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wiypt-writes · 4 years ago

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Stark Spangled Banner

Ch47: Use Your Words, Old Man

Intro: Jamie reaches another milestone, and 2021 ticks by with many more memories for the Rogers and Stark family.

Warnings: Bad Language words. Smut (NSFW, 18+)

Pairing: Steve Rogers x OFC Katie Stark

A/N: I adore the edit again... @angrybirdcr did good!!!

Disclaimer: This is a pure work of fiction and classified as 18+. Please respect this and do not read if you are underage. I do not own any characters in this series bar Katie Stark and the other OCs. By reading beyond this point you understand and accept the terms of this disclaimer.

Chapter 46

Stark Spangled Banner Masterlist // Main Masterlist

May 2021

“Jamie, no!” Steve swooped down and picked up the tot who had been toddling, albeit, unsteadily, towards Lucky giggling away. Lucky, however, was fast enough to understand and jumped up bolting towards the door of the room, leaping over the baby gate to avoid Jamie’s vice like grip on his ears.

“NO!” Jamie yelled and Steve stopped dead, Jamie in his large arms, as Katie looked up at them both, her mouth falling open.

“Did he just…?” she held her breath. The fourteen month old had been uttering the odd thing that sound like a word for a good few months now, but nothing that anyone would recognise as a proper term.

Until now.

“Yeah I think so!” Steve grinned, looking at her then his son. “Did you just talk buddy? Did you just say no?” “NO! No, No!” Jamie wriggled in his dad’s arms, grabbing at his shirt. Katie, who had managed to get the last few iterations of the word on her phone camera, grinned as Steve placed him back on the floor where he headed over to this play-mat and landed with a thud on the floor, picking up a pile of the large, coloured blocks he liked to play with.

“Of course his first word would be no.” She sighed as Steve sat on the couch next to her. He laughed and dropped a hand to her knee.

“To be fair, honey, that’s what we spend half our time telling him one way or another.” Katie snorted, that much was true. Since he had been fully mobile and walking unaided over the last two months, they had constantly been moving things out of his reach or removing them from his grasp, followed by the word. Nine times out of ten the tot was content to let them do so, but the odd time he would throw a temper tantrum to rival those of his Momma’s.

“NO!” Jamie called again, clacking the blocks together and Steve gave a grin, moving off the couch to drop by his son on the play-mat. Katie watched the two of them for a moment, smiling to herself. She knew it was a cliché but she literally couldn’t have wished for a better father for either of her kids. They were experiencing first parenting issues at both ends of the spectrum, with Emmy five months off her fourteenth birthday and Jamie two months on from his first. It wasn’t easy, hell, they spent half their time second guessing their decisions. Where they being too strict or too lenient with Emmy? Was Jamie developing right? Were his toys educational enough? Was the floor clean enough for him to be crawling or lying on with having a dog in the house? But, when she saw moments like this, Jamie now trying to push his large, red Mega-Block into his Dad’s mouth, Steve clamping his lips together and shaking his head making their son screech with laughter, all her worries faded away.

Jamie really was fast turning into a miniature version of his dad, which was another thing Katie loved. Steve himself didn’t see it, but there had been a moment a few weeks back where the soldier had recognised someone he knew, loved and missed daily in his Son, and it had choked both Parents up.

Steve was led on his back on the bed, Jamie cackling away as his dad was holding him at arms-length and then bringing him back down again to blow a raspberry on his cheek, repeating the motion over and over, until he paused and his eyes widened a little. Katie frowned slightly at the look on his face as Steve gulped, looking into his son’s eyes, their familiarity hitting him like a brick.

“Soldier, what is it?” Katie asked, as Steve’s eyes misted up and he swallowed thickly.

“His eyes. Erm, do you think they’ll carry on turning green?”

Katie frowned. “I don’t know, I doubt it. Apparently most babies, if their eyes are gonna change, will have done it by six months. Why do you ask?”

“I just, well, I never thought I’d see those eyes again.” He whispered, gently resuming his actions.

“I’m not following you, love.” Katie frowned

“He has my ma’s eyes” Steve’s voice was choked as he looked at her, bringing Jamie down to his chest, pressing a kiss to his head, a soft smile playing on his face.

“Then you see your mother’s eyes every time you look in the mirror.” Katie smiled, leaning over to give him a soft kiss as her own chest felt slightly tighter than normal. She wiped a tear Steve hadn’t even been aware he’d shed off his check gently with her thumb, leaving her hand trailing softly across his skin. “Because when I look at him all I see is you. Those eyes are yours.”

He looked up at her and smiled, “yeah?” “Yeah,” she nodded, “I think you’re more like your mother than you realise. Maybe not in looks completely but, well, she raised you single handed. You’re the man you are because of her.”

“She was a fantastic woman.” Steve sighed.

“Well then you should be proud.” Katie said, and he smiled looking over at her.

“I am,” he replied softly, his attention going back to his son, “and you know what else I’m proud of?”

“What?”

“That you’re a Mrs Rogers too.” He looked at her again. “I know it’s just a name but, I really am glad you took it. Jamie has a Rogers momma as good as mine, helping to carry the name forward.”

“You sentimental sap.” Katie sniffed slightly as her own tears threatened to spill from her eyes.

“I love you so much.” He beamed at her, pressing his lips to hers softly. “Even if you are still a Stark really.” She laughed against his lips,”jerk.”

As such, they were currently working up the particulars such as how they set up across the country, mobilisation, publicity…and Steve had taken up control of the project, his natural leadership qualities made him a superb Project Manager. He’d also expressed an interest in actually running the ones across New York himself, another way he felt he could help.

They were aiming to open the first ones in September, running two a week for the time being, just to see how well they were received and, from a purely selfish point of view, Katie was enjoying working alongside him again and having him at home permanently instead of traveling with the Military.

“How many groups do you think you’re gonna have eventually?” She asked and Steve tuned to look at her, momentarily confused by her sudden change of topic until he realised what she was talking about.

“I dunno.” He shrugged. “I’d like eventually to maybe run them three times a week, twice a day. Give everyone who wants to come a chance to you know…why d’ya ask?” “Just drilling into these numbers. I reckon we have enough to fund that to start with,” she paused, “and if the government meet our request then we can step it up.” He nodded. “I put the design idea in for the fliers and posters yesterday. Has to be the most sombre thing I’ve ever drawn.”

“I know,” she said softly, “but it’s gonna make a difference Steve, focus on that.”

He was about to reply but he was cut off when they heard the voice from the security system informing them that the gate had been opened by ‘Emmy Rogers’. Steve glanced at the clock and frowned.

“It’s not even one?”

“They’re on half day,” Katie didn’t look up from the numbers on the screen, “teacher training or something.”

Moments later the front door opened and the chatter of two excited teenage girls hit their ears and Lucky gave a bark, his nails clicking on the wooden floor as he trotted through from where he had been on his bed under the stairs to greet Emmy.

“I know, it’s so cool, right?” Emmy was saying, as her voice grew louder. “I never thought they’d do anything like this, not after the Decimation but, oh hi buddy!”

They heard Lucky’s excited whine as Emmy continued to coo at him, before the two girls and dog appeared in the lounge doorway.

“What’s so cool?” Steve asked instantly and Emmy rolled her eyes.

“Do you earwig into every conversation I have?” She opened the baby-gate and stepped into the room.

“Yes.” Steve deadpanned. “Now spill.” “It’s a Geography field trip Mr R.” Brooke grinned. “Hamilton for the Niagara Escarpment.”

“Canada?” Katie smiled before her smile turned to a smirk as she side eyed Steve “I had a vacation in Canada once.” Steve shot her a glare and his voice dropped to a growl. “That’s not funny.” He said sternly. The memory of what she’d been through wasn’t a laughing matter as far as he was concerned. She flashed him a grin and he rolled his eyes. “So when is it?” He turned to Emmy.

“Last week of term in June.” She answered, reaching down to pick Jamie up who had toddled over to his sister excitedly chattering jibberish as he went. “Just for three nights. I know it’s really short notice but apparently they weren’t sure they could pull it off. Hi Jay!” She swung him up and kissed the little boy on the cheek as Brooke gently tweaked his nose causing him to laugh.

“Six weeks, yeah that is short notice.” Katie pondered. “Do you wanna go?” Emmy’s eyes lit up and she nodded. “I’d love to.” Steve took in a deep breath and Katie looked at him. She could see him grappling with something but Jamie spoke before he could.

“No!”

“Did he just talk?” Emmy’s eyes widened.

“Yeah, he hasn’t shut up saying it for the last hour.” Katie grinned “Look, have you got the details of the trip?” “In my bag.”

“Okay, well leave them on the table, me and your dad will give it the once over and we’ll talk about it later.”

Emmy placed Jamie down on the floor and fished in her bag for the forms before she dropped them onto the coffee table with a soft slap. Jamie wandered this time over to Katie who set her laptop down and picked him up. He sat on her lap and gently wound his hand into her hair, rubbing his face into her neck the way he always did when he was tired.

“I’m gonna put him down for a nap.” Katie stood up and looked at the two girls. “What are you doing this afternoon?”

“Pool!” They both grinned, sharing a hi-five before Emmy looked at her mom, the familiar hopeful expression on her face she always got when she was about to ask for something.

“Can Brooke stay?”

Katie arched an eyebrow. “I thought that was a given, seeing as you’re both already here.”

The two girls grinned and Emmy looked at her mom again, her smile growing even bigger. “And, can we get Thai tonight? It is Friday.” “Dontcha mean Thaiday?” Steve quipped causing Katie to groan as Emmy picked up a cushion off the couch with her spare arm and hit her dad with it.

“That is so lame.” Emmy rolled her eyes as Brooke cackled. “C’mon…”

Katie watched as they left the room, Steve still chuckling at his own joke.

“She’s right.” Katie looked at him, gently re-arranging Jamie slightly as he had started to nod off. “That was lame.”

Steve gave her a look of mock hurt, clutching his chest, before she left and he sat up to read the information Emmy had left on the table. He was struggling a little bit between wanting to let her go and also the worry that had instantly flooded his system about her being safe. He carefully read the details, the trip wasn’t cheap, not that that really mattered, the activities looked good, and a quick google showed him the hotel looked fairly reasonable and was in a nice enough area…

“I knew you’d be on that as soon as you could be.” Katie laughed and Steve looked up at her from his spot on the floor by the table and he gave a sheepish grin.

“Busted,” he sighed, “I just wanted to look into it properly. I really want her to go and enjoy stuff like this but…” “We can’t keep her sheltered, Steve.” Katie reasoned. “No matter how much we want to. She’s gonna be fourteen this time round.” “I know, I know.” He sighed “Do you think we should let her go?” “Yeah, I do.” Katie nodded “We’re lucky enough to be able to afford things like that for our kids, plenty of other families aren’t.”

Steve’s tongue poked the inside of his cheek for a moment as he considered his wife’s words. She was right. Emmy would never have been on a trip like this before, and it did look like a lot of fun.

“Alright.” He heaved himself up off the floor “You’ve convinced me.” Katie grinned “If only everything was that easy.” “It is.” He arched an eyebrow. “All you have to do is pull those eyes at me.” “What eyes?” She asked innocently. “You know damned well what eyes. Those eyes. The ones that can get me to do whatever you want.” “Is it working now?” She looked up at him, batting her eyelashes. “Why, what do you want?” He asked, smirking, knowing full well what she was implying as her hands slid up his chest.

“Well the girls are out at the pool,” her eyes followed her fingers as they started to undo the buttons of his Henley, “and Jamie’s asleep…” Grinning, Steve span her round, shoved her gently forward and aimed a smack to her ass causing her to yelp playfully. “Get up those stairs Mrs Rogers.” He growled, and the pair of them hurried off, giggling like a pair of naughty school kids till they reached their bedroom, where the giggles turned into shared moans, groans and happy sighs.

**** “Thanks for dropping Brooke off.” Jennifer placed a latte down in front of Katie.

“It was no problem, I had to come this way on my way up to the compound anyway.” Katie smiled and then frowned slightly as she noticed the look on her friend’s face.

“You alright?” She asked gently.

“Not really,” Jen sighed, sitting down. “Brooke called last night about the field trip…” “Yeah Steve wasn’t so keen but I talked him round. The girls seem to be looking forward to it.” “That’s the thing.” Jen rubbed at her temple “I really want Brooke to go but, well, business hasn’t been what it used to be before, you know, and I’m not sure I can afford it. Not at such short notice.” Katie instantly felt like a jerk. She knew she was incredibly privileged to be so wealthy but was well aware many weren’t as fortunate.

“I haven’t had the heart to tell her yet.” Jen swallowed and Katie bit her lip.

“Jen,” she leaned over the table dropping her voice, “if you want…” “No.” Jen shook her head, her lips pressing into a thin line, instantly understanding what Katie was offering “I’m not a charity case.” Her voice was clipped. “No, that’s not what I meant.” Katie hastily assured the woman. “Honestly, I didn’t mean to offend you.” “I know.” Jen shook her head “Sorry,that was really ungrateful.” “It’s fine.” Katie waved her apology off, “but the offer is there. We could consider it a loan if you liked.” Jen chewed her lip, and Katie saw her friend’s eyes begin to water.

“Look,” Katie gripped her mug, “it’s a couple of hundred bucks. And this probably sounds crass and really, really fucking shitty when I think about it, but I make more than enough and I really, really won’t notice that amount going out, trust me.”

“I just hate this, you know.” Jen hastily wiped her face. “A few years ago this place was thriving and now, well I just about make enough to cover bills and the thought she is the one that has to miss out…” “Then let me help.” Katie pleaded, looking at the red head opposite her. “Brooke’s been a good friend to Emmy and, well, from a selfish point of view I’d be a lot more comfortable if they were together.”

“That’s really kind of you.” Jennifer nodded after a pause. “Are you sure? I’ll pay you back as soon as I can.”

“Whenever, it’s not a big deal.” Katie nodded, smiling “On one condition.” “What?”

“You sneak me one of your delicious brownies every once in a while.” Jenifer laughed “Oh honey, you and Steve can get free coffee and brownies for life.” “Erm, yeah, pretty sure in a month you’d be bankrupt if I told Steve that.” Katie grinned and Jenifer smiled.

“Would you like to come over?” She asked suddenly. “The pair of you, for dinner maybe? Tonight? Emmy and Jamie as well, of course.”

“Yeah, that sounds great.” Katie smiled. “We’re not doing anything that I know of but I’ll check with Steve and let you know as soon as I can.”

“Great, well, Emmy can stay here if she likes. I’m sure once I tell Brooke she can go they’ll be planning all sorts of mischief.”

“I dread to think.” Katie mused “You know I remember my last field trip. It was to San Fran and I was sixteen. Me and my friend, a girl called Laura, I made some fake ID and we got plastered in a bar. Tony absolutely kicked my ass, before he told me he was actually quite impressed at the quality of my forgeries.”

Jennifer snorted “Yeah, this isn’t exactly filling me full of confidence.”

Katie laughed. “Emmy is much better behaved than I was at that age, Steve wouldn’t stand for her getting into the same amount of crap as I did.” She drained her mug and stood up. “I best be going.”

“Sure, see you tonight? What time will suit with Jamie?”

“Well he normally goes down about seven and he’ll just sleep in his car seat.” Katie smiled “So say six ish? I can feed him and settle him then at yours before we eat.”

“Fab.” Jenifer stood up and Katie mirrored her.“And thank you.”

“My pleasure.” Katie smiled, and she handed Jen her mug. Once the woman was out of sight she dug into her purse and dropped the customary twenty bucks into the tip jar on her way out.

****

Steve was in the kitchen when he heard his wife come home. He didn’t move though, he was too busy watching his son, trying to figure out how the hell the fourteen month old had managed to climb up on top of the breakfast bar unaided. Steve had turned his back for thirty goddamned seconds to load the dishwasher and now his son was crawling along the unit. The only explanation was he’d used one of the stools as leverage, but even that was baffling the Captain, and there was no way Jamie should have been able to manage that, at all.

“Thank you Dr Erskine” Steve grumbled as he swept his son off the surface. “You’re gonna be the death of me, pal.” “No!” Jamie cackled, and Steve sighed, his son carefully held in his arms as Katie walked into the kitchen. “Hey, Doll.” He smiled, dropping a kiss to her lips.

“Hi.” She greeted him, returning his gentle sign of affection before she blew a raspberry on Jamie’s cheek. He giggled as she made her way to the fridge and Steve deposited their boy on the mat at the corner of the room.

“How was Nat?” Steve asked and Katie sighed, grabbing out a bottle of water and opening it.

“Still insisting on flying out to Nepal.” She shut the fridge. “I’ve told her Barton doesn’t wanna be found, but…” she trailed off. “And Bruce has gone again.”

“Where to this time?” Steve frowned.

“Back to the lab in Seoul.” Katie shrugged. “I don’t know what for. Anyway, I told her to come for dinner on Sunday and that if she misses it again this week imma kick her ass.” Steve smiled as Katie took a drink from the bottle “Oh, and speaking of dinner, we’re not doing anything tonight are we?”

“Not at the moment, but I’m sure you’re about to tell me we are.” “Jen’s asked us round.” Katie sat down at the table.

“That’s nice of her.” Steve poured himself mug of coffee, Katie waving away his offer of one. “You wanna go?”

“Yeah, and it’s kind of a thank you so we should do really.”

“What for?” He sat down opposite her.

“Well, she was upset about not being able to send Brooke on the Field Trip so I offered to help out money wise.She didn’t want to take it at first but she agreed in the end. As long as it’s a loan”

“I’m glad she did. I’m assuming Emmy has stayed with them for the day?”

Katie hummed a response.

“Those two are joined at the hip.” Steve snorted

“Another reason I really wanted Brooke to go.”

A movement caught Steve’s eye from the corner of the room and he looked up to see Jamie was now stood up again and was heading back towards the breakfast bar. He quietly observed his son, watching as the boy gripped the legs of one of the stools and pulled himself up. Steve was horrified to see that he was managing to lift his legs off the floor, swinging them onto the foot bar.

“James, No!” He said loudly. The use of their boy’s full name didn’t pass Katie by and she turned in her seat to see Jamie looking at his father before he let go of the stool and fell backwards onto his butt, the pout on his face reminding Steve so much of his wife that he had to stifle a laugh. Katie watched as he got to his feet and toddled towards her.

“He managed to get up onto the kitchen counter before.” Steve eyed the boy as Katie picked him up and sat him on her knee. “What?” Katie’s voice was high pitched as she whipped her head round to look at Steve. “How the hell?”

“Beats me, although from that I suspect he was using the stool as a climbing frame.” Steve sighed watching as Jamie’s attention turned to the now empty bottle of water in front of Katie. “I was loading the dishwasher and in the time it took me to put the plates in he’d made it from his play mat to the top of the damned breakfast bar.” “This is your fault.” Katie laughed, smoothing down her son’s blonde hair. “You and your damned super serum.”

“I know.” Steve shook his head. “I thought we could take him and Lucky out for a walk maybe see if that settles his energy.”

Katie checked her watch “Yeah, we could do. Maybe head to the park. If we go now then we should be back for his nap.”

“Or we can wait a while, and he can sleep in the stroller and I can take you for lunch?”

“Okay so that sounds even better” she grinned “You know, you’re not as dumb as-“

Steve never found out what he wasn’t as dumb as, because at that moment they heard a yell that made his breath catch.

“DADA!”

The parents looked at one another, a shit eating grin spreading across Steve’s face as he leaned forward across the table.

“Dada?” Katie asked, pointing at Steve, bouncing Jamie on her knee. “Dada!” Jamie babbled again, grinning. “Dada!”

“Typical.” Katie rolled her eyes. “I carry you for nine months, give birth, feed you from my boobs and you come out looking like your father and you say Dada first. That’s gratitude for you”

“Guess that means I’m his favourite.” Steve teased, slumping back in his chair, earning himself a glare from his wife. He blew her a kiss, shrugging.

Steve was pleased, however that Katie didn’t have to wait long for her turn. A few days later when she went into Jamie’s room to get him up for the morning he beamed at her and held his arms up exclaiming “ma-ma!” Steve watched his wife on the baby monitor screen and felt his heart swell to what felt like five times its normal size as Katie picked up their son, her eyes pricking with tears and held him tight.

*****

June 2021

Katie woke with a start, pausing for a moment, wondering why it was so quiet. It took her a second but then she remembered Jamie was at Tony’s, staying for a sleepover. As Emmy was on her field trip, Pepper and Tony had taken the boy to give Katie and Steve a night on their own, the first one they had had in a very long time. Tony had rung them mid-afternoon to ask who on earth had taught him the word ‘whatever’, albeit in Jamie’s pronunciation ‘tever’ and Katie had laughed, that one was firmly down to Emmy. He hadn’t quite managed the sign to go with it yet thought, despite her best attempts.

They’d taken full advantage of it too. Steve had gone into complete romantic overdrive, coming home from a meeting at the tower with a bunch of calla lilies for his wife and told her to get dressed up as they were going out. They’d headed into Brooklyn for a meal at a small Italian (Katie only checking her phone five times, which was an improvement on the twenty the first time they’d left Jamie with his Uncle) and they’d had a great time. It had been intimate, and they’d teased each other relentlessly meaning when they got home they hadn’t even made it up the stairs before they’d been clawing at each other, desperate touches and kisses shared in the hallway before they’d both tumbled into the lounge onto the rug in front of the fire. Grinning to herself at the slight tenderness between her legs, Katie turned over and glanced at Steve who gently shifted in his sleep, a sure sign that he was slowly waking. She scooted closer and rested her hand on his chest, her smile widening as he unconsciously let out a soft sigh of contentment. His eyes were moving under their lids, and as her hand started trailing down over his stomach he took in a deep breath, finally opening his eyes and meeting her gaze just as her touch dipped below the waistband of his boxers. He let out a low groan.

“You’re awake early considering the kids are away.” He murmured, kissing the skin in the crook of her shoulder, his morning stubble scratching her skin slightly as she continued her strokes, teasing him lightly.

“Force of habit.” She whispered back, sighing as he kissed her neck again and again. He wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close until she was pressed against him, his thigh between hers as he rolled them both over so she was nestled under him. His lips made their way to hers and he gave her a deep, languid kiss as she shifted so that her legs wrapped around his waist, pulling him flush against her. Steve propped himself up with his left arm while his other hand went under the shirt she was wearing, his shirt, to her chest, his fingertips barely brushing against her nipples. She groaned loudly at his touch, and he was just about to warn her to be quiet, but then he realised he didn’t have to. With the knowledge that he really could make her scream, he hastily pulled the top over her head and his lips crashed back to hers, the kiss hot and intentional as her legs gripped him tightly in an attempt to get a little more friction between them. He went to tug at the waistband of her underwear, barely breaking his lips away from hers for a moment.

“You want me?” He asked, his voice low and raspy.

“Always,” she groaned, aware of the desperation that flooded her tone and Steve let out a low growl. Katie felt the tearing along one side of the thin lace garment he had hold of and she laughed into his mouth, remembering their first time together when he had done the very same thing. Her fingers scrambled to push down his boxers as he repositioned himself slightly, reaching down with his hand to line himself up, before he gently worked into her. Man and wife both let out a satisfied sigh as Steve’s hand grabbed Katie’s knee and hitched it over his shoulder, a move he knew drove her wild. She moaned loudly and her fingers dug into his arms as he starting pushing a little harder, a little faster, then faster, until he had reached a relentless pace making his wife curse and leaving her short of breath.

He slowed for a moment, making her look at him, letting out a noise of protest. “Don’t stop,” she begged, “Please Stevie.”

Grinning slightly he picked up the pace again, enjoying the noises she was making as she keened underneath him, her head pressing further back into the pillow a she gave another loud cry of his name before he felt her tighten round him as she came, her nails biting at the skin on his arms. He continued to thrust three, four more times before the snake in his belly uncoiled and he jerked on top of her with a loud cry of his own and let go of her leg, collapsing onto her, his face buried into her neck.

“Morning,” she mumbled, her hands tangling into his hair and he let out a soft chuckle.

“Morning, Beautiful.”

They stayed in bed for another hour or so, just laying with one another and talking before it was time to shower. They did that together too, and by the time they were climbing into the car to go and pick Jamie up, Katie was feeling literally and figuratively thoroughly fucked and fell asleep on the journey, Steve smirking to himself at the fact he could still tire her out like that after almost eight years of being with one another.

“Late night was it?” Tony quipped as Katie let out a yawn as she walked into his living room.

“Yeah, and an early morning,” she shot back and Tony snorted, shaking his head.

“Dada!” Jamie giggled as he tottered over from where he had been sat on the rug with Morgan and Pepper “Mama!”

“Hi, Baby!” Katie swept him up in her arms and placed a kiss to his cheek “We missed you.” “Nee!” He said gleefully and Katie frowned, and it wasn’t until he pointed to his uncle and repeated the word that she understood. “Nee!”

Steve let out a snort “Uncle Nee. Suits you Tone.” “Shut up, Spangles” Tony raised an eyebrow as Morgan laughed.

“Uncle Pangles!” The two year old quipped as if on cue, and Steve let out a moan

“Did you teach her that?” He looked accusingly at his brother in law.

“Of course he did.” Pepper sighed, sweeping the small girl into her arms as she stood up, smirking at Katie. “You guys eaten breakfast yet or were you too busy?” Katie let out a snort. “If there’s any going I won’t say no.”

Pepper handed Morgan to Steve as she was trying to reach him and he took her, tossing her into the air ignoring the wince from Tony as he did so, catching the girl expertly.

“Again!” she pleaded and Steve obliged happily, knowing that it was winding Tony up only added to the enjoyment of seeing his niece cackle with laughter. “When’s Emmy back?” Tony asked, tearing his eyes away from where Steve was tossing his daughter in the air like he was wielding that fucking shield to look at his sister.

“This evening.” Katie answered. “Spoke to her last night, not sure she wants to come home.” “I remember your field trip to San Fran.” Tony mused, raising an eyebrow and Katie snorted.

“Yeah, so do I.” She smirked “I was telling Jen about that the other month. My first hangover.” “Okay, can you stop that now!” Tony rounded on Steve who grinned and rest Morgan on his hip and she pouted.

“More!”

“Sorry, Moo.” Steve apologised and she gave a huff as he placed her on the floor and she headed off to find her mum in the kitchen. He arched an eyebrow at Tony who rolled his eyes.

“Dick.” He mumbled.

“Dick.” Jamie repeated loudly and Katie’s eyes widened. Steve looked at his son, utterly horrified, then to Tony whose shocked expression was fast turning into one of utter glee.

“Oh you-” Steve glared at Tony as Katie bit her lip to try and stop her laughter “For f-“ he stopped himself, took a deep breath and pointed at Tony. “You are an absolute…”

“Use your words, Old Man!” Tony grinned, delightedly and Steve’s jaw clenched as he turned so his back was to his son and raised his hand, flipping his brother-in-law off.

*****

October 2021

“Your daddy is gonna be soaked” Katie mused to Jamie as she looked out of the window “It’s absolutely pouring with rain.”

“Dada. Rain!” Jamie grinned, chanting the words back at her, ignoring the small piece of toast that was left on his plate.

Steve had gone for his morning run with Lucky before he headed out to the first of the two support groups he was running that day. He had held the first one in September in an old church hall, and at first Katie was worried that more people would attend to take their anger out on him and had wanted to be there to help but Steve refused point blank, but her concern wasn’t completely unfounded as a lot of people were angry at first, but no one else hit him, and he said it was actually therapeutic for him too, as he could answer questions, and speak honestly and openly about how he felt about the situation. As it turned out, Steve was a natural born councillor as well as a leader, and by the end of the month he had six different groups running through the week at different places across Manhattan. It was good for him and he was relishing the fact he could still be useful.

The back door opened, and Katie could hear the man she was thinking about stepping into the small utility room off the side of the kitchen.

“Ahhh thanks, pal, “his voice dripped with sarcasm as she heard Lucky’s tag tinkling along with the noise of the dog shaking, “that’s great. really great.” Katie chuckled to herself, picturing his face as he continued to grumble

“Could have waited until I got a towel.”

“DADA!” Jamie yelled at the sound of his dad’s voice, squirming in his seat, breakfast abandoned. “Ucky!”

“Hey, Buddy” Steve called back, as Katie undid the straps from his high chair and they made their way into the utility area where Steve was drying Lucky off as best he could with an old towel. Lucky took the opportunity as soon as he could to scoot past Katie into the kitchen.

Jamie glanced at his dad and excitedly wiggled his arms and legs as Steve shrugged off his sodden waterproof running jacket.

“Hi!” He screeched “Hi Dada!”

Steve’s bright smile light up his face “Hi, Son.” He kissed him once on both cheeks and Jamie squeaked happily before Katie set him down and he toddled back over to the play-mat in the corner of the kitchen.

“What, no kiss from my baby mama?” Steve asked, sweeping Katie into his arms and rubbing at her neck with his cold, damp face.

She squealed and tried to pull away, to absolutely no avail, and Steve continued to laugh and use her as a drying cloth.

“Ew! You’re cold and damp and sweaty!” She wrinkled her nose.

“You don’t seem to mind my sweat when I’m chasing your fourth orgasm.” Steve quipped cheekily, dropping his voice to barely more than a whisper, making her laugh.

“That’s different.” “How?”

“Because that’s sex sweat, this is run sweat.”

Steve laughed loudly “I didn’t realise I had different sweat pores for different activities”

“I didn’t mean that!” Katie rolled her eyes “I mean that I’m not sweaty now, I’m warm, and dry…” “Yeah, and if you give me a moment I can rectify that situation.”

“Dirtbag.” She grinned, his chuckle vibrating into her chest. "Go get showered and warmed up. I’ll make you some breakfast.”

"Kiss first.” Steve muttered before he leaned forward and pressed his mouth to hers. His lips were warm and despite herself, Katie leaned into his arms, her hands snaking up into his damp hair.

“Kissy!” Jamie giggled, and they broke apart to look at the tot who was sat on the floor clapping. “Kissy, kissy!”

“I’m gonna kill Emmy.” Steve muttered, and then he spotted Lucky expertly stealing the toast that Jamie had left on the highchair, before sidling out of the room with his precious treat. “And that damned dog.”

Katie laughed and gave him another peck on the cheek before Steve swept past his son, giving his hair a quick ruffle. She leaned back against the counter and smiled, before she sighed, her happy expression faltering a little. They’d had almost three years now of pretty much non-stop domestic bliss, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that something surely had to come along at some point and turn it all upside down.

That was how things went for them, right?

“Mama!”

Her attention flew back to her son as he toddled over to her and held his arms up. “Hungry.” “Again?” Katie rolled her eyes as she picked him up.

“Yup.” He nodded emphatically.

Katie smiled, kissing his cheek, and moved him so he was perched on her hip. With one arm she placed more bread in the toaster and looked at her son, who smiled at her and pressed his lips to her cheek in a sloppy kiss.

“Love you.” He grinned and Katie beamed back at him, brushing his hair back.

“Love you too, Sweetheart.” And with that simple act, she managed to push those worries she had to the back of her mind, again, content to just enjoy what they had for as long as they had it.

**** Chapter 48 Part 1

**Original Posting**

#stark spangled banner #steve rogers #Katie Stark #steve rogers fanfiction #steve rogers x ofc #steve rogers x original female character #steve rogers fic #mcu #mcu fanfic #chris evans #chris evans characters

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what-is-your-plan-today · 5 years ago

Text

Stark Spangled Banner Ch47: Use Your Words, Old Man

Intro: Jamie reaches another milestone, and 2021 ticks by with many more memories for the Rogers and Stark family.

Warnings: Bad Language words. Smut! (NSFW) No under 18s. Tony teaching his nephew bad words…

Pairing: Steve Rogers x OFC Katie Stark

Stark Spangled Banner Masterlist

May 2021

“Jamie…no!” Steve swooped down and picked up the tot who had been toddling, unsteadily albeit towards Lucky giggling away. Lucky, however, was fast enough to understand and jumped up bolting towards the door of the room, leaping over the baby gate to avoid Jamie’s vice like grip on his ears.

“NO!” The toddler giggled and Steve stopped dead. Katie looked up and her mouth fell open.

“Did he just…” she held her breath. The 14 month old had been uttering the odd thing that sound like a word for a good few months but nothing that anyone would recognise as a proper term until then.

“Yeah I think so!” Steve grinned, looking at her then his son “Did you just talk buddy? Did you just say no?” “NO! No, No!” Jamie wriggled in his dad’s arms, grabbing at his once more present beard. Katie, who had managed to get the last few iterations of the word on her phone camera grinned as Steve placed him back on the floor where he headed over to this play-mat and landed with a thud on the floor, picking up a pile of the large, coloured blocks he liked to play with.

“Of course his first word would be No.” She sighed as Steve sat on the couch next to her. He laughed and dropped a hand to her knee.

“To be fair, honey, that’s what we spend half our time telling him one way or another.” Katie snorted, that much was true. Since he had been fully mobile and walking unaided over the last two months they had constantly been moving things out of his reach or removing them from his grasp often followed by the word. Nine times out of ten the tot was content to let them do so, but the odd time he would throw a temper tantrum to rival those of Katie’s at which point Steve would simply sigh, throw him over a shoulder and wait until he gave in.

“NO!” Jamie called again, clacking the bricks together and Steve gave a grin and moved off the couch to drop by his son on the play-mat. Katie watched the two of them for a moment, smiling to herself. She knew it was a cliché but she literally couldn’t have wished for a better father for either of her kids. They were experiencing first parenting issues at both ends of the spectrum, with Emmy five months off her fourteenth birthday and Jamie two months on from his 1st. It wasn’t easy, hell, they spent half their time second guessing their decisions. Where they being too strict or too lenient with Emmy? Was Jamie developing right? Where his toys educational enough? Was the floor clean enough for him to be crawling or lying on with having a dog in the house? But, when she saw moments like this, Jamie now trying to push his large, red MegaBlock into his Dad’s mouth, Steve clamping his lips together and shaking his head making their son screech with laughter, all her worries faded away.

Steve was led on his back on the bed, Jamie cackling away as his dad was holding him at arms-length and then bringing him back down again to blow a raspberry on his cheek, repeating the motion over and over again, until he paused and his eyes widened a little. Katie frowned slightly at the look on his face. Steve gulped as he looked into his son’s eyes, their familiarity hitting him like a brick.

“Honey what is it?” Katie asked, as his eyes misted up and he swallowed thickly.

“His eyes. Do you think they’ll carry on turning green?”

Katie frowned “I don’t know, I doubt it. Apparently most babies, if their eyes are gonna change, will have done it by six months. Why do you ask?”

“I just, well, I never thought I’d see those eyes again.” he whispered, gently resuming his actions.

“I’m not following.” Katie frowned

“They err, he has ma’s eyes” Steve said, his voice was choked as he looked at her, bringing Jamie down to his chest, a soft smile playing on his face.

He looked up at her and smiled, “yeah?” “Yeah.” she nodded, “I think you’re more like your mother than you realise sweetheart, maybe not in looks completely but, well, she raised you single handed. You’re the man you are because of her.”

“She was a fantastic woman.” Steve sighed.

“Well then you should be proud.” Katie said, and he smiled looking over at her.

“ I am.” he replied softly, his attention going back to his son. “And you know what else I’m proud of?”

“What?”

“That you’re a Mrs Rogers too.” he looked at her again “I know it’s just a name but, I really am glad you took it. Jamie has a Rogers momma as good as mine, helping to carry the name forward.”

“You sentimental sap.” Katie sniffed slightly as her own tears threatened to spill from her eyes.

“I love you so much.” he beamed at her, pressing his lips to hers softly. “Even if you are still a Stark really.” She laughed against his lips and gently hit him on the chest “Jerk.”

Katie turned back to the laptop she’d been looking at, flicking through a few spreadsheets with the latest figures the SIDE accountants had produced. Steve and Emmy’s idea around the support groups had been well received by everyone involved with the foundation and as such they’d started drafting up the paper work and working out the estimated funding. Steve had consulted Rhodey about the programme and the Colonel had enthusiastically agreed it was a great idea, and as such they’d pitched it to the Government, President Ellis’ reaction had been the same as theirs – why didn’t we think of this before- As such, they were currently working up the particulars, how they set up across the country, mobilisation, publicity…and Steve had taken up control of the project, his natural leadership qualities made him a superb Project Manager. He’d also expressed an interest in actually running the ones across New York himself, another way he felt he could help. They were aiming to open the first ones in September, running 2 a week for the time being, just to see how well they were received and, from a purely selfish point of view, Katie was enjoying working alongside him again and having him at home permanently instead of traveling with the Military.

“How many groups do you think you’re gonna have eventually?” she asked and Steve tuned to look at her.

“I dunno.” he shrugged “I’d like eventually to maybe run them three times a week, twice a day. Give everyone who wants to come a chance to you know…why?” “Just drilling into these numbers. I reckon we have enough to fund that to start with,” she paused, “and if the government meet our request then we can step it up.” He nodded “I put the design idea in for the fliers and posters yesterday. Has to be the mot sombre thing I’ve ever drawn.”

“I know.” she said softly “But it’s gonna make a difference Steve, focus on that.”

He was about to reply but he was cut off when they heard the voice from the security system informing them that the gate had been opened by “Emmy Rogers”. Steve glanced at the clock and frowned.

“It’s not even 1?”

“They’re on half day” Katie didn’t look up from the numbers on the screen “Teacher training or something.”

Moments late the front door opened and the chatter of two excited teenage girls hit their ears and Lucky gave a bark, his nails clicking on the wooden floor as he trotted through from where he had been on his bed under the stairs to greet Emmy.

“I know…” Emmy was saying, as her voice grew louder “I mean, I never thought they’d do anything like this not after the Decimation but…hi buddy!”

They heard Lucky’s excited whine and then they appeared in the doorway.

“Never thought they’d do anything like what?” Steve asked instantly and Emmy rolled her eyes.

“Do you earwig into every conversation I have?” she rolled her eyes, opening the baby-gate and stepping into the room.

“Yes.” Steve deadpanned. “Spill.” “Geography field trip Mr R.” Brooke grinned “Hamilton for the Niagara Escarpment.”

“Canada?” Katie smiled before her smile turned to a smirk as she side eyed Steve “I had a vacation in Canada once…” Steve shot her a glare and his voice dropped to a growl “That’s not funny.” he said sternly. The memory of what she’d been through wasn’t a laughing matter as far as he was concerned. She flashed him a grin and he rolled his eyes.

“So when is it?”

“Last week of term in June” Emmy answered, reaching down to pick Jamie up who had toddled over to his sister excitedly chattering jibberish as he went “Just for three nights. I know it’s really short notice but apparently they weren’t sure they could pull it off. Hi Jay!” she swung him up and kissed the little boy on the cheek as Brooke gently tweaked his nose causing him to laugh.

“6 weeks, yeah that is short notice.” Katie said. “Do you wanna go?” Emmy’s eyes lit up and she nodded “I’d love to.” Steve took in a deep breath and Katie looked at him. She could see him grappling with something but Jamie spoke before he could.

“No!”

“Did he just talk?” Emmy’s eyes widened.

“Yeah, he hasn’t shut up saying it for the last hour.” Katie grinned “Look, have you got the details of the trip?” “In my bag.” she nodded. “Ok well leave them on the table, me and your dad will give it the once over and we’ll talk about it later.”

“I’m gonna put him down for a nap.” Katie stood up and looked at the 2 girls. “What are you doing this afternoon?”

“Pool!” they both said, sharing a hi-five before Emmy looked at her mom, the familiar hopeful expression on her face she always got when she was about to ask for something.

“Can we get Thai tonight? It is Friday.” “Dontcha mean Thaiday…” Steve quipped causing Katie to groan as Emmy picked up a cushion off the couch with her spare arm and hit her dad with it.

“That is so lame” Emmy rolled her eyes as Brooke cackled. “C’mon…”

Katie watched as they left the room, Steve still chuckling at his own joke.

“She’s right.” Katie looked at him, gently re-arranging Jamie slightly as he had started to nod off “That was lame.”

Steve gave her a look of mock hurt, clutching his chest, before she left and he sat up to read the information Emmy had left on the table. He was struggling a little bit between wanting to let her go and also the worry that had instantly flooded his system about her being safe. He carefully read the information, the trip was almost three-fifty, not that it mattered, and was for three nights. They were to fly into Toronto and then coach down. The activities looked good, and quick google showed him the hotel looked fairly reasonable and was in a nice enough area…

“I knew you’d be on that as soon as you could be.” Katie laughed and Steve looked up at her from his spot on the floor by the table and he gave a sheepish grin.

“Busted,” he sighed, “I just wanted to look into it properly. You know I really want her to go and enjoy stuff like this but…” “We can’t keep her sheltered Steve.” Katie reasoned, “No matter how much we want to. She’s gonna be fourteen this time round.” “I know, I know.” He sighed “Do you think we should let her go?” “Yeah, I do.” Katie nodded “We’re lucky enough to be able to afford things like that for our kids, plenty of other families aren’t.”

“Alright.” He heaved himself up off the floor “You’ve convinced me.” Katie grinned “If only everything was that easy.” “It is.” he arched an eyebrow. “All you have to do is pull those eyes at me.” “What eyes?” she asked innocently. “You know damned well what eyes. Those eyes. The ones that can get me to do whatever you want.” “Is it working now?” she looked up at him, flicking her eyelashes. “Why, what do you want?” he asked, smirking, knowing full well what she was implying as her hands slid up his chest.

“Well the girls are out at the pool,” she said, her eyes now on the buttons of his Henley as she started to undo them, “and Jamie’s asleep…” Grinning he span her round, shoved her gently forward and aimed a smack to her ass causing her to yelp playfully “Get up those stairs Mrs Rogers.” He said, and the pair of them hurried off, giggling like a pair of naughty school kids till they reached their bedroom, where the giggles turned into shared moans, groans and happy sighs.

**** “Thanks for dropping Brooke off.” Jennifer smiled the next morning, placing a latte down in front of Katie.

“It was no problem, I had to come this way on my way up to the compound anyway.” Katie smiled and then frowned slightly as she noticed the look on her friend’s face.

“You alright?” She asked gently.

“Not really,” she said, sitting down. “Brooke called last night about the field trip…” Katie nodded “Yeah Steve wasn’t so keen but I talked him round. The girls seem to be looking forward to it.” “That’s the thing.” Jen sighed, rubbing her temple “I really want Brooke to go but, well, business hasn’t been what it used to be before, you know, and I’m not sure I can afford for her to go, not at such short notice.” Katie instantly felt like a jerk. She knew she was incredibly privileged to be so wealthy but was well aware many weren’t as fortunate.

“I haven’t had the heart to tell her yet.” Jen said. Katie bit her lip.

“Jen,” she leaned over the table dropping her voice, “if you want…” “No.” Jen shook her head, her lips pressing into a thin line, instantly understanding what Katie was offering “I’m not a charity case.” her voice was clipped. “No, that’s not what I meant.” Katie hastily assured the woman “Honestly, I didn’t mean to offend you.” “I know.” Jen shook her head “Sorry, that was really ungrateful.” “It’s fine.” Katie said, “But the offers there. We could consider it a loan if you liked.” Jen chewed her lip, and Katie saw her friend’s eyes begin to water.

“Look,” Katie gripped her mug “It’s a couple of hundred bucks. And this probably sounds crass but I make more money than I know what to do with.”

“Sorry, I just hate this, you know.” Jen hastily wiped her face “A few years ago this place was thriving and now, well I just about make enough to cover bills and the thought she is the one that has to miss out…” “Then let me help.” Katie pleaded, looking at the red head opposite her “Brooke’s been a good friend to Emmy and, well, from a selfish point of view I’d be a lot more comfortable if they were together.”

“That’s really kind of you.” Jennifer nodded after a pause “Are you sure? I’ll pay you back as soon as I can.”

“Whenever, it’s not a big deal.” Katie nodded, smiling “On one condition.” “What?”

“Would you like to come over?” she asked suddenly “The pair of you, for dinner maybe? Tonight? Emmy and Jamie as well, of course.”

“I think that should be ok.” Katie smiled “We’re not doing anything that I know of.”

“Great, well, Emmy can stay here if she likes, sure once I tell Brooke she can go they’ll be planning all sorts of mischief.”

“I dread to think” Katie mused “You know I went on a field trip to San Fran one year. I was 16. Me and my friend, a girl called Laura, I made some fake ID and we got plastered in a bar. Tony absolutely kicked my ass, although he told me a few years later he was actually quite impressed at the quality of my forgeries.”

Jennifer snorted “Yeah, this isn’t exactly filling me full of confidence.”

Katie laughed “Emmy is much better behaved than I was at that age.” She drained her mug and stood up. “I best be going.”

“Sure, see you tonight? What time will suit with Jamie?”

“Well he normally goes down about seven and he’ll just sleep in his car seat.” Katie smiled “So say six ish? I can feed him and settle him then at yours before we eat.”

“Fab.” Jenifer stood up and Katie mirrored her “And thank you.”

“My pleasure.” she smiled, and she handed Jen her mug. Once the woman was out of sight she dug into her purse and dropped the customary twenty bucks into the tip jar.

****

Steve was in the kitchen when he heard his wife come home. He didn’t move though, he was too busy watching his son, trying to figure out how the hell the fourteen month old had managed to climb up on top of the breakfast bar unaided. The only explanation was he’d used one of the stools as leverage, but even that was baffling him and there was no way he should have been able to manage that, at all. He had turned his back for thirty goddamned seconds to load the dishwasher and now his son was crawling along the unit.

“Thank you Dr Erskine” Steve grumbled as he swept his son off the surface “You’re gonna be the death of me, pal.” “No!” Jamie cackled, and Steve sighed, his son carefully held in his arms as Katie walked into the kitchen. “Hey, baby.” he said, dropping a kiss to her lips.

“Hi.” She greeted him, returning his gentle sign of affection before she blew a raspberry on Jamie’s cheek. He giggled as she made her way to the fridge and Steve deposited him on the mat at the corner of the room.

“How was Nat?” Steve asked and Katie sighed, grabbing out a bottle of water and opening it.

“Still insisting on flying out to Nepal.” she shut the fridge. “I’ve told her Barton doesn’t wanna be found, but…” she trailed off. “And Bruce has gone again.”

“Where to this time?” Steve frowned.

“Back to the lab in Seoul.” Katie shrugged “I don’t know what for. Anyway, I told her to come for dinner on Sunday and that if she misses it again this week imma kick her ass.” Steve smiled as Katie took a drink from the bottle “Oh, and speaking of dinner, we’re not doing anything tonight are we?” she asked,

“Not at the moment but I’m sure you’re about to tell me we are.” “Correct, Jen’s asked us round.” she said sitting down at the table

“That’s nice of her.” Steve said, pouring himself mug of coffee, Katie waving away his offer of one “You wanna go?”

“Yeah, and it’s kind of a thank you so we should do really.”

“What for?” he sat down opposite her.

“Well, she was upset about not being able to send Brooke on the Field Trip so I offered to help out money wise.” she shrugged, “You don’t mind do you?”

Steve shook his head. “No, of course not.”

“She didn’t want to take it at first but she agreed in the end. As long as it’s a loan”

“I’m glad she agreed to take it. I’m assuming Emmy has stayed with them for the day?”

Katie hummed a response.

“Those two are joined at the hip.” Steve snorted

“Another reason I really wanted Brooke to go.”

A movement caught Steve’s eye from the corner of the room and he looked up to see Jamie was now stood up again and was heading back towards the breakfast bar. He quietly observed his son, watching as the boy gripped the legs of one of the stools and pulled himself up, and was horrified to see that he was managing to lift his legs off the floor, swinging them onto the foot bar.

“James, No!” he said loudly. The use of their boy’s full name didn’t pass Katie by and she turned in her seat to see Jamie looking at his father before he let go of the stool and fell backwards onto his butt, the pout on his face reminding Steve so much of his wife that he had to stifle a laugh. Katie watched as he got to his feet and toddled towards her.

“He managed to get up onto the kitchen counter before.” Steve said as she picked him up and sat him on her knee. “What?” Katie asked, her voice high pitched as she whipped her head round to look at Steve “How the hell?”

“I know.” Steve shook his head. “I thought we could take him and Lucky out for a walk maybe see if that settles his energy.”

Katie checked her watch “Yeah, we could do. Maybe head to the park. If we go now then we should be back for his nap.”

“Or we can wait a while, and he can sleep in the buggy and I can take you for lunch?”

“Okay so that sounds even better” she grinned “You know, you’re not as dumb as-“

Steve never found out what he wasn’t as dumb as, because at that moment they heard a yell that made his breath catch.

“DADA!”

The parents looked at one another, a shit eating grin spreading across Steve’s face as he leaned forward across the table.

“Dada?” Katie asked, pointing at Steve, bouncing Jamie on her knee. “Dada!” Jamie babbled again, grinning. “Dada!”

“Guess that means I’m his favourite.” Steve teased, slumping back in his chair, screwing his eyes shut and pumping his fist in mock celebration, a smug grin in his face. It earned him a glare from his wife once he opened them and he blew her a kiss, shrugging.

He was pleased, however that Katie didn’t have to wait long for her turn. A few days later when she went into Jamie’s room to get him up for the morning he beamed at her and held his arms up exclaiming “ma-ma!” Steve watched his wife on the baby monitor screen and felt his heart swell to what felt like 5 times its normal size as Katie picked up their son, her eyes pricking with tears and held him tight.

*****

June 2021

Katie woke with a start, pausing for a moment, wondering why it was so quiet. It took her a second but then she remembered Jamie was at Tony’s, staying for a sleepover. As Emmy was on her field trip, Pepper and Tony had taken the boy to give Katie and Steve a night on their own, the first one they had had in a very long time. Tony had rung them mid afternoon to ask who on earth had taught him the word “whatever…”, albeit in Jamie’s pronunciation “tever…” and Katie had laughed, that one was firmly down to Emmy. He hadn’t quite managed the sign to go with it yet thought, despite her best attempts.

They’d taken full advantage of it too. Steve had gone into complete romantic overdrive, coming home from a meeting at the tower with a bunch of calla lilies for his wife and told her to get dressed up as they were going out. They’d headed into Brooklyn for a meal at a small Italian (Katie only checking her phone five times…which was an improvement on the twenty the first time they’d left Jamie with his uncle) and they’d had a great time. It had been intimate, and they’d teased each other relentlessly meaning when they got home they hadn’t even made it up the stairs before they’d been clawing at each other, desperate touches and kisses shared in the hallway before they’d both tumbled into the lounge onto the rug in front of the fire. Grinning to herself at the slight tenderness between her legs, Katie turned over and glanced at Steve who gently shifted in his sleep, a sure sign that he was slowly waking. She scooted closer and rested her hand on his chest, her smile widening as he unconsciously let out a soft sigh of contentment. His eyes were moving under their lids, and as her hand started trailing down over his stomach he took in a deep breath, finally opening his eyes and meeting her gaze just as her touch dipped below the waistband of his boxers. He let out a low groan.

“You’re awake early considering the kids are away.” he murmured, kissing the skin in the crook of her shoulder, his beard scratching her skin slightly as she continued her strokes, teasing him lightly.

"Yeah, force of habit” she whispered back, sighing as he kissed her neck again and again. He wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close until she was pressed against him, his thigh between hers as he rolled them both over so she was nestled under him. His lips made their way to hers and he gave her a deep, languid kiss as she shifted so that her legs wrapped around his waist, pulling him flush against her. Steve propped himself up with his left arm while his other hand went under the shirt she was wearing, his shirt, to her chest, his fingertips barely brushing against her nipples. She groaned loudly at his touch, and he was just about to warn her to be quiet, but then he realised he didn’t have to. With the knowledge that he really could make her scream, he hastily pulled the top over her head and his lips crashed back to hers, the kiss hot and intentional as her legs gripped him tightly in an attempt to get a little more friction between them. He went to tug at the waistband of her underwear, barely breaking his lips away from hers for a moment.

“You want me?” he asked, his voice low and raspy.

“Please.” she said, aware of the desperation that flooded her tone and he let out a low growl, and she felt the tearing along one side of the thin lace garment he had hold of. She laughed into his mouth, remembering their first time together when he had done that as her fingers scrambled to push down his boxers as he repositioned himself slightly, gently working into her. Man and wife both let out a satisfied sigh as Steve’s hand grabbed Katie’s knee and hitched it over his shoulder, a move he knew drove her wild. She moaned loudly and her fingers dug into his arms as he starting pushing a little harder, a little faster, then faster, until he had reached a relentless pace making his wife curse and leaving her short of breath.

He slowed for a moment, making her look at him, letting out a noise of protest. “Don’t stop,” she begged, “Please Stevie.”

Grinning slightly he picked up the pace again, enjoying the noises she was making as she keened underneath him, her head pressing further back into the pillow a she gave another loud cry of his name before he felt her tighten round him, her nails biting at the skin on his arms. He continued to thrust three, four more times before the snake in his belly uncoiled and he jerked on top of her with a loud cry of his own and let go of her leg, collapsing onto her, his face buried into her neck.

“Morning,” she mumbled, her hands tangling into his hair and he let out a soft chuckle.

“Late night was it?” Tony quipped as Katie let out a yawn as she walked into his living room.

“Yeah, and an early morning” she shot back and Tony snorted, shaking his head.

“Dada!” Jamie giggled as he tottered over from where he had been sat on the rug with Morgan and Pepper “Mama!”

“Hi baby!” Katie swept him up in her arms and placed a kiss to his cheek “We missed you.” “Nee!” He said gleefully and Katie frowned, and it wasn’t until he pointed to his uncle and repeated the word that she understood “Nee!”

Steve let out a snort “Uncle Nee. Suits you Tone.” “Shut up, Spangles” Tony raised an eyebrow as Morgan laughed.

“Uncle Pangles” the two year old quipped as if on cue and Steve let out a moan

“Did you teach her that?” he looked accusingly at his brother in law.

“Of course he did.” Pepper sighed, sweeping the small girl into her arms as she stood up, smirking at Katie. “You guys eaten breakfast yet or were you too busy?” Katie let out a snort “If there’s any going I won’t say no.”

Pepper handed Morgan to Steve as she was trying to reach him and he took her, tossing her into the air ignoring the wince from Tony as he did so, catching the girl expertly.

“This evening.” Katie answered. “Spoke to her last night, not sure she wants to come home.” “I remember your field trip to San Fran.” Tony mused, raising an eyebrow and Katie snorted.

“Yeah, so do I.” She smirked “I was telling Jen about that the other month. My first hangover.” “Ok, can you stop that now!” Tony rounded on Steve who grinned and rest Morgan on his hip and she pouted

“More!”

“Sorry, Moo.” Steve apologised and she gave a huff as he placed her on the floor and she headed off to find her mum in the kitchen. He arched an eyebrow at Tony who rolled his eyes.

“Dick.” he mumbled.

“Dick.” Jamie repeated loudly and Katie’s eyes widened. Steve looked at his son, utterly horrified, then to Tony who’s shocked expression was fast turning into one of utter glee.

“Oh you-” Steve glared at Tony as Katie bit her lip to try and stop her laughter “For f-“ he stopped himself, took a deep breath and pointed at Tony “You are an absolute…”

“Use your words, Old Man…” Tony grinned, delightedly and Steve’s jaw clenched as he turned so his back was to his son and raised his hand, flipping his brother-in-law off.

*****

October 2021

“Your daddy is gonna be soaked” Katie mused to Jamie as she looked out of the window “It’s absolutely pouring with rain.”

“Dada. Rain!” Jamie grinned, chanting the words back at her, ignoring the small piece of toast that was left on his plate.

Steve had gone for his morning run with Lucky before he headed out to the first of the two support groups he was running that day. Steve had held the first one in September in an old hall, and at first Katie was worried that more people would attend to take their anger out on him and had wanted to be there to help but Steve refused point blank. Her concern wasn’t completely unfounded as a lot of people were angry at first, but no one else hit him, and he said it was actually therapeutic for him too, as he could answer questions, and speak honestly and openly about how he felt about the situation too. Turns out Steve was a natural born councillor as well as a leader, and by the end of the month he had 6 different groups running through the week at different places across Manhattan. It was good for him and he was relishing the fact he could still be useful. Of course, there was one downside, that delectable beard had, once again, for the third time been vanquished. Because Steve was recognised as ‘Captain America’ at those support groups, or at least a version of.

And “Captain America doesn’t have a beard…”

The back door opened, and Katie could hear the man she was thinking about stepping into the small utility room off the side of the kitchen.

“Ahhh thanks, pal.” his voice dripped with sarcasm as she heard Lucky’s tag tinkling along with the noise of the dog shaking “That’s great. really great.” Katie chuckled to herself, picturing his face as he continued to grumble

“Could have waited until I got a towel.”

“DADA!” Jamie yelled at the sound of his dad’s voice, squirming in his seat, breakfast abandoned. “Ucky!”

“Hey, buddy” Steve called back, as Katie undid the straps from his high chair and they made their way into the utility area where Steve was drying Lucky off as best he could with an old towel. Lucky took the opportunity as soon as he could to scoot away and past Katie into the kitchen.

Jamie glanced at his dad and excitedly wiggled his arms and legs as Steve shrugged off his sodden waterproof running jacket.

“Hi!” he screeched “Hi Dada!”

Steve’s bright smile light up his face “Hi, son.” He kissed him once on both cheeks and he squeaked happily before Katie set him down and he toddled back over to the play-mat in the corner of the kitchen.

“What, no kiss from my baby mama?” Steve asked, sweeping Katie into his arms and rubbing at her neck with his cold, damp face.

She squealed and tried to pull away, to absolutely no avail and Steve continued to laugh and use her as a drying cloth.

“Ew! You’re cold and damp and sweaty!“ she wrinkled her nose.

“You don’t seem to mind my sweat when I’m chasing your fourth orgasm.” he said cheekily, dropping his voice to barely more than a whisper, making her laugh.

“That’s different.” “How?” he snorted

“Because that’s sex sweat, this is run sweat.” she shrugged in his arms. Steve laughed loudly “I didn’t realise I had different sweat pores for different activities”

“I didn’t mean that!” she rolled her eyes “I mean that I’m not sweaty now, I’m warm, and dry…” “Yeah, and if you give me a moment I can rectify that situation…”

“Dirtbag.” she grinned, his chuckle vibrating into her chest. "Go get showered and warmed up. I’ll make you some breakfast.”

"Kiss first, Kitten.” Steve muttered before he leaned forward and pressed a his mouth to hers. His lips were warm and despite herself, Katie leaned into his arms, her hands snaking up into his damp hair.

“Kissy!” Jamie giggled, and they broke apart to look at the tot who was sat on the floor clapping “kissy, kissy!”

“I’m gonna kill Emmy” Steve muttered, and then he spotted Lucky expertly stealing the toast that Jamie had left on the highchair, before sidling out of the room with his precious cargo before he could chastise the animal. “And that damned dog.”

Katie laughed and gave him another peck on the cheek before he swept past his son, giving his hair a quick ruffle. She leaned back against the counter and smiled, before she sighed. They’d had almost three years now of pretty much non-stop domestic bliss, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that something surely had to come along at some point and turn it all upside down. That was how things went for them, right?

“Mama!” her attention flew back to her son as he toddled over to her and held his arms up “Hungry.” “Again?” she rolled her eyes before she smiled and with one arm placed more bread in the toaster. For now, she pushed any worries she had to the back of her mind, content to just enjoy what they had for as long as they had it.

Tags

@the-omni-princess @momobaby227 @geekofmanythings16 @angelofhell-666 @thewackywriter @marvelfansworld @cobalt-gear @asgardlover75 @jennmurawski13 @jtargaryen18 @saiyanprincessswanie @navispalace @patzammit @joannaliceevans-fanficblog @icanfeelastormbrewing @djeniiscorner @ayamenimthiriel

#stark spangled banner #steve rogers x original female character #steve rogers x oc #steve rogers #captain america #tony stark #iron man #mcu #mcu fanfiction #marvel #marvel fanfiction #avengers #avengers fanfiction #fanfic #fancfiction

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fanfictionaries · 5 years ago

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Love and Academia Ch. 3 - Dream Homes and Disloyalty

Pairing: AU Professor!Bucky x OFC

Warnings: Swearing, smut, NSFW/18+ only, mentions of death/violence/suicide

Author’s note: We get a nice little look into Bucky’s perspective this week. Also because this is an AU and I am the God on the worlds I create, Steve has a big family and he’s from the midwest. I just want him to be a happy little farm boy!

And as always, I do not currently have a beta reader so please excuse any larger issues. it’s just little ol’ me!

***

Bucky’s feet hit the ground. Left, right, left, right. He was on the final mile of his morning run. Usually by this time he’d be well into his runner’s high, feeling great as he finished off his fifth mile, but today it was like each step made him weaker and slower. His legs cut through the air like a knife cutting through frozen butter. He thought about stopping, just giving up and calling that day’s run short, but a yip at his side and the brush of a cold nose on his calf eliminated the idea immediately. Trixie, his border collie, would be an energetic wreck all day if she didn’t get her full five miles. So, he pushed through, finally slowing to a walk when he’d fully completed his run.

“There, ya happy?” Bucky asked, looking down at his dog. Trixie looked up at her owner briefly, tail wagging, tongue hanging from her mouth, and looking as pleased as ever as she padded beside him. He held her leash loosely in his hand as Trixie led the way towards their new house. Their new home.

It was a red brick Victorian style home nestled on a quiet back street. It’s deep green door, white trim, and beautiful garden of roses and irises held a certain charm. The garden had been the main selling point for him and Diane. Diane had been so taken by the white picket fence in the front yard, with the ivy-colored trellis framing the walkway to the front door. She insisted they put in an offer straight away, even though they weren’t planning on moving for another year. Bucky had called her crazy, saying that it was insane for them to pay both rent in Brooklyn and a mortgage in Idaho. But she had reasoned that with both of their jobs and their minor expenses they could easily afford it and it was a small price to pay for their dream home.

“You mean your dream home?” Bucky laughed.

“It’s not your dream home?” Diane asked, slightly crestfallen at the realization.

“Your dream is my dream,” Bucky said, and it was true. His dream was her and therefore whatever her dream was, was his as well.

But now as he treaded across the loose boards on the front porch to unlock the door that stuck, he cursed her for making this their dream. Opening the door and crossing the threshold, he unhooked Trixie’s leash and placed his keys on the table next to the front door. Trixie, apparently wiped from their run, laid on her bed across the living room and promptly fell asleep. Bucky reached for the remote and turned on the TV, skimming through the channels until he got the local news, and then settled into the rest of his workout. It was always the same: sit ups, pushups, pull ups, repeat. The same simple routine helping to bring him clarity. Something he needed a lot of these days.

The decision to leave Brooklyn had been his idea. His contract with NYU was coming to an end, and he just kept feeling like he needed a change. He’d called Brooklyn home his entire life. Despite his short time away for undergrad at Boston University, he’d been born in Brooklyn, grown up in the streets of Brooklyn with his brothers, gotten his PhD at NYU, gotten his first teaching position there, met Diane there. But he was growing restless of the same old story. Diane, thankfully, agreed. She, being from Montana, enjoyed her time on the east side of the country, but was ready to be closer to home.

Bucky had just finished his last set when his phone buzzed on the coffee table. Not even thinking, he reached for it and pressed the green call button.

“So, he finally answers,” Steve boomed from the other end. Bucky sighed inwardly; he’d been avoiding Steve all week since they’d last seen each other at the bar.

“Hey man, what’s up?”

“Oh, you know, I was just wondering if I could actually see my best friend and catch up with him finally. Or will I have to wait another six years?”

“Alright, alright, message received jerk. Why don’t we grab coffee this morning? I’m headed into the office a little later and I have time before then,” Bucky said, feeling guilty for not making it up to Steve for completely bailing on their guys night last week. Steve laughed and agreed, throwing out a time and place before ending the call.

Bucky showered before dressing in a pair of jeans and white t-shirt. He brushed his wet hair and contemplated trimming his beard before saying ‘fuck it’ and walking out of the bathroom. Making his way down the stairs, he was halfway down when a step gave under his foot. With a loud crack, the wood split in two and he was ankle deep in pain and frustration.

“Jesus fucking Christ!”

Bucky pulled his foot from the hole and continued walking down the stairs gingerly. Pulling up his pant leg, he assessed that there was minimal damage, and proceeded to grab his wallet, keys, and phone from the coffee table. He crouched down by Trixie’s bed and gave her a scratch behind the ear.

“I’ll be back later girl,” Bucky said. Trixie nuzzled his palm with her nose before giving it a kiss and laying her head back down on her bed.

Fifteen minutes later and Bucky was seated at a table in a small coffee shop, ice coffee in hand, with Steve sat across from him.

“It’s good to see you man. Really good,” Steve said, taking a sip of his coffee and leaning back in his seat.

“I know, it really is. Tell me again why you moved all the way out here after college?” Bucky asked, rubbing a bead of condensation away from the side of his cup.

“Oh, you know me. Boston was fun but after four years I was done with the big city. It’s not home, but most of my family isn’t even in Minnesota anymore anyways.”

“And you’re liking it here so far?”

“Oh, I love it. My parents are here, so is my sister Mary. Mike’s still in Bloomington, but him and the wife have been talking about moving down here too. You know us Rogers—can’t stay apart for too long. We always end up finding our way back together,” Steve chuckled.

“Yea, you are a dysfunctional bunch, aren’t you,” Bucky teased.

“Oh please, I’ve met the Barnes family several times. How many times has your mom called you?”

“Today or in the last week?” Bucky laughed, thinking about how his mom had called him at least three times a day for the past month he had been in Idaho.

“Mary still seeing that finance guy?” Bucky asked, trying to remember the small details Steve had dropped about his family over the years through their phone calls.

“Oh Doug? God no. No, he turned out to be a real piece of shit…why? You interested?” Steve grinned, raising an eyebrow at Bucky.

“You seriously trying to set me up with your sister man?”

“Hey—" Steve held his hands up in defense “—I’m just saying. She’s always had a bit of a thing for you.”

“Well, that’s certainly news to me, but I’m not exactly single Steve,” Bucky sighed.

“I thought you said Diane said—”

“Yea, I know what she said but it doesn’t really mean I agree with it. That was her idea, not mine.”

“So, the other night at the bar?”

“Was a mistake. Besides, nothing really happened.”

Steve looked skeptical, “She seemed pretty upset right before she left. You sure nothing really happened?”

“What are you implying?”

“Nothing. I’m just worried about you.”

There was a long silence as they sat there. Bucky refusing to look at Steve. Steve refusing to look away from Bucky. Bucky had felt guilty that night with Emily. He truly had. Diane’s words had run through his head that night over and over again. He thought that if he had kept it impersonal, maybe he could do it. With Diane not there, he was lonely and god, he had been wildly attracted to Emily. Probably more than he liked to admit. But no matter what Diane said, when it came down to it, it still felt like a betrayal.

“Well, at least something good came out of that night,” Bucky stated, steering the conversation in another direction.

“Oh yea? What?”

“I’m assuming you went home with her friend, yea?”

At the mention of Natasha, Steve’s face went bright red and he coughed into his hand, “We uh, no we didn’t. She wanted to but…”

“You said no?” Bucky asked shocked.

“Yea, well you know me. I’m a bit old fashioned. I want to take a girl out on an actual date before we—”

“Fuck each other’s brains out?”

“Something like that—" Steve smirked into his coffee cup, “—I’m taking her out for dinner tomorrow actually.”

Bucky smiled at Steve, his best friend looking bashful but excited, “Gonna’ show her the ol’ Steve Rogers’ charm?”

“I’m just hoping I don’t make a fool of myself. It’s been a while since I went out on a date. You know, what with me and Peggie splitting and she’s…very confident. She definitely knows what she wants,” Steve admitted.

“Oh, you’re for sure going to make a fool of yourself, but I don’t think that’ll hurt your chances.”

Bucky laughed as Steve reached across the table and tried to punch him in the arm.

“Jerk,” Steve said, smiling the whole time. They talked for a while longer, Bucky asking about Steve’s family and Steve doing the same. They talked about mutual friends and what they were up to. About an hour had passed when Steve asked about Bucky’s new job.

“So, when do you start your new gig?”

“This coming Monday. I was actually going to stop by today and take care of paperwork, maybe check out my new office,” Bucky said, draining the last of his coffee.

“Well, I won’t keep you from that. I should probably get going. I’ve got to head to the gym and then get home and get some stuff done.”

They stood and said their goodbyes, promising to hang out again soon before exiting the coffee shop and getting in their cars. It was a short drive from there to the university. The red brick and lush green trees reminding Bucky of home. However, stepping out of his truck, the dry heat was a pleasant reminder that this place was definitely not humid, sticky Brooklyn in August. Locking his car behind him in the visitor’s parking lot, he walked casually towards the Life Science’s building. He admired the landscaping as he walked, always finding humor in how every university seemed to try and make their campus as pretty as possible right before school started. A nicer grounds always did well for visiting prospective students, parents dropping off their children for their first year, and returning students who wanted a reason to stay.

The Life Science’s building was definitely older than some of the other buildings on campus, but that didn’t both him too much. He climbed the stairs, old linoleum steps peeling and cracking as he double checked the office number on his phone. Room 439. As he neared the room tucked back into a corner of the floor, he began to hear music. Gradually it increased in volume, a punky beat from a band that he recognized. It became clear that the music was coming from room 439 when he entered through the front door. Looking around he saw an older lab, boxes piled high and lab equipment strewn about haphazardly. The music was coming from the office within the lab, this time though, he could hear a voice singing along to it. It was loud, raspy, and overall offkey. Maybe he had the wrong room number? He walked towards the office, hoping to ask whoever was in there for some help finding the right place. Inside was a young woman dressed in a pair of baggy jeans and t-shirt. He watched in amusement as she danced to the music, obviously under the impression that she was alone as her hips wiggled and head bopped side to side.

“Um, excuse me. I think this is my office,” he called over the music, feeling bad that he was probably going to embarrass the girl. She jumped at his voice and when she whipped around the ground fell out from underneath him.

“What the hell are you doing here?” he asked. Anger, for some reason, being his initial reaction to seeing Emily standing in what was supposed to be his office. Emily, a woman who had told him that she was a bartender. Emily, a woman he had almost hooked up with and then snubbed very dickishly at a bar about a week ago.

She seemed pretty upset right before she left. Steve’s words rang in his mind.

#fanfic #fanfiction #marvel #avengers #bucky #bucky x ofc #professor!bucky #au #au bucky barnes #bucky barnes #steve rogers

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soflsms · 6 years ago

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( sorry I'm late to the party im in pst so i was at work til now sdkfjl ) ANYWHO hi pals what the h*ck is up !! im chloe , im 21 , i use she / her pronouns & im a broke a$$ geography major !! i am SO excited to be her & get to rp with all y’all bc judging by your apps skdflj i fuck with u all . anywho ill stop my rambling , below the readmore is stuff about sofie & some wcs !!

trigger warning !! sex work , deportation , neglect , bad writing , alcoholism & substance abuse

HAILEY BALDWIN / SHE/HER / TWENTY TWO / BILLIE EILISH VC

welcome to los angeles , sofie almeda ! the glitterati has been watching you . rumour has it you made your first mark in the industry two years ago & that your net worth currently stands at 8m . it seems as though you’re enjoying being a singer since relocating from harlem , new york city . some might say you’d be a good fit for the glitterati due to your hollywood ranking being a solid #3, & it helps that fans speak so highly of your individualistic & assiduous ways . unfortunately , our sources cite that those closest to you aren’t particularly impressed with your self-destructive & choleric tendencies .

stats

name : sofie sydney almeda

nicknames : sof

age : twenty - two .

birthday : december eleventh .

zodiac : sagittarius .

gender : cisfemale ( though doesn’t vibe with the idea of being STRICTLY a WoMaN , she finds labels restrictive ) .

pronouns : she & her .

height : 5 ′ 6 ″ .

hometown : recife , brazil & harlem , new york city .

nationality : american , brazilian .

ethnicity : english , portuguese .

label(s) : the venereal , the bellwether , the opulent , the anaxiphile .

occupation : singer ( vc billie eilish ) .

quirks : fidgeting , allergic to shellfish , walks quickly , cracks knuckles , always wears her lucky ‘ st christopher ’ necklace from her grandmother , has a weird ability to talk herself out of trouble , can tie a cherry stem in her mouth , messy emotionally but on - point physically , vvv bad driver , loves a good theme party , can’t get through the day without multiple cups of coffee , refuses to wear glasses in public even though she’s quite far - sighted , always carries hand sanitizer , prefers rain over sunshine .

background

her mother , marcia almeda , was a recent graduate from secondary school who packed a backpack and went traveling !! before long tho she ended up knocked up by another backpacker , this one american , while they were having a fling in sydney ( hence sofie’s middle name lmao @ her mom’s humor ) . she flew back home when she found out & never told sofie’s father oops !! so marcia had sofie at home in recife just before her nineteenth birthday , and marcia was enthralled w little sofie . ofc she inherited her mother’s beauty ( i hc marcia looks like alessandra ambrosio bc hello ! ) & little sofie lived a happy early childhood life in her grandparents’ home in recife.

brazil isn’t the safest of countries & marcia didn’t want the same dangers she experienced growing up for her young daughter , so around sofie’s eighth birthday , her & her mother packed up and went on a ‘ trip ’ to new york city . joke’s on sofie , though - it wasn’t actually a trip , but rly they were trying to move there to find sofie’s father to confirm his paternity and get sofie american citizenship . it was proving more difficult than she thought , & marcia was quickly running out of money . with a face like hers , though , making money wasn’t too difficult , but it was time consuming . marcia found herself escorting older men in order to pay the bills , all the while leaving little sofie to fend for herself . some of her earliest memories are of strange men in their tiny apartment & sofie trying to block out their conversations with her lil cassette player hiding in the corner of her room . eventually , marcia was able to contact the father & they set up a meeting . sofie had gotten her hopes up that she would finally have a dad ( she got dressed up in her sunday best & everything bc reuniting her dad was a BIG deal ) , but the meeting ended up being a quick exchange of words , a mouth swab and a couple signatures . sofie never even learned his name , & this queued up a lifetime of daddy issues & distrust of men !!

while marcia was able to stay in america much longer than she was legally supposed to , eventually she was facing deportation , which meant lil sofie , with her citizenship finally confirmed , was put into the hands of her father who sent off to an american boarding school in new york without even contacting her . she would spend the summers in brazil with her mother or , as she got older , couch - surfing with different friends throughout the months . she started growing apart from her mother as she aged since she wasn’t going home every summer since she didn’t rly feel any connection to brazil . her grandfather had passed away & she only has faint memories grandmother , plus the city wasn’t at all familiar to her & she wasn’t practicing her portuguese after her mother returned to brazil .

through it all , music was proving to be the one constant in her life she could use to escape from reality . she had never done any training or classes , but she just liked singing along to whatever was on the radio & practicing on her own . she also found a passion for writing poetry which she later would realize was compatible with music . she would spend HOURS in the school library working on garage band lmfao bc she couldn’t afford her own laptop to produce music & her dad sent just enough money as he was legally supposed to . but she worked her lil tushy off & applied to a music academy in nyc & was rejected the first year ( DEVASTATING when mixed with her impostor syndrome & daddy issues ) but she practiced more & more & edned up getting accepted the next year . here , she worked on her vocal skills & music production , & started accumulating her own music & selling songs to music producers on the side for some ca$h money .

by the time she was 16 the state decided she was old / mature enough to live on her own so she got a TINY lil studio apartment in harlem where she’d grown up with her mum & she had friends who she’d grown up with . while it wasn’t the safest neighbourhood statistically sofie felt safe & just like one of the neighbourhood kids . it was the first time she genuinely felt like she belonged .

she was accepted on full scholarship to nyu & majored in music composition & vocal performance where she started finally feeling secure in herself & released her own music on soundcloud , quickly amassing a following & becoming an ‘ up & coming ‘ artist !! she was contacted by a scooter braun type guy who was interested in taking her on under his management so she dropped out of uni in her 2nd year ( bc tbh her grades in anything other than her music classes were v subpar ) . soon enough producers wanted to work with her & she was making enough that she didn’t have to sell her songs which she hated doing but had to pay the bills u know . oh & her vc is billie eilish bc ofc shes my queen go stream when we all fall asleep where do we go on spotify u won’t be disappointed

she also started getting into the partying scene here yikes !! it was a method for her to numb all her pain from her past & impostor syndrome & drown all that out in pills or tequila . it rly wasn’t healthy bc of how she would binge for a weekend then try to stay sober throughout the week but failing by about wednesday when she started to feel hollow . she wasn’t gonna be a one hit wonder & her mom sure as hell didn’t go through all that trouble just for sofie to be a nobody addict !! so she kept it together enough to start making big bucks & well ……. here she is :~)

personality

sofie blames it on her brazilian heritage but this bitch loves a party !! like shes the one who gets happy drunk at the pre then is the first on the dance floor then later falls out of the club & into some rando’s bed !! in the back of her mind she knows her drug & alcohol use is self - destructive but she figures shes allowed to let loose sometimes ( even if that ends up being most nights ) ; rly she’s just in denial bc she doesn’t want to change her ways & lose her identity !!

doesn’t put labels on her gender identity or sexual orientation . she finds them restrictive & useless for herself , labels would only be to satisfy others . she doesn’t see herself as 110% female either like she’s all about gender being a social construct / a spectrum ; some days she’ll get dolled up & wear heavy makeup & six inch heels , some days she’ll walk around in a bun & tracksuit & trainers . anyone who asks abt it will swiftly get 2 middle fingers in their face !! shes uncontrollable i swear

puts up a tough bad - ass front like billie does aksjdh like nah nothing can hurt me im bulletproof !! but is rly just kinda broken underneath . she doesn’t even let her closest friends know how hurting she is bc she doesn’t wanna burden them . she rly uses mmusic as an outlet tho so she’ll act totally tough then go to the studio & record all about her heartache . will NEVER let someone see her cry no matter how close she is with them . she rly sees it as a sign of weakness & shes in a much better place than she was 5 years ago so she figures she’s not ALLOWED to feel anything but grateful .

this bitch overthinks everything !! half the time she isn’t rly listenning to whoever bc she’s thinking about what they just said & if they’re mad with her . she’s that friend who will ask u to come over to formulate the perfect text response & fuss over it for hours . that being said , if someone talks shit abt anyone shes tight with , they’re gonna get it the next time she sees them . she isn’t about violence & would never get into a physical fight , but she’d work behind the scenes to ruin their life . but then she pretends like she rly doesn’t care though its obvious to those close to her that she cares way too much

has a very hard time expressing love bc she didn’t have much practice w it growing up . she was on her own most of her young life so even if her mom would tell her te amo she would be like uh huh gtg bye !!

tldr ; poor bitch w abandonment issues who was able to get out of it by channeling her energy into music & numbing the stress with pills or alcohol which she def still overuses but she doesn’t think its a problem !! yikeroony !! loves partying & having a good time , puts up a tough front but is rly soft underneath .

wanted (* = mw)

friends from high school !! - people sof stayed with in the summer bc she wasn’t going home to brazil .

friends from music school !! - she def felt like an outsider among the music prodigies at this school , & maybe this person was one of the ppl she actually connected with .

come out & play !! this person acts as a good influence to sofie . they’re level - headed & very grounding , & sofie doesn’t let it show but they’re really important to her . this is the Softest billie song ( prob bc it was for an ad skdj ) & they inspired it bc it’s how she feels when shes with them . they encourage her to be all that she can be & they believe in her , & they’re prob the one person sofie trusts the most which is SAYING something !!

*exes on bad terms !! - ok this would basically be based on all the songs billie has about a failed relationship / heartbreak !! shes got a bunch . im thnking maybe she was actually rly into them but had a hard time expressing it bc she’s never been good with emotional expression , & it led to the relationship feeling ?? unfaithful / disconnected ?? idk but she rly loved them & is still nursing that heartbreak . ( x , x , x )

the paris to her nicole !! - ok i f*cking hate that i said this but she’s nicole richie its true !! she needs a messy gal pal exactly like how paris & nicole are i stan them ( x , x , x )

roommate !! - bc of her abandonment issues she rly doesn’t like living alone so prob is the roomie who will sleep in their bed from time to time bc she doesn’t like being totally alone .

*when the party’s over !! - these two have been hooking up for a while no strings attached but recently feelings have been caught !! & now they still hook up quite often but sofie’s kinda harboring feelings & pretending all is well but she rly hopes they’ll just stay the night from time to time , & gets secretly heartbroken when she sees them flirting or leaving with someone else . they can also have feelings if u want that angst :~)

fwb !! - sofie is pretty transparent when it comes to what she wants & she’s got a bad habit of replacing dealing with problems with getting laid !! like u know in movies when the man opens his wallet and a row of like 20 pictures of different women fall out ?? that’s sof’s aesthetic . she’s got a bunch of fwb of all genders so bring me some pls

***mutual dislike / copycat !! self - explanatory , sofie thinks this person is copying her in everything she does & thinks its annoying af so she wrote a song abt it & hopes they indirectly get the message even if she drops not so subtle hints . skfldjh itd be messy pls !!

party buddies !! - someone who encourages sofies wild ways . when the two get together its usually to get drunk or high & thats the way they like it . sofie doesn’t feel judged by them as she does by others who don’t get obliterated at every social event ( what an idea !! ) so she rly values them , even if she doesn’t express it

** 8 !! - someone who kinda reluctantly got into a relationship with sofie out of maybe a desire to save her from herself ?? like u know that good girl bad boy trope where the girl tries to save the boy from whatever he’s struggling with ? that’s them but the roles are just reversed - good guy , bad girl . it was kinda just filled w her being self - destructive & confiding in him but not rly reciprocating the care so he became kinda distant bc of it . tbh she prob knew he was too good for her but had a sliver of hope he wouldn’t leave her even tho eventually she became too much for him . ( lyrics : you said, "don't treat me badly", but you said it so sadly, so I did the best I could, not thinkin' you would have left me gladly. i know you're not sorry, why should you be? 'cause who am I to be in love, when your love never is for me?” )

good influence !! this person can tell that her beahvior is unhealthy & are trying to gently nudge her abt it . she can tell what they’re doing but her addict brain is telling her its invasive & threatening so shes not the fondest of this person , but deep down she really appreciates them

music buddies !! these two are both in the music industry & rather than it being competitive , they’ve developed a friendship from it & enjoy working together .

* someone sofie ghostwrites for !! for whatever reason , this muse doesn’t write their own songs & instead pays sofie to write them for them . she doesn’t love it but its a way to make money & give away songs she doesn’t feel attached to but are worth something . maybe its tense bc they claim the songs as their own & sofie doesn’t like it , this could be ~escandolo~ later !!

*** my boy ( high school bf ) !! - ok tea this song is the one that broke her into the industry . she produced it all herself & just relased it to her soundcloud thinking it wouldn’t rly go anyway but !! joke’s on yung sofie . essentially he thought the relationship was going well , she’d met his family & they rly liked her but !! sof was feeling kinda smothered & told herself he was lying & cheating on her n shit so she wrote a song about it !! & once it was starting to get attention he was like ….. uhhh what the fuck & she was like haha sorry !! so they broke up & ever since its been animosity , but she realizes she fucked up but it launched her career so she doesn’t know whether to keep up the idgaf i hurt you or apologize .

* ex - friends !! ok pls i have this hc where sofie got way too high one night & slept with this person’s dad or sibling or smth !! u know that line in ‘ bad guy ’ where she goes ‘ might seduce your dad type ? ’ ya that’s got sofie written ALL over it !! & now they’re not friends bc sofie can’t keep it in her pants but both sides kinda misses the other but are too stubborn to say anything :~(

exes from college / high school !! - ok honestly i just love all the exes plots . gimme someone who like maybe they were hooking up & decided to give it a shot dating & it worked for a while but ultimately fell apart bc of sof’s inability to open up. maybe theres still tension or maybe theyre friends now !!

* lovely !! - i need a male voice for khalid’s part in lovely bc i need this song in my life bc its a whole ass sofie mood ok .

i’ve also got a wanted connections tag linked HERE dksfj there's not much in it yet but feel free to check it out . ok i love y'all

#glitterati.intro #excited to be here :~)

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andinewton · 7 years ago

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Healing the Hurt - Avengers Redemption Series - Part Two - Chapter 65 - Epilogue 11

Characters: Bucky Barnes, Amelia Richards (OFC), pretty much everyone from the MCU appears at some point!

Pairings: Bucky x Amelia (ofc)

Warnings: Chronic pain, physical disability, implied smut, eventual smut, swearing, fertility issues, pregnancy, angst with a happy ending, Stark has a heart.

Word Count: 151372 (complete with additional epilogues added)

Summary:  Everything is going well at Avengers Tower, Bucky is integrating into the team slowly but surely; he longs for his confidence back but knows it's going to be a long road, never more than when he meets the new secretary at his doctor's office.

Amelia Richards is a career SHIELD agent, recruited straight out of college into the "company" but now she finds herself passed around from department to department, her latest position as a secretary at Avengers Tower proving monotonous compared to her former life, but when James "Bucky" Barnes walks into her office one Friday evening everything changes…

Join Bucky as he rediscovers parts of himself he had thought long lost with someone who considered herself broken for a long time, helping one another heal in more ways than one…

Master List

Chapter 65 - Epilogue 11 - Amelia in the field.

Summary: A mission takes the team to a country neighbouring Wakanda, and T'Challa offers his home as a base of operations. When it is discovered the base they are clearing holds stolen Wakandan technology, Amelia's services are required on site, something she is none too keen on...

‘This isn’t working!’ Natasha yelled through the comms, Steve wincing at the feedback through his earpiece, as he was standing right beside her. ‘What do you mean it isn’t working?’ He bent over and looked at what she was doing on the computer, not a single thing making any sense to him. ‘I mean it’s too smart for me, it keeps changing.’ She smacked the side of the monitor, not that that would help, nor did it make her feel any better. ‘Some of these asshats have got wise to our little computer Angel, have blocked communication with base, and the algorithm changes before I can hack it!’

‘We still have communication with base.’ He said in confusion. ‘She means I can’t communicate with the computer from here.’ Amelia’s voice came over the earpiece. She was currently in Wakanda, working from the computer lab of King T’Challa himself. When they learnt their mission would take them to a neighbouring country he extended an invitation to her, knowing she would love to see their technology first hand and that she could easily communicate with them from there. The whole team had travelled, including the three Avengers toddlers, for what amounted to a busman's holiday. ‘Grounds are secure.’ Tony stated, as he did another pass of the area where the last of the enemy were being rounded up. ‘You want me to take a look at it?’ ‘If you want, for what good it will do.’ Nat replied, her frustration still evident in her voice. ‘I’ll be right with you.’ ‘You want me to stay on the comms?’ Amelia asked. ‘Take five, Angel.’ Tony replied. ‘Grab a coffee and come back, I should know if I can help by then.’ ‘Okey dokey. Angel out.’ She said before removing the earpiece and turning to T’Challa who stood beside her chair. ‘Anything you can think of?’ He shook his head but smiled kindly. ‘You have already been able to incorporate a good deal of our technology into your own. I can see no obvious routes to take that would make any difference to your already outstanding efforts.’ ‘Thanks.’ She smiled as she dropped the earpiece on the desk. ‘Can I get you a coffee?’ He laughed. ‘You do not need to fetch your own coffee, Amelia. You are my guest, and will be treated as such.’ He arranged for refreshments to be brought in and Amelia went to stretch her legs with a trip to the bathroom.

‘This is a shit show.’ Tony murmured as he rapidly tapped away at the keyboard. ‘Tell me about it.’ Nat said from behind him. ‘How the hell is this adapting so fast?’ ‘Stolen Wakandan tech.’ Tony looked up at her. ‘We need someone who knows it. Someone who’s been working with the Wakandan technicians. Someone we trust, and who has field training.’ He gained a small smirk. ‘She won’t like it.’ She shook her head. ‘But she’ll do it.’ ‘He won’t like it.’ Tony shrugged. ‘He doesn’t have to.’

‘Angel, checking in.’ Amelia said as she unlocked the monitor T’Challa had allowed her to connect her new and even further improved laptop to. ‘Did I miss anything?’ ‘Not a great deal.’ Nat pulled a face at Tony, knowing she had drawn the short straw after they had argued with Bucky for the last five minutes about why this wasn’t really a bad idea. ‘Listen, Milly,’ ‘What did you do?’ Amelia groaned as she pinched the bridge of her nose, knowing if Nat was calling her Milly and not Angel that something had to have happened. ‘Is Buck okay?’ ‘I’m fine, sweetheart.’ Came his reply but there was an edge to his voice. He wasn’t happy. ‘Someone talk to me or there’s going to be trouble.’ ‘Okay, Milly, we need you on the ground.’ Amelia froze. They needed her…no, she wasn’t trained for…okay, she was, but she didn’t like it. She was a nerd, a geek even, she liked her office based position, she wasn’t an in the field agent, she never had been, although there was an argument to be made that her entire career with SHIELD until the Triskelion had been in the field, it wasn’t like this. ‘No?’ She suggested. ‘Milly, you’ll be fine. We have the area secure, you just walk in and let your magic fingers unlock this damn computer.’ ‘I shall accompany you myself, if it will help you feel less wary, Amelia.’ T’Challa offered and she glanced up at him before quickly looking away, realising how cowardly she was being. She sighed heavily. ‘Yeah, okay.’ ‘Good girl.’ Tony replied. ‘Sending you the coordinates now, suit up and head over, stat.’ ‘Suit up?’ She glanced down at the skirt suit she was wearing, having only packed smart wear as they were visiting royalty. ‘Go to my room, Milly, grab one of my stealth suits.’ ��Fine.’ Amelia groaned. ‘Contact us when you’re inbound.’ Tony added. Amelia got out of her seat and put on her bravest smile. This really wasn’t anything to worry about. ‘You heard the man; let’s suit up.’

The small, two person Wakandan jet T’Challa piloted didn’t have much room to move around, and Amelia was distinctly uncomfortable in several ways. Firstly, Nat’s suit was…restrictive. They were roughly the same size but there were small differences in their shape, making Nat’s tailored suit pinch in some unusual places, not to mention where it was sending her underwear. The harness in the seat was the second thing, holding her safely and firmly in the seat, but it felt like it was restricting her breathing. She was pretty sure it wasn’t, it was all in her head, it was just worry, but it felt like something was physically pressing on her and it was much easier to attribute it to something physical than fear. ‘There is nothing to be concerned about, Amelia.’ T’Challa ensured her as they approached the rendezvous point. ‘It is simply another office for you to work from.’ ‘I know.’ She sighed, glancing at her laptop in its bullet and shockproof case by her feet. ‘It’s just been a long time since I was anywhere but behind the scenes.’ ‘You will find it not as intimidating as you think it is, and the danger is passed. It is a good place for you to take the first steps into a different environment.’ ‘First and last steps, I hope.’ She shifted in her seat again. ‘I hate it whenever Bucky and the rest of the team go on a mission, but I’ve come to terms with it, I’m just not trained for this.’ ‘If you do not believe in yourself then believe in your team. They will not allow anything to happen that you would not be comfortable with.’ She nodded, knowing he could see her doing so. She would do her job, and she trusted the team. It would be fine, she hoped.

Bucky met the jet as it finished its taxi, with Sam beside him, trotting over to the door as it opened, the steps lowering and T’Challa with his Black Panther helmet under his arm helping Amelia down. She looked…pale, uncertain. ‘You okay, doll?’ He asked, wrapping the free arm around her that didn’t hold his M249 SAW rifle. ‘I think so.’ She nodded but he noticed she was tense, her muscles solid under his arm. ‘You’ll be great.’ Sam assured her from her other side. ‘’It’s just different.’ She smiled up at Sam, hoping it would reassure him but he gave her a raised eyebrow. ‘You’re really that worried?’ ‘I don’t like field work.’ She leant her head against Bucky as they walked, for the comfort it brought. He was safe to her, and with him by her side she felt a little better, but… ‘You were SHIELD’s top field operative for a lot of years.’ He reminded her. ‘Yeah, but that was undercover, not this.’ She glanced around at the remnants of enemy agents being rounded up for transport and the small hints of destruction around them. ‘I sat in an office and typed shit. I didn’t walk into apparent war zones.’ ‘Not quite a war zone, darlin’.’ Bucky kissed her hair. ‘Closer than I’ve been since…’ she paused ‘since the Triskelion.’ ‘Now that was a war zone.’ Sam said and Bucky shot him a glare. ‘Why don’t you stay here with T’Challa, Wilson?’ Bucky suggested. ‘I’ll take Amelia to Nat.’ ‘No sneaking off into any unused rooms!’ Nat called over the comms, having heard the conversation. ‘Give us some credit.’ Bucky scoffed as Amelia chuckled, grateful for Nat’s distraction. ‘We’ll be with you in five.’ Sam stayed with T’Challa as Bucky led Amelia inside, steering her around debris and up the stairs, but before they reached the door to the computer lab he pulled her to a stop and leant down so his lips were by her ear and whispered; ‘You look great in the suit, doll.’ Straightening immediately and leading her on as she fought the embarrassed smile from breaking out on her face fully. She was glad he appreciated it. ‘Here’s our computer angel.’ Tony smiled as she came into the room, his suit standing in sentry mode, scanning the courtyard through the window. ‘You owe me for this, Pop.’ She wagged her finger at him before lifting her briefcase into a chair and pressing her fingers to the scanners that would open it. ‘It’s bad enough I had to abandon Georgie with Sigyn and the boys in a strange place to hit the comms, but dragging me out here…’ She shook her head. ‘You’re useless.’ ‘Only without you, Angel.’ He wrapped his arm around her as she worked, setting up her laptop and pulling out some cables, before pulling out of his grip. ‘We’re lucky to have her.’ Bucky said, from where he had taken up a position by the door, making Amelia smile but she concentrated on her task. ‘So you say these are running on stolen Wakandan tech?’ Amelia asked before putting her knee up on the desk so she could reach the back of the monitor and plug in the cable she held. ‘Looks like it, it’s an amalgamation of things, but it’s damn tricksy.’ Tony frowned as he watched her climb back down from the desk and pull at the thigh of the suit she wore, as though that would help her somehow. ‘You okay, Angel?’ She smiled slightly. ‘Yeah, just wondering how she does it.’ She nodded towards Nat. ‘These things are restrictive.’ She rolled her shoulders to demonstrate. ‘They need to be formfitting or you can catch them on…anything.’ Nat explained. ‘That may be the case but they sure do force your underwear north.’ Amelia muttered and Nat laughed. ‘Just don’t wear underwear.’ Everyone in the room turned to the redhead with her amused expression and the comms fell silent. ‘What? You think I’d walk around stealthy with a visible panty line? Please.’ ‘Okaaaaay.’ Amelia said as she carried on with what she was doing, but Tony wasn’t about to let this drop. ‘Whoa, whoa, whoa,’ he started, ‘you’re telling me that on every mission we’ve had, you’ve been…commando?’ ‘You can’t be shocked, Stark.’ Nat replied. ‘I hadn’t even thought about it. What about…the twins?’ He waved his finger side to side about the same height as her breasts. ‘Nope.’ Amelia said loudly and turned on them as she opened her laptop lid. ‘You two, out, because this is just going to degrade further and you’re distracting me.’ ‘Aw, did I embarrass my little angel?’ Tony smirked, coming towards her, obviously with intentions of embarrassing her further, possibly with one of his almost patented big wet kisses to her cheek. ‘Stay the fuck there, surrogate father figure, or I’ll teach Georgie how to say Grandad is a dick in Russian next.’ She waved her finger at him warningly. ‘You wouldn’t.’ ‘Дедушка - член (dedushka - chlen).’ Amelia glared at him. ‘That’s just mean.’ He pulled a face. ‘I don’t care. Go check the perimeter or something.’ ‘Forget sometimes how many languages you can insult me in.’ Tony muttered as he stepped back into his suit. ‘What if you need help?’ He tried one more time. ‘Send Bruce up.’ Nat suggested. ‘He’s still just sitting on the Quinjet, and we’re not likely to get a code green now.’ ‘You get that, Bruce?’ Tony asked as his suit formed around him. ‘Among other things. On my way up.’ Came Bruce’s voice over the comms. ‘C’mon, pantless wonder, let’s go discuss your wardrobe choices with someone who’ll appreciate it.’ Tony invited Nat, as Bucky stepped aside from the door to let them pass. ‘And who might that be?’ Nat asked out of curiosity. ‘Me, duh.’ Tony replied as Bucky pushed the door closed and Amelia sighed. ‘Good to see his level of maturity never goes up.’ Bucky said, after slipping the comm link out of his ear for a moment so they wouldn’t be overheard. ‘How that man expects to be a good example around our daughter is beyond me.’ Amelia muttered as her fingers flew over the keyboard. ‘I can still hear you, Angel!’ Tony’s voice came over the comms and she pulled the link from her ear, dropping it on the desk as she growled frustratedly. ‘I don’t think he expects to be a good example so much as a terrible warning.’ Bucky went to the window and checked outside before returning to the door. ‘He’s that alright.’ Amelia replied, setting one of her programmes running before opening another and starting to type in silence. Bucky watched the concentration on his wife’s face. He loved watching her work. He didn’t know if she realised it but she got this little pout when she was concentrating, and it was adorable as hell. Sometimes she bit her lip, when something really had her attention, and…oh, there, she did it, and he couldn’t stop the grin that spread across his face. He had no idea how Loki and Sigyn worked together and were so efficient, because when she was in the room he just wanted to marvel at her. Thank goodness the place was already secure, because she was way too distracting for him. She muttered too, under her breath, normally; ‘What the fuck?’ or, ‘Who the fuck did this?’ and occasionally; ‘Got you, you bastard!’ But every single one had him highly amused. He considered himself the luckiest man alive. ‘You got something for me to help with?’ Bruce’s voice snapped him out of his loved up thoughts and he turned to see him coming through the door, still wearing the old sweatpants and SI hoodie he wore in case they needed a code green. ‘Amelia might.’ Bucky nodded towards her and Bruce gave him a small smile. He had seen how Bucky was looking at her and it was nice he still did that after this long. He was as smitten now as he was when they first got together. It was a rare thing these days. ‘Hey, Angel.’ Bruce greeted her and she raised her hand without looking up from what she was doing. ‘Anything I can do or just sit and wait and see?’ ‘Wait and see, you son of a bitch.’ She murmured, but Bruce was you used to it, knowing she was swearing at the code running across the screen, not him, and he pulled up a chair a few desks down to sit and wait. He doubted she would need any help but sometimes she liked to try and talk something out to get her head around it, solving it herself, but needing someone who understood to be the ears. They sat around for almost an hour, Amelia making a slow but steady progress, when Bucky heard an almost indiscernible click. ‘Did you hear that?’ He asked, and Bruce looked up at him. ‘Hear what?’ ‘Thought I heard something. A faint click.’ ‘You have the best hearing here, babe.’ Amelia said, but it was clear she wasn’t really paying attention, just replying automatically, but then she frowned and raised her head. ‘Can I…hear ticking?’ They all looked between themselves in silence, not moving, listening carefully. ‘Maybe we should get Tony to sweep again, just in case.’ Bucky suggested, remembering he hadn’t replaced his earpiece and reaching for it, but too late. The explosion ripped through the area, throwing the three of them outwards from the blast.

‘What the hell was that?’ Steve spun as an explosion sounded from the other side of the building. ‘Shit, it was the computer lab!’ Clint’s voice came over the comms from the other side of the building where he was patrolling with Vision. He could see smoke, dust and debris emitting from the upper windows, the roof collapsing as he watched. ‘Angel?’ Tony yelled, but got no answer through the comms as he took to the air and headed towards the scene, his heart in his mouth as fear clenched at his stomach. He could see dust rising around the building and as he turned the corner he could see the outer walls were gone, the side of the building opening in a pile of rubble that included what was left of the roof, and flickering from the many electrical cables, but no sign of any of them.

Bucky had been flung through the door, literally, the walls collapsing after him, leaving him separated by a good many feet of rubble, the far wall he hit part crumbled on top of him, and as he began to stir what happened rushed back to him. The click, followed by the ticking, no doubt some sort of a booby trap left by the enemy, but…Amelia! She had been close enough to hear the ticking! Oh fuck no! The weight on his back let him know that parts of the building had collapsed and he pushed with his arms as terror rushed through him. She had to be okay. His only thoughts were of his wife as he forced the last of the brickwork from him and looked around. He was in the interior of the building, now unrecognisable as the corridor and rooms it had been before, piles of detritus from the explosion filling the area, and somewhere in it all was Amelia. He reached up to check his commlink was still in place then remembered he hadn’t replaced it. He was out of contact with the team and Amelia. Fuck.

Amelia groaned and she realised she must have blacked out. She felt like she had jarred her right arm, pain throbbing and lancing through her clavicle, shoulder and forearm, her fingers numb. Her ears were ringing too. Where was she that she had fainted and hurt herself so much? She hadn’t blacked out since she went into labour early with Georgie. She took in a deep breath, more on the tail of a sharp pain than to breathe deeper, and her lungs and throat began to burn, uncontrollable coughing wracking her frame, and she tried to raise her left hand to her mouth but found it didn’t want to move, something heavy pinning it to the floor. Wait, what? Her brains suddenly caught up with her body, bringing everything rushing back. The computer lab, the ticking sound, an explosion, then nothing. She choked as she tried to swallow her fear, slowly opening her eyes. It was dark, but not complete blackness, a dark grey with light filtering through in shafts. She could see now it was a table on top of her, and on top of that concrete she could only assume was either a wall or the ceiling. She screwed up her face as her heart grew loud in her ears despite them still ringing. No, not again. Not again. She emitted a small sob and realised this wasn’t helping her, panicking wouldn’t help. She decided instead to concentrate on trying to get out. Her right arm was definitely the most painful and she turned her head towards it, finding it above her head but…something wasn’t right. Her forearm was misshapen, looking like it was broken at the very least, and her shoulder looked to be bleeding, although she couldn’t tell what from, just that the suit she was wearing was ripped and wet. It wasn’t pouring uncontrollably so she shouldn’t bleed to death. Okay, first assessment over. She had to be thankful she had the healing serum, the cut should heal just fine, but the break would need setting, just like Bucky’s leg had that time. Bucky. He had been standing by the door. He had to still be here somewhere and she hoped he was okay. She pulled at her left arm, turning to it to find a large chunk of rubble pinning it, but it didn’t really hurt, bruised maybe but nothing as bad as her right. She tried to pull it towards her, edging it out of the pile, slowly and causing extra pain in her right, but she managed to get free up to her elbow before she heard a low, deep growl. She turned her head, horror movie slow, and could see rubble shifting, the angry noise continuing as she realised who it was. ‘Bruce?’ She tried to say but her throat was still raw from inhaling the dust, so she tried again. ‘Bruce!’ The whole room seemed to shake and she watched in horror as the rubble shifted, revealing Bruce, turning green, the hoodie he wore tearing as he grew, and she had no idea whether he would be in control or not, having be turned involuntarily. ‘Shit, shit shit!’ She muttered, pulling on her arm to free it as she tried to raise her legs and found no give. Her arm was free in moments and she shoved at the table, shimmied to get herself free, not to try and move it off her, and it began to work, her body siding out of the tight spot gradually. She reached over her own body, trying to ignore the noise and movement coming from across the small space between them, and pulled her right arm into her chest for support and to limit it, the pain that shot through her sharp and immediate, but it made her focus. Leaning on her elbow she was able to get one leg free and used her foot on the table to shove herself free the rest of the way, but now she was out she still had no idea where to go. The whole place was a literal bomb site, there was nowhere obvious for her to head, she couldn’t tell what might collapse, what might be secure, and the pain in her arm was distracting as hell. But then she got clarity. The space behind her erupted in a shower of debris and a mighty roar, and she knew Bruce had fully succumbed to the other guy. Buoyed by this she part crawled, part dragged herself in the opposite direction, keeping her right arm close to her body. She was regretting not putting her commlink back in, she had no way to communicate with the team, other than Bruce, who when forced to change didn’t always keep his reasonable side. Sometimes, but not always, and this was her first time seeing it close up. It was a whole lot scarier than the footage. Amelia reached a point where she couldn’t get any further, no matter which way she looked at it, and that really wasn’t very far. All she could do was turn to see where The Hulk was, to see if he was paying her any attention. He was almost screaming, shoving upwards at the brickwork, lashing out at it, but so far he didn’t seem to have noticed her. Small mercies, she guessed.

‘Can you see any of them?’ Steve yelled through the comms, having realised none of the three missing were answering. ‘Nothing yet.’ Tony and Vision were hovering over the area, looking for any signs of the three missing team members. ‘Movement, on the north east side, Mr Stark.’ Vision stated as he pointed towards it. ‘Shall I phase through the rubble and seek them out?’ ‘I think that has to be our first course of action.’ Steve replied, and without a word Vision descended, turning intangible. ‘Can you see anything at all?’ Nat’s worried voice came next. She and Clint had been made to stay on the ground with T’Challa and Steve, knowing they couldn’t do any good as the structure was so precarious, according to Tony’s scans, the top and side of the building looking like a giant ice cream scoop had gouged it out. ‘Just that bit of movement, still nothing verbally. Rubble is so thick I can barely pick up the fact there are thermal signatures there, and not exactly where. There’s too much interference from the electrics.’ Tony’s voice was worried, they all were, but the thought of Amelia, somewhere in the mess of what was left of the building, terrified him. She had to be okay, wherever she was.

Bucky could feel a draft. He knew that meant out so he was pulling carefully at rubble to make himself a hole, even if it was just big enough to get some sort of signal to the team, it would be better than nothing. They were lucky to have been on the top floor, as it limited the number of floors that collapsed, but there was still enough brickwork to make it hard. He gave one big shove and the brickwork beside him gave way onto the edge of the building, giving a gap large enough for him to not only see through but to fit part of his upper body through. He glanced around as realised Sam had spotted him, coming in closer as Bucky pushed away more rubble. ‘Yeah, I see Bucky. Seems okay.’ Falcon said through the comms before he was joined by Tony, who hovered beside him until he spotted Bucky himself, manoeuvring his suit so it hovered by the wall and he helped Bucky push away enough rubble that he could pull him free and carry him down to the ground. ‘Any sign of Amelia?’ Bucky asked immediately and Tony retracted his helmet. ‘You lost track of her?’ ‘We were separated. You mean you don’t know where she is?’ Bucky asked, his voice driven by panic. ‘Vision’s going in now.’ ‘And Banner?’ ‘Uh…’ Tony said hesitantly, just as there was an enormous roar, the top of the building shaking as bits of rubble were flung free. And all Bucky could say was; ‘Fuck.’

Amelia had tucked herself as far as she could back in the small pocket she had found and hoped that The Hulk wouldn’t notice her. She knew enough from briefings, and what the team had warned her, not to call him Bruce Banner, it just enraged him, and as she had never met The Hulk she had no way of knowing if he would recognise her or perceive her as a threat. Her best plan was to stay quiet and hope that nothing drew his attention to her. ‘Mrs Barnes?’ Amelia squealed as she jumped in surprise, Vision’s voice behind her a sudden different noise compared to the angry growling and yelling from The Hulk and the sound of shifting rubble. She turned to find Vision was phasing through the rock pile behind her, alarmingly close. ‘Are you well?’ She tried to indicate to him that they had a accidental code green, to draw his attention to the immediate problem, but it was too late. As he turned his hand tangible, to take hold of Amelia’s, The Hulk grabbed him, suddenly barrelling into the area and bringing down more rubble onto Amelia as she fought not to scream, not to make matters worse, raising her good arm to shield her head from the shower of brickwork now tumbling around her. Hulk dragged Vision through the concrete he was phased through and threw him up and away, taking out more debris with an enraged roar that held such a primal edge Amelia let out a whimper, fear gripping her in its icy hand. She closed her eyes, her chest tight as the few snippets she remembered from The Triskelion flew through her head, being buried for longer than she could remember, the pain, panic, not knowing if…she felt warm air on her face and opened her eyes again, finding The Hulk literally right up in her face, frowning at her. She swallowed hard and it made tears well up. She hadn’t meant them to but there they were, just the same, and she didn’t know what to say, whether to say anything or stay quiet, but Hulk made the first move. He glanced down at her arm, held against her body, then back to her face, curled his lip and gave her a small grunt before offering her his hand. She just stared at him, unsure whether he meant to help or harm, but she decided to take the chance. She placed her left hand carefully in his, and allowed him to guide her forwards into his arms. He cradled her against him, curving his body around her as though to protect her, before pushing hard with his legs, and simply jumping through the rubble that encased them, forcing it outwards with such power Amelia caught her breath. She closed her eyes against the flying particles of dust and debris, and even with them shut she could tell when they got out in the open, the brightness heating her eyelids, and she blinked them open…then wished she hadn’t. They were so high she couldn’t even fathom it, and she closed her eyes again as the ground rushed up towards them.

Tony hit the air just as Vision flew through it, no doubt flung by The Hulk, as there had been no explosion of any sort from the building to do so, and just moments later the bricks erupted in a green flash that flew over him and outwards, away from the building. ‘Well, Banner’s free.’ Hawkeye said unnecessarily as Tony looked after The Hulk as he landed some way from the building and grounds, among thick trees. ‘Vision, did you get eyes on Angel?’ He asked. ‘She was conscious, however in very close proximity to The Hulk.’ ‘Go back in and look for her, I’ll go after Banner, send Nat on too. We might need a lullaby.’ He replied as he changed direction to go after The Hulk. ‘Already on my way.’ Nat’s voice came over the comms next. Bucky realised all he could do was watch, but Falcon landed beside him and relayed what had happened on the comms. It gave Bucky few options, not knowing where Amelia was, but Sam encouraged him to return to the Quinjet and retrieve another commlink so he would be able to listen in.

The Hulk touched down in thick trees and carefully lowered Amelia to her feet. Her arm was fighting between being a dense throbbing, stabbing pains, and numbness, and the tears that streaked her cheeks were now from that rather than fear, knowing The Hulk had helped her. She turned to face him and wiped at her cheeks, for what good it would do. ‘Thank you.’ She said as she looked up at him, still astounded by just how much bigger he was in person. He gave a grunt and a shrug, along with a smile that was more a grimace. ‘You weren’t hurt, were you?’ She asked, not knowing what to say, unsure whether she should be trying to encourage him walk it off, or wait for help, anything, but the fact he had helped her said a lot. He looked confused for a moment then shook his head before turning back towards the trees as though he meant to leave. ‘Georgie will be ever so jealous.’ That made him stop and turn to face her again, his face softening. ‘Even though she’s never met you, she calls you her Uncle Hulk.’ Her voice trembled from the pain racing through her and he came back towards her, crouching so he could see her face to face, tilting his head curiously as he regarded her. ‘She thinks you’re pretty cool.’ Tony hovered overhead and watched in disbelief as Amelia spoke quietly to The Hulk, apparently completely unfazed by the entire situation, and The Hulk watched her intently, listening to whatever it was she was saying with interest, and when he got back to his feet and staggered to the side in the start of his change back to Banner, Amelia finally took a step back, but just one small one. She looked so small and fragile, and he was so relieved a single tear crept out of his eye and down his cheek. Once the change was fully underway he lowered himself to the area which was now a clearing The Other Guy had created when he landed. ‘Call Nat off, he’s changing back.’ ‘Of his own accord?’ Nat asked in disbelief. ‘Kinda.’ Tony said as he landed, Amelia turning to him as his suit opened up. She clutched one hand to her chest and her face was pained and tear streaked, but she was relieved to see him. ‘Hey, Pop.’ She smiled at him but it was weak and strained and in seconds she found herself enveloped in a tight hug. ‘Ow!’ She yelped as her arm was crushed between them and Tony leant back looking down at her as fresh tears rolled down her cheeks. ‘Think I broke my arm.’ ‘Just as well you have that healing serum in you still, Angel.’ He murmured before pulling her back against him, but gently this time, as a few more tears of relief snuck from his eyes. ‘We’ll let Banner finish up then head back. We aren’t far.’ ‘Is Bucky okay?’ She asked, as he kissed her hair. ‘He’s fine. May need a few scratches on his paintwork touching up, but otherwise still the maniac you married. Oh, and worried sick about you.’ ‘You told him I’m okay though, right?’ ‘Well…’ He started and she glared at him. ‘Tony…’ ‘Fine, we’ll tell the team now.’ He gave an exaggerated groan and went back to his suit, stepping inside so his commlink would operate. ‘Amelia’s okay, needs medical to check her arm, but fine.’ ‘Thank fuck.’ Bucky breathed, relief flooding him. ‘She’s made of tough stuff, pal.’ Steve assured him from his side in the back of the Quinjet. ‘We’ll have some med packs ready for her on the jet.’ He said into the comms. ‘Think she’ll appreciate it.’ ‘And Banner?’ Nat added. ‘Yeah, he’s about there.’ He looked on as the last traces of The Hulk left their companion and Bruce dropped to his knees. ‘Bruce?’ Amelia said quietly, as she began to approach him while Tony spoke. ‘I’m good, Angel.’ His voice was quiet and he pushed shakily to his feet. She offered him her good arm and he took it, more for the human contact than to help him and he gave her a doubtful expression. ‘Uncle Hulk?’ She tried to shrug but it hurt too much, so she settled for smiling apologetically. ‘She trusts Uncle Bruce and Uncle Bruce is Hulk. She doesn’t see a difference. And really, neither do I.’ ‘Even after that?’ He hooked his thumb back towards where they had come from. ‘You saved me, or he did, however you want to look at it.’ He managed a small smile. ‘You know what, Angel? You and me deserve a drink.’ She gave a small laugh. ’That’d be good.’ Bucky was so relieved when Amelia appeared through the trees, led by Tony and followed by Bruce. Steve handed Bruce another hoodie as Bucky carefully took his wife by the elbows and took her in. She was dirty, a few minor cuts, her shoulder bloody, and her arm looked painful, but she was alright. ‘You okay, sweetheart?’ He asked and she nodded reassuringly. ‘You two make it far too much of a habit, getting buried under buildings.’ Tony said, as they loaded into the Quinjet, Nat taking Amelia to the side to administer medical, while Tony sat himself in the chair on one side of her, Bucky on the other, holding her hand. ‘Not on purpose.’ She complained as Nat started unzipping the front of the suit to get access to her shoulder. ‘You have to stop loaning me clothes, Nat.’ ‘I have more.’ She shrugged as she looked at the wound. ‘This is clean, might not even need stitches. I’ll patch it up and T’Challa will have his medical team look it over.’ ‘Thanks.’ ‘Don’t mention it, that’s what friends are for.’ She gave her a sideways smile as she unwrapped some gauze. ‘For patching you up when a building collapses on you?’ ‘Among other things.’ She winked. ‘I should have spotted that there was some kind of device.’ Tony said, and from his tone Amelia knew this was his way of apologising, that he felt guilty. ‘Not your fault.’ She assured him. ‘If their tech was that advanced it was probably disguised somehow.’ She turned and gave him a pouty face. ‘I lost my laptop.’ ‘My poor Angel.’ He squeezed her knee. ‘Daddy will get you a new laptop, nothing but the best.’ She shook her head. ‘I’ll build another one, don’t worry.’ ‘Can I help?’ He offered, and she knew he meant he’d like to see what she did. ‘Sure. Daddy/daughter project.’ ‘Now I need to take a look at that arm.’ Nat said and glanced at Tony. ‘You might want to give me some space.’ He nodded and got up. ‘I won’t be far, Angel.’ ‘I need to cut this sleeve, and if the shape of your arm is anything to go by it’s going to hurt like a bitch.’ ‘I’ll try keep the screaming to a minimum.’ Amelia smiled bravely and Bucky squeezed her hand reassuringly. It did hurt. A lot. Bucky hated seeing Amelia in this much pain, it had been so long he forgot how much it hurt him to watch her suffering, but Nat soon had her arm immobilised and it wasn’t long before they were back at T’Challa’s medical facility. Her arm was reset and put in a cast, and they hoped with her healing ability she would be able to have the cast removed within a week. Weirdly, Bucky was pretty okay with this. ‘You know, you’re not going to be allowed to do anything around the place? You gotta rest.’ ‘It’s one arm, Buck, it’s not like I broke, oh, I don’t know, my leg.’ She side eyed him as they went back to their quarters within T’Challa’s palace, where Sigyn was already with Georgie, Loki have taken over watching the boys as it was getting late. ‘Still, sweetheart, no cooking, no lifting, no typing, no nothing that’s going to impede your healing.’ ‘You’re enjoying this too much.’ She scowled at him. ‘Pampering my baby doll? You bet I am.’ He grinned at her. Sometimes revenge was well worth the wait.

Chapter 66

#bucky #buckybarnes #jamesbuchananbarnes #bucky fanfiction #bucky/ofc #bucky x ofc #bucky barnes #james buchanan barnes #james bucky barnes #Avengers #avengersredemption #Avengers Redemption #avengers fanfiction

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oddsnendsfanfics · 8 years ago

Text

House of Blues

Genre: Fan Fiction Pairing: Jai Courtney/OFC (Roo) Warnings: Language Rating: PG13 Length: Short Story Disclaimer: a strict work of fiction, I own nothing except the original characters and the plot line. In no way am I affiliated to any of it.

A/N: So..is Cora selling the house? Does Jai have a childish freak out to contend with?

Read Get What You Get & Try to be Everything

"Honey, don't worry about it come on." Jai urged her through dinner. "Work will be there tomorrow."

She had arrived home a little over an hour ago and had barely put work down long enough to eat dinner. Her theory was that if she finished it tonight, she could take tomorrow to actually accomplish other tasks, not that Jai seemed to care.

Coming home, later than expected, to have dinner waiting for her was a rather nice gesture. Denzi had been tucked in, courtesy of Sera, which left Jai to throw together a quick meal and get ready for her arrival. He'd been out as well and some how had managed to get everything done before she stepped through the door.

Dinner, even at eight-thirty in the evening, was always welcomed after a long day in the office.

"You know what, you're right." She had conceded, agreeing that spending the rest of the evening in the hot tub was a much better idea.

Her body ached and it would be a great way to unwind before bed. Settled in the temperature controlled water, a sigh lingered when Jai poured her a fresh glass of scotch. He was working all the angles tonight, surprising, seeing as they hadn't exactly been Couple of the Year these last few weeks.

"Hot tub, scotch, and dinner made? You are impressive." She smirked patting his cheek.

"You said it was a hard day, when we talked." Jai turned to adjust the jet behind him.

"Mmm, I was really rode hard this evening."

"Sounds awful." Jai lightly sympathized. "I hope it was worth it."

"Oh, trust me, it was worth it. Every now and then a good slap on the ass is needed to get a gal motivated."

A laugh rumbled in Jai's chest in reply, barely audible over the sound of the hot tub. "Sounds like my kind of motivation."

"Believe me, it works every time." She smirked and began adjusting the tie on her bikini top.

She tugged the string around her neck allowing it to fall from her chest. Swiftly undoing the second string behind her back, she sighed and stretched her arms tossing the blue top onto the deck. Her body ached in the best way possible, driving home had been a task, her back sore from being bent over her desk. The hot water and jets soothed the aches and pains, making her feel almost mobile once again.

Relaxed against the side of the hot tub, her eyes closed, she took in appreciation for the cool evening air and the hot water. Across from her, Jai allowed the water to ease the tension that had been building during the last few days. They had been on egg shells and Jai felt they were only going to get rockier before they got back to smooth ground.

His fear of another blow up was what led him to the evening's earlier events. Twisted, odd, and extremely hot it had been the perfect way to break some of the tension that had mounted. She had made it evident that she wanted Jai to side with her, to tell Cora that it was a dumb idea to move and Jai couldn't.

How could he stand around and insist that Cora moving was a bad thing, when it wasn't? Jai adored Cora, he loved her almost as much as his own mum, and he wanted her happy. If Cora wanted to move across the country, then Jai was going to support that in every way he could. Eventually, she would get over it and see that her mother's choice was a good thing.

"I think it may be an early night." She lifted her glass to her lips. As great as this was, upstairs there was a large, warm bed waiting for her to fall into. "Do you mind?"

"Okay, but before we call it an evening, there are some things we need to discuss." Jai wanted to do anything else, but Cora had asked that he passed along the news and now was better than later.

Wrinkling her nose, she groaned. "Can it wait? Tonight was actually good. I don't want to talk about serious things."

"Your mum asked me to mention it, besides it's best you know now then come tomorrow you aren't shocked when the new person comes to pick up the house key."

"What house key?" She sat up straight, brows raised in question.

All day Jai had practiced how to deliver this news. At one point, earlier in the day, he had found himself in front of the bathroom mirror trying to find the right way to approach the subject. Now, here they were, in the hot tub, relaxed, and happy – there wasn't going to be a better time.

"Since you have decided to stay here, your mum is renting the house. Before you go screaming and yelling, or whatever other issues you see with this, hear me out." Jai cautioned.

Sucking in a deep breath, she slowly allowed her body to exhale. Renting the house? Logically, renting wasn't as bad a selling. Cora asking her would have been nice, even if she had managed to avoid her mother since the last blow up.

Biting hard on the inside of her cheek, she slowly began to count backwards from 10, giving Jai the benefit of speaking before reacting.

"I know it is your house, technically, but since Cora is still alive the house remains hers." Jai gave the information Cora had fed him. "Since it is her house, she has decided for the time being a renter is the best solution."

"Did she now?"

"Yes." Jai nodded firmly. "She knew that you would be upset if some random person moved in, which is why she has agreed to rent to someone we all know." Jai paused, tossing back the rest of his scotch. "Tomorrow morning, Dan is coming to pick up the key. Something about the condo lease being over, your mum wants someone she can trust, it all works out."

Cora had called Jai four days ago asking him whether or not renting her house to Dan was something that would make Jai uncomfortable. If he truly gave it thought, Jai couldn't find a problem with the solution. Dan was a good, honest guy, and somebody Cora knew and trusted. What more could she want?

If Jai were renting a house and Dan were in need, then Jai would do the exact same thing.

"Dan? Feuerriegal, Dan?" She sighed shaking her head. Her mother really did hate her.

"Yes. Look, it makes perfect sense. In the long run, your mum gets someone she knows and likes. Dan gets a house to live in, everybody wins."

"This is a terrible idea. I really don't think this is going to work. You realize he will be living in the same neighbourhood? We'll see him all the time, and..."

"And?" Jai challenged, knowing she didn't have a solid argument against this. "Your feelings aside, I have no problem with it or Dan."

"Not now, you don't." She muttered, rolling her eyes and scoffing.

Ignoring her comment, Jai laid his head back, gazing up at the night sky. Why couldn't she be compliant about any of this?

Jai knew he should have told her this, while he had her pinned against her desk. She would have been less likely to argue with him then. He'd meant it, when he'd told her that she wasn't the only woman out there. Given Jai wasn't sure he'd really want to end things with her, despite the fact she was more of a child than Denzi most of the time.

For her, it wasn't enough that her mother was moving. Now, her mother had put Dan in the damn house. This was unfair!

He could say he was fine with it, but she knew Jai better than he knew himself. If tables were turned and her mother was putting in one of his ex lovers, he'd be through the roof.

The last year and a half had some how turned into a roller coaster that had no end and no way off. This was like rubbing salt in a wound.

"Just be here in the morning to give him the key, please." Jai broke the silence.

"Excuse me? I'm really not sure I..."

"You can take the joey to the dentist, if you want." Jai cut her off. He wasn't in the mood to listen to her bullshit.

Another Denzi milestone, his first trip to the dentist. Jai wasn't ready for him to grow up, not yet.

"Considering Denzi is your son, you should take him." She groaned. "I can't believe you are being so calm about this."

"Roo, babe, we're adults and some of us act like it. He needs a place, no harm."

Talking to her was like talking to a wall. Jai would get further with the wall.

"No, I meant you're okay leaving me and my ex lover alone."

There was a time when that would have sent Jai into a fit.

"What? Oh fuck, come off of it. He's coming over for a key. It's not like he has intentions to fuck you on the lawn or some shit."

Right now, if he wanted to, there was a possibility that Jai wouldn't stop them. If it would put a damn smile on her face and get her out of this hateful, bitchy mood, then Jai was willing to try and make it happen. Funny, she was always happier when she was secretly fucking Dan. She had always been selfish and bitchy, as long as Jai had known her, but this recent development was beyond anything she had put Jai through before. He'd wanted her, he got her, and now it was as if he was paying a price.

"He might."

"Naw, I trust him. He's not really that type." Jai left it there.

She was looking for a reason to be pissed off and Jai refused to take the bait. Cora had asked him to deliver the news, knowing her daughter would come back swinging, mad as a hornet about the new occupant.

Cora's instinct dictated that her daughter would try to justify her upset by using Dan against Jai. If Jai delivered the news, insisting that it had no affect on him, there was nothing to grow an argument.

"When I broke it off, he wanted to get back together." She shrugged, adding that bit into the mix was a risk.

"And he realized you weren't worth it, yeah I know. Look, bullshit aside, just give him the keys." Jai demanded.

Huffing, she sank into the warm water.

"You're just as bad as her. I can't believe you are okay with this."

"There are far worse people. Her other option was selling, or boarding up and risking break ins. Dan Feuerriegel is not that big of a problem, really."

"What about me? Did she even think to ask how I felt? Maybe she should stop being selfish."

"Roo, babe, we're not going back down that road." Jai pushed himself up onto the side of the tub. "She's renting the house, Dan is moving in, and if you want to throw a tantrum do it elsewhere."

"So, I'm not allowed to be upset about this?" Her eyes were narrowed into a cold stare.

"You are, but some times you take it too far. It's a very unattractive quality, Roo. Can't you at least try to be happy? About something? Anything? Would it kill you to smile and tell your mum how nice this is, for her? Even if you don't mean it." Jai grunted. "I love you, but how am I to build a life and a family with you, when you're like this all of the fucking time?"

Inhaling a sharp breath, she pursed her lips and shrugged. "You can end it, Jai, any time you want. You're not obligated to be with me." Casting a gaze downward, she blinked a few times. "Maybe we need to be apart?"

#house of blues #little decisions #jai courtney fanfiction #ofc #short story #short series #fanfiction #fanfic #oh roo

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