#quentin beck angst

[hurtspideyparker]

Peter idolized Mysterio extremely fast, because Beck knew exactly how to manipulate the kid.

He watched him, did his research. He knew who what Peter needed.

Tony Stark.

The entire world was asking Spider-Man if he was the new Tony Stark. Captain America, Black Widow, Iron Man, all gone. the Avengers had been ripped apart when they saved the world, and now civilians were scared. Who would protect them if things like that were out there? Spider-Man was the only one standing up and still fighting for his city, he was mentored by Iron Man. Surely he would step up.

Peter felt the pressure, the questions. Even Fury was trying to push him to be the next Tony, fulfill his duty as an Avenger.

But Beck stood up for him.

"He's not bored, he's just thinking about how you kidnapped him"

He understands Peter wants to enjoy time with his friends, with MJ.

"You're not a jerk for wanting a normal life kid"

Everyone else was adamant though.

"Stark chose you. He made you an Avenger. I need that, the world needs that. Maybe Stark was wrong."

Here Fury is telling him that not stepping up would be failing the world, failing Stark. Putting words into the mouth of Peter's dead mentor.

Everyone knows that Tony Stark is Peter's weak spot-

"Tony did a lot for me so, I owe it to him. To everybody"

But Beck is always a step ahead.

He sets himself up as the knight in shining arming, showing up right when the world needs him, after all the heroes had fought and died and disappeared. (Iron Man was the first superhero the world had seen since Captain America. Peter worshipped him since he was a little kid. He burst into Peter's life, gave him an incredible suit, and cleaned up his messes).

He lifts Peter up when he's down. "Don't ever apologize for being the smartest in the room" "a part of me wants me to tell you to turn around, run away from all this". (Tony was the only one smart enough to understand how smart Peter was, too. Told him to stay away from the big stuff and help the little guy. He followed Mr. Stark onto that spaceship after being told to go home over and over).

He becomes a mentor. "It's really nice to have someone to talk to about superhero stuff, y'know" Peter tells him. It's painfully reminiscent of being 15, blowing up the phone with texts and voicemails because Mr. Stark was the only one who knew his identity and knew what it was like to be a hero. The way he'd look at Tony with eager eyes every time they were face to face, just happy to be seen. He'd had to fight so hard for Tony to listen to him, and losing it was... harder than he realized.

So here Beck is, a better hero than Spider-Man, more supportive than Fury- and then he asks the perfect question:

"What do you want, Peter?"

He lets the kid imagine a better life, a life where he isn't the next Iron Man. He looks up at Beck and sees his escape, sees someone far more qualified. Not only would it be an out for Peter, but the world would simply be better off with Mysterio.

"the world needs the next Iron Man, it needs to be an adult with some experience, who's good like Tony Stark, like you"

Everyone made it so easy for Beck- they broke Peter's self-esteem down till he was certain he couldn't be the next Iron Man. Denied him at every turn a piece of a normal life, any balance. Everyone was so desperate for a hero that no one questioned when Beck strolled in, charmed everyone, and proved himself the only solution.

Peter is 16. He's a kid. He lost so many years already; with his parents, his uncle, with gaining super powers. He lost Tony, his support system. He's desperate for an adult to take this burden from him.

For the next Tony Stark.

So he takes Edith, the physical symbol of his responsibility, and hands it to the nearest capable adult.

I just wanted to be like you!

And I wanted you to be better.

Peter Parker is not Tony Stark.

[a3s1rxx]

As the World Caves in

More spotsterio content idk what you expected. Jonathyn (the running transfem headcanon stays) has control over her abilities, where she centered her energy into her arms to make portals instead of the spots all over, making her forearms pitch black with spots just above the elbow.

This is based off the story MCU Quentin told (the fake one) about the elementals and Earth 833.

CW: Character death, implied romance??? It could be purely platonic if you want idc, description of injury,

This was kinda bad I ain’t even gonna lie.

Earth 833. Originally a paradise, now a post apocalyptic war zone. The beginning of the end started when a cyclone appeared in Morocco. Typically, this wasn’t a big issue; but this time was different. The cyclone had a face. Arms. One could definitely describe it as sentient.

This Cyclone absolutely destroyed Morocco. After that incident, an army was made, just in case another incident happened. This is where long time friends, Jonathyn and Quentin Beck reunited. Quentin was a man born with powers that would probably be defined as energy manipulation. Jonathyn was a woman who had gotten into a freak accident long ago, giving her the ability to open dark energy portals.

Jonathyn had changed since she last saw Quentin. It had been years since her transition. Her hair was long and shaggy, top and bottom surgery was done (though Quentin never knew about the latter until the showers), she just looked more feminine. Her nerdy glasses still remained, and her mannerisms were still the same.

Quentin had changed since he last saw Jonathyn. He bulked up quite a bit and grew his hair out from his bowl cut. He still had the same empathetic personality.

They worked together again now, sharing stories about their families and children. Everything seemed to be going great, until the Sandman hit Mexico. A large dust and rock creature had emerged and destroyed everything around it. Jonathyn’s family had died in the attack, leaving just her behind.

Some more weeks passed and things only got worse. Hydro man attacked Venice. Flooding over the area almost completely before being taken down.

This brings us to current time. It was currently turning night and the troops were finally relaxing in their bunker. Jonathyn was studying a book and scribbling notes in it, while leaning her back up against Quentin’s shoulder. Quentin was just talking, knowing she was listening.

“I think I want to be an actor when this is all over. What do you think?” He said, glancing at Jonathyn who was still scribbling.

“I think you’d do well.” Jonathyn mumbled and pushed her glasses up. “Your wife would be proud.” She glanced at him and then went back to studying.

“What about you, hm?” Quentin moved his arm so it fell around Jonathyn’s shoulder, and Jonathyn’s head gently fell back on the side of his chest.

She sighed and closed her book.

“Science. Probably researching the multiverse and whatnot.” She mumbled, staring at the wall in front of her. Just then, a soft rumble sounded. An alarm went off and everyone scrambled to get up. They all scrambled into their gear and ran to the meeting room. Fissures in the earth had appeared in Prague. Signs of a new elemental emerging to cause more chaos.

***

Jonathyn and Quentin sat next to each other on the plane. Quentin’s leg bounced in anticipation, his mind was buzzing. He fidgeted with his hands and glanced all around the plane. Jonathyn took notice and placed her hand over his, squeezing gently.

“Talk to me” she whispered and looked at him.

“What if we don’t make it out. This is the worst we’ve seen yet.” Quentin mumbled, worried eyes connecting to Jonathyn’s.

Jonathyn moved her hands to Quentin’s face and caressed his cheeks, running her thumbs over them.

“We’re gonna make it out, okay? We’ll make it. You’ll get back home to everyone you love and I’ll be right there with you.” She pressed her forehead against his gently. “Just breathe with me.”

Quentin took a deep breath and calmed down a little bit. He closed his eyes and relaxed into his close friend’s touch, arms lazily wrapping around her waist.

“Yeah. We’ll make it back home.” He mumbled and broke the embrace.

***

Once over Prague, Quentin leapt from the plane, flying off to where heat signatures began to spike. Jonathyn opened a portal to the ground, beginning to usher people out the area.

Then, the earth cracked and burst. A large being made of magma emerged, embracing and melting a statue down, causing it to grow.

“Shit.” Jonathyn mumbled. She touched her earpiece. “Quen, it feeds on anything it can absorb. We need to finish this quick.”

***

Minutes turned to hours with this fight. Molten Man only kept growing and destroying everything in sight.

Jonathyn noticed a pile of rubble nearby, big enough to cause an impact. The only issue? It was just out of range, and to get closer would mean to get dangerously close to the Molten Man.

She picked up a run and managed to open a portal under the rubble, causing it to drop on the molten man’s head. It swerved around, now hurt but angered. A fast swipe of a molten hand caught Jonathyn, burning her painfully.

Quentin, attacking from sky, heard Jonathyn’s scream in pain. He dropped down to the ground and ran over. Her right side, up to her ribcage was molten off. Even the bones had gone up in flames, leaving a gruesome injury.

While Quentin was distracted, the molten man took this chance to grow. Bigger and bigger. The city was going down fast.

“Quen… Quen listen to me.” Jonathyn could barely talk, it almost sounded like gurgling, as her neck was burnt and wounded. “I need you to run…” she slowly turned her head to look at him, flesh burning off and bone exposed.

“I’m not running anywhere without you.” Quentin picked up Jonathyn, flying to a roof top a bit further away.

Bigger and bigger the molten man grew.

“Quen. We’re not winning this one….” With a little strength, Jonathyn tugged her dog tag off with her left hand and held it out to Quentin. “I’m….” Her eyes fluttered open and closed, her breathing was staggered every so often. “I’m going to open a portal��. I need you to go through.”

“I’m not leaving you here.” Quentin mumbled, tears pooling in his eyes.

“I’ll die either way.” Jonathyn gurgled out. Quentin took her dog tag. “Please….” Jonathyn had a pleading look in her eyes. “I want you….to live.” She touched the ground, using whatever energy she had left to open a portal.

“This isn’t fair…” Quentin sobbed, looking down at his dying friend.

“This world….will be enveloped in fire….” Jonathyn could barely speak now. “I want you to live….for me.” She closed her eyes, breathing still broken and staggered but much slower. The pain in her body was leaving, just as the life was. Quentin clenched the dog tag.

“You’re my best friend okay?” He said, walking towards the portal. “I’ll make sure everyone knows what you did.” He held back tears.

Jonathyn just smiled very weakly. It was a sad smile. A smile that held a painful goodbye.

Quentin stepped through the portal just as it began to close. As soon as it closed, Quentin knew she had died. Not only her, but his entire earth had come to end. Everyone he knew was going to die. Everything he loved would be burned to the ground. He sat there, on top of a building identical to the one he was just on. He sobbed. The sobbing turned into guilty and painful crying. He lay down, right where his dear friend laid dead in another timeline. He clutched the dog tag close to his chest.

After the cries stopped, he sat up and put the tag around his neck. His eyes held a sad darkness in them. He was a disheveled and sniffly mess.

Just as he got up, a familiar rumble occurred under his feet. Nothing in Prague. He walked into a bar, looking up at the TV that just so had the news playing. A cyclone had appeared in Morocco. Quentin’s heart sank as the cyclone turned towards the camera. The cyclone had a face.

[charliehoennam]

God damn this is fucking good!! I love that Quin didn't die because he lives on in my heart 🥹😍

Quin playing dead to keep her safe??? Quin giving up years of hard work for her??? THE MENTION OF KIDS???

Shout-out to the reader being so fucking badass, calling Victoria on her real plan and turning the tables!

What I would give to hideaway with him for the rest of my life 🥹😍

Só beautiful written as always, Laurie. You never fail to amaze me!!

HIGH HORSE — QUENTIN BECK

request:  what about fighting with quentin beck for the first time, after he’s  been all smug and acting like he doesn’t care about the reader and him  realizing after they leave that he needs them in his life real bad - so  he gets off his high horse for once and admits he cares about the  reader?  

warnings: canon divergent quentin (set in an alternate universe where quentin survived far from home), mentions of janice, guterman and a very out of character victoria, throwback scene (including violence, knives and manipulation),18+, MINORS DON’T INTERACT.

word count: 1525

gif credit: winterswake

notes: i was listening to dark horse by katy perry, high horse by kacey musgraves, save your tears by the weeknd and the raya soundtrack? weird mix, but it takes what it takes to get the angst juices flowing. thanks for reading, remember to reblog!

Continuar lendo

[holylulusworld]

Jerk next door (7) - Plans to make

 

Summary: You move in next door to a jerk after a bad breakup.

Pairing: Andy Barber x fem!Reader

Characters: Destroyer!Chris, Captain Syverson

Warnings: angst, mentions of past domestic violence (implied), mentions of divorce, mentions of past physical abuse, scared reader, mentions of past alcohol abuse, rueful Andy, mentions of murder

Jerk next door (6) - Two new players 

Jerk next door masterlist

Syverson rolls his eyes. For the better part of five hours, Andy tries to devise a better plan than killing your ex. “I can make it look like an accident. Trust me.”

“Sy, even if you make it look like an accident, it’s still murder. We are better than this rotten bastard. I don’t think Y/N wants to live with the knowledge that she’s the reason for Beck’s death.”

“What if he’s getting into an accident? We could manipulate his car; this way, Y/N won’t feel guilty,” Chris throws in. He grunts as Andy shakes his head again. “It’s a good plan.”

“Again—it’s still murder, Chris. No killing him,” Andy points at Chris. “I know you’d love to take this man down, but we can’t run around and kill people.”

Chris shows his palms and says, “Fine, fine. No killing. What else can we do? You must admit that we can’t protect Y/N for the rest of her life. She wants her home and life back.”

Sy rubs his scruffy chin. He wrinkles his forehead while trying to come up with a better plan. When Andy called, Sy had already decided to take Quentin down. “What if—” he takes his time before he says. “He commits a crime and gets caught with his hand in the cookie jar.”

“Now, that’s what I’m talking about,” Chris chuckles and slams his hand onto his thigh. “I knew you’d come up with a fucked-up plan. So, how do we do it?”

“It’s a rough draft,” Sy grumbles. “It’s the only way to make sure he cannot harm Y/N and won’t come back. If he’s locked away, there’s no way out.”

Andy frowns. He doesn’t share Chris and Sy’s enthusiasm. The skilled lawyer knows better than to keep his hopes high when it comes to justice. Sometimes you can give it all, and you will still lose. “If he gets sentenced. You know better than to have faith in our judicial machinery.”

Sy scoffs. “You’re an attorney lawyer and don’t believe in the system you defend every fucking day?”

“YES!” Andy barks and throws his hands up. “I see the worst scum walk out of the courtroom every day. I don’t have faith in the system most of the time. It disappointed me over and over again in the last few years. Even if he gets arrested after we faked a crime, there’s no guarantee he won’t get out.”

“Andy is not wrong,” Sy nods thoughtfully. “So, back to killing him?” He smirks at Andy. “Come on, you know that there is no other way. If you want Y/N to be safe, you must get your hands dirty.”

Andy grits his teeth and says, “No murder. Do you think they won’t look for Y/N? You know what the cops think, Chris. The partner, or ex-partner, is always suspect number one.”

“He’s not wrong, Sy,” Chris hates to admit that Andy is right. “We can’t kill him, and there’s no guarantee he won’t leave the courtroom as a free man.”

“What if I just give up?” You step inside the room. All three men look at you, following your every step as you sit down on the couch in Andy’s living room. “There’s no way out. Nowhere to run to. He wins.”

Andy winces because you look tired and worn out. It’s his fault. He blamed you for something you didn’t do, and there is no denying, he ruined your life. “No.” He simply says. “We won’t let him win. I lose against monsters like him in the courtroom. I won’t lose against that bastard.”

Burying your face in your hands, you sniffle. You don’t want Andy to watch you cry. He’s still the neighbor making your life a living hell. “Why do you even care? This is what you wanted! From the first moment you saw me, you wanted me to leave! I’ll be gone soon. Good job!”

“Christ, can you stop being so—” Andy sighs when you flinch at his harsh tone. “I know that I was the worst. Please believe me that I regret what I did. Let me at least try to make things up to you. Quentin Beck won’t hurt you ever again.”

“Alright,” Sy claps his hands. “It’s getting late. We won’t come up with a good plan tonight. I’ll take over the first shift and keep an eye on your house, Andy. Chris, you can take over in three hours.”

“Got it,” Chris says and gets up from his seat. “I’ll check on Y/N’s house and make my round. Sy, be careful. We shouldn’t underestimate that slimy piece of shit.”

“Got it.” Sy tips his hat before walking out of the living room. “I’ll be in my hideout, Andy. You know the signal.”

“Got it.” Andy nods. You stare at Andy. Everyone seems to get their plan. Everyone but you. There’s not a chance that Quentin will leave you alone. You lost hope the moment you heard he was in town. “Y/N, you should get some sleep. Sy, Chris, and I will make sure that he won’t even get close to you.”

You’re too tired and emotionally drained to argue. Maybe it’s better to not see your end coming.

The floor creaks heavily under the intruder’s weight. He didn’t expect Andy’s house to be an obstacle. It was easy enough to get access to the neighborhood and to find out that his lovely ex-wife’s house is right next to Andy’s.

“Darling,” he whispers lowly. “If you let that bastard touch you, you’re going to regret it.” He hums and slowly creeps upstairs. He waited long enough for the other man to leave.

“What are you doing at my house?” Andy stands only a few feet away, watching Quentin’s face contort in anger. “You know, breaking and entering is a crime. And I have the right to defend my home and my girlfriend.”

“Girlfriend?” Quentin growls. He gets his gun out, aiming at Andy’s chest. “You’ll pay for hiding that bitch from me!”

Andy dodges the first bullet by dropping to the ground. He rolls behind the couch and waits for his chance.

“Do you think you can dodge the next bullet, too?” Quentin laughs and shoots in Andy’s direction. He hits the wall, but nothing else. Picture frames drop to the ground and shatter. “Huh? Get out, coward!”

“You should’ve counted your bullets.” Andy gets up from behind the couch. He smirks before firing three bullets into Quentin’s chest. “What a pity, you broke into my house and tried to kill me and your ex-wife. What else could I do but give you what you deserve?”

Tags in reblog.

[rosepetalsinwinter]

Five Years That Felt Like a Millennium (2) — Bucky Barnes

Pairing: tfatws!bucky x reader

Word count: 7,579

Summary: Baby Girl isn't doing too well after seeing Quentin.

Warnings: illusions and mention of violence, abuse, manipulation, and cheating, self-deprecation, fluff, flirting, angst

Note: I apologize for my absence. The response to the first part has been unbelievable! Thank you all so much. I hope I can do it justice.

Ao3│Wattpad│Ko-fi

Main Masterlist │Part 1 — Part 2 — Part 3

Happy Reading! 💜

Bucky didn't know a person could cry so much. Surely, the body must have surpassed a threshold ages ago for maximum fluid expulsion, but it seemed unlikely. Tears ran unbidden down Baby Girl's face, soaking into her white camisole, still wet from the lake. At least her body no longer wracked with sobs, which was a small accomplishment, he supposed.

He filled a glass with cold water. "Here, drink this."

Baby Girl's movements were almost mechanical as she took measured sips, slowly draining the glass. She stared at her reflection in the crystal, then abruptly stood, making Bucky hastily step back. Barefoot and half-dressed, she made for the front door.

Bucky blocked her path. "Where are you going?"

She went around him and reached for the handle, but Bucky intercepted her just in time, pulling her by the wrist. Her eyes were unfocused and wild, darting this way and that. "Hey!" She froze. "Hey," he said again, softer and with considerably less force. "What's going on in that smart brain of yours, huh? What are you thinking?"

"I need to find Quentin," she gulped. "I need to apologize to him. I need to make things right before he—"

She choked on her words, but Bucky knew her enough by now to predict what she would say next. "Before he what? Before he hurts Sam?"

Her face crumpled. "Maybe if I get down on my knees and beg, he'll forgive me, and things can go back to the way they used to be."

Bucky felt his previous anger return. Quentin Beck was a goddamn asshole because, in the span of a few minutes, he had managed to turn a bright and bubbly soul into an inconsolable mess.

"Is that really what you want?" he asked. "You want things to go back to the way they used to be?" Bucky already knew Baby Girl's answer, but he felt it was imperative for her to acknowledge out loud.

"No," she croaked. "Not really, but I don't have a choice. Quentin will hurt Sam and his family."

Bucky wiped the fresh tears from her face, letting his hands linger on her cheeks. "And what about you? He's hurting you. Are you not Sam's family?"

Baby girl began crying anew. Bucky carried her to the couch and held her close, letting her tears run down his bare skin. They sat like that until her breathing eventually evened, and her eyes drooped close. Bucky didn't dare move. Baby Girl was cradled in his arms and against his neck, legs stretched on the couch.

His eyes began to close, sleep slowly taking over, and he was going to let it. They both needed rest after the day's events, but sleep wasn't in his fortune. Bucky's phone buzzed in his pocket, and he startled awake, awkwardly maneuvering around to retrieve it without disturbing Baby Girl.

It was Sam. Bucky glanced down at the sleeping form in his arms. Dried tears painted her face, her eyes were puffy, and her nose red. Bucky's heart lurched in his chest, and he made a hasty decision—promise be damned, Bucky would fix this for her.

He answered the call. "Hey, Sam." And told him everything .

"Sam?" Bucky asked, after Sam had been quiet too long.

Sam sounded wretched with grief. "I knew something was wrong. I just never imagined..."

Bucky sighed, already anticipating the blame game. A family trait, he considered. "It's not your fault. Quentin Beck is to blame, and he will pay for his actions, I promise you." Though Bucky couldn't see him, he imagined Sam nodding his frustration. "Do you think you could get in contact with Congressman Lockhart?"

"Congressman Lock—why?"

"He owes me a favour," said Bucky, not mentioning that he had saved Lockhart's life. "How much are you willing to bet that Lockhart has met Quentin Beck before, and that Beck has probably left a less-than-savoury impression on the Congressman?"

"I don't understand."

"Keep your friends close and your enemies closer, Sam."

Sam was impressed. "I'll ask Torres to get us in contact."

Bucky smirked, feeling a satisfaction spread over him at the thought of Quentin Beck rotting in a jail cell. "You do that. When do you think you'll be back?"

Baby Girl shifted in his arms, and Bucky softened his voice. "Day after tomorrow? Alright, keep me updated." He ended the call.

"Who was that?" came a groggy voice. Baby Girl's eyes were closed, and she was in the process of waking up.

"Sam," Bucky answered, adjusting her in his arms. "His business is taking longer than usual. He and Sarah will be back in a few days.

Baby Girl pushed away from Bucky, sat up next to him, and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. Her eyes trailed to his chest and widened in mortification. "Shit, I'm so sorry. I drooled all over you."

When she reached over to wipe him clean, he grabbed her wrist. "Why do you make it a habit to apologize for things out of your control?"

She suddenly jerked away from him, putting ample space between them. "I can hardly help how I feel. If I feel sorry, I apologize."

"Well, don't." Bucky stretched his legs, groaning at the relief. "I'm a grown man," he teased, wiping his chest with the back of his hand. "I can handle a little drool."

Baby girl looked down at her palms, forlorn and despondent. "I'm a mess," she muttered.

"Yes, you are," Bucky responded quietly. She jerked her head in surprise, expecting him to dispute her. But she didn't need his false reassurances any longer. Bucky wanted the full weight of her circumstances bearing down on her so she might escape from the haze of melancholy and finally fight back.

Bucky looked out the window at the setting sun. It cast a beautiful golden glow over the two of them. "You should change into something comfortable," he told her. "There's a lot to talk about."

"Quentin was in one of my electives at school." Baby Girl was freshly showered and changed, wearing Bucky's sweats because she was out of clean clothes. They were enormous on her frame, which suited her well.

Bucky had also changed and was sitting across from her on the kitchen table, a warm cup of tea in his hands. It was something floral with a bitter note. He took his plain while she drowned hers in honey.

"Abnormal Psychology," she continued, "which is ironic because I diagnosed him with narcissism a few years into our relationship. I never told him, obviously. It wouldn't have ended well."

The conversation—long overdue—produced a painful pit in Bucky's stomach. He recognized it as suppressed rage, slowly building in potency and power. Bucky took a large sip of his tea, letting it burn his tongue so he might focus on anything other than the need to punch Beck's face.

"I tripped over his bag. He helped me up; apologized, and asked me to dinner."

Bucky couldn't help how bitter he sounded. "And you said yes."

She looked at him with dead eyes. "I wish I had. Then my life wouldn't have turned into a Shakespearean tragedy."

"That seems a bit bleak," Bucky snorted.

"But isn't it?" she implored. "Bleak? He was my first serious boyfriend; I moved in with him after two weeks and quit my job after a month. He didn't say 'I love you' until I threatened to leave him when I found out he was cheating. I pretended to look the other way when I found another girl's bra in our bed. I laughed when I saw lipstick stains on his collar. I gave him my virginity on my birthday, the day after I found out he cheated on me again. If that isn't bleak, if that isn't a tragedy, then what is? Perhaps it's the fact that I made excuses for him the first time he hit me. I told myself he was aiming for the wall, and I got in the way of his fist, but let's be honest, I was deluding myself."

Baby girl took a deep breath and dug her nails into the table. Her previous sorrow was replaced with unbridled anger. "I recognized all the signs. I knew he was using me—manipulating me! He even said so himself. We were at a party, and his friend said I was 'quite something.' Whatever the hell that's supposed to mean! Quentin said, 'She is, isn't she? But I gotta tell you, I'm not with her for that brain of hers.' I was standing right next to him! He and his friends undressed me with their eyes, and I just stood there and smiled!"

Bucky felt his rage simmering—at Beck, at the situation, at her . "Why are you blaming yourself? It's not your fault!"

Baby Girl pushed away from the table and paced around. "Don't!" she shouted. "Nothing you say will make this okay, Bucky. Nothing you say will make what I did okay!"

Bucky stood up as well, breathing heavily. He had known her less than a week but already felt burning concern on her behalf. "And what did you do?"

"Nothing!" she screamed, and her shrill voice echoed throughout the empty house. "I did nothing! Quentin threatened Sam, then once Sam blipped, he threatened Sarah and the boys, and I knew it wasn't a bluff because he had the connections to back him up. I knew, because I'm the one who helped him get those connections in the first place!"

Bucky sucked in a quick breath. "What connections?" Baby Girl had calmed somewhat after her brief yet brutal rant, and she sat down at the table, sipping her tea.

"What connections!" Bucky almost shouted.

Baby Girl startled. "I don't know! Businessmen, stockbrokers, a lot of Wall Street types. They paid attention to him when he had a pretty girl on his arm."

"Was that all?" Bucky probed.

Baby Girl shook her head. "There were a lot of government officials, too. I told you, remember? FBI, CIA, Homeland Security, Senators, UN spokespersons, congressmen, federal court judges—"

"Repeat that."

"Federal court—"

"No!" Bucky interrupted again. "What you said before."

"Congressmen?" Baby Girl huffed in annoyance. "I don't understand why that stood out to you the most. Are federal court judges not impressive enough for you, Bucky?"

Bucky ignored her snark and sat across from her. "Do you happen to know a Congressman Lockhart?"

Baby Girl paused before taking a sip from her cup. "Surprisingly, yes. Mr. Lockhart left a lasting impression when he didn't try looking down my dress every few minutes or shoving his hand up my leg."

"That's disgusting," he frowned.

"That's life," Baby Girl retorted. "Trust me, I had it better than most women."

Bucky shook his head, hating how she downplayed her struggles. "That's not okay."

Baby Girl scoffed without heat. "Like things were so much better in the forties. Right, Sergeant Barnes?"

Bucky ignored any feelings the utterance of his title from her lips brought forth. "I didn't stand for that then, and I don't stand for it now."

Thankfully, she seemed to have mercy on him and let the topic slide. "He didn't seem to like Quentin much; Lockhart. He asked me a lot of questions, and I think he got suspicious when I couldn't answer anything."

"Like what?"

"Like what I do for work, my interests, how I met Quentin. I couldn't tell him anything without revealing how abusive Quentin was. He especially didn't like it when he found out I was Sam Wilson's adopted kid sister."

Bucky was intrigued. "What did he say?"

"Nothing. He ignored Quentin for the rest of the event, but right before it ended, he pulled me aside and..." she trailed off.

"What?" Bucky encouraged her.

Baby Girl looked at him with shame and guilt swimming in her irises. "Congressman Lockhart told me I was making a mistake. He told me Quentin was using me because of my relation to Sam Wilson. He told me men like Quentin were rotten to the core, and I should run the other way and never look back." She gulped. "I should've listened to him."

Bucky shook his head. "You made a decision. You couldn't have known."

She didn't hear him, seemingly playing the scene in her mind. "Then the strangest thing happened. Congressman Lockhart called a few days later to meet about the project Quentin had proposed. Quentin was ecstatic, as you can imagine. He was overly sweet with me that day." Her brows puckered in confusion. "But I never understood... Why warn me away from Quentin only to cozy up to him later?"

Bucky leaned back in his chair, thinking everything over, connecting the dots. "Congressman Lockhart is a good man," he said. "A good and clever man."

Baby Girl narrowed her eyes. "How do you know him anyway? What does he have to do with anything?"

Bucky hesitated. He didn't want to get her hopes up if his plan didn't work, but he also couldn't watch her beat herself up any longer. This girl, this beautiful and feisty girl, had Bucky wrapped around her fingers since she wrapped her arms around his waist that day on his bike. This girl, who laughed and cried and smiled and was never afraid to voice her opinion. This girl, who looked at Bucky with admiration in her eyes, who looked at his metal arm with gentle curiosity and without any of the disgust or malice he was used to. Who kept her questions light and discrete so as not to unsettle him. This girl, this beautiful and feisty girl, who made Bucky smile.

He would do anything for her. Even if it meant keeping his scheme a secret.

Bucky hesitated, not wanting to lie to her, but finding he had little choice. "I have a plan," he said. "To get rid of Quentin Beck for good."

And Bucky was presented, for the first time since their swim in the lake, a genuine and awe-filled smile, directed entirely at him.

"Lemonade?"

Bucky swam toward the deck, hoisting himself from the lake. Baby Girl was sitting on the edge, letting her bare feet skim the cool water. "You take such good care of me," Bucky teased. He gave a playful shake of his head, sending droplets of water her way.

Baby Girl shrieked and raised her hands to cover her face. "You ass!"

With a chuckle, Bucky leaned back on his elbow, reaching for the drink.

"And to think I brought you sustenance!" Baby Girl pushed a plate of fruit toward him.

Bucky picked up a fruit with a deep purple flesh and examined it with suspicion. "Is this alien food? It looks like something you might find in Asgard."

Baby Girl stared in awe. "You've been to Asgard?"

Bucky was still looking at the teardrop-shaped product. "Not yet," he declared confidently and bit into the flesh. Bucky paused a moment, staring at Baby Girl before taking a larger bite. "What the fuck? Why is it so good?"

Baby Girl laughed. "What, you've never had a fig before?" She grabbed one for herself and showed him a better way to eat it. "You pinch it at the top. Split it open. Fold it over, and voila!" She popped it in her mouth, groaning as flavour burst across her tongue.

"I thought it was some weird kind of plum!" Bucky exclaimed, grabbing another.

"Nope, just a fig."

"Just a fig, she says," Bucky teased. "And what's this?" He threw a shiny orange fruit in the air, catching it just before it smacked Baby Girl in the face.

She took it from him with an unconvincing frown. " This —is a persimmon. You know it's ripe when it's ready to burst. I like to pinch the skin like this—" she demonstrated by making an incision with her teeth, "and suck the flesh." Baby Girl moaned in delight. "I missed this."

Bucky intensely observed her, paying close attention to a drop of persimmon juice on her lip.

"What? Is there something on my face?"

Bucky reached over to wipe the juice with his thumb. "You're a mess," he said hoarsely. Then, he brought his thumb to his mouth and licked it off as she watched him. "It's sweet."

She stared at him, soft lips parted and breaths uneven. "Did you think it would be sour?"

Bucky shrugged and picked up one for himself, following Baby Girl's instructions and getting a proper taste. When he was halfway through his fruit and Baby Girl was still gawking at him, Bucky realized he had taken the flirting a bit too far.

Satisfaction crackled in his muscles, and he twitched out a smirk. It was only a small accomplishment that he had retained some of his frivolous ways, but he was still proud. "What else do you have for me?" he inquired loudly, effectively diverting her.

Baby Girl quickly composed herself, dropping the rest of her persimmon onto the fruit plate. "Watermelon and grapes."

"Does the watermelon change colours, and do the grapes taste like cotton candy?"

"Change colours—No!" Baby Girl gawped. "You have a strong imagination." She suddenly turned thoughtful. "I was thinking of grabbing the cotton candy grapes, though. But they're too sweet for me."

It was Bucky's turn to gawp. "I was being sarcastic. Do cotton candy grapes really exist?"

Baby Girl smiled. "They've been around a while. I'll get you some next time."

Bucky reclined on his elbow, resting his head in his hand. "Next time. I like the sound of that." He caught her eye and asked her the burning question. "So, you've decided to stay?"

Baby Girl pushed the empty glasses and fruit tray away, lying back on the deck. From this angle, with Bucky hovering over her, the sun didn't burn her eyes. She smiled a sad smile. "I don't really have a choice, do I?"

"You always have a choice," Bucky replied fervently. "We would never keep you against your will."

Baby Girl shook her head. "That's not what I meant. Quentin will always find me. He's possessive of his things."

"You're not a thing . And he doesn't deserve you."

"Maybe I deserve him."

Bucky looked into her bright eyes, thinly veiled with tears. He understood the feeling of helplessness—the intense guilt that followed. Even now, after being pardoned and making amends, Bucky couldn't stop guilt from seizing him in the dark hours of the night, when he was most vulnerable and exposed.

He often looked around and wondered if he deserved the life he had been given, this second chance that none of his victims had the fortune of. On more of a surface level, Bucky understood he was as much a victim as any other. A prisoner in his own body. He, and he alone, knew the struggle he had put up for almost twenty years before finally succumbing.

Bucky looked into her bright eyes, thinly veiled with tears, and saw himself reflected in them. He saw himself as a younger man—a better man—waging a war against invisible demons, and he understood. Trauma left its presence in various ways, and the evidence of it was scattered all across her vulnerable physique.

Bucky reached for a strand of her hair. "Sometimes, the hardest prison to escape from is the one we build in our own minds."

Baby Girl turned her head to look up at the sky. "That sounds like something you'd hear at the therapist's."

"And I'm giving it out for free," Bucky smiled.

They both said nothing for a short while, enjoying the sun, and soaking each other's company.

"He used to tell me I was beautiful every day." Her brows creased. "Well, not exactly. He never called me beautiful. He called me hot, and sexy, and fire—" she suddenly scoffed. "I hated that. 'You look fire.' One day, even that stopped. I remember thinking he didn't love me anymore because that's what attracted him in the first place."

Bucky played with her hair, letting her say what she needed to.

"Objectively, I know I'm attractive. I was told often enough by his friends. But I haven't felt pretty in a long time. And it disgusts me that I needed his validation to feel good about myself." Baby Girl took a deep breath, shaking slightly from the overload of emotions. "Sorry."

Making sure she was looking at him, Bucky leaned his head down and kissed the corner of her mouth. Her skin was soft and warm, and he lingered a moment longer than necessary. "You're beautiful," he murmured, savouring her sweet scent. "Absolutely gorgeous."

Baby Girl stiffened under him, eyes widened with surprise, soft lips parted in exhale. She blinked furiously, grabbing her necklace in a white-knuckled grip—a dainty gold crescent moon with black detailing. "I feel very hot," she croaked.

Indeed, Bucky could hear her heart furiously pumping blood through her veins due to his risky kiss. He bent down and placed another, dangerously closer to her lips than the previous. "Let's cool you down then," he smirked, grabbing her around the waist and launching both of them into the lake.

He lost his hold on her as they submerged in the cool water. Bucky kicked off the bottom and broke the surface, looking around for her. Baby Girl emerged a moment later, mascara lines running down her cheeks and brows creased in a furious frown.

She wiped her face and scoffed, "You absolute ass!" When Bucky laughed at her, she splashed him with a large swell of water, which went into his mouth. He choked and sputtered between laughter, welcoming her gentle abuse with a large smile.

"You said you were hot," he rationalized. "I only wanted to cool you down."

Baby Girl intensified her attack, wading closer until she was on top of him, attempting to submerge his head. "You idiot!" she yelled. "My clothes are all wet!"

"Pity," Bucky sputtered, trying to grab hold of her, but she was relentless in her assault, flailing her limbs in reckless abandon.

"Die!" she shrieked, managing to clamber on top of him. She wrapped her legs around his neck and pushed him under, painfully pulling at his roots in the process.

All this time, Bucky could've easily subdued her. But where was the fun in that? When her legs tightened a smidge too much, and Bucky could no longer breathe, he finally put an end to their little game. He clasped his hand around her ankle and gave a gentle pull. Baby Girl fell from his shoulders with a dramatic scream, and realizing she had far surpassed his patience, began to swim away.

Bucky grabbed her ankle once more, keeping her in place. "You brat," he hissed. "I'll teach you a lesson."

Her panicked laughter brought a large smile to his face. Seeing her happy because of him; after the horrible week she'd had, filled Bucky with indescribable pride.

"No!" she giggled. "No more. I'm tired." In fact, she had stopped swimming and was struggling to stay afloat.

Bucky lifted her into his arms, ignoring her feeble protests. "That's enough games for today," he announced, carrying her dripping body inside.

After drying themselves and changing, they settled in the kitchen for dinner. Baby Girl sat on the island with her head resting on her arms, watching Bucky cook.

"Where did you learn that?" she asked when he expertly chopped onions without looking.

Bucky shrugged. "My Ma taught me the basics when I was little. She said cooking was a survival skill."

The girl smiled. "Smart woman."

"That she was," he sighed. "I learned some more in the army. Then, after I was pardoned, I found all this time on my hands and all these cuisines I wanted to try. YouTube is very handy for that."

"That it is." She walked to his side, watching him saute shrimp for the pasta. "You sure you don't want me to help?"

"Yeah, you sit your pretty ass down and relax."

"Yes, Chef!" Baby Girl saluted, not bothering to sit. She exclaimed in delight when Bucky flipped the pan one-handed.

"Wanna see something cool?" he smirked, grabbing a bottle of Cognac from the pantry. "Step back."

Baby Girl shuffled back, and Bucky poured some Cognac into the saucepan. He was so focused on the task that he didn't notice Baby Girl inch closer. Bucky tilted the pan, letting it catch fire, and a beautiful flame blazed powerfully in front of him. He turned, wanting to see her reaction.

She stepped away with a shout, arms raised to protect her face. The flame fizzled away as quickly as it had ignited, but she was still shaking in fear. She fell against the island counter, sliding to her knees.

Bucky turned off the stove and sank next to her, grabbing her arms. "What's wrong?" he worried. "Are you hurt?"

Eyes shut tight, she shook her head, but she was still trembling. "I'm okay."

Bucky didn't believe her. He lifted her up and set her on the counter, sliding between her spread legs. "Hey," he soothed. "What happened just now?"

She shook her head, eyes still closed. "I don't know, I—" Baby Girl exhaled shakily, trying to calm down. "I wasn't expecting—I thought. I'm scared of fire," she eventually admitted.

Bucky frowned. He vividly remembered the night of the bonfire, where she chased AJ and Cass around the large fire. There was no hint of fear on her face that night, no discomfort or hesitancy. He told her as such.

"I don't know. I think it's because the bonfire was out in the open. It was controlled and didn't feel as dangerous. But indoor fires..." She left the next part unsaid, but Bucky understood.

His flambé trick took her by surprise at such close proximity. For a moment, she was transported to her childhood home to relive that fateful night. Bucky hugged her tight, soothing her with kind words of affirmation. "You're safe now. I won't let anything happen to you."

She clutched tightly onto him, burying her face in his neck, breathing heavily into his ears. "Sometimes I think I was supposed to die that night," she whimpered, making Bucky freeze. "I was supposed to die in that house with my family. But I didn't. I'm scared the past will catch up with me one day to finish what it started."

Bucky held on to her tighter.

"I'm scared I'll find myself in that house again, and no one will be there to push me out the window."

"That won't happen," he promised. "I won't let it."

She briefly said nothing, and Bucky worried he hadn't done enough to reassure her.

"Have you seen the house?" she suddenly asked.

"No," replied Bucky, running his hands through her hair. "But Sam told me it was nearby."

Baby Girl hummed. "It's on the far side of the lake, covered by trees. We shared the lake with the Wilsons. Did you know the house is still there? What's left of it anyway. They fixed the damaged parts and put it up for sale. I found out two years ago."

Bucky pulled away from her, meeting her gaze. "It's been up that long?"

"Longer," she replied. "It went up for sale six years ago, but no one will buy it. Who wants to live in a house where an entire family died?"

Bucky wanted to correct her. "You're not dead," he wanted to shout. "You're not at fault. You deserve so much." 

"If I had the money..." she shook her head and dismissed the thought.

Would she buy the house if she could? he wondered. The home where she grew up and created happy memories with her siblings.

Bucky thought about his house in Brooklyn Heights, which had been turned into a poor excuse of a strip mall. The house where he had sleepovers with Steve. Where Rebecca hosted her friends, and Bucky hid underneath her bed to try and scare them. Where he snuck in his prom date, Dorothy, through his bedroom window when his parents were out of town. The time he and Steve were playing baseball on the street, and Steve hit the ball straight through the front window.

Would he buy that house if he could? If it hadn't been bulldozed? He decided he would. He had the desire, and he sure as hell had the money.

"There's no point in dwelling on the past," he parroted. Occasionally, his new therapist offered advice that Bucky kept close to his heart. "You're alive to see another day. Make the most of it."

Baby Girl smiled softly. "You always know just what to say," she teased. "I will."

Bucky was consoled by her steady heartbeat and easy manner. "It's a god-given talent," he shrugged, instantly rewarded by soft giggles and an unenthusiastic shove at his chest.

Once the adrenaline from the scare dissipated, Bucky finally noticed their proximity. Her thighs were bracketing his, and his arms were caging her body. Their breaths mingled in the air between them.

"You're very modest," Baby Girl croaked, jerking away.

Bucky hastily turned to the stove, turning it on and resuming making dinner. "With good reason," he replied, clearing his throat.

He chastised himself while the shrimps finished cooking. Baby Girl had just gotten out of an abusive relationship. Now was not the time to be sweet on her—hovering so close he could smell her shampoo and the scent of her skin.

Wait. Was she out of an abusive relationship? Baby Girl had emphasized that she was only with Quentin because he threatened Sam, Sarah, and the boys. Except, that was no longer an issue as a plan was underway. Bucky knew it, Sam knew it, but did Quentin? Did Quentin assume that his dismissal from the Wilson Residence a few days prior was a fluke? If Quentin returned thinking he could whisk her away as if she owed him anything, he would be sorely mistaken. Bucky would make sure of it.

But where did that leave them? There was obvious attraction—though Bucky was unsure if it was appropriate to act on, considering the circumstances—and they were legal adults, but the path forward felt very unclear. While Baby Girl hadn't shown any unpleasant reactions to Bucky's past, she hadn't particularly reassured him either that it did not bother her. Was it fair to her to be caught up in his mess, along with her own?

So many questions, and yet the answers felt out of reach. Bucky turned around. Baby girl was sitting on the kitchen table, and she gave Bucky a smile that answered at least one question. 

Did she trust him? Her smile said, "Yes. Yes, she did."

Another day passed like all the others. Had it really been over a week since she arrived in Louisiana? Sam and Sarah were still away on "business," and the boys were still at their sleepover—ridiculous really—she knew it was summer break, but there had to be a limit. She and Bucky were still alone together.

Bucky. His name made her burn with embarrassment. Lately, anything and everything related to him made her temperature rise a few degrees. His smile, his presence, his proximity . His hands holding her tight to his chest. Embarrassment always closely followed such thoughts, though for reasons that deeply ashamed her because never, in the entirety of her relationship with Quentin, did she feel like this. Beautiful, and desired, and wanted, and free . Happy.

She had invested around six to seven years in her on-again, off-again relationship with Quentin Beck and never managed to blush as furiously as she did in the presence of Bucky Barnes. The White Wolf. War hero. Sergeant James Buchanan Barnes.

While most girls gushed over Captain America in high school, Baby Girl cut out pictures of his best friend from her textbook and plastered them inside her locker. It was a stupid girl crush, one she quickly outgrew as she matured into a young woman. However, the fascination remained. During the past week, this fascination had transformed from a small, barely there spark to a blazing fire. The gruesome analogy was not lost on her, yet it was the only way to vividly describe her deepening feelings.

Bucky Barnes had lit her heart on fire. And that terrified her. Not because she was afraid of men after her relationship with Quentin, and not because of Bucky's unfortunate past, but because of her unfortunate reality. What did she have to offer a man like Bucky Barnes? She had nothing. No job, no prospects, no backbone with which to confidently regard the world. She had spent six years with an abusive man, and she could have left at any moment—could have gathered the courage to trust her brother Sam to take care of all of them. She hadn't taken the opportunity when presented with it, and there was this man, who hadn't been given any semblance of reprieve, and he was stronger for it.

So, no. While there was obvious attraction between them both, she was not sure it was appropriate to act on. She could never deserve the likes of him.

The path ahead was unclear, but somehow she knew he would be there to guide her. And when he chucked her into the lake that evening, laughing loudly at her temper, she smiled back, hoping her face screamed, "I trust you. I do." 

After an uneventful dinner, Bucky sheepishly announced he had to leave. "I forgot I promised Carlos I'd help with his car."

She raised an unimpressed brow, fixing him with a stern look. He had promised to take her shopping for a new phone, and while she wasn't looking forward to a ride on his death trap, she really wanted her games back. "I didn't know you were a mechanic along with being a war hero."

"I'm not a war hero," he responded mechanically.

The words burst from her lips. "If it weren't for you," she snapped, "Doctor Zola would've been on his merry way to design new techniques to destroy the human race. You stopped him. If that's not heroic, I don't know what is."

"I'm not a war hero," Bucky said again after getting over the initial shock at her outburst.

"But you're a mechanic?"

"I'm not that either," he huffed. "Mr. Thurow needs me to tow his car."

"Excuse me?"

"The company overcharges and always ends up damaging the vehicle. He asked me for a favour."

"Do we have a tow truck?" she asked.

Bucky raised his left hand. "I have a metal arm," he pointed out. "And super strength. I can easily tow a car."

Baby Girl was speechless. "How long will you be?"

Bucky checked his watch. "An hour? Less, if I manage to not get roped into game night."

"Game night? It's a weekday."

"Every night's a game night at the Thurow's," Bucky responded seriously. "We'll get your phone first thing tomorrow morning."

"Promise?" she asked his retreating figure.

"Promise," he replied. "Lock the door, alright? And keep the blinds down."

"Alright, Dad," she retorted, but he had already left.

Baby Girl took a deep breath. This was the first time she had been alone in weeks. She sat down on the couch and closed her eyes. A minute passed, then two, then three. Five minutes later, she opened her eyes and saw only thirty seconds had passed. She groaned from boredom and flopped over the armrest. She was loath to admit that she dearly missed Bucky. There was something in his air and manner of walking that brought peace to her inner turmoil.

She sighed, resorting to cleaning the kitchen, which was not dirty in the least. In the middle of her furiously scrubbing the countertop with a sponge, the landline chimed annoyingly from the other room. "Hello," she answered, twirling the cord with her pinky. "Who's this?"

"Baby Girl!" the jolly voice on the other line bellowed. "I was hoping you'd pick up."

"Sam!" The two talked, catching up on the past few days. It turned out Sam was in Washington. "How's Sarah?" she asked. "Is she enjoying her time away from the boys? They're lovely, but they can be a nuisance."

Sam grumbled something unintelligible under his breath.

"What?"

"She's on a date," he groaned. "Look, I'm happy for her. But I didn't need to see her exchanging spit with a stranger."

"Poor you," she giggled. "And lucky Sarah! Wowza!"

Sam laughed on the other line. "It's great to hear you happy after so long."

"Hmm," Baby Girl hummed, feeling momentarily guilty. "By the way, I thought you and Sarah were going to New Orleans. What are you doing in Washington?"

"He didn't tell you," Sam said with surprise. "I thought he would."

"Tell me what?"

"I know about Quentin," Sam sighed. "I know you're still dating him."

Her breath got stuck in her throat. "He told you?" she asked in disbelief.

"Don't be mad at him," Sam pleaded. "I made him tell me."

There was shuffling on the other end. A loud sniffle.

"I'm sorry I wasn't there for you. I'm sorry you felt like Quentin was the only one you could count on."

"What exactly did Bucky say?" Baby Girl questioned, thinking Sam was too calm about the situation.

"He said Quentin was blackmailing you to stay with him."

Baby Girl sighed. "Is that all? Did he say anything else?"

"Like what?"

"Like... nothing." She realized Bucky had not disclosed any of the more sensitive subject matter. Not the abuse, nor Quentin's impromptu visit. "It's nothing. I'm sorry I kept this from you."

Sam sighed heavily on the other line. "That's in the past. We can only move forward from here on out."

Baby Girl nodded even though Sam couldn't see her. "You have a good friend," she told him. "Bucky's doing a lot to help. He came up with the plan to distract Quentin with "bigger fish," as he put it. Quentin will forget all about me if he finds something more worthwhile. But I'm sure you know all about that."

"He said what? That's not what we planned!" Sam exclaimed. He swore under his breath. "I need to take this call. It's Congress—I'll tell you soon, alright? I'll call you right back."

"Sure," she said, slightly flustered. "I'll be waiting."

Sam ended the call, and she put the receiver down. The second she did, the landline immediately started ringing.

"What took you so long?" she joked with a laugh. "I've been waiting hours for your call."

"You have? I knew you missed me."

Baby Girl felt her heart drop to her stomach. The voice on the other line was not quite as deep, or quite as warm. It was low and raspy, eliciting goosebumps across her arms and bad memories across her skin.

She made to end the call, but his shrill warning stopped her. "You don't want to do that," Quentin hissed.

"What do you want?" she managed to ask between ragged breaths.

"Straight to the point, I see. You've really changed."

"Fuck you!" she seethed. "I asked you a question." She was surprised by her resolve, and so was he.

"What, you're swearing now? That's not the girl I know."

Her body was trembling with adrenaline. "Tell me what you want, or I'll end the call."

She could feel his anger through the line. "I want to talk to you in person."

"Over your dead body!" she yelled.

Quentin was oddly calm with his response. "No, not over mine."

It was so obviously a bait—one she couldn't help but fall for. "What do you mean?"

"It's a shame," he sighed, "that I'm meeting them for the first time under such shit circumstances. They're cute kids. Would've loved New York."

Time seemed to stop.

"Have you boys ever seen the Statue of Liberty? I'll take you once your Aunt comes back home. We can all go together."

There was a muffled noise, then the slam of a door shutting close. It felt like someone had dumped a bucket of ice water over Baby Girl. Her muscles tightened painfully, and she collapsed onto the couch.

"No," she whispered.

Quentin laughed on the other end. "Cat got your tongue?"

Baby Girl closed her eyes, feeling tears of frustration well in the corners. This is why she kept her distance. This is why she wanted to go back to Quentin and back to New York. But she let herself hope in Bucky's presence, let herself believe that she could have a family while keeping her freedom. "You monster," she hissed. "Don't you dare touch them." But there wasn't any heat behind her words, only the bitter taste of defeat.

He tasted it too, and oh, how he reveled in it! Quentin laughed again, low and menacing. "I told you I wouldn't let you leave so easily. Meet me in person if you want to see your dear nephews again. And don't you dare tell anyone," he hissed. "This is between you and me."

Baby Girl ignored his warning and reached into her back pocket to grab her phone and tell Bucky. But her hand came back empty. She didn't have a phone; she didn't even have Bucky's number. And did she really want to risk the boys' lives by going behind Quentin's back? He didn't want them anyway, he only wanted her.

With tears burning her eyes and a fire blazing in her chest, Baby Girl asked, "Where do you want to meet?"

On the other end, Quentin smiled, knowing he had won.

Bucky reached into his back pocket and grabbed his phone. He scrolled through his contacts, realizing too late that he didn't have her number. His face fell, and he sighed deep and slow, garnering the attention of the room. Carlos Thurow had invited some friends for a game of poker and forced Bucky to play a round with them. That was four rounds ago.

"What's got you so down, Sergeant?" Carlos teased. "There a girl waiting for you at home?" The men laughed and cheered, barraging Bucky with questions.

He found himself smiling, and finished his beer in one swig. "I do, actually," he said, grabbing his jacket and walking to the door. "I should get going."

The men cheered him on, and Bucky left feeling light and tingly. It wasn't from the alcohol—Bucky couldn't get drunk anymore—it was her. His Baby Girl.

The walk to Sam's was warm. The stars were out, the sky clear, and the wind blew gently, ruffling the trees around him. Bucky took a deep breath, smelling the ocean air and the earthy trees, listening to the faint sounds of crickets chirping and owls hooting. A night had never been sweeter.

Once at the house, Bucky lightened his footsteps and creeped onto the porch, feeling mischievous and wanting to spook Baby Girl. The living room light was on, and he could see the television playing silently through the thin curtain. Bucky placed a hand on the door, frowning when it creeped open at the slightest touch.

Didn't he tell her to lock the door? And to leave it completely open? Delacroix was a small community inhabited by kind and lawful people, but there was a crazy ex on the loose. He expected Baby Girl to be more careful than that.

Bucky decided he would give her a proper scare for her carelessness and slipped through the entryway. He sneaked into the living room, arms raised like in the movies, and—

She wasn't there. Bucky quickly scanned his surroundings. TV playing, couch pushed askew, the landline dangling from its cord, the edge of the carpet flipped over as if someone had run over it. Bucky rushed to check the rest of the house, the bedrooms, the washroom—he even checked the lake. Nothing.

He went back to the living room, senses dialed to the maximum. There was no sign of a forced entry, and though a scuffle was apparent, there were no prints or marks that indicated there had been another person. Unless they covered their tracks. But then why leave the carpet overturned, the couch askew? Why make it obvious something had happened?

Perhaps Bucky was overthinking, and Baby Girl had run to the store to grab something. She had already proved herself to be impulsive and clumsy. It wouldn't be a huge stretch to believe she forgot to lock the door behind her in a hurry.

Except, she wouldn't have left without her wallet. Bucky bent down to grab her purse from under the coffee table, feeling dread engulf him at the sight. Palms sticky and breaths uneven, he looked around the room once more. This time, he noticed something he hadn't before, a hastily scribbled note peeking out from under the landline.

Bucky snatched the note, careful not to crease it.

"I'm sorry," it began. "I had no choice. He has the boys." 

Bucky's mind began to race with questions. Most namely, "Where?"

It was then that his senses picked up on something new. The faint scent of smoke. Bucky dropped the note and ran out the back, scanning the horizon. There, on the opposite side of the lake, a thick column of smoke billowed from behind the treeline. The beginnings of a large fire. Baby Girl's house was set ablaze, glowing brightly in the dark. Bucky's heart dropped to his stomach, and he ran.

Note: So... I lied. There will need to be another part.

Ao3│Wattpad│Ko-fi

Main Masterlist │Part 1 — Part 2 — Part 3

Comments and Reblogs are appreciated!! 💜

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[superherotiger]

How about JAIL @callie-caje have you considered that?

No cause fuck you quentin beck. You made Peter feel safe after he hadn’t had safety since Tony’s death. You gave him someone to look up to and went and ruined his life. He trusted you so so much, he did everything he could to impress you and beck threw it all away. Fuck you beck because look at Peter’s smile here. He’s happy, truly happy and not even a day later his life and all his work went down the drain so yeah, fuck you beck

[gyll-yee-haw]

Jake Masterlist (part 2)

Mob!Jake

Punishment

Jealous

Taking care of your bruises

Jake's characters

Detective Loki

Smut:

Teach me

Dangerous Game

Bad cop

Ungrateful

Bad girl

Teasing him at work

He's jealous

Fluff:

The first “I love you”

The Storm

He’s tired

You lose a pet (angst + fluff)

Dad!David

Babysitting

Billy Hope

Smut:

Size kink

Mysterio/Quentin Beck

Fluff:

You get hurt

Multiverse: Two Quentins (smutish)

Pregnant!Reader

You're sad

Smut:

The one and only

The most brilliant student

You learn so fast

Loyalty

The Assistant

Villainous duo

Coworkers

Sexual tension

Thigh riding

Friends with benefits

Breeding kink

Innocence kink

Mob!:

Spoiled

Angst: 

He loses you and your daughter

Louis Bloom

Smut: 

Manipulative

Fast learner

Cockwarming

Tall reader

Finding out who he really is

Donnie Darko

Fluff/Smut:

Boyfriend

Keeping him safe

Donnie doesn't know when to stop

Depressed!reader

He's obsessed with u

Unprotected sex (College!Donnie)

Squirt

Mean! Donnie

Morf Vandewalt 

Smut: 

Concept

Bi!Morf

Sam Hall

Smut/Fluff

Childhood friends

Childhood friends part 2

Holden/Tom

Fluff

Concept

Adam x Reader x Anthony

Smut:

The two of you

Adam Bell

Smut

You’re his best girl

Elwood Dalton

Dalton's rules

Preferences (including a few characters)

7 minutes

Lip plumper

Pillow talk

More Jake works on Jake Masterlist part. 1

[rebelliousstories]

Dating Quentin Beck/ Mysterio…

Relationship: Quentin Beck (Mysterio) x Reader

Fandom: Spider-Man: Far From Home

Request: Yes by Anon

Warnings: Fluff, Light Angst

Word Count: 393

Main Masterlist: Here

Jake Gyllenhaal & Co. Masterlist: Here

Summary: Some headcanons of mine about dating Quentin Beck

* Quentin doesn’t trust a lot of people. That’s a given.

* But I could see him having his person that all of his self imposed rules go out the door for

* Just one person, his s/o, that he could spill all of his secrets too, brag about inventions, get input on whatever

* You may not have to hate Tony Stark as much as him, but you can’t like him at all either

* I feel like when he gets in after a long night of planning, and it’s already almost 5:00 A.M., he preps stuff to make for breakfast and then goes to bed

* He’s up anyways

* Why should you have to make him food from scratch?

* Tell me why, on that note, he looks like a sweet breakfast man?

* Quentin looks like he might have a side of sausage, bacon, or eggs, but he’s filling up with some pancakes or French toast

* He has two other meals if he remembers to eat in the the day that he can eat savory and heavy protein

* Mornings are for pancakes, coffee, and sitting in his lap to let him feed you

* His love language is definitely acts of service

* Computer won’t work? He’s not only fixed it, but he’s made it run better than before.

* Running late? He warms up the shower so that you can spend that time getting your outfit laid out.

* Quentin needs you to give him praise

* Any comment you make, he will remember throughout the day to keep him from getting physically violent with his team

* Also, if you leave any sticky notes or just notes in general around for him, he cherishes them like they’re made of gold.

* Quentin keeps a box of momentos in a shoe box underneath his bed that had ticket stubs, Polaroids, those aforementioned notes, etc. etc.

* A particular favorite photo of you two from a date to the carnival that was in town is kept in his Mysterio suit

* Fully uses it and a ring to convince everyone that your his wife

* Although if you two are actually married, he just uses a picture from your wedding day and he doesn’t even have to make the paper look old and worn because he traces your face so much and handles it so much that he doesn’t need to do anything extra

* Anyways…

[ao3feed-brucewayne]

The Stars' Favor

by CosmicCherries When Peter wished to just disappear, he didn't know that it would actually come true. In twisted fate, Peter somehow ended up in a world that didn't exactly look like his. After he was framed for the crime of killing Quentin Beck, AKA Mysterio, and his secret identity was revealed, Peter just wanted to get away from it all. So not knowing that the stars were listening, he wished to disappear. That's how he finds himself here: Gotham. Words: 1752, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English Fandoms: Batman - All Media Types, Spider-Man - All Media Types Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Categories: Gen Characters: Peter Parker, Bruce Wayne, Alfred Pennyworth, Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, Tim Drake, Damian Wayne, Duke Thomas, Cassandra Cain, Stephanie Brown, Uncle Ben Parker (Marvel), Aunt May Parker (Marvel), Tony Stark, Barbara Gordon Relationships: Batfamily Members & Peter Parker, Peter Parker & Jason Todd, Peter Parker & Bruce Wayne, Peter Parker & Damian Wayne, Peter Parker & Tony Stark, Dick Grayson & Peter Parker & Jason Todd Additional Tags: Not Canon Compliant, Homeless Peter Parker, Dimension Travel, Angst and Humor, Protective Dick Grayson, Dick Grayson is Peter Parker's Biological Parent, Peter Parker Acts Like a Spider, Peter Parker is a Mess, BAMF Peter Parker, Good Sibling Jason Todd, Good Parent Bruce Wayne, Protective Batfamily (DCU), Batfamily Dynamics (DCU), Caring Batfamily (DCU), Dick Grayson and Richard Parker (Marvel) are the Same Person, Dick Grayson is Nightwing, Tim Drake is Red Robin, Damian Wayne is Robin, Jason Todd is Red Hood, Barbara Gordon is Oracle, Spidey Sense (Marvel), Spidey Senses are Sentient ish via https://ift.tt/adSNM5O

[kandisheek]

FIC REC WEEK 50 – ENDGAME

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT: JenTheSweetie

JenTheSweetie is such a fantastic writer, in so many aspects. Their grasp of each and every one of the Marvel characters is impeccable, I swear I can hear every line of dialogue in their voices. And the way they can just write anything – fluff, smut, angst, and all with the same level of perfection – is super impressive to me. I love their fics so much, and aside from the ones I'm recommending today, you should just go and read their entire AO3 catalogue, because everything on there is amazing.

Here's some of their work that I think you should check out:

4 out of 5 dentists recommend

Pairing: Steve/Tony Rating: T Words: 1,994 Tags: Fluff, Miscommunication, Relationship Talks

Summary: Tony noticed the toothbrush on a Wednesday, and that was when everything went to hell.

Reasons why I love it: I love how everyone Tony talks to about the toothbrush is so used to his antics that they have perfected their way of averting a Stark-patented meltdown, it's fantastic. Morgan especially made me smile, she's such a badass. And Steve and Tony's conversation at the end is pure perfection. I love everything about this fic, and I bet you will too!

Another Place

Pairing: Steve/Tony Rating: M Words: 30,475 Tags: Falling in Love, Misunderstandings, Canon Divergence

Summary: Tony’s a smart guy, and he’s pretty sure he knows how the story ends.Tony survives the battle with Thanos, deals with fallout, and might be kinda, sorta dating Steve Rogers.

Reasons why I love it: Everything about this fic just blew my mind with how good it is. I love the how and why of this alternate reality, all of the discussions of the socio-political problems after the reverse-blip and seeing what the whole mess with Quentin Beck looks like when Tony is involved. And of course, both Tony's relationship with Pepper falling to pieces and the start of his life with Steve are equally emotional. I love this fic so much, and if you haven't yet, you are definitely missing out!

special dispensation

Pairing: Steve/Tony Rating: T Words: 673 Tags: Everybody Lives, Time Travel, Birthdays

Summary: On the one hand, they’d all agreed that the quantum time machine was a dangerous technological advancement, only to be used under the most dire of circumstances. But on the other hand, it was Steve’s birthday.

Reasons why I love it: Oh my god, this is so funny, I can't. Tony would absolutely do that, holy shit, what a genius idea. And the reactions of all the other Avengers are fricking hilarious. This fic is amazing, and you should definitely read it!

And Time Can Do So Much

Pairing: Steve/Tony, Steve/Peggy Rating: M Words: 11,155 Tags: Fix-It, Quantum Realm, Failing Marriage

Summary: "I really shouldn’t be talking to a figment of my imagination,” Steve said. “Sam would be reading me the riot act. I can hear him now. Therapy works wonders, you know.” “Sounds like Wilson,” Tony agreed. “And therapy does work wonders. You might want to look into it, once it becomes a thing in a couple of years.” “I’ll keep that in mind,” Steve said. -- A few years after Steve moved permanently back in time, he started having conversations with Tony again.

Reasons why I love it: Holy shit, this concept is brilliant. I love how it approaches the consequences of Steve time traveling back to the past and the strain that his knowledge of the future puts on his relationship with Peggy. And every single dialogue between Steve and Tony is pure gold, I love it so much. Definitely go and check this one out if you haven't, it's an absolute must-read.

dress code

Pairing: Gen Rating: G Words: 1,301 Tags: Captain America Sam, Uniforms, Fluff and Banter

Summary: Bucky, to absolutely no one’s surprise, had Opinions on Sam’s new outfit. “No,” Bucky said, scrolling through the options. “No. Oh my god, no. Hey, quick question. Are you trying to make bad guys afraid of you or are you hoping they’ll laugh themselves into submission?” “You can go fuck yourself,” Sam said, snatching his laptop back, but the thing was that Sam kind of agreed with him.Sam decides to consult the expert.

Reasons why I love it: This is such a sweet moment, and one I wish we could have gotten in the MCU. I really loved Falcon and the Winter Soldier and how it addressed all the struggles Sam has with accepting the Captain America identity, and I've always wondered what it would've been like if Steve had still been alive while it was going on. This fic is wonderful, and you should definitely read it.

[ao3feed-irondadspiderson]

Five times Tony Stark refused to admit how much Peter Parker meant to him

https://archiveofourown.org/works/61286416 by burning_ink ... and the one time he didn't. or As Tony and Peter grow closer after Peter's Homecoming, Tony gets confronted with the terrifying possibility of accidental fatherhood. Words: 8604, Chapters: 1/2, Language: English Fandoms: Marvel Cinematic Universe, Spider-Man (Tom Holland Movies) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence Characters: Peter Parker, Tony Stark, Natasha Romanov (Marvel), Wanda Maximoff, Steve Rogers, Sam Wilson (Marvel), James "Rhodey" Rhodes, Quentin Beck, Aunt May Parker (Marvel), Happy Hogan, Clint Barton Relationships: Peter Parker & Tony Stark, Natasha Romanov & Tony Stark, Steve Rogers & Tony Stark, Avengers Team Members & Peter Parker, Clint Barton & Tony Stark Additional Tags: Hurt/Comfort, Fluff and Angst, Angst with a Happy Ending, Tony Stark Acting as Peter Parker's Parental Figure, Tony Stark Has a Heart, BAMF Peter Parker, Tony Stark Needs a Hug, Protective Tony Stark, Father-Son Relationship, Set Between Movie: Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) and Movie: Avengers: Infinity War (2018), Tony Stark Has Daddy Issues, Tony Stark Has Self-Esteem Issues, Peter Parker Needs a Hug, Precious Peter Parker, Hurt Peter Parker, Peter Parker Whump, i am in love with these two dorks, interpret this as starker and I will HAUNT you istg, all the feels read it on AO3 at https://archiveofourown.org/works/61286416

[midnightpink]

My Love Mine All Mine

read it here on ao3

Peter Stark was fifteen years old when he was murdered on September twenty-eighth, 2017.

He wishes that he could say that the world went quiet with his death, that the universe held its breath when he took his last, but that isn’t quite true. Peter knows (because, from his Heaven, he sees everything) that barely anyone even took a pause, took more than a single moment to know his name. He knows that he is a mere speck in the universe, a simple tragedy among millions.

-

Or; an AU of The Lovely Bones where Peter is murdered by Quentin Beck.

by: SpaceCowboysFromMars

Words: 11,299, Chapters: 3/3, Language: English 

Fandom: Marvel Cinematic Universe

Rating: Mature

Warnings: Major Character Death, Rape/Non-Con

Categories: F/M, Gen, M/M, Multi

Characters: Peter Parker, Tony Stark, Pepper Potts, Morgan Stark (Marvel Cinematic Universe), Michelle Jones (Marvel), Quentin Beck, May Parker (Spider-Man), Steve Rogers, Happy Hogan, James "Rhodey" Rhodes

Relationship: Peter Parker & Tony Stark, Michelle Jones/Peter Parker, Pepper Potts/Tony Stark, Peter Parker & Morgan Stark (Marvel Cinematic Universe)

Additional Tags: Tony Stark Acting as Peter Parker's Parental Figure, Peter Parker is Tony Stark's Biological Child, Peter Parker Needs a Hug, Tony Stark Has A Heart, Protective Tony Stark, Pepper Potts Acting as Peter Parker's Parental Figure, Michelle Jones Needs a Hug (Marvel), Quentin Beck Being a Jerk, Heavy Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Child Death, Grief/Mourning, Implied/Referenced Rape/Non-con, Murder, Time Skips, probably the saddest thing ive ever written, Inspired by The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold

[gyllenhaalstories]

MASTERLIST SORTED BY JAKE'S CHARACTERS

last update: december 24

with the new theme, i decided to do a bit of housekeeping! below the read more, you will find a list of all of the CHARACTER related fics. it can be nice to find your way through the rpf, but it's also helpful for me to keep track of which character i wrote for. i will update this post from time to time with new fics and potentially new characters! (divider credits: @/saradika-graphics)

DO NOT REPOST, STEAL OR COPY my fics. MINORS DO NOT INTERACT.

Anthony Swofford

"Who Hurt You?" trope drabble (angst)

Tommy Cahill

Look In The Mirror (smut)

Snowed In (smut)

Don’t Let the Grinch Steal Christmas (smut)

Childhood Friends to Lovers trope drabble (angst & fluff)

Jamie Randall

Oh So Charming (smut)

Very Trainable (smut)

Detective Loki

Cell Block Tango (smut) 

Something to Rely On (fluff)

Fortune Cookie (smut)

Northern Lights (fluff)

Davis Mitchell

Tu es Jolie (smut)

Pillow Talk (fluff)

Jerry Brinson

Works Like a Charm (smut)

Oh, The Mistletoe (fluff & smut)

Morf Vandewalt

Blue Velvet (smut)

Quentin Beck

High Horse (angst)

Joe Baylor

To Be So Lonely (smut)

To Be So Lonely Part 2 (smut)

Danny Sharp

Set Fire to The Rain (smut)

Break Room (smut)

Bubble Gum (smut)

We're Not Cowboys (fluff)

John Kinley

Fireworks (smut)

One Bed trope drabble (fluff)

Elwood Dalton

Leg Lock (smut)

Chokehold (smut)

Elwood Dalton and plus size!reader headcanons (fluff & smut)

Freak Like Me (smut)

Fake Dating trope drabble (angst & fluff)

Bodies In The Sand (fluff & smut)

Rusty Sabich

Alibi (smut)

What Goes Around Comes Around Part 1 (fluff, angst & smut + Barbara Sabich)

What Goes Around Comes Around Part 2 (angst & smut + Barbara Sabich)

Fetish (smut)

[irelandking]

college athlete au fic recs

❤️ = fluff 😔 = angst 🔥 = smut

bucky barnes x reader

multiparts:

for the love of the game - @pellucid-constellations

Bucky Barnes was a menace. NYU’s top baseball player, he was used to girls falling at his feet and could smooth talk his way out of just about anything. You hated him. He couldn’t figure out why. So when the novelty of weekend parties and quick hookups finally wore off—and his feelings for you began to grow—he made it his mission to fix it.  😔🔥

one shots:

my everyday - @pellucid-constellations

Bucky Barnes was aggressive, annoying, and—worst of all—a hockey player. Not your type. At all. But, unfortunately, your roommate ❤️😔

friends for now - @buckybarnesowl

Steve, your brother from another mother, is the captain of the college soccer team. His best friend Bucky and your boyfriend Quentin Beck are on the team too. Beck’s bullshit goes too far and Bucky and Steve have had enough, pushing you to your breaking point. Seeking comfort from Steve, you find Bucky instead. ❤️😔

don't end today - @subwaysurf45

The day that you happily upgraded you from tutor to girlfriend all because of a few nice words. ❤️

hail mary - @barnesafterglow

when you start sneaking around with your brother’s best friend, it’s only a matter of time until you get caught ❤️

a little superstitious - @jadedvibes

The school's football team needs a win and a certain blue-eyed player could use a kiss for good luck to help make that happen ❤️

touchdown - @buckyseternal

you decide to reward your boyfriend after he scores the winning touchdown. 🔥

[holylulusworld]

Jerk next door (6) - Two new players

Summary: You move in next door to a jerk after a bad breakup.

Pairing: Andy Barber x fem!Reader

Characters: Destroyer!Chris, Captain Syverson

Warnings: angst, mentions of past domestic violence (implied), mentions of divorce, mentions of past physical abuse, scared reader, mentions of past alcohol abuse, rueful Andy, mentions of murder

A/N: It's been a while, huh.

Jerk next door masterlist 

<< Jerk next door (5)

“No,” you violently shake your head. “I won’t set foot into his house. Let Quentin come and kill me. It’s better than being under the care of this man.” 

“Miss,” Chris sighs. He’s fucking tired of taking care of other people’s problems. “I’m tired, my head hurts like hell and I haven’t slept for a week. Please give me a break.”

“Oh,” considering his words you look at the stranger in your house again. He looks tired and sick. “Wait, have a seat. Do you want some water? I got not much food left, but I can make you a sandwich.”

“I came here for a reason, miss.”

“Y/N,” you offer a weak smile. “I’m sorry for barking at you. It’s his fault, not yours. You only try to help me.”

“It’s fine,” he shrugs and takes the offered seat in your kitchen. “I get that you are mad at Barber. He’s a handful.”

“So, uh-Mr…” you furrow your brow. “Sorry, I don’t know your name.”

“Just Chris,” he takes the glass of water you placed on the table and chugs it down. “I’m sorry too. It was a rough month…or rather year.”

Chris closes his eyes for a moment and sighs deeply.

“Maybe you should stay out of this shitshow. I already packed the most important things. I’ll try to start anew somewhere else.”

“He will follow you everywhere you go, miss,” Chris opens his eyes. His blue eyes hold your gaze as you try to find a way to keep him out of your problems. “Quentin Beck is the kind of bastard not letting go. He doesn’t love you but won’t let you live your life without him.”

“He will kill me,” you whisper. “Quentin told me so when I finally found the strength to file for divorce. I embarrassed him by revealing what he did to me. Though, no one was there to help me. They all turned a blind eye to my injuries and his behavior.”

“No man should put their hands on a woman,” Chris sneers. “I will make sure he’ll never get close to you, Y/N.”

“Quentin won’t give up.”

“Let him come,” Chris gets up from his chair because you’re rubbing your arms and your teeth chatter. “You’re freezing.”

“I-I’m scared, is all,” you reply. 

“No. You’re cold,” he shrugs his jacket off and puts it around your shoulders. “You need to calm down. I know Andy was a jerk, but he’s our only chance to keep you safe.”

“I don’t want to hide at his place,” you sniffle. “He’s as bad as my ex-husband.”

“Andy would never hurt a woman,” Chris softly speaks to you. “Laurie got him good. She broke something inside of him. Jerk or not, he will do anything to keep you safe.”

“Promised?” You look up at Chris.

“Promised.”

“Bedroom, bathroom,” Andy nervously points at the bed in his bedroom. “I’ll take the guestroom. This one is bigger.”

“This is ridiculous,” you huff and cross your arms over your chest. “If only you left me alone. I didn’t do anything wrong to make you hate me.”

“I don’t hate you, sweets,” he sighs and runs one hand down his face. Andy is fucking tired too. “Please let me at least try to make things up to you.”

“You put me in harm's line!” You throw your hands up. “I finally found a peaceful place and you had to ruin it for me. Even if he believes I left town, Beck will come back. If he sinks his teeth in your flesh, you are his next meal.”

Andy smirks. “Let him come. I’m not the tame and friendly lawyer if you fuck with me.” He cocks his head and watches you sit on his bed. Andy clears his throat and softens his voice. “I changed the sheets, and in the bathroom are fresh towels. I brought all your clothes into the walk-in wardrobe. It’s right through that door.”

Andy points at the door next to the bathroom.

“You can put them on the left side. It’s…empty,” he shrugs when you watch him with curiosity. “A habit.” He adds. “My ex-wife used to occupy the left side. I kinda never changed that. It’s empty since I moved in here.”

“I did the opposite,” you admit. “Quentin used the left side, and I put the silliest things on his side.” You grin. “He would so hate it.”

“Hmm…” Andy nods thoughtfully. “We removed any trace you lived at your house. A friend of mine will take your place. I had an emergency meeting with all the neighbors. They know about you, and Beck. Doris and Peter offered to have an eye on the house.”

“You make it sound so easily,” you wipe your wet eyes. “I used my real name, Andy. Sooner than later Quentin will find my employer, and I’m done for. He will come when I least expect it and…”

You look away. 

“He won’t,” Andy suddenly stands in front of the bed. “I don’t give a shit that he’s a cop. I’m an attorney lawyer, Chris is an ex-cop, and—” 

“And I was the leader of a special forces unit,” another man casually walks inside Andy’s bedroom. “Hello, sugar. Andy told me so much about you.”

“Hi,” you choke the word out, unable to think while crowded by the two of them.

The man holds out his hand. “Oh, she’s shy,” he hums and steps closer to look down at you. He looks even bigger than Andy and Chris. His blue eyes are soft, but his large hand promises more than a friendly handshake if you mess with him. “Captain Syverson, or Sy to you.“

„Hi,“ you squeak as he grabs your hand to shake it. His grip is firm, but you know, this is only a fraction of his strength. “I’m Y/N.”

“A pleasure to finally meet you,” he smirks, still holding your hand. “Andy told me so much about you, but forgot to tell me that you are the sweetest dame I ever laid eyes on.”

“Sy, can you just not?” Chris joins the party. He immediately glares at Syverson, not liking said man is still holding your hand. “We have a lot on our plate. Quentin Beck is sniffing around town. We got to stop him.”

“Let me break his neck then,” Sy grumbles. “Problem solved.”

“We are talking about murder in that case,” Andy ever the lawyer retorts. “We can’t just kill him, okay. All we have to do is convince him that Y/N left town.”

“All we gotta do is rip him a new one,” Chris bites back. “That piece of shit deserves to be punished for the crimes he committed. He’s hiding behind his badge.”

“I did a background check of Mr. Wonderful,” Syverson draws your attention back toward him, and away from Chris. “Y/N wasn’t the first woman he has hurt. Three of his former girlfriends reported him to the police.”

“Let me guess, the reports disappeared,” Chris makes a face. “I told you, he’s a piece of shit and had it coming for a long time.”

“Chris, I appreciate your enthusiasm, but we can’t run around and kill random people. Bastard or not,” Andy stops the two men from conspiring. Both are skilled and undoubtedly able to take Quentin down. “We need to do this the right way.”

“Well, no shit Sherlock,” Syverson grunts. “The other women tried to do it the right way. No one helped them. The reports disappeared, and his colleagues made sure that they didn’t try to file another report.”

Andy scowls at Syverson. “I get it. He’s not a sweetheart and we are on our own. Let’s make sure he’ll never hurt a woman without killing him then.”

You rock back and forth while the men decide on your ex-husband’s fate.

Whatever is going to happen, you are too weak to stop them or Quentin…

Part 7

Tags in reblog.

[ao3feed-petermj]

Merry christmas Please dont call.

read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/yjDt1Y5 by spiderhies Peter was sitting on top of an apartment building alone in his suit. Everyone had forgotten who he was, well, who Peter Parker was. Spider-Man still lived on; he had no one left. Suddenly, all the TVs in New York changed into a black screen, and white letters appeared. OR The world remembers Peter Parker. Words: 1557, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English Fandoms: Spider-Man (Tom Holland Movies) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence Characters: Peter Parker, Quentin Beck (kinda?), Ned Leeds, Michelle Jones (Marvel) Relationships: Michelle Jones/Peter Parker, Ned Leeds & Peter Parker Additional Tags: Identity Reveal, Broadcast, News, peter parker is past caring, spider man no way home - Freeform, Angst, Happy Ending, the world remembers peter parker, my baby doesn’t deserve to be alone any more, merry christmas i’m sorry for this read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/yjDt1Y5