stop talking, and just hug me back.” → you could feel seongwoo tense up, but slowly put his arms around your smaller frame. → “Y/N.. why are you hugging me?” → your rolled your eyes, smile getting wider. → “you’re such a dummy sometimes. i like you too.” → he sucked in a breath, before tightening his hug. → “really? thats great to hear.” → but the moment didn’t last very long, because he pulled back from the hug with a frown on his lips. → “but, im still leaving tomorrow. us confessing doesn’t change anything.” → you looked down at your feet, grabbing his hands. → “well, i guess we have to make the best of it.” → it was only 4:00 pm, so you still had time to spare and do stuff as human-to-human, rather than human-to-kitten. → of course, you both cuddled and fed each other small marshmallows. → basically you guys just did really cute stuff until 7:00, when seongwoo changed back into a kitten. → it was just around the time you would usually go to sleep, and seongwoo was already resting on the couch as you got ready for bed. → you stared hard into the mirror, tears slowly flowing out of your eyes. → “i don’t want him to go..” you told yourself. → despite your silent protests, there was nothing you could do. → you fell asleep next to the kitten with a frown on your lips. → the next morning, you woke up to strong arms around your waist. → sEONGWOO WAS SPOONING YOU !!!!! → your cheeks immediately heated up, but went away as you remembered what today was. → the day he leaves. → you got up from his grasp, and left for the kitchen. → “seongwoo!” you call out. → he groaned in response, and you smiled sadly, “do you know how you’re leaving?” → you heard a faint grumble and a “no”, taking that as a sign to drop the topic. → as you walked by, you noticed the weather outside begin to get darker and windier. → it was quite nice the whole month, so this abrupt change startled you and seongwoo. → suddenly, rain poured down so hard, you felt the floor shake. → “seongwoo..? whats going on?” you asked, beginning to get scared. → he took a deep breath, opening the window in your living room. → “they’re here to take me back.” → grabbing his arm and pulling him in a tight bear hug, you looked up at him with an unreadable expression . → you weren’t ready for him to go so soon. → and then, just as you thought the winds would take him away, a small, yellow note flew through your windows and landed gracefully onto the floor. → you left seongwoo’s arms, and slowly picked it up. → “theres always an unspoken rule: if you want to become fully human again, draw a black circle on your wrist and blow.” → your eyes widened, so did his. → you stared at each other, no words spoken between you two. → by now, the rain and winds were gone and replaced with a beautiful sunshine. → seongwoo wasted no time in grabbing the black marker that sat on your table, drawing a perfect circle and blowing. → as he blew, the circle slowly disappeared, and the word “human”, bolded in black appeared right after. → everything was silent. → “seongwoo,” you said softly, “are you human now?” → “i think so…” he replied, brows furrowed. → “i just dont understand, why would he let me do this?” → as though someone was there right beside the both of you, there was a whisper. → “you deserve it, seongwoo. love her well, and dont lose her.” → a bright smile replaced the confusion on your face, and you turned to seongwoo, giving him the biggest hug. → “don’t leave me now, seongwoo.” → he laughed, returning the bear hug “i wouldnt dream of it.”