#nat NEVER dumped bucky for clint or something like that ok??

[burninblood]

people can't never stop spreading lies about buckynat comics canon, right? First they are a toxic couple, then she left him in a bad way and broke his heart on purpose... ?

Please, if you don't know what happened in a comic you should a) simply say that if asked, that you don't know, it is not a crime, I assure you the comic police won't come arresting you b) if you're interested to understand what was happening actually, you could try and read the thing c) don't spread more false informations in the era of the fake news, please and thank you d) if you like another version of the story you can write an amazing ff with all your ideas and theories, how the gods intended.

[sebbytrash]

Through His Eyes - Part Eighteen

Summary - Bucky arrives at the compound to start afresh but you and him have a somewhat colorful past, colorful being that you met him once before as The Winter Soldier and it did not go well. New beginnings, yeah? If you can learn to forgive.

Pairing - Bucky x Reader

Warnings -   Angst, denial, self loating, all the sad stuff guys. Also, weird breakfast habits courtesy of one Clint Barton

A/N - Hi, it’s me, trying not to act on the need to reintroduce myself here lol. Anyways, sorry its been forever, again. I fix? Feedback loved and appreciated. <3 HUGE thank you to my other half @manawhaat​ for taking my scraps and forcing me to do better. I love you. 

Through His Eyes Masterlist

"Auntie Mallow, what happened to your face?" Nate asks as soon as he spies you from his place at the kitchen table, running over to tackle hug you. "Were you attacked? Was it by Ninjas? Did you kick butt?" 

"Woah, woah, one question at a time, little man," you say, and then pretend whisper, "Twelve of them, butts all kicked."

"Cool!" He shouts, disappearing into the house with a few karate chops.

"Yeah, he's going through a Ninja phase at the moment. He's gonna be dining out on that story for a week." Laura explains, a cup of cocoa already in your hand and hers giving your bruise a once over, a fond smile at the edge of her lips. 

"Training accident with Steve. Nothing exciting." She hugs you anyway, warm and kind and everything you need. Laura and her magical hugs, they always soften the edges of even the sharpest of pains. It's why Sam so often referred to her as Mother of All, because she just made you feel seen, loved. 

"I'll be upstairs putting the monsters to bed. Shout if you need me." She gives Clint a kiss on the cheek on her way past and his eyes linger on her a little longer as she leaves. Your spine aches from the way he looks at her, a lifetime of love poured in a single glance. 

He turns back to you, looks at you in an entirely different kinda way but it doesn't make you ache any less, you wonder if your story is leaking out of your eyes like a kaleidoscope of words and feelings, projected for any and all to see. Laid bare in look alone. He looks at you long enough for you to regret coming, not wanting to deal with any of the mess you'd created just yet, but he surprises you by instead asking, "You hungry?" 

He makes you a burger that you readily inhale and then realise just how long it had been since you'd eaten. Clint asks nothing, expects nothing, simply fills your belly and earns a few shaky laughs before ushering you to the barn where a warm bed was waiting. 

"This place looks a lot nicer than the last time I stayed here." You smile at the memory and he rolls his eyes back.

"Well, we had some time to convert it to a guesthouse. Not like the last time you and Sam showed up, drank the entire contents of my booze cabinet and passed out in the field." He hugs you again and backs up towards the door, "You're lucky I dragged your asses in here instead of letting you wake up a few fingers short." 

“My fingers are grateful.” You laugh, and wiggle them a little, then add, “My back, not so much.”

“Goodnight, marshmallow.”

“Goodnight Clint.” 

You wait till he leaves before letting the smile slide right off your face, exhaustion tugging on your bones with weary determination that you're almost grateful for. It means, if nothing else, that sleep might come easy and the pain might subside even for a few hours. You change into the clothes Clint loaned you, sweats and an old S.H.I.E.L.D t-shirt, and dump your stuff on the chair. You fish your phone out of your pocket to send Sam a quick text but realise the battery is dead. Well, if you weren't in trouble before, you sure are now. Tomorrow's problem, you suppose, before sliding into the lavender fresh bed and curling up on your side. Counting your blinks and willing the day to end, desperately trying not to notice how much you miss his scent on your sheets.

When sleep finds you, it comes armed with weapons of anguish laden eyes or the defeated sigh of your name, and your heart tears itself in two when the sighs turn silent. It's a punishment, you think, when you wake that morning no longer sure if you can stand to lose him from your dreams, too. You’ve lost most of the skin around your thumb nail by the time you work up the energy to go to the house, the blood that leaks out of the worried away skin is like a physical representation of your heart. You hate it.

You don’t. 

The kitchen is unusually silent when you enter and you wonder how long you spent avoiding leaving your bed when you spot Clint at the counter, eating happily, but horribly, from his bowl. He smiles and tips his spoon, then tips it towards the empty bowl and cereal packets waiting on the counter for you. A cereal buffet. 

“Mornin’,” you say, pouring out the sugariest one you can find, “Is that...is that all the cereals in one bowl?”

“Yup,” he grins, “Laura and the kids are away to swim in the lake, so I get to do this.” He scoops a mishmash onto his spoon and has the indecency to enjoy it. Disgusting. 

“That is… honestly, I don’t even have words.” You do everything you can not to stare at the grey looking milk that is swirling around in his house of horrors of a bowl. 

He fills in the silence with some nonsense, a little laughter and a tale or two about the kids, letting you shake off the sleep, and the dreams, and finish your cereal before he pops the bubble. You love him for it, and hate him for it. A theme, it seems. 

“So…” He begins, eyebrows raised in a little ‘tell me’ motion. 

“So,” you say, and nothing more. 

“Steve called.” That didn’t take long.

“Of course he did.” 

“He was worried.” He says, and then adds, not unkindly, “Sam was, too. Apparently, you left without any heads up.” 

You huff, “Well, I’m grown. I do what I want.” You throw in a pout for good measure. 

“And that means you couldn’t reply to a text?” 

You tuck your shoulders at that. “I, uh, didn’t exactly bring a charger.” You hold out the offending item and he sighs, but says nothing, simply takes your phone from you and plugs it into a waiting wire beside him. 

“Right.” He waits, knowing your little pout is for show, until the scowl slips into something else. “You wanna tell me about him.” 

And so you do, how much you hated him, and then how much you wanted to hate him, and then how much you didn’t hate him at all. 

He lets you pour it all out, lets you drain every last drop of guilt and whisper every unchecked secret, the words burst from within that pressure cooker inside your chest. It hurts so much to bare yourself like this that you expect to look down and see blood seeping from a hole in your chest. Instead, you see only granite countertops and blurry hands. 

"So, I ended it." You say, flattening your hands on your knees so you don't have to see them shake, see the physical manifestation of your very bad decision making. "It's for the best." 

"Is it?" Clint asks plainly. "For him, or for you?" 

"What do you mean?" You frown, his words making the hairs on your arms stand up, your body one step ahead as your mind fights to catch up.

"Ok kid, I'm gonna level with you, yeah?" He fixes you with a look that feels very Dad-Like and you bite back a little smile, despite the heavy tone. "I don't think it's a coincidence that you came here, to me, the only other person who might have the slightest inkling what it might feel like being under someone else's control." 

"I…," You begin, and then snap your mouth closed as the words settle over you. Was he right? Was it intentional, you wonder, to seek out Clint? No, no...

"You just live the furthest away." You scoff, but not with much luster, doubt creeping in over that wallowing fog. 

"You're not running away, kid." He says, confidently, "You're looking for answers." 

You consider that for a moment, wonder if there was some remaining strand of hope left in the burnt out tapestry of your want, but you know that even that strand is not enough.

"There are no answers you can give that will fix this." You say sadly, resolutely. 

"Why don't you try me?" He offers, reaching out to stop your hands from worrying away the skin around your nails again. Something you hadn't even noticed you were doing. 

"I don't think I have any questions?" Even to your own ears, you don’t sound sure. He simply looks at you a little longer, waiting. “Fine, maybe...maybe, just one.” He nods for you to continue. “How did you face Nat, you know, after Loki?”

“After I tried to kill her, you mean?” He supplies helpfully, face graced with that confident little smirk that never really leaves, refusing to balk at it like any sane person should. 

“Well...yeah.” You admit, trying not to cringe at your cavalier questioning. This was his idea, after all.  

“I didn’t.” He says, “Not at first anyway, but you know Nat, stubborn as hell and she just outright refused to let me have a pity party.” He laughs, “Monsters and magic, she said to me, we weren’t trained for that. And she was right, nobody is prepared for what we went through, or what he went through.”

It’s true, there’s nothing in the world that can prepare you for something like that, so how can anyone expect a how-to guide on getting over it. Or at least, working through it. You doubt there is a therapist in the world that has much insight on these particular demons, god knows they had enough trouble with yours. 

You think about Clint now, about how very much a team he and Nat are, even within the team itself. It’s like it never happened.

“But don’t you think about it, that day, when you see her?” You ask, subconsciously zeroing in on what you really want to know. There’s something there, you know it, but you're not sure what it is yet. 

“No, not anymore. Maybe initially, but I did the work. Laura helped me work through it, so did Nat.” He looks at you intently, like he just figured something out, frowns a little and tilts his head. “Do you?” 

“Do I what?” You ask, watching his puppy dog tilt with confusion. 

“Do you think about that when you see him?” Oh. Oh, that. 

“No.” You answer honestly, “Not for a while.” It’s the truth. The soldier and Bucky feel so far apart from each other it’s like they’ve never even met. And they haven’t really, you think. One existed exactly over the top of the other. 

“So seeing him, being with him, it doesn’t take you back to that time?” He asks, and it feels like he’s getting at something or putting puzzle pieces together the way he words the question, but it’s inherently still the same one he asked. 

“No... I mean, it did, of course it did, for a long time. But, like you, I did the work.”

It doesn’t even occur to you what Clint is getting at, as you sit there sifting through what he said and how it overlaps with what you know. So when he asks, your heart suspends in place, simply stopping in between beats like there was a limit and you’ve simply reached it.

“Then tell me, why are you so sure he does?” 

“He still has nightmares about me, Clint.” You point out, the fear in his eyes still fresh in your mind, like a brand on your soul you’ll never be rid of. Another stain, another scar. The final matching one. 

“He has one bad dream in the what, months, you’ve been together and you think you know what he needs?” You blink stupidly at him, feeling the pit in your stomach extend just a few more inches, digging itself further into your soul. “Look, kid, if you had come here and told me you didn’t feel a certain way about him, I’d be behind you 100%. But you’re denying yourself something here. Is it complicated? Fuck yes. Look at your life, what part isn’t?”

Complicated, ha! The blood in your vein sings angrily at the notion, that you weren’t over here tearing yourself in two just to protect Bucky from himself, from you. That it wasn’t bigger than complicated. Your feelings, whatever they were, they didn’t matter. What was so difficult to understand in that? It’s exactly the reason you were here and not with Sam, although that decision is becoming stupider by the moment. 

You start to shake your head, ready to say much of the same to Clint when he holds up a hand, not in surrender but to continue. 

“You asked what I see when I look at Nat, now. Well, I see movie nights, and Sal’s pizza, and pissing off Tony and every other memory we’ve made together since then. Isn’t that what you see when you look at Bucky?”

Like a prayer, his name conjures his image in your mind, those smiling ocean eyes, the kind tilt to his smile, the shape of his mouth when he says your name. Not even the ghost of the Soldier hovers. You blink back the tears that are threatening to escape your eyes and answer honestly. “Yes…”

“I’m willing to bet that’s what he sees too.” He smiles at you, sad and sorry. “I remember just after I got back from New York, I had this whole thing about everything being my choice. You know, what missions I went on, when I went on them, what I had to eat - Laura was a saint with that one. There’s just something about it, not being in control of yourself, that unsettles your whole being, right, that every choice I made felt like I was taking something back from Loki. Like I was fighting back even though there was nothing to fight against.” 

You reach out and squeeze his hand, his words dropping like stones in your chest, each one adding to that growing feeling, that one you can’t or won’t name.

“So, if this is about him, about protecting him or whatever it is you think you are doing...don’t. Don’t take that choice from him.”

The stones turn to boulders, drag down in your gut and pull till you might tear at the seams, pull and pull till your nerves are screaming with all that guilt, again, that you carry around and the unending pain that follows it. You knew what it was like, you knew, and yet Clint was right, you’d stolen his choices just like they had, when all he’d ever done was give you them. 

“Just answer this, okay?”

You nod, but you already know what he’s going to ask and you can’t answer him, don’t know how to. Your whole being is centered around this part of you, this shadowed pain that makes up half of your personality. Who were you if not the half broken remains from behind the green door? How can you possibly move past it enough to...feel that way? 

“Do you love him?”

No, you don’t love. You can’t. You like him? Sure. You want him? Absolutely. But love? Unattainable. The ghost of him is there again, sudden and solid, looking at you the way he does, grazing his lips along your cheek that way he does, the gentlest of hands holding you that way he does, loving you that way he does. 

Because he does. He loves you and it's awful and terrifying and euphoric. Suddenly, you can’t stand another minute of this war with yourself, with him, with everyone. The fight was always pointless anyway, you’d lost long ago on the dirty floor of a gym where secrets sprouted from pain and bloomed into hope. The boulders grow wings and they lift, letting your chest fill up with that fear and euphoria, shaking off the shackles of your guilt for the last time. You have your choices, so he should have his, right? 

There they are, those damned butterflies. “Yes.”

Clint smiles, knew the answer the second he laid eyes on your weary face yesterday. “Then let him love you back.”

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[peanut-butter-parkerxx]

Movie night at the avengers compound

Movie night with your boyfriends second family

Warning: a lotta fluff

Pairing: Peter x fem!reader

Status: dating 🥰

It's you traditional Friday avengers movie night, where all..well most of the avengers watch movies together as family time (not all the avengers come every Friday but they try their best to)

so all the avengers gathered up and went to the largest living room, you may ask why we don't use the theatre room but Tony always say that "family time" is spending the day with each other not scattered around in a theatre *A/N: sorry to anyone who does them in the theatre they're all great I LOVE reading them, but for a movie night I just imagine them in a theatre-ish living room if that makes sense*

Tony just prefers us to huddle up in the huuuge couch and some would sit on the comfy side chairs or on the soft fuzzy floor from literally THE most comfortable rug EVERRR.

Vision and I are usually in charge of the snacks, they let vision get them coz they know he won't eat any of the food, but what's stupid is that they also put ME in charge, and I am definitely a foodie especially for snacks!

Once vision and I put the snacks in the table that's in the middle of the whole seating arrangement, we sit back quickly to get the best spots.

"Y/N/N!! RIGHT HERE!" Peter said, I mentally thanked my considerate boyfriend that he saved THE best spot..well in my opinion, which is the bed side of the comfortable L shaped couch, so Peter and I were basically cuddling

"So" tony says clapping his hands together "what are we watching?" Looking at the rest, and like every single damn time, everyone shouts they're movie recommendation all at once

"THE NOTEBOOK" Wanda screams with a smile on her face

"IT, IT, IT, IT" nat and Clint chant

"MEAN GIRLS!" Thor shouts

"STAR WARSSS" Peter beams with his cute smile and lit up eyes, I wanted to pick something on my own but seeing peters face made me melt, so I had to help him out!

"YEAH STAR WARS" I scream throwing pop corn at Thor, and when he noticed, he started dumping the whole box on me.

"THOR, OH MY GOD" I look at him and he has satisfaction written on his face. My face was pure rage, in a joking matter obviously but before I do anything Sam cuts me off and the rest still chanting their movie picks.

"YALL MOVIES ARE DISTASTEFUL, WE'RE WATCHING BAYWATCH" Sam screams at everyone *A/N: just think of any mature movie coz it fits with the story*

"THERE ARE KIDS HERE SAM!!" Steve shouts back, oh boy here we go again..

"ITS NOT MY FAULT THAT TONY HIRES A BABY AND THE BABY BRINGS HIS GIRLFRIEND 24/7!" Sam claps back pointing at tony

"HEY" tony yelled finally taking his attention off the discs he has in his hands.

"OH SHUT UP SAMANTHA!" I say,, he finally shuts up and slumps back to his seat while everyone's laughing

We FINALLY decided on the Aladdin live action movie, Thor never watched it so we HAD to show him or..I had to show him 😂

I was snuggled in peters chest, our legs practically knitted together while his arms are wrapped around me, my right arm is holding his soft hand while my left is playing with his hair.

🕸🕸🕸🕸🕸🕸🕸🕸🕸🕸🕸🕸🕸🕸🕸🕸🕸🕸🕸🕸🕸🕸🕸🕸🕸🕸

A whole new world comes up, Thor was practically sobbing at this point, Loki has a hard yet emotional face trying to contain his feelings, nat was calming Steve and Clint down, coz they were also very into that scene, tony suddenly decided to put sunglasses (we all know why) and Peter was also tears eyed.

I on the other hand was trying to distract myself by humming  the song, it always gave me goosebumps but I tried not to sing too loud.

guess I wasn't very subtle coz then Peter started singing with me, he never sung infront of me before and..,he had a good voice, wait let me correct that, an angelic voice, oh my god I could go to sleep just by hearing him sing one word.

I looked at him when we finished the song and smiled, he reciprocated  and kissed me softly, just like the movie.

"You have a really good voice" I say stretching the "really"

"Nah, i don't think so, but YOU...that's a different story" he replies

"No I'm serious" I laugh "we should sing together sometime" I say practically begging him. *A/N: should I make that an imagine? Them singing together and maybe getting caught or smthg idk*

"Uhh I don't know y/n/n I'm not that good" he says softly snuggling his head in my neck

"Pleeease, let's try it at least?" I ask massaging his head, and groans in satisfaction...got him

"Fine ok" he grunts but secretly likes the idea

🕸🕸🕸🕸🕸🕸🕸🕸🕸🕸🕸🕸🕸🕸🕸🕸🕸🕸🕸🕸🕸🕸🕸🕸🕸🕸

After 2hrs of singing and dancing to Aladdin, the movie finished, basically half of the avengers are asleep, nat, Steve, and Bucky decided to go to their comfortable bed instead of getting toes on their faces or get in an uncomfortable position, but for y/n and Peter, they basically had the best spot so no one could annoy them.

"Ok goodnight Peter and y/n" nat says waving at us from the doorway

"night" Say, my voice muffling from the blackest and eyes closed

"Mmmbphm" Peter blurted out,  I don't even know what he was saying but it was so cute seeing his tired face, smushed from the blackest as well

"Goodnight pete" i say getting closer to him

"Night babe" he whispered  helping me get closer to him

Wow, what a wonderful night 🥰

hope you guys liked this one!

have a wonderful morning/afternoon/evening/night

- quacksonlover

[bluskai]

ambient roar | s.r.

➤ pairing: steve rogers x female oc

➤ warnings: smut (female-receiving oral, soft vanilla sex), angst (goodbyes) 

➤ notes: this one is inspired by another friend of mine who is going through some stuff. so this one’s for her I guess :/

➤ more: masterlist | smut reblog blog 

He was her everything.

He filled her world with flowers, kisses, and glorious love. They met in New York. And, as much of a cliché as it is, it felt like love at first sight. 

They fought side by side, through Sokovia, the Accords. Then, Thanos.

She thought it would be the two of them till the very end. Steve Rogers and Laurélie “Em” Emery against the world. Even as the dust settled, and they looked around. Though he had lost Bucky, Sam and a lot of others he cared about, he still had her. 

She knew that he carried that compass with him always. But she never faulted him for it. That compass held a part of his past that would forever be lost to time. Maybe he did want to go back, maybe he would choose the past over everything they had built for themselves now. But Em couldn’t care less. So long as she had him, he would remain hers and she could continue pretending that he loved her as much as she loved him.

5 years passed. Clint went AWOL. Clint was a dear friend of hers, as was Nat. She was the rich little French girl dumped on the doors of SHIELD. Long hair, doe eyes and a sickly sweet smile. She was the daughter of some billionaire scientist, experimented on and tortured by her own father. Then SHIELD terminated him.

Fresh and soft at 16-years-old, Natasha took Laurélie under her wing. Teaching her to fight, to defend herself against men like her father. Men who would use her for their own gain.

Then she was 20 and still soft at the edges, but hardened a little inside. 

That was when she met him. Captain America himself, America’s golden boy in all his tormented glory. Em saw a chance to latch onto a man who seemed near-perfect, a side-effect of her past trauma and daddy-issues. Steve saw a chance to have a semblance of that life he wanted, that nuclear family he dreamed of. 

So it worked. 

But now? 5 years after the dust cleared?

The moment Steve saw Peggy, his heart ached in that way that it hadn’t when he looked at Em. A deep, almost ethereal connection to Peggy that he could only hope for with Em. 

So he had an idea. One that he kept at the recesses of his mind, keeping his eye on the prize. Defeat Thanos. 

Then Tony died. 

In a way that spurred his decision. Tony never allowed himself a certain selfishness, one that would have allowed him to live. To see his daughter grow up, and to die sitting at a porch swing in front of a lake. Maybe had Tony been less of a hero, and more selfish, he would still be here. That was when Steve realised, he wanted that selfishness. Perhaps he was, that selfish.

So he talked it over with Bucky. At first, his best friend was hesitant. Steve had found a great life here, an angel who loved him despite everything. But in the end, Bucky still understood. He always would. He made sure Bucky would be there for Sam, guide him and support him the way that Bucky once did for Steve.

Then came the hard part, telling her. He knew she wouldn’t take it lightly. She would probably hold on kicking and screaming. But maybe she would understand. In that sad, melancholy way she seemed to look at Steve sometimes. Something in her eyes told him that she knew. She always knew. Em knew him inside and out. The minute they realised time travel was possible, she seemed resigned. 

“So you’re leaving, tomorrow?”

He couldn’t even find it in him to be surprised at how well she knew him. All he did was look at her and sigh. He wasn’t always the best with words, so he hoped that she saw it in his eyes. 

I’m sorry that I took years of your life away. Years that could have been spent loving someone who could at least love you as much as you loved them. I’m sorry for never really forgetting about her. I’m sorry that after all this time and after everything, it was always going to be her. I did love you Em. I do love you. But-

Then she was grasping him in her hands, pulling him in and kissing him like it was the last time. Well, it was. Yanking at his shirt, her hands desperately trying to hold onto anything, and everything at the same time.

“Please-” Kissing him, “love me-” She breathed, “before you go.”

And how could he deny her that?

He poured as much emotion as he could into the kiss, praying to every god there was that Em would be ok. He knew she would, she was strong like that.

He tugged at her shirt and stripped both of them, as they moved towards the bed. Kisses pressed to skin, eyes shut in a blessed fantasy of ecstasy.

Peppering kisses down her chest, all the way to where she needed him most, Steve finally breathed against her core. Wet and wanting. 

“Steve, please.”

He delved into her pussy like a man starved, licking and sucking. Fingers plunging into her with obscene noises as he alternated between circling her clit with his thumb and sucking on it ferociously. His thick fingers reached a spot inside her she couldn’t ever reach on her own. When she moaned particularly loudly, Steve smirked, knowing he found it. He rubbed repeatedly over that one little spongy spot, making her writhe and whine in his hold. But he refused to relent, arms clamping over her thighs and keeping her steady as he brought her closer to the edge. 

“Holy-” 

And she came, all over his mouth and fingers. Steve helped her ride out her high, slowly pulling away as she got more sensitive. Then he moved up, pressing a sweet kiss to her lips, allowing her to taste herself. 

“Let me ride you.” She whispered.

He flipped onto his back and pulled her to straddle him, his cock achingly hard and dripping with pre-cum. She sighed, moving to sink down on him. As she eased down slowly, Steve squeezed his eyes shut and groaned. Warm, wet walls like velvet clamped down on him, milking him. 

Testing the waters, Em gave an experimental roll of her hips making Steve moan underneath her as she let out a breathy gasp of her own. She continued grinding down slowly, building the tension in the pit of her belly, coiling it tighter. 

Picking up the pace, she started bouncing. Each thrust causing Steve to bottom out, drawing breathy gasps and whines as he drove into her relentlessly. His hands gripped her hips so tightly, she was sure he’d leave bruises, as he matched her thrusts.

She was close and he could feel it, her hips stuttering as she clenched around him. 

Planting his feet on the bed he began plunging into her rapidly, as his hand went down and his thumb circled her clit. Her eyes fell shut and she fell over him. Her pussy spasming and her whole body trembling as her orgasm washed over. Steve continued fucking into her until he stilled, grunting and groaning into her shoulder as he came into her, filling her up. 

Em slowly moved off of him, movements slow and sluggish. She lay beside him in bed, eyes unfocused and seemingly staring at nothing. Steve turned to face her, pulling her into his embrace and kissed her temple. 

“I’m so sorry, my love.”

[marvel-lucy]

The Ultimate Weapon, chapter 15

Nearly there, ish, i promise :)

It is a proven biological fact that serum helps metabolise alcohol faster than unenhanced people can manage. This is why enhanced can’t get drunk as easily and recover quicker. However, given enough alcohol, and inadequate recovery time, and it is also proven that enhanced can get drunk and then feel like hell the day after.

Proven by me. Right now.

I woke up in my bed, blurry eyed, blurry headed and confused. I thought we were watching a movie? Weren’t we? It was only later that I found out Bucky had put me to bed. I moved my head slightly and then winced as the room spun and my head pounded. Looking beside my bed I could see a bottle of water, some pills and a note.

I sat up, slowly, then paused half way while the room whirled again and my stomach churned. I made an involuntary groan of nausea and self-pity. After a few minutes, I was able to pull myself fully to a sitting position, and slumped back against the headboard.

“Jarvis, what time is it?” I asked, followed by a muttered “and what the hell did I do last night?” to myself.

Jarvis responded: ‘Good morning Miss Ruby. It is 8.07am. I can confirm that last night you drank the equivalent of two bottles of wine, two glasses of champagne and some of Ms Romanov’s Russian vodka. You laughed a lot and then fell asleep on Sgt Barnes, who carried you to bed approximately 5 hours ago. You have been sleeping ever since. I can confirm that your liver function is unimpaired however I recommend that you take the pills that Sgt Barnes left out for your stomach and head. I can also confirm that last night in your sleep, you snored for approximate 12 minutes in total, and said three words – Bucky, doll, and something I wasn’t able to detect. Would you like me to play you a recording of anything from last night?’

“No, that was excessively comprehensive Jarvis, thank you”. I slumped over to reach for the bottle of water and pills, and took them, sitting extremely still after until I was sure my body wasn’t going to reject them. Then, in a fog of self-pity and alcohol sweat, I slithered back down into the bed and fell asleep again.

Two hours later, I was woken by a loud pounding on the door. I sat bolt upright and felt a matching pounding in my head, slightly tempered by the painkillers and the serum. Luckily my stomach had settled while I slept but I wasn’t feeling at my best.

“What… who is it, what’s wrong, come in?” I yelled, and Jarvis unlocked the door to reveal Bucky, wide awake, obviously feeling fantastic and also obviously highly amused by my state.

I grunted and threw myself back down onto the bed, pulling the covers over my head. “Go away. I have the flu. I’m dying. Probably contagious” I groaned, then whimpered as he pulled the covers off the bed with enthusiasm and laughed at me.

“Come on kiddo, no excuse. I’m 70 years older than you and I’ve already been for a run! You need a shower and breakfast and to let us all make fun of you”. He was more hyper than I’d seen him before, his eyes sparkling and slightly manic.

“Noo, I need sleep and peace and then to hide away!” I countered, then yelled as he picked me up and walked me into the bathroom. I remembered how he’d helped me shower when I was first rescued from Hydra but now that I felt more… human… I squirmed at the memory, unsure if it was shame or something else that made my skin flush. He obviously didn’t intend to go so far today though, but dumped me in the shower, fully clothed (only then did I realise I was still wearing the dress from last night), turned on the shower, and left, laughing.

I called out “Nat is going to kill you, this is her dress” as he shut the bathroom door, then sighed and realised that the feeling of warm water was actually soothing. I took off my clothes, leaving them dumped in a soggy pile on the floor of the shower, and washed myself, then stood and let the water beat on the back of my neck for a few minutes before sighing and getting out.

Drying myself, I caught sight of my face in the mirror. I was still careful not to look too often, as it could trigger my anxiety, but today all I noticed was the large bags under my eyes which, on closer inspection, turned out to be smudged mascara. Delightful. I scrubbed myself clean, cleaned my teeth, and put on a robe before opening the door.

Bucky was lying back on my bed, arms folded behind his head and a grin still plastered on his far-too-handsome face. I scowled at him, then gathered up some clothes and shut myself in the bathroom again to dress. When I re-emerged, he sat himself up, swinging his legs over the side of the bed and spoke, more gently this time.

“You feeling OK doll? I mean, not just your head, but you feeling OK about yesterday?”

I nodded, then said, blushing “I don’t actually remember all that much about some of yesterday evening, but yeah. It was horrific, and better than I expected” He smiled, and I continued, thinking I’d better get it out before I got too embarrassed. “Bucky. I… Thank you” I looked up at him and met his eyes. “Thank you, for looking out for me yesterday. I know it’s stupid but I wouldn’t have got through a lot of that yesterday without you. The meal, the roof, Sam. Just, thank you”

He stood up, and put his arms around me, resting his cheek on top of my head, and sighed quietly. “Already told you doll, no need to thank me”. I shut my eyes and enjoyed the sensation of my head against his chest, able to feel the warmth of his skin and hear his heartbeat through the material of his shirt. I realised I was enjoying it a bit too much, so pulled away and asked “you mentioned breakfast?”

He’d also mentioned making fun of me, which was pretty accurate. We went up to the kitchen where most of the team were gathered – not all looking their best to be fair. Clint was nursing a black coffee, while Sam lay on a couch nearby, arm over his eyes, and snored gently. Steve and Thor were working their way through a giant plate of food each, looking, as always, feel of life, while Tony and Loki chatted to them from across the table.

As I entered the room, Thor looked up and let out a cheer. “The vanquished warrior has arisen!” he boomed, and I saw Clint wince at the volume. “You have proven yourself capable of drinking at a level not often seen outside Asgard!” Oh god. I had vague memories of talking over the dinner table, becoming more relaxed, but a lot of the evening was lost to me and I hoped would never return. I was quite glad it seemed I’d relaxed, but hoped that I hadn’t done anything embarrassing. I was sure they’d let me know if I had.

I made toast and coffee, and then sat down at the table while everyone made jokes at my expense about headaches, and enhanced Alka-Seltzer, and about tests to see just how much alcohol it took to make me start singing… I glowered, although the combination of Bucky’s painkillers, my serum, and some carbohydrates, meant I was feeling pretty much fine by now.

“Well let’s not forget I am actually underage, so it’s all on you lot. Encouraging a minor to drink, shame on you all! I can’t be held responsible for the actions of my elders.” I was feeling slightly hyped up myself, able to give as good as I got. The feeling was a combination of adrenaline and embarrassment, but just for now I felt part of the team. I grinned as I drank my coffee. They’d forgotten that I was still 20. The years of training, the effect of the serum, everything I’d been through, most people assumed I was older. I knew the teasing wouldn’t stop but it at least shut them up long enough for me to get another cup of coffee and head back to bed for a bit.

I needed to be alone anyway. I felt physically fine now but I was aware that there was a lot going on in my head that I needed to process. I sat on the bed, leaning back against the wall, drinking my coffee, and thinking about yesterday. I’d gone into the day full of nerves at all the company and yet I’d come out of it feeling good. Some of that could be alcohol in my system still inhibiting my anxieties, but something had changed. Maybe it was the effects of my talk with Sam which had been rolling through my head throughout the day, maybe it was the care everyone had shown, which I hadn’t expected – the gentle teasing about my hair, the way they involved me in conversations. I found it hard, still, and I needed my space, but I almost believed that I could fit in here. I knew I had to find Steve and thank him for forcing this on me, and thank Sam for talking to me – and ask if we could make this a regular thing. Thank Nat for the dress. Thank Bucky again… my skin prickled when I thought about Bucky. It was a relief to have someone who genuinely knew what I’d been through; someone I didn’t have to explain about the rage and the fear. But it wasn’t that that came into my head, it was the tender way he’d kept hold of me when I was scared on the roof, the way he’d kept his leg touching mine throughout dinner so I knew he was there. It was a hundred little things that made me know he cared, and which terrified me. I was starting to believe I could be accepted now, despite everything, but I couldn’t accept myself yet, and I certainly couldn’t allow myself to have feelings for someone.

I blew out a huff of breath and rolled my head to ease a stiff neck, then noticed the piece of paper Bucky had left beside the bed with my water. I picked it up and unfolded it.

‘Hey doll. Hope you’re not suffering too much this morning. Just wanted to let you know I’m proud of you, you got through the day and you did great. You know we won’t let this be the last time you relax, don’t you? I’m glad you could put the mission aside for a day, and I’m glad I got to be there with you. Call me when you wake up? Bucky x’

I didn’t realise I was smiling as I read the note. I carefully smoothed it closed again and put it safely in a drawer. This was something that was just for me, the way I felt. I couldn’t admit it to anyone but in the safety of my locked room, I knew I’d read that again. For now, I needed to get back into the safety of mission prep, and not let myself risk emotions just yet.

I was about to go and beat up some punch bags, and try not to think about Bucky’s arms around me, when Jarvis’s voice spoke up. ‘Miss Ruby, Captain Rogers has asked if you can head to the control room. The team is preparing for a mission and would like you to accompany them’.

I garbled out an acknowledgement to Jarvis, telling him I’d be on my way, but stood, paralysed, in my room. They wanted me out on a mission? Could they trust me? Could I trust myself? Could I even make it outside, after the fear I’d felt yesterday? I took a shaky breath, and made my way upstairs.

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[the--sad--hatter]

Frozen Heart (4)

FANDOM - MARVEL MCU, DEADPOOL & X-MEN

WARNINGS - ALL OF THEM, SMUT, VIOLENCE ANGST

DESCRIPTION -  

When Nick Fury finally catches the Ex-Shield Agent knowns Black Ice, The Thief with a Frozen Heart he puts her where she belongs. With The Avengers.

You’re not happy about that decision but you’re the only one who’s kicking up a fuss.

Natasha and Clint are happy to have you back in their lives, Sam Wilson is a big fan, Tony Stark just wants you to keep your hands off his stuff and Steve finds out that not only do you have a connection but you were there for him when nobody else was.

Bucky Barnes is one of the few people who doesn’t have a connection with you but he’d really really like one.

Frozen Heart Masterlist 

** Everything in Italics is being signed, not said out loud.**

Chapter Four - Fire and Ice 

By the time Clint got you back to the compound, you were stumbling so much he had to wrap an arm around you and drag you inside while you giggled at the fact you were walking without moving your legs. You passed two blurs that you were relatively sure were Steve and Sam and waved happily at them.

“Hellooooooo!” You called.

 “We passed them two minutes ago. They’re gone.” Clint chuckled and you swung your head around wildly in confusion, searching for them.

 “Go back!” You insisted.

 “No, you need to lie down before you fall down.” He insisted.

 “I wanna see Cap!” You whined, unaware that your attempts at signing were coming out as pure gibberish.

  Bucky rounded the corner in concern, needing to see why you were arguing and sounding upset. What he saw was you stumble away from your brother who looked semi amused and semi frustrated as you fell into a wall and bounced off it. You turned around with your fists up, looking around to see what had bumped into you.

 “Please don’t fight the wall.” Bucky laughed, realising you were drunk.

 “Bucky!” You yelled, spotting him.

 For a drunk person you were fast as you shot towards him and he barely managed to move in time to stop you barrelling into him. Apparently drunk you had no depth perception. He steadied you with a hand on your shoulder and you blinked at him, looking strangely awed.

 “Your eyes….” You said.

 “My eyes?” He asked.

 “They’re… they’re really pr……” You stuttered before your eyes closed and you slumped forwards, nearly headbutting him in the chest.

 He wrapped his arms around you and held you upright as you passed out. Clint barked out a loud laugh and hurried forwards to take you from a perplexed and frantic Bucky.

 “Is she ok?” Bucky asked, fussing over you.

 “She’s fine, this is what happens when someone without a super soldier metabolism drinks a bottle of cheap whisky.” Clint chuckled, slinging you over his shoulder and walked away, whistling a jovial tune.

 Bucky watched him carry you away and whished you’d finished your sentence before you fainted. It had almost sounded like you were going to say his eyes were pretty but that couldn’t have been it. Could it? Well he’d never know now.  

 Hangovers were so not fun, but at least someone had been kind enough to leave a putrid looking green smoothie in your suite that while tasted gross, did wonders for the pounding in your skull and shaking in your body. Whoever it was, you owed them a thank you card.

 The compound was quiet and you took advantage of the calm, sprawling out in the common room with a cup of coffee and a pile of trashy magazines Wanda had leant you. You spent an hour that way, enjoying the serenity before you were interrupted.

 “We have a mission.” Natasha told you, standing above and blocking the light.

 “Alright, have fun. Bring me back a bad guys ear or something.” You joked, flipping through the magazine Wanda had leant you.

 A few moments passed and when Tasha didn’t move you slowly looked up at her in horror.

 “When you say we?” You gulped.

 “I mean we…. Wheels up in 20.” She smirked.

    You were sat in the corner of the Quinjet, trying to be as unobtrusive as possible because Clint kicked you out of the co-pilots seat when Stark dumped a black case in front of you and when you didn’t immediately open it he rolled his eyes and flipped open the clips on the case and did it for you. Curiously you peered inside and gasped.

 “Tracking Point Precision-Guided Bolt-Action .338 TP, with a few upgrades by yours truly.” He said proudly.

 “Why?” You asked suspiciously.

 “Heard you were a good shot; thought you might need something with a little more oomph that your usual standard issue long distance rifle.” He said shrugging.

 You realized he was apologising for locking you in the gym, in the only way he knew how.

 “She’s beautiful.” You said, unpacking the various parts from the case and familiarising yourself with her.

 He nodded in satisfaction and wandered away. Steve took his place and sat down next to you.

 “We’re putting you on the roof with Barton. If you see something call it, if you must take a shot then take it but you’re mostly here to get to know how we work on a mission. It’s not often we get to ease a team member in properly so we’re taking it.” He said, offering you a comforting smile.

 “Pretty sure I can handle it.” You lied, grinning at him.

 “Cap, you wanna get up here and actually explain what this missions about or shall we just wing it so you can sit there and flirt with the newbie?” Tony asked.

 “You’ve got this.” Steve whispered, smiling at you as he stood up.

 “We’re taking down an AIM Research building. We’re not trying to be subtle about it, they’ve got unwilling test subjects on site, so our objective is to rescue the prisoners and shut down the operation.” He began.

 Everyone watched him as he stood there, explaining things with an easy and inspiring confidence but you glanced around, sure you could feel someone watching you. Years of paranoia and hiding had given you a good sense about these things and you pretended to be studying the rifle scope while pinpointing the direction the eyes on you were coming from. Without warning you looked up, right at Bucky Barnes. He looked taken aback when you met his gaze. You raised a questioning eyebrow at him and he nodded towards the rifle in your hands. Of course, he was a military sniper you remembered. He was watching the gun, not you. You motioned with your head for him to come over and after he quickly glanced at Steve, he silently made his way towards you, settling in the seat next to yours.

 You turned your body so you were facing him and he silently watched as you held the different parts for the rifle, getting used to the weight of them before you finally assembled it, taking your time. You disassembled it at the same slow pace and he cocked his head curiously at you.

 “What are you doing?” He whispered.

 You shot him a soft smile before you closed your eyes and seamlessly assembled the rifle quickly without looking. When you opened your eyes, he was gazing at you with an impressed look and he nodded once in approval at you.

 All could do was nod, his throat had all but closed up. He dug his fingers into his thigh, hoping you didn’t notice. The sheer practiced ease with which you’d blindly assembled a complicated weapon after only trying It once had sent every single ounce of Bucky’s blood rushing south and it took all his self-control not to gape at you. Friends, he reminded himself. Friends and nothing more. He had to repeat the word to himself over and over in his head like a fucking mantra as you offered the rifle to him for a go.

“Hey, gun buddies. You two paying attention?” Sam called and the two of you whipped your heads around to see that Sam had drawn everyone’s attention to you.

“Cap and I are going in the west side, Nat and Wanda from the east, Banners waiting to knock on the front door, us Barton’s will be covering from the residential building opposite the facility and every team has a flier covering them.” You rattled off with ease.

Steve nodded at you, satisfied you had been listening and thankfully nobody saw the sly wink you shot Wanda to thank her.

   “So, which one of the frosty fans are you flirting with? Or is it both?” Clint asked you as he scoped out the roof, looking for the best place to set up.

“I’m not flirting with anyone; I’m just trying to make friends.” You said, rolling your eyes.

“You don’t make friends. You have family, fans or enemies.” He pointed out.

“Yeah well I’m stuck here on team Superhero now, I have to make the most of it.” You grumbled.

“You are sizing them up to see if they can be trusted with your mission against Magneto?” Clint guessed as he found his spot, setting up.

You were supposed to stick with him but there was a small nook on the other side of the roof that you would fit in perfectly, it would give you cover, and you could set up the rifle on the ledge. Clint saw you eyeing it up and nodded.

“The Barton’s are in position.” He said over the comms.

“I’ve got eyes on Team Red; you might want to duck down a couple more inches Wanda.” You told Wanda and Nat and barely a second later the top of Wanda’s head disappeared from view.

“Thanks.” She said over the comms to you.

“That’s everybody in place. Ground teams, move in.” Cap instructed.

You took a deep calming breath, exhaling slowly. As soon as the last bit of oxygen was pushed from your lungs your mind cleared. Mission brain took over and your training kicked in as you looked around, moving the scope with you. You carefully watched the windows, looking for movement. Two men in a filing room caught your attention and you saw them pulling files out of a cabinet and dumping them in a metal wastepaper basket. When one of them pulled a box of matches out of his pocket you realized they were trying to destroy evidence. You pulled the trigger and the back of his skull exploded half a second later. Before his companion had a chance to duck you pulled the trigger again and his head went the same way as his companions.

Keeping a watchful eye on the door to that room through the window you turned your attention elsewhere. On the lower levels you could see flashes of a fight, but you didn’t have a good enough view to see who it was until you saw a flash of metal and identified Bucky.

“Hawkeye do you have eyes on Cap and Winter?” You asked.

“Got them.” Clint answered and you turned your attention away.

“Ice we’ve got runners on the west side, I’ve got the two on the far left.” Tony said and you swung the rifle around to see what he was pointing you towards.

You caught a flash of movement, a white lab coat.

“Kill or maim?” You asked coldly.

“Maim.” Tony said and you pulled the trigger, taking out the scientists’ right kneecap in an explosion of blood and bone.

“Could use a little help here guys.” Tasha said and you saw Clint turn in her direction out of the corner of your eye, so you trusted him to take care of that one.

You saw movement in the doorway you’d been idly watching as someone dove inside, out of the line of fire. They scrambled for the box of matches and you internally swore. You watched carefully, waiting for your moment and when you saw a hand holding a flickering match your eyes zeroed in on it. Gently squeezing the trigger, you shot at the match, not the hand. If the dropped the match, then even dead they would have succeeded in destroying the evidence. Your aim proved true and the bullet whizzed through the match, taking several fingers with it. Clint let out a low whistle of approval and fired an arrow through the window, killing the mark for you.

“Guys, we aren’t the only ones here!” Steve yelled and you had a moment of confusion before all was explained.

The explanation came in the form of a fireball shooting from the sky and landing on the ground in front of the facility. A fireball that was shaped like a person.

“Is that…” You asked.

“The Fantastic Four.” Sam grumbled unhappily.

You saw the human fireball shoot a line of flames at the building, at the second floor and swore.

“Cap, there’s a lot of files on the second floor that AIM keep trying to burn. If blaze boy isn’t careful, he’s going to do their job for them.” You said.

“Can anyone get to the second floor and retrieve those files?” Steve asked and was met with a resounding chorus of ‘no’s’ and ‘little busy here’s.’

“I can do it.” You offered.

“No Ice, you’re on watch only.” Steve said.

“Tell that to the two men missing the backs of their skulls.” You muttered.

“Cap, if AIM don’t want us to see those files, I really want to see them.” Tasha pointed out.

“Come on Cap. Breaking in and stealing shit, it’s my forte. I can do this.” You said.

“In and out. Get the files and get back to Barton. And be careful.” Steve said, sighing.

You stood up with a grin of satisfaction and rotated your shoulder.

“Want me to open a path for you?” Clint asked and you nodded.

Two second later an arrow attached itself to the ledge above the window of the room you were heading for with a zip wire attached. You pulled your jacket off twisted it into shape. Sitting on the ledge of the building in front of Clint you felt a lost feeling of excitement bubble up inside you and smiled.

“I have missed this.” You admitted and Clint chuckled at you.

“Go get em Tiger.” He instructed and you swung your jacket over the zip line and pushed away from the wall.

You speedily zoomed towards the window and waited until you were a foot away before letting go of the jacket with one hand and pushing your feet out in front of you, sailing easily through the window and landing on your feet. You swung your jacket over your shoulders and zipped it up and you peered into the waste paper basket. You didn’t have time to go through the files so you gathered them all up and looked around the room. You found a briefcase under a desk and emptied out the contents of someone’s personal effects and lunch onto the desk and shoved the papers inside, catching the apple before it rolled off the table and biting into it as you clicked the briefcase closed.

“Files obtained, making my way out now.” You said over the comms, chewing on the apple.

“Did you stop for lunch?” Tony asked.

“Gotta get my five a day somehow.” You defended yourself as you made your way back over to the window and climbing onto the ledge.

“ICE GET DOWN!” Clint yelled and you barely made it back inside the room before a wave of fire hit where you’d been seconds before.

“Uh, I don’t think the Fantastic Four got the memo about me.” You realised out loud as the flames roared over your head.

There was movement in the flames and when you looked up, there was a man standing behind you.

“I’m going to need that briefcase beautiful.” He said, nodding at it.

“Alright, Johnny Storm, right? I’ll tell you what, since I’m such a big fan you can have it.” You told him, holding it out and smiling.

He tentatively reached out, looking at you suspiciously as he took it. You held your hands up in the universal symbol of surrender and looked as innocent as you could.

“Now why can’t all bad guys be this smart OOOOFT” He grunted as you dropped to your knees and grabbed his leg and yanked, knocking him to the floor.

“Listen to me. LISTEN!” You yelled, pinning him down.

“When you said you were a fan, this wasn’t what I had in mind. Not that I’m complaining.” You joked, cocking an eyebrow and looking down at the way you were straddling him.

“Not really a fan. I’m an Avenger Hot stuff.” You said, rolling your eyes at him.

“Sure you are. And might I say, you’re looking pretty hot yourself.” He said.

You felt uncomfortably warm as you realized he wasn’t flirting and you rolled off of him a split second before he burst into flames underneath you.

“Motherfucker.” You swore as he shot flames at you.

You didn’t have a choice and brought your hands up, blindly reaching inside yourself for the power that lived within you and just before the flames would have hit you, they hit an ice wall. He pushed more of the blazing heat at you and you desperately pushed back, shooting Ice at him. The resulting chaos of fire meeting ice blew out of the side of the building, leaving a gaping hole in the side of it and you and Johnny were blasted apart, landing on opposite sides of the room.

“You know I’d ask you dinner, if you weren’t going to spend the rest of your life in prison.” He said, standing and brushing himself off.

“Maybe we’ll get lucky and they’ll allow conjugal visits…” You said, winking at him.

He really did look more like Steve in person than you’d expected but he was smaller, cockier and just different. Still, it was a little unsettling.

“Look, I really am with the Avengers.” You told him, holding your hands out.

“Starting to hope that’s true.” He said, blatantly checking you out.

“Uh yeah, she’s with us. Need a lift Ice?” Sam called, hovering outside of the window.

The look on Storm’s face was comical as he looked between you and The Falcon and you bit down a bark of laughter and ran for the window, picking up the briefcase on your way and leaping out of the hole in the building, being caught easily by Sam.

“See you around Johnny.” You said as Sam flew you away, dropping you off back on the roof with Clint.

Clint was struggling to contain his own laughter as Johnny peered out of the building after you, looking thunderstruck.

“Don’t even try to deny it. That was flirting.” Clint chuckled.

“How would you know?” You asked.

“You left your comm on.” Clint smirked.

 Bucky was even more of a killing machine that usual as he made his way upstairs, trying to get to you but Sam had beaten him to it. You had happily flirted away with the Steve wannabe, and he couldn’t figure out why. You said you weren’t interested in anything like that so was it just a tactic to distract Storm or was there more to it? He was driving himself crazy trying to figure it out and when the mission was finally blessedly over, and all the bad guys were dead or tied up he stomped outside to look for you and make sure you hadn’t been hurt. He came outside at the same time you and Clint did, your bothers arm slung over your shoulder as you proudly presented Steve with the briefcase

 “Well done Ice.” Steve congratulated you, taking it.

“This is Doctor Reed Richards and his wife, Susan Storm.” Steve explained, introducing you to the two people next to him.

“I’m sorry about Johnny.” Sue apologised, shaking your hand.

“Thank you for rescuing the research though. It’s why we were here.” Dr Richards thanked you, also shaking your hand.

“Well you might want to warn the fireball next time. He almost torched it.” You told them.

“Snitch.” Johnny called, landing behind you.

He de-flamed and you had the opportunity to look between him and Steve curiously.

“You get used to it.” Sue whispered to you and you nodded dumbly.

You didn’t see how anyone could get used to that. They were practically identical, if it weren’t for the vastly different personalities shining through. And Steve’s muscles.

“Hey, are you ok?” Bucky demanded, coming over to you and glaring at Johnny Storm.

You were taken aback you the concern but managed to smile at the Winter Soldier.

“I’m ok, really. He’s not that tough.” You teased loudly and Johnny scoffed.

“Anytime you want a re-match Ice Queen, say the word.” He challenged.

“The word.” You deadpanned, raising an eyebrow at him and squaring up.

“NO!” Dr Richards, Sue, Clint and Steve said in unison.

“We need to get you to the med bay, come on.” Bucky all but snarled, wrapping an arm around your waist and dragging you towards the Quinjet.

It was so unexpected you didn’t immediately react and were a good few metres away before you looked at him. He was looking straight ahead, towards the Quinjet.

“I’m fine. Down soldier.” You quipped, wriggling away.

“You’ve got a cut on your leg.” He snapped and you looked down.

“Huh, look at that.” He was right, there was a long bloody gash along the side of your right leg.

It must have happened when you landed on the broken glass or when you’d been blasted by The Human Torch. Now that you’d been made aware of it, it started to hurt and you let Bucky lead you up the ramp of the empty Quinjet and sit you down. He grabbed a first aid kit while you watched curiously.

“Why are you doing this?” You asked him as he gently lifted your injured leg onto his lap and peeled the leg of your trousers up.

“I don’t want it to get infected.” He said simply and started wiping away the blood with an anti-septic wipe.

“Didn’t know you cared.” You joked and he looked hurt for a split second.

It was awkwardly silent while he cleaned the skin around the cut and gently probed at it, making sure there was nothing in it. He found a tube of saline and flushed the wound out, cleaning it.

“You don’t need stitches; I’ll just put on a few steri-strips to close it and wrap it.” He decided.

“I’m not used to this. Usually only Clint or Tasha care if I get hurt and I haven’t exactly been around for them to care lately.” You told him.

His eyes flickered up to meet yours and he saw that your eyes betrayed the pain your tone of voice had hidden.

“You’re one of us now. We care. I care.” He said, looking back down as he wrapped a bandage around your leg.

“Careful Bucky, I could get used to that.” You joked weakly.

He finished wrapping your leg and gently pulled your trouser leg down again but didn’t move your leg from his lap.

“I hope you do.” He said, looking in your eyes to make sure you understand he meant it.

You didn’t have anything to say to that, so you just smiled gratefully at him. The corner of his lips twitched, and he softly smiled back at you.

“Can I just wait in here for everyone to be done or should I go back out there?” You asked.

“Stay. I’ll stay with you.” He told you.

So you stayed. The two of you stayed in the calm little corner of the chaos, together.

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This takes longer to get updated because the chapters are longer and more detailed so I hope that makes it worth the wait. I certainly hope this chapter was worth waiting for!

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[jamlally]

Mistletoe kisses

This was written for the 25 days of Christmas Challenge that is hosted by  @panicfob .  The Day 18 Challenge prompt was Mistletoe

Warnings: None. - it’s fluff

Pairing: Bucky x Steve x Natasha (friendship) OFC (Belle Porter) / Steve Rogers (Friendship) 

Summary: Not everyone is excited by Christmas and decorations, sometimes Christmas is hard and you need your friends 

“I don’t know why we are hanging it?”

“because its traditional “

“It’s a weed, you do get that right?  In fact it’s even worse than that its a parasite and more importantly it's ugly!”

“Gee Buck way to ruin things.  Look I think its pretty and It brightens things up and it’s traditional and doesn’t rely on piles of glitter”

Bucky grumbled in response, knowing that he was probably being unreasonable, no one had complained when he had added his decorations, but even knowing that he couldn’t hold back a glare at the piles of green stuff that Steve had dumped on the table

“Ah splendid, we’re partaking in the part of Christmas where we hang up deadly toxins.  Is this part of a clumsy plot to kill annoying visitors, because I could get behind that”

Steve sighed and shook his head at Natasha “Look I’ll only say this once more it is festive and traditional and more importantly it will keep Tony off my back and stop him bitching about the fact I haven’t added any decorations.  I’m really trying here guys!”  Steve couldn’t help but look dejected he wasn’t a fan of Christmas and he particularly didn’t like some of the more gaudy decorations that seemed to be par for the course now

“I’m sorry pal I shouldn’t of been giving you such a hard time.  How about I give you a hand chucking this stuff about?”  Bucky couldn’t help but feel a little ashamed of his teasing seeing his best friend upset.

“Hang on, before we put this anywhere we need to put it into bunches, and then” Natasha gave what could only be described as a feral smile “ we need a plan.  Give me 5 minutes, I’ll be right back” Before either man could ask what they were planning for Nat was off with a slightly disturbing spring in her step.  When she reappeared her hands were full of ribbon and a very impressive and sharp knife.

“Do I even want to know why you own all that ribbon” Steve asked 

“Not unless you really want to blush” Nat gave a wink “OK so here’s the plan.  You clowns will cut the sprigs to make the bunches about yay big” she demonstrated by cutting a sprig off “Then we will tie them with these elastics and then cover that with these ribbons, and when we have done all that the fun can really start

The conversation flowed freely between the three and what could have ended up being a tedious task passed quickly and with a good deal of laughter, at least some of which was directed at Bucky who seemed incapable of performing any of the tying tasks and so was related to cutting.

Tying the last piece of ribbon Natasha looked at the oversized piles that covered the table “Well that’s probably more than I was planning on but we can make it work” 

“To be honest I was just gonna put it in here - maybe a bit in the hall” Steve shrugged “You know places where Tony would see it”

“Come on - You can do better than that Pal.  You know that tradition dictates that a man has the right to kiss any woman under the mistletoe and that if she refused it would be bad luck” If Steve could use tradition as an excuse for hanging the stuff Bucky was damned sure he would use it to for his benefit too

“Sounds like a man came up with that idea to me “ Natasha grumbled “I always preferred that idea that it gave you protection from demons which is why people hung it in doorways” She added

“Of course you do, and that’s why men find you scary” Buck teased back 

“Well I thought that most people come through here multiple times a day so it seemed like a good idea to me”. Steve was starting to believe that taking part in this decorating lark was far more effort than it was worth.

“I mean you’re not wrong, we should definitely hide some of it in here , but we also need to put it in some other ‘Surprise’ locations too.�� That’’s what makes it fun, a little surprise embarrassment” Natasha shrugged

The three worked in tandem hanging sprigs over apartment doors, coms stations. By the tree, over the kitchen sink and even Tony’s lab and then they waited.  

Dinner that night ended up being fun when at the last moment Bucky had the idea to string some over the table meaning that everyone had to exchange a kiss. Most of theta would blush and exchange a polite kiss on the cheek but Tony it seemed had no such worries of embarrassment.  He bent Belle backwards planting a kiss that probably should have been saved for a more private location before walking around and making sure to give each man and woman there a smacking kiss on the cheek.  He saved Steve for last and made an extra loud noise when he kiss him 

“Now that’s the way to get into the Christmas spirit old man .  A little Christmas loving never hurt anyone” Steve just rolled his eyes and the other laughed.

Wanda and Bucky were down for clean up, more polite kisses and jokes about kiss the cook were made, with Sam stopping by just to give Wanda a pack on the cheek and to push Bucky’s head away when he made kissy noises and asked where his was.  It was apparently at the end of Sam’s fist, who knew !

Anytime a member of the group tried to avoid the mistletoe or the kissing either Bucky, Steve or Nat would shout about bad luck and demons until they got their own way and kisses were exchanged.  Steve hadn’t planned on his decorations causing this much chaos but he had to admit he found the whole thing fun.  Clint was the first  to spot the plant hanging above the door to his quarters and promptly freed it so that he could carry it with him in case inspiration struck.  After he had demanded his third kiss from Belle, Tony had threatened the other things would be struck and he backed off with a laugh and a “You’re just mad you didn’t think of it first”.  

Things quietened down as the evening wore on and the novelty of tormenting teammates wore off, and folks drifted off to do their own thing.  Seeing that Steve was alone Belle headed over to see the older man,  Sitting on the arm of the chair Steve was sprawled in, and she leant over placing a soft kiss on his cheek’

“There’s no mistletoe here Doll” He joked  resting an arm around her hips so she couldn’t slip 

Belle laughed resting her arm over his shoulder “Oh this isn’t a mistletoe kiss, this is a a thank you kiss.  It’s a thank you for joining in when I know you find it hard kiss.  It’s a thank you for having fun with us kiss.  I know how hard you find all this, and that it makes you miss things from before.  Before the ice and from when you had your mum.  So this kiss is to say thank you Steve Rogers for being you”

Steve dropped his eyes and blushed. He hadn’t realized that at least one person had seen how hard he was finding this season.  Bucky got it, being in the same position as him, but he didn’t think that he others would understand, but it seemed that at least one of them did.

“I should have joined in before” he spoke quietly, just for Belle to hear

“No Steve, you joined in when it was right for you.  This time of year is hard for so many reasons and for so many people.  You are allowed to find it hard, you are allowed to let us help you and raise you up when you can’t do it yourself.  There’s no  shame in that.  It’s taking me time to learn that, but ever time I’ve stumbled one of you has been there to hold out a hand and pull me up - let us do that for you too.  You don’t have to be Cap here, you can be Steve”

Belle’s words seemed to hit something deep inside that Steve hadn’t known was there and he tightened his grip on Belle’s waist pulling her a little closer and pushing his face into her side to hide the tears that were forming.  Belle just ran her hand gently over the back of his head 

“Hey man - are you telling me you’re ok with Cap snuggling with your woman that way”. Sam gestured over at Belle and Steve in the chair 

Tony glanced over and smiled shaking his head  “If I wasn’t you would know about it.  My girl has a lot of love to give and she has a heart bigger than anyone I know” Tony looked at Sam “She sees more than we realize and if she thinks Stevie needs a hug then that’s what she will do.  You’re good with the ladies Wilson, but the one thing you still have to learn is that it isn’t true love unless you have true trust”. 

Tony was quiet for a moment watching his girl help the man that he now called friend before shaking his head and clapping Sam on the shoulder “Now it’s rude to stare so you and I will get a drink and if you’re lucky you might even get a kiss”

[jrubalcaba]

Can’t Help Falling In Love - Ch. 13

Can't Help Falling In Love Chapter 13- A Steve x OFC fanfiction

author: jrubalcaba

featuring: OFC Evelyn “Evie” Collins x Steve Rogers

word count: 1625 words

rating: PG

warnings: cussing, shooting the bird

A/N: shout out to @celeb-fest for her beta work. 

I felt so nervous. Today was a big deal. It wasn't just Bruce's birthday, at least for me. Today has the potential to change my life. I've been incredibly anxious all day long, and now, it's go time.

Once I was done getting ready, I pulled Bruce's present out of its hiding place and walked out to the living room. Everyone but Bruce was there, waiting on him. I walked up to Steve, putting my arm around his waist as he kissed the top of my head. “Hey baby. You bring your present?” he asked. I nodded and held it up.

“Yep. Got it right here. I just want y'all to know,” I spoke up, grabbing everyone's attention, “that my gift is going to out-do all of yours, so don't feel bad.” There were ‘haha’s or ‘whatever’s in response.

“Dr. Banner is on his way here in the elevator,” F.R.I.D.A.Y announced. We all stood quietly, waiting for him to arrive. The doors opened and Bruce stepped out, slowly walking over to where we were assembled.

“Uh...good evening. Something I should know about?” he asked warily. We all laughed before Tony walked forward and handed him an envelope.

“Happy Birthday Bruce. We all got you something, and we're all going out for dinner tonight, in your honor.” Bruce smiled before opening his gift.

“You guys don't have to do that. A trip to Bora Bora? Thanks Tony.” The men embraced before Natasha and Sam walked up with their gift. “A bottle of the finest vodka and the finest bourbon. Thanks guys.”

One by one everyone gave Bruce their gift. Thor also gave him liquor, but it was for ‘the other guy’. Rhodey and Sam got Bruce snowboarding lessons and a chance to go skydiving. Wanda and Vision went in together and got him a full hour massage session. Steve, Bucky and Alice booked Bruce some time at a local boxing gym, their services included. Clint gave him a stress free weekend at his farm, along with pictures drawn by Clint’s kids. Finally, it was my turn.

“Alright everyone, glad y'all saved the best for last,” I joked as I stepped forward. Everyone laughed as I handed the present to Bruce, my heart racing and hands trembling slightly. He chuckled before pulling the wrapping paper off and opening the box. He paused as he read the front of the document inside, before he hurriedly sat on the nearby couch. My heart jumped up into my throat as he read more of the paperwork. After a moment, he glanced up at me, eyes brimming with tears.

“Is this for real?” He asked shakily. I nodded, sniffling as I tried to keep my own tears at bay. He looked back at the papers and smiled the biggest smile I've ever seen. He stood up and grabbed me in a bear hug. I hugged him back and we stood there, the rest of the team sharing puzzled looks. After a while, we broke apart, before Bruce picked up the paperwork and walked over to the bar, looking for a pen.

“Uh Bruce? What's going on? What's in the box?” Tony asked hesitantly. Bruce finally located a pen and began to sign the document, answering Tony as he flipped pages.

“Evie gave me the best gift ever,” he called over his shoulder. He finished signing the last page with a flourish and turned to face everyone. “These are adoption papers. As soon as these are filed, Evie will officially be my daughter.” There was a collective gasp, followed by an ‘aww’ from Wanda.

“That is the sweetest thing I've ever seen,” she cooed. I could see that most of the team didn't understand, so I explained.

“Growing up, I was passed around from relative to relative. By the time I would get settled in, I was dumped onto the next person. I don't remember my real parents, and all I know about them is that I severely cut in on their drug habits.” I looked over at Bruce and smiled fondly. “So, for Bruce to take me under his wing the way he did has meant the world to me. And since he has no children of his own, this is a win-win for both of us.” Nods and murmurs of agreement came from everyone.

“Well, it looks like we have more to celebrate than just Bruce,” Tony declared, clapping his hands. I shook my head as everyone made to board the elevator.

“No this is still just Bruce's day. These won't be official for a while, and that's even if they're approved.” Tony looked put out, and I grinned. “Don't worry Tony. If and when these are approved and certified, we can all celebrate then. Promise.” He smiled at that before motioning for me to enter before him.

Once we were all in, the elevator closed and we descended to the garage. Bucky, Alice, Steve and I all got into my Jeep, and we headed to the restaurant that Tony had reserved for us.

“So adoption?” Steve started. I chuckled before grabbing his hand.

“Yes. I didn't want anyone to know, otherwise I would have told you first.” I didn't think this would bother Steve.

“No it's fine. Just never saw it coming is all.” He squeezed my hand as he followed Tony through the traffic. I could tell he was still tense about something, as he avoided my eyes.

“Just think Steve. Now you have someone you can get permission from,” Bucky pointed out.

“Permission for what?” I asked, turning to stare at him.

“Buck…” Steve warned.

“Bucky, drop it,” Alice chimed in. He grinned at her before turning back to me.

“You're Steve's girlfriend right?” I nodded in confirmation. He snuck a peek at Steve before going on.

“James Buchanan Barnes, shut your fucking mouth before I shut it for you,” Steve growled, their eyes meeting in the rear view mirror. Alice slapped her hand over his mouth in an attempt to shut him up before he went too far, but he was able to lean away and keep talking, smirking at Steve.

“What's the one thing that an old-fashioned guy like Steve would want to ask his girlfriend’s dad for permission to do?” He looked back at Steve to gauge his reaction. I glanced over too, slightly alarmed at what I saw.  

“Steve, relax before you break my car,” I warned. He loosened his grip on my steering wheel before shooting Bucky a death glare. “Take her out? No he's already doing that. Uh…” I trailed off, thinking. “Oh, asking for her hand in mar-” Oh my god. There's no way. Bucky nodded at me knowingly as a literal growl came from Steve. Alice and I made eye contact, worried about the tension between our boys.

We had finally made it to the restaurant parking lot. Steve had barely hit the brakes before Bucky was scrambling out of the door. Steve put the Jeep in park, turned off the engine, unbuckled his seatbelt and turned the lights off, all in a matter of seconds, before he too was out the door and chasing Bucky down. Alice and I slowly made our way to the rest of the group, watching the two super soldiers throw snow at and chase each other.

“What's going on with those two?” Nat asked as we walked up.

“Bucky let loose a secret and Steve's pissed,” Alice replied. Bucky came running back, Steve hot on his tail. I reached out and grabbed my boyfriend's arm, pulling him towards me, as Alice did the same to Bucky.

“Hey, you guys go ahead. I wanna talk to Steve alone,” I told them. He huffed in defeat as everyone walked into the restaurant, flipping Bucky off as he followed them inside.

“Sorry about that. It's been awhile since we played in the snow. We're not huge fans of it anymore,” he apologized, wrapping his arms around me to warm me up.

“It's ok. Look, if he was being serious, then you don't have to ask for permission. I know it's what men did in your day and age, but nowadays it's not something that's routinely practiced.” Steve was staring at the ground, not wanting to look me in the eyes. “The answer will be ‘yes’ regardless if you get permission or not,” I assured him, ducking to catch his eyes. A smile slowly crept over his face as he realized what I meant.

“That's your answer then?”

“Yes.” He swung me around before setting me back on my feet and kissing me. I smiled against his lips before pulling back. “I'm not into having an audience during moments like this, so I'm good if you are. But, if you had something planned out, go for it. My answer won't change.” He smiled before putting his arm around my shoulder and walking into the restaurant.

“It's good to know your answer and that it won't change. I did have something planned but, if you're ok with this then I won't bother.” He look crestfallen at the thought of not being able to get down on one knee.

“No I want you to do it. I can tell you'll be bummed out if you don't get to do it the way you wanted, so please, by all means, do it,” I offered. He laughed and nodded.

“Ok.”

“Besides, we need a ring first,” I pointed out. I glanced up at him and did a double take. He was smiling his wolfy smile again. “You already have it, don't you?” His smile got bigger before the hostess asked our names.

“Oh, we’re with Tony Stark.” She smiled and led us to the table.

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[valkyrie-echo]

Project Echo, Part 1: Epilogue

Part 1 Summary: A long-buried Hydra disaster, a monster in the shadows, a missing child. Eight months after the events of “The Winter Soldier”, Bucky turns himself in to the Avengers on one condition: They must help him find a girl snatched off the streets by Hydra seven years ago. In their quest, the Avengers accidentally unleash a horrifying creature of darkness and shadow, intent on making their quarry its prey.

Epilogue

From the roof of an adjacent apartment building Morris watched as Inessa routed Hydra's forces and Bucky quite literally crushed his enemy's throat. Dennisson had shown such promise. They could have used one with his talent, his ferocity. But that serum had ruined him, not improved him. The mission was over. Luckily it wasn't a complete failure.

"Brother," he turned away from the scene and walked back over the rooftop, speaking into a silver disk, "tell our father Dennisson has failed," he paused and cast one lance glance into the square, where Captain America lifted the shadow-child's unconscious body, "but I may have found him a new child to replace his beloved Gamorah."

A second later, in a small pulse of light, Morris vanished.

Four Days Later

"I still don't think you should be out of bed," Natasha watched Clint closely as he wandered about the kitchen, making pancakes.

He pulled the sleeve of his t-shirt up to show off his shoulder, "Look! The Asgardian band fell off yesterday, the wound wasn't that bad!"

"Wasn't that bad?" she raised her eyes, "When that damn wolf dumped you at my feet, you were covered in blood. I thought you'd died. The only reason you're alive is because you accidentally wrapped that around your arm!"

Clint made a face, "Who said it was an accident? Who said I didn't intend for it to happen all along?"

Natasha rolled her eyes, "JARVIS says. We watched the security footage."

"JARVIS doctored the footage," he teased. "Look," his voice softened, "I'm fine. You got me back here, fixed me up. Between the Asgardian thing and Thor's healing stone, I'm alright. I promise. If you want someone to worry about, go fuss over Thor or Sam or Bucky, they took more hits that night than I did."

She sighed, "They were given a clean bill last night."

"See? Thor's healing stone fixed them and Bucky's fixed us. Everything's OK, Nat. No more worrying about the dark, no more Hydra agents in the city, no more Dennisson- you can take a breath. The fight's over. We won."

Natasha shook her head, "Then why do I get the feeling there's still something coming?"

"Because we're super-spies," he kissed her cheek and turned to flip the pancake, "something's always coming. The trick is to appreciate the calm between the storms. Now- go. You've been cooped up in here with me and Inessa for days. Give yourself a break, I'll take care of her, you take care of prying Bucky away from those Project Echo files. He's not going to find out who she is in there."

"Fine," Natasha grabbed some fresh fruit and yogurt from the fridge. She'd grab Bucky on the way down to the gym so he didn't have time to back out of it.

"Hi, how are you today?" Clint sat down on the floor next to Inessa with two plates of pancakes on a breakfast tray. She was in the darkest corner of her room, and her wolf's head was on her lap, sleeping. Literally- just the head. The body was a shadow that extended up the wall behind her- massive and formless. It opened an eye lazily as he sat down. He held out a pancake to it carefully, mindful of Inessa. If he kept his movements slow and deliberate she didn't flinch away- though she still wouldn't make eye contact either. Bucky swore that she'd spoken to him when she arrived at the fight, but no one else saw her give even an indication she understood what they said. Ever since she'd woken up in the infirmary she'd been half-hidden in shadow, and that wolf was never far.

The wolf sniffed the pancake, then snapped it out of his hand and ate it in one bite. There was a thumping from the shadows behind her- the tail wagging. Clint held out a plate to Inessa. The wolf leaned forward to sniff and he pulled them away, "No, no. These are for your momma," the wolf put it's head back down and Clint set the plate on the ground in front of her. He stuck a fork in the center and waited. Inessa's eyes eventually darted from her plate to his, but she wouldn't meet his eyes, "I'm not eating until you do." he pointed at her plate. "Come on," he prodded,"you've got to be hungry. You haven't eaten since- I mean, your body hasn't had food since before the battle with Dennisson, when was the last time you had food? Five years ago? That's got to be a world record."

He was rambling, but it was an intentional ramble. He wanted to acclimate her to being around actual people again, even noisy ones. Every Avenger save Bucky (who religiously avoided allowing her to see him) had sat with her at some point now, but she simply cowered. If they pushed too hard she'd vanish into a shadow and not reappear for hours. Natasha worried (as they all did) that she wouldn't come back. Last time she'd disappeared she had gotten lost (the dominant theory, they doubted it was intentional) and reappeared in the hospital wing where Tony was delivering syringes of the vaccine to people bitten at the end of the battle.

Clint was positive, though, that he could make real progress with her. She hadn't seen him since she pulled him into the Valley to keep him safe. He smiled and waited- even licked his lips and stared at his own plate to exaggerate how hungry he was, thinking it might encourage her. Inessa slowly reached out and took the fork. She held the wolf with one hand as if the terrifying beast was some kind of safety blanket. With the other she used the fork to pull a small piece away from one pancake. Haltingly, she brought the fork to her mouth and took a bite. Clint smiled and cut his own stack. He made a show of taking the largest bite he could (and nearly choked in the process). It took more prodding on his part, but eventually both plates were clean.

"Do you understand me when I speak?" he asked slowly, encouraged.

Inessa hesitated, then nodded softly.

"Would you like to try speaking too? I bet you have a lovely voice." She shook her head several times and began breathing hard, "It's OK," Clint prompted quickly, "Just tell me your name." Inessa started hyperventilating and rocked back and forth where she sat. She shook her head quickly for several seconds until Clint grabbed her shoulders gently to stop her, "Alright, alright," he let go once she stopped moving. She was trembling slightly and blinking too quickly, "You don't have to speak."

He thought for a second, "Can I teach you something? Is that OK?" Inessa didn't respond either way, she just pet the wolf's head and stared at the floor. Clint wasn't deterred, "When I was a bit younger than you, I lost my hearing. I couldn't talk normally for a long time. Instead of using my voice, I had to use my hands. Would you like to learn? That way you can still communicate without your voice. How does that sound?"

Inessa thought for a while, then risked a peek at Clint's face. She looked away quickly and nodded. He smiled, "Alright then. Let's start with the alphabet-" he held out an open hand and curled it into a fist slowly, "This is an 'A', can you give it a try?"

Over the next half hour he went over each letter slowly and patiently. He made sure she held her hand the right way, and very carefully corrected her if she made a mistake. She was completely focused on what he was doing, and more and more she'd glance up at his face. Once he was certain she had every letter memorized he asked her again, "Do you want to tell me your name?"

She signed slowly, hesitantly, I-N-E-S-S-A. When she glanced at him, Clint smiled, "Inessa. Yes, that's very good. You know, Natasha, the nice lady, she picked out that name for you because we didn't know what to call you. Do you remember what your name was before Inessa though?"

A darkness flickered in her eyes. She looked tired, sad, E-C-H-O.

"That was never your name," Clint assured her, his voice growing hard, "never. That was something a bad man tried to turn you into, but you were very brave. You didn't let him."

Inessa thought, but she couldn't remember. It was just beyond her grasp. She had to look at too many horrible things to see that far back. Clint turned and picked up a tablet, "Can I show you something?" it was risky, but it might help. She nodded. He turned it on and pressed play- the very first of the Project Echo videos, before they turned the room into a torture chamber. As soon as it began to play, Inessa covered her ears and whimpered. The wolf flattened it's own and growled. For a second he was confused, but then he picked up on it- the soft screech from his hearing aids that signaled the frequency Hydra had embedded in the lights. Clint turned the sound all the way off, and the wolf recovered. Inessa didn't bring her hands down, however. "Do you remember this?" she glanced at the screen and seemed instantly transfixed by the video, lost in it, "What was your name when this happened?"

Slowly, she lowered her hands. Clint turned the tablet back off, before Dennisson entered with Bucky, and waited. She signed even slower than before as if she wasn't certain of the answer, N-A-D-Y-A. He smiled and let out the breath he'd been holding, "Nadya? Do you know what that means? It means hope. Was that your name?" she nodded slowly, "Nadya what?"

R-Y-K-E-R.

Ice filled Clint's veins. He stopped breathing for a moment. He locked his jaw and ground his teeth.

"We know something was made or summoned when the project exploded," he'd prompted, "Do you know what it was?"

"No shit."

Clint took a deep, hard breath.

"What. Was. Her. Name?"

"I called her... Little... Bitch..."

Inessa was inching back from Clint, scared. He had his hands in such tight fists he could feel his nails cutting into his palms.

"Where did you find her? Here in Chicago?"

"I got her far, far away, yup yup. The whole other side of the world."

It didn't matter where she grew up, Clint had asked where he found her. The other side of the world. Astana. Kazakhstan.

He managed to speak again through gritted teeth, "Do you know someone named Dimitri Aristov?" he tried to force his expression into a more neutral one, but he could tell from the way she cowered he was failing. When she signed back, her hands were shaking so badly she could barely form the letters.

U-N-C-L-E.

Everything went suddenly still for Clint. He smiled, relaxed, and picked up the plates, "Just a second," when he got up he left the tablet behind. Natasha was filling water bottles in the kitchen, ready to go.

"How is it going with Inessa?" Clint set the dishes down very softly, only a slight tremor in his hands. He leaned against the counter. The tremor turned into a shake. Natasha stopped what she was doing, "What's wrong?"

"Not... Inessa..." Clint suddenly lashed out and slammed his fist into the wall. He felt two bones break and put a nice hole in the new drywall. It did not help ease the rage that burned white-hot through him, "Nadya. Ryker."

Natasha had jumped back when he punched the wall. She stayed focused on him as she pulled his hand back and grabbed a towel to wrap quickly around his fist to stem the blood already dripping, "Ryker? As in-"

"His niece. He sold his own fucking niece to Hydra." a vein in Clint's forehead was sticking out and his nose twitched involuntarily into a snarl. "I'm going to hunt him down and I'm going to rip out his throat, I swear to God."

"Come on," Natasha steered him to the door, "let's get your hand looked at, then we'll talk about this," she wished she was still KGB, briefly. Back then she had the freedom to kill, no consequences so long as she said it was for a mission. But now she had to be the voice of reason. Only for a little while, she hoped. When Steve returned from his meeting with the mayor she'd fill him in then he could have his buddies at SHIELD pick the scumbag up, "Ripping out his throat is faster than he deserves." She glanced in Inessa's room as she walked out and tried to smile to the girl, but she had her face buried in the wolf's neck, hiding.

Bucky watched from his tablet, from the feed Natasha and Clint had allowed him back when they first found Inessa- Nadya. There was no audio, but he'd seen Clint's little lesson, and he'd seen her response. Bucky picked up the personnel list from Project Echo amidst the papers that were strewn over his bed. He too had been trying to find some clue as to the girl's identity. Uncle. Nikolai Ryker, that had to be him. Which made Nadya Emilie and Anton's daughter. He picked up another sheet of paper, the personnel record. It had a list of formal and informal addresses for him under the name Dimitri Aristov, the last known being in an abandoned school in Chicago.

He had contacts of his own, lower level Hydra agents who probably didn't know yet that the Winter Soldier had left their ranks. Bucky pulled a jacket from his closet. "JARVIS" he asked, "Can I get a car? One without GPS?"

"I shall have a valet prepare one." the A.I. promised, "May I inquire as to your destination?"

"I'm just going to drive," until I hit Chicago. Clint was a nice guy- apple pie and a smart-ass mouth, just like Bucky had been, once upon a time. But once upon a time was a long time ago. Hydra had taken that nice guy and made him into a weapon- a gun pointed at the heads of their enemies. Killing Dennisson- doing to him what he'd tried so hard to do to Inessa- that felt better than he was allowed to admit. Just like how they wouldn't allow him to go after Inessa's uncle. Steve wouldn't talk to Bucky about what happened, but Bucky could read his face just as well as ever. Steve saw what he did in that square as something brutal, evil maybe. He'd have Dimitri brought in, locked up in some nice, cozy cell. His niece hadn't been that lucky. Yes, taking Dimitri off the face of the Earth may qualify as evil, but it was a necessary one. A favor to the world.

"How long shall you be gone?"

"Maybe a week," Bucky didn't bother packing. He simply pulled the signal jammer from his pocket- the one Tony had taken to study, the one he'd stolen back in case something like this came up- and looked at it a moment, then slammed it into the side of his head. He choked back a scream as the blades pierced his skull. He tapped his comm to open it- nothing. Bucky took one last, steadying breath, then walked out of his room and through the Tower proper.

It was hours before anyone knew he was missing.

Part 2: Prologue

[itscooltobefanficy]

Feeling Alive- Part 15

Summary: Dance school!AU (or the Step Up/Pride and Prejudice mash up nobody asked for). Bucky Barnes is forced to take twelve hours of commercial dance classes to pass the year- and that just happens to be your regular weekly dance class.

Introduction

Part 1 (Slow Hands)

Part 2 (Stay)

Part 3 (There Will Come a Time)

Part 4 (Weapon of Choice)

Part 5 (Came Here For Love)

Part 6 (Where the Sky Hangs)

Part 7 (When Can I See You Again?)

Part 8 (Manhattan)

Part 9 (Skip To The Good Bit)

Part 10 (Poison & Wine)

Part 11 (Clean)

Part 12 (Where To Start)

Part 13 (Second Chances)

Part 14 (Tell Her)

Bad Liar or Beep Beep

Pairing: Bucky Barnes X Reader

Chapter 16/17: Bad Liar

Word count: 5332 (!)

Warnings: Swearing. Profanity. Cursing. Beep Beep is also not fucking around (if you’ll pardon the expression)

HOLY FUCKING SHIT Y’ALL. HERE WE ARE. AT THE END. (Well, nearly the end). I will do a full honour call in the next part because I have so many people to thank but have a generic thank you right now because you deserve it. And! Before you get into devouring this enormous chapter! Please read the author notes at the bottom! It will have a direct effect on what you see in the Epilogue! OK, that’s all. Let’s do this.

Saturday dawns with the kind of clear, bright light that promises heat to come, and you jump out of bed with excitement already pulsing through your veins. You’ve always loved the thrill of competitions. The nerves, the camaraderie, the elation when you finish- all are just as potent now as they were on your first attempt, however many years ago. You spend the afternoon wandering around your flat, texting Bucky and waiting for your lift to arrive.

B: how are you this morning? Excited?

Y: Only always

Y: I assume you don’t get nervous ;)

B: nah, cool as ice ;)

Y: Of course

Y: Is Clint giving you a lift?

The competition is at a high school somewhere on the far side of town, and those of you without transport have been forced to carpool. Thankfully, both Wanda and Pepper had offered you separate lifts- but you had opted for the latter. Competition days sent Wanda into a state of nervous frenzy that was quite alarming to behold.

B: yh

B: and nat and sam and steve

Y: They’re all coming?

You’d already had a good luck text from Steve (he’d also called and apologised for the incident on the night of the party for at least half an hour- it seemed far simpler to forgive and forget the whole thing) but you had expected them to stay away from the actual competition. The thought of seeing them all again makes you smile.

B: couldn’t keep them away

B: nat threatened to bring banners

Y: Is Sam bringing pompoms?

Y: Tell him I’ll be disappointed if he doesn’t

B: Your wish is my command

Y: Excellent

The blast of a car horn from the street makes you jump.

Y: got to go, my ride is here

B: see you soon

Y: :)

You pick up your bag, check you have your keys, then dash down the stairs. Pepper’s car is sat by the curb, and you can hear music coming from inside. When you open the passenger door, she leans across and smiles.

“Hey! How are you?”

“Good!” You slide into the seat and buckle your seatbelt. “Excited. And nervous.”

Pepper shifts into first and pulls out into the road. “Just for the competition?” Her tone is deceptively neutral. Your first instinct is to brush her subtle question away with a joke, but, to your own surprise, you sigh.

Wordlessly, Pepper turns the radio down, and waits.

“I mean…” You struggle for words, “I just- I didn’t expect things to work out. With him. I thought he’d mess it up, or we just wouldn’t be able to go back to that kind of… easiness. But…”

Pepper lets you trail off into silence before speaking. “Do you want my advice?”

At this point, you’d probably take the advice of a lamppost, if it offered: you’re nodding before she’s even finished her sentence.

“OK… I think you’re thinking too much about this.”

“Oh, right,” You scoff, “Because I shouldn’t be thinking about it at all.”

“That’s not what I said. What I mean is that you should just let it happen.”

“Go with the flow.” Your voice is wry, but Pepper just nods sincerely and thumbs the volume back up. You turn her words over in your mind. Maybe she has a point. You stay in silence for the rest of the journey, lost in thought as you watch the suburbs slide by beyond the window.

~~

The reception of Oakwood High School is a hive of activity. You follow Pepper into the throng, looking out for the distinctive flash of scarlet material.

“Over here!”

You spin around and see Wanda bouncing on her toes, waving from the far corner. Most of the troupe are already there, including Clint; and behind him stand Bucky, Nat, Sam and Steve. You wave without thinking twice, and their faces light up.

“Hey!” Sam instantly pulls you into a hug. “Sorry, looks like I left my pompoms at home.”

You sigh in mock exasperation. “Damn it, Sam!”

“Sorry, sorry,” He chuckles.

“I tried to make a banner,” Nat chimes in, “But these three insisted I wasn’t allowed.”

“Yeah, because we remember the Glitter Disaster of the Third Corridor,” Steve says, dryly, and winces when she treads on his foot.

“You know, there’s still glitter down there? I checked the other week.” Bucky smiles at you. “You OK?”

You nod, just as Wanda raises her voice.

“Alright, gang! Let’s go sign in! Then backstage to change and go over final preparations.”

“The glitter disaster?” You say in a low voice, as you follow Wanda through the knots of people towards the front desk.

Bucky grins. “Things got a little out of hand with her group presentation in first year. They had to make a poster, and Nat has a thing for glitter. Steve had to go to practice with blue sparkles in his hair for about a week before the glue dissolved.”

“There was glue involved?!”

Bucky checks behind him, then lowers his voice. “There may also have been an ambush, which I definitely didn’t help with.”

You laugh aloud, and when you catch Pepper nudging Clint out of the corner of your eye, you simply ignore it. Bucky’s smile makes it worth every I told you so.

Everyone signs in, then Wanda leads you down a corridor. “Ladies, with me! Our wonderful leads, follow Oscar to room B3 for your changing requirements. We’ll gather in A6 to rehearse!”

“See you in a bit,” You tell Bucky, then dash off after Wanda’s long strides.

“See you later!” He calls after you, and warmth flares up in your chest. You then decidedly ignore Pepper’s swiftly sealed-off smile, and walk with as dignified an expression as you can muster to the classroom that’s been designated as a changing room.

The uniform for competitions is one of your favourite things about dancing. Although it’s simple: black skin-tight leggings, a black t-shirt and a red-check plaid shirt knotted around your hips, putting it on makes you feel ready to take on the world. Adrenaline bubbles in your stomach as you pull your hair out of your face and submit to Pepper’s attentions with a makeup brush (she has the steadiest hands). When you’re all finished, you look like a matched set: scarlet lips, smoked out eyes and identical clothes. Wanda grins around at you all.

“Let’s do this!”

There’s a collective cheer, before everyone bounds towards the door and spills down the hallway.

The guys are, unsurprisingly, already waiting in A6, wearing their all-black uniform. Your eyes find Bucky, leaning against one of the tables, and your heart (which has apparently never heard of cliché) beats a little harder.

“Right, troops!” Wanda hops up onto a chair and hollers down at you all. “We have half an hour before we’re due to be in the hall. Because I am a generous leader, you can have an ten minutes to relax before we start picking up our routines. That will be all.”

You automatically reach for your bag- experience has taught you to bring a book to this kind of thing- but a gentle hand on your arm stops you.

“Y/N?”

You look around and find Bucky, his face strangely nervous.

“You OK?” You ask. He nods, then something inside him seems to resolve.

“Can I talk to you for a minute? Outside?”

Something seems to wrench inside you; but outwardly you remain calm, as though you’re not wildly predicting what he might be about to tell you. “OK. Sure.”

The pair of you walk out the door, into the relative peace of the corridor. You stand beside row upon row of school lockers and raise your eyes to his.

“I just wanted to give you this,” He says, and holds out a piece of paper. Several pieces of paper, actually, neatly stapled in one corner. “Just- read it, OK? I’m going to-” You take the sheets from him and before you know what’s happening, he’s stepping back and walking briskly away.

“Bucky!” You call, clutching the strange offering, “This isn’t exactly talking!”

“Trust me, doll,” He replies, and although he doesn’t turn around, you can hear the tension in his voice, “If I could have said it, I would.”

You watch him go, then stare down at the paper. Is he dumping me by letter? Scared, on the edge of panicking, you duck your head and hastily, you begin to read.

SELF-REFLECTION: EXPANDING THE LENSE

By James Buchanan Barnes

You frown. This is Bucky’s essay; the one he had to write for his module requirements. Why is it so important to him that you read it? From what he’d been complaining about over the past week, it’s just a comprehensive dissection of the technical aspects of commercial dance. You skim down the paragraphs, then flip over the page.

And there, about half way down, is a note in scrawling handwriting.

Start here.

There’s a small arrow next to it, indicating the start of a new line. You slowly lean against the lockers and do as it says.

Whilst the technical aspects of this style are undoubtedly interesting-

You snort. There’s sarcasm, probably borne of having to chip out a thousand words on the subject, practically rolling off the page.

-The emotional aspects were a surprise to me. This essay is entitled ‘Self-Reflection’, and I will readily admit that at the start of the six-week practical period, I could see no way in which commercial dance classes could teach me anything about myself that I didn’t already know. I wholeheartedly believed that true emotion could only be found in the purest forms of dance; those which seek to portray the depth of human tragedy and fallibility, as well as fleeting joy. I could only see enjoyment in the rigorous practice of discipline and subsequent achievement. The idea of dedicating time to a style that seemed so unconcerned with technique and expression felt, if not abhorrent, then certainly a little ridiculous.

Unfortunately, however, I must admit it: I was wrong. At first, I was resistant to the idea, but it soon became clear that all my initial prejudices were so far off the mark as to be redundant. Not only was commercial dance technically challenging, but it was far more of a stretch for my mental scope than I had anticipated. I was helped in this by, of course, the excellent teacher at Scarlet Studios, Wanda Maximoff, and by my classmates- and one classmate in particular.

Your heart jolts.

I had not realised how little I understood (or, perhaps, had forgotten) about connecting emotionally with music and with a partner. I love the precision of ballet, and always will, but in devoting myself to chasing perfection some of the joy had disappeared from my dancing. I was constantly pressuring myself to do better, to continually improve, and something seems to have got lost along the way. I never expected to begin the process of reconnection through the medium of pop songs, but that was how it happened. I was taught how to let go of tension and follow where the music lead and, most importantly, trust in myself and live in the moment.

There’s a handwritten note accompanying that block of text.

OK, I was trying to hit a word count- but it’s true. Cliché, but true.

Your throat feels tight.

I will also admit that I initially opted for this module because I thought it would leave me time to refine my practical skills; in other words, it would be an easy option. I was, again, wrong. I was drawn into a new world, and, before I knew what was happening, I was completely hooked. This past year has seen some of the greatest changes in my life: in a few weeks, I will leave the Academy to pursue my dream as a company ballet dancer. I have achieved everything I thought I wanted. But I will never forget the five weeks I spent at Scarlet Studios: weeks that have helped me grow as a person, expand my lens, and fall in love in a way I never expected to.

The typed words end there. You read and reread the last sentence over and over again, trying to process it, trying to believe it’s real.

…And fall in love in a way I never expected to.

You tip your head back until it comes into contact with the cool metal. You can hear the low rumble of talk coming from inside the classroom. When you move your fingers, the paper rustles.

“Y/N?” The door opens and Pepper peers around at you. “Are you- are you OK?”

You must look as overwhelmed as you feel.

“I…” You look back down at the essay.

… And fall in love in a way I never expected to.

“I think Bucky’s in love with me,” You say. It sounds… Strange. Not steady, or desperate, or pained, the way it does in the movies. It’s just- words.

Words that set your heart beating frantically, like butterfly wings against a pane of glass. Words that make you want to fly, or run, or shout at the top of your lungs.

“What?”

“It says… It says here.” You lift up the sheets, and Pepper frowns.

“On the back, you mean?”

You flip the paper over and- she’s right, there’s another scrawl of handwritten notes. You don’t answer her. You’re too busy reading.

OK, we both know I’m shit at verbal communication, but I had to tell you somehow. I didn’t want to spring it on you, but I can’t think of a better time to do it. If you don’t feel the same, we can just go our separate ways, and I’ll understand. You’re just one of the best people I’ve ever met, and every time I see you my heart does that thing everyone always says it will, and those two weeks without you were fucking awful and although I’ve messed up so much I don’t ever want to throw this away if there’s the slightest chance. That was a long sentence, but I think the short version is that I’m in love with you. I love you, Y/N.

And that’s it.

Your throat burns; you feel as though you might float off the floor.

“Hey.” A cool hand settles on your shoulder. “Are you OK?”

“Oh my God,” A new voice echoes down the corridor. “Pep, why have you made her cry?! I can’t have her crying, we need to start warmups!”

You turn to see Wanda striding towards you, and realise that tears are streaking down your face. A shaky smile starts to stretch at your mouth.

“I’m- I’m not sad,” You say, then hastily wipe at your eyes. Why are you crying? You want to sing. You want to tear through the building until you find Bucky, and then stand in front of him and tell him-

“Please,” Wanda lifts a hand to her temples, “Somebody tell me what’s going on. Right now.”

You laugh, a bubbling little thing, and taste the words on your tongue. “Bucky loves me.”

Wanda looks from the paper in your hand, to Pepper, then back to you. “He told you?”

“Yeah.” You can scarcely believe it yourself. You hold out the essay. “Here. It’s the last paragraph, then the back page.”

Wanda takes it from you, and begins scanning down, her eyes flickering rapidly back and forth.

“Y/N, where is Bucky?” Pepper asks. You shake your head.

“He just walked off.”

“Probably didn’t want to crowd you,” Wanda says, wisely, “But he needs to get his ass back here, emotional trauma or no!” Then she pulls you into a hug. “Good job, darling. Glad you’ve finally worked it out.”

You laugh again. You feel giddy, light. Bucky loves me.

And, I guess, I love him, too.

“Pep, you go search for Bucky. You, wipe down your face and come warm up.” When you open your mouth to protest, Wanda cuts you off. “No, we don’t have time for you to get distracted! He can propose afterwards.”

You splutter. “I think it’s a bit early for that!”

Wanda pauses, then winks. “I didn’t say he’d be proposing marriage. Now, come on!”

You’re very glad you’re wearing such a thick layer of foundation; otherwise, you’d be blushing as red as a traffic light.

Warmups pass in a blur. Your whole attention is focused on the door, waiting for the moment Pepper and Bucky walk back through it.

It never arrives.

“I’ve texted her. She’s going to meet us by the stage.” You don’t even get the chance to ask your question before Wanda answers- you grimace, and continue to hover beside her as everyone files out of the door. She frowns. “Now stop stressing. That much tension isn’t good for you.”

“Said the pot to the kettle,” You mutter, but do as she says. You’re so keyed up that you can’t even talk to anyone as you walk towards the hall; you’re constantly craning your neck, searching for a tall, dark-haired figure.

And there he is. Standing beside Pepper, talking fast, silhouetted against a blue pin board covered with notices about extra-curricular activities. He’s right there. You feel like every atom in your body has begun to vibrate.

A hand on your shoulder stops you dashing forwards.

“We have two minutes before we go on,” Wanda says, firmly, “If you aren’t ready, there will be consequences.”

You nod, already tripping forward, your attention pulled towards him like a magnet, like a lodestone.

Pepper sees you first; she smiles, and then touches Bucky’s arm. He looks up.

You move faster. There’s no crowd between you, no obstacles left, and then you’re standing right in front of him, about to tell him-

What?

“You could have just told me,” You finally say, and there’s that strange disconnect- because the words mean so much, but they just sound normal, like any other casual exchange. Pepper has somehow melted away, and you make a mental note that you should really buy her flowers.

Bucky’s staring at you, and the hope that’s blooming on his face is making you crumple and split apart and levitate all at the same time. You let yourself smile, and ignore the way your hands shake as you reach out to him.

“Wait-” He catches your wrist, his grip gentle, his eyes boring into your own, “- Are you sure? Are you-”

“Y/N!” There’s no argument in Wanda’s tone, and you grimace in frustration.

“I’m-”

“Now.”

You stare at Bucky helplessly, and he shakes his head, unsure, but hopeful. “Guess we’d better do as she says.”

Out of the corner of your eye, you see the door to the hall opening, and Wanda striding through it. The rest of the troupe follow on. You groan, then dash after them, pulling Bucky along behind.

And then you’re swallowed by the noise of the crowd and the heat of the spotlight and although there’s probably enough time to say those three stupid little words, this isn’t how you want to do it: hasty and unconsidered and without some semblance of respect for the moment. So, you bottle it all up, shove it down deep inside, and take your starting position.

Dancing always takes on a strange clarity when you’re performing. The adrenaline crystallises every phrase, accentuates every beat. You’re always afraid you’ll miss the timing, forget a move- but you never do. Not even now, with a storm raging in your mind and Bucky beside you, lit to a shadowy splendour by the harsh lights, moving perfectly in unison with your every motion.

There’s the pull and stretch of the backbend, the flowing movements of the chorus, and then Stay is over and the guys are striding to the edges as you take your place for the girls’ segment.

It’s easier, this part. There’s only you, and your place in the lines and clusters, and the lazy beat to follow. The crowd are cheering. It’s only now that you remember you’re supposed to be smiling, and you force your face into submission as you near the end of the section.

Then the leads turn back onto the stage, and you hold your breath as Bucky brushes past you. You don’t even try to take your eyes off him as he settles into So Good. He’s too beautiful not to watch.

Suddenly it’s over, and you’re stalking back towards him, shrugging on the mantle of your character as the sultry rhythm of Buttons thrums out of the speakers.

Wanda had readily admitted that the impression she was going for was “A tasteful lapdance,” So, you paint a smirk on your face and give it your all.

“Typical, hardly the type I fall for…” You smile, lend it some bite. You daren’t actually look at Bucky, but you think he’s smiling, too. It goes easy, and although you’re breathing hard by the time the segment’s done, there’s only one more left.

“Oh, you’re taking up a fraction of my mind,” Selena Gomez sighs, and you ignore just how appropriate the lyrics are.

You catch Bucky’s hand and he dips you back, bending over you before you push yourself back. Reluctantly. Oh, so reluctantly.

“Every time I watch you serpentine,”

Bucky does as all the other leads do, and rolls his hips easily with the music; but none of the other leads make your mouth go dry at the sight.

“Oh, I’m trying, I’m trying, I’m trying, I’m trying, I’m trying,

Oh, I’m trying, I’m trying, I’m trying, I’m trying, I’m trying,

Not to think about you,

No, no, no,

Not to think about you.”

Your heart is hammering now, and every time you come into contact with him- the bare skin of hands or the press of an arm or the almost accidental brush of thighs- you forget how to breathe.

“Oh, I’m trying, I’m trying, I’m trying, I’m trying, I’m trying,

Oh, I’m trying, I’m trying, I’m trying, I’m trying, I’m trying,

Not to give it to you,

No, no, no,

Not to give it to you.”

There’s a delicate line of spins to take you apart, then the routine pulls you back together. His eyes graze yours. Heat seems to flash up your spine, flooding your face.

And then the final line comes, and you sink to a crouch beside Bucky’s legs as the words echo in your head.

“With my feelings on fire,

Guess I’m a bad liar.”

Your chest heaves; your legs shake. The crowd are yelling their appreciation, but it breaks over you, like a rumbling, indistinct wave.

A hand reaches down, and you take it. Bucky helps you to your feet and you stare at him, helpless, silent.

You need to talk: you know you need to talk, there’s so much to say, but all of a sudden there’s no time. No time as you’re ushered off the stage; no time as you wait impatiently through the final performances; no time when the result is announced: Scarlet Studios, second, Vision Studios, first. There’s no time as Wanda spits venom through her forced smile; no time as you are borne back towards the classroom and then swept into Pepper’s car in the soft, dusky light of the evening. Out of the window, you see Bucky walking across the carpark, craning his neck even as Steve appears to be trying to engage him in conversation.

“Here.” Something lands on your lap, and you look down to see Pepper’s reached in your bag and tossed you your phone. “Text him. You can talk at the party.”

You glance at her, and see that she’s smiling. Suddenly, you feel a surge of gratitude.

“Thank you.”

Pepper just nods, and dabs on the accelerator to crawl towards the exit. You dip your head and start typing.

Y: Talk at the party?

You barely have to wait thirty seconds.

B: yes

You turn your phone over and lean back in your seat. After a moment, an incredulous laugh bursts out of you.

“You’ve forgiven him, then?” Pep asks, and you tip your head back, smiling.

“I… Yeah. Yeah, I have.” Saying it aloud makes it feel more real. You have forgiven Bucky. He’s worth forgiving. You almost reach forward and pull the essay out, from where it’s safely tucked in your bag, just to read his words again- but stop yourself at the last moment. There’s no need to. You know it’s true.

Nonetheless, when you finally find a moment alone with him, you think you might throw up with nerves. After the initial hustle of the party crowd, the thud of music and the shouts of increasingly drunken dancers, the back corridor out by the office feels cool, and quiet, and strangely dim. You reach out and grasp Bucky’s wrist.

“I forgive you,” You force out the words, staring at him in the grey light. “I forgive you, and I- I love you, too.”

Simple, short words. The beat of butterfly wings in Asia can cause a tornado in the Pacific; and so it is with your handful of syllables, your puff of breath and sound. Bucky’s hand snakes around yours, sending sparks across your skin. He gently tugs you closer, and you freeze, and you don’t think, and you take your own, oh so long ago given, advice.

You let go.

~~

God knows how much longer later, the door behind you swings open.

“Knew it! Pepper, you owe me another drink!”

You bury your head in Bucky’s chest, and you can’t decide whether to giggle or whine at him to make your friends go away- but hands are seizing you from behind and pulling you backwards.

“Sorry, James, but I need her to prove a point- in fact-” Wanda’s tone turns positively evil, and you dread to think what she has planned, “- You should come and watch. I know for a fact you’ll enjoy it.”

You widen your eyes in apology (and ignore the satisfied purr from some inner creature at the sight of Bucky’s lips slightly swollen and his pupils dilated) even as Wanda insistently draws you away. After a second, he just shrugs, and relaxes into a smile.

“OK then. But you give her back, you understand?”

“Oh, absolutely.” Wanda’s grin is bordering on wolfish. “Now, come on!”

The noise of the party feels like a barrage after the silent heat of your moments alone, so you just focus on Wanda, winding behind her through the crowd. Frankly, you feel like you’re on a different planet. When people jostle you, you barely notice.

And then you see Wanda’s goal, and you roll your eyes so hard it almost hurts.

“Wanda, is this really necessary?”

“Absolutely,” She says, dragging you onto the dancefloor where the girls of Scarlet Studio are waiting. Luiz stands opposite, looking amused. “Somebody needs taking down a peg or two.”

“I can suggest plenty of other ways to dissolve the tension between you two,” You mutter, but know it’s useless to resist. Drunk Wanda is, if anything, more persistent than her sober counterpart, particularly when the reputation of her studio is called into question. “Fine. What are we doing?”

She tips her head to one side, her eyes brightening. She doesn’t say anything: but, with one hand, she makes a sharp two-beat pushing motion, and, all of a sudden, your insides are fizzing.

“Are you serious?”

Wanda strides to the front, and raises her hand. The music abruptly stops, then a new song starts up- and the crowd, sensing a battle is about to take place, start gathering around the dance floor.

Someday, Wanda, you vow, I am going to pay you back for this.

“Beep beep! Ooh!”

This routine- god, it’s probably the worst (or, that same inner creature whispers, the best) you’ve ever done. The song itself is bad enough: innuendo so thinly veiled it’s basically explicit, but Wanda doesn’t really know what it means to hold back. She’d put it together for a ‘Pin-Ups and Pussycat Dolls’ evening that a local club had hosted, and really- it did exactly what it said on the tin.

“I’m stuck in traffic,

Bumper to bumper, babe,

My leather jacket,

Smells like your aftershave,

All I want to do

Is get your hands up on my booty.

Beep, beep! Ooh!”

Although you haven’t practiced this for a good six months, the moves come back to you quick enough. You had more of a supporting role in this routine anyway- Wanda takes centre stage, and she gives it everything and then some. The crowd are already getting into it as she sashays up to Luiz and squats down.

“I’ve blown my engine,

I think I broke the stick,

To busy dreaming,

Of jumping on your d*ck,

To get me turning good,

You need to check under the hood, babe.

Beep, beep! Ooh!”

“Yes, Y/N!” Somebody (probably Clint) yells, and you toss your head as you strut backwards. Up front, Wanda is close enough to Luiz that they have to be breathing the same air.

“Oh baby, baby,

There’s something ‘bout your love and affection.

I’m going crazy,

The thought of you is driving me wild!”

Oh, it really is, you think, when your gaze grazes Bucky’s as you spin around and Little Mix start singing the chorus.

“’Cause I love, love, love making love to you!

But I’m stuck, stuck, stuck on the two-oh-two.

Won’t you help me, help me?

Just wanna f*ck you tonight!

Beep, beep! Ooh!”

At the end of the phrase, Luiz is already striding forwards- he isn’t flanked by anyone from his troupe and it looks like he’s going to take on Wanda’s challenge alone. Perfect.

“Boy, you’re so sexy,

Just like your Cadillac.

Just come and get me,

‘Cause I can’t hold it back.”

Luiz isn’t just a technically brilliant dancer- he, just like Wanda, isn’t holding back. His amber skin shines under the lights, and his grin as he sinks down and rocks his hips is blazing. Wanda, being Wanda, refuses to give any ground.

“People in the street,

Watch us in the back seat, oh.

Beep, beep! Ooh!”

Almost everyone has stopped what they’re doing simply to watch, but out of a sense of loyalty to Wanda you carry on with the routine. Not to mention you’re rather enjoying the sensation of Bucky’s eyes tracking your every move.

“Oh baby, baby,

There’s something ‘bout your love and affection.

I’m going crazy,

The thought of you is driving me wild!

’Cause I love, love, love making love to you!

But I’m stuck, stuck, stuck on the two-oh-two.

Won’t you help me, help me?

Just wanna f*ck you tonight!

Beep, beep! Ooh!”

There’s no pretence of competition left between Luiz and Wanda now- they dance together, totally oblivious to their surroundings. When the inevitable finally happens, and they meet in a burning kiss, you can’t hold back a whoop of triumph. Before you can enjoy your victory, however, a pair of arms enfold you from behind.

“That,” A low voice hums in your ear, “Should be illegal.”

Somehow, this man has managed to light a bonfire inside you, and at his words it roars higher. Your heart thuds; your skin crackles with electricity.

“Not to be cliché,” You huff, turning your head so you can see his face, see those beautiful cheekbones, that wonderful mouth, “But shall we get out of here?”

In answer, he leans forward and kisses you, deep and searching and in a way that would be totally inappropriate if you actually found the will to care. When you finally break apart, the sly half-grin he gives you nearly sends you reeling.

“Shall I walk you home, Y/N?”

You breathe, lift your hand to take his. “Yes. Yes, please.”

And together, you walk out, out into the warm night air of a summer that has never seemed so full of possibility.

AN: *bows*

THANK YOU. OK, before you go, I have a question to put to you all. Would you like to see smut in the next chapter? Or would you rather just have the epilogue by itself? If you would like to have some sexy times, reblog this post (or drop me a message/ask)! It’s in your hands <3

I am feeling rather emotional. I can’t believe it’s nearly over! Once again, thank you all so much.

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[justkending]

Used to Be Overlooked. Chapter 13.

Summary: Steve Rogers was walking down the streets of Brooklyn after finishing a mission. The goal was just to take some time to clear his mind along the city streets, but when he runs into a gorgeous young lady that looks extremely familiar… How can he go about moving on? Who is she? What does he know her from? Was that memory even from this decade?

Pairing: Steve Rogers x Reader (Rosalyn Ember/ Y/N ?)

Word Count: 4900+

A/N: oooo, I like this chapter. Also, last night in Oklahoma we had horrible storms. This morning we woke up to flooded roads, so I’m posting earlier than I thought I would since I can’t go into work for an hour or so. ANYWAY! Enjoy this chapter, I had a blast writing this one;) Let me know what you think! Feedback is everything!!! 

Series Masterlist

Chapter 13:

The next day went by a little slower considering how in your own head you were. The whole ‘spilling all your secrets out to one of the main people you hid it from’ in a span of 5 hours was exhausting and troubling to say the least.

What if Steve just reported you, and you did become a lab experiment? It had happened before when you let it slip a couple of decades back. You never made that mistake again. Or what if he was disgusted with you for doing this, and he never wanted to talk again? Or maybe he was going to pretend to be your friend, and then dump you when he got all the information he needed?

No, that wasn’t Steve. If there was one thing you knew, and learned about him from Peggy, or even the news on him, it was that he could be trusted. He was an honest, trusting, respectable, and protective man. He wouldn't it do any of those things. 

At least you hoped.

Once again, another week went by. No word from Steve or the Avengers in that time. You just guessed that it had something to do with missions. A lot of crime had erupted in the past few days, so it wasn’t that big of a shock.

You ended up coming back to work, no problem, a day after your conversation with Steve. Just like planned, they cleaned everything up, and the corporation was back on track with all bumps in the road averted.

Thanks to the neighboring labs taking you in in the time of crisis, the progress on the virus’s cure was close to being perfected.

You were sitting in your office going over some blood work, when your phone rang showing Claire was calling.

“Yes?” you asked hitting the button, but still looking at the samples in front of you.

“Miss. Sue Tran is here to speak with you,” Claire answered.

Sue Tran? Sue Tran? Oh right! One of your top interns. One you were hoping to actually hire after her internship was up.

“Thank you. She can come right in,” you said pushing the button.

“Ok. You can go in,” you heard Claire say in a more hushed tone.

The door opened and in walked Sue. She had almond shaped brown eyes, olive skin, ash colored hair that was pulled back in a bun, and bangs covering her forehead. The new gray hair color trend for this past year, and honestly you were kinda into it surprisingly given of how old styled you were.

“Miss. Tran, what can I do for you today?” you said smiling and motioning to the chair in front of you.

She nodded in thanks and took a seat. She had a file in hand that she was clutching close to her chest. You can see the nerves vibrating off of her just from being in the office with you. Thanks to your mature manner and high level of knowledge, a lot of people were intimidated by you. No matter the age difference. Of course, you didn’t mean to come off this way, but at least it helped people to respect you more even if you were ‘young’ for your job.

“I actually wanted to bring you some news,” she said making eye contact finally and with a blush tone on her cheeks.

“What about?” you smiled sweetly hoping to help her relax a little, and like hoped, some tension in her shoulders went down.

“As you know, I was paired with the group that was testing the C4N2 fever/flu that broke out within the last year,” she explained.

“Yes, the one that was transferred to the other labs during the shutdown?” you said intrigued, and leaning into your desk more.

“Yes,” she smiled. “While we were there, one of the other workers from that branch looked over our progress. They spotted something that I believe we just didn’t think about, or completely overlooked. You know how it goes when you look over that same problem for too long,” she shrugged.

“It all starts to blur together and you can’t find the flaws,” you finished for her. “Yes, and…” you nodded excited where she was leading with this.

“Well, the individual suggested something to try, and we went ahead a gave it a go.” She grabbed the file, and started sifting through the papers before pulling out a stapled bunch, and handing it to you. “This is what we came up with.”

You skimmed over the front seeing the equations and elements they used. It was definitely something that was could have easily not been considered, but thank the man that had suggested it. You flipped the next page, and saw the lab results after being put use on some lab rats and DNA samples.

You straightened in your seat as you realized what you were reading.

“Sue, all these reports say success and positive” you said in a breathy voice from shock.

“Hmmm mmm,” she hummed through her smile.

You flipped the pages a few more times to make sure your eyes weren’t deceiving you.

“Theoretically, we weren’t planning on having a cure on this for another year. Sue… This is it. This is the vaccine,” you smiled finally looking up. “It’s done!”

“I know! We did double and triple checks if you look on the last couple of pages. We wanted to make sure that it was truly right,” she said looking at the papers while on the edge of her seat.

“Sue, this is- I don’t even- Oh my God,” you laughed in joy as you stood and came around the desk. She stood to meet your height. “You did it! They did it!” you said gripping the papers and slightly jumping in your heels.

“I know! But give yourself some credit,” she said motioning to you. “We wouldn’t have made the progress we did if you hadn’t proofread and caught our mistakes in the beginning. We would be set back even further.”

“Oh, I lent just as much of a hand as all of you did. This is a group effort!” you waved off. “But it’s done! This was the biggest project we had going and it’s done!” you jumped again. “Oh, we have to celebrate!”

“Really? You don’t seem like the celebrating type?” she laughed, and you sent her a smirk as you went around the desk back to the phone. “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you, it’s just that you’re always at-”

“Work? Yeah, I know,” you laughed pressing the call button. “I’m not offended at all Sue. You’re right, I need to get out more.”

“Yes, Miss. Ember?” Claire said on the other end of the phone.

“The staff that was working on the C4N2 virus?”

“Yes?”

“Bring them to my office please,” you smiled at Sue.

“On it,” she hung up.

“What are you going to tell them?” Sue asked.

“That you guys can have the rest of the day off to celebrate, and that you can also have tomorrow off,” you smiled organizing the papers on your desk.

“Really? We don’t have to-”

“Miss. Tran. Rule number one if you are going to work here. Listen to your boss, and never say no to taking a day off,” you winked.

“Yes ma’am.”

You let the team know they could go out and enjoy a day off tomorrow as well as the half day off today. They were ecstatic considering they had been working so hard on this, and haven’t really had time to rest between it. They asked you to join, but you kindly declined making an excuse that you were the boss that needed to do paperwork on it and all. They tried persuading you, but eventually gave up on your stubbornness.

As you sat in your office, only about 30 minutes before you usually leave to go home, you looked at the work in front of you. It was all done. They met all the requirements needed, and now it was just needing to be passed on to the next process group. This is why you stayed in this field. Vaccines for something as simple of a fever that can pop up are now being made, and less and less people will get sick or even die.

You sighed happy with yourself, and looked up at your computer that had been playing the news. Yesterday's news overflowing into todays because of how big a deal it was.

Right in front of you was Tony talking to a reporter.

“Yes, yes. We have been chasing and tracking these individuals the past week or so and finally got a hold of them. There will no longer be any problems with them thanks to The Avengers!” he shouted throwing his arms up in victory. Cocky millionaire.

He was still in the suit, and had the mask lifted to where you could see some dirt and smudges on it. In the background you could see a few of the other Avengers like Clint and Nat watching in the background and rolling their eyes at him. You giggled at the relationship that you now knew they all shared.

“Is there anything else we should be careful of Mr. Stark? Any other terrorist groups that are targeting New York as of right now?” the reporter asked.

You thought you had heard something about a terrorist group that was infiltrating major banks and parts of the government. Of course, wanting to take it down and were threatening lives of thousands. Then again, they never got around to the threat because those damn Avengers caught them every time.

“Uh, as of right now I think we are going to give ourselves a much deserved break. A few of us have been awake for over 36 hours and are really looking forward to passing out on our beds,” he said turning to now Bucky and Steve saluting them. Steve was in his full stealth outfit and had his shield thrown on his back. He looked good. Really good. He threw Tony a look and crossed his arms over his chest before turning to Bucky who was grinning, and laughing at Steve’s reaction.

“He does not like the cameras,” you laughed looking at Steve the rest of the interview.

“Thanks again Mr. Stark. For everything.” the reported gushed.

“Anytime for the people of earth,” he winked. “I’ll see you all next time the world needs some saving.”

The screen cut back to other news and you just laughed at the whole thing. Then an idea came to your head. You grabbed your finished work putting it in a pile on the side, and the stuff that needed to be reviewed, was left on the opposite side. You grabbed your things to headed out for the night in a hurry and stopped at Claire's desk.

“Hey Claire. I think I’m going to call in sick tomorrow,” you smiled as you came to the front.

“What? Sick? You’ve never called in sick,” she said shocked. “Now that I think about it, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you cough or sniffle let alone be sick.” she said thinking back.

“There’s a first for everything,” you shrugged and winked.

“You know what? I think you deserve to have a day off. Sick or not, but if anyone ask, sick it is,” she smiled.

“See you after the weekend Claire,” you waved headed to the elevator.

“Get well soon,” she said sending you wink as you turned and laughed.

_

You went home and changed out of your work clothes into something more casual, but still somewhat formal considering where you were going.

Your hair had been down all day, so you pulled it half way up, and let the curls do their thing. You gave yourself a once over in the mirror, and were content with it all. Business like, but casual as well.

Once you arrived, Happy was the first to greet you.

“What are you doing here?” he asked as you parked your car out front of the tower, and started walking up the steps meeting him halfway.

“I-uh, I need to talk to Mr. Stark and Dr. Banner. Are they here by chance?” you said looking behind him at the compound.

“Yeah actually. They just got in. They all got home from a long mission just yesterday so they’ve been in and out today resting,” he looked back where you were staring, and realized you were nervous about going in. “Do you want me to show you where they are? I think I just saw a few of them in the kitchen. I’m sure they can show you where Tony and Bruce are.”

“Oh, I don’t want to be a bother. It looked like you were going somewhere. You don’t have to stop just to help-”

“Nonsense. You are one of the few people I like on this planet. I will gladly escort you in,” he smiled offering his arm.

“You’re too kind to me Mr. Hogan,” you smiled squeezing his bicep just barely as you started walking up.

“Anything for a lady like yourself,” he smirked.

You both walked into the kitchen finding Sam and Bucky eating sandwiches, at the table.

“I’m just saying, the only reason she gave her number to you and not me, was because she didn’t see me,” Buck said confidently as he took a bite of his sandwich.

“Didn’t see you? You were right next to me! Of course she saw you! She just preferred me over you,” Sam said getting worked up.

“Sure…” Bucky said smugly.

“Dude! You aren’t really the face that people want to jump to. I don’t know if you remember, but you kinda were a well known assassin that people were terrified of.”

“Now wait one second! No one ever really saw my face when I was like that! I-” Bucky said sitting up straighter and went to pointing fingers, but was cut off by Happy clearing his throat.

“Excuse me boys, but we have a guest.” he said with a stern voice making the men snap their head your direction.

“Rosalyn?” Bucky said with furrowed eyebrows before they changed to widened eyes. He immediately jumped from his chair and turned to face you. Sam following after. “What-uh, what are you doing here?”

“I came to talk to Mr. Stark and Dr. Banner about a project I’m working on,” you answered with a smiled, trying to hide the fact you were regretting this whole thing. You fixed the strap of your purse from falling off of your shoulder, therefore taking your arm out of Happy’s.

“I have to get going, but I’m sure these two-” he turned to the men who were gawking at you. “Idiots, can help you,” Happy frowned before smiling and waving to you, headed to leave.

“Thanks again Happy!” you shouted his direction turning to watch him leave.

Once he was out of sight, you let out a sigh wondering if it was too late to ditch. You hastily turned on your heels, and saw the two men still taking in your presence. It was more of a shocked look than anything else, but Sam noticed Bucky not blinking and hit him in the back of the head to snap him out of it.

“Ow! What the hell?” Bucky said holding his head and turning to Sam.

“You’re staring,” he said before rolling his eyes, and going over to the fridge.

“I was not-” Bucky started, but Sam cut him off.  

“Can I get you anything to drink Rose? Water, juice, wine?” he said looking in the fridge.

“I’m fine Sam. Thank you,” you politely waved walking more into the kitchen. “If Stark and Banner aren’t here, I can go. I figured there was a small chance of them actually being here, so really it’s no-”

“No, no!” Bucky said moving to get closer. “They, um, they’re here. I think they were in the lab last I heard. Something about repairing the suite and other things,” he said with a smile.

“Oh, ok,” you said with a soft smile back. He was staring again. “Can you, um, take me to them, or-”

“Right! Right!” Bucky said. He was acting weird… or maybe it was normal. You didn’t really know Bucky much other than that one night you were here. You didn’t see much of him back in the day either. Once he was recruited for Steve’s team, you were holed up in the lab a majority of the time. You only heard his name once or twice in all the chaos of the war. “Uh, Sam, can you call Tony and double check to see if that’s where they are?” he said shooting Sam another weird look.

“Why do I have to-” Sam started confused.

“Sam. Please,” Bucky said nodding toward the door.

Ah shit. What was going on?

“Fine. God,” Sam said grabbing his phone and pressing a number before looking back at Bucky who was giving you both weird vibes.

Once he was out of the room Bucky turned to you.

“So, you didn’t come to see Steve?” he said bluntly.

Your eyes widened. Are you kidding me right now? Steve told Bucky. He had to have. You decided to play it off because you didn’t want to jump to conclusions.

“Why would I come to see just Steve?” you asked, trying to seem as calm as possible when truly your heart was actually going the speed of a hummingbirds.

“No reason. Just the fact that I know he went to your house the other week,” he said with a smirk as he went back to the table.

“Shit,” you mumbled under your breath before you followed and stood by him at the table. “What did he say?” you said sternly shifting to boss mode.

Bucky noticed the change in mood, and realized he messed up.

“Nothing. He just told me he went over there to ask you on a date,” he answered.

“Bucky,” you said with a death glare.

He was honestly scared. He had fought aliens, monsters, criminals, and all the bad things in the world, but that glare? That was sending a different type of chill through his body.

“Honestly, Rose! He didn’t tell me anything. Trust me I tried getting it out of him, but he didn’t budge,” he said holding up his hands with a sandwich in one. You let out a relieved sigh, and crossed your arms looking at the ground trying to decide if you believed him. “But now with how you’re acting,” he said looking down at you, and slowly turning his frown into a grin as you looked at him nervous again. “I figure something happened…”

“Nothing happened Bucky. Nothing for you to worry about,” you said taking a seat.

“Then why were you so defensive about it? I mean he was over there for quite a few hours,” he said shrugging his eyebrows up and down at you.

“Bucky,” you said in a calm voice. “I suggest you leave it alone before that arm isn’t the only prosthetic you have,” you said with an evil grin that made his grin immediately fall and fear took over his face once again. You crossed your legs, and sat straight before looking at your nails showing you were unbothered by his boyish banter.

“O-Ok,” he stuttered taking a seat, but making sure to leave a space between you.

“Finally, someone who can actually put him in his place,” Sam said walking in. “I was wondering if someone like that even existed.” he laughed looking at Bucky who shot him a glare. “You really need to start coming around here more often Rose. I like you,” he smiled leaning over the chair in between you two.

“Did they answer?” you asked wanting to get this visit over with.

“Oh, yeah. They were in the lab like suspected. I told him you were here, and Tony said he would come up and meet you then take you back down there himself.”

“Thank you Sam.”

“Anything for a woman that scares the shit out of the Winter Soldier,” he laughed taking a seat between you two. “So, what do you need to talk to them about? Is it business?”

“Something along the lines of that. I have a project that I’m looking into, and need their insight on it,” you smiled.

“Cool. How is the science world going?” Sam said sweetly just trying to make small talk. You gladly took the turn in conversation, wanting to steer clear of everything that Bucky was mentioning.

“Really well actually. We just finished a vaccine for that flu that broke out last year. We only have a few more steps to go before we can release it to the public and hopefully stop it from hurting anyone else,” you said with a proud grin.

“Wow! That’s amazing! So you’re out there saving the world.” he beamed sitting back in his chair more.

“Nothing compares to you guys-”

“Oh, give yourself some credit Ember!” Tony’s voice said loudly as he entered. “Clearly you are just saving the world from a different standpoint, but saving it nonetheless.”

“Mr. Stark,” you said through a very business like smile while you stood.

“Well, would you look at you?” he said throwing his hands out as he scanned you. “You remind me of Pepper. Even your ‘casual’ clothes are captivating to the eye.”

“Thank you, but I came here to talk about-”

“About a project. Yes, Happy told me. Called about two seconds after he left, and then Sam called shortly after.” he said crossing his arms once he was right in front of you. “What do you need to fill me in on?”

“Actually if we could speak in private-”

“You just missed her put Barnes here in his place. It was game changing. I wish I had it on video,” Sam interrupted smacking Bucky on the shoulder, and getting yet another glare from him.

“Is that so? Only person I know can do that is-”

“Me,” a deep voice said at the entrance of the room. All heads turned to see Steve in a long sleeve dry fit shirt, and sweatpants. Probably just got done working out or taking a shower from the slight dampness on his hair.

“Steve,” you said in a hushed tone.

“Even I struggle putting the punk down. Glad someone else can do it,” he smirked as he leaned against the door frame on his shoulder while his arms crossed his broad chest.

“Oh captain, my captain,” Tony said turning to him as he walked into the room, but Steve never broke eye contact with you.

“What are you doing here Rose?” he said ignoring Tony once he was in front of you.

“I needed to talk to Banner and Stark, but seeing that you’re here now.” you sighed pulling some papers out of your bag. “I think we should all talk.”

Steve looked down at the manila folder you were holding. Whatever was in it was important since it had the big red words CONFIDENTIAL stamped on it.

“Well, things just got interesting,” Tony hummed looking at the folder. “Rogers, why don’t you lead Miss. Ember here to the lab where Banner is. I’m going to grab a drink and quick treat and meet you two there.” Tony said patting him on the shoulder before moving to the fridge.

Steve looked up from the folder you were holding and sent you a look that basically asked if what he thought you were doing, was what you were really doing.

“Sure,” he said staring at you. “Right this way.” He moved to the side motioning for you to head a certain way before he followed behind you.

Bucky caught his arm before he got too far.

“Dude, first off, she is terrifying. Second off, what the hell is going on?” Bucky whispered.

“Don’t worry about it right now. I’ll explain when I can,” Steve said as everyone in the room watched him.

“Does it have to do with…” he paused hoping Steve was catching on.

“Not sure. Like I said. I’ll tell you when I can,” he nodded walking to catch up with you.

Everyone in the room watched as you both left, and never looked away until you were out of sight for a good 15 seconds.

“Anyone else feel a weird vibe from that whole… thing?” Sam said.

“Yep,” Bucky replied.

“Hopefully I won’t be out of the loop too long.” Tony said grabbing a water bottle.

__

“Wanna explain to me why Barnes was interrogating me about you coming over to my house the other night?” you said looking forward as you walked to the lab. Though you didn't necessarily know where you were going, you were running on anger of him spilling your secret, and just wanted to get this whole disastrous plan over with.

“He what?” Steve asked trying to catch up to your fast pace, and finally getting to a point to where he could see your frustrated expression.

“Oh, don’t play coy Rogers!” you said loudly stopping in your tracks and turning to him with your fist in balls at your side. “Bucky knows. I could tell by the stuff he was asking. He tried covering it up, but the man doesn’t have the best poker face for someone who's a spy!” you said in a more hushed tone realizing you weren’t too far from the kitchen and you may have been a tad loud the first time.

“I have no idea what he was talking about Y/N, but I swear I didn’t say anything.” Steve said putting his hands up in defense as he looked you in the eyes.

“Really? Then why was he asking about-”

“He knew I left that night. He was the reason I left actually,” he said rubbing a hand over the back of his neck. “I wanted to go talk to you, ask you on that date, but I almost talked myself out of it.”

You straightened and the tension in your body dissipated some.

“He told me to take the chance since I’ve never showed interest in a girl like this besides Peggy, and well....” he blushed looking at the ground now. You started blushing too realizing that you blew up on him before knowing the whole story. He liked you like Peggy? Wow, that’s a big thing. “Long story short, he got me out of the house and over to yours. He waited up for me thinking it would be an hour to two tops, but when I didn’t show up until 5 hours later he kinda got in my business.”

“But you didn’t tell him my secret,” you stated sighing, realizing what an idiot of yourself you just made.

“No, God no!” Steve said jumping in and looking back to you then the hallway to make sure no one was listening. “It’s not my secret to tell, remember? I haven’t told anyone.”

“Thank you for that.” you said softly. “I-uh, I guess I just kinda jumped to the shark even though I shouldn’t have.”

“It’s ok.”

“No, it’s really not. I should have trusted you more… It’s just…” you sighed as you adjusted the papers you were clutching into your hands. “This is big. I haven’t told a soul in years, and me being here right now is still shocking to me.”

“So, that is what this is about?” Steve said sending you empathetic eyes.

“Yes. As much as I’m regretting it every second, I think it will be for the better. At least I hope it is,” you dry laughed. “Sorry, I’m a bit nervous.”

“Hey, it’s fine. I’ll be right here to back you up if you need it,” he said putting his hands on both of your shoulders to bring your eyes to him.

“Thank you,” you blushed a smile. He grinned happy that he caused that.

“How about we get to the lab before Tony catches up and starts making up a story about finding us in the hallway?”

“That sounds like a good plan,” you laughed looking down the hallway to check if he was coming, and when you turned back to Steve, he had his arm extended to you. “Did you teach all the guys to do this here? I feel like everyone has ushered me this way.”

“They may have picked up on some of my 40’s charm. I try to influence them in manners when I can,” he said in a cocky tone, but joking still.

“Well if you ask me, the world needs to bring back some of these manners. I miss being treated like a lady instead of a piece of meat,” you said accepting his gesture as you both made a way to the lab. “Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t love being treated like I was supposed to be a housewife and nothing more from those times, but this? This I miss. Chivalry is dying now and days.”

“Guess we need to find that happy median then, huh?” he smiled looking down at you.

“Guess so,” you smiled back sending shivers over his body.

Chapter 14

Used to be Overlooked Tag:

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If I tagged you and you aren’t normally on my tag list, I thought you would enjoy the story. Fair warning, it is a slow burn so we will get to the bottom of the issue later, but the burn is what makes it soooooo sweet. I’m really excited for this series, and would love your feedback:) Thank you!

If you want removed let me know. After 3 chapters I will only tag those that I normally do, or those that ask:)