#she got the STRONG big sister bear instincts bro

[localsamalicer]

"Why is Alice so overprotective and controlling"

Luke is likely in his early to mid 20s being his his “Young And Unsustainable Band Life” kinda time in his life and it's been about a 8-10 years since Sam and Alice were in Uni which means Alice's parents died somewhere in that time likely 3-5 years ago just from the way it's talked abt be it seems like enough time has passed where it has healed a little bit

So it was likely Luke was still a teenager or at the most like 20 when their parents died

Alice was left with a teen or young adult little brother and there isn't any mention of extended family so it's not confirmed if there were any that supported them or not but there's a good chance she was on her own or at least a good amount of the responsibility was on her shoulders with taking care of Luke as well as grieving while only being in her mid to late 20s herself

OF FUCKING COURSE she's going keep a white knuckle grip on anyone close to her especially if she thinks they may be getting themselves into danger

[simsadventures]

After All This Time

Summary: You’re Steve’s sister, who fought with him and Bucky during the war, but one day after Bucky’s death, you disappear. Steve believes it’s because your hidden feelings for Bucky. Almost 80 years later, both men see someone long lost from their pasts, and the welcome is not as warm as they both would like.

Warnings: angst, violence, swearing, did I mention angst?

Pairing: Bucky x Reader, Steve x platonic!sister!Reader

Word Count: 2403

A/N: So this is my first ever request, so be patient with me, please. The full length request is here: Bucky x reader. Where the avengers are sent to intrude destruction of hydra and shield bases and when they find out who has been doing it they are horrified to see that it is Steve’s little sister who they were forced to leave behind when they went to war. (Y/n went to hydra with the goal being to kill her brother and Bucky for abandoning her and forgetting her)

I changed the request a little, hope the nonnie who requested it is ok with that. I listened to this song while writing it, so here you go. Let me know what you guys think. I might have made a mistake with some of the history/geography things, so feel free to call me out. Love you all so so much.

Masterlist

Steve knew his mission. It was actually fairly easy, easier than the last few missions he had to endure. Buildings associated with both HYDRA and SHIELD were being blown up almost every day. Although neither of the organisations existed anymore, the person or the agency behind these attacks could have easily destroyed valuable material, crucial for Earth’s further development. Moreover, whoever was doing was being reckless and hurt a large number of people in the process.

It’s been going on for almost two weeks. When the first blew up, nobody really cared, thinking it was a coincidence. But by the end of week one, 5 facilities were destroyed. Nobody really cared about the buildings as such, even though they could still serve some purpose in the future, reconstructing them into inhabitable properties.

It was the fifth one in a row which cause the biggest fuss because it was precisely that one in which a few civilians were injured. None of them fatally, but that didn’t matter to the Avengers. Steve and Bucky decided that they could take whoever was doing it on their own, taking a few days away from the whole team to recharge and catch some assholes in the process.

Because they didn’t have any idea who could be behind something like that, destroying buildings of agencies working in direct opposition to each other, they had to calculate their next move. There have been two mishaps, once they thought the destroyers would come to Siberia, HYDRA base near Omsk, but they later found out the people actually blew up HYDRA’s another base, in Kazakhstan. Steve and Bucky knew that SHIELD was next because that has been the pattern for all of the attacks. One HYDRA. One SHIELD. And repeat. But they couldn’t catch them there either.

Their next best guess, based on the trajectory of the attacks, which were all situated in Eastern Europe now, that they wouldn’t want to stray too far from that. There was one particular hidden HYDRA base that Bucky liked for the attack. It wasn’t the best-known location, but the attackers proved that they knew a lot about hidden places. This one was in Georgia, in the Northwest region, because it was excellent political placement. It was extremely close to Russia, but the Georgian government has been more lenient ever since its independence. And because there were still two different sides of revolutionaries fighting against each other, giving HYDRA a perfect hiding place in the midst of it all.

Steve and Bucky were laying on a hilltop, hidden by a bunch of firs, and looking down at the base. It looked just like any bunker, but at a closer look, one realised that it must be massive, because of the door and the construction itself.

They felt like it was a dead-end after another half day, and were close to giving up and telling the rest of the team to come up with a different strategy. But then, from the corner of Bucky’s eye, he saw careful movement. The whole team thought that it must have been at least another team of people, being able to pull something as big as this mission.

But Bucky could see only one, slim person, and from the movement of them, he assumed it must have been a woman. Bucky nudged Steve lightly, and he immediately gave his full attention to the target. They both watched the woman nearing the bunker, but then, as if she could see them, she turned around, faced the hill and crossed her arms.

The men shared a confused look but stayed hidden. They weren’t sure if the girl could really see them or if she was waiting on somebody, just coincidentally turning in the direction of their hideout.

“You know, I can see you, boys. And I’m pretty sure the serums in your bodies are making you hear me. So what do you say, will you come down or should I go up to you?”

As soon as she spoke up, the blood froze in both Bucky’s and Steve’s bodies. They knew that voice, and they both knew it intimately. But it couldn’t have been. No. You were supposed to be dead a long time now. You were supposed to have a normal life and then died peacefully. This wasn’t possible. It was some kind of trick to lure them both out. And by the look on Steve’s face, it was working.

Bucky wanted to stop his friend, but he was in too much shock himself to be able to move. They told him you were dead, that they killed you because he misbehaved.

Steve was the first one down the hill, walking cautiously with his shield in front of him, but fast enough that had there been any mine, he would’ve blown up. But he didn’t care about any of it. If it was right, and he prayed to God every step he took closer to you, that it was, he would’ve been the happiest man on Earth. His little sister.

You were one of the few women admitted in the US Army, the lack of volunteers made the government take few skilled women as well. You always like to fight, being more a guy than Steve used to be pre-serum. You ran around with him and Bucky, always bugging them and tailing them, making your mother sick with worry. You used to be grounded so much that Steve actually thought that you’d never see anything else than the school.

It was a few days after Bucky fell off the wagon that you disappeared, and because Steve knew about your crush on his best friend, he never made too much of it. You were tired and heartbroken, losing who you called the love of your life, even if Bucky didn’t know anything about it. He assumer that you finally had enough left for good for Brooklyn, and you were safe. The whole war was so chaotic that he didn’t really have the time to look into it. And when he woke up, he just assumed you died alongside your husband, or whatever, and that you had a happy life.

But here you were, clear as day.

“What is it, big bro, you look as if you saw a ghost?” You smirked at him, and he took in your appearance entirely. Your hair was much longer than you used to keep it in the 40s, and the right side of your skull was hairless. At a closer look, he could see a shining metal covering where should have been your bone.

“Y/N, what, what are you doing here?” He stuttered, and he could hear someone coming behind him, realising that it’s Bucky, finally getting up and running down to meet you. The look on his face was no less cautious than Steve’s, but a great sorrow was displayed alongside it.

“What does it look like I’m doing, Stevie? I’m making the world a better place, without HYDRA and Shield,” you said, your face and voice completely void of emotions. Steve wanted to run to you and pull you into a bear hug, but the hand on your holster was telling him that it wouldn’t be the best idea he had.

“What happened to you? I thought you left the war and led a happy life. I went into the ice, knowing that you were taken care of.”

You scoffed and rolled your eyes. “You’ve always been the naive one, Stevie. The day I “left”, I was abducted by HYDRA. You were their target, the serum and all of that, but because they couldn’t get to you, they got me. And oh boy, did they have their fun with me. They trained the Winter Soldier and me here side by side, and we were created as a deadly duo, at first. Right, Soldier?” You turned your attention to Bucky this time, and so did Steve, and he could see the hurting all over Bucky’s face.

“Why, why didn’t you tell me when you woke up that my sister was still held captive, Bucky?” Steve asked with disbelief laced in his voice.

Bucky dropped his head between his shoulders, breathing heavily, trying to not let the situation get the better of him. He needed to stay calm and controlled.

“Because they told me she was dead,” Bucky whispered, and if the two people in front of him weren’t superhumans, they would have no chance catching what he said.

“Why are the two of you so trusting, huh? One trusts his instinct to the fault, and the other trusts the organisation making a monster out of him. Wow, you two are extremely stupid, I never realised this.”

Steve and Bucky stayed quiet, knowing that you were right. They automatically believed that you were either safe or dead and moved on, never looking into it.

“That Steve believed such a thing, I’m not surprised. Pissed, sure, but not surprised. But you Bucky? After all, we’ve been through together? How could you just forget all about me so easily?”

You wanted to stay strong, but your voice betrayed you. The little crack made both men look up to you. Bucky could see tears welling up in your eyes, despite you trying to keep your game face on.

“I never forgot, doll. I’ve been thinking about you every single day! They took you away from me, and I never forgave myself for it!” He was screaming now, tears streaming down his face. He always thought that your death was his fault. That he lost you because he was disobedient. Hydra came in after a failed mission, grabbing you by the neck and dragging you away from him. He was in his Winter Soldier mode, he couldn’t feel much, but he knew you were important to him. And when they came back without you, they told him that you were dead because of him. That his failing resulted in your death.

“They did things to me that I never dreamed off in my worst nightmares! And every night I hoped you would remember me and would come barging in the door, saving me. I wasn’t strong enough without you, and the second they realised it, I was just a test bunny for them. All of the things they needed for the new generations of Winter Soldiers, they tested on me.” You were now crying as well, letting your emotions run for the first time in a while.

Steve was so confused that his brows couldn’t furrow any more. He was looking between the two of you, both crying and shaking with all the bottled up emotions.

“They tried to breed us, you know, Stevie? They told us we would be the perfect specimen, so they had us out of the Winter Soldier mode for a while, letting us be humans and breed. But when it wouldn’t happen for months, they used some kind of chemicals to prevent us from ever running away and trying on our own.”

“And we fell in love during those time,” Bucky whispered sadly.

“Obviously not enough for you to fight for me,” you said bitterly and turned around from them, wiping your tears away.

“You were the two I could always count on, or at least I thought so, and when I realised that I was all alone, it broke me. I got free from Hydra and roamed the Earth, trying to do some good with the powers I acquired. But then I saw you in New York, Steve, fighting the alien ships, all glorious and famous. And then Germany happened, and I realised that both of you were alive and that neither of you ever looked for me.

So I made a straightforward plan, destroying both the agency that built me and the one that created you, Steve. I hope they would send both of you, so we could have some fun one last time.”

Bucky made a step towards you, but you quickly pulled out a little device, which looked like a detonator. Neither of you stood close enough to the bunker for the explosion to hurt you, but the boys still didn’t want to risk anything.

“I wanted to see you one last time. I thought I’d kill us all, but seeing the two of you,” you scoffed a little at your own emotions, “I can’t do that. I love you two too much, I might be a ruthless killer, but I can’t hurt my boys, however stupid they are.”

“What are you talking about, Y/N? Don’t talk about death when we just found you.” Steve pleaded with you, his face constricted in pain.

You smiled and took the few steps that were between you and hugged him tightly. “I’m in so much pain, Stevie, and no matter what, it will never go away. The things they did to me and the things that I did… I can’t move on. But I love you, even if I hated you for the longest time. Be brave and do good, big brother.” You whispered against his cheek and kissed him lightly.

You then stepped away and looked at Bucky, who looked like he might blow up from all the tension in his body.

“You. Forgive yourself for everything. You are a good guy in the core, I know that for a fact. I’ve always loved you even if I blamed you for a lot that happened to me. I’m sorry, James. You’ll be fine, you got that punk right here, and you two can tackle anything that will come your way.”

You kissed his lips, remembering the feeling of his plump lips against yours. You were meant to be, but the fate hated the two of you and didn’t want to let you be happy.

You smiled at them sadly, and before they could react, you sprinted towards the bunker and pushed the button in your hand, and for a split second, you finely felt free.

The scene left behind you was heartbreaking. Both men were crying hysterically on their knees, flames licking around them, but they didn’t see nor feel them. They just felt the anguish inside their souls, losing you once again. They both hoped that a new era was starting, the three of you together again, but it was ripped away from them again, and this time, there was no turning back.

Bucky Taglist

@this-kitten-is-smitten​ @sebbbystaaan​ @paradisiacalsparks​ @crazybutconfidentaf​ @owlyannah​ @lassini​ @s-trawberryv-eins​

Marvel Taglist

@voltage-my2dlove​ @kneel-begyourpardon​ @lumar014​ @ptrs-prkrs​

Forever Tag:

@eileenalone​ @sasbb23​ @p8tn0lish​ @coffeebooksandfandom​ @waiting4inspiration​ @caswinchester2000​ @mogaruke​

[cuteandtwisted]

this prompt from awful-aus “You hired me to photograph your sister’s wedding and you need to leave me alone now so I can do my job. Just because you technically literally invited me does not make me “”ipso facto’” your date and I can’t take pictures when you’re using my tripod to help yourself stand upright.” AU 💛

(i’m gonna add rich!Isak to this one, which is VERY AU, I realize)

The first time Even touches him is by accident.

Even is a good person. He does his best to be kind to everyone he meets and to never judge a soul, and he’s mostly good at it. Well, except maybe when it comes to uptight, prickly, and arrogant Isak Valtersen. But Even has his reasons. He really does.

Many have tried to get to the bottom of Even’s dislike for the ‘cute rich boy’, some thinking that it’s a longterm rivalry or that perhaps Isak accidentally killed his puppy—anything extreme enough to warrant such strong negative feelings from the ‘chillest person on campus’. And they’re mostly right. It is out of character for him. Even has no reason to dislike ‘rich people’.

But Isak is more than that. Isak holds some pretty bigoted and insensitive opinions on the refugee crisis, too blinded by his own privilege. And while most people would let it slide, Even refuses to turn a blind eye, especially after Isak literally got into a fight with Mikael (that he had to physically break) and implied he wasn’t 100% Norwegian—and no, the fact that he actually had a tiny crush on Isak his first week at uni before any of this went down won’t change that.

.

“Dude, that was like two years ago,” Mikael sighs when he catches Even glaring at Isak in the cafeteria again. “Get over it.”

“It was last year,” Even corrects him, still holding Isak’s gaze across the large room. He feels ridiculous and mean, but Isak—in his dress shirts and cashmere sweaters—has been doing this a lot lately, provoking him and randomly stealing glances before looking down. Is he trying to start shit again or what.

“Give him a break. He’s a chill guy,” Mikael yawns before stuffing fries into his face again. “I know he looks like his mom dresses him every day, but he even apologized to me and stuff. He didn’t mean it like that.”

“You shouldn’t internalize micro-aggressions, Mikael. If he hurt you, then you should face it and confront him!”

“I can’t stand you, bro. Are you listening to yourself? He’s harmless!”

“How do you explain him glaring at me all the time then?”

“It’s called staring, Even. He’s like in love with you!” Mikael rolls his eyes.

“I’m leaving.”

.

Even is doodling in his sketchbook when Isak Valtersen materializes in front of him in the library, making him instantly draw his brows together.

“Uh hello,” Isak clears his throat and Even loses his resolve for a second because the younger boy sounds nervous and looks incredibly uncomfortable in his v-neck cashmere sweater.

“Uhm hi.”

“So, uh. I heard you do photography, and I was wondering if you want to work on my sister’s wedding.”

Even blinks at him, his mouth gaping a bit. He doesn’t mean to but he stares hard enough to notice a delicate flush spread along Isak’s cheeks all the way to the tip of his ears. His eyelashes are ridiculously long and he’s rambling. It’s almost adorable.

“Uh, I mean I know it’s last minute. But I messed up booking a photographer and it was the only thing she tasked me with. And now she doesn’t have one and she’ll kill me, and obviously I’ll pay you a lot of money to make up for the short notice, and—”

“I don’t need your money,” Even says and he sounds mean. He regrets it immediately because Isak is blushing furiously now and he looks like he’s about to combust from humiliation, like it’s taken all of his courage to come ask Even. “I mean you don’t need to offer me a lot of money,” Even sits up and speaks softly. “I don’t care about money.”

fuck.

Now Even is nervous and he doesn’t even know why. He doesn’t even like the guy, but some nonsensical instinct to just take care of him takes over. And Even hates how he has no resolve whatsoever, how all it takes is a pretty boy with long eyelashes to move him.

“Are you available this Sunday?”

“Yeah, I think so.”

“Promise?” Isak asks with big round eyes, and Even is both puzzled and endeared by the word and by how earnest he sounds uttering it, like he holds promises sacred.

“Promise.”

.

“What the hell?” Mikael laughs. “That was fast.”

“Shit. I don’t know. He looked like he really needed me, okay?”

.

The second time Even touches him is not that much of an accident.

It’s a mess, really. Even has no idea why he said yes or how Isak got his phone number. But he’s been texting him nonstop about equipment and tripods and camera models for a week now. And while Even has his own gear, he can’t turn down the opportunity to shoot with the real expensive stuff. Isak’s family can afford it after all, so he doesn’t feel too bad.

Even is overwhelmed by just how much money Isak ends up spending on the rather simple job. He’s almost bouncing with excitement as he shows him what he got, and Even secretly hopes Isak has rented and not bought all of this.

.

Even is enjoying the wedding reception and the job itself despite the collar of his shirt digging into his skin and his hair refusing to stick to one direction. But he thinks he would enjoy the job more if Isak Valtersen actually gave him some space. No, really, the kid has barely left his side, only walking away to grab himself yet another drink from the bar then almost running to glue himself back to Even’s hip. He also insists on looking at every shot right after Even takes it, and he’s even directing him now.

“Can you go closer? Can you take a picture of her side profile? I think the light is better over there. No, not the groom, fuck that guy. Can you focus on her hair? She’s proud of her updo. Can you do effects or something? Oh, that’s post-processing? What’s post-processing? Photoshop? Oh, is that expensive? Do you want me to pay for it? Oh you have an illegal copy? Can you get arrested for that? Can you get a picture of all her friends? Can I see? Wait, go back three pictures.”

Even’s skin is crawling an hour in because not only is Isak not letting him do his job, but he’s currently leaning on the very expensive tripod to keep himself from falling over, not to mention that his cheeks are flushed and his curls are a mess and he’s giggling and Even wants to touch.

Shit. Control yourself.

.

“Do you want a drink?” Isak asks and Even has to let go of the camera to hold him because Isak is tripping over his own feet and slurring his words and why is this kid so drunk on his sister’s wedding and why is he here with me instead of with his family.

“I don’t drink on the job,” says Even as he hooks an arm around Isak’s waist to support him and tries to will away the excitement building up at the pit of his stomach.

“I don’t mind,” says Isak, turning his face to him until all Even can see are his long eyelashes and his incredibly sad and heartbreaking eyes. “I can pay you now if you want. You took enough pictures. I don’t mind.”

.

Isak might look small but he isn’t, and Even is learning it the hard way right now with Isak leaning almost fully against him as he drags him away and tries to find someone to take over. A man in a fancy suit and a strong build finds him before he loses it—thank god—and sighs heavily.

“Always an embarrassment, this one,” the man breathes in disapproval, and for some reason, Even frowns and tightens his hold around Isak’s passed out body. “A friend of Isak’s?” He raises an eyebrow.

“Yes,” Even lies.

“How surprising. Didn’t think anyone actually liked him.” Even is glaring at the man now and before he can bark, he hears. “I’m Terje, his father.” The man then hands him keys and shrugs, “Here, take my car before anyone sees him like this. The address to the house is in the GPS. Make sure he doesn’t throw up on my seats.”

And with that he’s gone.

.

Isak falls asleep against the window and Even has to bite down his own lower lip to bear the sound of Isak’s head bumping against the glass. He can’t stand it, however, and he eventually slows down and makes sure to drive as gently as possible.

It gets even worse because when they stop at a red light, Even reaches for Isak’s head and pulls it towards his own shoulder and eventually his chest. It’s extremely uncomfortable, but at least Isak is no longer hurting himself. Though when the younger boy curls into his side and purrs in his sleep, Even has to take a deep breath because the stirring in his chest almost makes him drive into the sidewalk.

.

“Where are we? What are you doing?” Isak blinks in confusion when they cross the threshold. The house is enormous, and a warm woman greets them at the door and takes Isak’s coat and Even’s as well. She then guides him to Isak’s room which is upstairs.

“You’re home. It’s fine,” Even reassures him as he pulls him up the steps. He drops Isak into what he assumes is his bed and sits beside him to catch his breath.

“I ruined the wedding. I’m such a disappointment,” Isak sighs in defeat, an arm crossed over his face to cover his eyes. “I ruin everything.”

Even knows he should leave. He’s done more than enough and he doesn’t owe this boy anything, really. But the words resonate with him. The shame, the disappointment, the loneliness. It all sounds like something straight out of Even’s mouth.

So he lies back down next to Isak.

“You did great today, Isak. You didn’t ruin anything.”

“Liar.”

“I’m not lying. You were wonderful today. Your sister was very happy.”

Isak removes his arm from where it’s lying on his face and looks at Even through wet eyelashes with something like gratitude in his eyes.

“I’m not racist, Even. I swear,” Isak mumbles in a small voice while Even stares at him, all limbs and curls on his massive bed. “I thought your friend was being homophobic to me last year and I said the dumbest thing. I’m very sorry. I didn’t mean to. Please don’t hate me. Everybody hates me.”

Even must be the weakest person in the world because he’s undeniably moved by the plea in this boy’s voice. He’s so moved that he reaches over and lets his right hand thumb Isak’s cheek as gently as possible. He can’t help it, providing comfort when he can. And the way Isak’s eyes flutter shut almost instantly at the contact, nuzzling against his palm like he can’t help it, like he needs it, like he’s never been touched quite like this, makes Even’s protective instincts nearly soar in his chest, his heart filling with something resembling tenderness.

“I don’t hate you,” Even says and it’s true.

“Promise?”

And there it is, the ever slight fluttering in his heart.

“Promise,” says Even.

“Can you stay tonight?”

Even stays the night. Then when he wakes up in Isak’s massive bed with his chest pressed against the boy’s back and his arms locked around his stomach like they belong in the other’s embrace, he jumps in absolute panic and shows himself out in his clothes from the previous day.

Isak texts him ‘thank you’ and ‘I’m sorry’ in the afternoon and Even isn’t sure what to do, so he doesn’t reply.

Later at night, he gets a few more texts. ‘I’m sorry I was so weird last night. Didn’t want to make you uncomfortable. I’d like to be friends if you want.’

‘It’s also okay if you don’t. I understand.’

.

Isak finds him at the school cafeteria with the boys on Tuesday and hands him a sealed envelope without looking him in the eye.

“For Sunday. Thanks a lot Even, I owe you one,” he says with a brave but distant smile then nods in Mikael’s direction. “Hello guys,” he adds politely before turning on his heel.

It’s money, the ‘lots of money’ that Isak promised him. And Even feels terrible.

.

Even sees him everywhere and it scares him how much he wants to go to him, talk to him, touch him, hold him, ask him if he’s okay, double-check if he still asks ‘promise?’ when Even says something nice. 

It scares him how much he cares for this boy he knows so little about. It terrifies him.

Maybe it’s my brain playing tricks on me again. Maybe.

Even pines from afar.

.

“I heard Isak got a second job at the coffee shop where we hang out,” says Elias while they’re working on a ‘Hei Briskeby’ edit. “Apparently he’s in bad terms with his dad and he has to work for his own money. I had no idea it was bad between them. Did you know?”

Even groans into a pillow and spends the rest of his day thinking about appropriate ways to text Isak.

.

“Hey,” Even clears his throat then has to stop himself from gasping when Isak looks up from his book in the library.

“Uh hi,” says Isak and he’s blushing again and Even suddenly remembers how it felt like to hold him in that bed. “Even. Oh, hi!”

He’s adorable and Even just smiles because he can’t help it and because he’s been nothing but mean to this boy, yet he’s glowing and smiling and blushing right now like he’s happy to see him.

Even takes a deep breath then slides the envelope along the desk. Isak blinks, confused.

“I told you I don’t need your money,” Even smiles this time around then watches him squirm.

“But—“ Isak pauses, bites his lip. “You worked for hours.”

“It wasn’t that bad.”

“But it was. And you even did the post-processing stuff and you listened to me whine about everything, and you drove me home, and you took me to my room, and—” he pauses again.

“And I cuddled you until morning,” Even continues for him, letting himself fall on the chair opposite of Isak.

Their eyes meet and he can see how embarrassed but hopeful Isak is, how scared but willing to take a leap of faith. He can see it, how badly he wants this, needs this, aches for this, whatever this is. And who is he to crush this boy’s hopes? Who is he to turn Isak down when everything in him is urging him to just show him how loved he can be, how precious he can feel?

“Let’s consider the cuddles payment for my services,” Even adds.

“But— you left.”

“Because I’m an idiot.”

There’s a pregnant pause after that. Isak takes a deep breath then finally speaks. “I thought you didn’t want me.”

Oh babe.

“I want you,” says Even, almost immediately too. Because he feels like Isak needs to hear it, because he feels like he’s not the kind of person to thrive on subtle actions and assume and wish for the best. Because he feels like Isak needs that validation, that undeniable and unwavering confirmation that he is in fact wanted. Isak who insists on double-checking every nice thing that’s ever said to him by seriously asking ‘promise?’ like he’s used to people deceiving him and not doing good by him. Isak who seems like he doesn’t get to hear these three words nearly enough. Isak who stole his heart on a rainy Sunday afternoon. Isak. So Even says it, again and again. “I want you.”

Isak smiles and it’s precious, like a treasure. “Promise?”

“Promise.”

The third time Even touches him, it’s because he’s aching to.

[confused-stars]

Light of the Seven - Chapter Five: A little slice of happiness

Read on AO3

Taako was making breakfast. Waffles. Crêpes. Eggs Benedict. The full deal.

Food was his and Lup's way to pay each other back when the other did nice things for them. And Lup making sure he ate after last Thursday's shift only made it logical that Taako would be the one to make breakfast today. 

Lup and Barry had been out for date night last night, not for work, but Barry looked just as tired as he would be been if he'd caught a mafia boss the night before.

He didn't even react to Taako standing in the kitchen when he walked in around 8:30, aside from humming appreciatively when Taako turned and pressed a cup of coffee into his hands. A shitload of milk and no sugar. Pretty much the exact opposite of how Lup liked it.

"Mornin', Barold. Have a nice night?" Taako smirked at him. He'd shared an apartment with Lup up until six years ago, and that meant he was more than well informed about how the end of date night usually went. No wonder dear Barold was as tired as he was.

Barry glared at him and made a noncommital noise. The shower got turned on and Taako could hear Lup's muffled singing from the bathroom. She was the morning person to balance out him and Barry. If Taako wasn't so used so it and Barry wasn't so incredibly in love with her, it would be annoying to both of them.

Now though, Taako was actually awake. Well, he'd already had his coffee at home, after all. He wouldn't have left his apartment without at least one cup.

Taako hummed along with Lup's singing and pulled the fridge open. "You guys have any orange juice?"

Barry's head raised from the table he'd been resting it on and he yawned. "I'll ask, gimme a sec." He got up and walked over to the bathroom wall, putting his hands against it and pushing his head right through. There was a scream. Then: "Stop screaming, it's me! Are we out of orange juice?"

Barry pulled his head back over and frowned at Taako who was doubled over laughing, clutching the counter to keep himself up.

"Fuck, Barry! Does that... does that count as using your powers for good?"

Barry looked slightly sheepish as he waited for Taako to calm down. "Guess I should've used the door. She never freaks out when I just pull back the curtain and hop in."

Taako threw a handful of flour at him. "Too much information, Bluejeans."

"You've seen and heard worse!" Lup called from where she was emerging from the bathroom, hair sopping wet and wrapped in a bathrobe on top of the pajamas she'd apparently just slipped back into. She walked over to give Barry a kiss on the cheek as he wiped the flour off his glasses.

"Smells amazing, Gandalf," she said, leaning in to pick at the pile of hot waffles.

Taako slapped her hand away. "Wait 'til I set the table, you animal." He'd long given up on making her stop with the wizard nicknames. It was slightly harder to come up with fire based nicknames, honestly. Most of them just sounded too cool to work for teasing.

Barry hurried to set the table instead as Taako taste tested the eggs and nodded to himself, holding out the spoon for Lup.

She tried a bite and frowned in concentration for a moment, then grinned widely. "Perfect, bro. As always."

"Of course it is." Taako huffed, pretending that he didn't need Lup's approval. She just laughed.

Famous chef or not, if Lup didn't think a dish was good, it wasn't good enough for Taako either. Everyone knew that.

"So, what's up today? Any plans?" Taako asked, setting down the waffles and eggs on the table.

He took a seat next to Barry who was still moving a little slow as if not fully awake yet. He should be, after that quick trip to the shower. His hair was still wet.

Lup's, too, but she was already using one hand to blow dry it with a gust of hot air, and the other to shovel waffles into her mouth.

It was nice, Taako thought as he transformed his orange juice into go-gurt, to use their powers this casually around each other when they had to hide them from everyone else. They didn't need to know he'd been aiming for chocolate milk.

It was a sleepy Sunday morning, none of them bound by work or hero stuff, and Taako called for some twin plus nerd bonding time. Lup and Barry had been dating for over nine years, almost as long as they'd all had their powers, and weirdly enough it hadn't taken Taako long to welcome Barry into their family.

He was like a brother to Taako, ugly jeans and nerd shit and all.

Once either him or Lup finally got over their awkwardness and decided to pull out the ring that both of them carried around in their pockets, Taako would start referring to Barry as a brother even outside his own head.

It was always nice to go out with both of them. No one ended up feeling like the third wheel, and Lup and Barry were such a sickeningly sweet couple that Taako couldn't even be jealous if he tried.

Sometimes Lup would be cheesy on purpose to annoy him, in true twin fashion.

Whenever he heard her use "Barry-Bear" he promised himself that if he ever ended up in a long-term relationship like that he'd be chill about it.

Until then he could only tease back.

"Oh, my beautiful Barold," he sang, hooking his arm into Barry's as they walked down the street towards the park. "It's such a delight spending this perfect Sunday with you and your handsome face! Every moment I have to be without you is a struggle!"

On Barry's other side, Lup huffed. "I do not sound like that. At all."

Barry shrugged, clearly trying not to laugh. "Well…"

Taako was prepared for the impact as Lup shoved her boyfriend right against him.

"You're not supposed to side with him! He'll only get worse if he gets encouraged!" she complained, and Taako laughed.

"Barry has been on my side this entire time, dear sister. Our evil plan is to make your life a living hell full of bad puns and surprise hugs."

Now Lup and Barry laughed along with him. Taako felt his heart swell as he looked at them. He loved his family so much. He wouldn't tell them out loud, but they knew.

When he met Lup's eyes her grin softened into a smile. She'd read his thoughts. "C'mon, let's go feed the ducks."

It was a shame Magnus wasn't here. Magnus loved ducks almost as much as he loved dogs. Maybe he just loved all animals starting with D? Taako would have to check his stance on dolphins.

But sadly, they'd all decided not to hang out outside of superhero work. Lup and Barry were dating, so they were an exception, and no one could deny Taako and Lup's relation, but the others steered clear from each other as much as they could.

That way, it would be harder to find the others should one of their identities be revealed. Lup wasn't a big fan of that arrangement, but Taako agreed with Davenport that they could never be too careful. He didn't want to put Julia in danger, for example. Or Mavis and Mookie.

Precautions needed to be taken. None of them wanted their identities to be revealed, but for some there was more to it than just their own lives. Being a superhero wasn't all helping people and being celebrated. It was dangerous as fuck, too.

None of them were almighty.

Taako's transmutation power went haywire sometimes, and it always exhausted him if he used it too much.

Lup quite literally burned herself up, and she always had to rest for a long time if she went too far with her powers, her symptoms similar to a fever.

Merle's healing powers weren't strong enough to fully heal a mortal wound, but enough to make someone last long enough to get proper help, and his plant controlling wasn't nearly as impressive in the city as it was out in the wild when he was surrounded by nature.

They all had flaws. They could be defeated, and Taako didn't want to let them forget that. Confidence was nice. Caution saved lives.

Before college, and the light, and the powers, he hadn't allowed himself to care about anyone but Lup. Now he had more or less unwillingly stumbled into this huge, warm, dorky family. And he didn't want to lose any of them.

"Hello, Sir!" Taako blinked, shaken out of his thoughts, and turned away from where Lup and Barry had amassed a whole flock of ducks and pigeons they were feeding with bird seed.

Angus McDonald, nerdy kid and amazing cook to be, was sitting under a tree close by, a book open on his lap. He waved at Taako.

Taako waved back. "Hey, Ango!" He left the two lovebirds to walk over and sit next to the little boy. Honestly, Angus was a pleasure to teach, much better than the adults he usually had in his classes. He soaked up knowledge like a sponge and tried so hard to do everything right. Sadly, he didn't seem to have much of an instinct for cooking, but they'd only had one class so far. No great cook had started that good. It was a bumpy road, full of cuts and burns and onion cutting tears, but at least Angus had the best teacher in the world.

"What'cha reading?" Taako asked, looking down at the book.

Angus smiled. "Caleb Cleveland! It's my favorite book series, about a boy my age who solves crimes!"

Adorable. Fuck.

Taako leaned his back against the tree. "You like detectives?"

People were looking over at him suspiciously, and if Taako cared any more he'd worry what this looked like to others, an adult man approaching a lone little kid in the park.

Angus didn't seem to be thinking about that at all. He grinned. "Yeah, I wanna be a detective when I grow up. Actually I-" He broke off, looking down at his lap.

Taako looked down at him, a little confused. He didn't understand kids. Angus was okay, but Taako still had trouble reading him. "I think that's a really cool career choice. You'd be catching bad guys, just like a superhero."

"Well... not quite like that." But Angus was smiling again. "Is that your sister over there?" He pointed at Lup who was laughing at a pigeon that had landed on her head.

"Actually I have never seen that woman in my entire life," Taako deadpanned, feeling a surge of pride at himself when Angus started laughing.

He sounded like an adult a lot of the time, but his laugh was high and clear like a little boy's should be. Carefree.

Alright, Taako, stop with the projecting already.

"She looks just like you, Sir, that was a bad lie," Angus said, pressing a hand to his side, a little breathless.

"She's just a dedicated fan." Taako ruffled Angus' hair. "I gotta go check on them, wouldn't want those pigeons to eat poor Barold. I'll see you in class on Thursday?"

Angus nodded enthusiastically. "Of course, Sir! I even had my grandpa buy me some less fancy clothes for the kitchen!"

Taako gave him a thumbs up. Then he looked around. "He here?"

Angus bit his lip. "Uh… no, Sir. He doesn't leave home much. I have a babysitter, but she dropped me off here so she could go watch a movie." He shrugged.

Taako nodded his understanding. Angus came from a different world than Taako, financially, but… Taako could very much relate to adults not giving a shit.

You don't have to give a shit either, his mind reminded him, You're not his family.

But Angus didn't have a Lup to cheer him up and make him feel warm inside.

Taako would give him some of that, if he could. He wasn't a particularly warm person, but food could do many things that people couldn't.

He'd make that little boy happy, even if he wouldn't be caught dead admitting that he cared.