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eufezco · 2 days ago

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BRING YOUR BUCKY TO SCHOOL DAY 𓂃 𓈒 ❀

congressman!dad!bucky x teacher!mom!reader

synopsis – bucky shows up for family friday day for your daughter.

fluff

she was ecstatic.

you could see how her tiny legs swung eagerly from the edge of the chair as she kicked back and forth. her hair was pulled into two pigtails that bounced with every excited shift in her chair. she kept looking at the door, eyes wide, for the moment she'd been waiting for all week.

today was her day to bring her dad to class, and saying she loved her dad was an understatement. she adored bucky.

you tried to keep the lesson moving, but the other kids were also whispering and giggling, feeding off her energy.

outside the classroom, bucky stood, adjusting the cuffs of his suit. he'd fought hydra operatives, aliens, and androids, he'd stood in congress facing the most ruthless critiques, but none of that had made him sweat like this. he was trained to face enemies, not five-year-olds in circle time. today wasn't about politics or missions, it was about being a good dad, the kind who shows up on time, brings the juice boxes, and knows the names of at least three cartoon characters.

—alright, everyone! —you announced, clapping your hands once to pull the kids' attention back to you. —it's time for family friday! —she sat up straighter than you'd ever seen her, eyes moving fast from the door to you and back to the door. —whose parent is coming today?

a chorus of voices answered all at one, —rebecca's!

—can i please go get him? please? pleasepleaseplease?

you laughed, —of course, go ahead.

and she was out of her seat like a rocket, pigtails bouncing, sneakers squeaking across the classroom as she threw the door open and there he was, just where he said he'd be. bucky's eyes met hers and everything felt lighter, the tight lines around his mouth eased, his lips curved into a smile.

she threw her arms around his waist. the kids inside the classroom leaned across their desks, trying to catch a glimpse of the man they'd heard so much about. bucky gently placed one of his hands in the back of her head, steadying himself more than her.

—hey, little one.

—guys? why don't you come in with all of us? —you asked.

—come on, —rebecca murmured. she grabbed his metal hand without hesitation and led him inside the classroom with all the confidence in the world. it didn't occur to her, not even for a second, that bucky might be nervous because to her, he was the bravest person alive.

as they walked in together, the class went silent except for some surprised gasp and quiet murmur. they both stood in the front of the classroom. your daughter's small hand still gripped his metal fingers. you watched them as bucky said good morning to the class and the kids responded with a chorus of greetings. you and bucky shared a quick look and you showed him a soft smile that you hoped it'd let him know how proud you were of him.

—thank you, mr. barnes, for being here with us today.

—thank you for having me.

the exchange was so formal it felt funny, like you were both playing roles. —okay, rebecca, —you said, the smile still on your lips. you had to remind professional but they were so cute together. your daughter looked at you and let go bucky's hand to approach her desk. she grabbed the piece of paper she'd been writing all week. she hurried back to bucky's side, —why don't you introduce your dad to us?

she nodded and looked up at bucky, her eyes sparkling with pride. then her eyes focused on her uneven handwriting on the paper. bucky watched her with a curious tilt of his head, eyebrows raised. he didn't know there would be a paper, something she'd made just for him. you didn't tell him about it, even though you'd watched her all week in class draft and redraft the paper, brows furrowed in that serious way she got that was just like his.

—this is my dad, —she started, voice weak at first thanks to the mix of nervous and excitement. —his name is james, but everyone calls him bucky, and he's a 108 years old.

a few of the kids exchanged wide-eyed glances, unsure if they'd heard that correctly. bucky gave a subtle glance in your direction and you couldn't help but let out a chuckle.

—he works in congress. he helps making laws and he has to wear a suit. this suit, —she pointed at bucky's clothes, making sure everyone saw him clearly. the suit was deep blue, the american flag pinned on the lapel. he was so handsome, especially today, with that sparkle in his eyes that only came when he looked at his little girl. —he's also a superhero like my uncle sam and he has fought a lot of bad people with him.

the kids recognized the name sam because if your daughter didn't brag about who his favorite uncle was at least twice a week, it meant she was probably home sick. bucky let out a quiet laugh and shook his head. he always felt like the word superhero was too big for him, like it belonged to the people who hadn't made the mistakes he had. but coming from her, it felt right-sized, even some quiet earned.

—but a long time ago he used to be a soldier and he had to wear this, —she reached under her t shirt, pulling out his dog tags. they dangled from the chain, too long for her tiny frame and almost reached her belly button as she held them up for everyone to see.

—my favorite memory with him is when this summer we traveled with mom to wakanda. i got to see shuri and she showed me a lot of cool things. wakanda is so beautiful, i like it there, —she cleared her throat. she sounded a little robotic reading, trying hard to read each word exactly as she wrote it, which only made her cuter. —i like when he's home. i like when he plays with me and alpine. i like when his hair is long because i can make him pigtails like mine, —she pointed at her own pigtails. the kids in the classroom giggled and so you did.

—i think he's the bravest dad and the funniest and the best one, and he's also my favorite superhero, —she put down the paper when she finished and everyone in the class started clapping for her, even bucky who was trying to hold it together and had to swallow the lump in his throat.

bucky knelt down and she quickly wrapped her arms around his neck. —you did amazing, bug, thank you, —he whispered. her arms tightened around him.

—it was great, rebecca, thank you, —you said, trying to hide that you've got a little emotional too. —so now, —you clapped, getting everyone's attention. —who has a question for rebecca's dad?

a dozen small hands raised, waving in the air with urgency. some kids even half-stood in their chairs, calling you ms. barnes! ms. barnes! bucky tried not to smile, it felt strange and right at the same time.

—is your dad a robot, 'becca?

your daughter blinked, caught of guard. —he's not a robot, he's my dad, —she looked at you confused. a robot? you smiled to ease her nerves. you knew why the kid was asking, kids notice everything.

—why do you think mr. barnes is a robot?

the kid pointed at bucky's left hand and your daughter's eyes followed his finger. —that's his arm, —she said plainly, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. it was so normal to her that she forgot to mention it on her paper, it was like saying he had brown hair.

—it's metal, —bucky finally spoke, his voice gentle, raising his left arm so the class could get a good look. he slowly opened and closed his fingers, the soft, mechanical sound leaving the kids speechless. —made by really smart people. they built it after i lost my real arm so i could still do everything i used to do.

—and it's so strong and cool, and he can still do everything, like throw me really high in the air and catch me, and also this! —rebecca looked at bucky and he extended his metal arm straight out in front of him, wrist locked. rebecca jumped and wrapped her hands around his forearm, legs swinging beneath her like a tiny acrobat.

a chorus of whoa and giggles filled the room. they asked him a lot of question about his arm: can it break a door? (only if the door really deserves it) can you use it to open pickle jars? (yes) does it hurt, mr. barnes? (not anymore) can it fall off?

—it's not like legos! it's part of him! can your arm fall off? —you daughter said, defensively.

—okay, you can sit now rebecca, thank you, —you jumped gently in before it turned into a debate. she looked at her dad one last time before moving to her desk, —next respectful question for mr. barnes? not about his arm, please, —some kids lowered their hands. —what about if we ask him about his job? —a hand in the back shot up. —yes?

—do you have to do homework in congress?

bucky chuckled, then gave a kid a serious nod. —oh yeah. lots of homework. i have to read really long reports, like this long, —he held his hands apart. —sometimes more. and then i have to write notes and be ready to talk about them in front of a bunch of people.

you bit your lip, fighting the urge to laugh. he did not read a single one of those reports. you shot him a quick, teasing look and he just smiled back at you, as if to say, don't spoil my fun.

—do you live in the white house?

rebecca looked from her sit right, then left, eyebrows raised like she was trying to figure out if the question was a joke. —no! he lives in our house. with me and mom and alpine.

bucky pressed his lips together and nodded, —she's right.

you watched as the questions kept coming, one after another, each more curious than the last. no other dad or mom who had attended to friday family had ever received so many questions. the kids were absolutely fascinated by bucky. and he was handling perfectly, laughing with them, answering to every question kindly, never rushing, making sure each child got their turn, even one of your shyest kids asked him if he could shook his metal hand. bucky looked at you for a quiet okay, then rolled up his sleeve just a little, offering his hand to the kid.

he was doing great and your daughter seemed to know it. she sat up a bit taller, legs still swinging from her chair. while bucky was talking, you caught her sneaking glances at her classmates like saying, see? that's my dad. and the look of pride in rebecca's face as she looked at him calmed every nerve in bucky's body. of course, rebecca didn't know about this but last night, after he tucked her in bed, bucky came into your room, worried about today. what if rebecca realized he wasn't as cool as the other dads? what if she ended up embarrassed by him?

you managed to reassure him enough to get him to sleep but nothing you said compared to the reassurance he felt now, because as he stood there in front of the classroom, surrounded by eager little faces, rebecca's blue eyes, like his, were shining. she wasn't just smiling. she was beaming, like bucky was the best part of her world.

and in the middle of this precious moment, you couldn't help but notice the couple of seats empty at the back of the class.

some parents decided not to bring theirs kids to school that day. when you sent that email to them, announcing that rebecca's dad was next in line for family friday, the last thing you expected was to called into the principal's office the next morning, where you found a handful of moms and dad already seated. are you sure that's appropiate? with his past? some of us are uncomfortable. we don't want our children near him.

you sat through the meeting, jaw tight. be careful, that's my husband you're talking about. you said to one of the moms who was getting to comfortable talking about bucky, tossing around words like unstable and dangerous. you explained that he was pardoned, publicly and legally, so there was no reason to question him. and you said enough, there was no reason you needed to list the therapy appointments, the years of community word, the fact that he woke up every morning wondering if today would be the day everyone finally saw him for who he is, not who he was, all of that for people like them.

and the principal had to side with you. there was no reason for him to stay out of family friday and even though bucky didn't know why those kids weren't here today, and if he asked you wouldn't tell him the truth, you couldn't help but feel bad for him. because he showed up here today just as a dad, doing what be knew best, being there for his daughter.

he stayed during the break and the kids wasted no time. a small group, leaded by rebecca, rushed to him. come on, mr. barnes, we'll show you the reading corner. bucky looked slightly overwhelmed but the smile never left his lips. you moved with them, pointing out little projects hanging on the wall and bucky nodding, paying attention. when the kids huddled up in a corner, discussing which drawings he absolutely had to see first, bucky reached out, his arm slid around your waist as he pulled you closed and you let yourself lean into him.

—you're doing great, —you whispered.

about the drawings, he had already found the one he was most interested in. stuck to the wall, it was almost everything green with colorful flowers and a big lake so he guessed it was meant to be wakanda. in the center were three figures one with your name, next to you it was written me ('becca) and dad (bucky). alpine was there too, a little white cat in the corner, she didn't travel to wakanda but that didn't matter to rebecca, she needed to be included in the drawing.

he pressed a kiss to your temple. you looked at the clock on the wall, —okay, guys, mr. barnes needs to leave now, —you could hear a collective complain, —let's give him a big thank you for coming today.

a chorus of thank you, mr. barnes rang out from the kids, some of them waving excitedly, others wanted one last fist bump from bucky as they called his name, even one, the quietest of your kids, moved toward him and he pressed a golden sticker star onto the vibranium of bucky's hand. —thank you, buddy, —the kid hurried to his place.

rebecca ran to his dad and bucky was quick to catch her in a hug.

—can you stay a bit longer?

—i wish i could, bug, —he pulled back enough to see her face, brushing some dark brown locks like his out of her eyes. —i have to go back to work, but thank you for sharing your class with me, i had so much fun, —rebecca's face scrunched in disappointment, only focusing on the fact that bucky needed to leave. —i'll see you later at home.

—before dinner?

he nodded and she threw her arms around his neck again, tighter this time, hiding her face in the curve of his shoulder. when she finally loosened her grip, bucky gently set her back down on the floor. you walked with him to the door, some kids calling his name one last time. he let out the biggest breath when the door of the class closed behind you, like he'd been holding it in the whole time.

—how was i? i think she was happy, wasn't she? she seemed happy.

you nodded, smiling. —you were amazing, buck, —you tucked in the lapels of his suit jacket, running your thumb over his u.s. flag pin.

—i kept thinking i'd say the wrong thing or that i'd embarrass her.

you shook your head as he spoke. —you didn't. you were patient and funny. she kept looking at you like you hung the moon, —bucky rubbed the back of his neck, you asked, —did you hear what she wrote about you?

bucky's heart shrunk remembering it, her daughter's tiny voice reading out, all proud, and let's said, a bit cocky, like she already knew her dad was the best one. —i want that paper. i'm gonna frame it and put it up in my office.

you laughed and tugged at the lapels of his suit jacket, pulling him down to you and pressed a kiss to his lips. he hummed into it, like he'd been craving that exact moment since he slipped out of bed in the early morning. once you pulled back, he placed another quick kiss to your lips.

—i'll see you at home. i cannot wait, i want to hear everything she said about me again, every word.

you playfully slapped his chest, —do not let it get to your head, mr. barnes.

—too late for that, ms. barnes.

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justinspoliticalcorner · 2 months ago

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Amanda Marcotte at Salon:

It's starting to look like Donald Trump is deliberately wrecking the economy. As Robert Kuttner at the American Prospect wrote this week, "no other president has gone out of his way to create a collapse," but there's no other way to interpret Trump's actions. Pointless tariffs will only jack up inflation. Illegally shutting down much of the federal government and laying off thousands at random will suck money out of the economy, forcing a recession. Both consumer confidence and the stock market are diving and a likely surge in unemployment — driven in no small part by Elon Musk recklessly firing federal workers without regard for law or necessity — will make it worse. And if all these federal cuts lead, as expected, to people not getting Social Security checks or health coverage, the disaster will likely spiral. Kuttner can't decide if Trump wants the economy to crash or if his actions are "based on sheer ignorance and impulsivity." Trump, however, indicated malicious intent during his seemingly endless speech in front of Congress on Tuesday night. Trump mocked the fears over imminent inflation by sneering that it's merely "a little disturbance." It's a familiar rhetorical move of his to paint his victims as whiners. In this case, however, his victims include most Americans, who aren't independently wealthy and can't simply afford rising costs and massive job losses. Trump mocked the fears over imminent inflation by sneering that it's merely "a little disturbance." It's a familiar rhetorical move of his to paint his victims as whiners. It's an understatement to call it "unprecedented" to have a president who hates most Americans, including his own voters, and wants them to suffer. But, as Jamelle Bouie of the New York Times persuasively argued Wednesday, Trump's psychology makes it explicable. Trump's "every executive function exists to satisfy his ego," Bouie wrote. He continues to whine on a near-daily basis about losing the 2020 election. "[I]t stands to reason that Trump would want revenge against the public," Bouie concluded, adding that Trump is now undergoing "a retribution campaign against the American people." Thomas Edsall of the New York Times spoke with psychologists who confirmed Bouie's layman understanding of Trump's disordered mental state. They affirmed that Trump suffers from "a congenital sense of entitlement," whose personality is like that of "street toughs, bullies, abusive husbands and hate-crime perpetrators." Even in the 2024 election, he didn't get over 50% of the vote. It makes sense that, after nearly a decade of most Americans rejecting him, a malignant narcissist like Trump would detest Americans categorically, and wish nothing more than to punish them all. As for his supporters, there's good reason Trump enjoys hurting them, as well. One of his favorite moves is to humiliate people who are dumb enough to fawn over him. Even during Tuesday's speech, he reminded us he loves to kick someone in the face after they bent to kiss his feet. After congratulating Marco Rubio for getting the secretary of state job — for which Rubio had to repeatedly prostrate himself — Trump threatened him. "Good luck, Marco. Now we know who to blame if anything goes wrong," Trump said, relishing one more bit of public shaming of a man who has done so much to flatter him.

Like most abusers, Trump's go-to move when challenged is to blame his victims. Unlike most abusers, however, Trump has a small army of spinmeisters and apologists who will echo his victim-blaming rhetoric. As the economic damage starts to balloon out, the number of people who will be told that they brought this on themselves will grow — likely until most Americans are being blamed for what Trump inflicted on them.

Malignant traitor Trump victim-blames Americans for his struggles to get a functioning economy.

#Donald Trump #Social Security #Economy #Trump Administration II #Victim Blaming #Veterans

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thedevilsoftruth · 2 months ago

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♡ •Bedtime Story •♡

B. Barnes x afab reader

Summary: Bucky comes back home to his family after a few weeks of being stuck in another state for his work for congress.

Tags: ( 5k+ words ) heavy smut! Small Sam Wilson cameo at the veeerrry end of this fic. Bucky's terrible pregnancy kink, dilf bucky?, established ( married ) relationship, very vulgar language, cunnilingus, Bucky being a smart ass, dirty talking, piv sex, mentions of postpartum ( reader is still in her postpartum phase, ) vaginal fingering, multiple orgasms, reader is very touch sensitive and touch starved, not beta read!

Thought this was a cute concept, and also I'm getting very close to my ovulation period, and I need this man to do very bad things to me or else I'll die. Goodnight.

[ My marvel request box is back open. Please see my pinned post for my request rules. ]

Mdni! I am not responsible for what you find on the internet.

The front door opened with a soft click.

The warm air from the house welcomed Bucky as he walked inside quietly, shutting the door behind him. His coat was drenched from the rain, his body shivering underneath it. He kicked off his shoes and set them by the door, taking off his coat and then setting it down in the coat rack.

He set his keys down on the accent table next to the door with a heavy sigh.

It was almost one in the morning. He knew you probably wouldn't be awake, and he felt bad for not texting you. But not really; he wanted it to be a surprise.

He would worry about his things in the car when the morning came. For now, all he wanted was to see his wife.

The living room was cluttered with childrens toys, and he almost stepped on a little car as he made his way down the hallway. There were blankets tossed lazily on the couch, torn up dog toys scattered across the dining room--and weirdly inside the kitchen.

He noticed your brothers car outside. He kind of figured you'd have him over as you were dealing with both a feisty toddler girl and a baby boy.

Bucky had felt bad for leaving you for so long, but the both of you knew how important his work was to him. Still, that did not take away his longing for you.

He made his way past the army of toys on the floor and towards the stairs, which where baby proofed with a little gate. He unlocked it, closed it behind him, then excitedly rushed up the stairs. He couldn't wait to see you.

He opened the bedroom door quietly. He immediately noticed that the lights were on in the bathroom, and that the bed was empty as he stepped in. He closed the door behind him and made his way into the bathroom.

It didn't take long for you to notice him. You turned to face him mid way through screwing a box of chocolate covered almonds shut. You had a few in your hands, and you had a little bit of chocolate on your face.

You didn't look the most appealing in that moment. Your hair was incredibly messy in a bun at the top of your head. Only a few strands were actually inside the scrunchie, the rest of your hair spilling out chaotically around your face. You wore a robe around your body and sweatpants.

He couldn't stop the wide smile that was spreading across his face. He didn't look that great either. His hair was getting long again and so was his facial hair.

And he kind of stood there for a moment, just watching you watching him.

" Hi, " he finally cracked, his eyes crinkling as he smiled foolishly. You looked back, stuffing an almond in your face.

" You're home. " You commented, trying to finish your chocolate before you could get excited.

" Sure am. " He said, his eyes falling onto the baby monitor on the countertop. His smile never once dropped as he looked at your little baby boy shift in his crib in the nursery.

Suddenly, Bucky throws his arms around you and inhales your scent.

" How's the mama doing? " He asked you, swaying you side to side in his arms. He missed you so much. He hated being away from you, especially in the state that you were in. Even though he knew you said you were fine with being alone, it hadn't been too long since you last gave birth. He knew it'd slowly drive you mad over time.

" Just tired. " You told him, running your hand on his forearm. He smiled, kissing your jaw sweetly.

" I would imagine. " He spoke, turning you around to face him. He cupped your face and soothingly ran his thumbs on your cheeks. You hummed, practically melting into his touch. You both missed eachother so much. It felt like forever since you had been in each other's arms.

You could just stare at eachother for hours. Or just simply be next to each other and enjoy the silence between you too. And that was what made you love Bucky so much; he didn't take up all your social energy but he didn't take away from it either. The silence was never awkward for the both of you.

He took your hand in his, kissing your knuckles sweetly. He kept your hand in his as he rocked you in his loving embrace. Him being home and safe was the best thing you could have heard after the stressful week you had been having.

" I'm sorry I had to leave you here for so long. " He apologized, a sad look falling upon his handsome face. You managed a weak smile, rubbing your thumb over his.

" Something something congressman stuff. " You grinned, naturally this time. Bucky chuckled, running his vibranium hand up and down your back.

" Yeah, something like that. " He muttered, leaning in for a kiss. You stood on your toes slightly, craning your neck back as he bent down to kiss you. You hummed softly against his lips as they moved against yours, pecking at them, warm and wet. You tilted your head to deepen the kiss, and a pleasurable moan escaped from his mouth. His vibranium hand on your back moved to the back of your head for support, his flesh hand moving to your check as your arms snaked around his neck. Then, Bucky being Bucky, decided to mess with you and bit your lip playfully. You gasped and hit his chest jokingly, pulling away from the kiss.

" I missed you. " He said, chuckling. You squinted your eyes at him, pursing your lips. And he had this big grin on his face that you wanted to punch and kiss at the same time. Your hand stilled at his chest, your palm opening slightly right where his dog tags hung loose. Once the laughter subsided, there was a slight tinge of bittersweet desire hanging in the air, and the two of you just kind of stared at eachother for a moment.

" I missed you too. " You responded, a light blush spreading across your cheeks. He missed your blush, missed your smile, missed you--his wife--all in general. He placed his flesh hand on your cheek, and leaned in to kiss you again. You could feel the cold metal of his wedding ring against your warm cheek, and that made you smile against his lips.

His kissed trailed off, from your lips to your blushing cheek, his hand moving down to the side of your neck. You moaned softly, his lips latching onto that little spot on your neck he knew you were super sensitive to.

Your fingers curled around his dog tags through his shirt. His hands dropped to your hips, his lips sweeping across the soft, sensitive skin on your neck sweetly. You pushed back your hair, giving him more access to you. He hummed in response, his tongue darting out between his lips to lick and suck on your skin gently. A little whimper left your mouth as he did so.

" Mm... That feel good, sugar? " He inquired in your ear, his warm breath fanning over your neck. You whimpered in response, your stomach filling with butterflies at his words. He placed hot, rough, open-mouthed missed between the crook of your neck, to the side of it, and making your head spin with the desire that was quickly becoming evident in your pants.

" Bucky, " you whispered, the tags under his shirt clinking together softly under your grip on them. His hair was damp from the rain. He felt like he was making you slightly uncomfortable with how cold and wet he was.

" Hmm? " He hummed. His hand came down between your legs, making you shiver under his touch. He cupped your sex roughly, bringing your body up and forward slightly as he did so. You gasped, your grip on his tags getting tighter.

" You're kinda wet... " You commented, running your hand down the sleeve of his rain-stained shirt. He chuckled, the sound rich and rumbling deep from within his chest.

" So are you. " He said with that cocky, boyish grin you loved so much as he pulled away from your neck. You bit your lip, knowing full well he was right. His large hand squeezed around your center, massaging it through your sweatpants gently.

" Hey, I know you just gave birth 3 months ago, but you wouldn't mind having baby number 3, right? " Bucky joked, though nothing about that joke was funny to you. Your smiled dropped and you scoffed at him.

" Ha. You're funny. " You told him, putting one hand on your hip and giving him ' the mom look. ' That grin on his face never left.

" Come on, gorgeous. You know I'm just playing. " Your " real funny " husband reassured you, leaning back down to give you yet another kiss. But you returned it so quickly, kissing him back with the same hunger he gave you. Your hand went down to his stomach, the familiar feeling of his abs under your palm bringing you back to your pre-marital stages. Before you begun running after your messy children who wouldn't eat their dinner like a headless chicken. You smiled at the idea, and by the sigh he left against your lips, you could tell he was thinking the same. (....or maybe the chili cheese dog he probably had for lunch. )

" Come here, " he grunted, wrapping his arms around your thighs and picking you up and making you squeal. " I'm taking you to bed. "

His lips stayed on yours all the way through. He walked out of the en suite bathroom in your bedroom and gently dropped you down onto the bed. Your body softly bounced on mattress as you were laid down.

Bucky quickly ripped off his coat before he joined you in bed. He crawled over your body, locking eyes with you as he moved himself between your legs. You took out the scrunchie in your hair, shaking your head to get it out of it's place as a very bad bun on your head.

It had been a very long time since you last had sex with him. Maybe it went as back as your second trimester, but it had been so long that you couldn't even remember when it was.

His lips found yours once more in a steering kiss that took your breath away. His hands went to the belt of your robe, working to untie it while his tongue was too busy trying to sword fight with yours--or whatever it was doing.

Bucky slowly opened your robe to his hungry gaze, pulling away from your lips to run his hand down your stomach with his vibranium hand, making you shiver. You were topless under the robe, now half naked and exposed in front of him. He gulped hard, his Adams apple bobbling as he did so.

" Oh, baby... " He whispered, eyeing you up and down. God he missed your body so much. His hands ran down your sides, stopping at your hips. He thought of the two times he had gotten you pregnant, how lucky he was to have you and his two between children. Thoughts of the nights where you had been trying for Steve--your youngest, flooded his mind. And honestly he was getting a little bit harder just thinking about it.

He hooked his fingers under the waistband of your panties and sweatpants. He looked you in the eyes and smiled.

" Lift up for me, pretty girl. " He instructed, watching as your hips moved the second he asked you to move them. With your hips lifted in the air, he could easily roll your sweatpants down your legs.

You were getting butterflies so hard. He was so sweet and gentle with you as he leisurely discarded the rest of your clothes. It was so different compared to the crazy amounts of hard sex he had with you in the beginning stages of your relationship. This felt real to you. This felt like love to you.

Once you were completely undressed, Bucky couldn't help but just stare at you. You were so beautiful; every inch of you was like a work of art. His hands ran up and down your soft, plump thighs, squeezing them gently. His eyes raked up and down your body. He felt like your beauty was knocking him dizzy.

" You, " he breathed, picking up your leg by the arch of your foot, kissing your calf. His eye were heavy lidded as he looked at you. " Are so beautiful. "

His lips trailed from your calf to the inside of your thigh, dragging them slowly across your skin, making you shiver. And maybe, for a moment, you were actually considering baby number 3.

Bucky knew sure as hell that he was. He loved his little demons and would never turn you down if you asked him for another. Maybe you'd let him in the future, after all, you had just gotten out of postpartum.

His flesh hand ran down your leg before stopping between your thighs. He set his palm on your pelvic bone, his thumb coming in contact with your aching clit. Your body shook, and he smirked at your reaction and at how desperate you seemed.

" Poor baby, "he cooed, kissing your inner thigh before rising up to kiss your lips. His thick two middle fingers ran down your slit, your slick coating his fingers.

" You were probably so touch-starved without me here, hm? "

You mewled loudly as his thumb went back on your clit. The tip of his middle finger traced your entrance teasingly, driving you crazy. His touch on your clit was feather-like, barley even there.

" Bucky... " You whined, your hips arching into his hand, seeking more friction. He chuckled darkly at your reaction to his touch.

" Hm? Something you need, sugar? " He asked you in that familiar cocky time you were way too used to. You wanted to punch him so bad. He knew exactly what he was doing.

" Fuck you. " You spoke through gritted teeth in spite. Bucky gave you a fake pout.

" Is that the way you talk to your husband? " His hands withdrew from your core, making you feel empty even though they were barley there in the first place. " I guess you don't want me to touch you then, no? "

"No-no! I want you to touch me. " You practically begged, trying to open your legs more to provoke him. He grinned.

" Oh yeah? You want me to? ''

Little shit was trying to make you beg.

And it was working.

" Please, Bucky. " You whimpered, grabbing the sleeve of his shirt as you looked at him pleadingly. How could he ever say no to you like that? He smiled, finally giving in. He wasn't going to tease you for very long because he knew how much you needed him.

" Okay, I'm sorry. " He apologized with a tooth grin, running his flesh hand back down between your legs. The second his hand came in contact with your aching core, you immediately felt relief wash over your body. His fingers drifted up and down your little clit, petting it almost. Your eyes rolled back, your back lifting off of bed. Bucky smirked at your reaction.

His thumb twirled harsh circles around your clit, making you moan loudly.

" Sensitive there, baby? " He teased. He took your tiny, quaking bud in between his fingers and pinched it gently. " I've barley even touched you and you look like you're about to explode. " He laughed darkly, lowering his head between your thighs.

You felt your breath being captured in your throat as he licked a long straight line from your entrance to your clit. The tip of his tongue slowly lugged up and down your little bundle of nerves. Up and down. Up and down

His two middle fingers dipped into your entrance steadily, the tips of them lightly brushing up against your warm walls. You groaned gutteraly, your head thrown back onto the soft mattress. Your fingers snaked into his brown, outgrown hair and you tugged on his scalp. He moaned against your cunt, soft vibrations being sent to your cunt and making you shiver.

" Fuuck, " he groaned lowly, his blue eyes rolling into the back of his head as he ate you out like a fucking starved man. " God, I missed this pussy. "

He parted his lips and flattened his tongue against your slippery folds then shook his head against your cunt. You squealed, your thighs jerking and clenching around his head. You bit down on your finger, your hips arching toward his face, begging for more friction.

" Did you touch yourself while I was gone, hmm? " He inquired, grinning, flicking his pretty blue eyes up to meet your gaze. Your eyes feel on his and your pussy fluttered at the look he was giving you.

" It's not the same is it? " He questioned, his lips pecking around your soft clit. Your brows curled up, your mouth opening in a little ' o ' shape. He knew you too well.

" Bucky... " You breathed. He sucked on your clit, making you gasp and shake in his arms. He knew what you were trying to do; you were trying to get him to shut up because he was embarrassing you.

" Did you think of me--hmmph.. touching you like this? "

His words send shivers down your spine. His voice was low, deep and smoother than a warm glass of milk.

" I bet you did. Dirty girl. " His fingers curled up into you, right in the spot he knew you loved so much. What was scary about it was that he knew where your little spot was and could hit it at any time he wanted, but chose not to; all just to tease you.

Your toes curled into the red silky sheets on your shared bed. You tugged on his hair harder, loud moans and cries leaving your mouth as he kissed and sucks in your pussy. Your face felt hot, and your cunt felt unnecessarily over-sensitive. You were going to break at any moment.

His lips closed around your aching clit, and he slowly bobbed his head against your cunt, sucking on it roughly. You closed your eyes tightly, your thighs shaking around your husband's face.

Bucky rose from your legs, substituting his mouth for his thumb to his his jaw a break. His two, long, thick middle fingers sunk deeply into your cunt. And he still had his wedding ring on. You couldn't control the loud, gasping moans that we're leaving your lips. Bucky loved it when you got loud for him; your loud moans told him he was doing something right and he loved testing how loud he could make you.

" Does that feel good, sweet girl? " He asked you, bending down to kiss you deeply. Your lips quivered against his, wet and puffy. You moaned in approval into his mouth. He grinned, pulling back and wiping his mouth. His fingers pumped in and out of you at an intoxicating sweet and fast but sensual pace. You stared at him with heavy lidded eyes, biting your lip.

" God, it's like you're in fucking heat right now. " He laughed, rubbing a hard line up and down your cunt. Your face became redder at his thoughts, your thighs clenching around his arm. He forced your legs back open.

" Oh, fuck you. " You sighed, letting your head fall back down onto the mattress. He hummed, cupping his hand around your shaking sex.

" Geez, honey. " He scoffed, lowering his head back between your thighs. A muscle in your core tensed, bracing for the impact his tongue was going to have on your sensitive flesh.

" You kiss your husband with that mouth? " He joked, his tongue rolling across your slit and making your hips jerk. God you hated his stupid, snarky, smart ass mouth. You gently smacked his face with your thigh.

" I'm gonna beat your ass. "

Like you could. He scoffed again at the thought of that. He was amused, and you were only fueling his fire.

" See, you like to talk like that, but the second I'm between your legs, you finally shut up. " He replied, his fingers curling in and out of you. He was right; you were a complete and utter wreck in his arms.

" Could this actually be putting you in your place? " Bucky wondered, his lips pecking at your flesh softly. As much as you wanted to pretend you were annoyed, the both of you knew that it felt too fucking good for you to actually have any negative feelings towards him in the moment. Not when you were moaning and gripping onto the sleeves of his t-shirt for the life of you.

" Now come on, honey. " He whispered against your pussy. He gave your flesh a long lick, his beard scratching against your skin as he did so.

" Be a good girl and come on my face, yeah? "

His eyes made contact with yours once more. You bit your lip, your cunt quivering. The pace of his fingers became noticably faster, his tongue flicking up and down your clit repeatedly. You could barley maintain eye contact for more than a few seconds before your eyes went rolling back into your skull.

Your breath became heavier, your hips rolling against his face as his tongue and skilled fingers worked together in harmony to push you right off the edge.

And it did not take long for you to reach the peak he wanted, given how absolutely touch sensitive you were that night. You came crashing onto his face hard, your orgasm long and full-body-shaking intense. Bucky moaned eagerly as he drank down ever last drop of the sweet honey that dripped down your hive.

His tongue lapped around your cunt, licking up your cum-covered folds unceremoniously.

He pulled back, droplets of your essence dripping down his chin, coating his beard. He chuckled when he realized the it was on him, and he wiped his mouth with the back of his sleeve.

The both of you just sat there for a moment, staring at eachother, panting. Your body was tingling with post-orgasmic bliss. But Bucky was not done with you.

His hands went down to his belt, and you quirked a brow at him.

" Baby, I can't do anything too crazy tonight. " You warned him, a warm sense of anticipation running through your body. Bucky smiled, taking his belt out of his pants.

" That's okay, honey. " He shrugged, leaning in to peck your lips. He hooked his thumb in the waistband of his pants and boxers, and shimmied his way out of his clothes. Then, he tore his way out of his grey long sleeved shirt, his dog tags falling onto his chest with a soft clink.

You felt like a teenage girl whenever her crush would walk past her in the hallway as you stared at Bucky. Of course, this was not your first time seeing him naked.... Like, at all, but he was just so beautiful in front of you.

All in his naked glory.

He crawled up your body, caging you in his arms as he braced them by your head, isolating you from the rest of the world. He leaned in and kisses you deeply, his hands reaching out for the base of your thighs.

" You don't have to do anything tonight. " He whispered. He directed his hardened, pre-cum lubricated cock towards your entrance. Your breath hitched as he slowly pushed inside you, your pussy stretching to accommodate his size. It was a familiar sensation, one that you had been missing out on for nearly 7 months.

" Just sit back and let me give you what you need. " He whispered, bringing your leg over his shoulder so he could angle his hips in a certain way that would let him sink his dick into you further.

Ah, and that was why you loved Bucky.

He loved helping you with things, and he loved pleasuring you in all kinds of ways. And he was never selfish or stingy about it, either. He loved the rewarding feeling of your sweet moans echoing through the walls whenever he was deep inside you. Just thinking of it made his head spin.

Bucky set a slow and steady pace for you, his cock dragging across your warm, slick walls deeply and eliciting tiny, breathy moans out of you. His right hand went up and down your plump thigh that was propped against his shoulder. He gave your calf butterfly kisses, making you feel all light and airy. You bit down on your lip, looking at him heavy lidded, lustful eyes.

Bucky's flesh hand went down to grip the base of your thigh, holding it against his torso as his pace quickened. His thrust were deep and hard, and his tags would clink together with each powerful stroke of his cock.

" Fuck, look at that. " He moaned, looking down between your legs at where your bodies met. He watched his thick cock disappear into your warmth, picking up your sweet slick onto his shaft with each thrust he gave you. He threw his head back, his bangs covering his handsome face as his hips rolled against yours and he panted heavily.

There was a thin layer of sweat glistening down his body. You were starting to sweat too. The both of you hadn't done this in months, after all. But just the mere thought of that made Bucky's thirst for you worst.

He heald your thigh to his chest tighter, and his pace swiftly became hurried and heavy. You let out a whimper for each thrust he gave you, your muscles tensing and contracting around him at the sudden movement.

" You like that? " He asked, his voice hoarse as a wild smile broke upon his face. Your eyes were closed shut, and all you could do was just weakly nod and whimper in response. Your little cunt was so sensitive around him.

His cock hauled in and out of your velvet walls, kissing every single inch of you, every single inch that you that so badly needed to be touched. His vibranium hand reached between your quivering legs and laid upon your pelvic bone so he thumb could trace and rub your clit.

Your body jolted at the contact, and your mouth flung open in surprise. Each touch he gave you, though not that hard at all, made your entire body jerk and shake violently. His vibranium hand was cold, too, only adding to the sensations.

" Bucky.. " you whined; a whine he knew all too well.

You were gonna cum soon.

He smirked.

" Getting close, sugar? " He quirked a brow at you, kissing your calf again. You moaned gutteraly and loudly, the sounds echoing off the walls and surely heard from downstairs. Your fingers clawed at his forearm, your back lifting off the bed in pure pleasure.

" Ye-yeah. O-oh. Fuck. " You choked on your moans, your eyes falling into the back of your head. He was starting to feel his build up too.

Feeling bold, Bucky shifted you closer to his body--if that was even possible--and pumped his cock into you like there was absolutely no tomorrow.

" C'mon. " He grunted through gritted teeth, his hips slamming against your at an unimaginable harsh pace. Your toes curled in the air, your thighs clenching around his body, your sex convulsing and gripping on his cock for dear life, never letting go of it.

His cockhead was pushed against your sweet spot, making you cry out in ecstasy. Your gripped onto his shoulders, opening your mouth to say something, but your words were overtaken by your heavy breathing and desperate cries.

" Fuck, fuck. Bucky, right there! Ri--gonna fuck--ahh. " You barley mustered the words, too fucked out of your head to even make up a proper sentence. Bucky chuckled darkly. He rolled his thumb against your clit again, making you jump and cry out

" Yeah? Yeah? That feels good, hmm? " Bucky panted, bending forward to kiss you, his torso pressing your knee against your chest. You were a wreck. A mantra of moans left your mouth, your mind hazy and filled only if the thoughts of your husband. He leaned die to kiss your shoulder.

" Fuck, sweetie, I'm gonna cum soon. Where do you want me to finish? " He asked, pulling back and flicking his head to get his hair out of his face. You didn't even need a lot of time to think about your answer, you just needed some time to stop moaning and breathing so hard.

" I-inside. " You responded. He slowed down.

" Inside? " He repeated, confused.

" Bucky just do it! " You cried out, putting your hand on his chest.

So it looks like you had finally thought about his little suggestion from earlier.

The moment he realized that, he couldn't stop grinning ear to ear, and he reset back to the fast pace he had set for you previously. He was proud to say the least, and it encouraged him to keep up until the both of you finished.

You came down a little bit before him, but that didn't stop him from keeping up the pace. Being a super solider sure did come in handy for stamina, huh? Well--for him that was the case, for you, not so much.

And that man was not stopping until he was able to fill you up.

Thick, hot ropes of his cum came spurting inside of you, filling you up completely and making you feel warm and fuzzy.

The both of you were panting heavily, relived and also extremely exhausted. It had been a very long day for you both, but that night was surely the highlight of your night... And also a highlight for the rest of your life's.

" Fuck, " he panted, setting your leg back down onto the bed. His chest heaved up and down, and your body shook uncontrollably from your past orgasms.

" I'm very glad you agreed with me." He smiled foolishly, pulling out of you slowly. A little bit of his cum came gushing down your legs, and he was quick to scoop it up with his fingers and shove it back in there.

" Don't want that being wasted if we're gonna have this baby, hm? "

------

“ How old are they now? “ Sam asked Bucky as they walked together along the dock. Bucky didn't usually talk about his family a lot, but the question of his family had been once again brought up at a time where Bucky just couldn't resist not talking about them.

“ Our oldest is 5, and our youngest is 9 months. “ Bucky responded. Sam couldn't help but give his old friend a tooth grin. He was a huge family man.

“ You gonna tell me about them? Or your wife? I still don't even know this woman. “ Sam teased. Buckies eyes softened as he thought about it. A familiar feeling washed through them, a rather nostalgic one at that. They couldn't quite figure out what it was.

“ No. “ Bucky responded. “ No, I don't think I will. “ It was those exact words that got Sam to remember where the nostalgia was coming from. As Bucky spoke, he could hear Steve’s voice along with his. It was one of the last interactions Sam had with Steve; when Steve had given Sam his shield. He remembered seeing the ring on his finger. But then again, Sam was always reminded of Steve when he was around Bucky.

“ All I will tell you, though, is that… 2 kids definitely wasn't enough for us. “ Bucky laughed, shaking his head. His cheeks turned pink at the idea, and he hid his face in embarrassment the moment he said it. Sam’s mouth flew open in shock.

“ You dog! “ He exclaimed, nudging Bucky to the side with his elbow. The both of them exchanged laughter.

“ Is she expecting? “ Sam asked excitedly, like a toddler who was just told by their mother that they could have a piece of candy. He was practically shaking with endorphins, waiting for the answer. But Bucky just shook his head.

“ I won't tell you that. “ Bucky teased, furrowing his brows at his best friend. Sam threw his hands in the air in disbelief.

“ What?! But I'm your best friend!! “

“ I'm not telling you! “ Bucky laughed, enjoying the banter between the both of them.

“ Come on, please!! I have to know, don't leave me on the edge of my seat! “

“ Come on dude, I just said I'm not telling you. “ Bucky said in a mocking tone.

“ James, you gotta tell me–” Bucky cut him off.

“ Oh yeah? You calling me James now? Only my wife calls me that. “ Bucky confessed, teasingly leaving tiny little crumbs about his family for Sam to chew on.

“ Oh really?! What else? “ Sam demanded.

“ Is this how we’re really playing it? Fine. Come to the baby shower on September 14th and maybe you'll see then. “ Bucky teased his best friend one last time. Sam became even more shocked. He jumpped around the fock, waving his arms in the air. He planted his feet into the hardwood of the floor, his hands on the top of his head as he threw his head around like a lunatic.

“ What?! “ Sam exclaimed. Bucky nonchalantly nodded his head and muttered “ yeah “ as he stuffed his hands in his pockets.

“ Oh my god! Oh my god, brother–wow.. Ju-just wow! “ Sam sighed, completely awestruck.

“ I’m so proud of you, man! “ He spoke, pulling Bucky in for a rather soul-squeezing hug. He patted his back harshly a couple of times, and then, as they parted, ferociously dabbed him up.

“ Thank you. “ Bucky said a couple of times as Sam proceeded to yell words of praise right into his ear.

“ You know, I think there's something wrong with me. Each time we've.. you know, I've always hit the bullseye. Each time.“ Bucky jokes, even though everything he's saying is true. Sam's smile immediately faded.

“ Okay, I know I said I wanted to know about them, but I didn't need to know that. “ Sam said, taking his arm off Buckies shoulder. He shrugged.

They continued to walk around the dock, the floorboard creaking under their footsteps. The sun was setting, casting a beautiful purple, pink and orange hue throughout the sky. It felt nice for Bucky to be in Sams town again. Only little did Sam know that Bucky's " mysterious " family was actually with him in town, and he had plans to introduce him to them the next day.

“ So what do you want to do before you leave? “ Sam asked. “ There's this really good Thai place a few blocks down. “

Bucky smiled, kicking a nearby rock across the dock. He was wondering how he was going to keep his little secret from his friend for the next few hours.

[ A/N: This portion of this fic was originally written for the first ever draft I wrote for Bucky. It was titled Clouser and was written in the middle of my theatre class. Yes, my theatre class. I loved the interaction between them so much that I wanted to use it for this fic. ]

#marvel #mcu #marvel smut #marvel fanfiction #mcu smut #mcu fanfic #bucky barnes smut #bucky barnes fanfiction #bucky barnes x reader #james bucky buchanan barnes #james bucky barnes #bucky barnes #bucky x reader #james barnes

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shurisneakers · 2 days ago

Note

“i can’t seem to understand you” with bucket bucky - hello i love you!!!

um hello i love you mORE

am i going back to my roots?? yes. i never left. here's an avengers 2012 style fic with my new forced family morons.

word count: 1.6k

warnings: mild thunderbolts spoilers, swearing, breaking and entering, mr avoidant over here

my masterlist over here and my silly little inbox for more requests, should you please

"First he leads us into the ass-kicking of our lives, now he's got us breaking into a random flat," Ava snipes, trailing behind the group. "What's the plan now, Bucky?"

"It is not his fault we got our asses kicked," Yelena squints as she looks up the brick wall.

"I don't need you defending me," he grumbles, jumping to catch hold of the fire escape.

"I'm not defending you," she says. "I'm calling all of us useless."

"We will break into tiny, New York apartment, and recover before we fight again," Alexei says. "Take nap, small lunch, then crush our enemies."

Bucky drags the fire escape ladder down to the ground, before wiping off his hands.

"No lunch," Bucky replies. "We're not staying that long. We just need a place to come up with a plan."

"Oh, we're taking the ladder? I figured you had another U-Haul around here to crash," John looks at the rackety old thing. "Can this thing even hold all of us?"

Bucky rolls his eyes, beginning the ascent. "Climb. Or don't. I don't care."

"Move." Ava shoves past him, following behind Bucky.

They crept up the side of the building, quiet enough for trained fugitives, loud enough to be annoying.

By the time they reached the third floor, Bucky was already prying open a window with enough force to snap the lock.

The window behind them hasn’t even clicked shut when a voice cuts through the room like a blade.

"You've got to be joking," your voice snapped from the doorway, sharp enough to stop all movement.

They all freeze.

You’re standing in the hallway, barefoot, holding a bat high up.

Yelena raises a tentative hand. “Uh-- hello?”

“Don’t.”

She puts her hand back down.

"What the hell Bucky?" you grit. "What the fuck are you doing here? And who are these people?"

"You guys know each other?"

"Hi," Bucky grunts, ignoring Walker and also the redness creeping up his neck. "These are--"

"The Thunderbolts."

"No." He glares. "They're helping me take down Val."

"Val? Congress Val? We're against her now?" you ask exasperatedly. "Last time we talked, you just got elected. Are you still in Congress?"

"You're in Congress?" Ava pipes up. "Didn't you kill JFK?"

"Not the point," Bucky groans.

"And they still elected you?"

"I'm not in Congress anymore."

"Oh goodie. Since when?" you ask.

"This morning." He rubs the back of his neck. "I didn't get time to call."

"Sure. You had time to break into my apartment, though."

"About that--" He glances back at the group who were standing around, clearly enjoying the beat-down he was facing. "We just need a place while we regrouped."

"To be clear, he did not tell us that he knew you. We thought we were going somewhere random," Walker juts in again.

"Oh, he's here too. Hello Craptain America. Which sewer did you crawl out of to be here?"

"I didn't even do anything," he mumbles stepping back.

"You've done enough."

"We'll leave if you just say the word," Bucky cuts in. "Swear. But we just need a few hours, and we'll be out of your life."

You stare at him for a few seconds. "Is someone gonna come break down my door looking for you?"

"No," he says.

“A door would not stop him anyway,” Alexei added, sounding entirely too cheerful. “But we will protect you. Not well. But we will try.”

You glance between all of them for a few seconds.

"Fine," you say at last. "If anyone comes looking for you guys, you're replacing anything they break."

Bucky lets out an exhale, as they all walk past him to sink down into various seats.

You turned without saying anything and walked down the hallway to the bedroom.

A minute passes.

Then footsteps.

He sees you leaning against the dresser, arms folded, phone still in hand.

Bucky stands in the doorway for a second, hesitant.

You look at him. “You gonna say something, or are you just here to breathe loud and feel sorry for yourself?”

He blinks. “Hi?”

“Try again.”

He sighs. “It wasn’t supposed to go like this.”

"No way, really?" you drawl. "But this is everything I've ever dreamed of."

"I don't get it. I can't seem to understand you." You shake your head. "You bring me flowers, disappear for three months, we kiss, you raincheck every dinner I cook for you and now you show up here with four assassins."

"You're mad," he says, observant as ever.

You stare at him. Bucky dutifully matches your gaze, forcing himself not to fidget.

"Bucky, why are you here?" you ask, voice deflated.

"I told you."

"You wanted a place to lay low. Is that all?"

He doesn't say anything. You search his face for anything, any sign.

He shifts on his feet. “I just needed somewhere safe.”

“And I’m what? A checkpoint?”

“No,” he says, too quickly, before adding in something more quieter, “You’re the first place I thought of.”

You sigh, folding your arms. “Are you in or are you out, Barnes?

His mouth is pressed into a thin line, arms crossed over his chest.

"Because if you are, and this is how it's going to be, I'm not interested. You're cute. I like you. But this isn't enough for me."

"'M sorry," He looks at you, softer now. "Things haven't been good. Didn't want to get you caught up in it."

"Yet here I am."

"I'm sorry about that too," he adds. "

You look at him for a long moment. At the cut above his brow. The dust on his jacket. The way his hands are clenched..

"You kept the bat." The corner of his lips quirk up into a smile.

“You should be grateful I didn’t swing it.”

“It’s got good balance,” he admitted.

He looks different up close. Same face, same eyes but worn thinner. Like he hadn’t slept properly in days. Maybe weeks.

You sigh. "Should I order pizza?"

"Yes," they all chorus from the living room. It catches you by surprise.

"Stop listening in," he barks.

"The walls are like, paper thin, man," Yelena says. "You should have thought of that before you brought us to your situationship's house."

“What the hell is a situationship?” he muttered, directing it toward you now. “Actually scratch that. I don’t care. Whatever it is, that’s not what we are.”

You raised an eyebrow, arms still folded. “No?”

"But there is a 'we', yes?" Alexei calls.

You look at Bucky. He looks back sheepishly, somewhat even helpless.

"Nope," you reply, moving past him to go to the band of morons out there. "There is no 'we'."

"I mean--" he mumbles.

"Classic lover's quarrel," he hears Alexei continues, like he's explaining this to someone. "Melina and I had them many times."

You roll your eyes. "How long do you have? Pizza's gonna take a while."

“You don’t have to feed us.”

"If you're gonna fight against this guy--"

"Bob," someone calls.

"Bob. If you're going to fight against Bob, you're gonna need more than a granola bar. When’s the last time any of you had a vegetable?"

You're met with a series of shrugs.

"Grown adults," you exhale, shaking your head before walking back into the bedroom to find your phone.

You thumb through the menu.

Something soft brushes against your hand. You swallow the thickness in your throat, refusing to tear your gaze away from the phone.

“Hey,” he says, and it’s almost too soft. “I’m sorry.”

You don’t move.

“I mean it. I’ll make it up to you.”

You glance at him.

"Look, I'm not trying to guilt you into--"

"It's not that. I've been meaning to." He swallows.

"Bucky--"

“I missed you,” he said, not quite looking at you. “I wish I could say I’ll get everything right from now on. I just… I’m trying. I swear I’m trying.”

You swallow. Slowly.

“And it didn’t feel good. Not talking to you. Everything was happening, and the nightmares were back, and I kept thinking 'I should tell you this.' But then I didn’t. And it got worse.”

“You don’t get to drop that on me if you're gonna fuck off again.”

“I won’t.”

You stared at him for a long moment.

Then you tilt your head. “You know you owe me, like, three dinners.”

He gives you a small smile. "I'll buy you dinner for the rest of your life."

"Don't make promises you can't keep, Congressman."

His eyes drifted toward the bat, still propped against the wall.

“You really were ready to clock me, huh?”

“I was aiming for Walker, but yeah. You were next.”

He smiles, and it's probably the most beautiful thing in the world.

"Are these your friends now?" you ask finally.

"They're not even my co-workers."

"Didn’t think you had co-workers anymore. As of, you know. This morning."

“Yeah, well,” he shrugs, “new job. No salary. No benefits at all, really.”

"You're gonna buy me dinner like this?"

"I'll figure it out."

You snort despite yourself. “You're gonna get someone killed.”

He shrugs again. “Probably me.”

He reaches out. Just lightly. Two fingers brushing against your pinky where your hand hangs.

Without thinking, he shifts just slightly closer. Not enough to close the space, but... there. He's back up in your space, and he fills it like he never left at all.

“I think about you,” he says, voice quiet like it's the one thing he wants to keep only for you both, "All the time."

"Sap," you say, but it feels airy. "Your 100 year old charm won't work on me. This doesn't fix anything."

"I know."

His fingers twitch like he’s about to pull away.

You catch them before he does.

“You disappear again like that,” you say, “I swing the bat next time.”

He smiles, head tilted. “Sure thing.”

here’s my ko-fi if you’d like to support my writing!

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reality-detective · 9 months ago

Text

Things that are not in the news anymore… 👇

-Maui wildfires.

-East Palestine, Ohio

-Joe Biden classified documents as a Senator.

-Fauci working with China to create a bioweapon.

-Pete Buttigieg’s best friend in prison for child porn.

-Cocaine in the White House. (TWICE NOW)

-The BLM and Antifa riots during 2020 causing BILLIONS of dollars of damage. And yes I brought this up on Juneteenth.

-The data collected from the Chinese spy balloons.

-Ukraine intelligence documents released that showed they were suffering massive losses and the American taxpayer was being lied to.

-Nancy Pelosi’s “documentary” film crew on J6.

-Veterans being kicked out of shelters to make room for illegals.

-Pizzagate “debunker” jailed for possession of child pornography.

-Gay porn film in Senate hearing room.

-Veterans Affairs prioritizing healthcare of illegals over Veterans.

-THE SOUTHERN BORDER CRISIS.

-Afghanistan drawdown and 13 service members killed in an attack on Kabul International Airport, that they hid the severity of it.

-Obama droning an American citizen in the Middle East.

-George Bush’s false WMDs.

-3 service members killed in Jordan.

-Hunter Biden making over $1M for “paintings”.

-J6 political prisoners that are still in jail.

-85,000 missing children at the southern border.

-Epstein’s clients.

-Obama coordinating with John Brennan and 4 other countries (5 eyes) to spy on the 2016 Trump campaign.

-Mail-in ballots were the cause of the stolen 2020 election.

-Jeffrey Epstein mentioning that Bill Clinton liked his girls “really young”.

-The (NOW TWO) airline whistleblowers that mysteriously died.

-Benghazi (I won’t mention anything more about this because I care about my life.)

-Nancy Pelosi’s daughter stating that January 6th wasn’t an insurrection.

-The January 6th committee destroying encrypted evidence before the GOP took over the House.

-Nancy Pelosi admitting that J6 was “her responsibility”.

-House Speaker Mike Johnson claiming there wouldn’t be foreign aid without border security in the bill, which was a lie.

-The recent riots from illegal criminal aliens at the southern border and the border in general.

-Hunter Biden not complying with a Congressional subpoena and deemed untouchable. Democrat privilege.

-Vaccine side effects.

-“Lab leak” out of China.

-The Secret Service having to basically guide Joe Biden everywhere he goes.

-Who leaked (Sotomayor) the SCOTUS Alito decision.

-Federal instigators inside the Capitol including pipe bomb evidence against them.

-Obama’s chef “passing away”.

-HRC’s chef “passing away”.

-The Sheriff that happened to be in Las Vegas (during the mass shooting) AND the wildfires in Hawaii.

-P Diddy sex-trafficking allegations. Where’s Diddy?

-Gonzalo Lira (an American journalist) that was killed in Ukraine

-Congress approving warrantless spying violating American’s 4th amendment rights while they are exempt.

-Americans that were left in foreign countries (Haiti, Palestine, Afghanistan).

-The billions of dollars of weaponry left in Afghanistan and the Taliban receiving $40M a week in “humanitarian assistance”.

-Biolabs found in California.

-Joe Biden’s impeachment.

-The scum in the UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES waving the Ukrainian flag.

-The over 300k ballot images that could not be found in Fulton County, Georgia; the same county Donald Trump on trial for “election interference”.

-Democrats defunding the police causing massive rises in crime.

-Kamala Harris’s record as DA in California.

-The Transifesto from the school shooting.

-Many U.S. Representatives and Congress receiving FTX funds.

-They’re already working hard to bury Donald Trump’s àssassination attempt but we won’t let them bury that story. July 13th is never going away.

The distractions are out of control.

Share to show that legacy media is dead and that WE are the media now. 🤔

#pay attention #educate yourselves #educate yourself #knowledge is power #reeducate yourself #reeducate yourselves #think about it #think for yourselves #think for yourself #do your homework #do some research #do your own research #ask yourself questions #question everything #news #we are the news #distraction #distractions #did you know

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ofstarsandvibranium · 16 days ago

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Nowhere Land: Part 2

Fandom: Marvel

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x F!Reader

Summary: A handsome stranger comes into your workplace and makes you rethink your life choices.

A/N: Sebastian Stan, the man that you are…

Part 1 | Bucky Barnes Masterlist

Bucky had seemed like a figment of your imagination. You knew him for less than a day, but he held a lasting impact on you. Every time an unfamiliar car drove past the diner, you thought it was him.

You scolded yourself every time because why are you letting a man, a practical stranger, get you all riled up?

You did your best to push any thought of him to the back of your mind. You found new distractions hobbies to keep your mind focused on other things. You took up crocheting and embroidery, thanks to a group of women who had their Crafting Club meeting every Sunday at the diner after church.

You'd serve them breakfast and coffee and listen in on any drama and gossip they were exchanging when it was slow.

They had been trying to teach you crochet for months, but you weren't very interested. Now with a certain blue eyed brunette plaguing your mind, you finally took them up on their offer.

It's quite fun, actually. Keeping count and focusing on the pattern occupied your mind instead of a certain someone.

It'd been three months since Bucky came and went through the small town.

And you were slowly forgetting about him.

______________________

It was nearing midnight when there was a knock at the door. You were already on high alert considering that you were up late watching a true crime documentary that Adell recommended to you.

You grabbed the bat you always have near the door as well as the little knife you have attached to your keys.

You look through the peephole and see a man's back facing you.

"You better get the fuck away from my door or I'm calling the police!" you holler through your door and the man immediately turns around.

It's unmistakable. Even with the dim lighting of your front porch, you know it's him. It's Bucky and he doesn't look so good.

"Shit," you mumble to yourself and immediately pull your door open, "What the hell happened to you?!" you whisper-yell as you pull him inside your home, hoping none of your neighbors saw him and called the police.

Now, standing in your home, you get a better look at him. He looks a lot more disheveled than when you first saw him in the diner.

He's wearing a black t-shirt and leather jacket. His face is littered with cuts and bruises. His tshirt is ripped in a few places.

You look at him in disbelief, "Dude, did you get jumped? Also, why are you here and do you know how late it is?" You place your hands on your hips giving him a stern look, reminiscent of an annoyed mother.

Bucky clears his throat, "To answer your first question, I was in a fight. To answer your second question, you were on the way from another job and for the third, I know. I know it's late and I'm sorry but the motel said they're full because-"

"Of the Strawberry Festival. Yeah." You let out a deep breath, "Was the fight you got into...work related?"

"The less you know about what I do the better."

"So it definitely doesn't have to do with you kicking butt alongside Captain America or anything?"

Bucky cocks a brow, silently questioning you. You shrug, "Listen, I wasn't going to but curiosity got the best of me. I didn't know your last name so I just searched up 'Bucky' and 'Captain America' and I saw a bunch of articles and went down a rabbit hole. So yeah. I know who you are and what you do...kind of. Also, how did you manage to only serve less than half a term in Congress?"

Bucky pinches the bridge of his nose and groans, "It's a long story and it's fine. I don't really blame you for searching me up. Anyway, all this," he gestures to his cut up face, "is due to work like that. Anyway, I'm really tired and kind of in pain. I know I showed up unannounced but I'd really appreciate it if you'd help me out."

"Yeah, alright," you say and turn on your heel. As you head to your bedroom you holler, "Take a seat on the couch! I'll grab some supplies!"

When you enter your bedroom, you grab an old sleep shirt you're hoping will fit Bucky. You then go to your bathroom and pull out your first aid kit from under your sink.

"It's fine. It's chill. Just the guy you've been thinking about for months is back and asking for your help and he's also kind of an Avenger and probably was just beating up bad guys prior to-"

"Serpents," Bucky's sudden appearance made you jump, causing you to drop some of the supplies you were pulling out.

You begin picking up band-aids and gauze when you ask, "Serpents? You were fighting snakes?"

Bucky kneels to help you, a smirk on his lips, "No. I was fighting the group Serpent. A criminal organization. I was fighting them, specifically." He hands you the band-aids he picked up.

"Thought that stuff was classified."

"You gonna tell anyone?"

You shake your head, "Then I'm fine. I also didn't want you imagining that I was fighting aliens or something. That was a one time thing...hopefully." He helps you stand.

You take note of how close he's standing and you find yourself wanting him to wrap his arms around you, pulling you in and-

"I can clean myself up," he says breaking your little fantasy in the making.

"Oh, uh, okay," you set the items onto the bathroom counter, "You hungry? I have some leftover pizza I can heat up for you."

"I'd appreciate it."

"Beer?"

"Please."

"Got it," you squeeze past him in the doorway and rush to your kitchen.

When you're in the kitchen, heating up the leftover pizza, you feel very...nervous. For months you've been hoping to see Bucky again, but now that he's here...what the fuck do you even do? Obviously, you're going to help him, but what do you say?

Do you tell him that you've been thinking about him since that night at the bar? Or is that too weird?

"Thanks for the shirt," Bucky says as he enters your small kitchen.

You look over your shoulder and give him a nod, "Of course," you plate the pizza and hold it out for him.

He takes it and sits at your small kitchen table, taking a swig from the beer you opened for him.

You lean against the counter, arms crossed over your chest, "Sooo how long are you in town for?" You wait as he chews his food.

Bucky clears his throat and washes down his food with more beer. There's a look in his eye and you're not sure what it is, "I, uh, actually need to lay low for a bit, so thought I'd stay in town for a few days."

"Where do you plan on staying?"

Bucky sighs and runs his metal hand through his hair, "Was hoping someone would be leaving tomorrow so I can check in at the motel."

You can't help but snort, "Yeah, no. That's not happening. People tend to stay for several days for the Strawberry Festival. We have a new event every day, so people don't want to miss out."

"I'll just sleep in my car then."

You shake your head, "Bucky, you can stay here for the time being."

"I don't want to impose more than I already have."

"Too late," you say with a playful smirk, "Seriously, it's fine. I'm happy to help. Besides, you're helping me by bringing a little excitement to my life."

Bucky softly smiles at you, "I thought you didn't care for excitement anymore."

"Never said that. Just didn't like the busy life that the city gave me. It's chill and laid back here, but I could use something more than town gossip to keep me on my toes."

He chuckles, "Well, I guess I'll be happy to be of service. But, uh-" he looks around your place, "You don't have a partner or anyone that will be upset about me being here?"

You shake your head, "Nope. Just me, myself, and I. Also, you can take my bed. My couch is a pullout, but not as comfy."

"You don't have to do that. I can-"

"No, arguments. I can't in good conscience let a hundred something year old man like yourself sleep on that couch."

With a smirk on his lips, Bucky narrows his eyes at you, "Exactly how much research did you do on me?"

You make a motion to zip your lips and you leave the kitchen, leaving him to laugh to himself.

#bucky barnes #bucky barnes x reader #bucky x reader #bucky barnes imagine

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mallahanmoxie · 1 day ago

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melfrank historical romance AU set on the grounds of the 1893 columbian exposition (aka the chicago's world's fair -- the one with the ferris wheel!) where frank is part of the medical crew arranged by the exposition's medical department to service the fairgoers and attendants alike and mel is there to attend a few of the medical congresses going on as well as take notes on eadweard muybridge's studies on locomotion at his zoopraxographical hall for her boss.

frank is very disillusioned with the idea of the city investing in this whole show just to toot their own horn and the inability of the medical associations to reach a consensus and a working plan to solve the city's public health issues, whereas mel still thinks events like these provide great opportunity for the learned of the world to gather and share their knowledge, and also to open up spaces for certain peoples and their efforts to reach the public eye, and so they find themselves at odds at the beginning but intrigued by one another. they browse through the exhibits together, marvel at the sights (did you know they recreated la niña, la pinta y la santa maría for this exposition? wild), ride the ferris wheel, have their whole "it's so pretty" (looking at her) "it is" moment. they go see the kinetoscope because i want them to.

i think frank is probably married, but abby's a new york socialité who's got much more important business going on (political organizing) and thus they haven't seen each other in years. her family does not like him lol and frankly (haha) abby did marry down, so. he also probably is still an addict but i'm not going to research what he'd be on right now. mel's under the wing of a pretty well known, but still rural midwestern doctor and she's a doctor in her own right. wanted to apply to the staff for the women's hospital but was rejected. she tells frank about her dreams and in his head he's immediately scheming how to help her thinking i'm pretty sure abby knows the blackwell sisters we could get her a position at their hospital and tries not to interrogate why he wants to do that too closely and also, mm, maybe going to his wife for this is... not the move.

when the fire in the cold storage breaks out, i think frank pulls mel into the emergency hospital and they save a bunch of people and in the aftermath, he gets kicked to the curb for bringing a woman into it that wasn't even part of the staff, so they don't even get to stay for the mayor's assassination. they meet at the train station with their tickets going two different directions and frank tells her to drop everything and go with him to new york and mel really does consider it even though they met like two months ago. they end up parting and becoming pen pals, and when frank opens his own practice, he tells mel he's got a place for her in it, if she wants to take it, and mel wistfully sighs as she looks at the letter from the windowsill in her little idk. kansas hospital, and chews her lip about it until her boss with the big booming voice drops a hand on her shoulder and tells her he didn't send her all sorts of places just to keep her locked in here, so she writes frank back that she'll go where he asks, if he will have her.

#melfrank #ngl this one is just for me. this is literally just for me. i could not even begin to explain to you how much this is tailored to ME #you know the melfrank brain worms are really really getting to me because i hate US history and im still like damn. great material #psa newsmen still at large

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russellsppttemplates · 1 year ago

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A red thread tying you to me (Charles Leclerc)

There was something pulling you to him and Charles was ready to act on it

Note: english is not my first language. I loved the blurb and now we have a big piece too!

Thank you so much to everyone who likes and reblogs, your feedback is appreciated 🤍 and I'm taking requests so if you have any ideas or concepts you want to share, feel free to do so as I'll try to get to them the best I can!

my masterlist

Tw: mentions the death of reader's father's and Charles' father's deaths

Tag list: @myloverjk-blog @hiireadstuff @c-losur3

"The congress is just outside of Milan, the exact city and details are in there", your colleague Lucia offered as she flickered though the pages, "I've been a couple of times before and it's really enriching, I just know you'll love the students and the department head - she was my supervisor for a couple of years".

"It sounds great", you looked at the panel information and then the travel details, "it's such a shame you can't come with me though, but I also wouldn't want to risk your little dude showing up and have me as your midwife", you chuckled as Lucia rubbed her baby bump.

"You're capable of many things, Y/N, but I would prefer if the fate of my baby and my underparts was in the hands of a professional!", she bumped your shoulder, "and the area is really nice too, I'm sure you'll find something to keep you busy during the weekend".

"I have plans, actually, I'll be fine I think", you smiled.

Like Lucia predicted, you had a great time in the conference and the guest lecture you gave was applauded and discussed for nearly an hour after you showed the last slide of the presentation, topics going back and forth until everyone had to absolutely leave the room before the next lecture began. For now, you'd get to enjoy the region, drinking some wine and taking in the views you recognised.

The park where your father used to take you didn't look too different. The slides didn't look rusty anymore, and the swing was a bright red colour as you sat on it once you didn't see any other kid around who might want to use them and let yourself feel the breeze on your face and hair as you kicked your legs in and out. Your father used to make you feel like you could touch the sky with how high he helped you go, "you're going to touch the clouds, mia piccola stella", he would say and you would laugh loudly.

You missed him every single day, but over the years, your grief allowed you remember all of the happy moments you lived with him, cherishing them close to your heart. Spending the whole weekend in Monza and attending the race was something you hadn't done without him since he passed away. The circuit was your father's favourite - "it's the fans, Y/N, there's a thrill in the air that no other circuit has - Tifosi cover the streets, they're all you can see around town and it's magical almost" he would say to you, so when you noticed the conference was in the area and coincided with the Grand Prix weekend, both you and your mother agreed you should take the opportunity.

On your way back to the hotel, you stopped by the track, wondering what the preparations for a race weekend looked like after so many years. You still followed the sport, but you never got the chance to catch this on television.

"Oh my, oh my", you heard someone say beside where you were standing, "I can't believe my eyes, it's Y/N Y/L/N".

Turning around you spotted Salvatore, one of the mechanics your father worked with. He also had kids around your age and you would often play together whenever you were both in the garage for the weekend.

"Salvatore!", you cheered, giving him a big smile after kissing each of his cheeks, "you better believe your eyes then".

"It's been so long since I've seen you last", he recalled, rubbing your back softly. You and your mother had gone to Maranello for a tribute ceremony the team had for your father - that had been the last time he saw you.

"It has been, yes - I'm sorry", you apoligised. You told the team you'd be around and so much had happened since and you only watched it through a screen instead of living it in the flesh.

"It's okay, it was the time you needed - What brought you to Monza this weekend?", he wondered as he walked inside the paddock with you, scanning his card and getting you both in.

"A work trip actually - I finished a conference yesterday and I also gave a lecture at the university", you nodded, "and my father always loved Monza", you smiled at the memory, "he knew how cliché that sounded, but he always said there wasn't a better weekend on the calendar. And I've missed the rush, too", you offered, letting the tears flow freely and accepting them even though you were in the middle of the paddock, loud noises coming from every angle as the teams prepared the finishing touches for the upcoming race.

"He's very proud of you, I'm sure", Salvatore comforted, "and everyone will be happy to see you here - the little girl with the high pigtails is a grown woman now who attends conferences and gives lectures, who would've known?", he joked as you stepped inside the garage.

"Is this little troublemaker Y/N Y/L/N?", one of the oldest mechanics said after he applied a sticker to the halo.

When your father took you to the races, everyone knew they had fun guaranteed with you, always pulling pranks and laughing loudly, "my troublemaker days are over, I'm a responsible woman now", you chuckled, giving a quick wave to everyone before greeting everyone individually.

"Do you have tickets for this weekend?", Fred asked. Even though he had just met you, it was clear to him how much you mattered to everyone who worked with your father, "we can get you a pass, I'm sure".

"I have grandstand tickets", you stated.

"Silvia!", the team principal called the woman, making her approach him and rub your arm kindly, "do we have any guest passes left?".

"Let me check", Silvia mumbled, "we have one left, actually! Charles didn't even notice he asked us to save a ticket for his mother twice - I'll get it for you, it's in the meeting room upstairs", she smiled.

"Charles will also be very happy to see you around, did you tell him you were coming?", Salvatore mentioned.

"I haven't actually - I've been really busy", you mumbled.

You met the monégasque driver when he was Scuderia Ferrari's development driver and Prema Racing driver in Formula Two, accidentally running into him in the dining area of the hospitality and ending up spending most of his free time there throughout the whole weekend.

Quickly, it became a tradition to do so whenever he was over and whenever he was done with his Formula Two duties and you happened to be at the same track.

When you stopped attending races because the memories were too painful, you lost contact, opting to react to eachother's Instagram stories every now and again and sending quick messages through the social media app.

"The boys arrive today, but they're only coming to the track tomorrow", Fred added, "you'll have plenty of time to catch up".

Charles had finally arrived to the hotel after all the flights and drives, thankful that there weren't many fans around already and he could get inside without a hitch, checking in and getting his room keys.

"Hold it, per favore!", he said to the person on the lift, dreaming of the changing from his travel outfit and the bed waiting for him. When his hand helped him inside the metal door, he couldn't believe his eyes, "Y/N?".

He could remember the last time he saw you. He had just started his first season as a Formula One driver for Alfa Romeo and you had come back to the paddock for the first race of the season like you promised you would. He sat with you whenever he had a little break, you caught up with him and his early days as a driver with a seat rather than just watching from the sidelines.

"Charles, hi!", you gasped, hugging him and feeling him squeeze your body against his.

"I- what are you doing here? Are you here for the race?", he wondered. This couldn't be a mere coincidence. He hoped it wasn't.

"I had a work trip here that coincided with this weekend, and I thought of it as a sign", you explained, "you're staying in this hotel too?".

"Yes, the team are at the one where we usually stay for the weekend, but until Thursday, I'm staying here, yes", he smiled, "Goodness, I feel like it's both been forever and like it was yesterday", he chuckled, "do you want to get a drink? I have a nice selection in my room whenever I stay", he offered.

"I'd love to, Charles", you said, hoping that the tingly feeling on your tummy mirrored Charles' own excitement at this unexpected but valued encounter, "are you sure though? You just arrived".

"No, don't worry about that! My room is... 705", he checked on the card he was handed, "so you can join me now or maybe you want to set those things down first and meet me there?", he pointed to the bag you were carrying.

"Yes, this is quite heavy actually", you blushed, "my room is on this floor, so I'll meet in your room in fifteen? I need to freshen up because I've been walking around town all day".

Leaving the elevator on your floor, Charles waved at your before the doors closed andyou headed to your door. Stepping inside, you left the totebag with the books you bought in the chair before heading to the bathroom, brushing out any tangles in your hair and splashing your face with water to freshen up.

After getting yourself ready to go, you went up to Charles' floor, knocking on the door and waiting for him.

"Come in, come in!", Charles offered after he opened the door, "I've unpacked but kept it very organised still", he chuckled as you walked inside the room. It looked the same as yours did, only a different colour pallette for the decoration.

"How have you been?", you wondered once you sat down and shared some sparkling water, neither of you really feeling like drinking anything alcoholic.

"You surely know more about me than I know about you", Charles smiled, "but it's been good, this season has been great so far, I feel like we're in a really good path and things are working well", he took a sip from his cup, "the team have done such an incredible job".

"And the driver on the car doesn't have anything to do with that?", you squinted at his ever so modest take on things.

"I suppose I do", he blushed.

"I may have not been here, but I've watched every race - minus some of the ones at daft o'clock, I only watched those when my sleep was all messed up", you joked, "you're an essential part of this team, Charles, everyone can see that so you should give yourself more credit", you touched his arm.

Even though it had been years since you last saw eachother, you hit it off immediately and it seemed like no time had passed.

"And you? What is this work trip that brought you here?", Charles nodded.

"You're not the only one who gets to travel for work, alright?", you tsked, "I had to do a presentation on a conference and then the department invited me for a lecture, nothing big".

"Who's being ever so modest now, hm? That is fantastic, mon ange!", he congratulated before he noticed the words coming out of his mouth.

"When I noticed it fell around this weekend, I told my mum and she said that I should try and dip my foot here - I've been wanting to come to race sooner but...", you trailed off.

"I get it - it's hard going to the places that remind you of them", Charles took his hand in yours and squeezed it, "he was so cherished by the team, I'm sure everyone will be very happy to see you".

"Actually, I walked to the track today so I could see it up close before the race - I hoped it wouldn't be such a big shock once I got there on Friday -, and I bumped into Salvatore", you smiled, "he let me go into the garage and I saw everyone, it was really nice", you looked up so the tears on your eyes wouldn't fall.

"I can get you a pass, let me just text Silvia!", Charles said as he got his phone from his pocket with his free hand.

"She already did", you chirped, "apparently you booked two for your mother, so they had a spare one".

"You see, a couple of years ago, my mum was too late to tell me she was coming to the race and I was out of the guest passes, so I always have one on hold for her and I sent the list with her name on it as well", he admitted, "but it seems to have turned out just fine - meant to be even".

You ended up requesting room service for the two of you for dinner, neither feeling like going out of the room after feeling so comfortable there. Conversation was steady, vulnerability was easy to show and the butterflies were happily dancing on your tummy.

"I better get to my room, then", you stated once Charles told you about what he needed to do tomorrow once he was at the track.

"I didn't mean it that way - I'm fine!", he said after doing his best attempt at containing a big yawn, "I'm fine!".

"You're tired, and frankly so am I", you admitted as you got up from the bed.

"Would you like to come with me to the track tomorrow? If you don't have other plans that is", he mumbled the last part.

"I don't - I was just going to work a little bit, but if you find me a spot in the hospitality, I'll happily take my stuff there", you smiled reassuringly as you put on your shoes and headed to the door.

"I can take you to your room", Charles got up from the bed and followed you.

"No need, my room is just downstairs", you reasoned, kissing his cheek in a silent thank you still.

"That's right - so we'll go tomorrow after breakfast?", he rested his body on the door once you opened it.

"Yes, that works for me! Good night, Charles", you smiled before walking up to the elevator.

Walking inside the hospitalitynwith Salvatore and the rest of the team, he was quick to show you where you could set up.

"Charles likes to spend as much time as possible with the fans and it's right about now that they start becoming more and more and they're everywhere, too", he explained as he helped you in the table on the lounge area, "there's food and coffee in there if you need anything", Salvatore smiled, "if you need anything, just ask someone".

"Thank you - this is perfect", you assured, sitting down and working on your laptop and reading some of the books you had bought.

Charles and Carlos finally arrived at the hospitality, greeting the team and talking to them for a while before they headed upstairs for a meeting.

"You didn't tell me you had a girlfriend and you were bringing her here", Carlos told Charles as he poured some coffee on a mug after the meeting.

"I don't - I haven't brought a girlfriend here", Charles quirked an eyebrow at his team-mate.

"So who is that young woman you just smiled at and are pouring coffee for after giving her the heart eyes?", it was the spanish driver's turn to raise his eyebrows.

"Oh, Y/N!", Charles smiled as he mentioned your name, "she's an old friend! Her father was a mechanic before he passed away a few years ago - the older team members have known her since she was little, everyone loves her", he mused.

"Everyone loves her - I can see that", Carlos chuckled as he followed Charles to the table.

"We don't want to interrupt or disturb you too much", Charles announced as he set the mug next to your laptop.

"It's fine, sit sit!", you encouraged as you closed the books you no longer needed to make room for them, "I'm Y/N", you told Carlos.

"I'm Carlos", he smiled back, "nice to meet you", he said before you dove into conversation, discussing anything that popped into your minds and getting to know eachother.

"Don't let her fool you into believing she has always been a responsible, put together girl because she used to steal and hide all of our tools!", Antonio, one of the engineers pointed at you after he got himself a bottle of water, "Charles knows her tricks already but you, Carlos, don't fall for that!".

"You loved it every time I was on the computers and drew on Paint! You even had one of my drawings as the background for almost an entire season!", you threw at him as he approached you, patting the top of your head protectively.

"I'd like to see that! I've only known her since she was way older", Charles pouted.

"Jealous much?", Carlos teased, his voice above a whisper as Charles seemed to get flustered.

"Is it really that obvious?", the monégasque driver mumbled once you got up to get something to eat, "I've had a crush on her since I was a development driver".

"Why have you never said anything? She seems like she really cares about you too", Carlos mused as he thought to a few moments before where you too gqve him heart eyes. He would have to be blind to not notice it, and even then the energy between you too would still be felt.

"The timing wasn't right, I guess - her father passed away almost right after as I became a driver for Alfa Romeo, and she hasn't been in the paddock since. We have texted every now and again over the years and now she happened to be here for the race too", Charles offered.

"I'd say you should take a shot - trust me, she likes you back", Carlos patted Charles' shoulder after getting up, watching you go back to the table with a big smile on your face.

After Charles took pole position in qualifying, the team stayed a bit longer for the debrief, going over a few points of the discussion and the changes they still needed to make before the race.

"Y/N! We're having dinner at one of our favourite restaurants in town and I'm counting you in, okay?", Charles said as he spotted you in the garage, followed by Andrea, who had been keeping you company along with his brothers, Charlotte and Pascale.

"Your family is here for you, Charles, I don't want to intrude", you said as you got up, unaware of the Leclerc matriarch behind you.

"Chérie, of course you won't be intruding - we'd love to have you there!", Pascale chirped in.

"Well, in that case...!", you smiled, "just tell me where I should go and at what time, or are we going straight there?", you wondered.

"I was thinking we could go straight there if that's okay with you - you can can come with me and Andrea can ride with my brothers", Charles suggested, "unless you need to go back to the hotel", he quickly scrambled.

"No, I'm fine! Unless this outfit is not restaurant appropriate", you muttered as you looked down. Against all odds, you managed to not get any food stains on your dress. It was a midi skirt cut, flowy to allow your body to feel cool considering the warm Italian day.

"It's fine - you're fine, you look beautiful!", Charles was quick to assure you.

"Good, that's good then", you smiled before excusing yourself to go and get your things.

"You have to tell her, Charles - your affection is no use to either of you if you keept it in here", Pascale tapped her son's chest.

"Y/N", Charles called you before he had to go and get ready for the race, "I have something for you - we do", he said as some of the mechanics, including Salvatore, followed him.

"Oh, what is it?", you smiled.

"We commented with some guys back at the factory that you were here with is this weekend and they found something we thought you'd like to have", Salvatore said as he handed you a bag.

Looking inside, you noticed an old Ferrari cap and some embroidered lettering on the side, recognising it immediately. When you were a teenager, you decided to try different hobbies and hand embroidery was the one that stuck the most, so much so that on one of the race weekends, you embroidered caps for everyone on the team that asked you.

"My wife remembered the one I have at home and then the guys at Maranello found your father's and apparently one you did for Charles' as well", Salvatore offered as you took them both out.

"Dad always said he had plenty of embroidered things at home and this one was the one he had to travel with him", you chuckled as tears welled up in your eyes, feeling Charles soothingly rub your back.

"I remember getting this and loving it - I thought I had lost it!", Charles said, unaware if how close he was pulling you together so he could get a peek at the old caps.

"There's some loose string here", you chuckled, wiping the tears and fiddling with the red thread, "I didn't know how to properly tie it at the start, I kept losing it - I think I even glued it down at some point. Thank you for bringing this out", you smiled.

"Would you mind if I wore this for the driver's parade?", Charles asked you.

"I was planning on wearing my dad's while I watched the race", you offered, testing the fabric and placing it on your head before doing the same with Charles, fixing it on his head and looking up at him.

You never got over how handsome he was. The little scar on his cheek, his mole, the smile that never failed to make you smile, his beautiful green eyes. His kindness, his gentleness, his talent - there wasn't a way to deny how much you liked it. How much you liked him.

"We will be matching then!", Charles squeezed you against him before going to his driver's room.

Only when Charles was headed to take P1 on the grid did he hand the cap back to Salvatore and put on his helmet, giving you a wink before he left.

"How are you feeling?", Pascale asked as she sat next to you to watch the race. Over the last couple of days, she had grown close to you, not only because you had captured her son's heart and she wanted to get to know you, but also because Charles had told her how emotionally charged it was for you to be at the track, in Monza nonetheless.

"It's a lot", you admitted, "everyone has been so kind and warm, so all of the heavy feelings have been slowly infiltrating the good ones and it's been easier to deal with them like that", you blinked away a few tears.

"I get it", Pascale nodded, "losing someone is not easy, and I can't imagine what it feels like for you - the boys and I talk about my late husband every now and again and it gets easier to talk about it, I think that's what it is anyway".

"Yes, definitely like that. My mum and I have reached the point where we don't cry at every mention - despite what you might have noticed this weekend", you chuckled.

"It's emotional, chérie - I, for one, always cry whenever the boys achieve their goals. Hervé isn't here to see them, but I know he knows, and the boys know how proud he is of them", Pascale smiled, keeping some tears at bay too.

"You raised amazing young men, don't doubt that", you let out. At this point, you were sure she had noticed or had at least an inkling. As any mechanic for the red team who knew you since you were a kid would say, you were never a good liar - anytime you said you didn't touch something, they knew to look in your backpack first.

"Thank you, dear", she added, "you know, Charles is quite careful in who he lets in, but he's never been good at hiding how much he cares about someone and I can tell he cares a great deal about you".

"I care a lot about him too", you smiled before you were handed a pair of headphones each with the race about to start.

When Charles successfully kept the cars behind him away with a good gap, you clapped and watched the remaining laps number get smaller and smaller until there was only the current lap left.

Charlotte held your hand together with hers as you watched Charles be the first driver to see the checkered flag and when Xavi yelled "And P1!" into the radio, you did your happy dance, not having a care in the world about what others thought as you watched the Tifosi erupt in cheer.

"He did it! He did it!", Pascale clapped for her son, Arthur hugging her while Lorenzo did the same with his girlfriend while you softly touched your father's embroidered name on your cap with your fingers.

Running up to Parc Fermé, you stood in the sea of red, waiting for him to come back and hug them.

"You did so well, congratulations!", you said as you pulled Charles for a hug.

"Had my good luck charm with me!", he smiled back, kissing your cheek as he took advantage of you being shielded by the mechanics and engineers.

The team celebratory dinner was going really well, everyone happy with how the weekend panned out with both drivers on the podium and enjoying the meal on the restaurant's outside patio.

"If you guys want dessert, they're going to set them out on that table and you can grab as much as you like", Fred spread the message as you could see all kinds of sweet foods being brought out, a pudding catching your eye along with some raspberries.

You and Charles got the dessert plates and served yourselves, noticing the staff was already clearing up the tables, meaning you'd have to move to the bar area, many people opting to skip dessert and get some drinks instead.

"You can see the stars so clearly tonight", you mused as you looked up at the sky, setting your plate on the high table.

"My father always said that the stars did shine brighter here, and tonight the sky is very clear", Charles hummed in agreement, looking at your face. The moonlight and the dim lighting for the lamps and fairy lights illuminated all your features perfectly - your smile as you looked up formed the dimples on your cheeks, your eyes that were a tiny bit squinty and the way your whole body seemed relaxed.

The goosebumps on your arms caught his eye though, "here, have this", Charles said as he offered you the cardigan he had carried around all night since according to him his mother made him do it because it would be cold.

"Thanks", you smiled as you pulled the sleeves and folded them around your wrist so they would fit better, "this is really comfy, I might steal this if you don't ask for it back", you joked.

"I don't mind if you keep it, you have had my heart all these years", Charles stated. There it was.

"What?", you faced him, heart beating fast inside your chest.

"It's true, I've had a crush on you since I first met you, and these past couple of days have been amazing, and I can't believe it took me all these years to realize how I truly feel about you Y/N", he told you, no stutter or sign of regret on his face.

"I haven't been around, really, it's my fault", you fiddled with your thumbs before looking at him again, "but I can't lose you again".

"You never lost me, amour", he smiled as his eyes flickered between your eyes and your lips, his hand cupping your cheek your mouth pressed on his, ignoring everything and everyone around you.

Interrupting the kiss for air, Charles giggled as you hid your face in his neck once you heard the cheers and whistles, your lashes tickling him as his arms circled your waist and pulled you closer to him.

"He wins inside the track and outside of it, Charles Leclerc, P1 to Y/N's heart!", Carlos shouted before whistling again.

"Just so you know, I want an invite to your wedding!", Salvatore pointed his finger at you, "I still remember when you invited me for your wedding with Vettel!".

"You and Seb?", Charles chuckled once you pulled away from his neck.

"Sebastian was my favourite when I was little", you giggled, hiding your face on Charles' chest this time, "when he was back in RedBull still, I asked my father to ask him if he could take a photo with me and I cherished that for so many years - it was my most prized possession!".

"I can't promise you Seb, but I can promise you the very best of me", Charles said as he kissed the top of your head.

#charles leclerc imagine #charles leclerc x you #charles leclerc fanfic #charles leclerc fic #charles leclerc fluff #charles leclerc x reader #f1 fluff #f1 fic #f1 fanfic #f1 imagine #f1 x reader

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buckys-arm-and-rios-dagger · 14 days ago

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Buzzed

Bucky x GN!Reader

Description: After growing his hair back out during his time in Congress, Bucky decides to do something drastic with his looks

Warnings: some light feels at the start, mostly fluff, Grumpy Old man Bucky being menaced by his friends (very lovingly), Alpine appearance!, just some cute Headcanon

A/N: I saw Sebastian’s new look, and had an idea. Not beta'd, and not my finest work, but when the idea strikes y'know?

((18+ only below the cut please and thank you!!))

“Bucky, I’m home!” you shouted as you shut the door, bags of groceries in your arms.

“In the bathroom.”

You placed your items on the counter and went to see your boyfriend.

A soft buzzing emanated from behind the partially open door, and you cocked an eyebrow.

You didn’t know exactly what it was you expected to see when you opened the door.

But finding a shirtless Bucky, clippers in his hand, a pile of hair laying at his bare feet and a shaved spot on his head wasn’t one of them.

You leaned against the doorway, watching, the silence only broken by the buzzing of the clippers.

“I can explain.” Bucky said hastily, switching off the device

“Okay…?”

“I needed a change, after Congress, after everything,” he sped up as he explained, “and I know you love my hair, and I’m sorry, but I just needed to get it off, I kept looking in the mirror and seeing The Soldier and I just…”

His voice trailed off, absently kicking a small tuft of hair.

“I’m sorry,” he said again.

You shook your head, touching his cheek for a moment before reaching to lightly touch the shaved bit.

“You don’t have to apologize, Buck,” you gave him a peck on the lips, “it’s your hair, you can do whatever you want with it.”

“I know it’s my hair, but you love it, and now I’m shaving it all off,” those blue-gray eyes searched yours, searching for any sign that it was a lie, “I don’t want to make you upset.”

“You won’t, Sweetheart,” you wrapped your arms around his neck, kissing him gently, “but why don’t you let me do this for you? It’ll be more even since I can see your entire head.”

He nodded, and let you sit him down on the closed lid of the toilet, and wrapped an old towel around his shoulder

“Ready, Baby?” You asked.

He nodded, and you switched on the clippers.

Bucky didn’t say anything as you worked, just watched his long brown hair fall in piles around him.

Once you got done, there was enough hair on the ground to make a small dog, and you used the towel to wipe the little hairs off his body.

“Very handsome,” you murmured, gently tilting his head from side to side.

“You mean that?” he asked, his eyes nervous, “you still want me?”

“Of course, Honey,” you took his face in both hands and kissed the tip of his nose. Bucky wrapped his arms around you and pulled you into his lap, “long hair, short hair, no hair, it doesn’t matter to me. You’ll always be the most handsome man in the room to me.”

And you meant it, you absolutely do

You adore him no matter what, and he looks very handsome with his shaved head

But it does take some getting used to, logistically speaking.

He didn’t have anything for you to tangle your hands in anymore when you were locked in a heated makeout session, leading to you awkwardly smacking his stubbly head on more than one occasion.

(He thought it was hilarious don’t worry)

He loves feeling your hand running over his buzzed locks, with the grain and against it.

You also found out that scratching your nails through his shorn hair gets him to fall asleep the same way stroking his hair did, so you do it for him nearly every night.

Alpine loves Bucky’s buzzcut, it’s hilarious to you

“Al, come on,” You laugh as Bucky shoos her away from his head, trying to stop her from licking at his scalp while he cuddles you, “give it a break, would ya’!?”

You laugh as she switches to rubbing her head against his, purring loudly.

And oh God his friends lovingly give him so much shit

The first time Sam sees it, he immediately accuses Bucky of copying his haircut

“Were you mad that I’m hotter than you are, Barnes?”

He asks with the most shit-eating grin

Yelena sends the Thunderbolts Group Chat a meme that someone made of footage of him fighting with the Thunderbolts over the “she’s bald and she’s torturing people with hair!” sound effect and you and the rest of the chat think it’s VERY funny

Bucky finds it less so.

“It’s a stupid joke” he grumbles to you with a frown.

You just laugh at your grumpy old man.

The tabloids have a field day with it when he finally reveals his haircut, speculating on everything from drugs to a midlife crisis after his time in Congress.

You and Bucky roll your eyes every time you see them, laughing at their absurdity.

“I think next time one of them tries to interview me I'll heavily imply you were abducted by aliens,” you tell him one morning over coffee, “and they're the ones that took your luscious locks.”

“God, don't encourage them.”

Eventually his hair starts to grow out again, and you love when he starts getting some peach fuzzIt's so soft, and when it's finally long enough to run your fingers through it you pretty much NEVER stop

Basically, you love your handsome man with your whole heart no matter how much hair he has 💕

A/N: wasn't sure how to end this one, but idk I just really enjoyed the idea of Bucky doing all sorts of fun stuff with his hair 💕

#bucky barnes #james bucky barnes #james buchanan barnes #bucky barnes x reader #bucky barnes fluff #bucky's hair #gender neutral reader #gn!reader

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niresenrab · 1 month ago

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Absent Father Dadler! AU (Ft. Dunkle Woods)

Canonically, Frank Woods raised David Mason after Alex died.

Non-cannon but I like the head cannon, Frank Woods also raised Philip Graves, not because Adler died, but because Adler was an absent father.

After Frank retired to take care of David, he found that Philip was spending a lot of nights over. Coincidentally, all the nights he spent over were the exact nights that Adler was supposed to have custody.

Eventually, Woods just started picking Phillip up directly from Adler's ex-wife's house. If Russell wasn't even going to pretend to want his son around, he didn't need Philip seeing his father every other weekend for those 5 minutes it took to drive him to Woods' place. He'd rather have Phil surrounded by people who genuinely loved him at all times, even for just 5 minutes.

David ended up becoming a brother to Phil. They did everything together, eventually both signing up to be marines together. They ended up going there separate ways, but they still keep in contact regularly.

Woods got a kick out of seeing the Congress meeting on tv. He really did take after Adler, minus the chemical brainwashing stuff, but there's still time.

David taught Philip how to climb trees, just like Alex taught him. Unfortunately, they both use that information for evil. Every time Woods wanted them to do the dishes, both boys ended up in a tree with Woods just sitting at the bottom, a bit amused that they've already learned to use his disadvantage to their advantage.

They totally are in a band together. It's mostly just fooling around in their garage. Frank plays the drums, Phil plays the guitar, and David plays the bass.

Frank Woods who just seems to keep getting adopted children.

#shadow company #phillip graves #russell adler #frank woods #dadler and graveson #david mason #alex mason

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dreaminginthedeepsouth · 2 months ago

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Bruce McKinnon

* * * *

Every effort matters—now more than ever!

March 3, 2025

Robert B. Hubbell

It is a tough time to be an ordinary American who believes in democracy, the rule of law, and the value of good government. From the cheap seats, it appears that all three are under a brutal assault from Trump and Musk designed to weaken America as a global force for good. In a bizarre twist worthy of The Twilight Zone, Trump and Musk’s campaign of destruction seems carefully crafted to benefit the world’s worst dictator and sworn enemy of American democracy, Vladimir Putin, a goal that is warmly embraced by a party that only a decade ago wrapped itself in patriotism and pro-democracy foreign policy.

But America’s political and media classes seem oddly unconcerned and detached from reality. True, Democrats in Congress express concern—but in the same way, they express concern about policy fights over revisions to the tax code. (To be fair, a handful of notable exceptions are out on a limb without the support of their party.) Our Democratic leaders use their minority status in Congress to justify their strange quiescence—an explanation that accepts defeat as the status quo.

The media is a husk of its former self. Firebrands and self-styled crusaders who took Biden to task for every inconsequential verbal slip now report on grotesque lies and unprecedented betrayals by Trump with the ennui of a weatherman predicting increasing darkness in the late afternoon and early evening.

What is wrong with these people?

I spent the better part of Sunday speaking with Americans living in London. They care deeply, passionately about the fate of their homeland’s democracy. They are stunned by the inexplicable ability of Democratic leaders to fashion a unified front to challenge the blitzkrieg of lies emanating from the Oval Office each day.

Is the failure of Democratic leaders a lack of ability? Of desire? Or the triumph of personal ambition regarding 2028 presidential politics over their willingness to serve as a leader of the loyal opposition in our nation’s hour of need?

The silence is deafening. There is a grand disconnect. I had no answer for Americans abroad wondering why the deep pool of talented politicians in the Democratic Party was missing in action at a moment of crisis for their beloved country. But I was able to assure them that the grassroots movement is responding to the call without waiting for politicians to lead the way.

Organic protests are spreading across the US, including protests targeting Tesla dealerships. See News24, 'We are taking action': 9 people arrested at Tesla dealership as anti-Musk protests break out in US. (“Throngs of protesters also descended on the electric vehicle maker's showrooms in Jacksonville, Florida; Tucson, Arizona, and other cities, blocking traffic, chanting and waving signs . . . .”)

Like the Civil Rights Era in the 20th Century and the anti-war movement of the 1960s, we are experiencing a moment in our history where the people drag their leaders kicking and screaming into the future—at which point those reluctant leaders will take credit for victory. So be it. We must stop asking, “Where are our leaders?” and start doing the work until they show up to join us on the front lines.

The pattern behind Trump's embrace of Putin in Friday’s Oval Office meeting

The events of the lastthree days have revealed a disturbing change in the US-Russia relationship.

On Friday, Trump ended 80 years of alliance between Western nations by attacking and dishonoring the leader of the European nation on the frontlines of the effort to halt Russian expansionism. As Trump berated President Zelensky, Trump characterized himself and Vladimir Putin as “co-victims” of the US investigation into Russia’s interference in the 2016 election.

The next day, Elon Musk agreed with a tweet asserting that the US should leave NATO and the UN.

When European leaders met on Sunday in a pre-planned security conference in London, Russia’s former president Dmitry Medvedev condemned the meeting as an “anti-Trump Russophobic coven [of witches].” Medvedev speaks for Putin.

On Sunday, the NYTimes reported that the US Department of Defense has unilaterally ceased cyber operations against Russia, hobbling the US’s ability to understand Russia’s true intentions at a critical juncture in world politics.

Late last week, The Guardian reported that the US no longer views Russian cyberattacks against the US as a priority. See The Guardian, Trump administration retreats in fight against Russian cyber threats. There is no indication that Russia has stopped cyberattacks against the US or that it has “de-prioritized” American cyberattacks on Russia.

In the span of 72-hours, Trump effectively surrendered to Russia in a cyberwar that has been waged continuously for decades. Trump's disgraceful actions in the Oval Office on Friday must be viewed in the broader context of Trump's embrace of Russia.

The media is failing to tell that broader story by trivializing a foreign relations debacle into a “Will he, or won’t he?” story about Trump's ludicrous demand for Zelensky to “apologize.” See BBC report, Laura Kuenssberg, asking Zelensky if he would “express[] some regret to President Trump after your heated confrontation at the White House on Friday.”

At least the BBC reporter didn’t ask Zelensky if he would resign, which has become the new talking point for MAGA politicians in the US: Following Trump's Lead, His Allies Lash Out At Zelenskyy And Suggest He May Need To Resign | HuffPost Latest News

DOGE hackers shut down key IT unit designed to coordinate US government public-facing computer networks

DOGE has summarily dismantled a key information technology group at the center of the federal government’s public-facing computer systems. See Josh Marshall in Talking Points Memo, In-House Gov Tech Unit for State of the Art Web Portals Disbanded by Doge.

The unit that was disbanded was known as “18F.” Its job was to make public-facing websites of the federal government more user-friendly and functional—things like making it easier to complete and file your tax returns for free on the IRS website.

The now-former employees of 18F published a letter on Sunday that explained what they did and why their dissolution will hurt the American people. See 18F: We are dedicated to the American public and we're not done yet. The letter reads, in part, as follows:

[The terminations were] a surprise to all 18F staff and our agency partners. Just yesterday we were working on important projects, including improving access to weather data with NOAA, making it easier and faster to get a passport with the Department of State, supporting free tax filing with the IRS, and other critical projects with organizations at the federal and state levels.

All 18F's support on that work has now abruptly come to a halt. Since the entire staff was also placed on administrative leave, we have been locked out of our computers, and have no chance to assist in an orderly transition in our work. . . .

Before today’s RIF, DOGE members and GSA political appointees demanded and took access to IT systems that hold sensitive information. They ignored security precautions. Some who pushed back on this questionable behavior resigned rather than grant access.

The chaos-termination of the 18F computer group is being repeated across the federal government. Doge has apparently targeted 50% of the Social Security Administration staff—a move that will hurt service levels for seniors who depend on SSA payments to meet basic living expenses.

These cuts are painful and will cause chaos. That chaos and pain will spur a backlash against Republicans that should allow Democrats to take back the House (and possibly the Senate) in 2026 if only the Democratic Party can get its act together—PRONTO! We need a daily news conference with effective messaging by dynamic, charismatic leaders who are not Chuck Schumer!

Litigation against Trump / Musk / Doge

In a significant ruling, US District Judge William Alsup ruled that the federal Office of Personnel Management does not have the authority to fire federal employees. The ruling reaches 16,000 probationary employees dismissed by a directive from the Office of Personnel Management. See Democracy Docket, Judge Says Trump Administration Ordering Mass Firings Was Unlawful.

Judge Alsup wrote, in part,

The Office of Personnel Management does not have any authority whatsoever under any statute in the history of the universe to hire and fire employees at another agency.

Alsup acknowledged that agencies—not the OPM—can fire probationary employees but that those agencies cannot be compelled to do so by OPM. Alsup also acknowledged that he cannot compel the rehiring of employees. The ruling may, however, provide a basis for the wrongfully terminated employees to seek damages from the US government based on their unlawful terminations.

In a separate matter, US. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson has again ruled that Trump unlawfully fired the head of the US office charged with oversight of whistleblower claims. See Bloomberg, Trump’s Firing of Whistleblower Agency Head Ruled Unlawful. Judge Jackson ruled that Trump failed to make a “for cause” finding to justify the firing of the special counsel.

Judge Jackson noted that circumventing the “for cause” requirement would amount to “a constitutional license to bully officials in the executive branch into doing his will.”

Concluding Thoughts

Apologies that this newsletter is more like a rant and less like my usual call to action. But I am reflecting the frustration and anger that I am hearing from readers (both in person and in the Comment section). There seems to be a disconnect that is exacerbating an already mind-boggling situation.

The good news is that everyone seems to “get it”—other than politicians and the media. As I noted, they will be dragged along with the tide of history—a tide whose course we will determine by our actions.

It is up to us to save democracy—a situation that does not distinguish this moment from the thousands of perilous moments that have brought us to this point.

I acknowledge that we are living through an extraordinarily difficult moment. Our most important task is to not quit. If all we do is endure and keep hope alive, that will be enough. That is what Winston Churchill did during the darkest hours of WWII. If we can do the same, we will see victory in 2026 and 2028.

But we can do more—much more. The tide is turning. Republicans are retreating from their constituents. Spontaneous protests are spreading across America. It is happening. Be part of the movement in whatever way you can. No effort is wasted. No gesture is meaningless. No voice is unheard. Everything matters—now more than ever.

[Robert B. Hubbell Newsletter]

#Robert B. Hubbell Newsletter #The Democratic Party #leadership #mass firings #DOGE #Litigation against Trump Musk DOGE #The American Public #democracy #the EU

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