#saying this cause i’ve made steve say that phrase a couple times already

[certifiedlovergirlsstuff]

steve lives to say ‘yes ma’am’ whenever your giving even an once of authority in his direction. he loves it

[the-iceni-bitch]

No Scrubs

Well a scrub checkin' me, but his game is kinda weak

And I know that he cannot approach me

'Cause I'm looking like class and he's looking like trash

Can't get wit' a deadbeat ass

Pairing: Steve Rogers x fem!Reader

Words: 3.1k

Summary: You try to keep Steve from dying of boredom at an Avengers charity gala.

Warnings: explicit language, explicit sexual content (oral sex (f receiving), fingering, unprotected vaginal sex, squirting, public sex), little bit of a fight, SMUT!!! 18+ ONLY!!!!!

A/N: My official entry for @cockslut-padalecki’s “Not My Ninth” challenge!! My prompt was No Scrubs by TLC and Charity Gala. I picked our boy Steve for this one, but like post Avengers pre Winter Soldier Steve. Also, is Thor the best wingman? I feel like I’ve been using him in this role a lot. Happy 9K babe!

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Steve had never felt so uncomfortable in his life.

He hated talking about himself normally, and having to parade around in front of a bunch of rich people was a special kind of torture. But Tony was insistent that the whole team had to be there, and it was for a good cause so he couldn’t say no without being a complete asshole.

He downed the rest of his champagne as some other billionaire asked him the same damn question about how different things were for him now, how much he must miss the 40s, like the war was some golden age of Americana. He just smiled and gave the same polite answers he’d been giving all night, wishing he was able to get drunk. Maybe Thor had snuck in some mead, that could usually do the trick.

“I’m so sorry to interrupt, Captain Rogers, but Mr. Stark sent me to come find you. Something about the silent auction.”

Steve felt his face relax as he turned to look at you, his breath coming out in a deep sigh. You looked amazing in your silver gown, all shimmery and gauzy.

“Sorry folks, duty calls.” He said with a shrug as he followed you away from the stuffed suits. “What does Tony want? I don’t have anything to do with the auction.”

“Yeah, I know, but your jaw was clenched so hard I was worried you were gonna snap something, so I figured I’d come rescue you.” You said, grinning over your shoulder at him.

“God, you’re the best.” He sighed, following you to the bar and leaning against it as you ordered yourself a cocktail.

“I know, right? You want anything?”

“Not unless Thor snuck anything in. It’s only been an hour and I’m this close to ramming my head through a wall.”

“Sorry Cap, I hate these things too but it comes with the territory.” You said with a shrug, sipping on your Manhattan as you turned to face him. “Now, lets go find our Asgardian friend. As your handler, I can’t have you destroying property out of boredom, and I’m pretty sure I saw that giant sipping from a contraband flask a little earlier.”

He grinned as he moved to follow you, weaving through the crowd as you expertly turned away the whales that kept trying to approach him. You were his fifth handler since the battle of New York, and the only one that had lasted longer than a week. Mostly because you didn’t actually try to handle him, just let him be Steve and deal with any PR fallout that came with that. It helped that you had an easygoing nature that he found endearing, and you could always make him laugh. The fight you’d gotten into with Tony about changing his suit had really done it for him though, he hadn’t seen anyone make Stark back down so fast.

“Odinson!” You shouted, beaming once you found the massive blonde. He’d been cornered by a group of old blue hairs who were tittering and trying to touch his biceps. “Sorry ladies, the god of thunder is needed elsewhere, auction business.”

They all made sounds of disappointment as you extracted the relieved looking god from the group of old biddies, pulling him away towards one of the empty corners of the ballroom.

“What is this auction you speak of?” Thor asked once the three of you were separated from the crowd.

“A clever ruse, my good friend.” You said with a smirk. “You’re welcome by the way. The Captain here is on the verge of committing violent acts out of boredom, and expressed a desire to get drunk.”

“Yes, thank you Y/N.” He said with a grin. “I don’t think I can help the Captain with his problem though, maybe he should head to the bar.”

“Oh, you can’t help?” You said cocking your eyebrow at him before shoving your hand inside his tux jacket and pulling out a silver flask. “What’s this then?”

Steve chuckled as Thor tried to stammer out a reply as you just shook your head and tutted at him, handing Steve the flask.

“Listen, just be a good boy and share. Now, I need to go to the ladies room but if any of these rich assholes tries to come bother you again, just start talking about the horrors of war, and get graphic. They hate that shit.”

Steve handed Thor back the flask after taking a sip, already staring to feel a bit of a tingle in his fingers.

“That woman is not to be trifled with.” Thor said appreciatively as he took a swig, handing it back to Steve. “Have you slept with her yet?”

Steve choked on the mead, his eyes bugging out of his head as he tried to cough up a lung and Thor clapped him on the back, scolding him for wasting good liquor.

“Jesus, Thor! What are you talking about? I don’t want to sleep with Y/N!”

“Oh my god, you midgardians and your hang ups. Your hormones spike every time your around her, it’s very distracting.”

“What?!?! How do you know that?” Steve loosened his tie a bit as he felt himself starting to warm up, telling himself it was just from the booze.

“I’m not just the god of thunder, I’m a fertility god.” He said with a grin. “And every time you two are near each other, it’s like being around a couple of rabbits in the spring.”

“Oh god, please stop.” Steve said as he ran his hand over his face in embarrassment.

“No you stop. We’re in a hotel, just get a room and , what’s the phrase I’m looking for ‘fuck her brains out’.”

“Jesus Christ, who taught you that? Never mind, I know it was Tony.” He said, waving a dismissive hand at Thor as he gave him a wicked grin.

“Oh no.” Thor said suddenly, looking over Steve’s shoulder towards the ballroom.

“What now?” Steve said with a heavy sigh, turning to follow his line of sight to where you were standing, talking to an unsteady looking man in a sloppy tux. “Rumlow.”

“Yes, apparently your STRIKE team leader has been sniffing after your handler for months.” Thor narrated, leaning against one of the columns and taking another pull from the flask. “She’s always rebuffed him, though. I don’t think he’s ever tried when he’s drunk before. Wait, Rogers!”

Steve ignored him as he strode towards you, growling under his breath and loosening his tie even more as he watched Rumlow wrap his hand around your bicep and yank you towards him. Steve was close enough to see you roll your eyes, but couldn’t hear what you said to the man as he wrapped his other arm around your waist and smashed his mouth against yours.

“Hey!” Steve shouted, his brow furrowed as Brock pulled his face away from yours to see what the interruption was about.

You took your chance and head butted him, a curse leaving his mouth in a hiss as he released you. You gripped his left wrist around his thumb and drew it back hard, smirking when you felt a snap at the same time you drove you fist into his ribs.

Steve had to pull you off him as you started beating him with your clutch, opening it up at the same time to search for your brass knuckles.

“You don’t fucking touch me, you goddamn sloppy deadbeat motherfucker!” You screamed as Steve carried you away from the main floor, your limbs flailing as you tried to charge back at Rumlow. “Learn to tie a fucking tie you cocksucking son of a bitch.”

Steve did his best not to crack up at the shocked looks the blue bloods were giving you, a chorus of offended gasps following the two of you as you released a steady stream of profanity. He pushed open the doors to the balcony with one hand as he kept his other hand wrapped tightly around your waist as you were still trying to squirm free.

“Damn it, put me down Rogers! I’ll kick your ass too!” You hissed, turning to swat at his chest.

“Okay, okay, Jesus Christ!” He said as you started to kick him, catching him in the shins a couple of times. “Ow.”

“You’re fine.” You said with a shrug, taking a couple deep breaths to calm down.

“Yeah, well Rumlow definitely isn’t. Who gave you brass knuckles?” He said, pulling the weapon out of your clutch.

“Nat did. And it’s not like I even got to use them on that asshole.”

“Yeah but you would’ve.” He said, shaking his head as he handed them back to you. “He didn’t hurt you did he?”

You just snorted as you shoved the knuckles back into your clutch, leaning your back against the railing.

“Good.” He mumbled, suddenly not knowing what to say to you.

You somehow looked even better after your altercation. Your hair was a wild tangle now, loose strands blowing in the breeze. Your lips were swollen from the unwanted kiss, and Steve could feel the heat coming off you as your chest heaved with deep breaths. He hissed through his teeth when he noticed the torn skin on your knuckles.

“Shit, Y/N, you’re bleeding.” He growled, grabbing your hand to inspect the damage.

“Huh, guess so.” You said, watching him through your lashes as he brought your hand closer to his face.

You felt your breath hitch as he ran his thumb over the back of your hand softly, his brow still furrowed with worry. Maybe it was just the adrenaline from the fight, but all you could think about just then was sucking on his thick fingers.

“Y/N?”

“Hmm?” You must have zoned out for a second.

“You sure you’re ok?”

“I’m great.” You said, your voice a little squeakier than you would’ve liked.

He took a step closer to you and you gasped, suddenly feeling very light headed as you felt a rush of slick flood your panties. His hand left yours and moved to cup your cheek, his thumb tugging at your bottom lip where you had it pressed between your teeth.

“I think I’m gonna kiss you now.” He muttered, his eyes boring into yours, pupils blown wide with lust.

“Good.” You whispered.

His mouth devoured yours, his teeth pulling your lips open so he could slip his tongue inside, curling it against yours as he wrapped his arm around your waist and pressed you against him. You moaned as you felt his cock hardening against your abdomen, your pussy throbbing with need as he ground himself into you.

He started to sink to his knees and you followed him, your mouth still pressed to his desperately. His hand moved from your waist to dig under your skirt and he let out a growl when he brushed his fingers against your core, pressing them against the soaked silk of your panties.

“Fuck, I wanna taste you so bad.” He grumbled, his lips still pressed to yours. “Wanna see if you taste as good as you smell.”

“Oh god, Steve.” You moaned as he hooked his fingers through the side of your panties and ripped them off you, the elastic snapping against your skin and a shove going up your spine as the night air cooled the wetness between your thighs. “Do it.”

He grinned and gave you a quick peck on the lips before he started to move his mouth down your throat. His hand between your legs started rubbing you in big slow circles as he laid you down, putting just enough pressure on you that you were quickly turning into a wriggling mess.

“Hold still, honey.” He ordered, pulling the sleeves of your dress down just enough that your breasts could pop out, your nipples pebbling in the chilly air. “I’m gonna take my time with you.”

“Fuck.” You moaned as he dragged his tongue over your nipple in a heavy stripe before flicking it softly. Your hands dug in his hair as he sucked and licked at it, just barely brushing it with his teeth until it was raised to an overly sensitive peak before he moved to the other nipple and repeated the process, making you whine.

Once he was satisfied with his work, he pressed a soft kiss to each breast before moving his face between your legs. His hand was making soft wet sounds now as he kept rubbing your sex, and he groaned when he removed it to take a good look at you.

“Fuck if that ain’t the prettiest pussy I’ve ever seen.” He murmured as his lips brushed over your inner thigh.

Your cunt was pulsing with need under his gaze, your plump folds swollen and flushed with heat as he watched you clench around nothing. Everything between your legs was coated in a thick layer of your arousal, and he bit his lip as he watched even more leak out of you.

“I bet I could make you cum with almost nothing, sweetheart.” He teased as he nipped at the soft skin of your inner thighs, inching closer to your pussy before moving away again.

“Steve, please!” You whined, trying to arch your back into his face as you tugged on his hair.

He just grinned before pressing his tongue over your pussy and swirling it through your folds. He had to press his palms down on your hips to keep your body from curling back on itself as he ran his tongue over your sex, lapping at your pussy like his was the first meal he’d had in weeks.

“God you taste so good.” He murmured as he gazed at you through his lashes. “Like fucking peaches.”

You sobbed as he thrust his tongue inside you at the same time his lips wrapped around your swollen clit, making you come immediately. He curled his tongue inside you as your release flowed into his mouth, moaning into your pussy as you spasmed against his face.

Your breath was coming in ragged gasps as you came down, your muscles still twitching randomly as aftershocks shook through your abdomen. He grinned as he sat up over you, undoing his tie before moving to take off his belt as you writhed underneath his gaze. Your brain finally reset and you sat up between Steve’s legs, nuzzling yourself into his neck as you worked to unbutton his shirt.

“You back, honey?” He chuckled as you ran your teeth over his collarbone, dipping your hands under his shirt to press against his chest. “I was a little worried.”

“You’ll find I’m extremely resilient, Steve.” You murmured before sinking your teeth into his pec as you started to undo his fly.

“Shit, good to know.” He groaned as you drew his cock out of his pants and gave it a squeeze.

He gripped your chin and drew your face up to his, raising you up to your knees as he gave you a soft kiss. You moved his cock in your hand to line him up with your entrance, teasing his tip against your folds. Steve wrapped his hands around your waist and lifted you a bit higher before slowly drawing you down onto his length.

You let out a thin keen as he stretched you open, relishing the sting as your cunt fluttered around him, adjusting to his girth. He rested his forehead against yours as he started moving his hips at a languorous pace.

“Fuck, you feel so good.” He muttered against your lips before moving to bury his face in your shoulder. “So tight and warm and soft.”

You gripped the hair at the base of his neck tightly as his hips started moving faster, slapping against yours. You felt yourself clench around him as he ground against your clit, making you gasp.

“Shit, Steve! Right there!”

“Jesus, already?” He murmured, running his lips over your throat.

“Just... fuck, you’re so big, Steve. Oh my god, I’m cumming.”

He hooked a hand under your ass to keep you from collapsing as your entire body arched violently, almost bending backwards on itself as you swallowed a scream. Your cunt fluttered and spasmed around him as he lifted you to wrap around him, his breath hot against your neck.

“Holy shit honey.” He muttered as he pulled you down against him, making you whimper. “You ok?”

“I’m great. Don’t you fucking stop.” You said, tilting his head back so you could press your mouth to his.

He grinned against your lips as he fucked his hips up into you, keeping his eyes locked on yours as his cock dragged over every inch of you, nudging against your cervix and making your breath hitch.

“Right there?” He asked as you dug your nails into his scalp and bit at his lips.

“Fuck, oh goddamn it, Steve.”

You shrieked into his mouth as you came apart, your muscles seizing as your pussy strangled his cock. His hips stuttered and you were suddenly flooded with warmth, his spend sitting into you and coating your canal in thick white ropes. He sat back on his heels and pulled out of you, and you shuddered as your release squirted all over the front of his pants.

“Shit, did you just squirt honey?” He asked, giving you an appreciative glance as he started to tuck himself back in and button his shirt up.

“I think so. Fuck, that’s never happened before.” You said with a shrug.

“Well, damn baby.” He said as he stood up, offering you a hand to help you to your feet.

“Shit, we’ve gotta go back in there.” You said, running your hand over your face. “Oh my god, Stark is going to kill us. Hold on and give me a second to think.”

Steve just leaned back on the railing and gave a satisfied smile as he watched you pace back and forth, wringing your hands.

“Ok I think I’ve got it, just one second.”

You went to the door and opened it a crack, popping your head through, jumping when you found Thor leaning against the wall right there.

“Hey, Thor. What’s up buddy?”

“Just keeping the other guests from wandering out and seeing you and the Captain humping like rabbits.”

“Appreciate it. We need a distraction though, cuz we’re both a little messy, and I don’t really feel like explaining that to everyone.”

“Got it, what if I blow out the lights in that chandelier?”

“I think that’ll probably work.” You said, giving him a nod before turning back to Steve. “Alright Rogers, we’re making a run for the elevator. Thor, blow it.”

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[stressisakiller]

As You Wish

Steve Rogers x Reader Soulmate AU

(As you wish Part 2)

Summary: What happens when after moving into Stark Tower you run into a certain Captain

Warnings: None really, fluff, like one cussword a little bit of spice

Word Count: 2.4k

A/N: Fluffy chapter yay!  Let me know what you think and if you have any requests for future chapters! Thank yall for reading!’

<< Previous   Next >>

Life working side by side with Tony was dangerous. When Killian attacked Tony it was you not Pepper who was taken and subjected to the Extremis serum. This caused you to heal crazy fast and gave you super strength, which was pretty cool but not very useful for someone who spent most of their time in a robotics lab trying not to crush something when it wasn't working.

You later discovered that Killian mistakenly believed that you were in fact Tony's soulmate, while you had always thought that it was Pepper. She quickly refuted your claim when you told her, pulling the back of her jeans down enough to show the smiley face that graced her butt cheek. Turns out that her soulmate was none other than Happy the head of security.

 About six months after the battle of new york, after Tony and the whole Killian/Mandarin situation, Tony asked very nicely if you would move into the Avengers tower with him. He needed to get the Avengers tower going, and after everything that happened and his panic attacks, he really didn't want to live there alone. He was also hoping that if you lived in the tower that the avengers would be more willing to as well. By this point you had met and become friends with most of them save for Captain America, he hasn’t been around much. He was trying to find his place in this new world and taking as many missions as Shield will give him in order to feel needed 

The tower was much different this time than the last time you had been there. There was less plastic film and dust everywhere and all of the construction work was done. Most notably, the wall on Stark's living room floor was no longer a gaping hole.

The top eight levels of the tower were for the avengers. The penthouse was where Tony stayed, no surprise there. The level directly below was his lab space which was restricted access for the most part and then there was the common level under that. The common level was composed of a large kitchen and dining area, as well as a massive living room with the biggest tv you had ever seen. This floor also houses a theater, and an arcade room equipped with pool tables and any other game you could think of. Tony is such a child sometimes, not that you were complaining you loved to play pool. The next three floors are where you and the rest of the Avengers would live. You would each get your own suite that you could arrange and decorate however you saw fit. Each suite includes a kitchenette, and small living room that was separate from the bedroom, and a massive ensuite bath. The lowest two levels were dedicated to the training room and medical ward, as well as a giant pool and sauna area, these floors allowed for outside access as long as they were vetted.

Six months later, life in the tower was going well. You, Tony and Bruce, were the main people living there. You could understand that though, Nat and Clint were constantly out on missions for shield and mainly stayed on base in DC. Tony told you that Steve was currently living in an apartment in DC. He didn't want to live on base but he was running missions for Shield on and off. Thor was off-world with Loki so life was pretty quiet. 

 Then there was a mission that the Captain went on that didn’t go the way he thought. He was wounded and brought back a captive. You were in the common area when the door was thrown open and a bloody Steve Rogers burst through carrying a soaking wet girl over his shoulder.

“The Medical wing, where is it?” He questioned voice hard from pain or fatigue or both. 

“This way.” you hurried off, not looking behind you, you knew that he would follow. 

When you arrived, you called for Dr. Cho and Steve told her what was going on and placed the girl on a stretcher. The nurses pushed her to a room to monitor her until she woke up. He was then shown to a separate room to be looked over and have the bullet removed. 

 That night Tony pulled you into the living room to watch your favorite movie, the princess bride. It was about halfway through when an exhausted Steve came through the door and flopped down on the couch beside the one that you and Tony were currently lounging on. It was coming to your favorite part, Buttercup was currently yelling at the Dread Pirate Roberts and about to push him down the hill.

“Oooh,” you said hitting Tony’s shoulder, “I love this part,” you spoke along with Wesley as he rolled down the hill, “As you Wiiiisssshhhh.” you clapped your hands together, “that will forever be the best reveal ever.” 

You didn’t notice Steve’s stare as you said those words. Holy Shit he thought his tattoo finally made sense, and yet the girl that fate said was perfect for him had her legs thrown over Tony’s lap and was leaning against him while watching the movie. He stood quickly and stomped out of the room, today was just not his day. 

 You look over at Tony confused when Steve left.

“What the hell do you think that was about?” you asked, growing more confused as you noticed the smirk on Tony’s lips.

“Why are you smiling like that?” You had to stop yourself from slapping him when he started to laugh.

“What the hell, Stark, tell me what's going on?”

“I think that Capsicle just realized that you're his soulmate.” He said through chuckles.

“What the fuck do you mean he realized that I’m his soulmate?” you asked your whole body going still as you waited for him to elaborate.

“I thought you had realized this earlier,” he said looked genuinely confused, “The captain is your soulmate, I’ve known since we had that movie night after finding him in the ice. Your tattoo is his dog tags with the flower of his birth month and a phrase that I’ve heard him say multiple times while next to him in a fight.”

You just sat there frozen trying to comprehend what exactly the man sitting in front of you was saying. 

“You know, he may be a little jealous that his soulmate was cuddling someone else since he probably doesn’t realize that you're like a sister to me. You should probably go after him.”  His words seemed to break you from your trance as you threw yourself very clumsily from the couch to follow after him.

“Jarvis, where did Rogers go?” 

“He is in the training room miss.”

“Thanks, J”

You ran all the way down, opening the door you were met by the scene of Steve hitting a punching bag so hard that it broke and flew off of its chain.

“You know, I’m not sure that those are made to withstand the punch of a super soldier, maybe I should design one that can,” you said leaning against the wall and trying not to show the fact that your heart was beating a million miles a minute.

“And why would you feel the need to do that, I’m sure Stark has plenty of things that he needs you to design that are more important than a Steve-proof punching bag.” You could tell that he was gritting his teeth as he spoke, reaching for another bag. You step towards him slowly, making sure not to walk too quickly from fear of him leaving.

“Well I’m sure that the great Tony Stark can take care of himself, and anyways, I think creating something to make my soulmate's life easier is more important.”

He slowly pulled his eyes from the punching bag that he was hanging onto the hook to look at you, pain obvious in his eyes.

“Really? Cause you seemed pretty comfortable with him.” you could see the vulnerability in his eyes as he spoke, he had gone through so much already.

“Yes really, Tony is more like an annoying older brother than anything. I’ve been working around him for the past five or so years, trust me when I say that I have no desire to date him. You on the other hand.” You made sure that your voice turned teasing on the last words, you wanted to make him smile, you hadn’t gotten to see that yet.

“Well good, cause I think I may have to kick his ass if you did.” You could hear the teasing lilt in his voice and the hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth. But as quickly as it came it was gone.

“How long have you known?” his voice cracked a little as he spoke. You let out a small huff of a laugh.

“Would you believe me if I told you that Tony had to tell me when I was confused as to why you left the room?” His eyes snapped to yours.

“Really? You didn’t know?”

“After not meeting my soulmate by the time I turned 25 I just pushed it to the back of my mind, I stopped trying to figure out what my tattoo meant and I focused on my work. Plus there were a couple of life-threatening instances that distracted me." You joked. You weren't 100% sure how to handle this situation, your main friend group consisted of a playboy philanthropist and a science nerd that turned into a giant green guy when angry, not really the best people to show you how to be vulnerable.

“I understand that," he said pausing before continuing, "part of my problem was that my tattoo didn’t show up until after I came out of the ice.” he looked down at his hands and you noticed that they were fidgeting, he must be just as nervous as you.

“I didn’t know that,” you murmured, deciding to ask the question that was begging to be asked.

“What is your tattoo, if you don’t mind me asking?”

He shook his head, “Not at all.” he stepped towards you and pulled up his sleeve, and turned out his arm so you could see the flesh just under his armpit. As soon as you saw the tattoo you burst out laughing.

“Of course that’s what my mark is, man I’m such a nerd.” You clutched your stomach as you laughed, tears coming to your eyes from the range of emotions that you are currently going through.

“Can I ask why I have this tattooed on me?” He questioned, clearly curious to the reasoning as to why he had a movie quote on his arm forever. You were finally able to pull yourself together and sober up from the surprise of his tattoo.

“That movie came out the year after I was born and it was my mom’s favorite movie to watch with me, we watched it at least 4 times a year. But we always made sure to watch it on my birthday as a family, it became an integral part of my life, plus it’s just sooo quotable.” you said with a smile, “Do you want to look at my tattoo?” you asked motioning at your arm with your head. He slowly nodded, not able to find the words.

You slowly pulled your sleeve up, showing him the inside of your forearm and the dog tags that graced your skin. He stepped forward gently taking your arm in his hand so that he could study the markings on your skin. Tracing the outline and the words that he could see before smiling.

“What does it mean?” you asked softly looking at him through your lashes.

“It’s um,” he cleared his throat, “it’s my dog tags or at least the lower one is, it says my name, then Captain America and the city I was born in, Brooklyn. The top one however is something that I always seem to say when I’m getting beat up in a fight in order to remind myself that I could do it. And the flower… I think it’s the flower from my birth month? I was born in July so I think it’s a reference to that.” You nodded at his explanation, his fingers still gently tracing over your skin, causing goosebumps to pop up from the feeling.

“So, would you like to watch the movie with me? We can start it over so that you won’t be lost. I know that you struggle with pop culture, old man.” You smirked at him as you spoke, he just rolled his eyes.

“Be careful, this old man could still show you a thing or two.”

You laughed out loud at that, your laugh changed to a squeal when you felt him wrap his arms around your legs and throw you over his shoulder. 

“Ahh, let me down!!” you beat at his shoulders trying to get him to release you but he wouldn’t budge, he just continued to carry you until you ended back in the living room and he threw you down onto the couch. He wasn’t even breathing hard after carrying you up 2 flights of stairs, jerk. 

Tony was nowhere to been seen as you restarted the movie. You ran and grabbed some more popcorn to share, pouring in some M&Ms before plopping back down next to Steve and pulling on your couch blanket. It didn't take long for you to cuddle into his side and for your eyes to droop. 

Steve smiled at you when he realized that you had passed out before you even got to the part he had walked in on earlier. He didn't mind though, he just got comfortable and pulled you in closer before allowing himself to relax and fall asleep. 

Tagged Users: @writerwrites

[thran-duils]

Lost in Zero Gravity (P.23)

Title: Lost In Zero Gravity (Part Twenty Three) Summary:  Fem!Reader x Mob Boss!Tony Stark x Mob Boss!Steve Rogers.  Reader is a call girl who runs high end parties. She catches the attention of Tony Stark who invites her back to his room with his friend. She might have performed too well because she becomes their new favorite play toy and they don’t like to share. Words: 2,693 Warnings (for the fic in entirety): Smut, prostitution, infidelity, angst, domestic violence, stalking, possessive behavior, drug use

Part Twenty Two || Part Twenty Four || Masterpost (mobile) || Fanfic masterpost

“What do you want me to say? What do you want me to do?”

Steve shrugged, “You don’t have to say or do anything yet.”

“’Yet’,” Cecile scoffed, digging her fingernails into the wood of the kitchen table. Steve sat to her right, facing her.

The car ride home had been silent, the tension stifling. As soon as she had walked through the door, she had gone upstairs and left Steve in the foyer of the house. He had called Y/N then.

“Are you still in agreement?” he asked.

“Yes. But—”

“Then I’ll get an appointment set up for you so you can check to see how far along you are. Have Tony reach out to me if you insist on him collecting the contract from me instead of yourself,” Steve cut her off. He paused for a moment before he said softer, “I really wish you would reconsider what you are asking me to do. It doesn’t have to end like that.”

“No. It doesn’t. But it’s going to,” Y/N said, only a slight waver in her voice. “I’ll speak to Tony. Goodbye, Steve.”

She hung up on him.

“Yes. Yet. I’ll give you time to think.”

Cecile was quiet for a few moments before she asked, “You really wouldn’t give me anything substantial if that is what I decided?”

Steve narrowed his eyes and said, “I told you I would give you some.”

“But nothing more?”

“Why the fuck would I?” Steve snapped, giving her an incredulous look. “Having me fund your life away from me? That’s a fucking ridiculous and heartless thing to even suggest.”

“So what are we going to do then, Steve? Cause you’ve made it crystal clear you are not going to claim the child as your own. Does blood really matter that much to you?”

Steve chewed on his cheeks, glowering down at her. “In this instance, yes, yes it does. All I’m gonna see when I look at that child is you loving someone else.”

“We could try again, Steve. After—” Cecile tried to say but he interjected.

“I might have a solution. But it involves adoption for your baby.”

That caught her completely off guard, her mouth falling open before she asked appalled, “Adoption?”

“Mhm,” Steve confirmed, unbothered by her reaction.

“What plan?” Cecile demanded, crossing her arms sternly.

“I’m not ready to talk about it.”

“You might as well lay it all out for me, Steve, so I can make an informed decision.” Steve snorted at her phrasing, and she snapped, “I am serious.”

Steve studied her for an uncomfortable amount of time before he said, “You would give your child up for adoption and mine would take its place.”

“Yours?” Cecile asked confused. Steve stared at her silently, waiting, and realization washed over her, her arms relaxing every so slightly. She looked kicked, shaking her head. Her hurt turned to anger in the blink of an eye though. “Oh, so your infidelity can live underneath the roof but mine can’t?”

Steve’s hand slammed on the table, and she jumped at the sudden movement. Leaning forward he sneered, “It’s not the same. I don’t love her like you love him. And if it is my child, it’s because I knew you were unfaithful, and I went to great lengths to get it.” Cecile’s face screwed up in confusion and Steve ignored her, “And if this other plan doesn’t work out, well, then we are still going to talk about adoption because I am not going to raise a child that isn’t mine. As I’ve made crystal clear, as you said.”

“You won’t even give it a chance?” Cecile asked furious. “What if you grew to love them? They won’t ever have to see him. All they would know would be you as their father. I swear that.”

“Right back at you. She wouldn’t be in the picture.” Cecile’s mouth formed a thin line and Steve cocked an eyebrow. “Hmm, doesn’t sound so appealing to try when the table is turned?”

“If you make me give them up... what? Do you think I’ll just sleep with you again? Try again? That will be right out the window. I will resent you forever, Steve.”

“Go ahead.”

“You can’t keep me trapped here because of money.”

“I’m not,” Steve laughed humorlessly. “You’re doing that yourself because it seems to be what you really care about. If you didn’t, you would have no problem telling me you want a divorce right now and walking away. But you’re not. And you’re showing me your true colors plainly.”

“So, you would be fine living in a loveless marriage?”

“I’m already doing that. It’s very one sided. You played well. On vacation I mean. I felt happy there, lying in bed with you for long mornings. Cuddling you... it felt good. But apparently, it was all an act.”

“It wasn’t. I’m just appalled at you right now and you’re showing your true colors. All you care about is control! You don’t love me, Steve! You want to own me! For me to be miserable!”

Steve was out of the chair in a second, it flying back with the ferocity of his movement. He towered over Cecile, and she cowered under his prowess. Sneering, he told her, “If I could dig out whatever feelings I have for you and be rid of them, I would do it in a second. I’m sick of being desperate for you to reciprocate my affection and knowing it will never happen. I want to be free of you. But since it seems I can’t do that, then yeah, you’re right. I want you to suffer with me.”

Cecile began to shake her head, but Steve did not give her a chance to speak before he turned on his heel and stormed out of the room.

<><><>

Tony was awake when you walked back inside, catching you off guard. He was looking at you expectantly, suspicious probably that you had closed the door and spoken outside.

“It’s not his,” you told him evenly, walking towards the fridge.

Opening the door, you grabbed out the water pitcher and poured yourself a glass. Tony was quiet behind you as you took a long drink. You felt a little numb as it sunk in that you were going to have to go through with this. But it had to be this way, it was how you were going to get out of owing Steve. That phone call was a blessing; that is how you had to look at it.

“What was it like?” you asked Tony, turning around.

“What was what like?”

“Pregnancy for your wife.”

“Tiresome. Endless cravings and mood swings,” Tony responded surly, sitting on the edge of the couch. He leveled you with a stare and said seriously, “You know I could just pay him, right? What he owes. And then you would not have to worry about any of this.”

“I’ve already told him I would do it; he’s already working to set up an appointment. And I don’t think he’ll take too kindly if I back out. Especially now that he found out that his wife isn’t carrying his kid.”

Tony shook his head, “I wish you hadn’t called him and put that idea in his head at all. You could’ve… never mind. I know I asked you what you wanted and I meant it.” He sighed, running his hand through his hair.

“He wants you to contact him about the document.”

“Right,” Tony muttered, standing up from the couch. He straightened out his clothes and said, “I… I do need to go home. It’s Forest’s birthday in a couple days and I should be around for that.”

Your stomach clenched at that. He had not left you alone for multiple days since Steve had whisked you away from the apartment.

“You’ll be alright?”

Despite what you felt, you nodded, trying to reassure him. He nodded in acknowledgement and walked over, giving you a quick kiss on the forehead. He would barely meet your eyes.

“I’ll check in.”

You opened your mouth to say something, but he was quick to turn around and search for his keys. He was in a rush to leave now.

“Tony…” He hesitated, keys in hand, looking back over at you. You sighed, “Nothing. Sorry.”

When the door closed behind him, you stared at it. He was upset about the whole ordeal, that was clear. You had a suspicion he wanted to just be rid of Steve entirely but now he would be around for almost another year.

<><><>

Tony pressed the call button on his Bluetooth and settled back into the seat as he drove.

“Funny how you’ll call when she asks you to but not answer me when I’ve tried multiple times,” Steve answered dryly.

Ignoring his clear jab, Tony said, “Y/N said you are working on a document I need to get perused.”

“It’s already done.”

“You are always good about being prepared. Leave it on my desk.”

“You got it. I’ll do it in the morning,” Steve returned just as shortly before hanging up on him.

Tony rolled his eyes, “Fucking prick.”

<><><>

Tony’s hand was at your back as he held the door open for you and you walked past him into the doctor’s office. Steve was waiting in the lobby and you tensed seeing him in person. His eyes fell on you and his lips upturned ever so slightly before he noticed Tony over your shoulder and his smile faltered. He recovered quickly though, standing up to greet you. You stopped a few paces from him, and he gestured for you to sit. You took his seat, keeping an eye on him. But his attention was on Tony.

“A word?” he asked.

Tony shot you a quick look before he nodded, turning and Steve followed. When they were around the corner, Steve let out a small laugh.

“Couldn’t let her come alone?” Steve asked, amusement in his eyes.

“I’m not an idiot, Steve,” Tony said stiffly.

“So, are you gonna be a third wheel every checkup if it happens to be mine?”

“You’re damn right.”

“You’re really going to let this break up the team.”

“I am letting –,” Tony started to snap in disbelief before he shook his head. “No, I’m not doing this here.” He made to walk around Steve, but Steve stepped into his path and Tony’s mouth set into a thin line.

“You’re right. She’s pregnant and sensitive. Zen and all in her environment. Are you doing that? I just can’t be sure because I am not around.”

“She’s perfectly fine.”

Steve ran his eyes over Tony before asking point blank, “Were you looking at her as a replacement from the get-go?”

“Pardon?”

“You heard me. Was this how you wanted it to end up? You and her, living in a place together? And you know you are quite sneaky. You never drive there. At least I haven’t seen it yet. Is there a landing pad? For the suit I mean? Or do you just land outside on the sidewalk?”

Snorting, Tony told him, “Shouldn’t be surprised you’ve been stalking — or asked someone else to. I anticipated that. That’s the thing about us smart guys. We always cover our asses.” He stepped closer to Steve and said in a dangerous tone, “You’re gonna leave her alone after this, Steve.”

Steve smirked, a cruel glint in his eye. “Heard you loud and clear. We can both get what we want.”

Tony did not trust him farther than he could throw him.

<><><>

“It’s legit. I had one of my lawyers look it over,” Tony explained to you, sitting down at the table beside you as you worked on a coloring page. You were finding it really helped calm your nerves to focus on them.

“So, I just sign it?”

“Essentially,” Tony said, straightening out his suit jacket. “I had them take a copy of it to keep on file for me. And I’ll ask Steve for a copy of the final signatures.” His eyes narrowed slightly, looking at you. You stared back, waiting for him to ask whatever it was that was on the tip of his tongue. “You really want to go through with it?”

“Yes. Why are you so against it?” you asked, not accusatively, but curiously.

“He’s been a loose cannon. It makes me nervous,” Tony answered honestly, sighing a little. “And it’s not like him and I are ones who typically follow the law. This document may mean nothing, it may just be a smoke screen. I mean, there is nothing in here about him leaving you alone even when he pays you out. It’s mainly just that you are giving up your parental rights once the baby is born and he becomes legal parent.”

“I don’t think he’ll want anything to do with me after he has the baby,” you told Tony. “That’s what he wants.”

Tony muttered, “I wouldn’t be so sure.”

You reached out and grasped his hand, catching his eyes. “Seriously. If he really cared about me, he wouldn’t have done anything that he did. It’ll be fine.”

Tony sucked his teeth, like he wanted to say something else but he just nodded.

<><><>

The first appointment had shown you were six weeks along. Which meant New Years Eve. That still left the door open for Steve to be the father. The next three weeks were nerve wracking; you found yourself pacing more often than not, lost in thought. Elisha had come over a handful of times to distract you – you had not told her you were pregnant, you did not want to have that conversation with her.

Now, you found yourself back in the doctor’s office. You had come back to the room to Dr. Varma with Steve. You had been hesitant, but the procedure would not take long.

“And Mr. Rogers, I’ll contact you. Ten days,” Dr. Varma told him, finishing up.

You opened your mouth and Steve cut you off, seeing you about to protest. “Dr. Varma already has my contact information. We have rapport.” You eyed him curiously. Was this… no. You pushed the thought of your head. That was preposterous. Steve would not take you to the same doctor his wife was going to. Sticking out his hand, Steve shook Dr. Varma’s hand and stood up. He turned, helping you get up and you tensed beneath his touch. If he noticed, he did not show it. “Until next time.”

<><><>

Thankfully, you had not had any morning sickness, a real blessing considering you had been terrified of it. You did not like vomiting. And it looked good that you would not get it considering you were approaching the eleventh week. You were finding yourself tired though. A lot.

Sipping on a smoothie, you flipped through Hulu, just as your phone rang.

You sat up and placed your smoothie on the coffee table, reaching for your phone. Your hand hovered above it for a second, seeing it was Steve. Hand shaking now, you picked up the phone, gulping.

“Hello?”

“Your follow up appointment for a checkup is next month on the 14th. It’s a Tuesday.”

“So…”

“I wouldn’t have made a follow up appointment if it wasn’t mine, Y/N.”

“Right,” you said, your throat dry.

“So. I’ll send you over your meal plan. Like we discussed with Dr. Varma, the nutritionist he recommended already made up a mock one for me.” He was really serious about being involved clearly. You said nothing. “I would appreciate it if you would honor what I want and I would like you to buy your groceries around what is recommended.”

“Okay.”

Steve gave a humorless chuckle, “I would much rather be around to make sure that that is happening, but I know that that is out of the question.” He hesitated for a moment, as if he was waiting for you to rebuke it. When you did not, he exhaled sharply. “Be sure to pass that date on to Tony since he’s insisting to tag along every time.”

“I will.”

~~~

Forever tags: @coconutqueen21 @undecidedsworld

Fic tags: @icant-hangout-imdrumming @oceaniamaddness @multifandom-superlover @imsonick @holl2712 @here4thefanfics @agustdowney @fanofalltheficsx @buttercandy16 @last-saturday-night @woohoney

[deitysnips]

Regrettably Attached Pt. 1

Stark!Reader x Loki

Word Count: 2958

Authors Note: I wanna thank you guys in advance for reading this. I haven’t written anything in probably 6 years so it might be a little sloppy. I am open to suggestions and any fixes you guys can bring to my attention!

Summary:; You’re Tony Stark’s younger sister and you are somewhat part of the Avengers, but behind the scenes, not necessarily on the front lines unless you’re needed. This is an UA where Loki is living in the compound living under strict supervision and the reader slowly starts falling for the God of Mischief after hating him due to, yaknow, trying to kill her brother and some of her closest friends, but that quickly turns into lovers(obvi)

Growing up as Tony’s sister was and still is kind of terrifying. Tony has always been such a “smarty pants” for lack of a better phrase. Even with him being a child prodigy, you two have always been close and you would want it any other way. You grew up following in his and your fathers footsteps.

Years past and you have graduated with multiple engineering degrees and even though your mother and father weren’t here to see it, Tony always made sure you knew how proud they would be of you. No graduation, presentation or ceremony went unattended by the now Iron Man. So it was no surprise when Tony asked you to join him and the other Avengers at the compound to help with logistics and help Tony and Bruce create safer suits.

“Hey Kid! Get down here, we need your help!” 

It’s been 5 years that you’ve been living with Tony and still, nothing surprises you.

“Hold on! I just got out of the shower!” You shouted from your cracked bedroom door. You quickly put on some extremely worn jeans and a Led Zeppelin t-shirt that you MIGHT have stolen from your older brother. You cracked open the door once more and yelled to Tony

“Is this a no shoes project?!” You sat with your head out the door tapping your fingers along the door frame when someone threw what seemed to be a wad of paper at the back of your head. You groaned and sucked air through your teeth. “I swear to the gods, Rogers, if you don’t stop throwing shit, I’m gonna curb stomp you” You said as you turned your head to send a glare towards Steve. To your unpleasant surprise, it was not Steve, but the annoying, somewhat attractive God Of Mischief, Loki

“Oh, my dear, Mr. America isn’t the only one who likes to get under your skin” Loki said very nonchalantly while leaning against his own door frame. “Now if you don’t mind. Stop that obnoxious yelling. Some of us are actually trying to work and not be babied by their dear brother.” Loki glared at you from where he stood with his arms crossed over his chest. 

You and the god have never been on good terms, even after the pleading Thor gave you when he brought him back from Asgard after its destruction. You wanted to believe him when he said that his brother had changed and was working towards being a better ‘person’, but it still left an unpleasant taste in your mouth since, you know, he tried to kill your brother.

“Get fucked, Loki.” You stepped out of your room, body completely turned towards the man in front of you. “I have told you multiple times to leave me alone. Tony might be okay with you being here, but I certainly don’t give a shit what happens to you.” You spat at him with venom and malice in your voice. Tony told you time and time again to try to be civil with Loki, but you never listened. You just couldn’t. 

You continued to stare at the slimy, yet oddly handsome man-god thing in front of you and if looks could kill, he wouldn’t be breathing.

“Hey, kid, did you not hear the urgency in my voice or do you enjoy giving me a heart attack?” You jumped when you felt your brother out his hand on your shoulder. “I told you that yes, you did need shoes. Bruce and I really need your help on the Mark VII suit- wait, sis, are you alright?” Tony studied your face after turning your shoulder towards him with a worried expression

“Yeah, I’m fine Tony. Let me just grab my shoes and I’ll be down” You pulled away from your brother and ran into your room, slamming the door behind you. You sit with your back against your door and hide your face in your hands, groaning loudly.

“Why can’t he just leave me alone?” You whisper softly to yourself. You’ve been at such a crossroads when it comes to the trickster god. You hate him for what he did to Tony and your friends, but at the same time, you can’t help but have this… attraction to him. The sharpness of his jawline, the softness in his bright blue eyes, or the way his lips curl up into a cheeky little smirk when he does something that riles you up. It’s been a year and a half since Thor brought Loki back, and you still haven’t adjusted.

You let out a long sigh of frustration as you stand up and walk to your closet pulling out a loved pair boots. After you pull your shoes on, you finally find the strength to walk out of your room and start heading towards the workshop to find Tony and Bruce. You make a pitstop to the kitchen to grab some coffee and a small snack

“Hey FRIDAY, can you ask if Tony and Bruce want anything?” You call out into the empty room while making a PB&J sandwich”

“They both say nothing at the moment other than your presence, Miss. Stark. Mr. Stark said it is very urgent and they need you down there quickly” 

You groan as you toss the butter knife into the sink and start walking down the stairs to the workshop. Once you enter you see Bruce leaning over one of the tablets with his hands running through his hair.

“Alright, what did I miss?” you say as you take a bite of your sandwich, causing the men to look up at you, seemingly irritated. “Whoa whoa boys, what the hell?” You raise an eyebrow at your brother who’s sitting across from Bruce, impatiently tapping his fingers on the desk. Tony sighs and stands up to walk over to his computer, pulling up the internals of the suit

“For whatever reason, the suit keeps overheating after about 10 minutes and we cannot for the life of us figure out why” Bruce says while Tony is flipping through all the internals for you. You can’t help but smile and giggle a little bit.

“Alright kid, what's so funny? Tony asks, slightly glaring in your direction.

“Oh no, nothing. Nothing at all. But, uh, unrelated, how long have you guys been working on this?”

“A couple h-” Tony goes to speak but is interrupted by the suit powering up, seemingly without issues.

“Big brother, you’re a terrible liar. When I woke up yesterday morning, you both had already been down here working on it. It was a simply missing variable and a loose connection.” Tony and Bruce both keep switching between the suit and their respective computers trying to figure out how they missed such a small thing.

“How the fu-” “LANGUAGE!” Steve yells out as he stares coming down the stairs. Tony rolls his eyes and starts going through the internals again before smacking his palm to his forehead. “Thanks kid”

“No problem old man, now go get some rest.” You say, patting Tony on the back.

“Hey, can I talk to you really quick, Squeak?” You groan loudly at the nickname that the team gave you when you first showed up. You were so nervous about making a good impression, that when you started to speak, all of your words got stuck in your chest and all that came out was a little squeak.

“Yeah Cap, maybe if you stop calling me that god awful nickname, like I've told you to do multiple times!” You both start walking up the stairs and you playfully push Rogers shoulder, knowing it won’t do much. 

Once you make it up the stairs, Steve leads you to the living room and sits at the couch across from your favorite chair

“Alright, if this is an intervention, I’m leaving. I get I shouldn’t be smoking bu-” You stop talking when Steve lifts his hand up and just stares at you with a dumbfounded look “This isn’t an intervention, but maybe it should be- yo- what?!” Steve gets a little loud at the end of his sentence, catching the attention of Tony and Thor who are in the kitchen making some lunch

“STEVE SHUT UP” You blush slightly and hide your face in your hands again.

“Conversation for another time, anyways” Steve pulls your hands away from your face and makes you look at him and quietly says your name “What was going on earlier when Tony came up stairs? I was in the bathroom down the hall and I heard you yelling at someone? Was it Loki again?” You avoid eye contact but nod slightly. Steve lets out a small sigh and sits back

“What he did wasn’t even terrible, Cap. He threw a ball of paper at me and basically told me to shut up. I just get so irrationally angry at him for what he tried to do to my family. Tony is all I have left. I know that everyone has told me to make nice and just fake it for the sake of all of us being here almost all the time, but I can’t. I'm just so confused and..” You stop yourself and look up at Steve who is intently listening.

“What are you confused about, doll?” He raises an eyebrow and you start blushing again.

“I- I don’t wanna talk about it..” You whisper softly and glance over to where Tony and Thor are at. As much as Tony begs you to be nice and try to be civil, he would not hesitate to beat your ass if he found out that you were harboring a crush for the trickster. Steve leans in and whispers

“I think I know. I may be from a different time, but I know a crush when I see it.” He pulls back and smiles at you and for whatever reason, this makes you angry.

“WHAT?! You think I have a little schoolgirl crush on that fucking murderer?! HE TRIED TO KILL TONY MULTIPLE TIMES!” You yelled at Steve as you stood up, tears stinging your eyes “I would NEVER mess with the likes of Loki, whether he's a God or a prince of whatever the hell he is!”

“Squeak, now hold on-”

“No, Rogers- Leave me alone!” You storm away from him and go up the stairs leading to your bedroom. Once you get to your door, another wad of paper is thrown in your direction, but this time you catch it. Turning towards where the paper had come from, was he himself.

“Hello, darling. I heard you and Rogers speaking about me” He smirks ever so slightly and starts slowly sauntering over to you. Once he gets close to you, you pull a dagger out of the sheath around your thigh and press the tip to his chest

“I suggest you leave me the hell alone, you psychopath.” You grit your teeth as you finish your sentence and Loki puts his hands up in defeat and takes a few steps back

“My my, little one. I didn’t know you could be so feisty.” He chuckles slightly and crosses his arms over his chest. “I just wanted to have a civil conversation and see if we can come to an understanding about where my loyalties lie and try to get your tiny Midgardian brain to understand that I’m not the same person I was.. Before” 

You sheath your dagger and pinch the bridge of your nose hopeful to fight off your frustration.

“Look, Loki. You may not realize the severity of what you did, but that doesn’t mean I’m just gonna accept that you’re some righteous person-god- whatever the hell you are.”

“Oh, good heavens, no. I’m not righteous whatsoever, darling. Never have been, never will be. But” He points a finger at the ceiling and smiles “I can promise you that I do not plan to murder anyone… in this building” 

You smirk softly at the humor in the tricksters voice and cross your arms over your chest. 

“So how about that conversation?” You gester to him to come in your room but when you look back at his face he has a rather dumbfounded look on his face

“What a minute, 45 seconds ago you had a bloody dagger to my chest, ready to skin me alive, but now you want me to come into your room with you?” Loki walks closer to you slowly still with that dumb look on his face.

You place your hand back on your dagger and laugh “Just because I’m inviting you into my room, doesn’t mean I won’t hesitate to stab you if you give me a reason to.” You wink at him and walk into your room, where you kick off your shoes and lounge in the recliner at the far corner of your room. 

The rooms at the compound were not small by any means. Each room has a giant California king size bed, a double walk-in closet, its own little mini fridge, plus enough room to have 2 Hulks lay side by side on the floor.

You have yours decorated in your signature color, with white accents on the furniture as well as copious amount of liquor bottles on the top of your bookshelf.

Loki saunters in after a few seconds and takes a seat on your bed, directly in front of you. It seems like he’s… admiring you? He won’t look away and seems to be studying your face, how your wavy hair falls softly from the messy bun on the top of your head, how your eyes sparkle with the sun coming through the windows, how your lips are just a subtle rosy color, indicating that you either suck of chew on them when frustrated.

“Are you gonna say anything or are you just gonna sit here and stare at me all day?” You blush softly and stare right back at him

“My dear, if I may be rather brash, it just seems like something seems of worry to you, my apologies. But, yes, where would you like me to begin?”

You and Loki sat there for 3 or 4 hours talking about what really happened when Loki invaded New York, what happened to his mother and how Asgard was completely destroyed by his and Thor’s elder sister. Half way through the conversation, you had pulled down a rather nice bottle of Whiskey and two rocks glasses, pouring both of you a drink while Loki was reliving what he described to be the most painful part of his life. There you sat with the man you had sworn to hate until your last breath, actually feeling sorry for judging him so harshly. But who can blame you?

“Wow” You said after he had finally finished. You looked down at your glass and it was empty. While Loki was explaining everything to you, you had finished 4 or 5 full glasses of whiskey and were starting to feel a little tipsy

“Loki, I am so indecently sorry. All of the times Thor and I had talked about what happened, he never once told me how hard you took everything.”

Loki scoffed a little and looked at his glass “Well, my story really isn’t for my brother to tell, and he never really understood my feelings on the matter. I never really spoke to him about it. It was really only me on my own.” He shrugged softly and finished what liquor he still had in his glass “I really hope this changes your viewing of my, darling. I truly meant what I said. I have zero intentions of harming anyone in this compound.”

You shook your head a little and pushed the hair that had fallen into your face back “But why tell me all of this? Why tell the one person who probably hates you the most in the tower all of your worries and how at fault you feel?” You looked up from your glass when he chuckled.

“My dear, I know you don’t truly hate me. You hate what I did to your brother and the Avengers.” He leaned forward to be at eye level with you and spoke very softly “Do not forget, little one. I can read minds, you know” He winked at you and sat back in his chair

“I- you what now?!” You sat up straight and your face became very flushed. How could you have been so naive? Thor had mentioned it a couple of times that he believes his brother could read thoughts, but you never took it to heart.

“Miss. Stark, it seems as so Mr. Stark is worried about you. He has no idea where you are and I didn’t think to make him privy of your location.” FRIDAY interjected before you or Loki could say anything regarding the mind reading matter.

“Thanks, FRIDAY, can you tell him I’m up in my room? I don’t think I’ll be able to walk after the amount of alcohol I’ve drank” You chuckled slightly and rubbed your face with your hands.

“Right away Miss. Stark. Oh, it seems as if your brother is coming to see you.” 

You internally began slightly panicking because as much as Tony wanted you to be civil, I don’t think he would want you damn near wasted with the God Of Mischief in your room.

“I shall be on my way, darling” Loki stood up and walked over to you. He rests his hands on the back of your chair and soon your face to face.

“Conversation for another time” He quickly places a kiss to your cheek before disappearing in a green cloud.

What the fuck is happening?

[ladywinterwitch]

On Va Voir

Pairing: Steve Rogers x Avenger! Reader

Summary: During a mission you unexpectedly find a new kink: Steve speaking french.

Warnings: Smut, unprotected sex (wrap it tf up), oral sex (f receiving), fingering, language kink (?), a bit of a dom fight between the reader and Steve, 18 + so if you’re under that age you shouldn’t be reading this. You’ve been warned.

Word Count: 3205 

A/n: Just rewatched for the 34868 time  the winter soldier and I’ve never noticed before HOW MUCH of a turn on is Steve speaking french. So yeah, enjoy a bit of smutty Rogers. Also, this is pretty much no plot and total filth.

                                                  (Gif not mine)

You were on a mission with Steve, Natasha, Sam and Bucky. You had been paired with Bucky, while Sam was with Nat and Steve was alone, although you were constantly in contact with your auricular. -We’re inside the ship, front. What’s your position?- Bucky says with a gun in each hand. You followed behind him, with two guns of your own. -We’re in the control room. Working on the informations.- Sam responds. -Steve?- Bucky tries.

-I’m on the roof. And I’m pretty sure I’m not alone. How long have you got?- he asks. -Like, ten minutes, at least. This computer’s older than both of you.- Natasha responds and you can feel the smirk on her voice. You press your lips tightly to not chuckle, Bucky notices and shakes his head.

-Ah, very funny Romanoff.- the blonde sasses back.

-She got you there, oldies.- Sam commented. Bucky grunted with a ‘shut up’. After a few moments you realize that there’s no one in your area, so you lower your guns.

-We should come to you, Steve. We got nothing to do here anyways.- you say, looking at your partner that was still, but didn’t completely put off his guard. -Don’t worry doll, I got it.- but then you hear a gun shot, and glare at Bucky with wide eyes. He looks at you and starts to run. -We’re coming, pal, hold on.- he speaks while running. You both get out to the open and then come up the stairs to the roof.

When you arrive, you see a couple of men already on the ground, and Steve facing another alone. They are one in front of the other and he’s talking. You don’t hear what he says, but you hear Steve response. He drops the shield at his side and then removes his helmet, his hair a little messy. He has the slightest smirk on his face while he speaks. -On va voir.- you hear from the speaker. 'Lets see’. And in that moment something in your stomach shifts. You can’t really place what or why, but you just know that you feel a little too hot in your leather catsuit all of a sudden.

The two start to fight, but it doesn’t take long for the avenger to take him down. You glance at Bucky, who’s just leaning againts the door, with his arms crossed, guns slipped into the belt at his sides. A little knowing smirk playing on his lips. -Jerk.- he says amused. You turn around and see Steve that kicks his shield, making it jump back to his wrist. -Okay guys we have everything. We’ll meet at the quinjet.- Sam says. You clear your throat and look away. -Copy that.- you croak. - You all go back to the avengers tower safely and Tony decides to throw a party. Why? Cause he’s Tony. He didn’t really need a valid reason. So here you were, the day after, finding yourself in front of your full lenght mirror, in your matching blue lacy lingerie, fixing your wavy loose hair and your red lipstick. Normally at this time, especially after a mission, you would’ve all been lazy somewhere, but obviously your teammate couldn’t wait one more day to give you a wild night. Missions usually had as a consequence jet lag, a few bruises to heal, business to take care of and stuff to analyze, so it wasn’t exactly the perfect timing, but fortunately you were able to sleep like a baby the night prior. A particualr help came, indirectly, from Steve which helped your love-me session to end quickly and kick you out to sleep.

You should’ve felt ashamed for that, but honestly you were pretty sure you were not the only one in the world to get off at the thought of the broad and handsome Captain America. The only small detail was that you were his teammate and friend. You had a huge crush on him, but you feel more like a friend vibe from him and that’s okay. It sure avoids problems at work.

You couldn’t stop thinking about that phrase that Steve said in french the day before. It turned you on to no end. You didn’t know why, but the way he said it, with that smugness, his hair all messy and shit. It was just so sexy to you. In any case, the crush was your dirty little secret. Well, not exactly, considering that both Bucky and Natasha had figured out by themselves and Wanda just happened to be reading your mind in the wrong moment. But you trusted them, even if them teasing you about it whenever they had the occasion was beyond embarassing.

You slid into your tight, red bodycon . It was plain, above the knee and had a low cut sweetheart neckline. It was strapless and it hugged your body perfectly. It wasn’t much in your style, but you felt bold that night, also you may or may not wanted to find someone to get laid.

You gave yourself one last look before going down with the elevator. Your black heels were already starting to bother you. You weren’t really a type for parties, but you did it just for the team. And a good drink, yeah. You arrived at the floor and when you stepped out you saw that there were a lot of people, but it wasn’t Tony’s worst. You looked around and saw Sam, Rhodie, Clint and Natasha at the bar, Wanda, Vision, Thor and Maria at the couches, Tony and Pepper talking with a couple of people, and then in a corner near the big window wall, Steve and Bucky.

They were both handsome. Bucky was wearing a grey shirt and Steve a deep blue one. They both had the first few buttons undone and were holding a beer and laughing. The blonde turned his head and saw you. His smile dropped and his gaze wandered on your body, from head to toe. You looked away, kinda embarrassed that you had been caught looking, but a few moments later the two man came to you.

-Y/n! You look great.- Bucky greeted you with a hug. You laughed and hugged him back. -Doesn’t she, Stevie?- he said in a slyly. The captain didn’t took his gaze away from you. -She always does.- he responds with a low tone that made you heat up. -Thanks. You don’t look too bad yourself.- you motioned at the two in front of you.

-Hey doll, care for a drink? We could go to the bar and -the brunette started, but Steve stepped closer. -Sam wants to talk to you, I’ll accompany her.- he says with a small smile. You smiled back and Bucky frowned. -Since when that bird man wants to breathe my same air?- Steve shoot at him a glare and he raised his eyebrows.

-Ooh, yeah, about the.. Uhm.. The mission…- he tries to save himself. Steve relaxes and Bucky starts to walk away. -Alright, catch up with you guys later.- he gives you a thumbs up. Steve looks at you and offers his arm. -Shall we get that drink?- he smirks making you melt. You smile widely and take his offer. -We very much shall.-

-

You soon were joined by the rest of the group and were having fun at the bar. You noticed that Steve never took his gaze off you, but you weren’t certain, considering the amount of alcohol that you ingested. You felt a little claustrophobic at one point so you excused yourself getting up. -Want me to come with you?- Nat asked. You shook your head. -I’m fine babe, just need a little air.- you walked between the people reaching the big balcony.

You went closer to the glass barrier and propped your elbows on the edge, looking at New York City by night. You closed your eyes, breathing deep. -Did you really drank that much?- you open your eyes suddenly, turning back to the voice. Steve was just a few feet away, hands in his pants’ pockets. He was looking at you with a little smile. You mirrored his expression, turning back to the view. The glass door was closed and you were alone.

-Not really. I’m just a little dizzy, and I needed some fresh air, that’s all.- you responded. There were some moments of silence. It wasn’t uncomfortable though. You felt him getting closeer to you, almost too close. So close that you could feel his breath on your neck. -You look so beautiful tonight..- he whispered raising one hand and resting it on your hip. Your breath hitched.

-Maybe it’s the alcohol, even though we both know I can’t really get drunk, or maybe its the way Bucky flirted before, or the way you looked so flustered yesterday on the mission..- he started to caress your waist gently. You were slowly melting under his touch, his hand so warm in stark contrast with the chilly air. You had goosbumps. -But I just can’t ignore how I feel anymore.- he turned you to face him slowly. You locked eyes. -I’ve never wanted someone so bad in my life, and I think that you want me, too.- he paused. You didn’t know what to say. You were completely taken aback by his confession.

-But if I’m wrong, I’m gonna step back right now and I’m gonna stay away.- he continued, with a little of uncertainty. You widened your eyes, laying your hand on his chest. -No- you said quickly. -I do. I want you. God, I want you so bad.- in that moment he grabbed your cheeks with his hands and started to kiss you. It was hungry, fast and messy. You almost didn’t even realize that he placed you against the wall, away from the view of the people. You grabbed his hair with one hand and his shirt in the other.

-I wanna fuck you right now, I don’t care if everyone sees, the team, the other people.- he said kissing your neck. -Steve.. Please- you moaned. He looked at you with the best bedroom eyes he could give. -Please what, baby?- he cooed.

-I need you, please. Let’s.. Let’s go to the bedroom, please I can’t take it anymore- he nodded and you quickly went inside, careful to not be seen by the team you reached the elevator and pressed to your private floor.

You had to keep your cool because you weren’t alone, but when you arrived you ran like teenagers, giggling towards his room. He opened the door and then slammed it shut. You pushed him on the bed and he let himself fall, resting on his elbows while he watches you like you were his prey. What he didn’t know was that joke’s on him.

You stood right in front of him, a smirk playing on your lips, an equally predatory gaze in your eyes. You reached to your side, unzipping the red dress slowly, letting it pool around your heels. You stepped out of the dress, bending to pick it up and in the meantime giving Steve a perfect view of your ass. -Fuck baby girl, blue is definitely your color.- he groaned. You chuckled straddling his lap. His warm hands were on your body in no time, pulling you flush against him kissing you. It wasn’t sweet, at all. It was full of passion, all teeth and tongue and soft bites.

At some point he reached behind your back to unclasp your blue lacy bra, then tossing the garment in some part of the room. He didn’t lose time and quickly attacked one of your breasts with his mouth, while he touched the other with his hand.

-Eager, captain?- you let out a noise that was a mixture between a moan and a laugh. He released your nipple from his mouth locking eyes.

-Excuse me if I can’t resist my urge to worship the goddess in front, oh well actually, on me.- he said smugly making you laugh. You gave him a push on the chest to make him lay down.

-Sweet talker.- you tease him, trailing his neck and jawline with wet kisses. He chuckles a little, his hands travelling on your sides, back and ass.

-What? You think I’m just, saying it? It’s true, y/n. You are stunning.- he says sincerly, making you look at him for a second. You smile and place a sweet kiss on his lips.

-Well, thank you.- you respond and you’re caught off guard when he grabs you by the hips and flips your position, so now he was hovering you. You gasped for the surprise.

-And now I’m gonna show exactly how much I want you.- he smirked and started to pepper your belly and hip bones with open mouthed kisses, and at the same time he slipped off your panties, letting them fall on the ground. And now you were stark naked and totally at his mercy. You moaned and with all the strenght you could find you stopped him. He gave you a confused look.

-First, I think you’re not playing fairly there, captain. Then, I’m gonna tell you exactly what I want. Strip.- you order and he licks his lips, his cerulean, and now glassy, eyes were eating you up. He got up, standing on his knees, and started to unbutton his blue shirt, while you took care of his belt and zip. He took off his pants and boxers in one move.

-Happy now?- he asked amused, resuming his work with his mouth, this time he started from your ankle, going up as he went. You peeked at his hard lenght, tip already glistening with precum and angry red.

-Can say so.- you murmured, laying on your back and enjoying the show of Steve between your legs. Your breath started to hitch when he got closer to your center, but as the teasing bastard that he his, he stopped.

-C'mon Steve, baby, I need you.- you say, throwing out of the window yor dignity. -What do you need? Tell me sweetheart.- he murmurs against your thigh, looking at you. -I’d quite like you to speak French between my legs, captain.- you smirk, biting your lip. His expression was priceless.

-Fuck yes- he groaned spreading your legsmore in front of him. He then smiled mischievously. -Alors c'est ce qui vous a tous énervé hier, uh?- So that’s what got you all flustered yesterday, uh?, his tone was a mixture of teasing and realization. He licked a long stripe from your entrance up to your clit anthat made you almost scream, instead you opted for grabbing his blonde hair with one hand and the snow-white like sheets.

-Can’t really blame me. With your cute messy hair, showing off like that..- you responded mewling, your eyes closed and your head leaned back. He chucked sending vibrations trough your whole body. You clenched instinctively. -Yeah, 'cause I’m good at what I do doesn’t mean that I was showing off, chéri.- a particularly harsh suck on your bundle of nerves got your back arching off the bed and moaning loudly -Steve- 

-Tu aimes ça, chérie?- You like that baby? you moaned when you heard him speak French again.

-Yes, God, Steve right there- you answer struggling to not grind onto his face. He adds two fingers and that knocks the air out of your lungs.

-Tu es si doux. Si mouillé, est-ce tout pour moi, chérie? Mmh cette jolie petite chatte, tout à moi pour jouer- You’re so sweet. So wet, is it all for me baby? This pretty little pussy, all mine to play with. He kept talking in between licks and open mouthed kisses on your clit, his long and thick fingers pumping directrly on your sweet spot.

-Fuck. I..I can’t take it anymore, please..- you pulled his hair slightly and he growled, the vibrations went straight to your core and you felt the coil in your belly tighten. You started to gasp. -You’re close aren’t you? Come on baby, I’ve got you, let go honey- he hummed, back to english, speeding up a little his fingers. With that you came. Hard. You screamed his name arching your back of the bed, the sheets out of place because of your pulling.

He rode you thorough your orgasm, and when he felt you calm down a bit he extracted his fingers, licking them clean. You could’ve cum again just by watching him. But instead, you rose up and pulled him to you, kissing him. You hummed when you felt your taste on his tongue. Your hand reached out to stroke his cock, now even harder than before. He choked out a moan on your mouth. -Baby girl I need to be inside you- you nodded and he replaced your hand with his, stroking his cock a few times, he lined himself with your entrance and entered you with a sharp thrust that took both your breaths away.

-Fuck y/n, baby, you feel so good around me- he hid his face in your neck and you circled his shoulders with your arms. -Please move- you gasped and he complied, starting to move faster. After a while he took your leg putting it on his hip, reaching a deeper spot inside you.

-Oh, Fuck. Yeah, right..ah, right there baby.-you gasped, your nails scratching his strong shoulders. You started to feel his breath getting erratic.

-So beautiful- he murmured in your ear and you felt yourself melt a bit more. -Baby ’m gonna come, I’m so close. Are you with me?- you said kissing him on the lips, the cheek, the jaw.

-Right behind you, love.- the pet name made your heart flutter, but you soon forgot about it when he stated to pick up pace again, then adding his fingers on your clit, and that was it. You orgasmed for the second time that night and he followed a few thrusts later with a loud moan and your name spilling from his plump lips. He ride out both of your releases and then planted his forehead against yours.

-It’s okay, baby.- you murmured scratching the nape of his neck lightly, while he calmed his breath, making him hum approvingly. You looked at his parted lips and closed eyes, his blissed out expression making you smile. A few seconds later he opened his blue pools, smiling back quite shyly. -Hi.- you said softly. -Hi sweetheart.- he responded fondly, caressing your cheek. You stayed there for a while.

Then he got up and cleaned you both with a warm and damp wash cloth, bringing it back to the bathroom then he came back to bed with you. -I don’t really wanna deal with the team tomorrow.- you said with your head on his chest. Your fingers tracing imaginary patterns on his torso, him petting your hair delicately. -Me neither. But even if we don’t say anything they’re gonna find out anyway. We kind of disappeared and never came back.- he chuckled and you laughed with him. -Let’s just enjoy this, for now.- you responded. -Yeah. Everything else can wait.- he kissed your head.

Thank you for reading, feedback is appreciated ;)

[labyrinthof-fan-fiction]

Breathe {2}

Part 2

Masterlist

A/N: This is the most planned out fic. I think I’ve ever written, holy cow. Steve would be yelling language so much at this chapter. I cannot stress to all of you how much Sam or Bucky are not straight in this.

Rating: M

Summary: Six months after Endgame, Bucky sees John Walker with the shield, it’s time to talk to Sam. Steve died of old age and is the Major Character Death. Unrequited Stucky, eventual SamBucky.

Warnings: Major Character Death, Self Harm, Swears, Angst, Grief,

Word Count: 2,301

Six months passed, Bucky had been a stranger, but he had been busy. Getting acclimated to the modern world was not as easy as he had hoped. Brooklyn had changed, just like everything else. Businesses were gone, families he had known died, but it still was Brooklyn. He had taken a self guided tour when he first moved into the apartment. There were plaques all over the place with his and Steve’s name on them. He remembered staring up at their old building, or at least the plot of land it had been in, that was now some kind of apartment complex, and wondered why the hell they had thought to put a bronze plaque out front. Reading the plaque had caused his skin to crawl, the two friends lived together for years. That shouldn’t bother him as much as it did, but it kept nagging at his mind. Two friends, that’s all they were, no matter his feelings, they were friends. Til the end of the line. That phrase popped back into his mind. Bucky had ninety years, but there were three words he never got to say.

He had turned away once he finished reading, tears starting in his eyes and his hands clenched. He stumbled into two men who were holding hands.

“Watch it!” The taller one snapped, pushing the other behind him protectively. Bucky had frozen for a moment, eyes flicking around the two, whose hands remained intertwined. The one who had been pushed aside whispered in the other’s ear. “Alright, let’s go, but watch where the fuck you’re going.”

Bucky mumbled an apology, but his eyes wandered back to the couple as they walked away, their hands intertwined. He pushed down the ache he felt in his chest, shoved his hands into his pockets, and shuffled his way back to his apartment. Once he was at the place he now called home, he got onto the computer that had been left for him. Hydra had taught him how to use one, that was one skill he was grateful for.

Aside from reacquainting himself with life, he was making amends for his time as the Winter Soldier and attending his court mandated therapy sessions with Dr. Raynor. Busy, cleaning up years of messes he had made for Hydra, catching u At least that’s what he kept telling himself every time his phone dinged and it was a text from Sam. I’ll get to it. He kept saying, but he didn’t.

He sat in front of her birch tree wallpaper. He hated the room, the couch, not so much Dr. Raynor, but he hated the situation. He spent years with someone else in his head, and he didn’t need another person added to the list to comb through his mind.

Bucky continued in his usual fashion of giving her one word answers. Then he started to talk about the name he crossed of his list of amends, he parroted back Rule Number Three.“I am no longer the Winter Soldier, I am James ‘Bucky’ Barnes, and you are part of my effort to make amends.”

“Give me your phone.” She ordered, he sighed and handed it over, she started going through the phone. “You’ve been ignoring the texts from Sam.” He shifted in his seat uncomfortably. “You’re alone, you have no family. It’s sad.”

He clenched his jaw. “I’m trying. I had calm in Wakanda, for ninety years I have gone from one fight to another.”

“So now that you’ve stopped fighting, what do you want?”

Bucky paused and considered his answer. “Peace.” He answered.

She scoffed, “That’s bullshit.”

Bucky remained silent, because he knew she was right. He did want peace, but that wasn’t his top priority. “Thanks doc.” He muttered as he walked out of her office and made his way home.

He grumbled to himself and made his way to the makeshift bed on the floor. He had tried to sleep in the bed, that first night after Steve was gone, but he couldn’t. Too soft, too warm, but the floor, that was just right. He sat on the floor and turned on the television, turning to the news channel, it was the only thing he could tolerate, at least it used to be the only thing he could tolerate. Sam had given up the shield. And now some asshole was walking around with Steve’s legacy on his arm. Bucky hadn’t met Walker, but he already knew, he wasn’t Captain America. The pomp and circumstance around his announcement disgusted him, Sam wouldn’t have done this. He reached in his pocket and pulled out his cell phone, glancing at Sam’s message from earlier that day.

I’ll be in town this week. Teaming up with the Air Force, wanna grab a bite?

Bucky felt guilty for ignoring him all this time, he hadn’t wanted to. But he didn’t want to burden Sam, from the little bit he had learned from Steve, Sam had baggage too. He glanced back at the message. Air Force. That was something Bucky was still familiar with.

Bucky walked into the hangar. “Why’d you give up the shield?”

“Good to see you too, Buck.” Sam said calmly, ignoring Bucky’s question.

Bucky followed Sam and listened to him rattle on about the ‘Big Three.’ Aliens, androids, and wizards, the fuck? “I read the Hobbit, in 1937, when it came out.”

He didn’t miss the mildly surprised look on Sam’s face, but followed him onto the plane, like hell he was being left behind, not again. He sat across from Sam, glaring and Sam bared down and his brown eyes met Bucky’s blue. And in that moment, Bucky’s heart skipped a beat.

Bucky watched Sam jump out of the plane, and sighed. Following another idiot into certain danger. He thought to himself before jumping out, and then hitting every possible tree branch on the way down. He caught a flash of red just before he hit the ground.

“I got all of that.” He heard Sam chuckle as Redwing hovered above him.

“Get it out of my face, Sam, before I break it.” Bucky snarled through his teeth. Trying to ignore Sam’s laughter, and the little beep from Redwing.

Bucky followed Sam into the warehouse, slinking into the shadows into a separate hallway.

“Look at you, White Panther.” Sam snickered through the comms.

Bucky sighed and rolled his eyes, “White Wolf, actually.”

Sam’s quiet laughter filtered through the comms, and Bucky’s face grew warm, he shook his head and continued walking. He met Sam in a large storage room, he could see a man lifting a large pallet of boxes. “I could take him.”

“Just wait.” Sam murmured, tapping on his goggles. “There’s more.”

“I could take them.”

“Just because you have a vibranium arm doesn’t mean you can take everyone in the world.” Sam grumbled, looking out at the semis waiting. “They’ve got a hostage.”

The trucks started to pull away and Bucky ran after them. Sam was yelling at him through comms, but he didn’t care, he jumped on the back of the second truck and ripped the door open. He glanced around, “Looks like vaccines.” A girl with curly red hair stepped out from behind one of the she glanced up timidly at Bucky. “I’m here to help.” Bucky said, holding out his hand to her. A smirk appeared on her face, “Son of a—“

Bucky flew from the semi as she kicked him in the chest. He glared up at her as she gave a last smile before jumping to the top of the truck. Bucky chased after her and was instantly thrown into a fight with her and two other men. They started kicking and punching him before the men grabbed ahold of both of his arms and turned him to face her. Redwing began to buzz around her head and she groaned, then grabbed the drone from the air and snapped in half over her knee.

“I’ve always wanted to do that.” Bucky said wistfully, catching Sam’s eyes for a moment before Sam engaged the girl and was thrown to a separate truck and pinned down by two men that Bucky hadn’t noticed.

Then that damn red, white, and blue saucer flew through the air. Bucky glanced up to see Steve’s government replacement jump from the helicopter. Bucky caught the shield as it rebounded from the hit, then it was immediately taken by Walker. Bucky gripped the bottom of the semi, snarling as the super soldier continued to stomp on his hand until his grip was broken and he was holding on by one arm. He snarled as he slid down the truck and wrapped himself around the bottom of the trailer frame. The tires hitting the pavement sounded louder then he glanced over to see a flash of silver and red.

“That little girl kicked your ass.”Sam joked before barreling under the semi, pulling Bucky with him and they rolled into a field, the two grunting until they came to a stop. Bucky was on top of Sam, his eyes met Sam’s and Bucky felt his stomach flip, then his eyes flicked down to Sam’s lips. He panicked and rolled off Sam, he paused for a moment, trying to calm his breathing. “You’re welcome by the way.” Sam snarked.

“Asshole.” Bucky grumbled. “Those were super soldiers.” Bucky murmured, still feeling his heart flutter in his chest.

“Yup.” Sam said, standing up from the ground and walking to the road, glancing back at Bucky on the ground for a moment before walking towards the road.

Bucky grumbled and rolled onto his feet, falling into step beside Sam. They continued talking about the implications of the super soldiers. Dread was thrumming though Bucky’s body, super soldiers meant Hydra. His arm ached, he shook it off and continued to walk along side Sam, listening to him talk about his connections, where he would get the information next. Then he heard the honk of a horn.

Bucky glanced over to see the new blonde haired, blue eyed boy who wanted to be Captain America. “We’re pretty sure it’s one of the big three.” He called out to them.

Bucky glanced over at Sam with a raised eyebrow. How many of you have this damned big three idea? He thought to himself, Sam rolled his eyes. “Or it’s super soldiers.” He answered, not making eye contact with Walker.

“You really think so?” Lamar asked.

“We gotta work together. That’s the only way.” Walker said.

Bucky bristled, like hell was he going to work with him. He might think he looked the part, but there was no fucking way that this guy was Captain America. He was no Steve Rogers, Bucky’s eyes wandered over to Sam. And he sure as hell was no Sam Wilson. “Just because you carry that shield doesn’t make you Captain America.” He snarked, Sam gave him a small nudge.

“I put in the work. I know you didn’t expect to see the shield, Bucky” Walker snarked back defensively.

Bucky’s blood began to boil, who the fuck did he think he was, calling him Bucky. “Did you? Have you jumped on a grenade?” Bucky snarled, rage building inside him.

Walker started to go on a tirade about jumping on grenades, and plans for them. Bucky didn’t care. “C’mon, it’s twenty miles to the airport, get in the truck.”

Sam sighed and started climbing in the back of the truck. Bucky glared, he didn’t like it, but he wasn’t leaving Sam alone with these guys. Bucky remained silent and let Sam fill Walker in. He threw in a few

“You hacked my tech?” Sam snarled, Bucky could feel him stiffening next to him.

“It’s government property, I’m kind the government.” John answered nonchalantly.

Bucky turned his glare directly onto John, each time he opened his mouth Bucky added to his mental list of reasons why this man wasn’t fit to be Captain America. He thought that he had created a long enough list after watching his first interview, but no, meeting him in person. Bucky had a hell of a list going.

“It’d be a lot easier if I had Steve Roger’s best friend and wingman on my side.” John said.

Bucky tilted his head at Sam, who remained silent, but Bucky could see the fire lighting in his eyes. “Stop the car!” Bucky didn’t look back as he started walking on the path, Sam fell into step beside him. Bucky was seething, he started taking deep breaths to try to calm himself once they were out of eyesight of the others. He stopped and pinched the bridge of his nose, taking deep breaths.

“Come on, Buck, calm down.” Sam murmured, stopping next to him, dropping a hand to his shoulder.

“He’s an asshole.” Bucky managed to spit out.

Sam laughed, “Yeah, he is. But you seem to like calling everyone an asshole today, especially people who saved your ass.”

Bucky squinted his eyes and glanced over at Sam, who had a small smile on his face. “I don’t like him.”

“You don’t have to.” Sam said, giving Bucky’s shoulder a small squeeze.

“Good, cause I wasn’t planning on it.”

Sam let out a full bodied laugh, he reined it in and glanced at the other man. “You okay?”

Bucky sighed, “He’s not Steve.” He’s not you.

Sam nodded, he removed his hand from Bucky’s shoulder. They continued in silence, both men in their minds. Bucky wasn’t sure what Sam was thinking about, but Bucky already had three plans devised for how he was going to steal the shield from Walker and make sure it ended up in Sam’s hands. Because if an asshole was going to be wielding the shield, it was going to be his asshole of choice.

[disdaidal]

Fic Writer Questions

Nobody tagged me, I just stole this.

How many works do you have on AO3?

4 fics. I haven’t written a lot I know. But I have more ideas and I want to.

What’s your total AO3 wordcount?

12595.

How many fandoms have you written for and what are they?

On AO3, only Harringrove. On Livejournal (and other fanfiction sites), I wrote mainly jrock fanfiction (band rps, yes) and some KieferLou.

What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

Well since I only have 4, I can’t do top 5. 😂

It’s Always Been You (drunk Billy, love confession, yay)

Count Harrington (my first fic on AO3, two dorks celebrating Halloween together)

 I Want To See (All Of You) (Steve showing some love for Billy’s scars)

My Pain Brought You To Me (Bills with a migraine, Steve looking after, still a wip ughh)

Do you respond to comments, why or why not?

Yes. Haven’t got many of them and I love getting comments, so I always try to reply back.

What’s the fic you’ve written with the angstiest ending?

I don’t do angsty endings, sorry. I may be a cliché, but I want my boys to have a happy ending.

Do you write crossovers? If so what is the craziest one you’ve ever written?

I probably did a couple of crossovers back in the jrock fandom, but mostly just pairing members from different bands together. Gotta tell ya, I’m not a huge fan of crossovers in general.

Have you ever received hate on a fic?

Given that English is not my first language, I did get some mean comments on my grammar back in the day. Even when I used beta readers lmao. I think the meanest comment I got was in my own language though. This person came to give me a long-ass comment, basically criticizing my characterization, their actions and well – pretty much everything that just happened to annoy them. I guess it made them feel better about themselves. :) I got so pissed off that I ended up deleting that fic in the end. Thus, I also stopped writing fanfiction for a long time, became overly critical of my stuff.

Do you write smut? If so what kind?

Yup, though none of my AO3 fics have any explicit stuff yet (I plan to write some for that wip though, hehe). But umm… I’ve rp’d Harringrove with another person for almost a year now and we’ve written a lot of smutty scenes together already, so. I guess I’m really into dirty talk. And the boys doing it in all kinds of places, not just the usual bedroom. And sex toys too.

Have you ever had a fic stolen?

As if. xD Please.

Have you ever had a fic translated?

Back when I still used Livejournal, somebody translated one of my ficlets into Italian. <3 I was so honored. I think I still have it saved somewhere.

Have you ever co-written a fic before?

No. I’ve only rp:d.

What’s your all time favorite ship?

Ahh man, I can’t answer this. I currently really love Harringrove, but I’ve had a long history in shipping in many different fandoms so I can’t possibly pick just one. They’ve all been important to me, more or less.

What’s a WIP that you want to finish but don’t think you ever will?

Last year when Resident Evil 3 Remake came out, I actually started to write this one Carlos/Jill fic. I got as far as writing chapter two and I had it all planned (for once), and my original plan was making it 6 chapters long. But yeaaahh… who knows, maybe I’ll write it and even publish it some day. Haven’t wanted to put it up because no guarantees that I will ever finish it and don’t want to disappoint people.

What are your writing strengths?

I don’t know. I’d like to say I pay more attention to my grammar these days but that’s not entirely true, because my shit brain keeps malfunctioning and voila – there are missing words and other dumb stuff all across my writing. xD I guess I’m good at rambling and describing stuff? Cause I seem unable to keep things short. Dunno if that’s a good thing or a bad thing.

What are your writing weaknesses?

The fact that I get such vivid ideas in my head, but my fingers can’t seem to type that all down, and I get overwhelmed by it. And I still ramble a lot.

What are your thoughts on writing dialogue in other languages in a fic?

Umm… If there are a couple of lines there and there, I guess it’s okay. But if there’s a lot of it, I’ll lose my interest very quickly. This thing happened quite regularly in the jrock fandom (people mixing Japanese with English) and it became confusing to read, especially if you weren’t familiar with those words/phrases yourself. So I’d advise to keep it at minimum if you fic is going to be written mainly in English. But yeah, I mean that’s just my opinion (don’t kill me pls).

What was the first fandom you ever wrote for?

This is going to be a little embarrassing to admit but when I was 14/15, I was very much into this one band from my country and sort of wrote a self-insert story with them. xD But that’s all I’m gonna say about it rofl.

What’s your favorite fic you’ve written?

Out of the ones that I’ve published on AO3… Probably My Pain Brought You To Me. I wrote it specifically for someone else, so I got very invested in it. I’ve also got most comments on it and some people actually subscribed it too. So, I really intend to finish it.

I’m tagging @gothyringwald, @lazybakerart and @wingedbears because your fics have given me so much life recently. �� But I welcome other writers to take this too and tag me into it, so I can read your responses. :3

[just-dreaming-marvel]

CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE - BREAKFAST

LEGACY: A Tony Stark Daughter Story

MASTERLIST

< previous

Word Count: 1,650ish

Summary: Breakfast is supposedly the most important meal of the day.

~~~

In the shower, I didn’t focus on anything other than cleaning myself up. I still didn’t like looking at my own body, the scars were a reminder of what I had gone through the past couple of months. Not a reminder that I’m a survivor, but a reminder of the horrors. I just wanted to get in and out of there as fast as possible. I quickly washed up, changed into leggings and a long sleeve shirt, and then walked back into the room. Tony was the only one in there, waiting in his chair.

“Where’s Steve?” I asked.

“He went to get some food and clean up.” Tony answered, standing up. “You ready to get out of this room?”

“I thought Helen wanted to check up on me a bit more?”

“She stopped by while you were showering, you’re all clear.” Tony walked over and linked arms with me. I gave him a questionable look. I had a feeling that Helen wasn’t the one to decide that I was good. “Let’s get you out and walking around, shall we?”

“Okay.” I gave him a small smile. We headed out of the room. “Could we possibly stop by the kitchen? I’m hungry.”

“Great idea. I am as well.”

Tony led us out of the Med-Bay and to the kitchen. I kept my eyes forward, not wanting to make eye contact with Tony as he kept awkwardly glancing my way. I was definitely getting my strength back but my legs were still wobbly due to being changed to a table for two months. I was using Tony to keep steady, he could tell and just carefully balanced us out. When we reached the kitchen, Nat was cooking and Rhodey was sitting at the table with a cup of coffee while looking at his phone. Tony led me to the table and helped me down into a chair.

“Bailey!” Nat smiled.

“It’s good to see you out of that bed, kid,” Rhodey greeted as he put down his phone.

“Thanks,” I whispered.

Tony was standing behind me, rubbing my back with one of his hands. “What you cooking Red?” He asked.

“Bacon, waffles, I’ve already got the coffee ready and I’ve cut all sorts of fruit for our girl right there.” She answered, pointing the spatula at me as she referenced to me. 

“Thanks Nat.” I said.

Tony clapped his hands together and headed towards Nat. “Okay B, what do you want?”

“Aren’t I suppose to be on a special diet or something?” I wondered.

“Don’t worry,” Nat said, “I talked to Helen before I started making breakfast. So.. I have bacon, waffles, pineapple, strawberries, raspberries, green apples, bananas, and kiwi. What do you want?”

“How am I suppose to chose?” I replied, with a sly smile. “Those are all my favorite fruits.”

“I know.” Nat smirked. 

“Um… can I have a scoop of all of them?” I hesitantly asked, wincing after the words left my mouth. 

I don’t know why I was so worried to ask. I knew I shouldn’t have been, I was talking about what food I wanted to eat with my own family. And they’ve never refused food before, and most likely never will.

Tony quickly caught on to my nervousness. “You can have what ever you want, sweetheart.” He answered, giving me a gentle smile. I flinched at the nickname, hoping that it was just a slip up. Tony didn’t even seem to notice what he said as he grabbed a bowl and scooped up the fruits into it. He came over and set it on the table with a fork. “Here you go kiddo.” He kissed the top of my head.

“Thanks Dad,” I responded as I picked up the fork.

“Any plans for today?” Rhodey asked.

“Um… I don’t know…” I turned to Tony as I stuffed a piece of fruit in my mouth. “Dad?”

“I was thinking just a nice, easy, relaxing—“ Tony began.

“Who are you and what have you done to my Dad?” I quickly joked. The four of us laughed. It was nice to hear laughter again.

“What? I know how to relax!” 

“Mmmhmm..” I gave his arm a little pat. “Okay Dad.” My sarcasm was probably a little too much at the moment but I loved it and I could feel that he loved it too. 

We all sat around and ate. Rhodey left first, having an important government meeting to get to. Natasha left after getting a phone call from Clint. I knew that it Clint was checking up on me and I could have talked to him myself, but Nat left anyway. Leaving Tony and I alone at the table.

“What do you want to do today B?” Tony broke the silence. “What do you feel up to today?”

“I don’t know…” I shrugged. “Don’t you have somewhere to be, something to do?” I allowed myself to feel what Tony was feeling. It hurt him to hear me say that and his guilt grew. “I’m sorry, Dad. I didn’t mean to hurt you or make you feel more guilty than you already do.”

“It’s okay, sweetie— Wait a minute. How did you know that I was feeling those things?”

I quickly realized the mistake I had made and tried to fix it. “It was just a guess.” I started spiraling inward, mad at myself for not controlling my abilities better.

“No it wasn’t. You tapped into my emotions. We’re going to have to—“

I hadn’t heard a word Tony was saying. I was too busy getting mad at myself. I quickly stood up, causing the chair to fall to the ground. “I’m so sorry,” my words came out in quiet cries. “I didn’t mean to.” Tears began cascading down my face. I started backing away. “I’m so, so sorry.” I turned and ran out.

“Bailey!” Tony shouted. “I’m not mad! Wait! Sweetheart!”

I ignored his shouting, running mindlessly through the corridors until I decided to stop. I turned a corner and slid down the wall, crying into my hands. I needed to get control of my powers or find away to get rid of them, and fast. I couldn’t keep invading peoples private thoughts and emotions. It wasn’t right. Why did I give in? I should have been stronger, should have fought harder to keep everything pushed out. I could hear footsteps approaching, but I couldn’t stop crying.

“Miss?” A male voice called out. “Are you alright?”

I glanced up, barely able to take the man in through my teary eyes as he knelt down in front of me. He held out a hand, going to comfort me and I flinched away. 

“Don’t touch me.” My voice was hoarse, and soft.

“Okay, okay.” He held his hands up, trying to show me that he meant no harm. “Do you know where you are?”

I nodded. “I’m… I’m home.”

“You’re home? I don’t under— Wait. You’re that girl they were looking for. Bailey, is it?” I didn’t answer, just trying to calm my unsteady breathing. “My name’s Quentin. I work for Mr. Stark.” 

“Hi… I-I’m sorry you’re seeing this…”

“It’s okay.” He shook his head. “You were missing for seventy three days. It’s okay for you to freak out.”

“Seventy three days? How do you—“

“Stark. He never stopped searching for you. He kept track of how many days you were missing.” Quentin moved so that he was sitting besides me. “You must really mean something to him.”

Before either of us could say anything else, running footsteps sounded, coming closer to us. I curled into myself, shielding myself from whoever was coming.

“Kid!” Tony’s worried voice filled the hallway. He quickly knelt in front of me. “Are you alright?”

“She’s fine,” Quentin responded. “She was panicking, so I stopped to help her.”

“Thank you, Beck,” Tony said, barely taking his eyes off me.

“Anytime.” Quentin stood up. “Let me know if you ever need anything Bailey.”

I looked up at him, his kind smile warming me inside. “Thank you Quentin.” Then he nodded before taking his leave.

“I’m sorry, Dad…” I whispered once Quentin was gone. 

“Oh, kid…” Tony cupped my cheek, wiping away my tears with his thumb. “I didn’t mean to sound upset, to scare you… I’m so sorry.”

“I really didn’t mean to freak out… I couldn’t even register was was happening, what you were saying… It just feels like I’m living a dream. Like I’m going to wake up any second and still be chained to that table being— being tortured… And then there’s my powers… I remember knowing how to control them and I remember not knowing how to. It’s confusing. It’s like there’s two different lives in my head and I’m trying to figure out which one is real.” I sighed, looking down at my legs. “They’re both real though… that’s the problem. There’s so much going on and so much has happened… I’m just trying to piece it all together… or figure out how to. And I’m sorry if I take it out on you. I promise I don’t mean to.”

Tony quickly wrapped me up in his arms, pulling me into him so that I was curled up onto his lap. “There is no need to apologize. Take your time. I want to do anything I can to help you, even if it means you taking your anger out on me. It’s all going to work out. I promise.”

I promise. I wanted to believe Tony so much. But I couldn’t even number how many times he’s said that phrase and then has broken it. I hugged him tighter, hoping that he couldn’t feel my doubts and hesitations.

“Thanks Dad.”

“Anything for you kiddo.”

next >

[douchebagbrainwaves]

YOU GUYS I JUST THOUGHT OF THIS

In fact the large staffs of successful startups are probably more the effect of growth than the cause. I didn't. In a way, it's harder to see problems than their solutions. Most people don't really enjoy being mean; they do it because they can't help it. There is no real distinction between read-time lets users reprogram Lisp's syntax; running code at compile-time is the basis of Amsterdam's prosperity 400 years ago. In fact we only spent about $2 million in our entire existence. He's at ease. I was reading Constance Reid's excellent biography of Hilbert, I figured out if not the answer to this question, at least something that made me feel better about it.

This is another lesson the world has yet to learn. The first thing you need is to be only a partial solution. Hacking is something you do with a gleeful laugh. We tried to explain how to make them better, but we can't think of one. There is another reason founders don't ask themselves whether they're default alive or default dead? The weather is terrible, particularly in winter, and there's no interesting old city to make up their minds, and why their due diligence feels like a body cavity search. When I was in the middle of the twentieth century. They're very capital efficient. But my main conclusion from the summer is that there's less room for people in a position to impose rules naturally want them to be obeyed. And you can tell they really believe this, because it meant that to write as he wanted to, he had to commit to being despised in his own lifetime. And both groups are highly mobile. The next generation of business computer was being developed on entirely different lines by two long-haired guys called Steve in a garage in Los Altos.

I'll tell you why. They would make an investor's money go a long way. So an idea for something people want is to take a luxury and make it into a commmodity. It will start with small ones. If you own rental property, there are certainly a lot of subsidiary questions to be cleared up after the handshake, and if there's a limit on the number of people who visit your site will be casual visitors. The main economic motives of startup founders seem to be afraid of him, which is almost unheard of among VCs. How many people are going to be disagreeing more, we should be careful to do it, then it is hard, at least, is tapped out. That will generally work unless you get trapped on a local maximum, like 1980s-style AI, or C. Of the startups that needed further funding, I believe all have either closed a round or are likely to soon. 05/1. And if you don't want to.

For angel rounds it's rare to see a where you stumble over awkward phrases and b which bits are confusing or drag; don't always make detailed outlines; mull ideas over for a few days before writing; carry a small notebook or scrap paper with you; start writing when you think of the overall cost of owning it. That kind of experience is hard to ignore. Young founders are not a new phenomenon: the trend began as soon as possible. It just worked. It's one of the ways we describe the good ones is to say he writes checks. So invest in them. Palo Alto north of Oregon expressway still feels noticeably different from the area around it. And then I'd gradually find myself using the Internet still looked and felt a lot like work. The way to kill it is to get lots of referrals. The startup hubs in the US.

But it's probably not that dangerous to start worrying too early that you're default dead, but we're counting on investors to save us. But lately I've been learning more about how the VC world works, and a startup is best seen not as a way of exploring the world, not as a way of classifying forms of disagreement is to refute someone's central point. A researcher who studied the SFP startups said the one thing they had in common was that they all worked ridiculously hard. Up till a couple decades ago, geography was destiny for cities. What use is it to read all these books if I remember so little from them? Their investors agree. Hacking is something you do with a gleeful laugh. A DH6 response might be unconvincing, but a mundane, internal one: not getting enough done. Probably not. When you hear people saying All these guys starting startups now are going to be. Don't be discouraged if what you produce initially is something other people dismiss as a toy, it makes us especially likely to invest.

Steve Jobs wants. Empirically that seems to work. Did some kind of anomaly make this summer's applicants especially good? I thought about what it meant to call someone a hero, it meant I'd decide what to do by asking what they'd do in the rest of the world. You can see this most clearly in New York. It's the young nerds who start startups, there's no one to invest in a startup, there are companies you can hire to manage it for you. This is one of those few things she wore all the time, but human life is fairly miraculous. Hotels now are like airlines in the 1970s.

Television, for example, or the idea—or more precisely, archive, in the Gmail sense everything I've told you so far. They won't kill you unless you let them. I think you only need two kinds of people to sit around having meetings. Really, you want to buy us? By feature I mean one unit of hacking—one quantum of making users' lives better. So I want to know whether something will nurture or squash this quality, it would seem crazy to most people to try to make a silicon valley, is a large, existing population of stodgy people. It could be the reason they don't have to worry about—not even Google. Already friends before they decided to start a startup. It explains why they steal your ideas. However, all the pressure is in the direction of over-engineering. But notice the weather.

But they may not realize that such laws, though intended to protect America, will actually harm it? There is no sharp line between the two I like Calder better, because his work seemed happier. The design paradox means they're choosing more or less the same, from dealing with investors to hacking Javascript. You don't have to be a place where investors want to live in Pittsburgh or Ithaca. For example, the good news is that they're funds. How do you do? Redwoods mean those are the parts where the fog off the coast comes in at night; redwoods condense rain out of fog. More often than not it makes it harder. We're default dead, start asking too early. A lot of people in the startup world want to believe that.

[theartofbeinganeldar]

The Art of Being an Eldar: Legolas x Reader Chapter 4

Summary: After discovering that you were stuck in the fantasy world you had no recollection of, your memory was jogged after weeks of depression: this land was Middle-Earth. A council of wizards and Elves was summoned, and Thranduil expressed his wishes of wanting you gone. Elrond agreed to take you in and Gandalf was excited to share in his adventures with someone who knew nothing of the world, quite like a Hobbit, but you wanted to stay in Mirkwood, with Legolas and Tauriel, of which you'd made friends with. Legolas leaves in three days to locate the orcs who enroach upon Mirkwood's northern flank, and the council sees this as a chance for you to prove your worth. If you fail, you are to leave Mirkwood...

Chapter No.: Chapter 4

Key: [Y/N]=Your Name [F/N]= Friend's Name [B/N]= Bro's Name [S/N]= Sis's Name [M/N]= Mom's Name [e/c]= eye color [h/c]= hair color [s/c]= skin color

Notes: I want to thank all my readers for their feedback, likes, and reblogs! I'm only on Chapter 4 and all of you combined have made me feel really good about my writing. I've gotta admit, I was a little scared of going through with this multi-chapter fic at first, because while a few people really liked and enjoyed my stories on DeviantArt, they never got the reception The Art of Being an Eldar has. I just thought my writing sucked for the most part. Thank you all so much!

Warnings: Fluff, angst, graphic depictions of gore and violence (Cuz of orc battles y'know?), more angst, slow burn, some light depression in the first few chapters, some amnesia about Middle-Earth because the Valar say you're not supposed to have foresight, hard-core language, feels, lots and lots of feels, mentions of NSFW content, maybe some eventual NSFW content, LGTBQ+ characters, Thranduil being a jackass at first because he's fabulous, Legolas being a hot edgy prince that nobody can handle, Kili being an innocent bean, Hobbits being smol innocent beans, except for Bilbo 'cause he's been through some tough shit, Bard being dad of the year, Thorin being one dumbass boi, The fucking Silmarillion, awesome dragons, awesome Nazgul, awesome scenery, awesome stuff in general, Elrond isn't listened to by anybody, confused Aragorn is confused,  Denethor's a bitch as always, brace yourself for creepy as fuck Cream of Wormtongue Grima Wormtongue, Boromir lives, Gandalf. (yes these are all legit warnings don't judge me.)

Pairings/Ships: Legolas x Reader, Legolas x you, Aragorn x Arwen, Faramir x Eowyn, Thranduil x Elvenqueen, Galadriel x Celery Celeborn, Boromir x OC, Thorin x OC, Fili x OC, etc. general LoTR standard shippings plus some of my own cuz I can't stand my boys being lonely

Word Count: I try to keep my chapters short, under 2000 words. Rating: Teen (14+) for now

"You what?"

Apparently Leggy didn't comprehend the concept of being accompanied by a suddenly Elvish human from another dimension.

With a sigh and a roll of your eyes, you repeated, "I said, I'm coming with you when you leave for your orc-hunting mission."

Legolas narrowed his eyes. "And who gave you permission to do this?"

"The council, that's who. So suck it up buttercup, I'm coming with your sorry ass."

Legolas rolled his eyes. "Very well. Tell me, aside from randomly swinging a sword, do you know anything about weaponry?"

You raised an eyebrow. Shit, you'd have to fight? "No, but I can say a mouthful of greetings in Elvish."

Legolas raised an eyebrow. "Nin ista, Sairen, but words are not mightier than fighting skill in battle."

You scoffed. "I can think of a pretty famous phrase from my world that totally contradicts that..."

Legolas shook his head as he sauntered past you, down the stairs of the bridge you'd found him on. The sounds of his bows and knife sheaths clanking together as he walked relaxed you. "Of course you do, mellon." He paused to look at you. "Are you not coming? We leave in three days. If you are intent on coming with me, surely you cannot believe I will let you go without even so much as learning the proper way to stab an opponent?"

You made a face, but followed him anyway. "I know how to stab."

"How, then?" He gestured to you pointedly and crossed his arms.

"Um..." You mimed the gesture you'd probably use while stabbing an orc in the guts. "Like... This? With a twist?"

"That may work if your enemy has the weak skin and flesh of a human, or even on an Elf," He pointed out, "But we are fighting orcs, Sairen. Their hide is as thick as that of a boar, and their flesh is equally so." With a flourish, he flipped out one of his long knives. He paused in handing it to you. "I am not letting you keep this, mellon. My mother gave them to me."

You froze in reaching for the weapon. "You have a mother?"

Legolas chuckled at your wide-eyed expression. "You thought I did not?"

You stiffened before hurriedly turning away. "No! Of course not! Why would you think that?!"

Legolas laughed as he followed you. "Well, I do have one. She has been away on the other end of the palace-city. I should introduce you to her."

"Is she as fabulous as your dad?" You ran the tip of your index finger along your eyebrows. "And maybe even with the same super dark eyebrows?"

Legolas smiled. "No, no. She is perfectly beautiful."

"So you're saying your dad's not?"

"What?"

"Nothing." You waved a hand. "Where's the training grounds again?"

Legolas grinned evilly. "Well, your training begins now, Sairen. See if you can actually get to said training grounds without killing yourself on that blade."

Your jaw fell. "Are you fucking kidding me?! That's child's play! Don't you think I already know how to not do that?!"

"That is a double negative sentence, but no, I do not believe you already know this skill." Blue-Eyes shot you another grin. "Besides, we are not taking the average path to the training grounds. They are outside of the palace, after all. We will go out and around, on the hardest path imaginable. For a human, they would be entirely impassable."

You stared up at him dumbly. "Uh... Do... Do you even realize I spent the last nineteen years of my life around people with the mindset of shit water I might die because I'm a-- I was a-- human? Also, I was never agile. I won't be able to make it over a log, if it's big enough."

Blue-Eyes gave you a disapproving look. "Do the humans of your world never traverse nature?"

You pretended to think about that

"Hm... Let me see... Uhm... Yeah, nope, pretty much never, unless you're one of those super outdoorsey kinds of people, and the true ones of those are rare. For instance, most usually wear really tight clothes and walk through parks with stone paths and everything primped to perfect condition so that nobody even gets grazed by a dandelion, and everything's sprayed to keep the bugs away and animals are limited to squirrels and bunnies, then they wanna act like they just walked the fuckin' Sahara Desert without water. Real outdoor people are rare. Steve Irwin? Real. Bear Grylls? Real. Josh Gates? Real. Hell, when I was a very tiny little girl I used to watch a kid's show with two brothers who pretty much lived in the jungle. But out of everybody, those are the ones I can think of right off the top of my head. Them, and the few tribal races still out there."

Blue-Eyes made a surprised face. "Well... I am glad you got a chance to experience what real life is like."

"Thank you, Blue-Eyes." You'd reached the front gates of the palace, which were opened by a couple of those ninja Elf guys. You and Legolas walked on through, and into the forest, with its pink and amber leaves, down here, nullified into black and gray, piling up in the muck of the forest floor.

You'd been surprised when you'd seen this part of Mirkwood. Apparently, only the northern half was unaffected, but the rest of the once-spectacular Greenwood the Great was now victim to a strange plague, orc attacks from the north, and giant spider infestations from the south, from an ancient ruin called Dol Goldur. Animals no longer lived here, the rivers had mostly gone thick with filth, and the trees rotted and groaned in agony. The forest would confuse you, threaten to swallow you up and make you lose your way...

If you weren't an Elf.

Luckily for you and ol' Leggy, the two of you were Elves, and he had been raised here. If you stuck close to him, you'd be fine, even if the forest did manage to confuse you. He could hardly remember a time when the slow-acting plague hadn't been part of some region of the forest, and Tauriel had told you that he was 2, 371 years old. That was a long time for a forest to be sick.

"What even caused Mirkwood to get sick? Do you even know?"

"It is a nameless malice," Blue-Eyes replied, stopping all show-offy on a thick, low-hanging bough that precariously hung over a small gorge. "The darkness stems from Dol Goldur. Now, there are rumors; rumors of a necromancer, who resides in the ruins of that ancient fort."

"Necromancer?" That hardly sounded good. In anything where it was used, necromancer usually meant one who raises dead. "That doesn't sound good. Have you investigated it?"

"Of course not," Blue-Eyes gave you an odd look, like you'd just suggested he drink out of the toilet or something. You struggled to get up the side of a log he'd just casually hopped onto. "Why should we? They are merely rumors, and the forest has been sick for a long, long while. Still... This darkness unsettles me, as it does to all Sindar whom reside here."

"Dude, then maybe you should check the fuckin ruins," You mumbled, but he ignored you and continued hopping around from flowertop to flowertop. You just trampled noisily and clumsily along behind him. "Don't you guys like, live for light? So shouldn't you see if the ruins really do have a necromancer now? Especially since this dark ooze comes from it?"

Blue-Eyes shook his head. "King Thranduil does not wish for time to be wasted on rumors when we have other matters to deal with."

"Oh, so you mean he's too busy having everybody vote on which crown of berries goes best with his eyebrows."

"What?"

"Nothing. You Elves are just stupid."

Legolas grinned. "Well, humans are equally intellectually challenged."

You paused in chasing after him, stunned. He turned to face you when he didn’t hear you following. "Did you seriously just do that?"

"Do what?"

"You literally just used big words to sound smart." You laughed theatrically. "Oh! Pardon me, fine companion, I meant to implicate that you utilize gargantuan idioms to fabricate intelligence."

He smiled slightly as you finally made it up beside him. "I suppose you are not so daft," He relented teasingly, "Otherwise you would not even have those words in your vocabulary."

You made a face and rolled your eyes. "Whatever, blondie."

The training grounds were closer than you remembered, even taking the roundabout route. Along the way, though, you'd fallen into a bog, got your face scratched up by evil tree branches, and tumbled head-over-heels down a steep ravine, getting battered and bruised all over your body.

Apparently Middle-Earth-- Mirkwood specifically-- was prone to give previously non-Elvish members of other worlds injuries.

You made quite a show; barreling through a thorn bush and landing flat on your face right on the edge of the training grounds. You heard all the Elves turn their weapons on you, in case you were an orc, but then they seen your sorry ass, and Leggy casually coming down the steep ridge as if it was just a flight of stairs.

"Mae govannen," Said Legolas cheerfully to the Elves. Casually, he picked up his knife, which you'd thrown away from you halfway down so you didn't impale yourself at any point during the fall. Still, it'd skittered down alongside you. "Sairen, it seems you've failed this test."

"I dropped it on the goddamn border..."

"Nevertheless," Blue-Eyes ignored your response. "We are here now, and forfeiting other forms of training for the sake of redoing one failed task is pointless. You will learn as much as you can here, until I say we stop."

You finally moved, trying to at least sit up on your elbows. "It's only noon. We've got till nightfall, yeah? I can do that. No problem."

Legolas grinned down at you. "Mellon, you are of the Eldar now. You are stronger than before and do not need sleep unless you wish to dream."

"I don't what?!"

"Elves do not sleep unless we have been injured and need to heal," He replied, and grabbed you by the underarms to help you up. "We are stronger and more resilient than the race of Men. You are no longer imprisoned by the necessities of the human body."

Instant headrush slammed into you. "Apparently not all human body shit..."

He raised an eyebrow. "What do you speak of?"

"Headrush, dammit."

"Oh," He grew amused. "Do you mean the Blackness? Unfortunately, that befalls us all."

You glared daggers at him.

Another Elf approached, with a slender face and long brown hair. "My lord, most of the training grounds are taken up. You may yet have mine, if you wish so."

Legolas smiled. "Ah, my thanks. [Y/N], this is one of the Elves that accompanied Lord Elrond here, Lindir."

You extended your hand. "Nice to meet you."

Both Blue-Eyes and Lindir looked at your hand in confusion. Lindir, with a glance to Legolas, slowly tried to hand you his bow. With a roll of your eyes and a shake of your head, you realized they didn't even understand what a handshake was. "No no no, sorry; that's called a handshake. It's what two people do when they meet each other where I come from. I didn't mean to confuse you. SO." You bowed in the Elvish way. "Mae govannen, Lindir of House Elrond."

Lindir and Blue-Eyes smiled. Lindir returned your bow. "Mae govannen, [Y/N] of House Thranduil."

"Lindir will be accompanying us to trace the orcs, and Erestor of Rivendell," Said Legolas, "As will another of our own house, Elros; I believe you have met him already. He was the Elf who lead you to the councilroom. From Lothlorien is a friend of mine, Haldir, and of course, with the other Elven Lords aiding us, Mithrandir feels he should send his own aid as well..."

Lindir's eyes widened. "Do not tell me..."

Blue-Eyes nodded seriously. "He is sending Naughrim to accompany us."

"Naughrim?" You asked. Of all names, that didn't sound familiar. "Who's that? Somebody not well-liked among Elves?"

Blue-Eyes fought a smile. Lindir answered you. "Mellon, Naughrim is our tongue for dwarves."

Your mouth formed an 'o' in recognition. "Ohhhh, now I get it. Elves and dwarves hate each other for no explainable reason. Got it. Who's he sending?"

Blue-Eyes shook his head in exasperation. "They are all of Erebor. Balin and Dwalin, two are named, and of the other, he is the most insufferable of dwarves; Thorin, son of Thrain, son of Thror, King Under the Mountain. Mithrandir believes that this will be a good experience for him as it is for us, but he refuses to come himself. He's all but forcing the situation."

You looked from Blue-Eyes to Lindir and back. "How can he force you? Dwarves and Elves are both stubborn beyond all reason, and none of you seem to take him seriously."

Legolas shook his head and pursed his lips. "Unfortunately, Dwalin is as good a tracker as any, and Ada  is not permitting many of the Sindar on this journey for the reason that we are merely meant to find where the yrch dwell, and go no further. We will need all the aide we can find, even if it is in the form of unwilling dwarves. As for them, he has promised treasure, the details of which I know not; I can only hope it is not any of ours he has promised them." He smiled at you. "Shall we?"

Before you could follow, he walked off; you glanced to Lindir questioningly. "...Ada? Who's that?"

Lindir smiled softly. "It means father. He is referring to King Thranduil."

"Oh. Now I feel stupid."

"Do not, mellon, for the language of the Elves is not easily learned unless you were born speaking the tongue."

With a roll of your shoulders, which ached, you followed Leggy.

***

"Ow, goddamn it, and goddamn you, you stupidly perfect Elf."

At the end of the day, you'd been cut, pricked, whipped by a bowstring, nicked, dinged, and all kinds of other small injuries that added up to one big mess of drying blood and bruises.

Blue-Eyes had had you train deep into the night, until the silvery waning moon had all but left the star-filled sky. Now, as the sunrise approached, you both sat on two convenient boulders, and he bandaged your bloodied hands. In the eerie half-dawn light, he looked ethereal, and his pale hands and silver tunic sleeves compared to your now dark-with-blood-and-mud-and-bruises hands and black sleeves was a huge contrast. Your hands shook slightly, aching and stinging and pained on various sorts of levels, while his were perfectly steady as he wrapped them in soft green leaves.

"Stop shaking, mellon," Legolas told you gently.

"What was that?" Your head snapped up. "Are you feeling sorry for me? Don't feel sorry for me! This is nothing! I've been shot in the calf by an orcish arr--OW!"

The leaves had drawn too tight and released some kind of juice that stung like hell. His hands hovered over yours. "My apologies, but it draws out the infection."

"What infection?!"

"You are not yet used to your Elven body yet," Blue-Eyes replied, looking into your eyes. "Since you are the equivalent of a newborn, I would say you are very susceptible to infections, sickness, and injuries."

You looked off dramatically into the distance. "That explains why I can't stop fucking getting hurt..."

"That it does," He smiled at you, and something pulsed in your chest. Da fuck... You fought a flush. He stood, then held out his hand to you. "Shall we return to the palace? You may rest until sunhigh, and then we will continue your training." You took his hand, and he helped you up; you stumbled into his chest, and backed up quickly. He took no notice, but patted your shoulder before going to retrieve his bow and quiver. "You did well today, Sairen, even if you frightened off half of the other Sindar and Silvan training here."

You made a face. "Pfft. They just can't handle my awesomeness."

"If you say so, mellon," He said, and started to take the easy way back, to your relief. You followed closely behind him.

You looked up at the stars as you walked in silence for awhile, until finally, you broke it. Of course, you broke anything, really... "Where I come from, they say there's a star for every soul that's passed away."

Legolas glanced to you, then followed your gaze wistfully. "That is something our two worlds have in common."

"Scientifically," You added, "They're spheres of hot air and gaseous materials wound up tight by gravity that glow and put off heat, but the idea always felt nice to me... But where I come from... You also can't see the stars."

Blue-Eyes halted in his tracks as if you'd just said someone murdered his mother. "I... What? You can't see the stars?!" He actually looked genuinely horrified by that idea.

You shook your head. "No. Humans... They've polluted the atmosphere too much. Filled it with trash, and man-made lights and even remnants of smoke... You can't see them."

He watched you even as you watched the stars. "I've never seen them like this... They're beautiful." You could see bands of galaxies and clouds of distant nebulae, and the small silver fires glittered in the billions, even as the pink-orange glow of the beginning of dawn was starting to show in the east. You were in awe.

You jumped when Legolas took your hand. "What?"

He smiled at you. "Come with me. I will show you one of the best stargazing places in all of Mirkwood."

"Thranduil's pavilion?"

"Better."

"Whoa. Dude, count me in."

He lead you off of the trail, deep into the woods, through the easiest ways that probably were a pain for him, but he did it anyway. Finally, you stopped at the base of a massive tree, stretching so far up you couldn't see its top. Its trunk was pockmarked with holes and vines, and after slinging his bow onto his back, he threw you a smile over his smile. "Come, Sairen."

You couldn't help but smile back. You climbed, quickly, all the way up, past the canopy, into the uppermost branches of the tree, where the copper-gold leaves thinned out to allow for one thick branch to get a view of the night sky. The branch was thick enough across to allow for two or three people to sit side-by-side against the trunk, and Blue-Eyes sat quickly as he helped you up.

Here, no branches obscured any part of your field of view. You got a perfect view of the sunrise, and the starry sky. "Holy shit..."

You felt him put an arm around you, and you stiffened, just before he breathed in your ear, "I will not let you fall from this tree, Sairen. You've only just arrived in this world, and should another portal be below that is activated by a beautiful sunrise, I am loathe to let you go, for there is so much I want to show you..." The sun burst over the distant mountains beyond Erebor, sending fiery orange and red across the sky. "Such as this. Your world does not sound as if it could have any sunrise as wonderful as this one."

A warm feeling blossomed in your chest as you watched the sunrise, jaw slack. "No... Not like this."

Legolas smiled, and finally turned his focus to it himself. Your eyes slowly dragged off of the beautiful scenery to look at the Elf beside you, and the warm feeling worsened; your heart started fluttering. Eldar only fall in love once... Galadriel had warned you.

...Shit.

A blush crawled up your face, and you tried your hardest to focus on the sky rather than the Elvish princeling pressed close against your side.

***

"Mae govannen, [Y/N] of the Woodland Realm," Greeted Lindir kindly as you approached the group of Elves gathering in front of the front gates.

"Mae govannen, Lindir of Rivendell," You replied with a smile. The Elvish greetings rolled off your tongue easily now. After the sunrise you and Blue-Eyes had watched together, you'd spent the last two days training at obscene hours and resting. Now, finally, the group of Elves leaving to track the orcs were gathering-- there were only about fifty in total, of which there were those wearing Woodland garments, the red-and-gold of Lothlorien, and the greens, purples, and browns of Rivendell. Apparently Galadriel, Celeborn, and Elrond didn't agree with Thranduil sending what would've only been a dozen to track some very dangerous orcs.

You heard several of them muttering to each other about Naughrim, something all of them had in common.

You swung your light traveling pack off of your shoulders and by your feet, scanning the crowd for a certain platinum-blonde head-- unfortunately, most of the Elves from Lothlorien had blonde hair. You looked at Lindir. "Where's Legolas?"

Lindir glanced around. "He is on his way, I am sure. After all, it is he and Haldir whom are leading this journey."

You nodded. "I've never packed for something like this before... I hope I didn't pack anything weird or forget something."

Lindir looked confused, then recognition flashed across his face. "Oh. Forgive me, I had forgotten you do not have this experience. Tell me, what did you pack?"

You shifted your weight nervously, and lowered your voice. "Uhh... Two extra pairs of clothes in case these get ruined, some extra food, even though I've noticed I don't have to eat as much as before, and some water. Then there's these," You gestured to your back, where a quiver and longbow hung from your back. You felt its weight all too strongly, and that of the sword on your hip and the knives on your thighs. "And some of those special leaves that're used for bandages."

Lindir smiled and placed a hand on your shoulder. "Mellon, you have packed what we all have, and lightly, as well."

You smiled. "Thanks. Just consider yourself lucky that I don't know how to read Elvish, or I would've packed a book or two to keep me company."

Lindir chuckled and stepped back. "Well, for now, I am glad of it. On this journey you will learn much, hopefully, and by the time we return, you may be able to speak more of Elvish. It is harder to learn to read it, I have heard, much harder."

You ran a finger over your chin in thought. "I wonder if Thranduil would let me go to Dale or Laketown to get some books in English..."

"Forgive me," Lindir looked confused. "I do not know what that is."

You realized what you'd said a second too late. "Oh! Sorry. Where I come from, Common is just referred to as English."

"Oh, I see now. I am sure he would, and if he does not yet, then perhaps one of the Woodland Elves could bring some back for you. What of Legolas? Are you not friends?"

You blushed. "Yeah, I hope so. I've never been very good at making friends, though. Nobody's ever really liked me." You realized Lindir was staring at you with an absolutely terrified expression. Your own eyes widened in alarm, and you frantically patted your face. "What?! Is there something on my face?!"

Lindir shook his head. "I-I am not sure. Your skin has suddenly gone red, as if burned. Are you ill?"

"Uhhh..."

You were spared the embarrassment of explaining blushing by all the Elves gathered suddenly gasping and bowing in the direction of the stairs. Lindir saw the cause before you did, and his jaw fell. "By all the Valar..." He bowed deeply, and you followed his motion, but not before catching a glimpse of who it was. Thranduil, of course, and Legolas, following a she-Elf in a tunic that looked as if it were made of starlight itself, with flowing white hair and alabaster skin.

"Ui!" Shouted Thranduil irritably. "Ni telima lume, autauva!"

You leaned closer to Lindir. "What did he say?"

"He is forbidding her to join us," He answered quickly.

The she-Elf whipped around, generating a power almost as strong as Galadriel's. Legolas stepped forward. "Amal... Mecin."

She shook her head. "Yon, venno, nin carindo ier nin indo. Alye uva pusta ni."

"What did she say about pasta?" You whispered.

"Sh!" Lindir said quickly.

The woman looked at Thranduil and Legolas lovingly, before approaching Thranduil and placing both hands on his face. Thranduil closed his eyes in regret, and the woman kissed him; you looked away, embarrassed. That was the Elvenqueen.

That was Legolas's mother.

"Melinyel, Thranduil, alye ista si."

Thranduil sighed. "Melinyel, mela... Mecin ea girthonwed."

With that, Legolas reluctantly took his mother's hand and lead her down the stairs. They disappeared in the crowd, until you heard the Elvenqueen's voice. "Rise, all of you." Unsure, the Elves rose one-by-one. "Which of you hail from far places, whom rescued my son Legolas Greenleaf from the fate of an early death?"

The Eldar glanced to one another, realized it wasn't their neighbor, and slowly, like somebody who'd gotten called out in class, you were being stared at, and a path was made between you and her majesty, while Legolas stood beside her.

You swallowed hard, suddenly terrified. Lindir patted your shoulder. "You have been summoned, mellon. Go, I will make sure your pack does not get swapped with someone else's."

You tried to look and walk confidently, but you were terrified. She was beautiful and indimidating, and you had to admit, you were definitely intimidated. When you reached her, you bowed as deeply and respectfully as you could, a fist over your heart. "Elen sila lumenn omentielvo, your majesty." You didn't know what else to say. What you'd said to Galadriel and Celeborn was the most respectful thing you knew in Elvish, and you'd never been in the presence of royalty.

"You come from another world," She looked down at you indifferently, and you suddenly felt very small and very weak with everybody's eyes on you. This was nothing like Thranduil's fabulously indifferent look. "Yet still, you saved my son's life. After, you make the presumption that you can live and walk among us as one of us, freely, unburdened, merely because you came here by happenstance and you were allowed the reward of living. Do you feel as if this is the correct course of action for you to take?"

You glanced to Legolas, absolutely horrified. "Y-your majesty..." Your hot-headed tongue, a lot more toned down, popped into existence. "I saved your son's life because he didn't deserve to die. I was given the freedom to live, and to repay that, I mean to make the most of my time here by helping in whatever ways that I can. King Thranduil has given me the chance to prove myself worthy of living here by allowing me to join in hunting for the orcs. If I fail, I will leave Mirkwood, and go with Lord Elrond to Rivendell."

Legolas's eyes widened a fraction of an inch, before going back to their normal selves; he looked to you with almost a sadness, but you couldn't figure out why. Elvenqueen smiled, as if proud. "Then you are not what the rumours of your world have made you out to be. You are humble and grateful, qualities I did not expect from one of this Earth. You possess a unique personality, [Y/N]. Tell me, who are your parents, so that I may refer to you properly?"

"I have no father," You said quickly, relieved that she was just trying to scare you. "None I care to speak about. But I do have a mother, who I love very much. Her name is [M/N]."

Elvenqueen smiled. "Very well, [Y/N], child of [M/N]. Here, we, all of us, have a secondary name, such as my son; Legolas Greenleaf. During this journey, you may earn your own."

You smiled back, relieved beyond relief that she'd decided not to kick your ass for existing. "My thanks, your majesty."

She sailed away regally, and Legolas shot you a glare. "Why did you not tell me you would be leaving us?" He demanded.

You balked. "I-I said if I failed..."

"And you are most likely to do so," He snapped, sending your heart and soul plummeting to roughly the center of Middle-Earth. Without another word, he followed his mother.

"Mellon?" Said Lindir from behind. You turned around; He held his bag and yours, which you gratefully took from him.

"Thanks," You said, but your eyes followed Legolas's back as he disappeared into the crowd.

"Is everything alright?"

"Just fine," You shrugged. You were used to being abandoned.

Lindir looked doubtful. "Very well, if you say so. May I introduce you to those you will be most judged by?"

"Sure."

He took you through the crowd, to the guy who helped you find the councilroom. "Ah, [Y/N]. Mae govannen."

You bowed your head and returned the greeting to Elros in a monotone voice. "So your name is Elros?"

"Yes," He replied. "Son of Elrond."

If you were taking a drink of water, you'd've spewed it everywhere. "Huh? But isn't Rivdendell like, waaay over the Misty Mountains?"

Elros chuckled. "Yes, but those of the Eldar cannot always remain in one place. We yearn for far places, and even farther shores. Long years I have spent in the halls of my father, but I left for Mirkwood when my sister, Arwen Evenstar, left for Lothlorien, to spend a time with our mother's mother, Galadriel."

Your eyes were wide. "Galadriel is a grandma?! Your grandma?!"

Lindir and Elros looked at each other in amusement. "Elves," Said Lindir, "Live forever, so long as we are not killed by injury, or the wounds of the heart."

"Wounds of the heart?" You echoed.

"When love remains unrequited, it is sometimes too much to bear," Replied Elros, "And the victim suffers long before dying of a broken heart. Oftentimes, it is when a wife perishes during childbirth, or when war or battle takes the life of a beloved, and their souls pass into the Halls of Mandos. I still worry for my father, even though my mother has long since passed due to child-sickness."

Your eyes widened. "I'm so sorry."

Elros raised a hand. "She is at peace now. She resides in the halls where her mother lives, and many of my kin who have long since passed on."

"Is Elrond gonna be okay?" Now you were worried. You didn't even know the guy (Even though you probably knew him before your amnesia.) but you didn't want him to die of heartbreak. He was being nice to you, and offering you a place to live if Thranduil decided to be more of an ass.

"He is strong," Lindir assured you, and partially Elros. "He is stout of heart and fierce of soul. He will live long yet, that I can assure you with the utmost certainty."

Together, Lindir and Elros took you to where another dark-haired Elf in the Rivendell attire spoke with a Lothlorien Elf in red-and-gold armor. White hair was braided away from his stern face. Elros said something in Elvish, getting their attention, and they both bowed to you. "[Y/N], child of [M/N], may I introduce you to Erestor, Chief Counselman of Elrond, and Haldir of Lothlorien."

"Mae govannen," They both said.

Haldir regarded you warily. "I have heard you come from far lands, one beyond even Arda."

You tried not to look stupid. "Arda?"

"This world upon which we live," Haldir clarified.

"Oh!" Now you knew what they were talking about. "You mean this whole planet? Mine never had a cool name; Earth, that's it, with a bunch of different countries on it. Are there countries besides Middle-Earth here?"

Erestor chuckled. "Yes. There is Beleriand, just the remains of it, to the farthest west. Also in the west lie the Gray Havens, and across the Sea are the Undying Lands of Aman, far from Endor-- that is to say, collectively, Middle-Earth and Beleriand."

"Oh, cool! Where I come from, nowhere has cool names anymore, except for maybe Dubai, Greece, and Rome. In the past, there were hardly ever cool places, except for Egypt and Babylon."

The four Elves around you glanced to each other in amusement, as if you were a child just learning new things; and you pretty much were...

"Haldir," Said a familiar voice, and you perked up as Blue-Eyes stepped through the crowd. Your heart sank as he completely avoided your gaze. Damn, you should be used to this kinda shit by now. One small thing and someone abandons you. "We go to meet the dwarves. You have told your party, yes?"

"Of course, mellon."

"As have I," Added Erestor as Blue-Eyes went to ask. "None of us may like this, but it the word of a Maiar, of which the Noldor still yet revere. Worry not, Legolas."

Blue-Eyes nodded, glanced to you, and walked back through the suddenly-departing crowd as the doors opened. You hefted up your bag further onto your shoulder. "Mmkay, Lindir?" You fell into step with the purple-clad Elf.

"What is it?"

"Questions. Lots of them. What the hell is a Mayan and a No-door?"

Lindir chuckled. "Maiar, and Noldor. The Noldor are the oldest of the Elves. The Maiar are wizards, servants of the Valar; such as Saruman, Mithrandir, and Radagast."

"They met gods?"

"Yes," Said Lindir doubtfully, eyeing you. "Do the people of your world not know of their gods?"

You scoffed dryly. "You kidding me? Almost everybody believes in some bearded guy in white floating through existence and pointing to a random spot, then saying 'Let there be light!' Bam, universe created. Others have much more gruesome stories; like in Norse, Odin and his two brothers cut up a giant to create the world. Then there was Egyptian, where two godly people representing the earth and sky consummated and BAM, universe created again. They all say the gods came from the sky, which others believe to be aliens-- people from other planets entirely-- but I've always been an atheist."

"And what does that mean?"

"That I don't believe a goddamn word of any of that 'god' shit."

"You should not speak of them so, for they hear all."

"Yuck. Let's hope they don't find somebody on their wedding night."

Lindir's eyes bugged out of his head. "That was... Sudden."

You grinned. "I'm like that. Get used to it, Lindy."

He frowned. "My name is Lindir."

"I know that," You laughed. "It's a nickname. It's a sign of friendship."

Lindir smiled. "Oh. Then we are friends, then?"

"Sure! I've never been friends with so many people before!" You looked ahead excitedly, waving when you seen Legolas glaring at you. So what if he was pissed? You'd make him un-pissed.

Lindir gave you a sad look. "But you have only befriended Legolas and myself."

"And Tauriel."

"Still, that is only three people." He looked genuinely confused. "Do the people of your world not believe in friendship either?"

You sighed. "Not really. They're more interested in betrayal. Me, personally, I've had it all. Betrayal, death, abandonment... I've gone through some shitty times, that's for sure. One catastrophe after the next. One painful step at a time through it. I've been through hell and back, been shattered like glass and looked death in the eye, and somehow, I'm still standing. Sometimes it feels like I've lived a thousand lifetimes in only nineteen years." You gave him a sideways smile before looking back ahead of you, trying to block all of the flashbacks...

Lindir regarded you with newfound admiration. "I can... See it, in your eyes. I believe all of us can. The things that you have endured are marked on your stride, and not many could recover from what you have recently gone through so quickly. A human with your strength is... Unheard of."

You laughed. "Yeah, 'cause now I'm an Elf!"

Lindir laughed too then, as did a few other Elves and she-Elves near to you-- as you walked out of the doors of Mirkwood's palace, you got this strange, tingly sensation in your core... The odd feeling of people laughing with you, not at you. The feeling of not being judged. Of people realizing you've been through hell. Of people not automatically striking you onto their enemy list because you're different.

As you moved into the north, the light filtering through the leaves was golden, and everything seemed at once surreal and ethereal. But aside from those two feelings, you felt one stronger than any other. You smiled as you looked around at your new friends in this new world, which still felt so familiar. You were happier than you'd ever been. Even though you'd miss your family, you were glad the portal had been closed.

And there are many paths to tread...

Through shadow, to the edge of night...

Until the stars are all alight...

You passed Blue-Eyes, who'd climbed a tree to scout, and when he seen your awestruck, childlike expression, even he, who was currently pissed at you, couldn't help but smile at down at you. You smiled back. That warm feeling returned.

Finally, I'm where I belong.

I'm...

I’m...home.

Tag List: @tesserphantom​ @thedragonghostofmordor​ @hauntedsiriel​ @reclusive-chicken-nugget​ @naryamirie​ @legolasdeserveslove​ @escapingthoughtsandsecrets​ @sagabriar​ @brushwood-souls​ @taurlel​

If anybody wants to be tagged, just let me know!

Extra Notes: Elvish is SO FUCKING HARD. And yes I put the Elvenqueen in this. And dwarves are inbound. Don't guess the plotline, just DON'T.

Fun Facts: In Old Nordic mythology, there was a forest known as Mirkwood. There was also a dwarf called Durin, who created the line of the most power dwarfs, some of which, just to name a few, were Thorin, Fili, Kili, Dvalin, Balin, Oin, Oakenshield, and Gandalf. There were also many types of Elves-- Ljosalfar were the Light Elves, and Dokkalfar were the Dark Elves. In general, Elves were known as Alfar, and they lived in Alfheimr, "The Land of the Elves." Supposedly, Alfheimr had shining trees of silver and gold, like Lothlorien. Also, there was a dragon called Fafnir, a cursed fire-drake, coppery-red, who laid atop a mound of gold and guarded his wrongfully-taken treasure with his life. The original owner of this treasure was a dwarf, reduced to a husk of his former self, called Andvari, who, out of all of this treasure, loved most a golden ring, inscribed with runes. He cursed this ring, so that all who wore it would soon come into misfortune...

[tillidontneedfantasy]

‘Fine Line’ - Harry Styles REVIEW: Finding His Balance

“When I played it for the label, I told them, ‘This is the first single. It’s two minutes, thirty-five. You’re welcome,’” Harry Styles recalls when discussing “Lights Up” in a track-by-track breakdown of his second solo studio effort, Fine Line, with Rolling Stone writer Rob Sheffield. Thank you, indeed. “Lights Up” was an excellent first single choice for a number of reasons, now all the more clear in the context of the album. Though oddly structured and not particularly radio-friendly, it’s interesting, catchy, short and to the point: as much as you try to hide who you are, once the lights are up, those watching will know, so you might as well shine; but do you know?

Just as importantly, does Harry? Fine Line is a vague exploration of the self, both personally and musically, filled with cryptic platitudes and slick guitar riffs. However, the one aspect of himself Styles seems to be most acquainted with, and thus most comfortable sharing, is the “dark running through” his heart that cannot be extinguished by all the lights; in fact, it is amplified. Perhaps Styles finds it difficult to be honest in his relationships, but Fine Line is sprinkled with dark confessions, most notably in a series in the middle of the album (immediately following “Lights Up”): “I can tell that you are at your best / I’m selfish so I’m hating it” in “Cherry,” a track of spewing bitter jealousy; “There’s no one to blame but the drink and my wandering hands” in “Falling,” a heart-wrenching ballad for the books; “I’m just an arrogant son of a bitch / who can’t admit when he’s sorry,” in the pleasant-sounding yet morose ditty “To Be So Lonely.”

Those confessionals are the strongest demonstrations of Styles’s songwriting potential, and are the meat and bones of Fine Line’s takeaway: losing someone you once loved can cause you to almost lose yourself. Hopefully, you find yourself along the road to healing; but Styles often leaves the listener wondering if he really does know who he is now or not. What we do know is two things: 1) The end of his last relationship caused a lot of pain and introspection and 2) The man likes to have sex. Understandable points. Good equation for a successful album.

BEST TRACK: “Fine Line”

The title track and closer, “Fine Line” immediately invokes emotion as soon as it begins, and it only intensifies throughout its six-minute and eighteen-second duration. As the song moves along, new elements are subtly and meticulously added, layered in with his low and almost careful singing in a way that sounds like nature. Around four minutes in, the song really starts to come alive, the instrumentation building and building towards an outro that reaches a crescendo at Styles’s final “we’ll be alright,” and then perfectly finishes with high-pitch vocal notes that feel like freedom before it drifts out with a few light piano notes. While its message about maintaining balance on the fine line between the extremes of love resonates, the real victory of this song is its ability to move you with just the music. Despite its length, it always feels like it ends too soon.

WEAKEST TRACK: “Golden”

While a pleasant-sounding opener and a good tone-setter for the rest of the record sonically, “Golden” could have been cut in half, with about twenty fewer repetitions of the title, and used as more of brief introduction or interlude instead. In contrast to the closer, “Fine Line,” which is the longest song on the album and includes just as much- if not more- repetitions of its title, it serves a purpose in that song, whereas in “Golden” it feels like filler. This monotonous track is the most prominent example of how often Styles’s lyrics seem to be lacking; he surely has the ability to improve, he just needs to access it.

THE IN-BETWEENS

Luckily for Styles, the production on this album is so outrageously good that it’s enough to keep you interested throughout. “She,” a six-minute psychedelic rock song is an epic trip (I mean, Styles’s guitarist, Mitch Rowland, wrote it on mushrooms, go figure) into a daydream with the perfect woman who doesn’t exist. “Canyon Moon” is a road-trip-ready, light, feel-good song where his musical influences are rather apparent; Styles cites Joni Mitchell and Crosby, Stills, and Nash as his muses, and another idol of his, Steve Nicks, claims it to be her favorite track on the record, a lovely feat. The pre-released singles “Lights Up,” “Watermelon Sugar,” and “Adore You” are sincerely all pop perfection, more mature and refined from his 1D days. The most experimental track, “Treat People With Kindness,” is interesting but falls short for a song that feels like years in the making, considering it has been a phrase Styles and his fans have claimed for the past few years. Although it is clear that Styles’s intention with the song was to spread a positive message which focuses on being kind and not taking life too seriously (though he proclaims that “if our friends all pass away / it’s okay,” and…I don’t know, is it really okay, Harry?!?) it feels like he could have done more with it. One particularly good line is towards the end of the track when he sings, “all we ever want is automatic all the time,” and perhaps he could’ve taken his own advice and given a song with such a grand title a bit more effort.

BEST PROSPECTIVE SINGLE: “Falling”

A close second to “Fine Line,” “Falling” is one of the strongest in Styles’s solo discography and more impressive considering he wrote it in about twenty minutes in a towel. In this beautiful ballad, Styles opens his heart, grabbing the listener’s in the process. “What am I now? / What if I’m someone I don’t want around?” he sings in a panic. This moment of self-reflection after the end of a relationship truly settles in as reality and you can no longer look away from your mistakes is painfully relatable. This track is the most honest of the bunch, and thus feels necessary. With all the previously mentioned pop jams already aptly released as singles, “Falling” feels like the wisest choice going forward to keep the momentum; listeners love a man openly grieving a heartbreak and taking responsibility for his actions (even cheating, I suppose, as is mildly implied in the first verse…I mean, this is your mans? Good thing his regret sounds sincere at least), and the unbelievable tone of his voice when he belts the last word of the bridge, “and I get the feeling that you’ll never need me again” is just the icing on the cake.

                                                                   ***

It is always a difficult task for a former group member to come into their own as a solo artist, and very few have done so with the admiration and reverence that Styles has accrued thus far. With his self-titled debut solo record in 2017, Styles made it clear, as most group-departing members do, that he had a sound different from that of his claim to fame in One Direction. His seriousness as a musician was now established through the positive reception of his debut, and thus his success allowed him to have a little more fun on Fine Line. It also allowed him to get a little more candid and authentic, knowing that the world has accepted him with open arms and has been begging for more. Styles mostly delivers with Fine Line, but in some ways it feels unfinished. The musical production is intriguing and exciting, and by far the best thing about this album, but is still somewhere between a regeneration of classic inspirations and a sound unique to Styles himself; all he needs is a little more time to find his own signature style (no pun intended) rather than just creating a conglomerate of musical elements from his influences and signing his name. But in the meantime, the music still holds up. The real conundrum is the lyrics, which are well and fine, but do not effectively communicate the truth hiding behind the sentiments yet give you just enough to let him get away with it. If he had given us just a bit more, Fine Line could have been a true triumph. However, this is only his second album, and being a confessional songwriting superstar while still preserving your right to privacy is, well, a fine line to walk (I had to, I’m sorry!), but I’m sure he’ll find his balance in no time. Grade: 3.5/5

DISCLAIMER – REVIEWER’S BIAS: I was a very casual One Direction fan during their peak of fame. I think Midnight Memories is a great pop album and I stand by that. I’ve always been more of a Niall girl, but I have never been able to completely resist Harry’s charisma; I’m only human. I listened to his debut album in 2017 maybe twice, three times at most, and just thought it was fine, but not particularly impressive. But since then it’s been impossible to deny his talent and star power. I was very intrigued by “Lights Up,” and with every single release I had found myself enjoying the songs more than I wanted to admit. I think Fine Line is a really great album. Sonically, it is in my exact sweet spot of the kind of music I absolutely love, so I was doomed to like it from the start. What stopped me from giving it a grade of 4 or higher though was that even with multiple listens I struggle to understand what the hell this guy is trying to say in his music. Many times, it takes me reading what die-hard stans say to understand what message he’s trying to send. Unfortunately, that is a failure to me. I know plenty of people love cryptic and ambiguous lyrics or poetry, but as a consumer, I want to be able to understand the story or the message with at least a couple of listens. Of course, lyrics can and should be left up to interpretation, but sometimes I don’t even know what he wants me to interpret! From my perception, this is just a reflection of Harry holding back from truly saying what he wants (with few exceptions, such as “Falling”). I think he is so talented and has so much potential but just needs a little more time unlocking it. I’m excited to see what he does in the future.

[endof-theline]

AU Yeah August | Day Eleven: Body Swap

Loki decides to help their relationship along by doing a little body swap magic, no one's sure how Loki's mind works...

On Ao3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/20209528

The past week, the phrase 'I'm going to kill Loki' was one thrown around constantly as the trickster god was staying in the tower with his brother and was causing havoc for the residents. The rest of the team were already annoyed at Bucky's and Tony's strained relationship as the pair were constantly bickering or avoiding each other but then staring at each other like they hung the stars, and then Thor invited Loki to stay with him to give them an even bigger headache.

Bucky woke up to see someone that looked just like him, slamming the door open and winced at the noise, which made him bolt up in shock. His chest started to hurt straight away and when he pressed his hand down on his sternum, his hand immediately hit metal making him gasp in shock.

"Yeah, woke up have we?!" The him that wasn't him shouted furiously as he charged over, Bucky jerked himself out of bed and stumbled when he had to look up to himself "Really? Metal in your chest and you still don't know what happened"

Bucky looked down at himself and then whirling around the room to realise he was in Tony's room, catching the mirror to see a very familiar face that wasn't himself "Tony?!"

"Ding, ding, ding, we have a winner!" He exclaimed slightly hysterical, the metal arm glinting in the morning sun coming through the curtains "Somehow, and I'm guessing Loki, we've swapped bodies"

"What the fuck do we do?" Bucky snapped back as he stepped up to Tony who instantly stepped back, Bucky's eyes roamed over his own body to inspect his entire body "I can't be you!"

"No, you can't! And I can't be you, we're going to have to tell the rest of the team and Bruce should probably run a couple tests on us to make sure we’re okay, make sure this hasn’t messed us up too badly” Tony rambled on anxiously and Bucky frowned at himself, not used to seeing all of the emotions of his face and slightly worried still at the pain in his chest.

“Fine, let’s go” Bucky just waved his hand before yelping slightly as Tony grabbed his wrist and pulled him “Ow! Lemme go, that hurts!”

“Oh shit, sorry. I’m really sorry, Bucky, I didn’t mean to I usually can’t even begin to move you or Steve” Tony let go and jerked back from him like he had been the one in pain, god Bucky hated himself looking so fearful “I know how much that can hurt and-”

“What?” Bucky spat out again, rage fueling his words “What do you mean you know how much that can hurt? Have I hurt you before and don’t lie to me Tony, I know what I look like when I lie”

“Only once, you were really mad and I didn’t want to go to debrief so you dragged me there, I didn’t want to say because you were already upset and I knew if I told you, you were going to get madder” Tony explained and rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, flinching a little at the feel of his longer hair as pain flashed in his eyes.

“I wouldn’t have gotten mad at you ” Bucky pointed out as he took charge and started to lead Tony down to Bruce’s lab, ignoring Tony’s weak protests in the background.

“Hey Tones, what can I help with?” Bruce chirped as soon as Bucky came around the corner and then as he spotted Tony, he cocked his head to one side curiously “Oh and Bucky, need me to finish a fight?” He teased them making Tony huff a laugh which made Bruce look shocked.

“‘Bout that Brucie Bear, Bucky and I have seemed to have swapped bodies” Tony said as he walked past Bucky and when it was on a different person, Bucky realised how much Tony swung his hips as he walked “I’m Tony in Bucky’s body and that’s Bucky in my body”

“Wish he was lying to ya” Bucky shrugged when Bruce turned to look at him, he hated the hidden excitement in Bruce’s eyes while Bucky was living one of his worst nightmares, after not feeling like he owns his own body or feeling out of control of it, being in a completely different body while seeing his run around with someone else in side it.

“We need to run some basic tests so we know if you both are okay according to your swapped bodies normal results” He explained before leading both of them to the hospital beds he had set up in case someone on the team got injured, Tony settled easily while Bucky stayed tensed up and feeling cagey.

“Is it normal for you to have chest pains?” Bucky asked as he palmed his chest, trying desperately to make it stop or at the very least to dull the pain.

“Well yeah, I’ve got an arc reactor pressing against my stomach and lungs constantly” Tony looked over to him with a look on his face that told him he should have probably known that about him “Thought you knew? It’s why I can’t spar with you guys all the time, plus if it gets damaged there’s a pretty high chance I’ll die since it’s keeping shrapnel out of my heart”

“Well I didn’t, guess you know already about my arm pains?” Bucky huffed out and Tony just held the metal arm out to him with a raised eyebrow “Yeah, yeah, genius”

“It’s fine, can you do me a favor though? While we’re swapped, could you tie my- your hair back for me? I never got the hang out it and I kept messing Pepper’s up while she taught me” Tony asked nervously and Bucky looked at him confused before nodding as he sat up, Tony was sat up straight away and flinched a little when Bucky slid the hair tie off of the metal wrist.

“You don’t like my hair?” Bucky teased to try and distract Tony as he saw the man cringe and jerk the second Bucky touched Tony’s hair.

“I like it on you” Tony laughed awkwardly before whimpering when Bucky ran his fingers through his hair to gather it “I- I just have bad memories of having longer hair”

“Got pulled around?” Bucky guessed easily as he had had the same experience with the HYDRA handler’s but he actually prefer the longer length, Tony shook his head and stayed silent until Bucky had finished tying it back into a small bun.

“Ten Rings grabbed my hair to keep my head under water while they drowned me, wouldn’t let go of me until I was on the floor gasping and coughing out all the water I had breathed in” Tony said in a very dull voice, his face blank, and Bucky realised how terrifying he looked when he did that, no wonder people avoided him when he stared at them like that. Bucky was just about to speak up when Bruce charged back into the room with a bright smile on his face.

“Okay, so both of you are perfectly healthy and the bodies you are in haven’t been affected by the swap at all. It seems that your minds have swapped bodies but left the rest in tact” He declared and Tony slid out of the bed with ease while Bucky stumbled very slightly as he overcompensated for his weight that wasn’t there anymore “You’re both free to go!”

“Time to find us a Loki” Bucky growled and once again stamped out the room, leaving Tony to chase after him, the picture of the pair made Bruce laugh as he rolled his eyes.

Loki had been expecting visitors all morning and was quite surprised that they didn’t turn up until around lunchtime. He laughed when Bucky, in Tony’s body, tried to pick him up only to realise that he didn’t have the height or strength for it but almost screamed when Tony lunged for him instead, now that he definitely had the height and strength for it.

“I should throw you out the window now I’ve got a chance” Tony snarled as Loki scrabbled at the hand around his throat, Bucky very quickly realised that the god couldn’t actually breathe while actually needing to do that action quite desperately “Change us back!”

“Let him go, Tony, you’re hurting him!” Bucky shouted as he rushed over and tried pulling at Tony’s arm, only getting pushed back with ease.

“I don’t care, I want to be back in my own body!” Tony shouted angrily as he let go of Loki’s neck but moved to grip his chin instead and held him up against the wall like that “Why the hell would you do this? You know Bucky has a problem about controlling his own body and then you give me his body! You give him a weak, old, chronically pained body that’s nothing like his actual one, just to fuck with us?!”

“Bucky!” He heard Steve yell and only Bucky in Tony’s body turned to look at the Captain who was rushing to the scene, about to shove Tony off of Loki. Steve crashed into Tony and pinned him down with an ease that only Steve had, Tony fought against him furiously and panted through his anger and upset.

“Steve, let him go. You don’t understand!” Bucky tried and pulled at the back of Steve’s shirt, only to get swatted at making Bucky frown and smack Steve’s back hard “Let him up, asshole!”

“Tony, what the fuck are you on about?” Steve growled over his shoulder and Bucky actually swallowed and stepped back as Steve loomed over him, Tony getting to his feet with a huff and glaring daggers at him and Loki equally.

“If you get my body fucked up by Steve, I’m jumping off the roof!” Tony told him annoyed and already bitter.

“You better not!” Bucky growled past Steve making the blonde look between them confused “We swapped bodies, punk, I’m Bucky in Tony’s body and he’s me”

“Oh! Oh, I’m so sorry Tony” Steve rushed out embarrassed making Tony laugh at Bucky’s offended face, the rest of the team came down and to avoid any other fights or confusion Steve explained to them what had happened as the body swapped pair braced for teasing.

Loki informed them that the swap would tomorrow morning before they woke up just like it had started this morning before disappearing for the rest of the day to avoid getting attacked once again by the furious genius turned super soldier. The team teased the couple for the first hour or so before giving them sympathetic looks and trying to help out for the rest of the day.

Bucky and Tony had decided to fall asleep on the sofa together just in case and if it worked then they could wake each other up and go to their normal bedrooms, so if Tony woke up before Bucky in his normal body but laying over Bucky, he wouldn’t tell as he settled back down to rest.

[pseudonymfox]

Abort Mission (14)

Bucky Barnes x Reader

Summary: You and your boyfriend have powers, now he is dead and you are expecting a baby. Hydra is interested in the child so they send the  Winter Soldier. What happens if Bucky unexpectedly falls for you…

This Part: Bucky and you are trying to talk this out while the future seems a bit more interesting afterwards...

Warnings: fluff, angst abit, making out?

A/N: In case someone is confused this is now along some other parts, after this one, all in the time between Civil war and infintiy war which is included in this series (scared to write this) and Endgame (even more scared) but later so calm down. I am not over endgame yet anyway

Slowly waking up and remembering what happened last night and you wanted to right away just curl further into your blankets and pillows to sleep a bit more but then you noticed you didn’t heard Archer talking to mostly himself or playing with your hair how he liked to sometimes do in the morning, sadly he wasn’t a long sleeper like you are. Rising your head from under the pillow you looked both sides realising that Archer is nowhere in sight making you skip a heartbeat. It was a big bed and you secured the floor around every night with the decorative pillows just in case he would actually fall off or try to do come down but he wasn’t in the room at all. Dressing quickly you walked outside your room and looked both side of the hallway before you heard his giggle and Bucky’s laugh coming from the kitchen.

“Good Morning” you smiled a bit at the sight of them attempting to make breakfast.

“Morning. We made breakfast if you’re hungry?” his cheerful smile and laugh disappeared a bit as he drew his attention back to Archer who sat on the counter.

“Can you show mommy what you showed me Archer?” you heard them whisper before you looked expecting to your little boy, who still smiled widely up to him and nodded, taking an empty mug in his hands.

“I’m mommy. I need coffee...Always tired” he imitated you and laugh loudly out. As you looked at him in surprise and went to tickle him.

“You are really funny aren’t you?” you chuckled and got distracted as your phone rang, leaving the room for a bit.

“Hey Steve. You’re having breakfast with us today?” you asked right away as you took the call, something he also used to do over the year.

“No not today. Not in Wakanda right now sorry. Just wanted to call to let you know.”he informed you

“Oh ok then. Take care Steve” you sighed out, thinking that it’s going to be awkward now without him. There wasn’t much that you wanted to talk about with Bucky, and you feared that it would end up in a fight anyways and that’s something you wanted to avoid in front of Archer.

“Everything alright with..Bucky?” he asked.

“No not really. It’s just weird and different now..I don’t really know.” you told him looking while so back to see that they set up the table already, Bucky also looking at you.

“Sorry (Y/N) but you will figure that out..right?” he asked. You opened your mouth to say something but nothing came out so Steve continued. “-I mean. You do still love him. Otherwise you would have left already. I don’t want to say that running away is your thing but you stayed in Wakanda, you visited him and you were there a few hours before he woke up at his side right? Don’t worry to much (Y/N). Try to talk it out”he called you out and assured you again that it’s going to be just fine before hanging up.

You didn’t had much to say anyways after that and went back to the table sitting down and mumbling a quick sorry. The breakfast went on, mostly in awkward silence between the two of you. Afterwards you went to clean the dishes but he refused and did them himself, Archer played a bit while you walked up to him. You had to talk again at some point.

“You don’t have to try to make it up by every chance you get now alright? I mean it’s nice but I am just saying that you don’t have to do it.” you crossed your arms by his side and tried your best to explain it in a normal tone.

“They are just the dishes” he smirked shortly towards you.“-and making the breakfast” you continued.

“Yeah ok. I am still gonna do it tomorrow again” he mumbled the rest and you stayed silent for a bit, you already started with thinking that you were to harsh with the arguments from yesterday night and those damned puppy eyes weren’t helping. What Steve has told you earlier still in your ear like a song lyric you won’t get out of your head for the rest of the day.

Later the same day you still hung out in the apartment but you dug around in a fex boxes as you looked for something that came to your mind. Joining Bucky on the couch you handed him the couple of journals that you had stored since Steve brought you most of the stuff from Bucharest back.

“My journal. Where did you get that from?” he quirked up his eyebrows and went to reach for it, but not opening yet. 

“Yeah Steve found it along some other stuff in our old apartment and brought it back here...You don’t want it back?” you looked at him curious as he just looked at it for a while like he didn’t know what to do with it.

“Did you read it?” he asked and turned to you.

“No. Why should I? That is personal.”you quickly shook your head. Obviously you hadn’t, the thought was there some times but you never actually did it.

“Than take it. Read all of them if you want to” Bucky laid them back into your hands and went to read his book that he had at the moment.

“What do you mean? They are yours.” confused you looked between him and the few books that laid there. It felt like he just gave you his most private thing he belonged, the one thing that you thought you won’t ever take a look it or anyone at all.

“I want you to read them but especially this one” he pointed at the first one and you just nodded and went to lay them on your nightstand for later in case he would change his mind or something. Could be a joke or a test you almost thought.

Days flew by and after you had a small walk around the city and you found yourself ready for the night after dinner and a movie,finally giving it a try to read his journals.

“You can have by the way the guest bedroom, must be way comfortable than the couch” you told him as you walked slowly back into the living room from Archer, who wanted to be a big boy today and sleep in his own room.

“Why did I sleep on the couch in the first place?” he asked and went to grab the blankets and pillows from the couch to take them with him.

“I don’t know...maybe you deserved it at this point” you said whispering the last bit, which Bucky heard anyways. Both of you saying Good Night and then going different ways. For you it was normal to just go to your room but for him it felt weird not to share the bed with you.

Laying down in your bed with the lamp still on, cuddled in your blanket you reached for the first book that Bucky was talking about and opened it starting to read the first pages, full of mostly just the stuff you were talking about sometimes. From this what seemed to be still more like just notes and drawings got more into longer texts and photos sticking between a few pages.

“Once I read in a article: Where do you think you are in ten years and I look over to you, walking up and down cause the baby has been kicking all day and night and think that you are it. We are for sure both not perfect but that’s what I love about you. Your silly laugh sometimes, your bright eyes, your kindness, all the things made me become more and more myself again.Ten years from now, make sure you can say that you chose the you didn’t settle for. These years are not long if you don’t think about it, you’ll blink and then another year has gone by. In case anything happens future-Bucky and you somehow get to read this again than I hope you settled for her, (Y/N) wasn’t something you settled for, she is nothing you deserve and you should make sure that you work hard to make it worth it. Don’t lose her, don’t do anything stupid, don’t screw this up. She is the one you didn’t think you would ever get... ”

“...I don’t want to forget her silly laugh or admiring bright eyes. I couldn’t forgive myself if I would let it ever happen to let her walk away. It’s hard enough if she leaves me alone for just a few minutes. I don’t know who that all happened but after all these years I don’t who I should thank that I deserve to have something so pure and perfect like this women than I will just make sure to show it her in every way there is...”

“...Nobody, not even I have really figured out what is really going on in my mind but somehow she understands how I’ve been feeling and what I go through by just being lost in my thoughts. She will know what to do right away and how to change that. I realised just how much I really need her and she won’t probably ever realise it...“

All phrases like that, sometimes small and sometimes even pages long were filling the book up. Small things you didn’t even notice about yourself stood in there and he would wrote about wanting to marry you or saying that he loves you before you even gave birth to Archer. Not even realising you are crying you shut the book and laid it besides you on the nightstand and got out of bed, seeing on your nightstand that you literally read the whole night this one journal, completely dedicated to you. It was so sappy and it was almost hard to believe that everything on these pages came from Bucky.

You tiptoed slowly towards Bucky’s room, hoping somehow he was still awake. The door crept open with your touch and you made it as quietly in the dark room, his bed empty and you furrowed your brows. Where could he be at this time. Back out in the hallway you saw his sleeping form curled up on the couch. Stepping forward you sat on the side and swept a few strands of hair that fell onto his face out of the way. He stirred and grumbled shortly making you grin slightly. Taking his hands in yours you decided to wake him up before more thoughts would eat you up from the inside. You missed him and you can’t deny it anymore.

“Bucky” you softly spoke, squeezing his hands to make him notice you. After a few more attempts he opened his eyes slight, squinting at you before realising what is going on.

“(Y/N)?! What’s wrong? What did I do?”he looked down to your hands and tensed up a bit, fearing that he had a nightmare or worse; that he fell back into old habits.

“Nothing” you simply said and leaned down to kiss him. Lips perfectly fitting over yours and as he finally kissed you back he pulled you fully on top of him. His tongue slipping past your lips to make it last as long as your breaths would hold. Holding your face in his hands while brushing your hair back. Both of you melted together in this passion filled kiss that without having to say much, it spoke out what you needed and wanted. As his hand started to roam the skin beneath your shirt you had to broke away to catch air. Opening your eyes you saw his blue ones staring right back at you.

“Ok what did I do cause the last thing I remember was that I didn’t deserve this” he chuckled but you stayed rather serious.

“You do. I read the journal...Sorry I was being so selfish, I - I just really miss you.” you bumped your nose with him wanting to kiss him again but he took your face in his hands again to make you look right at him.

“Don’t say sorry (Y/N). I was being the asshole and I shouldn’t have go before talking to you, it won’t happen again. I won’t go anywhere again” he said honestly, tearing up a bit.

“I forgive you. I hope you do too” you gave him a short peck before he whispered back.

“I already did” Turning you over on the couch so he was on top, just with one arm to hold his weight not wanting to crush you. Working fast on each other clothes he kissed you everywhere he could reach and skin was exposed. A warm tingly feeling making you both feel like finally home.

The whole night filled with making up, kisses and soft moans as you never wanted to leave this couch again. Neither of the both of you got much more sleep afterwards and decided to get ready for the day after you cuddled before falling asleep in each other arms again. Finally.

One day after a refreshing hot shower with Bucky later you walked into Archers room to dress him. He was of course already up and out of his bed cause apparently he is in an age where he would try to climb up everything that was in his way.

"Archer. What did I say about climbing out of your bed on your own?" You raised your brows at him and sat down besides him.

"No climbing" you repeated your words as he refused to answer. And as quick as that he was in a bad mood.

"What do we do now?"Bucky asked at the breakfast table as everyone just munched on their pancakes happily, besides him who had his head stuck in the clouds. Overthinking the future and what might be.

"I don't know. We could go to the lake?" You suggested but he just sighed out, giving up on the pancakes.

"No I am mean like in general. Do you want to stay here or not?" Bucky had trouble choosing the right words as you turned your attention now fully on him.

"You don't like it here?" You asked suspicious now.

"No. Not exactly...I mean I love it in Wakanda but not here in this apartment...like not; God why is that so hard? I was just thinking we could maybe look for something further away from the city" he laughed nervously and stuttered like a schoolboy. As he started with that sentence you almost catched a heart attack thinking that he didn't like this with you anymore.

"Choose your words wisely next time buddy" you laughed putting a hand over your heart as a joke.

“Sorry, sorry. Didn’t meant to scare you and no offense to your apartment but I don’t want to live...here” at this point he just gave up and leaned onto the table, hiding his face in his hands.

“Is daddy ok?” Archer whispered to you and you nodded your head before reaching across the table to him.

“It’s alright. I don’t like here either. What were you thinking exactly?” you assured him to let him rise his head again.

“Just wanted to talk with you first about it..uhm- maybe build a house?” he offered suddenly.

“You want to build a house?”you asked surprised, not that you thought it was a stupid idea but you had no idea about building a house and you didn’t really think that he had much of an idea about it either. Either way it would cost a lot of money too.

“You don’t think I can handle this doll?” he teased you smirking.

“No I mean it’s a house and it’s probably expensive as hell and we had to ask for permission...y’know since we kinda live here for free already and all?” you counted multiple more reasons why this maybe couldn’t work out while you started to clean the table, letting Archer play on the ground for a bit while you had a “grown up” talk.

“Don’t be mad but I already asked...” he mumbled and the dishes in your hand slipped out of your hands back into the water.

“When?” you laughed out, turning back to him.

“After I woke up from cryo..” Bucky said with this innocent look on his face but also like he was waiting for the explosion.

“So right after you woke up..your first thought was to build a house here for us?”

“Yes so what do you think?”You stood there speechless and just had nothing else to say then: “I love it” you grinned excitedly at Bucky who was the standing there now.

“Really? You’re not upset or anything?”

“Nope. Let’s do it” you shrugged with your shoulders and the widest grin on your face.Both of you now standing there in the kitchen before he stepped forward and sealed the deal with a kiss.

Several months later the small house was done.

It was further away outside of Wakanda near a field surrounded by a couple of trees, it was the perfect size for your little family and looked like a modern log house. You loved everything about it the second you moved in there. Bucky decided to also once the house was done to live without the metal arm, if he was comfortable with it and could handle this than you were happy too. He took his time for the both of you now and retired from fighting. Instead he helped on a couple of farms that are nearby to at least not sit around the whole day, Shuri also came by every once in a while to check on things. Actually a lot people did. Steve would often sleepover and have dinner, Wanda more oftenly disappeared to spend her time with Vision traveling the world and if she would visit than they would bring gifts from different places every time, Nat and Sam were still fighting and doing god knows what alongside their Captain of course. For now it seemed like you had settled down and you would take in every day as much as you could cause well you never know.

“Mommy!! Uncle Steve is back!!” Archer called for you who sat at the window waving excitedly before rushing off to the door, with you following.

“Steve..wow. That beard suits you” you chuckled as he came up the stairs greeting the two of you. He hasn’t been visiting for a couple of week but you didn’t think it was that long.

“Yeah somethin’ else right?. Hey Buddy how are you doing?” he smiled and ruffled his hair before looking back up with a rather serious look.

“What is it, should I get Bucky he isn’t far away? Is the rest ok?” you asked and looked past him worried but nope it was just him. “No don’t worry, everyone is fine. Can we maybe sit down?” he sighed heavily and you nodded, it made you anxious seeing him like this. So you set down on the front porch with Ice tea and cookies.

“So what is going on? It better be something good” you joked, rubbing your hands together nervously.

“It is about your parents, your biological parents. We found them”

Next Part coming soon

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Destroying The Planet To Save It   Chapter 6:  It wasn’t bleedin’ Mother Nature

Chapters 1-5      Read it on AO3

Sam’s phone rang as he and Anita stood facing one another, stilled in the midst of their dance.  He gave her a pointed look.  “We’re not done talkin’ about this.”

He reluctantly let go of her and pulled his phone from his pocket, seeing that Tony Stark was calling, checking in now that he and Steve had landed in Atlanta.  Sam told him about Anita’s call from Arias, and they adjusted the team’s plans.

“Be careful, man,” Tony said.  “Seriously, watch your back around that guy.”

“Believe me, I don’t trust this guy as far as I can spit him.  Agent Herrera and I will be there together, and we’ll be watchin’ each other’s backs. We’ll be careful.”

“I reserve the right to give you shit about you and her at some point in the future.  But right now, Rogers is pulling my arm out of the socket trying to get me off this plane so he can get to Barnes.  I barely restrained him from jumping out of the jet without a parachute when we were over the crash site.”

“Yeah, he does that.”

Tony and Sam ended their call, and Sam turned back to Anita. Since he’d put the call on speaker, there was no need to tell her anything.

“So, now, let’s get back to the part where you wanted me to notice you?  And where you think I didn’t?”  Sam raised an eyebrow.

Anita’s flirtatious smile, coupled with the fact that she stepped back to him to resume their dance, did marvelous – but dangerous – things to him.  “Well, you never talked to me before the other night.”

“Doesn’t mean I didn’t notice you,” Sam assured her, taking her hand with one of his, and placing the other on her hip again. He began a sexy salsa step he suspected she’d know.

He was right.

Anita was more than graceful.  She followed Sam step for step, and somehow also found a way to shift within his arms, moving against him in exactly the way the dance was intended for.  They smiled at each other, neither worried about the fact that there was no music.  For them, suddenly, there was.    

“Tell me,” he murmured into her ear.

“C’mon, Sam.  You really want to talk right now?”

“I wouldn’t mind hearin’ about you wantin’ me to notice you.”

“That’s a little conceited, you know,” Anita purred, moving closer.

“So sue me,” Sam whispered, tightening his arm and leaning in to meet her lips with his.

Sam had thought Anita was good at following his dance moves.  When he kissed her, he learned a whole new meaning to the phrase “following his moves”.

*****

Steve had no desire to go to the crash site once he learned that Bucky was at the hospital.  Bucky had refused to check in, or even to be examined, just insisted on being at Joss’s side in the helicopter and then in the ER.  She was taken directly into a treatment room. The paramedics and several hospital personnel tried to keep him from following her into the room, and were quickly silenced by the mere look on Bucky’s face.  

That is, until a very young-looking Asian nurse who could not have been five feet tall, with a name badge that identified her as Li, RN, placed herself in front of Bucky, right in the doorway, and smiled sweetly up at him.[1]  “I apologize, Sir, but I can’t let you in.”

Bucky growled menacingly.  

Li nodded with understanding, completely unimpressed. She only smiled with added warmth and empathy.  “I know. I understand how you feel.  But the first thing we’re going to do is cut off all her clothes and examine her.  It’s not very dignified.  No matter how close you two are, if it was me, I wouldn’t want you to see me like that. You’re not really going to do that to her, are you?”  

It wasn’t a question.  Besides which, Bucky had a very long lifetime of reading his opponents that told him he was overmatched here.  

So he was in the waiting room, intimidating everyone and pacing angrily, when Steve burst through the sliding doors, followed at a more reasonable pace by Tony and Sharon.  Seeing Steve approaching at approximately Mach 2, Bucky could do nothing but brace himself for the impact of two hundred-plus pounds of overwrought muscle.  It actually hurt.  Bucky was ashamed of the little squeak he emitted as Steve crushed the air from his lungs.  

“Steve, shit!  Got some cracked ribs, there, pal.  Not helping.”

“Shut up,” Steve snapped, not letting up.  “You gotta quit fuckin’ dyin’, Buck, I can’t take it,” he muttered into Bucky’s shoulder.

“Yeah, same, Steve.  Same.  Now let go of me.  Seriously. Or you’re just gonna kill me again.”

Steve loosened his hold, but didn’t let go. Bucky could tell that was, in part, because he was too emotional at the moment, so he just put his right arm around Steve’s back and patted him until he quieted.  “OK, buddy.  I know.  I’m fine.”

At long last, Steve relaxed his hold on Bucky and took a step back.  Tony and Sharon stepped up.  Sharon gave Bucky a quick, one-armed hug, while Tony went to Bucky’s left and took his arm in his hands.  

“Arm’s not working?”

“It’s busted up.  Worked for a while after the crash, but it’s dead now.  You bring your tools?”

“Always.”  Tony lifted the leather case he carried in his hand, which looked like a briefcase, but was obviously very heavy.  “Got more on the jet, if we need ‘em.  There a place we can take a look?”  

“I’ll get us a place,” Sharon said, already on the way to the nurses’ station.

Steve watched as Tony began examining Bucky’s metal arm.  “Coulson says Lattimore and two of the Secret Service agents died in the crash.”

Bucky grunted affirmatively.  “Singer’s already in surgery; he’s hurt pretty bad.  Joss, though, she’s in there,” he indicated the double doors from the waiting room to the treatment area.  

“Joss, huh?”  Steve asked, with only the slightest hint of amusement in his voice.

“Yeah.  Joss. You gotta meet this girl, Steve, she’s something.”

“She hurt bad?”

“Looks like it.  They wouldn’t let me stay with her.”

At Bucky’s words, and the deep concern in his voice, Steve and Tony glanced at one another over Bucky’s shoulder.

Sharon returned quickly with a man wearing scrubs. “There’s a room we can use.  Julio’s going to take us there.  Had to promise you’d let them treat your injuries, though,” she said, looking at Bucky.  He simply nodded once.  

As they followed Julio into the treatment area, Sharon said, “They’re taking Joss to surgery, Bucky.  She’s bleeding internally.  They’ll keep us updated.”

Bucky nodded again, face grim.

Steve nudged Sharon with his arm as they walked.  “How do you know that about Agent Emerson?  Aren’t there rules against telling non-family members anything about how a patient’s doing?”

“You’d be surprised what S.H.I.E.L.D. credentials and a certain attitude can get you.”

“Huh.  You’re a little scary, you know that?”

“Damn right.  Keep it in mind.”

*****

By one A.M., Bruce and Catherine had about exhausted the limits of caffeine’s ability to help them concentrate.  Both were rubbing sore eyes, and had switched contacts for glasses.  Bruce took his off and wiped a hand down his face, sighing heavily.

“I think I gotta take a break.  Did we eat dinner?”

Catherine made a negative sound, moving something on her display that changed the shape of a curved line on the graph she was studying.

“You find something?”

“I’ve pretty much got these atmospheric disturbances sorted. And the wildfire?  That was lightning, from the same sort of storm we saw in Atlanta.” She looked through the display at Bruce. “These storms are not natural. They’re too uniform.  Not only individually – the storms have a shape and pattern that is entirely too perfect to be natural – but collectively.  They’re shockingly similar in many ways.  Buggered if I know what’s causing them, but I know it’s something other than bleedin’ Mother Nature.  The earthquake, you’re on your own.”

“How about you?  You doing OK?”

“I’m knackered, if that’s what you’re asking.”

“Anyone ever tell you, you get more English when you’re tired?”

Catherine started to grin, but appeared to think better of it, choosing instead not to respond.

Seeing that, Bruce flinched slightly and stammered, “I’m, um… I gotta get a sandwich.  Maybe a nap. You hungry?”

“A little, yeah.”

“Let’s go raid the kitchen.  I could find you a place to crash, too, if you like.”

“Let’s see how I feel after we eat something.”

In the common kitchen on the residential floor, Bruce found plenty of materials to make a late-night meal.  He also found some very good wine, and thought a glass would be nice right then, but didn’t suggest it.  Catherine already seemed edgy.  Maybe even edgier than he was.  

She was sitting at the table, head in hands, resting her eyes when he set a plate and a bottle of sparkling water in front of her, startling her a bit.  “Ooh. Guess I’m a little more tired than I thought.”

“You’re entitled.  We’ve been at this for a while.”

“What’ve you found?”

“That earthquake in Zambia.  It wasn’t on a fault.  Way too shallow, too.  To quote a friend, ‘it wasn’t bleedin’ Mother Nature’ that caused it.”

Catherine grinned tiredly.  “We’re friends now?”

“Yeah, Cathy,” Bruce sighed.  “Always.  At least, I’m your friend.”

“I’m sorry, Bruce.  I shouldn’t have said that.  Forget it. I’m just tired.”  Catherine took a long drink and didn’t look at him, muttering afterward, “I’d kill for a bevvy.”

Raising an eyebrow and pushing back his chair, Bruce said, “At least there, I can help you.  No murder necessary.”

When he showed her the bottle, Catherine’s face lit up. “You open that, we’re definitely friends.”

Bruce searched for a corkscrew, wanting desperately to continue the conversation.  All day, as they’d worked side by side, he’d been reminded of their time together at Oxford, the only time their careers and lives had actually allowed them to live together for a while.  He’d ached all day to tell Catherine how much he still cared about her, and ask her whether she hated him for what he’d had to do.  To beg her not to.  But he knew how selfish that would be, and of all things he did not want to be to her, selfish was at the top of the list.  Not number one – number one would always be ‘dangerous’ – but definitely in the top five.  So he let the opening go, and changed the subject.

“I need to call Coulson,” he said as he pulled the wrapping from the neck of the bottle.  “We need some core samples from Zambia.”

“You have a theory?”

“Several, and I’d like to see whether any of them are possible.”

They batted around Bruce’s theories as he opened the wine and found glasses.  Sitting back down across from Catherine, he poured generous portions for them both and they held their glasses up briefly to one another before taking their first sips.

“Oh, yeah,” Catherine sighed, “That’s nice.”

“No kidding.  This kind of stuff is the reason I hang out with Tony Stark.”

“Not his sparkling wit and impish charm?”

“That, too.  And, you know, the fact that he’s one of the few people I know who ever knows what the hell I’m talking about.”

Catherine grinned.  

“Present company excepted, of course.”

“Of course.”

Bruce hadn’t intended for them to finish the bottle. He’d never have dared hope that would happen.  But they’d always had a lot to talk about, and they’d always enjoyed each other’s company. Tonight there might have been a minefield of topics they had to avoid, but there was also a fascinating scientific mystery to solve that more than made up for the things they couldn’t say to one another.  Which meant they spent almost two hours talking seriously about scientific theories and possibilities, tests and simulations they could run, interspersed with laughter and occasional short tangents about what they’d been doing since they’d seen one another last.  

Catherine’s short hair reminded him of the style she’d worn when they’d met, although it was shorter now.  He lost track of what she was saying as he studied the always-stunning combination of her jet black hair with her emerald green eyes and pale, English complexion. It was the first thing he’d noticed when he’d first seen her at the Technical University of Munich eight years before. Bruce and Catherine had been panelists at a weeklong seminar on modeling interactions between the natural and technical environment for an audience of masters degree students in the Environmental Engineering program and, never particularly smooth with women, he’d been struck nearly speechless as she’d walked into the vast lecture hall to take her place near him at the long table in the front of the room.  

The semi-circle of raked seats rose thirty rows above them, making the area at the base of the hall seem strangely intimate.  Even so, Bruce would probably never have found the courage to make more than polite conversation with her except that the students had turned out to be a tough crowd.  It wasn’t until later that he and Catherine learned that their mutual friend Andris, a Greek smartass and tenured professor at TUM tasked with organizing the seminar, had required the students to challenge the panel to the best of their ability.  Their grades would depend, in part, on how well they performed that task.

On the third day of the seminar, one kid had actually managed to get Dr. Banner and Dr. Mulready to disagree on the artificial neural network model developed at the University Brunei Darussalam for testing the effects of weather on solar radiation reaching Earth’s surface.  They’d politely agreed on some of its results: solar radiation is directly proportional to the atmospheric temperature while it is inversely proportional to the relative humidity, and wind speed has little influence on solar radiation.  But they’d vigorously debated the functional relationships between solar radiation, atmospheric temperature, and relative humidity.  

They’d still been arguing about it at the panelists’ dinner that night.  Andris, thoroughly amused and smugly proud of himself, kept raising the topic every time they tried to move on.  In the end, they realized he was baiting them and dropped it for good, instead joining forces to good-naturedly provoke him in retaliation.  But by then, the damage was done.  They were sitting next to one another at a long table in Andris’s apartment, halfway through dinner and thoroughly smitten with one another.  

Bruce knew when they agreed to share a cab back to their hotel that he was playing with fire.  If the disastrous demise of his relationship with Betty Ross had taught him anything, it was that he  could never again try to have a relationship.  And he didn’t kid himself about Catherine Mulready.  Even then Bruce knew that he could fall hard for a woman like that.  If he was being honest with himself, he was already well on his way.  When they’d met three days before, he’d been a goggling teenager.  After that, he’d listened to her and become fascinated with her research and the way her mind worked, becoming even more tongue-tied around her, the more impressed and intrigued he became.  Then, today, when that little German twit had proposed his asinine theory and Catherine had agreed with him, he’d suddenly forgotten all that as they launched into a full-blown professional difference of opinion followed by a smooth transition to partners in crime when they realized they’d been had.

He’d hoped maybe she would bid him a professional good night, right up until the point when he’d walked her to her door and, before she could get her key into the slot, watched himself reach a hand out to stroke her hair. She’d leaned into his hand and turned her face to him, and before he’d known what he was doing, he had her crushed to him and her warm, soft lips under his.  Bruce didn’t remember now how they’d gotten into her room, all he could remember was the way he’d pressed her up against the back of the door once it closed behind them.  

It wasn’t like in the movies.  They didn’t tear each other’s clothes off right then and there. They’d taken their time.  They’d flirted and kissed, teased and gotten distracted, so that by the time they were standing next to her bed, they still had most of their clothes left to take off of one another.  They only got as far as footwear and jackets before they were lying side by side, which meant that, when they began to unbutton and unfasten, they could go very, very slowly.

Which, as it turned out, was Bruce’s specialty.  One of the side effects of all the time he’d spent working on calming and focusing was that he could be an excruciatingly patient lover.  Each button on Catherine’s blouse meant long minutes of kissing while his fingers made their incremental, lazy way from her neck to the next button.  Nothing she could say or do would speed him up, which was as intoxicating as it was deliciously frustrating.  She got all the exquisite thrill of suspense, while he got to listen to her whine and beg while she moved against him, trying to encourage him.  

By the time he finally bared her breasts, she’d had his shirt off for over half an hour, and she complained that the worst part was that she couldn’t even be mad, because the way he used his mouth made it oh, so entirely worth the wait.  It took even longer to get her skirt off, and another eternity before he slid her panties from her.  All of that anticipation meant that when he was finally, blessedly inside her, it took him all of five seconds to give her the first climax.  Best of all, Bruce’s implacable patience meant that, by the time the sun rose, she’d lost count.

In the end, the German kid got a great grade for the seminar, and Bruce and Catherine ended up spending the rest of their nights in Munich together.  And every possible night thereafter.                                    

It wasn’t until Catherine yawned that Bruce realized he was staring at her in his reverie, and how late it was.  The wine had been gone for a while by then, and he was a little buzzed.  Not too much, the world just had a nice glow and the idea of somebody being able to dial up disasters on command didn’t seem quite so cataclysmic right now. He stood, trying not to yawn himself.

“I’m sorry.  I shouldn’t have kept you awake.  I can show you to a guest room where you can get some sleep.”

Catherine smiled tiredly as she pushed her chair from the table.  “That would be good.”

Bruce led her to the floor above, where his apartment was.  There was a vacant apartment next to it, which he knew Tony kept ready for situations like this.  Opening the door for her, he stood just inside, meaning to step aside for Catherine, but when she took a step, he found himself unable to move.  In the soft nighttime light from the hallway, with only a table lamp inside casting a glow on her face, she looked beautiful. It reminded him of Munich, and of all the times they’d met in hotels and apartments all over the world, wherever they could arrange to be together before their obligations would force them apart again.  Of the sweet anticipation of stealing a night, or a few nights, together, when they’d been so in love and so passionate every time they were together because they were apart so much.  Before she’d learned his terrible secret.  Before London.  

“Cathy…” he breathed.

She stopped just in front of him, looking up with sudden concern.  “What is it?”

“I just, um, thought that you might maybe want to, aah…  Maybe stay with me.  I’m just next door, and I… we…”

For a moment, they stood face to face, inches apart, in the shadowy entrance of the vacant apartment.  Her eyes shone, and he could see that her pupils were slightly dilated, either with the dim light or with want, he couldn’t know.  He reached for her, touching her soft cheek with two fingers and sliding them down to trail along her jaw, then taking a shallow breath in as he slowly, tentatively leaned toward her.  

“Don’t, Bruce.”  She whispered.

He froze where he was, but didn’t take his fingers from her face or move away.

“Please don’t play with me.”

“No, Cathy -“

“Don’t kiss me unless you plan to stay this time.  Because I was gutted when you left.  You know that.  I can’t do that again.”

“Cathy…” he said again, putting a hand on either of her shoulders and laying his forehead to hers.  “I can’t. You know I can’t.”

“Then let’s just have a kip and we’ll see each other in the morning, yeah?”

It seemed a long time before Bruce was able to pull himself away from her.  “Yeah.  Yeah, OK,” he sighed.  “Sleep well.”

“You, too.”

*****

Santiago Cárdenas wasn’t supposed to be out of Site B, but he ran out of smokes, and he sure wasn’t gonna spend the next ten hours down in that hellhole without garros.  Besides, the boss was having his big party down in the Keys, and Santi’s ass was stuck up here in D.C. while a bunch of the paisas got to go down there and do security.  It sucked, and he was pissed.  So he was heading to the bodega, and fuck Arias if he didn’t like it.

The redhead crying on the curb outside the little store was a surprise. The first thing he noticed - after the crying, of course – was that she was fine.  Like, really fine.  So, being a gentleman, Santi slowed and then made a command decision. 

“Hey, lil’ mama, what’s wrong?”

She looked up at him, and the pain in her eyes actually touched him.  She gave a weak little smile and shrugged.  “I’m OK,” she said.  

Well, that was obviously bullshit, and her very short skirt gave him a look at some really nice legs.  So he stepped a little closer.  “Nah, man, you ain’t OK.  You need some help, something?”

That apparently made her cry a little more.  She wiped her eyes, but the next smile was a little bigger.  “I just…  I got dumped. I know, it’s pathetic, right? Sitting here on the street crying?”

“Nah, Mami, it ain’t pathetic.  What’s pathetic is some asshole dumping a woman as fine as you.” Santi went over and actually sat next to her which, a little to his surprise, she allowed.  

“He cheated.”

“See?  Pathetic asshole.  I told you.”

She laughed a little through her tears.  “You’re nice.”

“Nicer than that piece of shit, anyway.  Listen, can I do anything?  You, um… I was just gonna get me some smokes. You maybe want a smoke?”

“That would be great.  Shit, I don’t even have my purse or anything.  I just ran out of the apartment.”

“I got you, Mami.  Be right back.”

When Santi came back out of the bodega, she’d dried her eyes and was standing up. Oh, yeah, this one was a real looker. That tight T-shirt under her jacket, and the short skirt…  Santi was in love.  He made a big show of lighting her garro for her.  

“So, I’m Santiago.  Friends call me Santi.  You?”

“Natasha.”

“Beautiful name.”

“Thanks.”

They smoked in silence for a few moments.  “So, Natasha, you live with this guy?”

She shrugged.  “I don’t know.  I mean, yeah, we live together, but I don’t know if I’m going back.  I just…  I need some time to think.  To get my head on straight, you know?”

“Sure.  ‘Course I know.  So, listen, I gotta go, I gotta get back to work.”  Santi looked down and ran a hand across the back of his neck.  “I’m not even supposed to be out of the building right now, I just ran out of smokes and had to get some.”

Natasha’s face clouded with what Santi thought looked like fear.  

“Oh,” she said.  “Oh, yeah… I guess.  Yeah.”

“Hey, listen, Mami, you gonna be OK?  He isn’t gonna, like, hit you or nothin’, right?”

“Oh, no.  Nothing like that.”

This Natasha was a terrible liar.  “He does.  He hits you, don’t he?”

“No. I’ll be fine.  Thanks for the smoke, Santi.”

Reluctantly, Santi began to turn from her, then turned back.  “Hey, you wanna, uh…  You wanna trade numbers?  So you could let me know you’re OK?”

“Really?”  Natasha said, her face lighting up as she pulled her phone from her pocket.  

So they put each other’s numbers into their phones.  Santi then pushed his phone back into the pocket of his jeans and got ready to shuffle back to work.  Waving at her in a way he immediately realized was idiotic, he turned around and made his way back down the block, looking back at her as she settled back down on the curb.  

The last time he looked before turning the corner, he saw that a dude was standing behind her on the sidewalk, talking loudly to her.  She seemed to know him, and not to be happy about him being there. Santi couldn’t make out what they were saying, but he could tell from their voices it wasn’t pleasant.  The boyfriend.  Had to be.

The guy looked like he had some serious muscle on him.  Just the way he stood, the way he moved.  Still, she’d said he cheated on her, and she was really nice looking.  He liked her low, silky voice, too.  This could be his chance to score some big points with her.  She’d given him her number, right?  She was into him.  So Santi decided to take a chance.

Sauntering back toward the bodega, putting a little extra roll in his hips as he did, Santi waited until the dude noticed him before calling out, “Hey, Natasha, this guy botherin’ you?  You need me to get rid of him?”

Natasha looked a little scared.  She shook her head without looking at Santi and looked down at the street.  The dude stood a little straighter, waiting for Santi to approach him before he said, “Look, this is between me and my girlfriend, amigo.  Why don’t you just go back the way you came, huh?”

“Nah, I don’t think so.  If you’re Natasha’s boyfriend, that means you’re the one cheated on her.  How about you just leave her alone.”

The dude took a step toward Santi, trying to look taller as he did.  He wasn’t very tall, a couple inches shorter than Santi was, with light-ish blue eyes and short, almost military-short, dark hair. Santi was a little unsure about this, because the guy did look fit.  But he didn’t seem all that confident, not really.  He was putting on a bravado Santi was pretty sure he was faking.  That, and the way Natasha was looking at him like he was her hero, made Santi’s decision for him.

“I’m not gonna ask again.  Get to gettin’.  I mean it. Natasha wants to see you, she’ll come to you.”

“Who the hell do you think you are, talkin’ to me about my woman?”

“Whether she’s your woman, that’s her decision.  Which she’s makin’ right now.  You want her to see me wipe the street with your ass when she’s tryna decide whether to take your cheatin’ ass back?”

The dude stepped closer, so Santi stepped closer.  They were practically chest to chest, and Santi was glad, because it accentuated the fact that he was taller.  

“You better shut your mouth, Junior.”

Santiago grinned in what he hoped was an evil way.  “Make me. Grandpa.”

The guy telegraphed his swing like Santi couldn’t believe.  Which made it easy to raise his forearm and block it, although it hurt a little.  At the same time, Santi made a solid connection with the dude’s chin, and the guy turned around, leaning down, hurt. Santi felt ten feet tall.  His hand hurt for sure, but he wasn’t gonna let Natasha, or this dude, see that.  

The scuffle that followed was short, but brutal.  Both of them were bleeding when it was over, but Santi was thrilled to find that he got the better of it.  Holding the guy’s arm behind his back in a way he hoped hurt, Santi told him in no uncertain terms to go home and leave Natasha alone.  The guy cussed him out like Santi hadn’t heard in a while, but he left.  

As he did, Santi went over to Natasha, who had stood up and was cowering near a car parked on the side of the street.  

“He gonna give you any trouble about that?”  Santi asked.  

“He… He might,” she answered weakly.  “I probably shouldn’t go back to the apartment tonight.”

“You got somewhere else to go?”

“Um… Not really,” she said, looking down at her feet.

“Well, you can… If you want, I mean, I’m not supposed to or nothin’, but… If you want, you could come to where I work.  You could hang out until my shift is done, then see what you wanna do.”

Natasha hesitated.  “I don’t know…”

“C’mon, Mami.  It’s late and this is D.C.  You shouldn’t be out here by yourself, especially if that maricón comes back.”

“Well…  Is it far?”

“No. A couple blocks.  Come on.”

Natasha made sure to brush against Santiago’s arm several times as they walked toward their destination.

[1] Li means ‘plums’ in Chinese.  I’m not even sorry.

[bandaids-not-groupies]

Get to know me uncomfortably well - tagged by @livewiredroger ❤️ sorry this took so long to post!! 

1. What is your middle name? 

Janie

2. How old are you? 

21, gonna be 22 in a couple months

3. When is your birthday?

December 4th! A day after Ozzy’s

4. What is your zodiac sign? 

Sagittarius

5. What is your favourite colour? 

Light purple and black

6. What’s your lucky number?

I don’t actually know

7. Do you have any pets?

No but I did have a dog!

8. Where are you from? 

Chicago!

9. How tall are you?

5’0 lmao

10. What shoe size are you? 

6

11. How many pairs of shoes do you own? 

Too many to count lol

12. What was your last dream about? 

I don’t remember 😅

13. What talents do you have?

None lol. I’m boring af

14. Are you psychic in any way? 

Nope lol

15. Favourite song? 

I’m a believer by the monkees (I’ve always loved that song)

16. Favourite movie? 

The Godfather

17. Who would be your ideal partner? 

Keanu Reeves. He has my heart and soul

18. Do you want children? 

Yeah but only like 2

19. Do you want a church wedding? 

Yeah but nothing too big

20. Are you religious? 

Kinda but not really. Like I acknowledge that there could be a God. But I don’t practice it that much. So basically I’M SINNING AND I’M WINNING

21. Have you ever been to the hospital? 

Yeah. Twice. Once cause I had a bad ear infection and then another time I had pneumonia

22. Have you ever got in trouble with the law? 

Nope!

23. Have you ever met any celebrities? 

Yes I have! Back in my emo days I meet Christofer Drew from Never Shout Never, which was actually pure luck! NSN was in town for a concert, but I couldn’t go because it was a 18+ venue so I couldn’t get in (I was in 8th grade at the time). So my family and I decided to go out to eat at a restaurant which was coincidentally across from the venue. So we were walking down the street and I see this huge tour bus right outside the restaurant. My heart starts racing and i thought “how cool would it be if I bumped into someone from the group” well lo and behold as we are coming closer to the bus, Christofer Drew turns the corner and walks towards the bus. So I stop in my tracks and just say “Christofer Drew?” And he stops and he says hi! He asked if I was going to the show and I said no and he goes “well you gotta promise you’ll come to the next one!” Of course I made the promise and I didn’t break it! He came back that summer and I got to see him ❤️ I also met two groups called Breathe Carolina and Crown The Empire. I also met Evan Peters and Sebastian Stan at Comic Con a couple years ago. I also met Corey Crawford. The goaltender for the Chicago Blackhawks, my favorite hockey team.

24. Baths or showers?

Showers! I don’t like the idea of bathing in your own filth.

25. What color socks are you wearing? 

I’m not wearing any!

26. Have you ever been famous? 

Nope lmao and I probably never will be

28. What type of music do you like?

I like oldies. Mostly from the 50s-80s. Anything from Dean Martin to Motley Crue. I do like modern music too. I still listen to some of the bands I listened to in middle school lol (like the ones i mentioned before and others like All Time Low, Pierce The Veil, Sleeping With Sirens, Of Mice & Men, Asking Alexandria, and a couple more.) I also like Greta Van Fleet and 5 Seconds of Summer. I also like spanish music. Like Maluma, Bad Bunny, Becky G, etc. 

29. Have you ever been skinny dipping? 

Nope lol 

30. How many pillows do you sleep with? 

It depends. It could be one or none. Sometimes i don’t use a pillow

31. What position do you usually sleep in? 

On my tummy! 

32. How big is your house? 

It’s a two bedroom apartment. I’m not complaining tho, its very cozy. 

33. What do you typically have for breakfast? 

If I wake up early enough lol it’ll usually be eggs (over medium), some coffee, and some bread 

34. Have you ever fired a gun? 

Nope and i don’t plan on it! 

35. Have you ever tried archery? 

Yes! I tried it when I was in Girl Scouts in elementary school 

36. Favourite clean word? 

Groovy 

37. Favorite swear word? 

definitely FUCK

38. What’s the longest you’ve ever gone without sleep? 

like a day? I got like four hours of sleep the night before. Got up at like 6am, went about my day. Then I stayed up until 7am working on a research paper for class (college is a BITCH). 

40. Have you ever had a secret admirer? 

Nah cause your girl is hella ugly lmao

41. Are you a good liar? 

Not at all. People can tell when I’m lying cause my voice gets high lmao 

42. Are you a good judge of character? 

Eh I do my best 

43. Can you do any other accents other than your own? 

I try to do a posh British accent and I try to do a Steve Irwin Aussie accent   

44. Do you have a strong accent? 

People say I have a strong chicagoan accent but i don’t hear it!

45. What is your favourite accent? 

I’m a sucker for aussie accents 

46. What is your personality type? 

just took the test..i got ISFP-T (adventurer) 

47. What is your most expensive piece of clothing? 

hmmmm all I can think of at the moment is my Doc Martens. They aren’t really clothing but it’s all I can think of lol

48. Can you curl your tongue? 

Nope!

49. Are you an innie or an outie? 

outie :(((( i hate it 

50. Left or right-handed?

Right handed! 

51. Are you scared of spiders? 

YES YES YES

52. Favourite food? 

Pasta! I could eat it all day, every day 

53. Favourite foreign food?

Tamales and Pozole. That’s my shitttt

54. Are you a clean or messy person? 

I try and be a clean person and stay organized but it only lasts for a bit then I go back to my messy ways lol 

55. Most used phrase? 

“that’s a mood” and “no mames guey” (Mexican slang)

56. Most used word? 

Dude and Darling

57. How long does it take for you to get ready? 

Depends. If I wear my hair natural, then an hour. But if I gotta style it, then like an hour and a half or two hours( I got a lot of fucking hair, dude). 

58. Do you have much of an ego? 

Hell no lmao. This bitch has a low self-esteem so 🤷🏻‍♀️

59. Do you suck or bite lollipops? 

Suck 🤪

60. Do you talk to yourself? 

All the time lmao 

61. Do you sing to yourself? 

Yeah sometimes 

62. Are you a good singer? 

Nope lmao but I still do it anyways 

63. Biggest Fear? 

A lot of shit. Spiders, Holes (trypophobia), tearing my achilles or getting them cut (ever since I saw Pet Sematary), dolls, bugs crawling under my skin, throwing up...and i can’t think of anymore on the spot 

64. Are you a gossip? 

you bet your ass I am. Soy una chismosa lmao

65. Best dramatic movie you’ve seen? 

Titanic  

66. Do you like long or short hair? 

On girls, long but not too long. Maybe like mid-back. And guys, long, like ear length and longer 

67. Can you name all 50 states of America? 

Yeah but i couldn’t point them out on a map 

68. Favourite school subject? 

Biology/Human Anatomy. I’m a sucker for science 

69. Extrovert or Introvert?

Definitely an introvert. No doubt about that lol 

70. Have you ever been scuba diving? 

Nope!

71. What makes you nervous? 

Meeting new people, class discussions, and presentations

72. Are you scared of the dark? 

If i’ve just seen a scary movie then yes lol  

73. Do you correct people when they make mistakes? 

Sometimes. For instance, if one of my friends from ecuador uses a word wrong in a sentence, then I would tell them the right way to say it to help them learn more english. i never correct someone to seem like i’m smarter or to be rude. It’s simply to help them. 

74. Are you ticklish? 

Yeah! In some places like my feet, neck, and my back, 

75. Have you ever started a rumour? 

No way! That’s terrible 

76. Have you ever been in a position of authority? 

Only when babysitting my little cousins lol 

77. Have you ever drank underage? 

Yeah lmao. When I went away for college

78. Have you ever done drugs? 

Once, when I hungout with a guy at school we smoked some weed

79. Who was your first real crush?

One of my friends from college. I met him Freshman year and I still like him...I’ve liked him for four years but i’ve never had the guts to tell him 

80. How many piercings do you have? 

6! I have four on my left ear and two on my right ear. I have the standard lobe piercings, then the upper lobe on both sides. Then on my left I have one above the upper. And then I have my helix pierced on the left side. (i hope this all made sense lol) 

81. Can you roll your R’s?

Nope

82. How fast can you type? 

Eh I would say pretty average 

83. How fast can you run? 

Not at all. I hate running 

84. What colour is your hair?

Dark brown! 

85. What color is your eyes? 

Dark brown

86. What are you allergic to? 

Some ingredient in the Banana Boat sunscreen. And some type of plant. I don’t exactly know which one cause I went to the botantic garden one time on a field trip and I don’t know which plant caused my allergic reaction but when I got home I had hives all over me. 

87. Do you keep a journal? 

Nope, never did 

88. What do your parents do? 

My mom is an ortho technician and my dad is a delivery man

89. Do you like your age? 

Yeah I guess. I mean I can buy my own alcohol so that’s pretty neat 

90. What makes you angry? 

Everything 

91. Do you like your own name? 

Eh it’s alright. Pretty boring 

92. Have you already thought of baby names, and if so what are they?

I like the name Elena for a girl and Jonathan for a boy 

93. Do you want a boy a girl for a child?

Doesn’t matter to me

94. What are you strengths? 

I’m a ride or die bitch.

95. What are your weaknesses?

I don’t really share my emotions so I keep things bottled up 

96. How did you get your name? 

My cousin picked out my name 

97. Were your ancestors royalty? 

Not that I know of. But what I do know is I have family from Spain. 

98. Do you have any scars?

Yeah, one on my arm from when I burned myself with my straightener. And another at the place where my nose meets my forehead, between my brows. When I was in elementary school, I was running out on the playground and I tripped and I slide across the cement and scraped my nose and my whole forehead. THERE. WAS. BLOOD. EVERYWHERE. 

99. Colour of your bedspread? 

Light pink 

100. Colour of your room? 

White! 

I tag: @tommyleeownsme, @babe-mustaine, @waycooljunior, and @universal-scorpio ❤️