#spends his life devoted to avenging his family only to find out hes got one cousin left and shes annoying

[robby-bobby-tommy]

there are so much interesting thematical similarities between characters of one family/clan in mdzs.

Like the Nies (the only two characters we know of) are ruthless and they all are bound by the undying desire of revenge. Nie Mingjue waited for God knows how long to take down When Rouhan and later even overcame death to get to Jin Guangyao. Nie Huaisang waited for a whole decade to find his brother's corpse and made a very complicated plot to avenge him. They both weren't afraid to get their hands dirty to get what they want. NMJ killed countless of Wen soldiers, and NHS is responsible for MXY's death, all the deaths in Mo Village, probably for Qin Su's death (tho indirectly). And that's just what I can remember. Anyway, they're shared theme is rage (be it quiet or explosive) and revenge.

The Lans, I think, have this shared passion and undying loyalty. LWJ is pretty obvious. Despite how much everyone hated WWX, despite his clan and family being against him, LWJ never stopped believing in WWX. He even went against his teacher/parental figure/uncle to protect his love. That's the dedication right there. And even when WWX got resurrected (thx NHS) LWJ was prepared to die in the Burial ground (if I didn't mess up the location) with WWX. And he isn't the only one in his family/clan.

Like father like son, Lan papa went against all that he knew to protect the woman he loved so much. Even if it meant he had to spend all his life in seclusion, probably never seeing his sons and the outside world, he was prepared to sacrifice everything for Madame Lan.

LCX was also ready to put his everything on the line for JGY. He was constantly supporting JGY, protecting him from harm (mostly from NMJ), and still giving him a benefit of the doubt after all the crazy stuff was revealed. LXC actually makes me terribly sad, because he was PREPARED TO DIE WITH JGY. HE WAS PREPARED TO USE QI DEVIATING MUSIC ON HIMSELF TO PROVE JGY'S INNOCENCE/FIND OUT TRUTH. WHY MUST HE BE USED SO MUCH BY THE PEOPLE HE CARES THE MOST? (Sorry, I'm still heartbroken) Anyways, he isn't an exception to the rule. But he certainly is the most heartbreaking one for sure.

Even Su She, who was only a student in the clan and isn't connected to the family, he was very loyal to JGY, putting his own life on the line multiple times and getting his hands dirty with no questions asked. Su She wasn't the most brave one when he was young, but his devotion literally made him go against the most powerful fierce corpse. No matter how much he wanted to distance himself from Lan clan, he can't escape the loyalty curse of Gusu™.

The trickiest one is Lan Qiren, cuz he doesn't really show very much affection towards anyone/anything. But I feel like his devotion lies with his family or the rules. Despite being super strict, he tries to get LWJ return to Cloud Recesses to protect him from other clans. (The funniest part is that "lets go back to Gusu" never works). Also LQR's and LXC's little interaction in the conference about Wens in donghua made me smile sm, it was so sweet. The funniest part is that he's always whiny, but will cave in for his loved ones. I literally have no proof of him being loyal to his family, but MXTX's own words in an artbook I believe??

I am not really sure about Yunmeng Jiang or Lanling Jin clans, cuz they don't really have so obvious similarities. Lanling Jin's similarity is being connected to JGS, which is not so unique in mdzs. And Yunmeng Jiang is probably having family issues.

[missymurder]

i wanna make out with yr fem noiz her hairs so cute. so flippy :) also would love to hear more abt your dmmd oc i feel like i never hear abt dmmd ocs im scared to talk abt mine

HIII sorry im replying so late!!!! I'm so happy u like my fem noiz she is The gamer girl i luv her

as for my dmmd oc..............i have so many things i want to say about her but i don't want to clog ppl's screens so im gonna stick em under a cut and pray tumblr doesnt do that thing where it just shows the whole thing anyway

(be warned it is a very, very, VERY chunky read more cause i'm just gonna ramble off how much of her story I have figured out at this point)

(TL;DR: nevaeh is born on a plane, -1 leg but +1 brain injury, she gets adopted, 20 yrs later does a DNA test, finds out shes got exactly one living relative in midorijima whos 100% a criminal)

Nevaeh time!!

Was born on a plane and subsequently chucked into a busy road upon landing, but got grabbed by a pair of local punks before anyone could hit her

fall damage gave her a bad leg injury, aka "had to cut the whole leg off" bad, as well as bonking her on the head which gave her severe memory + emotional regulation issues down the line

fast forward 20-ish years, Nevaeh (named after her papa's motorcycle, but backwards) is graduated from high school but a college dropout who's living with her dads and working part time at the local bar trying to save up some money for her own place

eating dinner w her dads when her papa mentions that some guy brought in a really nice motorcycle for repair (fancy Allmate port and everything), but wouldn't say how it got damaged and didn't ask how much it'd cost. obvs a criminal but he seemed like a calm, quiet guy so it probably wouldn't hurt to do the job, but his vibe was Off

he probably gets a felon's bike every single day so nevaeh decides to use her free day to follow her papa to work and see wtf has got him so weirded out about this guy

soon as he walks in, the vibes go bad and its like the whole place gets a little weird, but nevaeh can't shake the feeling that she knows this dude?? from somewhere?? way too old to be a high school classmate, too felon-y to be a teacher, doesn't seem like he'd hit up a bar for funsies, where tf does she know him from????

he gets his bike, pays what he has to + some extra, and leaves without getting his change back. thank god for that but now nevaeh is getting pissed off cause she KNOWS him from somewhere but like everything else, she just can't remember

her papa tells her to use the back door to cool off in the alleyway before she starts breaking stuff, but on her way out, she sees Bad Vibe dude smoking a pipe and leaning on his bike while he talks on his coil (no respect for the bike?? he really is some bad news)

AYO HE'S TALKING ABOUT ARMS SMUGGLING?? nah nevaeh can't hang w this guy he's Crazy crazy

but also she really really really wants to know how tf she knows him and if she doesn't find out she'll forget later and then she'll get more pissed off cause she forgot

fuck it we ball

"omg hey u like ur bike? my papa does great work hes like soo good at it anyways have you ever been to the Casa Flora on Yui-dori?? the high school right across the street?? prison?? i'm taking ur silence as a no just let me know when i get it right"

bad dude taps out his pipe and leaves (do criminals just not have manners now??)

maybe he has one of those familiar faces but lets be honest he looks like a personified brick wall no way he'd just be Some Guy in a crowd nevaeh KNOWS HIM

.........maybe they could b related? nevaeh knows she's adopted, he's the only non-Japanese non-white person she's seen around town besides herself and her dad, and they have similar cheekbone structure......kinda.....if you squint...........

only one way to find out: DNA TEST!!!!!! she sends her dna off to a company that checks Japan, North America, and Europe (covering all the bases here) for any relatives

good news! the test found lots of relatives! bad news! they are all dead!

the company actually has her come in and explains that she has a very very very VERY rare strain of DNA found in a teeny tiny section of North America which was home to a tribe of unnamed Native Americans who were said to be antisocial and reclusive

its most notable feature is a genetic whoopsie in melanin production that makes the eyes a bright gold color, but doesn't seem to affect much else besides maybe a higher chance of skin cancer??

unfortunately, the tribe was wiped out by a group of nationalist terrorists, and nevaeh most likely ended up in Japan because Toue's corporation swooped in to save her remaining family and bring them to Midorijima for treatment--that being said, all of them succumbed to their injuries and died within a few months

she must have gotten lost during the transportation process and was super duper lucky to have minor injuries

(obviously not what happened, but the sudden and violent destruction of an entire village doesn't just get Ignored in a world where social media exists, toue had to cover his ass somehow)

there's only one relative left whose name, age, gender, and living status are unknown, so there's a good chance that they're dead, too, but the company agrees to give Nevaeh whatever genetic information they have on this individual and hopefully she can use it to do some research on her own

its not very specific but she has a few tidbits that might help, namely that they're 42.5% Unknown Native American and 45.7% African-American (similar genetic makeup, so maybe some shared features), higher chance of being a smoker, and very likely to have a mood/personality disorder

.........hey wait a second

[themculibrary]

Late Night Conversations Masterlist

Anchor Point (ao3) - shadowen clint/phil E, 9k

Summary: Six nights in one bed.

and here, my love, we linger (ao3) - glittercake sam/bucky M, 9k

Summary: "You're an idiot," Sam says, suddenly very serious.

Bucky swallows and brings his hand up to trace along the hem of Sam's untucked shirt.

They're looking each other dead in the eye. So so close.

Sam's eyes flick up to Bucky's, and he says, "I haven't laughed like that since… Since he—"

"Since what, Sam," Bucky pleads. He wants to know this. He wants Sam to be okay again, to be able to talk about Riley.

But Sam never talks about Riley.

Bandages & Beers (ao3) - JustGettingBy yelena/kate T, 4k

Summary: A few months after Christmas, Kate Bishop is still trying to sort out the mess that currently is her life.

A knock at the window changes everything.

dona nobis pacem (grant us peace) (ao3) - honeydwine druig/makkari E, 1k

Summary: It took them weeks aboard the Domo to actually talk about it. It took them no less than three days to have sex

It went a bit like this.

Home is Where the Heart Is (ao3) - NarutoRox bucky/tony T, 1k

Summary: Bucky shook his head. “Doll, I know you’re wound up, but you need to sleep,�� he said, before playing dirty and adding, “I need to sleep,” which made him feel guilty when Tony flinched. ~ In which Bucky is tired, Tony is homesick and restless, and Bucky has a secret weapon.

i don't need serotonin if i can just have your hand (ao3) - cyanica sam/bucky T, 3k

Summary: "Can I… Can I hold your hand?” He reached out, human and warm in the sunlight that shone upon Sam in a kind of iridescence that was all-consuming. His eyes were half-lidded and glassy, the twilight dawn breaking all over the atmosphere as he watched it devote itself to Sam’s presence like each spec of dust caught within the sunshine were fireflies addicted to his glow. “Something – something else to know what's real if I wake up and can't remember.”

Or making amends doesn’t lie within old evils, but rather new loves.

if your heart's still open (ao3) - steveandbucky steve/bucky, clint/natasha E, 8k

Summary: “What’s wrong, Buck?”

“You really gotta ask that?”

“Yeah, I do.” Steve clenches his jaw. “You were the one who ended things.”

Nightmare (ao3) - stucky steve/bucky E, 33k

Summary: After having another unbearable nightmare, Steve seeks the comfort of Bucky, the only person he think to turn to. He's the only person Steve wants to turn to.

This follows those nights they spend together, talking, laughing, crying, and falling in love.

Oh, we're splitting into partners now? I'll go stand over here. (ao3) - orphan_account bruce/clint, steve/tony E, 22k

Summary: Clint and Bruce get the late night munchies and make a connection. What follows from one simple interaction tends to surprise them both.

Patterned Mosaics Under Broken Dreams (ao3) - XtaticPearl steve/tony M, 7k

Summary: Tony is practically an expert on nightmares. He has been dealing with them for a long time now and has had time to control his reactions to them. This didn't extend to the other Avengers though, who had their own specific horrors that trapped them in their sleep. It was a natural decision for Tony to be the one to see them through such times. If only he made sure that they knew about this too, because sometimes taking care of your family could mean damaging yourself. In the end, it falls on the team to see through this and hope to bring Tony out of his own horrors.

Save Me From My Dreams (ao3) - happyaspie G, 3k

Summary: Exams are stressful and between the anxiety and the nightmares, Peter can't seem to find sleep. Tony just wants his kid to get some rest and he'd do anything to accomplish that.

The sun shines brighter when you are here (ao3) - frostysunflowers T, 3k

Summary: One room. Two moments.

Tony, before and after Peter comes home.

We've Got Time (ao3) - steveandbucky steve/bucky T, 4k

Summary: Steve and Bucky learn more about each other through intimate late-night conversations, hot showers and unexpected massages, a ridiculous amount of kissing and cuddling, and finally, by having an open, honest discussion about their relationship. AKA a long list of non-sexual intimacies and a whole lot of tooth-rotting fluff.

What is Real (A Comfortember Fic) (ao3) - happyaspie T, 37k

Summary: For weeks Tony searched for Peter but once he finally has his adopted son back in his arms he realizes how long of a road they have ahead of them.

Or:

After being kidnapped and subsequently mentally tormented Peter is left feeling anxious and afraid. Tony is there, as always, to help him pick himself up again.

Where We Left Off (ao3) - Finely Honed (jaqen_hgar) bucky/tony T, 2k

Summary: Prompt: Imagine Bucky and Tony meeting at night in the common room because of nightmares or Tony's crazy working hours and they somehow bond over late night cooking/eating take out and watching crappy TV. AND Imagine Hydra kidnapping Tony and stripping him of his memories and brainwashing him.

Keeping odd hours seemed to be an Avengers prerequisite, so Bucky wasn’t surprised to run into Tony the first time, or even the second time. Common floor, TV on, flicking through channels just to remind himself that it wasn’t 1944 anymore. If that had been the extent of it—missing the past—he’d have counted himself blessed, but it seemed like he had a head full of bad memories just waiting for him to be stupid enough to close his eyes and sleep.

So at first, sure, it’d seemed normal that Tony had wandered in, and dropped onto the couch next to him, stolen the remote, and pulled up some weird cooking competition program.

“I don’t know why I love watching cooking shows when I’m starving,” Tony muttered. “Must be the masochist in me.”

[usergreenpixel]

Frev Prompts, Part 8! That’s right, I’m not done with these yet. 😏

71. Lycée Louis-le-Grand, Paris, France. The protagonist is one of its many students in the 18th century and, due to his family’s social standing and his own success in academics, this boy is considered a popular student.

Most other students want to be friends with the main character but he is too reserved and suspicious of their intentions to get attached to anyone. That is until he defends two younger students from bullies. The boys, whose names are Maximilien de Robespierre and Camille Desmoulins, are naturally grateful that the main character defended them, so the three grow extremely close.

But will they stay close when some unpleasant secrets about the main character suddenly surface and threaten to ruin himself and his family? Will the trio be able to solve mysteries that suddenly pop up in the school? And what will become of them in the end?

72. The protagonist has just inherited an estate from their parents, who are among the few residents of France who still possess their noble title and their wealth, both of which their ancestors had reclaimed after the revolution.

At first the protagonist doesn’t think much of it - they’re used to living a wealthy privileged life. That is until circumstances lead them to inspect a boarded up room in the estate, only to find a capsule with a prominent French revolutionary unconscious and trapped inside it, hooked up to multiple life support machines.

To the protagonist’s confusion and horror, opening the capsule reveals that the revolutionary is very much alive, unaware of what happened to him and more than furious upon finding out the protagonist’s name.

Confused, the protagonist attempts to try to both calm the revolutionary down and figure out the reason behind this rage, only to find out that their ancestors were far from innocent victims of Madame Guillotine like the protagonist believed them to be and that their wealth had not been obtained by lawful and honest means.

Perhaps this eye opening experience is exactly what the protagonist needed in order to realize that there’s more to life than being a privileged spoiled brat.

73. For as long as they remember, the protagonist, their parents and their younger sibling(s) have always had a habit of moving from place to place, almost like nomads from movies, even though they live in a van in the modern era and don’t quite fit the part.

As a result of this situation, the protagonist has issues with developing lasting relationships and suffers from the feelings of isolation from their peers and the resentment that their parents keep moving so often.

But eventually the protagonist finally gets a chance to find out the reason why their family lives this way when they get kidnapped by the government to be used as bait to lure in their father.

The protagonist is thoroughly confused as they hear the kidnappers talk about time travel, the French Revolution, a Thermidor survivor...and all of this in relation to the protagonist’s father (or rather, as they find out, their stepfather).

What’s going on? Will the protagonist be able to escape and reunite with their family?

74. Through what can only be described as a twist of fate, the main characters cross their paths once again.

They are identical triplets who were separated at birth and now belong to three different classes. One was adopted into nobility, another wants to take a vow of celibacy and devote their life to God, while the third one is a commoner.

But now that the protagonists have been reunited, their plans change since they have no intentions of letting life tear them apart again.

Together, they become masked avengers and make it their goal to oppose corruption plaguing the high society of France, all while the revolution begins to truly pick up the pace.

75. When the protagonist was merely eighteen years old, they got locked up in a reformatory facility where they are forced to deal with a rather unpleasant company of the mentally ill, petty thieves, prostitutes and other kinds of unpleasant characters.

Their only source of comfort is a peer named Antoine, locked up for having tried to run away from home and stealing silverware. Traumatized yet defiant, he strikes up a friendship with the protagonist and even shares his new writing, Organt, with them.

Now lovestruck by Antoine to the point of obsession, the protagonist is devastated when they part ways and keeps looking for him.

What’s worse, when they finally find Antoine in 1793, he has seemingly changed and not in a good way since he keeps pretending he doesn’t know the protagonist but they are determined to restore the old friendship at any cost.

76. The protagonist, a teenager, is sent to France by their scientist mother to spend the summer break with their maternal uncle and his family.

At first the youth is sure that this will be yet another summer in France and nothing unusual will happen, only to be proven wrong when their mother goes missing and they begin to get followed by suspicious people.

As if that wasn’t enough, the teenager soon finds out a few shocking things. Not only is their uncle not actually their mother’s half-brother but he is actually a man from the past and used to be one of Napoleon’s marshals. The protagonist’s aunt is also from the past and, as the teen finds out, so was their currently missing father who was actually a prominent participant of the French Revolution.

Hoping to find both their parents and thwart the plan of their stalkers to steal their mother’s time machine and travel to the French Revolution to change its course, the protagonist joins forces with their aunt, uncle and cousins in this dangerous situation.

77. After the end of the French Revolution Charlotte Robespierre, left with no family and fearing for her safety, moves in with a man and his daughter, the heroine of the story, essentially becoming the girl’s stepmother.

As the heroine matures, she and Charlotte develop a close bond and Charlotte develops maternal instincts towards this young girl, seeing her as the daughter she never had and planning to make her her heir.

So, when the heroine falls in love with an extremely suspicious man, Charlotte opposes the union and while everyone sees her as the jealous wicked stepmother, the girl herself realizes that she is doing it for a much more selfless reason and something is genuinely wrong with this guy.

Together, Charlotte and her stepdaughter decide to investigate the suspicious suitor…

78. The protagonist is excited.

After years of living with their adoptive family, they managed to locate their biological parents and are getting along pretty well with them without severing ties with their adoptive parents.

But when the revolution comes knocking, the protagonist is torn between their royalist adoptive parents and Jacobin-supporting birth parents.

The protagonist loves everyone in their family but, unfortunately, they will have to make a hard choice for the first time in their life.

79. When the protagonist, an orphaned street urchin, rescues Jean-Paul Marat from an assasination attempt, they don’t expect anything to come out of the situation and move on with their life.

But when Marat rescues the protagonist from bandits later on and recognizes them, he decides to take the youth under his wing. Thus the protagonist ends up in the care of Marat and his family and even becomes fascinated with science thanks to their guardian.

Marat, his wife and his sister slowly find themselves attached to the protagonist and become determined to raise the kid despite all the revolutionary madness and danger that surround them.

Perhaps, this is the protagonist’s chance to have a real family and a place to belong at long last.

80. 1812. The Patriotic War against Napoleon’s army is in full swing on the territory of the Russian empire. On the side of the French emperor is the protagonist, Brutus, a 19-year old nephew of Louis Antoine de Saint-Just himself.

Severely wounded in a battle, Brutus ends up being rescued from certain death by a surprisingly sympathetic “enemy” who nurses the young man back to health and hides him.

Having recovered from his wounds, Brutus decides it’s high time to return to his family as they probably think he was killed.

Now that the war is over, returning seems like an easy task but the young man’s rescuer warns him that his journey won’t be easy and gives him a small cross as a memento so God can protect Brutus on his journey.

And so, with said cross on his neck, meager possessions and some food, Brutus embarks on a long and challenging journey home. Along the way, he will face plenty of trials and tribulations, make new connections and maybe even find love.

But will he make it back to his family safe and sound?

[luckywatersao3]

Ahhhh I can’t believe I haven’t asked you this but!!! Do you have any fic recommendations (I’ll read any ship honestly and either marvel or hp)? I feel like you most definitely have top tier taste 😋💘✨

“top tier taste” heck yeah 💅

Sorry this took a week to respond to! I kept getting distracted when I was looking through my bookmarks being like "oh wow I forgot about this story" or "why haven't I bookmarked this story?"

Small disclaimer: I only really started using bookmarks in the last year, so a lot of fics that I read before than have fallen through the cracks here, especially in the HP fandom. But here are some that I really like!

Harry Potter

Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter

The Man Who Lived (253826 words) by sebastianL Chapters: 42/42 Fandom: Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling Rating: Explicit Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Major Character Death Relationships: Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter Characters: Draco Malfoy, Harry Potter Additional Tags: Original Characters - Freeform, Sexual Content, Violence, Slow Burn, First Person, Character Study, Enemies to Friends, Friends to Lovers Summary:Draco breaks a cup, and one thing leads to another. A story of redemption, tattoos, dreams, mistakes, green eyes, long conversations, and copious amounts of coffee.Set in New York twelve years after the war.

The Bucket List (32393 words) by GallaPlacidia Chapters: 17/17 Fandom: Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling Rating: Not Rated Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter Characters: Pansy Parkinson, Teddy Lupin Additional Tags: Angst, Angst with a Happy Ending, contrived love curses, terminal illness but in kind of a light hearted way?, Draco Malfoy living his best life, Bucket List, Secret Identities, Sickfic Summary:Draco will die in six months if he can't get Harry Potter to fall in love with him. Since that's not going to happen, he might as well spend his last days working through his Bucket List. Tap-dancing lessons? Rock climbing? Poetry-writing? Threesomes? Cocaine? Getting to know his adorable cousin, Teddy Lupin? Draco will try them all!Feat. Cheerily pessimistic Draco, devoted bitch queen Pansy Parkinson, and a Harry who can't help but notice that something seems DIFFERENT about Draco, these days.Inspired by a lovely piece by khasael called Somebody To Love. Also indebted to You've Got The Antidote For Me by Kandakicksass and IDK My BFF Hermione? by lettered

The Moon Looks Lovely Tonight (35723 words) by Omi_Ohmy Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling Rating: Mature Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter Characters: Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, Luna Lovegood, Gregory Goyle Additional Tags: Board Games, Owls, Potions, Sharing a Bed, Grimmauld Place, HP: EWE, Pining Summary:When Harry moves into the damp and empty Black house, it doesn’t quite feel like home. And then the first owl moves in. After that, it’s a steep slope leading to bed-sharing, more owls, assorted housemates, strange potions experiments, and terrible cooking. And a bit of waltzing, too.

Harry Potter/Severus Snape

Between the Lines (22816 words) by Dementordelta Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling Rating: Explicit Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Harry Potter/Severus Snape Characters: Harry Potter, Severus Snape Summary:Harry discovers a secret in his Potions text and a friend in the Half-Blood Prince.

Final Examination (22807 words) by asecretchord Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling Rating: Not Rated Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Harry Potter/Severus Snape Characters: Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Ginny Weasley, Minerva McGonagall Additional Tags: Pre-Slash, Snarry-A-Thon Challenge Summary:"Is this some sort of test?""Everything that doesn't kill you is.""Mind you," he added, "surviving doesn't always mean you passed."― Michelle Sagara West

Marvel

Peter Parker/Tony Stark

Stipulations (70043 words) by Anonymous Chapters: 11/11 Fandom: Marvel Cinematic Universe, Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017), Iron Man (Movies) Rating: Explicit Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Peter Parker/Tony Stark Characters: Peter Parker, Tony Stark, Michelle Jones, Pepper Potts, Aunt May, Ned Leeds, Steve Rogers, James "Rhodey" Rhodes, Sam Wilson (Marvel), Wanda Maximoff, Vision (Marvel), James "Bucky" Barnes, Natasha Romanov (Marvel), T'Challa (Marvel), Nakia (Black Panther), Happy Hogan Additional Tags: Slow Burn, Age Difference, Peter is 18, POV Alternating, Explicit Sexual Content, Power Imbalance, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, author has already arranged a ride to church trust me Summary:Peter Parker’s longterm dream recently went from ‘get into MIT’ to ‘afford going to MIT’. As the time approaches, it’s dawning on him that he won’t be able to pay his tuition and afford the move to Cambridge all at once: he’s out of money, his secrets are beginning to pile up, and desperation has started creeping in...And then one night, he saves Tony Stark’s life.

Wouldn't Be The Worst Thing (7729 words) by deltorafray Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Marvel Cinematic Universe Rating: Explicit Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Peter Parker/Tony Stark Characters: Peter Parker, Tony Stark, James "Rhodey" Rhodes, Natasha Romanov (Marvel), Sam Wilson (Marvel) Additional Tags: Getting Together, First Time, Underage Drinking, (in the US), 20-year-old Peter Parker, Fluff, Smut, Fluff and Smut, Light-Hearted, drama-free, Daddy Kink, Panty Kink, Anal Sex, Oral Sex, Rimming, Anal Fingering, Riding, Sugar Daddy Tony Stark, Sugar Baby Peter Parker, Graphic Sex Summary:In which Peter somehow finds himself having a sugar daddy in Tony Stark without either of them meaning to, but neither really do anything to stop it. It’s not like anyone else bats an eye either, so it just … happens.

Refraction (16300 words) by chelicerata Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Marvel Cinematic Universe, Iron Man (Movies), Spider-Man (Tom Holland Movies) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Peter Parker/Tony Stark Characters: Peter Parker, Tony Stark Additional Tags: Post-Avengers: Endgame (Movie), Avengers: Endgame (Movie) Compliant, But also, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Tony Stark is not Iron Man, (...Yet), Dimension Travel, Multiverse fuckery Summary:In which Tony Stark gets kidnapped (again), meets a real life superhero, and has a long-delayed midlife crisis.

Gift of Choice (11744 words) by tuesday Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Marvel Cinematic Universe, Iron Man (Movies), Spider-Man (Tom Holland Movies) Rating: Explicit Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Peter Parker/Tony Stark Characters: Peter Parker, Tony Stark Additional Tags: College Student Peter Parker, Sugar Daddy, Sugar Daddy Tony Stark, College, Explicit Sexual Content, Stealth Crossover, Multiple Orgasms, POV Peter Parker, Lingerie, Sex Toys, Age Difference, Canon-Typical Violence, Sounding, Romance, Flirting, Adult Peter Parker Series: Part 15 of Author's Favorites Summary:Tony Stark had a thing about giving Peter stuff.

Raising Hybrid Puppies (158269 words) by JayPendragon Chapters: 33/33 Fandom: Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017), Iron Man (Movies) Rating: Explicit Warnings: Underage Relationships: Peter Parker/Tony Stark Characters: May Parker (Spider-Man), Pepper Potts, Bruce Banner, Ned Leeds, Michelle (Spider-Man: Homecoming), Jarvis (Iron Man movies), Adrian Toomes, Steve Rogers, James "Bucky" Barnes, Phil Coulson Additional Tags: Alternate Universe, Alternate Universe - Coffee Shops & Cafés, Slow Build, Unresolved Sexual Tension, Tony Stark Has A Heart, Age Difference, Unresolved Romantic Tension, Tony Stark vs. The Media, jarvis disapproves, Consensual Underage Sex, Last Week Tonight as plot point, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Eventual Happy Ending, Humor, Angst Series: Part 1 of Hybrid Puppy Verse Summary:When Tony saunters into the coffee shop, he never expected to meet Peter Parker, the incredibly hot barista with a brilliant mind and a passion for engineering only rivaled by Tony’s own. Tony always gets what he wants – which is pushing Peter up against the counter and making sure he forgets his own name.But he can’t.Because Peter’s sixteen.~*~A non-powered Tony/Peter coffee shop AU with billionaire Tony and working-class, teenage Peter. Also, Toomes has a bakery and somehow Last Week Tonight is a genuine plot point.Translations: Korean | Russian | ItalianFANART by plavkivie | COLLAGE by 1r0n5p1d3r

Revelations (126830 words) by Anonymous Chapters: 19/19 Fandom: The Avengers (Marvel) - All Media Types, Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017), Iron Man (Movies) Rating: Explicit Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Peter Parker/Tony Stark Characters: Peter Parker, Tony Stark, Steve Rogers, Pepper Potts, Ned Leeds, Michelle Jones, Happy Hogan, May Parker (Spider-Man), James "Bucky" Barnes, Sam Wilson (Marvel), Bruce Banner, Thor (Marvel), Stephen Strange, Wanda Maximoff, Vision (Marvel), James "Rhodey" Rhodes, Maria Hill, Nick Fury, Natasha Romanov (Marvel) Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Power Imbalance, Age Difference, Peter is 18, Found Family, Slow Burn, Explicit Sexual Content, author has already arranged a ride to church trust me Summary:“I still don’t get it,” Ned says. “How you just... keep being ordinary in spite of all the craziness you’ve lived through. You were in space. You helped Iron Man save the universe. And nobody knows it was you.” His tone softens, becomes almost sad. As though he realizes that what he’s saying is so completely alien to him that he will never be able to understand this part of Peter’s life. “Peter, don’t you want people to know you for who you are?”An AU where they get the Gauntlet off of Thanos that first time, on Titan.

Left Hand Free (7836 words) by tuesday Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Marvel Cinematic Universe, Iron Man (Movies), Spider-Man (Tom Holland Movies) Rating: Explicit Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Peter Parker/Tony Stark Characters: Peter Parker, Tony Stark Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Aged-Up Peter Parker, Canon-Typical Violence, Explicit Sexual Content, Multiple Orgasms, POV Peter Parker, College Student Peter Parker, Flirting, Romance, Banter, Blow Jobs, Anal Sex, Anal Fingering, Civil War Team Iron Man, Adult Peter Parker Summary:Peter and Tony's first meeting is both the same and very, very different. In which Civil War happens when Peter is a college sophomore, and Peter catches Tony on the rebound.—"Are you—are you hitting on me right now?"Tony looked up. "Do you want me to be? Because normally I'd start with how impressive this is—" He gestured with his free hand at where he was stuck to the door. "—but I'm afraid you might take it as encouragement to leave me here."

James "Bucky" Barnes/Steve Rogers

Steve Rogers Versus the Classics (34078 words) by thecommodore_squid Chapters: 4/4 Fandom: Marvel Cinematic Universe, Captain America (Movies) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: James "Bucky" Barnes/Steve Rogers Characters: Steve Rogers, James "Bucky" Barnes, Sam Wilson (Marvel), Natasha Romanov, Clint Barton, Tony Stark, Thor (Marvel), Lucky (Hawkeye), Rebecca Barnes, Winifred Barnes Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Modern Bucky, Bucky is a History Professor, Steve is still Captain America, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD, Literature, cinema, Steve's Therapists are a Bunch of Dead Authors, Steve is so Uncultured, Steve Has Issues, Bucky has issues, Healing Through Books and Movies, Amputee Bucky Barnes, Angst, Fluff, Happy Ending, Discussion of Past/Minor Character Death, Discussion of Suicidal Idealation, Drunk Steve is in Love With Thor, Clint Ships It, Violence, Injuries are Definitely Inaccurate, Glorified Movie Marathon and Chill Series: Part 2 of A Historical Relic and a History Professor Walk into a Bar- Summary:Steve narrowed his eyes. “I’m beginning to suspect I’ve been set up.”“I would never,” Natasha said, feigning shock.Steve sighed.“God fucking dammit,” he heard someone say and looked up.AKA An AU in which Steve is still Captain America and Bucky is the unfortunate history professor selected to help him understand those references.

Slide To Answer (6326 words) by relenafanel Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Captain America (Movies) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: James "Bucky" Barnes/Steve Rogers Characters: Steve Rogers, James "Bucky" Barnes Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Wrong Number AU, Romantic Comedy, Phone Calls & Telephones, Dating, One Night Stands, Steve accidentally calls Bucky for dating advice, Bucky gives good advice, Meet-Cute, Misunderstandings Series: Part 1 of Slide to Answer Summary:"What do I do?” Steve appealed into the phone. “I’m freaking out.”There was silence on the other end of the line. It lasted so long that Steve pulled the receiver away from his ear and frowned at it. Pay phones were old. Maybe this one wasn’t working despite the obvious dial tone when he picked up.“Ok,” a stranger’s voice said over the phone. “First acknowledge the fact that you dialed the wrong number, but be quick about it because my cab is a few blocks away from my own plans and I’m about to drop some truth bombs on you.”

Etc or Multi pairings

Astronomy In Reverse (184785 words) by pansley Chapters: 25/25 Fandom: Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017), Marvel Cinematic Universe, Captain America (Movies) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: James "Bucky" Barnes/Steve Rogers, James "Bucky" Barnes & Peter Parker, Peter Parker & Tony Stark, Peter Parker & Steve Rogers, James "Bucky" Barnes & Tony Stark Characters: James "Bucky" Barnes, Peter Parker, Steve Rogers, Tony Stark, T'Challa (Marvel), James "Rhodey" Rhodes, Sam Wilson (Marvel), Baron Zemo Additional Tags: Gratuitous Superfamily, Becoming a family, Hydra being a dick, Peter is canonly adorkable, Protective Bucky Barnes, Protective Peter Parker, unfair representation of the foster care system, Fluff, canon amount of angst, amateur (but effective) equine therapy, Civil War Fix-It, bucky is a good dad, Peter is a good kid, Steve is a good boyfriend, Tony is a good friend, and also kind of a sugar daddy, without benefits, Hero Worship, Peter is majorly stanning everybody in this fic and it's cute, world's most adorable basketball Series: Part 1 of Winter!Dad Summary:A year after the Winter Soldier failed his mission in DC, Bucky Barnes is doing his best to stay under the radar from both Hydra and Steve Rogers. His hope for a peaceful day-to-day life in limbo goes awry, however, when he meets Queens’ newest hero; a pure-hearted kid with a death wish and a ridiculous pair of red and blue pajamas.The last thing Steve expects when he finally tracks Bucky down is that, not only has the man been living in Queens all this time, right under his nose, but also that, in the two years since they last saw each other, Bucky somehow acquired a kid.Alternatively: How Peter Parker effectively fucks over Bucky Barnes, and also totally saves him.Dramatic reenactment by fanfictionbookclub on tiktok (WARNING: contains spoilers) LuckyWaters note: This is technically stucky, but it's more of a genfic IMHO

I've Found a New Baby (17756 words) by TellMeNoAgain Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Marvel Cinematic Universe Rating: Explicit Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Harley Keener/Tony Stark, Harley Keener/Steve Rogers, Harley Keener/Bucky, Peter Parker/Tony Stark, Peter Parker/Steve Rogers, Peter Parker/Bucky, Tony Stark/Pepper Potts, Tony Stark/Natasha Romanov, Clint Barton/Natasha Romanov Characters: Peter Parker, Harley Keener, Steve Rogers, James "Bucky" Barnes Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Noir, Alternate Universe - Mob, Alternate Universe - 1920s, Period Typical Attitudes, Mob Boss Tony Stark, Mob-Type Violence, Dark Tony, dark bucky, Dark Harley, Dubious Consent, Mental Instability, Mild Kidnapping, Polyamory, Everyone Is Poly Because Avengers Series: Part 1 of Roaring Hot Summary:This is the first story in the "Tony Stark is an insane 1920's Mob Boss and there's sex everywhere" fic that literally no one asked for but that kept me up nights until I wrote it.I'm sorry.But at least we'll be in that handbasket to hell TOGETHER, friends. LuckyWaters note: This is me recommending the entirety of the Roaring Hot series, I just thought it would be excessive to list all 13 parts lol

[captainscanadian]

Love Me Blue | Bucky Barnes x Reader (Rasleela)

MY MASTERLIST

Series Masterlist

Summary: Perhaps Bucky Barnes is the Krishna to your Radha. 

Word Count: 3800+

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Tamilian!Hindu!Reader, Sam Wilson

Warnings: References to Hinduism, PTSD, Endgame References.

A/N: This is my entry for @bucky-smiles​‘s 3K Diversity Writing Challenge! My prompt was to write a fic with a Hindu reader. I decided to write this fic with a Tamilian reader because I am Tamilian. I was born in Sri Lanka and my mother’s side of the family are Hindu. Although I consider myself an agnostic theist, I do enjoy reading the epics of Mahabharata and Ramayana. Pic from Pinterest! <3 Divider by @whimsicalrogers!

The more Bucky Barnes read about Hinduism, the more intrigued he became about how a highly skilled former SHIELD agent had retained her faith even after living through the literal end of the world. After Thanos and the Infinity War, and losing Tony and Natasha, it came as a surprise to him that you still continued to uphold the religious traditions that you were raised with. You could have easily walked away from them, but it was the fact that you chose not to do so that made Bucky realize how strong you were. 

From maintaining a strict vegetarian diet to starting your day with the morning chants, the way your daily life was filled with your faith… it was refreshing to see, especially during a time when people were not always that religious. Nowadays when he awoke at dawn, he would hear the usual chants of the Sri Venkateswara Suprabhatam being recited next door, and he could not deny that it gave him the same kind of comfort as it did to you. 

Whenever the rest of the team were gone on missions, he often joined you in your living quarters for breakfast, and it was safe to say that he had taken a liking to the hearty South Indian vegetarian meal that he could often expect from you. In a way, he often looked forward to the days when the two of you were alone at the compound. Usually, that included cooking together and talking about your life in India and his time in Wakanda. Other times, you found yourself working out together; you were even sparring partners. 

It was no secret that the two of you had been spending quite a lot of time together, and the Avengers were not completely oblivious to the sparks that were flying between you and the super soldier every time you were in the same room. As much as you hated to admit it to yourself, when Wanda pressed on during one of your many girls’ nights, you confessed that you did feel something for Bucky. You had brushed it off as your inner history nerd being fascinated by a man who fought in the Second World War, but you knew better than that. Wanda knew as well; she could read minds, after all. 

Sam had also noticed that Bucky had started to come out of his shell ever since you had arrived at the compound, and he could never pass up an opportunity to tease him about it. “So, you’ve been in a good mood lately…” He pointed out to his friend during one workout session. 

Bucky knew where Sam was getting at, but a part of him refused to give him the satisfaction of being right. “It must be the extra sleep I’ve been getting.” He admitted, genuinely. 

It was partially true, as his sleep has improved a lot since he had first moved into the compound. Between working together with the compound’s newly hired in-house therapist and spending time with you, it seemed that his nerves had finally calmed down. 

“Does Y/N have anything to do with that?” He asked, batting his eyelashes in a rather teasing manner. 

This caused the supersoldier to become flushed, and he quickly looked away to hide the sheepish grin on his lips. “Possibly.” He could not lie about how your arrival at the compound had certainly lifted his spirits; in a world where he had assumed that he was on his own, you had been the one to show him that he wasn’t alone and he did not want to be alone again. 

Sam knew damn well that you and Bucky were one and the same. Both of you had faced tremendous loss, and had given up on fighting in hopes of finding peace, only to be pulled back into the fight again. He could not deny that the two of you would make a good pair, as different as you were. 

When he had asked Bucky if he had any intentions to ask you out, that was when Bucky had even considered asking you out. Not that he worried that you would reject him; he was just unsure that it was the right time. Despite defeating Thanos, the world was still in shock from the blip and it seemed unfair of him that he wanted to move on from that. But he knew better than to let these anxieties get the worst of him. He had seen enough war and suffering; it was time for him to put his happiness before all. 

Needless to say, you made him very happy. 

He had told Sam of his plan on asking you out, but he wanted to plan the most perfect date for the two of you. He wanted to ask you out when he knew what your first date would be, and so he hoped to find out more about what you wanted when it came to your love life. 

It was during one of your many late night chats by the lake when you had found yourself staring up at the starlit sky, your peacock print scarf wrapped over your shoulders as you pulled your knees up to your chest. 

Bucky had been pacing back and forth across the gazebo, trying to find the right words to say even though he did not want to be direct. “Hey Y/N, can I ask you something?” 

The sound of his voice snapped you out of your thoughts, and you turned over to face him. “If it’s about the Cold War, I can’t answer that.” 

This made him chuckle softly, and certainly put his nerves at ease. “Oh? And here I thought that you knew your history.” He teased, as always. 

Laughing softly, you stood up from your seat on the bench and walked up to him. “I do know my history, but I’ve got my mind on the present at the moment.” You admitted, honestly. 

Who were you kidding? When you first met this man, you did have your mind on history. You were fascinated by the Howling Commando who fought alongside Captain America; he was merely a historical figure to you. 

But now in the present, you could not deny that he was much more than that. He was a friend, a companion, someone you had become quite fond of. You did not know how to describe it; but you could not deny that you saw a glimpse of Lord Krishna in his eyes. He sure had the charm, and the mystery, but your own fear of loss had held you back from acting on what you felt for him. 

“Speaking of the moment, that brings me back to my question.” He rolled his eyes at you rather playfully. “What’s Rasleela?” 

Your eyes grew wide at his question. “Rasleela?” 

“I looked up one of the paintings in your apartment.” He responded with a shrug. 

Ever since he had spent that night at your apartment, Bucky had been frequently asking you questions about the various paintings and idols of Lord Krishna that you had kept in your living quarters. He had explained that his fascination with your religion had stemmed from the fact that he had lived in Wakanda and had experienced their culture as well; and it had caused him to become curious of all of the traditions that you followed. 

Of course, you had no problem sharing with him the context behind the paintings around your home. The story of Radha and Krishna was always close to your heart, and you certainly appreciated being able to share them with someone else. It was no secret that sharing these love stories with Bucky had only contributed to your feelings towards him, but you did not want to get ahead of yourself like that. You were technically his boss, after all. 

“Rasleela… well, the literal meaning of it is ‘the dance of divine love’ but that’s quite a mouthful.” You admitted, laughing softly. “The painting I have in my apartment shows Lord Krishna and Radha dancing under the stars, doesn’t it? My grandmother told me that it happens in one night, when Lord Krishna hides in the forest and plays his flute. All the girls in his village get so mesmerized by it… they follow the music into the forest and they go searching for him. When they find him, they dance all night. It’s a celebration of love, really… the dancing.” 

“But why are there so many women who danced with him?” He asked. “Why is he dancing with all of them when Radha was the one he loved?” 

“Believe it or not, he was quite the playboy.” You replied, your lips curling into a smirk as you crossed your arms against your chest. “He loved Radha the most, but every girl in the village still loved him.” 

“So, you have a thing for playboys, huh?” 

“I have a thing for Lord Krishna.” You replied in a rather teasing manner. “I mean, I’m devoted to Lord Krishna. But when it comes to my love life… I want someone to love me like Lord Krishna loved Radha.” 

As messed up as the world was, this wish of yours had never changed. Ever since you were a little girl in South India listening to your grandmother’s stories, you fell in love with Lord Krishna and the pure love that he held for Radha. This kind of love was unconditional, and undying. 

“Would you ever want to have your own Rasleela, Y/N?” Bucky asked you, rather curiously. 

“What?”

“Dance all night, under the stars, celebrate love… would you ever want to be a part of something like that?” He asked. 

You thought for a moment, wondering if you could ever be a part of something so magical. “I mean, I doubt that I would ever experience something so magical. But if I found someone to be my Krishna, I guess I won’t be opposed to it.” And you meant that. 

Frankly, he knew exactly what you meant too. 

When you woke up the next morning, it was way past dawn. You had turned on the usual morning chants on your phone, and hooked it up to the speakers. While the chants were playing in the background, you made your way over to the bathroom to clean yourself up and get ready for your prayers. But when you made your way over towards your shrine, you had noticed that the footprints that you had painted from your front door were no longer there. 

You hadn’t taken them off, so it made you wonder who would have managed to scrape all of that paint off of the tiles. But when you made your way over to the front door and opened it, you were greeted by a surprise. 

It was a box, rectangular and tied with a giant red bow. You looked around the hallway before picking it up, wondering who would have left this as you closed the door behind you. As curious as you were about what was in that box, you did not open it right away. You had to head to work, since Rhodey and Wanda had just returned from a mission. 

When you arrived to make yourself some breakfast, the dining area had been rather empty. Most of the team had eaten and left, but the table had been set for one; it had a plate that was covered with a lid and a sticky note with your name on it. 

“Well, this morning has been full of surprises, hasn’t it?” You said to yourself as you sat down on the table and removed the lid, seeing a freshly prepared dosa and onion chutney on the plate. “It sure has…” 

At that moment, you knew damn well who was responsible for the neatly wrapped box at your door and the South Indian breakfast surprise; other than yourself, there was only one other person here at the compound who knew how to make South Indian food, and he had been acting a little suspicious lately. 

You had eaten your breakfast in quiet, constantly paying attention to your surroundings in hopes that Bucky would return to the dining area to ensure that you were eating the meal he had left behind for you. But to your disappointment, he did not show. As a matter of fact, the last time you saw him had been when you had returned to your living quarters following your nightly chat by the lake. 

The rest of the day went by as you were swarmed with mission reports and briefings, and the whole time Bucky was nowhere to be found. Not that he had to be a part of them, as he hadn’t been taking part in missions just yet. But it was safe to say that you could not go this long without seeing him. 

Of course, you could have asked your team if they had seen Bucky anywhere. If he wasn’t at the compound, you knew that he would have at least told someone where he went. Truth be told, your pride had just gotten in the way of you just blatantly admitting to someone that you were looking for him. You could just picture the look on Sam’s eyes when you asked him where Bucky was. 

“Took you long enough.” Sam muttered when you entered his living quarters. “I’ve been expecting you all morning, Y/N.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” You asked, crossing your arms as you looked over at him in utter confusion. 

“You’re looking for the cyborg, aren’t ya?”

You nodded. “Yeah, I am. I haven’t seen him all day, and he left breakfast for me. I figured that I would ask you where I could find him. Is he okay?”

“He’s fine.” He replied, giving you a reassuring smile. “He’s just hiding from you.” 

“Then where is he?” You asked, wondering what was going on with the supersoldier. “What? Why?” 

“He left on his Harley at sunrise while I was going on my run. He didn’t tell me where he was headed, just that he needed to stay hidden until nightfall and that you would know where to find him.” He replied with a shrug. “Something about ‘following the music’ or whatever. I had no idea what he meant by that.” 

Your cheeks flushed at his words before you shook your head. “God, I should have known that he was up to something when he asked me what he did last night.” You admitted, sighing. 

“What did he ask you?” 

“Nothing you should know about.” You replied with a wink. “Did he say anything else, by the way?” 

“Just that you would know where he is… and that you should just ‘follow the music’ if you didn’t know. Don’t get me wrong, I have no idea what that means. But if you want, I can help you track him down.” He offered. “Honestly. I don’t know what goes on in that cyborg brain of his.” 

You wanted to consider Sam’s offer, but you knew that it was best not to. Clearly, Bucky had known that you would find him; it even seemed that he wanted you to. As much as you want to let Sam get involved, and you understood his good heart for offering, you wanted this to be a lot more personal. Besides, Agent Y/L/N was not someone who would back away from a challenge. 

“It’s fine, Sam.” You shrugged him off. “If he wants me to go on a wild goose chase, then I guess that’s what I’ll do. It’s not like I have a team of superheroes to oversee or anything like that.” 

The Falcon chuckled at that. “I’ve always known that something was up with the two of you.” He admitted, genuinely. Having watched you at your lowest, he wanted nothing more than for you to find happiness, especially with someone like Bucky. “You like him, don’t you?”

You nodded. “Yeah, I do.” You confessed, feeling your cheeks heat up once again. “I mean, I don’t think I know how to keep that a secret. We have been spending a lot of time together lately, and I’m sure people are starting to notice.” 

Not that you cared about what anyone might think. Being the supervising officer to the Avengers did not mean that you had to stray away from meeting your personal needs. You had all survived an apocalypse; the least you could do is be happy.  

“I know he likes you too, Y/N. He can’t seem to shut up about you, and I hope that everything works out for you.” He grinned as he pulled you into an embrace. “You deserve it.” 

You gave him a nod as you hugged him back. “Thanks, Sam. I know that… I’ve been hard on myself ever since… what happened. But I know now that Bucky’s not the bad guy in my story. He never was, and maybe… maybe it won’t be so bad. Maybe the bad things in my life are over.” 

Sam nodded understandingly, still not letting go of the hug. “Have you told him yet?” He asked, certainly worried about his two close friends. 

You shook your head. “No, I haven’t told him. I didn’t know how to. How am I supposed to tell him that I misunderstood him? Or that there was a time when I wanted nothing more than to kill him?” 

Looking back at that time only broke your heart, and your eyes glazed over. You knew that Bucky would never judge you if he ever found out about your past, but you could not get yourself to share this with him. You did not know how to. 

“You know that wasn’t your fault, Y/N.” He reminded you. “Just like it wasn’t his fault either.” 

You nodded. “Yeah, I know that now. But I can’t help but feel guilty sometimes. Bucky’s one of the sweetest, kindest, and gentlest people I’ve ever  met. I just feel awful about believing what everyone was saying about him. I should have known better. I should have believed Steve.” 

Pulling back from the hug, Sam quickly wiped away your tears. “Y/N, come on… there’s no point in feeling shitty about the past. Bucky likes you. You like Bucky. Just focus on the present for now, okay? You and I both know that Bucky’s the last person who would judge you for what happened, and if he found out about what you’ve been through, I know for a fact that it wouldn’t change anything. You have nothing to worry about, okay?” 

“Okay.” You sighed, knowing that he was right. “I should probably go and find him.” 

“Yeah, you do that.” He agreed, chuckling softly before leaning over to kiss your forehead. “Be happy, Y/N.” 

“Thanks, Sam.”

When you exited Sam’s living quarters, you headed back to your own. Remembering that the footprints in your living room had been removed, you wondered if it could be Bucky’s doing. You and Bucky had been talking well into the late hours of the night before you decided to head back to your living quarters, and he had walked you back to yours the whole way. You could not remember if Bucky had come inside with you, but he certainly could have come in with you and helped you into bed before he had scraped the footprints off. 

But if so, why would he do that?

What did Bucky mean when he had told Sam that you would know where he was? What did he mean by ‘follow the music’? Why did he ask you about Rasleela last night? 

You suddenly remembered the box that you had found at your doorstep that morning, and you rushed over to open it. Inside was a dark blue lace dress that was straight out of the 1940s, and a handwritten note from Bucky. 

If you would let me be the Krishna to your Radha, I’ll show you how we did ‘Rasleela’ back in my day. -Bucky

Reading the note only made your cheeks heat up once again. You had been expecting him to pull something like this on you since the moment he had even asked you about the meaning of Rasleela in the first place. But you hadn’t expected him to be this fast. 

It did not take you long to figure out where he was. After all, Sam had mentioned that Bucky had left the compound pretty early. With his clue to ‘follow the music’ and the message he had left on that note, it was all pretty clear to you. 

Being a history major, you had always been fond of how much New York City had changed since the days of the Great Depression. When you had first met Steve Rogers and taken him on a tour around Manhattan, he had mentioned to you of how different it had been back in the day.

You had been the first one to find out about how Peggy had asked him to meet her at the Stork Club for their date, which Steve hadn’t been able to make. Seventy years later, you had offered to take him to the place where the Stork Club used to be. 

It was a pocket park now, with the club being demolished and replaced with an artificial waterfall and several benches. You and Steve had sat there for hours, and he had shared with you all the stories about how Bucky would drag him out there to go dancing with some girls he met. 

What a playboy he must have been back then? 

Before you knew it, you had slipped into the dress that Bucky had given you and were heading towards Paley Park in hopes that you could find him there. As it was a four hour drive from the compound to the heart of Manhattan, you found yourself bringing out one of your favourite toys. 

A present from your former mentor and SHIELD Supervising Officer Agent Phil Coulson, Lola was a cherry red 1962 Chevrolet Corvette that was upgraded with some of Howard Stark’s, and then Tony Stark’s technologies. Steve used to tell you that Howard had once promised to create flying cars at one of the Stark Expos, and Lola was the closest thing that came to that; in flight mode, the wheels folded down and there was a hover-capable propulsion system that replaced them. 

Knowing of Bucky’s interest in flying cars through Steve, you could only hope that he would be excited to see you arriving in Lola when you pulled up to Paley Park. Frankly, the four hour drive to the city was now cut short, thanks to Lola. Oh how you loved Phil for letting you take his car after him. Even though you were only using her for leisurely purposes, Lola made you feel some kind of power. After all, if you could drive a flying car, you could pretty much do anything else in the world. 

[avengerscompound]

The Tower: Family - 1

The Tower: Family An Avengers Fanfic

Series Masterlist

Pairing:  Avengers x OFC, Bruce Banner x Bucky Barnes x Clint Barton x Wanda Maximoff x Steve Rogers x Natasha Romanoff x Tony Stark x Thor x Sam Wilson x OFC (Elly Cooper)

Word Count: 1963

Warnings:  Sex talk and pregnancy talk on this chapter, smut, angst, pregnancy, mentions of childhood abuse on series.

Synopsis: With new powers, Thor now living on Earth full time, a wedding to plan, and Natasha and Wanda expecting, a lot is changing for Elly and her large and rather unconventional family.  When Elise’s parents try to reestablish connections, Elly questions what being a family actually means.

Author’s Note: @fanficwriter013 helped me build this world and helped write the first few chapters.  I am forever grateful to her.  I love this series and can’t quite seem to let it go.

Chapter 1: Big Plans

It’s strange how a month can feel like both a blink of an eye and an eternity all at once.  We returned to Earth and everything got busy all at once.  There was work to catch up on.  Avengers stuff had piled up.  Plus, Steve wanted me to train in case they did need me for end-of-the-world things.  There were all the things related to the move back to the Tower.  Plus, Tony and I went into wedding planning mode.  We wanted to just get it over with quickly but we didn’t just want to head to the county courthouse either.  And in the meantime, we all just missed Thor.  Knowing he was going to be back for good just made us miss him even more and even with the days feeling too short to fit everything in, the countdown seemed to drag on.

It was good being busy but I was starting to feel the stress.  I don’t think Steve was really loving the idea of training me, and I wanted to tell him not to worry about it.  That I didn’t want that life.  That didn’t seem fair though.  I could lift Mjolnir.  That meant something.  I couldn’t just selfishly sit at home while my family risked their lives.  The wedding plans weren’t exactly easy either.  We wanted to do it as soon as Thor got back which meant doing everything in two months and just finding a venue alone was hard.  Everything was booked and with the need for privacy on top, the ones that weren’t were not ideal.  The tower was taking a little longer than expected.  I think the stress was getting to me so much I was overthinking everything.  Like we’d had too good of a run and now it was going to fall apart. With my new powers, I now had threads that only I could see that connected me to members of my family and told me where they were and if they were okay.  I would check them constantly worried that something bad was going to happen.  The threads that connected me to Natasha and Wanda seemed to be fraying at the connection to them, and even though when I touched them they seemed content, I kept thinking they were planning to leave us.

“I don’t know, Tony.  I like the idea of a private island but every time I call them they’re booked up,” I complained as I sat in his lap and we looked over wedding destinations.

“You’ve been name dropping right?  That normally does the trick,” Tony teased as his finger slowly caressed over my stomach.

“Yes,” I admitted.  “And I hate it, but still, this is people’s weddings.  Even offering to pay to relocate them isn’t working.  I swear we could buy an island and we’d have more luck.”

“Alright, so we buy an island,” Tony said.  “Richard Branson owns ones.  I guess I can too.  And we can go there for our anniversary.”

I laughed and shook my head.  “Simple, low key wedding it is,” I said as I brought up a website devoted to the buying and selling of islands.  There was a surprisingly large number of them and we narrowed it down to an island in the Caribbean with a fully functional hotel, one in the Maldives that seemed close to not being an island anymore but did have a small hotel comprising of bungalows and an island in Belize that had a small compound like structure that would require us hiring staff to run and flying in all the things we needed for our wedding.

“So, I’m going to send these to Nat and Wanda and let them decide,” Tony said and swiped them into little folders with Natasha and Wanda’s name on it.  “Don’t you worry though, honey.  Our wedding will be small, low key and just us.  Then we’ll spend two weeks on the beach while the kids stay with Sam’s sister.  And when we get back, the Tower will be ready to move into.”

I hummed and leaned my head back on his shoulder.  “It’s going to be so nice.”

He slowly kissed his way along my shoulder to my neck as his hand continued to caress my stomach.  “So I’ve been thinking…”

“You’re always doing that,” I teased playfully, turning my head and nosing at his cheek.

“Well, yes,” he said, a little nervously.  “No.  Sorta…”

I sat more upright and turned to look at him.  “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” he said.  “I just… We’ve been happy, haven’t we?  All of us.  Since the kids were born.  I really like being a dad.”

I smiled softly and caressed his jaw with my thumb.  “Yeah.  Really happy.  I can feel it now too.”

“I want us to have more,” he said.  “Kids that is.  I kinda… I want to make one with you.”

I stared at him in disbelief, though I could feel through the thread how much he wanted this and how nervous he was I was going to say no.  “Really?  You’re sure?”

“You make really pretty babies,” he said.

I smiled and leaned my forehead against his, tears pricking my eyes.  “I’d be so happy.”

“Is that a yes?”  He asked.  “We can make a little Stark/Cooper baby?”

I let out a breath.  I wanted this so much.  I’d had dreams about getting pregnant again.  This time because everyone wanted it.  And this time around everyone being excited from the start and having the support I didn’t get the last time.  Seeing our family grow more.  But I couldn’t agree until I knew I’d get it.  I couldn’t go through what I did last time.  “We need to talk to the others.  That means Thor too.  I need for them to agree to having more kids and that they’re okay with both knowing you’re the biological father or if we just have me go off birth control and whatever happens happens.”

Tony nodded and rubbed my back  “Okay.  It’s okay,” he said.  “It’ll be different this time.  We’re all here now, El.  And if they just want the paternity to be random.  I’d be okay with that too.  I just… I really love being a dad.”

I nuzzled into his neck, one tear breaking free and running down my cheek.  “I love you,” I whispered.  “And I do want this.  More than anything.”

“I know,” he said, holding me close.  “I love you too.”

He held me like that for a little while, just gently rubbing my back, when a large crack of thunder sounded outside and it started bucketing down rain.  I sat up suddenly and looked out of the window.  “Is it Thor do you think?”

“Gotta be,” Tony said, patting my ass so I’d get up.

I jumped to my feet and the two of us rushed outside.  The rain was coming down heavily and Bruce was outside with the kids and the puppies, looking up at the sky.  I moved up beside him, still being sheltered by the awning of the house.  “Is it him?”

Bruce smiled and looked down at me.  He was in his blended form.  The one he took most of the time these days.  He’d lean into Bruce more in the bedroom or the lab, or Hulk when he was playing outside with Clint and the kids.  But mostly he was both at once, working in harmony.  “The atmospheric readings are consistent with the Rosenberg Bridge opening.”

To back up Bruce’s words, a huge crash sounded again and a large beam of rainbow-colored light seemed to crash into the ground.  When it cleared Thor was standing in the middle of a circle of Celtic knotwork burned into the ground.  The twins squealed in delight and ran out into the rain to greet him.  Thor smiled and the rain stopped like he’d flicked a switch on it.  He scooped them up when they reached him and held them above his head.

“Children!”  He boomed.

“Daddy!”  They both squealed at once, kicking their legs.  He pulled them into a hug and closed his eyes, smiling contentedly as they nuzzled into him.  Tony, Bruce, and I approached him and when we got close he put both onto one arm and cradled my jaw with the other.

“Mea Vida,” he hummed and kissed me deeply.  I melted into him, wrapping my arms around his waist.

“Thor!  We didn’t expect you back yet!” Bruce said, smiling.

Thor broke his kiss with me and Bruce leaned down and pecked Thor’s cheek before Tony moved in and did the same.  “All is running well on Asgard.  I have Heimdall watching over things.  He will call me if needed.”

“So this is it?” I asked, looking up at him. “You’re home now?”

He smiled contentedly.  “Yes.  I’m home.”

“Come on,” Tony said, clapping him on the shoulder.  “Let’s get you inside.  We have a lot to tell you about.  In fact, your timing is perfect.  He looked at me with a small smile on his lips and a twinkle in his eye.  It did feel like a sign.  This was the day we would agree to extend our family.

“I misted you,” Pietro said as we made our way back inside with the dogs, dancing around at our feet.

“I missed you too, my darling one,” Thor said, affectionately.  “What have you been doing since I saw you last?”

“Umm…” Pietro pondered.

“We pwayed and deys take us pwaces.  We did see a schoowl,” Riley explained.

“And I dot my books,” Pietro added.

“Those all sound wonderful,” Thor rumbled and kissed them both on the head, before putting them down.  He took a seat on the couch and both the twins and the dogs climbed up into his lap.

“FRIDAY, tell the cook to make a large lunch for everyone and that Thor’s here so whatever they think is normal, double it,” Tony said as he took a seat.  “And page the others.”

“Of course,” FRIDAY replied.

“Daddy,” Pietro said as he climbed up onto Thor’s shoulders.  “Wiwl Woki come?”

“On occasion, little one,” Thor answered.  “Loki has a very important responsibility in Asgard now.”

“Wiwl Mags come?”  Riley added.

Thor laughed and ruffled her hair.  “No, honey.  I’m afraid not.  But I will take you back to your homeworld from time-to-time and you will see him.”

I started to get impatient and I ran my fingers through the threads that connected me to the others and tugged on the ones that belonged to Clint, Natasha, Steve, Bucky, Sam, and Wanda.

“Did you just pull me?”  Clint said, coming into the room.

“I did,” I answered.  “Thor’s home!”

Clint grinned and came over, kissing Thor, before flopping on the chair beside him.

“Space husband!”  Steve called as he entered the room with Bucky.

“I’m not your space husband any longer.  I’m home for good,” Thor said, getting up and greeting the two super-soldiers with a tight hug and a kiss.

“You are!”  Wanda squeaked as she entered with Sam.

Thor turned to Sam and Wanda and a large smile broke out on his face as he pulled them into his arms.  “You have been busy while I was away,” he said.  Wanda looked up at him confused when Natasha finally arrived.  “Very busy indeed.”

“What do you mean?”  Wanda asked.

“You and Natasha, you’re both with child,” Thor said, looking at the both of them confused.   “You didn’t know?”

I looked from Wanda to Nat and the sudden realization that the fraying of the threads was the starting of new ones connected me to the babies they were carrying.  I couldn’t believe I hadn’t realized it sooner.

Natasha looked at Thor with her jaw dropped.  “I’m sorry, but I’m what?”

// NEXT

[starshipsofstarlord]

Clarity

There were so many things that you wanted to change. Most of those being things, crimes, that you committed.

Before the Avengers, you had taken lives, ended them in less than a blink of your eye.

The faces haunted you, reminding you that one day you would be punished for your irreversible mistakes.

Bucky had done bad too. It wasn't just you. And so had Natasha, before her tragic fall for the soul stone.

They had been a part of your past, and now it was all dying. But it was still marked into your skin, engrained into your brain. Guilt rolled from you in waves.

Fury stood beside you as you looked down with sorrow at Natalia's grave. It was him, the real him. Not some skull that had disguised himself in the dark man's meatsuit.

"I can't do this job anymore." You told him. It was a simple sentence, yet it held so many complications. "Everyone I started with are gone. Tony died saving the world, Steve gave himself the life he always wanted. Nat died so that we could get this far, Thor left with the Guardians. Clint is retiring, again, for how long I don't know, but I'm sure he'll get a replacement. And Banner, I don't even know. I need to figure out what I'm going to do Nick."

Fury looked at you with understanding. He was aware of all you had done, including the moment when he met you. Yet he still gave you the folder containing the information on the tesseract.

"You're scared. You can't keep running from your past though."

"I'm not." If he weren't a trained agent once in his life, he'd have believed you.

Fury would always be right, no matter the circumstances. He was a wise man, one of the few you trusted.

"At least get yourself some clarity before you go with the wind. Barnes is still here, and if you really wish to disappear let him go once and for all."

"That's not necessary." You told him. "He doesn't remember me in the red room, or the terrible things that we did together."

"One day he will." Fury told you. "And its your choice if you are going to give him a proper send off."

It was a difficult choice. "I wish Nat was here. She would know what I should do."

Your hand grazed the top of the tombstone. There was no body underneath, but the grave gave you clarity.

....

The duffel was slung on your shoulder, not too heavily. It held only the things you deemed as a necessity for an ordinary person.

You'd have been fine starting with nothing, but you deserved to give yourself an easy beginning. It was best to travel light though, and so you did.

This would be a new you in a year's time. No killing. No stealing. Just peace.

"Where are you going?" Sam asked as he entered the room.

Over the course of the years he had become your friend. The two of you stood by Steve's side, and now the turn in events had ended with him with the shield.

"Away." There was no specific location in mind, but you wanted to get out of New York. It was your first fight as an avenger, with your original teammates, fighting Loki and his army from space.

"And you weren't even going to say goodbye?" It hurt, the fact that you were willing to disappear without a word. The two of you had been through so much together, and it felt like it had all been disregarded.

"It would have been easier." You told him guiltily.

It felt wrong, treating him like this in the place that had been his home before he had joined the team. You him and Bucky were residing here, until the Avengers, or who of them were left, came together again, probably having a new compound. "But you're here now, so I can and will."

"Why?" You knew what man was asking. It wasn't something that was easy to answer but you would lie to Sam.

"I want a life Sam, I never had one before. Since I was a child I was trained to speak various languages and kill targets. I want to be a civilian, not some bad guy turned hero."

"Okay." He nodded his head in understanding. "Is there anything you need?"

You took the book, what had once been a journal, from behind your back handing it to him. "Give it to Barnes."

"Can I at least get a hug before you ride off into the sunset of some hot country and forget my name?" It'd be cruel to decline, and so you gave him one last embrace, knowing the chance of seeing each other again would be slim.

....

Bucky looked at the book, not understanding why you had gifted it to him. The two of you didn't know each other well, only speaking here and there or fighting on the same side.

"She told me to give it to you, that's it." Sam informed him, walking away from the man's room with mutual confusion.

As he opened the book on a random page, a date lined the top of it.

28th June, 1987

The Winter Soldier. A man with a metal arm. Formerly known as James Barnes. There is no humanity in his eyes when we kill together, there is only a stone cold stare, one that sends shivers up my spine.

From what I have researched, he was a Howling Commander in a war, a comrade and dear friend to the disappeared Captain America. It seems strange how a man loyal to a hero could put his devotion, through forced tactics, into an organisation like HYDRA.

We are just animals to them, they put us on ice when they please, so that they can pull us out to complete an assignment. I know that there is a real man, one that likes to dance and smoke cigars beneath the soldier's cold exterior.

I have seen him smile, even if it could be interpreted as a grimace, as he walks into the red room to train with me. There is a colour of something other than blue in his eyes, pain I'm guessing. He keeps the men away from me, and saved me, threatening to kill every single one of them within the corporation if they went through with sterilising me.

And so HYDRA, being the real monsters, not me and stoic Barnes, used his protectiveness to their advantage. I never got sterilised, I got impregnated.

They never informed the soldier, seeing as the child was lost on a mission. But I feel guilt every time we are allowed to spend the night together. We do the same act that is how people usually populate. I see a man underneath the HYDRA infused rubble marked on his soul. There is no mission, there is only relaxation and pleasure infused in his mind. That is how I like to see him, not as a soldier but a human being that doesn't need to carry a gun or murder victims under orders.

Bucky Barnes is still in there, in the shell of a scarred soldier. One day, I pray he becomes the soldier that fought for his country, not the one that looms in the shadows, with me by his side, spilling blood and ending lifelines.

Bucky sat back, shocked by the information he had ingested. You hadn't fought on their side of the civil war because you were Steve's friend, you did it for him.

He couldn't help himself, he opened another page, a more recent one.

1st February 2009

It's difficult, knowing that I escaped the clutches of the enemy and turned my life around. SHIELD have taken me and my old friend under their wing. We're to be agents although I think she'll suit this life better than me.

She didn't lose a man with the ocean in his eyes to the red room. I was plucked from that room and paired with the soldier. Bucky.

I'm still searching for him, as I have been for years. He's a prisoner, trained and pushed to do their bidding.

I wonder if any of the other Winter Soldiers are like him. If they're victims of war, saved from death but caught up in the outrageous chaos. Even if they are, they're not my priority.

James is the reason I have joined SHIELD. So that I have more resources to find him, so that I can scan the world for any of his bloody fingerprints.

I've seen him at his best and worst. I've seen the Bucky Barnes that has become of the torment and torture. My duty is to save him. To protect him. To love him.

One more insight couldn't hurt. Although it was hurting, he couldn't recall a single thing in his mind that matched with your eventful words. It was like a story, fiction. But it was all real.

There was no date. It seemed hurried, like you were preoccupied with something at the same time. It was the last page.

He's okay, and will be. He has Sam, I trust him. My trust is hard to come by, but that man has earnt it, not from just me , but Steve also.

Perhaps I shouldn't have kept this from you Bucky, I know you don't remember. If you did, you would have said something, even if it wasn't to me.

Our story needs an end. And so this is it.

Overcome what the Winter Soldier did, that was not you, even if I saw glimpses upon the framework. I'll see you in the next life soldier.

He wished he could remember, but parts were still returning and it seemed there was plenty more to come.

If you hadn't have left, you could have spoken, helped him remember the good and bad that ran through the relationship you had once had.

It may have seemed strange, but he wanted to thank you. For having faith in him, for wanting to save him. For believing he wasn't just some killer.

But you were gone, and had delivered your clarity. The rest was history, all he had was filled pages littered with your handwriting.

Somehow you had kept it hidden from HYDRA, and he couldn't be more in debt. You were smart, and he hadn't doubted that once, but you had more to offer than you had initially let on.

....

"West stairwell." Sam barked at him though his earpiece, sending Bucky bolting to the spoken direction.

They were chasing Zemo, he had appeared again. The walls were white, and it reminded him of some kind of maze.

"Stop." He shouted, but Zemo didn't listen. He tried to run, but seemingly didn't get very far.

A body came from the other end, throwing the criminal to the ground with their legs. "Not so fast." You smirked down at Zemo.

Fear crept into the hollowness of his eyes. He knew who you were, who you had all been. He had tried and succeeded in breaking your family up, and so he had known about all of the members.

"Get back." Bucky had his gun raised, Sam coming up behind him, panting from the long run.

You whipped the hair from before your face, your foot remaining on Zemo's chest. "Nice haircut Barnes." It was good to see a familiar face again.

"Holy shit." Sam muttered at seeing your face.

.....

"We don't have time to follow him and see where he leads us. He knew where you were and therefore whoever he's working for does too." You told them, squinting at the man tied to the chair. "There'll be a tracking device in him somewhere, so we should just kill him."

I don't enjoy killing. There's always blood on my hands, but it's the expense of following orders. Bucky remembered reading that, so who's orders were you following?

"We don't kill." Sam reminded you, making you shake your head in disapproval.

"You're not Steve, Sam." You reminded him, making Bucky wince at the mention of his old friend who had recently passed from old age. "If you don't kill him, then his mates will come here and do it to you."

"We need to know who he's working for." Sam told you, abd Bucky spoke afterwards, almost instantly.

"Who are you working for?" The soldier pried, noticing your demeanor shift to a defensive one in prime time.

"No one." It was protocol to lie, but Bucky could tell that that was what it was. A lie. He remembered parts now, and knew that you tended to stand proudly, acting as though you were telling the truth.

"You and I both know that clarifies nothing." He tried to smile at you, but it only came out as a grimace. A real grimace. He knew you were hiding something.

You ignored him, turning to Zemo instead. "One name. I need clarification on one name and that's all."

"I'm not going to help you, avenger." It was a cruel jab. You weren't a part of that team any longer. Yet you still had that association.

Sam was looking at his phone. "Sharon got something." He announced. "Procto. That's the name of his superior."

"Shit. R.P." You sighed. "You fucking knew since Civil War, didn't you?" Your body got the best of you and you couldn't help your leg from launching from its post and dislocating his knee with a venomous kick.

"Possibly." He spoke. His eyes danced between you and Bucky and the soldier pulled you back so that you couldn't harm the hostage further.

"What's R. P?" James asked, for both him and Sam.

"Its initials. For Rebecca Procto." Your head lowered. You didn't want to fight this villain. If you did, you would once more be the monster HYDRA had made you.

"Who is she?" Bucky asked softly but you remained silent. "Who is she?" He repeated louder. No response came from you.

"She goes by another name." Zemo cut in, looking down at his injured leg.

"And that is?" Sam lead on.

"Rebecca Barnes."

Bucky looked at you, you couldn't tell what the expression on his face held. It was a jumble of emotions, most of which were directed at you.

"You said she was dead." He murmured. "In the book, you wrote she died."

"I thought she did." You responded quietly. "And now she's targeting us. She wants revenge. She probably thinks we left her to rot."

Sam was the only one unaware of the situation. "What's going on?"

"She's out daughter." Bucky told him quickly, filling in the gaps that he ahd missed. It was nice to see he had complete trust in the man.

"Wait - you two.." His finger drew a line between you and Bucky.

"Yes." He hissed.

"Well shit, I was not expecting that."

A/N: Please say if you want another part.

[leviiackrman]

The Encyclopaedia of a Design Students Imagination

Part 2: Jessica Carter / ‘Spectre’ (MCU)

Notes: I had to rewrite this one because honeslty it was awful and it’s still not perfect or amazing but it needed saying: I love this gal way too much to leave her bio like it was haha.

Words: 1675

Tags: @chuckhansen​ @simonxriley​ @noonvvraith​ @ginadotjpg​ @ayrennaranaaldmeri​ @missdictatorme​ - anyone with writing knowledge who might be interested or could help me aha (let me know if you don’t wanna be tagged tho ofc)

Originally raised in England with her brother Michael and sister Peggy Carter, Jess was always wanting to pursue a career in medicine. Her close bond with her siblings allowed her the courage to leave the comfort of her home and travel across the Atlantic to New York City where she studied hard to become a nurse; with aspirations of later becoming a doctor. She lived alone for a while, focussing on her studies while trying to earn enough of a living to survive. As difficult as it was, she soon found company in a couple of young lads who frequented the diner she waitressed in – Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes. The next few years proved fruitful for their friendships, supporting each other in their endeavours until they had to part ways as the war broke out. Within the few years of being around each other however, Carter and Barnes sparked a different sort of relationship, but never finding the courage to pursue their feelings.

Things escalated in the later years, with Barnes being assigned to the 107th regiment, and Steve also venturing off to work for the Army – to Jess’ unliking. Although she was concerned for Steve’s safety, she was comforted by the presence of her sister Peggy and continued to aid them as much as she could. Carter had worked hard to become a superb doctor in this time, soon being assigned as head of the medical base on the front line. Now in her element on the front line, she was taken off guard when the news of Barnes’ capture reached her ears. Relief washed over her when she saw the pair return to camp, and from here on she made a point to hide her feelings no longer. Settled as much as she could be within the circumstances the pair now lived in, she enjoyed the knowledge that the end of the war would bring her happily ever after for the 2 of them.

The dawning of The Howling Commandoes allowed her to travel with them as their personal medical aid, but when Barnes didn’t return from their mission; her heart sank. All she had wanted was washed away with him. Promises were made, forcing herself to carry on without him, but losing Steve within the following weeks crumbled the rest of her world in.

---

Distraught, afraid, alone. Her mind faded for a while, letting the pain of losing her friends consume her as the world carried on around her. Even in her state, she tried her best to keep working – to continue on her lifelong goal, only to faulter at each obstacle thrown her way. Concerned for her wellbeing, Peggy convinced her to live within the Stark mansion with herself and Howard, soon becoming friends with the latter and aiding him in some of his riskier experiments. The possession of the Tesseract now being in the hands of SHIELD and the idea of creating power that could help many lives, Jess jumped at the opportunity to be a part of its completion. Feeling she had no purpose outside of her work anymore, the combination of the Tesseract and her abilities posed many threats to her safety – but none of this could stop her.

The experiment – recreated in a similar way to Steve’s - led her to being infused with the Tesseract’s power, enabling her multiple abilities that she learnt to use over the years. Within a matter of weeks, she was practicing using her new abilities, in the hopes that one day her teleportation, reforming of matter and telepathy could give her life a new purpose. The infusion with her body also caused her to not age, proving useful to the development of SHIELD, where she was trained as an Agent alongside her sister.

---

Her many years with SHIELD proved fruitful in their development of knowledge and technology. However, many saw her powers as a threat; demanding she was restrained from public appearances and missions outside of the States. She followed her orders, deciding to keep the peace instead of fighting back, keeping the knowledge of her abilities private in a small group within SHIELD. Her experience granted her a high position within their ranks where she could oversee many decisions taking place, but this didn’t stop her from breaking the rules now and then when she saw it necessary to involve her abilities.

The discovery of Steve’s body was the first of many discoveries that would shape her destiny forever. Too many choices sprang to mind; to fight to defend her best friend from the dangers looming their way, or follow the orders given to her so many years ago.

New York’s attack. The deciding moment. To follow her own lead or stay in the shadows. Those around her; all powerful and all in a similar position, how could she not? She knew of Tony, she had watched his work for a while at the instruction of SHIELD, to monitor potential ‘heroes’. Could this group of people really be the answer she had waited so long to hear?

Her mind was made up, and she never hesitated when the time came to follow her own ruling. The next few years proved challenging, but her new family around her was enough to keep her focussed on the job that needed doing. Assignments from SHIELD, communications with Nick and Tony; all this drove her forward.

That is, until Him.

This stability she had recently found was shaken with the return of Bucky – the answer she never got. The piece that was lost forever. With SHIELD now in ashes at her feet, and Barnes now back in the real world; that fear and its thick cloud blurred her judgment once more. So many relied on her clear mind to be rational, but how could she? Her heart drove her towards him, the obstacles throw in front of her only guiding her more towards what she had always wanted.

New York. Washington. Sokovia. They had all brought her to where she was and now she was sat on the edge - facing the one thing she had always been missing. She tried to stay grounded, to listen to those around her and defend the family she had found, only to push it aside when He was just within reach. She tracked Bucky to Romania, watching him closely for a few months before being discovered by him and having to flee back to Steve, explaining what happened and cautioning him on how to approach. Vienna forced their hand, and she was first to decline the Sokovia Accords, knowing she had spent too long hiding her own passions, regardless of the cost. She would defend him. She knew him. Even the man she had watched wasn’t the villain they were chasing. Stumbling her way around the conflict, her devotion to Barnes severed the trust she had formed with Tony and she knew she no longer had options.

For the next few years, she focussed her attention on tracking down remaining Hydra members, removing any threats that could potentially take him away again. Once her job was done, Jess returned to Bucky, spending whatever time she could find at his side in Wakanda and rebuilding the relationship they had lost so many years ago.

Their time together was cut short at the hands of Thanos, where she was contacted by Steve and the others to help find Wanda before it escalated and resulted in returning to Wakanda – but not how she had imagined. She fought alongside her friends, defending their futures as much as she could until… PAIN.

---

White excruciating pain soared through her as she fell to the floor and starred at the large bite on her leg. An Outrider had caught her during the battle, leaving her defenceless as she used every piece of energy she could find to fight off the infection now soaring through her body.

Her vision blurred, her mind fading in and out of the fight. One minute she was standing, fighting off more and more creatures as they surrounded her, the next she was rested against a tree, facing Bucky as he urged her to stay hidden. Her eyes closed once more, before hearing the sound of an ungodly explosion, forcing her to stand and go to her friends, only to witness the aftermath of Thanos. One by one, her friends vanishing before her eyes. Collapsing to the floor, she later awoke back at the Avengers base. The pain was no longer there, but as she looked around at the dark room she was in, she saw it. The lower half of her left leg – gone. She couldn’t remember what happened, but she needed answers.

---

It had been years. Tony had been saved, Carol had returned and Thanos was dead. What else could be done? A life spent looking for answers and meaning was faced with a wall when she had awoken, making her furious and driving her out of the compound to do more. To be what she had promised herself she would be. Tony had helped to give back her balance, creating a new piece of her so she could stand another day. It didn’t take long however for her past to catch up with her. Steve found her, brought her back to her home where she struggled to settle in the world that was now made for them.

Scott’s return brought back warmth, brought back hope. She used the last of her will to drive her forward. One more decision and one more chance.

----

Losing a few to save the many. That was the deal they made.

The pain brought back more fears, the trauma of failing. But they didn’t fail. They won. It took time – patience – to gather herself and find normality again. It wasn’t the life she had wanted; it certainly wasn’t what she had imagined, but one thing was for certain – she was safe in His arms, falling in love just as she had done all those years ago.

[iturbide]

honestly reading your posts has made me think about what a post-cf fic would look like with morale, supplies and might at an all-time low and slithers being mostly unscathed with superior tech, not to mention the liklihood of rebellions breaking out across fodlan as it struggles to recover from war and that isn't even counting the potential of attacks by almyra, sreng and dagda. would any of the bleagles even survive?

oh yeah post-CF fic would be.  So rough. I mean, even assuming that the other Black Eagles kids survived, I can’t see many of them choosing to stick around once it becomes clear that Edelgard lied to their faces about what happened at Arianrhod and left them completely in the dark about a threat in their own midst.  Ferdinand would probably stick it out because he has noble ideals and truly does want the best for the people -- but even his bright optimism might well falter and flag as things get worse and worse with no end in sight for any of them.  Whatever feelings Dorothea had for Edelgard have been utterly and completely shattered, and it makes her sick to sing the ode she once wrote of the princess’ -- but she’s still an actress, so no one can tell.  Petra may not have visible shackles, but she is chained invisibly to Edelgard’s side for the sake of protecting her people.

No one is happy.  And worst of all, they can say nothing without being branded as traitors.

[[MORE]]

There’s actually a very soft Bad End AU I toy with on occasion when I need something to think about.  Basically, Byleth realized by the time the Empire attacked Derdriu that they’d irrevocably fucked up, and in a bid to give Fodlan some chance of a better future, when Edelgard chooses to kill Claude they step up to do it -- but deliver a non-fatal blow, despite how convincingly mortal it seems.  Realizing what Byleth was aiming for, Claude plays dead -- and when Hilda, distraught and despairing over her friend’s apparent death, comes charging in to avenge him, Byleth deals a similar blow to her before the Imperial Army leaves.  Believing their prince was killed, the Almyrans sneak back in under the cover of darkness, intending to bring the body home for burial...only to find Claude and Hilda both clinging to life, and their retrieval mission rapidly turns into a rescue mission as the small force gently loads them both up and rows them back to the navy waiting just out of sight.

From there they return to Almyra, where they’re laid up for quite a while in recovery.  Claude spends a lot of time talking with his parents, and when Hilda asks if she can see her brother the king of Almyra doesn’t hesitate to send Nader to the Locket to hail him.  Holst is...understandably having a rough time, to the point that he sees Nader and his small contingent of Almyran wyvern riders and tells them, effectively, “you want in? be my guest, I don’t care anymore.”  Nader, though, tells him to buck up, they’ve got a surprise for him -- and take him back to the Almyran capital where his sister is just starting to get up and about a little more often.  Hilda ends up staying in Almyra, but she and her family have lots of contact via both letters and in-person meetings at and around the Locket since Holst gladly agrees to ally with the Almyrans when they put any plans in motion.

As Edelgard continues to struggle with keeping the peace and starting her campaign against the Twisted, she decides to reach out to Almyra for an alliance, hoping that their army will be able to bolster her diminished forces so she can keep the peace and devote attention to rooting out the hidden problem.  Unfortunately for her, the Almyrans have no love at all for the Empire after what they did to their prince -- so while her messenger is treated quite well and kindly, the king and queen of Almyra send him back with a box containing a live, lethally venomous snake native solely to Almyra, and do not include an antidote.  The messenger is explicitly told and shown what’s in that box (it’s very well fed before it goes so that when it reaches its destination it’ll be alive and more than ready to snap at whoever decides to open the box), so the return message is very clear: we bear no ill will toward this person you sent your message with, but we have a very big problem with you.

By the time Claude is pretty well back on his feet, though, they start hearing some very, very interesting rumors coming through both their Sreng and Alliance channels -- namely that there’s a Blaiddyd running around.  Now, Claude’s well aware that Dimitri perished at Tailtean at Edelgard’s hands, but this isn’t something he can just let go -- so he sets out with Hilda on a covert investigation.  They end up finding the source of the rumors, too: a small group of old Kingdom loyalists and a teenage boy named Nikita who bears a striking resemblance to the last king of Faerghus.  When they’re beset by Imperials, the truth is revealed: Nika is the product of a long-ago dalliance by Dimitri’s father, after his first wife died and before he wedded Patricia -- and does, in fact, bear a Major Crest of Blaiddyd; he was secreted out of Fhirdiad well before the battle at Tailtean for his own protection, just in case the worst came to pass...and the Empire, understandably, doesn’t want to give the Kingdom loyalists a rallying point, so their operatives have been out hunting him down.  Claude offers them all protection in Almyra and helps to get them all across the border where they’ll be safe -- but he puts a not insignificant number of conditions on that protection, all of which are aimed toward protecting Nika, up to and including the fact that Nika will not be pushed into leadership until he reaches his majority by Almyran standards.  The Kingdom representatives have little choice but to agree, since it’s their best hope.

From there, Claude and Hilda both take on support and mentorship roles for Nika, teaching him pretty much everything he could feasibly need to know and a whole bunch else that he just wants to learn.  He picks up diplomacy, statesmanship, weapons mastery, riding (both horses and wyverns), plus strategy, several Almyran games, accessory crafting, and a little flower arrangement.  And when the night of his final mandated birthday rolls around, Claude finds him and tells him that whatever anyone says tomorrow, always remember that it’s his choice what he does.  If he wants to go back and lead the Kingdom, then he should -- but if he wants to stay here?  He should do that, instead.  And when Nika points out, hesitantly, that he’ll probably need an advisor if he goes back, Claude grins and replies that a very strong case could be made for him as an Almyran Ambassador.

Edelgard doesn’t even see it coming, really.  Almyran forces tear past the Locket and start sweeping up the resistances that have held out against the Empire since the fall of the Leicester Alliance, bolstering their forces and subduing the Imperial outposts; they cross the Valley of Torment into the northern Kingdom and reveal Nika to the people, drawing the old Kingdom loyalists out in force and pushing back hard against the Empire’s hold.  The closer the New Kingdom forces and the Almyran Alliance army get to the Empire, the more their ranks are swelled by Imperial deserters, those who hold the Seiros faith close and those who have lost any in their Empress; and in the end, with these monumental forces at her gate, Edelgard realizes that she did, in fact, succeed in uniting all of Fodlan -- but it wasn’t supposed to be against her.

[fireandbloodtargaryenn]

Something Important Part 2 / Finale.

Tags: @mayafatimakhan and @hgacutan

Pairing: Steve Rogers x reader

Warning: Minimum Angst & Fluff

Summary: Civil War happened and your love was torn between Steve and your father Tony. Steve needs to keep you out of harm and while you deal with two life changing events.

Now after Civil War happened, soon came the Infinity War and the snap claimed your son Grant was affected by the Snap/Blip you’d both do whatever it takes to get your son back.

Part 1 | Master List & Prompt List

Steve brought you close for a tight hug, Steve knew what he had to do in order to bring your son back. His eyes drifted towards a picture of Steve and Bucky during the war.

Then he looked back at all the family pictures and was reminded more of his son Grant, you both wanted your son back more than life itself, no matter what, no matter the cost or the price to pay, just to bring him back.

Then Steve pulled away from you and looked at you with such love and devotion while tears were building up in your eyes while you tried so hard not to cry, the pain right now was unbearable.

“I will bring him back y/n, but first I need to head out and make a few calls and I will be back ok my love, I will come home as soon as possible.” said Steve as he cupped his hands on your face and kissed you.

“Okay...please come back with some good news okay?” as you kissed Steve back, your hands were pressed on his shoulders then you wrapped your arms around his torso and squeezed him tightly.

Once you both pulled apart Steve quickly kissed you and then he quickly walked out of the house and onto his motorcycle.

Steve later came back within a few hours as you were sitting on your bad thinking and trying to comprehend on what has happened in the last few hours, Steve came and saw you and explained what has happened on his end of things.

“Time travel, is that even possible?” you asked with much confusion.

“I know it’s hard to wrap your mind across it, but we believe that it can work, have to go back and try and defeat Thanos once and for all” said Steve.

You got up from your bed and walked over to Steve with your arms folded, your eyes were more puffy than before, so Steve automatically knew that you were crying before he turned up and pulled you in for another hug.

“I am going to do this Y/N, for our son and to try and get him back, for us” said Steve after awhile of silence.

“You...you will?” you said in surprise.

“You’re a mess, i’m a mess. We miss our son, i’m going to do whatever it takes to get our son back and I mean it” Then Steve kissed your forehead as you sighed in relief.

You knew what was going to happened and you knew full well what the cost, effects and consequences were going to be if this did not work and go according to plan, she would loose her son forever and you could not bear the thought of loosing your one and only son if they fail.

You never gave up home that someday, Grant will magically come home and everything will be fine and go back to how things were before the Snap, you could only hope and dream at this stage, you wish and hoped that it would go back to the way things were.

--------

A few days later.

While Steve and the rest of the Avengers were working their asses off to reverse the effects of the Snap, within those five long years since the snap, missing and longing for your son Grant.

You started to think and doubt that this mission would not work or go out the way that it would plan, you had a funny feeling within your gut that it could go either way.

Every single day since the snap, you went down to the memorial to see and pay your respects to your son even when Steve wasn't able to come down with you, you still went alone with or without Steve.

Not long after you came home from the memorial pillars, something in your gut was telling you that something big was going to happen today and it did. You knew Steve told you that today was the day and staying home was your only option incase Grant home.

You also had high hopes that your father Tony Stark would succeed too, you saw him quite often after the snap, he lost his only grandson which made him more egar to carry out this project.

The minutes and the hours seemed like an eternity that was never seemed to go anymore slower than they did, so as you were sitting on the couch trying to distract yourself, something caught your attention.

You perked your head up for a brief moment and right in front of your eyes, Grant started to appear right before you! You dropped everything and went down to the floor to greet him faster than you could ever imagine.

“Grant? Grant!” as you fell to the floor and screamed his name

Your eyes were filled with happy tears and joy as Grant cried out to you, you were never so happy to see someone in your entire life time, Grant wiggled his way out of your arms and started to run around the room and managed to find his toys and started playing with them.

Suddenly within a few minutes later, the door bell rang, you left Grant to play with his toys for the time within five years, just so you could open the door to see who was there.

“Happy?” as you answered the door and saw Happy.

“I’m really sorry Y/N, Mr. Stark didnt make it, he...used the Stones and sacrificed himself just to bring everyone back.” as Happy spoke.

Tears were building up and threatened to leave your face as you tried to hold them back and then you started crying into your hands as Happy came in and gave you a hug.

You cried even more when Happy hugged you, crying hysterically into his shoulder as you gained your son back, but loosing your father In the process. Happy pulled away and gave you Tony Stark’s will plus a box full of other things  as well.

Steve Quickly came back as he could on his motor bike to come and see you and his son, Grant. As soon as he pulled up, he noticed Happy already beat him here to the house, he quickly ran down to the house and seen the pair of you, he hugged you tightly.

“Grant! Where’s my son!” he shouted.

Steve walked into the lounge room and saw his son for the first time within five years and he quickly went over to him and Grant squealed “dada!” Steve picked him up and gave him a huge cuddle.

You turned to Happy and thanked him and mentioned that funeral arrangements will soon follow tomorrow morning and the funeral later in the week.

Afte that you closed the door to spend time with your family for the first time in years. You could get used to this feeling all over again, this was the happiest, but the saddest day of your life

------------

It was a beautiful but cool autumn morning, you put on a black dress and heels, and after you dressed up Grant in black clothing and were putting his shoes on when Steve in a black suit and tie.

When you arrived and everyone else did, you received hugs and sympathy from the people and friends that you knew, you were thankful that everyone came In support of each other and for your father, Tony Stark.

As the funeral presession began, Tony wanted you to follow in his foot steps and take over Stark Industries when he passed away, an offer which you Kindly accepted now that the time has come.

While it was going on, you could help but wonder and think if things happened differently and he didnt use the gauntlet and someone else used it instead of him? Thats what you were wondering along with all of the fond and happy memories.

You never forgot what your father did for you and what you did for him. You will miss him just like everyone else misses him also, you will never forget the man he became and how he bulit an empire within Stark Industries and the world would not be the same without him.

As the coffin was being laid to the ground for the last time, you put flowers and petals as you were holding Grant on your hip trying even more harder to hold back the tears.

“Until I see you again father, I will carry on your legacy” you muttered.

[0nthedecl1ne]

Avengers Relationships

It’s bold to assume a tower full of trauma ridden, adrenaline filled, emotionally stunted super hero’s would have anything close to a vanilla s3ccs life.

They all crave comfort in I’m unhealthy ways and the entire Avengers team is intertwined in ways people don’t always expect

For example Natasha is always made out to have slept around with everyone, using her sex appeal as a power. While she does weaponize her sexuality for an advantage in combat, in real life Natasha is very selective. She’s doesn’t sleep around very often, and she’s quite picky in who she does choose to engage with. Despite what reporters and tabloid journalists speculated she didn’t sleep with any of the members of the Avengers until after the events of CACW. She did sleep with Hill, during her time working under Fury, though they didn’t develop any relationship past a casual friends with benefits stage, they occasionally still sleep together after a random annual work function. Natasha took a sincere liking to Sam after the events of CATWS but was slow to start anything due to Sam and Steve’s involvement in... whatever the hell they were up-to. Sam’s sincerity and unwavering kindness won Natasha over, and as she spent more and more time with him the relationship developed naturally by the time she began entertaining being involved with Steve, she realized she had fully fallen for Sam. 

Sam honestly never though he’d get to meet the super heroes he grew up idolizing, let alone get to be a part of their personal lives. When Steve and Natasha showed up at his back door looking like coal miners Sam knew he was in for wayyy more than he bargained for. He and Steve formed the strongest bond, it happened on their search for Bucky, the close proximity and shared life experiences did nothing but fuel the sexual tension that finally broke one night in a janky Czech motel where they had to share a comically small bed. Their relationship blossomed naturally and was conventional until it extended to Natasha, she wasn’t constant in their lives, often away on missions or recon, and preferring to refer to her room as the “Spare room,” but she was always reliable. She always came back to wherever Sam and Steve were staying, and Steve always made sure to stay in a place with an extra room or bed for Natasha. Sam and Natasha’s relationship developed at an even slower pace than his and Steve’s but as she started coming back around more and more it was obvious she was a part of their lives. Even after experiencing the unexpected Sam was still blindsided by the development of Bucky Barnes. Sam doesn’t really know what he expected to think of Steve's brainwashed long lost love, but he never would have placed bets that he’d become hopelessly devoted to him. Luckily Sam’s nothing if not easy going, and he knew what he signed up for getting involved with Steve, it’s as unconventional as everything else they do but Sam loves his little team. 

Steve has slept with WAYYYY more people than Tony wants everyone to believe. Including Tony himself. Steve doesn’t actually know if it was Tony who started the rumor that Steve was some pure abstaining virgin, but he’s shocked at how well it has caught on. Sure he’s awkward, but he’s socially 100 years behind! He doesn’t understand what about him screams virgin. He confronts Tony about it, which ends with them sleeping together. They continue the pattern of arguments and hookups until their toxic relationship inevitably melted down in CACW. Aside from Tony, Steve tried to exclusively hookup with random people he’d never see again in one night stands, but he did somehow mistakenly hooked up with Clint one night in a club. Steve thought for a moment it was intentional on Clint’s part, but they haven’t spoken about it since and Steve is not one to start a conversation he doesn’t want. Plus, after the events of CATWS Steve was hyper-fixated on recovering Bucky; although, in that time he developed his standing relationship with Sam. He was worried how it would influence their future relationship once they recovered Bucky, given their intimate history Steve confessed to Sam one night at the start of their search. His worries were assuaged after recovering Bucky, Sam only stood to make the relationship stronger, as did Natasha. The flow between their group was nothing Steve knew how to put in words. What they had worked, he loved each of them unconditionally and would protect them with his life.

Tony- has slept with exactly as many people as he’d have you expect. While he has a particular preference towards bossy blondes he won’t hesitate to engage with anyone who catches his interest. He’s quick to sleep around, and he’s also quick to love. Pepper, Bruce, and Rhodey have his heart; he would do anything for them and they know that. Underneath all the chaos that is the persona of Tony Stark, stands a man who loves unendingly. He’s exceedingly eccentric and it would blow the tabloid’s minds to learn the only Avenger he hasn’t slept with is Natasha. 

It’s not that Bruce didn’t notice a lack of intimate relationships since the Other Guy came into his life, but he didn’t think it even remotely important compared to what he now had to deal with. He hadn’t realized he could learn to have relationships until Tony helped him realize he could still have relationships, even when his uncontrollable alter-ego is an indestructible weapon of mass destruction. Tony’s constant undying devotion and trust really helped Bruce change his life and he was hoping to get to a spot where maybe he could finally return one of Natasha’s advances when he found his time on Earth cut short. //Thor and Valkyrie love to try recount Valkyrie’s relationship with Hulk during his time on Sakaar to see Bruce how quickly Bruce will freak out// Hulk’s relationship with Valkyrie and Thor led Bruce to spend time with the two of them, their nostalgic relationship taking form while they rebuilt new Asgard and tried to keep Thor from falling apart after the events of ragnarok/IW. His relationship with them stayed strong even when he went back to Tony and his world of science. 

Thor doesn’t quite understand the midgaurdian value in keeping track of who you do what specific activities with, but he’s happy to accept any invitation for those activities. The Asguardians are no strangers to pleasurable activities and Thor has tens of thousands of years, and entire galaxies of experiences. The concept of Alien is enough for Steve Natasha and Bruce to steer very clear, which Thor takes no offense to. He does find himself entangled multiple times in a private suite during one of the many annual work parties at the tower, some variation of Jane Darcy Tony Hill and Clint find themselves ending the night early, with too much champagne and otherworldly influences filling a private room more than a few times. 

Following on trend with the rest of his life Clint’s love life is a spectacular mess. He admits he sleeps around, be it the lifestyle or to keep up appearances, but his heart belongs to his secret wife, and his secret family. The less obvious their existence, the safer they are, so Clint goes about his life without ever letting on to anyone but Natasha he’s a good honest family man. He actively tries not to sleep with his coworkers but you can’t be good at everything, Clint’s very good at sharp shooting, he’s not good at not sleeping with his coworkers. Technically he’s slept with 4-(Darcy and Jane don’t work with him)-but he slept with Tony Thor and Hill in the same crazy night after one of the insanely unprofessional work parties Tony throws every year so he counts the 3 of them as 1 mistake. Clint did accidentally sleep with Steve, which reignited his need to enforce his No Sex With Co-Workers rule. Not that Steve did anything wrong necessarily but the whole situation caused Clint to call Natasha to talk through the mini crisis he had. He insisted to Nat he at least had to change his codename from hawkeye, because no amount of booze or weed should have been able to keep him from recognizing Captain America until he was moaning into his mouth. He was made to feel better when he realized Steve hadn’t recognized him either until they got into the streetlights, and the night even continued to things Clint had genuinely fantasized about, but his crisis doubled down when he realized he couldn’t recognize Steve in the low light of the club because he wouldn’t recognize Captain America in any sketchy club in a bad neighborhood. He hadn’t just not recognized him for a few minutes of unobservant grinding, he had pegged him wrong the entire time they worked together. The perfect Catholic-Virgin-BoyScout illusion is shattered now that he can recognize Steve by the smell of sex and the memory of it. Even freakier is that Steve continues to wear khakis and collard shirts and indicate that nothing has changed. So Clint has very decidedly tried to stick to NOT sleeping with his co-workers.

Nick Fury knows all of this. Hill and Natasha have made it a running joke to keep him over informed on the intimate personal relationships of the team. His own relationship is secret from all of them, he assures them not to worry about it, his history is not important and they have to chance to become a part of it as he has a standing rule not to sleep with flight risks, which disqualifies all of them.

[little-ki]

Good Bye

This is pretty much why I haven’t been updating my other story. I was kidnapped by plot bunnies. A huge (kinda angsty) plot bunny and hopefully this time I can consistently write now that this opening scene is finally out of my head. I’m going to edit it a bit more before posting it on AO3, since this is potentially another multi-chapter story. This alone was 2K so much longer than expected.

Also, this is my first time actually writing for the Naruto fandom after enjoying works from other writers for YEARS. Please be gentle. QAQ

“Shisui, you don’t have to do this.”

He turned back and his fingers paused mid-button. Bundled on the bed was his gorgeous fairy. Her honey brown eyes were misty with tears and their slightly droopy shape looked at him as if he had wronged her. He could see various marks on her skin from the previous night, barely covered by the bed sheet and before he knew it, he was standing in front of her and kissing her cherry lips. She tried to speak but he swallowed her words, and as she softly returned each kiss, he wanted to climb back into bed and continue loving her forever.

Eventually he pulled away, leaning his forehead against hers, not wanting to move too far. “Shisui, please.” He was a goner.

Diving into another lingering kiss, he caressed her lips over and over again, trying not to dwell too deeply in the memories and sounds of the night before. He only withdrew when she was rendered breathless but couldn’t help but press another kiss on her flushed cheeks.

Slowly stepping back, he quickly re-buttoned his shirt and grabbed his discarded jacket from the floor. He moved towards the door and looked back to see her crying, and forced himself to stay by the door, gripping the frame tensely.

“I’ll be back. Then, I’ll be all yours,” he smiled before walking out the door. After leaving the apartment, he locked the door with a retinal scan and turned towards his men waiting outside.

“No one else can come here. No one,” his eyes narrowed and swirled into the three-pronged shargingan he was known for. The air became heavy until someone stepped forward.

“Yes, sir. We will be waiting here until you return.” Shisui hummed and moved towards the car waiting outside. After getting in, he pulled out his phone and softly touched the screen.

----------------------------------------

“Keke, he’s leaving.” A small black kitten jumped on the bed and crawled into her arms. Her hands instinctively moving to brush his fur, as he purred in contentment.

“I know, Sasuke.”

She spent months with Shisui and knew without a doubt that he loved her. Just not enough to change his mind.

Flashes of last night rolled across her mind. He had been so loving, so devoted. Whispering sweet filthy things in her ear as his hands burned across her skin. Everything became a blur as she couldn’t tell when something started or ended. His every touch felt like a prayer, like he was worshiping her. She couldn’t help but tremble thinking about it.

They had loved until the morning, Shisui had only slept a few hours before he left. It had been deliberate on his part to ensure she would so sore and exhausted that she wouldn’t be able to move and physically stop him. If her tears couldn’t stop him from leaving, nothing would.

“Keke, what are you going to do?” Sasuke asked as he curled up in her lap.

“What can I do?” She continued stroking his back, “There’s nothing I can do.”

Personally, Sasuke was surprised that Shisui didn’t give in. After watching him maneuver to snare Keke, he had thought this mission would be a breeze.

Shisui Uchiha. His father had been a detective that was killed in action while pursuing a corruption case. The incident involved a high-ranking family that bribed the director of the police force to pass on the wrong information his father, which led to his death. The family was cleared of the case, and the blame was placed on his father for accusing the innocent. His mother passed away shortly after from grief and backlash of the case. Shisui had only been ten.

Shisui swore to get revenge on the family and corrupted police-force, and entered the darker side of the family business under Madara Uchiha. He became a double agent, working for the police and the mafia, eventually becoming the youngest captain on both sides.

Keke’s mission was to help him obtain his revenge without taking the lives of the family or the police, as to not add onto his own consequences.

Sasuke had watched Shisui first take an interest in Keke, only to fall deeper each time they spoke with each other. Soon, he started bumping into her when she got groceries or went out on errands, then started inviting her to spend more and more time with him, until Keke found herself living with him in this apartment.

Sasuke and Keke had originally planned to just be friends and eventually a close confident of Shisui. That way they could offer advice and hopefully divert his plan for revenge, but they had been too naïve.

There was no doubt that Shisui was completely obsessed with Keke. As a system, Sasuke could monitor Shisui, and knew just how much time he focused on her. Her ‘protection detail’ was comprised of his most elite and loyal men, everything she used and that surrounded her in the apartment was of the highest quality, even the tissues. Not to mention that he had spent considerably less time at work since meeting her, without sacrificing his original mission. Sometimes Sasuke struggled to watch the two together, since the way Shisui indulged Keke made him sick from the sweetness. Not this time.

He felt something damp fall on his ears and looked up to see Keke sobbing silently. He reached up and put a paw on her face. “Sasuke, what do I do? I know how much this means to him. I-“ She covered her mouth as she cried before continuing shakily, “I-I’ve felt terrible since that night he opened up to me. I know that we’re doing this for his own good… But… It-it doesn’t feel that way.”

Sasuke shifted his body towards her, letting her hug him. “I’m sorry, Keke. But failing this mission means we have to move on to the next world.”

She whimpered and cuddled closer into Sasuke’s back. After several moments she pulled away and asked softly, “What happens after I leave?”

“You can only leave this world by ‘dying’. But since this was your first mission, you can choose how to leave.” Keke took a few moments to think before asking quietly.

“He’s watching me right now isn’t he… Can you make me disappear?”

Sasuke’s eyes widened. “Uh. Of course. But… Isn’t that a bit…”

“My ‘background’, is that I’m his guardian fairy sent to help him find a different path for his revenge. I even told him that if I failed, I would have to go back.” Her eyes filled with tears at the thought of having to leave.

Sasuke kept quiet. Although the method seemed cruel, they both knew Shisui believed her story to some extent. Otherwise he wouldn’t have put her under video surveillance in an apartment that can only be opened with his unique eye signature. Though Sasuke didn’t doubt that Shisui also wanted to hide her away and keep her to himself.

They would have to leave as soon as Shisui got his revenge, and the short time frame meant that the only other option Keke had to leave, was to commit suicide. Vanishing on-screen was the lesser of the two evils. Still, Sasuke felt he wouldn’t accept her departure so easily.

The two sat in silence as Keke mentally prepared herself. Sasuke tilted his head towards her, “It’s time.”

Keke reluctantly opened her eyes and the building tears spilt over. She took a shaky breath before looking up towards the camera in the corner. Even without asking Sasuke, somehow, she knew he was watching. Sasuke’s eyes shifted into the Mangekyo as he counted down, “Moving onto the next world in three, two, one…”

With a wobbly smile she stared straight at the camera and mouthed, “I love you, Shisui,” before fading away.

--------------------------------------

It was over. After years of planning, sacrifice, and moments where he wasn’t sure he would see tomorrow, it had finally ended. He took a deep breath and felt all the tension leave him, before pulling out his phone. He wanted to see her.

Opening the monitoring screen, he saw her sitting in the same spot, cuddling the kitten she loved so much. A smile crept onto his face. This was his fairy. His treasure.

She looked up and his heart broke seeing that she was still crying. He knew she had hoped he would get his revenge in a different way, but this wasn’t just about his own grudges anymore. At first, he merely thought she was daring but interesting, when she asked him to reconsider whether his vengeance would truly be what he needed. His entire life had revolved around the goal of avenging his parents for the injustice they faced. Yet, slowly he realized that he wanted something else more.

He wanted to hear her jabber and talk as they watched old romantic comedies. He wanted to wake up with her in his arms and hear her murmur good morning as they kissed. He wanted to be there by her side as they grow old and still see that sparkle in her eyes. What he wanted was forever with her.

That’s when he realized how dangerous his current situation was. If he didn’t deal with them thoroughly now, they could come back and hurt her and their future kids. He would never risk that. Never.

Now everything was settled, and they could be together. Nothing would get in the way.

Shisui grabbed his keys and got ready to go home while watching the screen, he needed to hold her. Suddenly, she looked up at the camera. Shisui felt a chill run down his back as he got a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach. He watched her mouth the words, ‘I love you, Shisui’ before disappearing on-screen. No. No. NO. NO.

He called his team and yelled, “Where is she!” while running out of the office, and barely heard the report. His men had been stationed at every door, window and opening, there was no way she could leave. He recklessly drove through the streets, breaking every speed limit as he raced home. She couldn’t be gone.

Shisui burst into the apartment and saw no other records at the door beside his own from this morning. He opened the bedroom door and paused. It was the same as his screen. The bed, the sheets, her things, everything was still there. Except her.

He moved towards the bed and touched the sheets; they were still warm. She was just here. She had just been with him this morning. Where. Why.

“Would you believe me if I told you I was a fairy? You know. A guardian fairy. Here to help you see the error of your ways.”

That had been the night he held her in his arms for the first time. “Oh, really?”

“Yep! But if I fail then I have to go back, then I won’t be able to see you anymore” she pouted, “and you wouldn’t want that, would you?”

He tightened his arms around her and looked into those warm chocolate eyes that made him melt, “I would never let you go.”

That had also been the night of their first kiss and the start of their relationship. He hasn’t taken it very seriously at the time, but he couldn’t forget it either and eventually he became wary. She was amazing in every way, and sometimes he couldn’t believe that she picked him. Now that she did, he wouldn’t let her leave. He had only wanted to keep her safe until he dealt with everything, but now…

Shisui gripped the sheets in his hands and stomped out of the room, trying to move past the rest of his family, “I have to find her!”

Madara moved in front of him, “We will find her.”

[belmontsfate]

MoF - The White Wolf

- The Year of our Lord 1110 -

Seven years had passed since the Prince of Darkness had been defeated at the hands of Simon Belmont. There were times when it felt like it had happened only yesterday, but then there times when it felt like nothing more than a distant memory. Now, at the age of forty-three, Simon was content living a simple life with his family in their cabin on the edge of the forest, the mountains of his youth within sight.

Never in his wildest dreams did Simon imagine he would one day find himself settled down, tamed by a single woman who held his heart firmly in her dainty hands. He chuckled at the mere thought. It seemed a bit strange after all the years he had spent devoting his time and energy into training with the hope of one day avenging the death of his parents, but it was true regardless.

He had to admit that he felt happier than he had in a long time. The last time being back when his parents were both still alive. For so long he had been engulfed by the need to seek revenge. That was why he had never bothered to get married before. He had never had the time or desire to do so. It was as if his whole life had been centered around revenge. The more he thought about it, the more he realized that it probably was a result of the mirror shard he had worn around his neck for so long. He hadn't thought about revenge ever since he took it off, even though he suspected that Dracula was still alive. That led him to believe that Alucard had been correct. The mirror shard had been controlling him.

Glancing across the room, Simon watched as his beautiful wife, Selena, cooked dinner. He didn't quite understand why, but for some reason he found it oddly satisfying to watch her, watching the way her hips swayed as she hummed a folk tune to herself. Unable to help himself, he got up from his seat at the table and coming up behind her, wrapped his beefy arms around her form.

Selena let out a small startled yelp, turning her head to glance back at her bushy-haired husband. "Simon, you shouldn't scare me while I'm cooking!" she scolded him. "It's dangerous!"

Simon could only smile as he ran his hands up and down her curvy waist. "Cooking is hardly dangerous when compared to facing werewolves and vampires."

Selena shook her head at him disapprovingly, but couldn't repress the grin that tugged at her lips. "Braggart," she said, reaching up to bop him on the nose.

"Well, I do have a lot to brag about. A beautiful wife, for example."

"A sweet braggart."

His hands moved from her waist to her belly, pulling the loose-fitting material of her dress against her skin to reveal the swell that had started to form; a testament to the fact that he couldn't keep his hands off of her. This would be their third child, and if Simon had anything to do with it, it wouldn't be the last.

Simon was very much a family man now, who loved nothing more than spending time with his children. He had already determined that he wanted two of each, and there was a good reason behind it. As a child, he had begged his parents to give him a little brother or sister. All of his old friends at the time had siblings, and seeing how close they were made him feel a bit left out and lonely. As you can imagine, that wish was never granted. He wanted two of each so that his children would never feel that way.

"Could you go find the children and call them in for dinner?" Selena asked.

Simon nodded, patting her belly before pulling away and heading for the door.

Pulling open the solid wooden door, he stepped outside and looked around. The children were nowhere to be found. He let out a small sigh. No matter how many times their mother told them to stay close to the house, they always strayed off into the forest. They were just as wild as he was at their age.

"Mary! Christopher! Time for dinner!" he called.

He waited for a while, hoping that they were close enough to hear him. When they failed to appear, he started off into the forest, a combat cross hanging from his belt as always. Even though years had passed since Dracula was defeated, he still kept his father's weapon on him at all times, ready to defend his family should anything happen. He wasn't about to lose any more family members.

The forest was silent as the grave and an oddly eerie mist had fallen over, making it difficult to see clearly. This put him on edge. The forest was never this quiet. Something was amiss. With this in mind, he picked up the pace, breaking out into a run as he called out for his children.

He came to an abrupt halt as he heard a howl, followed by the sound of twigs crunching not too far away. Turning in a circle, he scoured every inch of his surroundings, searching for even the slightest movement. At first, he saw nothing, but then something started to appear out of the mist.

"Papa!" he heard the familiar voices of his children call out to him.

In a moment of panic, he reached for his combat cross but stopped when he got a better look at the wolf. His eyes widened at the sight that he was met with. Standing before him was a huge white wolf with glowing yellow eyes and riding on the wolf's back were his two children, who were smiling and waving as if there was nothing abnormal about what they were doing.

"What on earth are you two doing?" Simon asked.

"We made a new friend, Papa!" said Christopher as he slid off the wolf's back, helping his younger sister down as well.

"We named him Wolfy!" three-year-old Mary exclaimed.

His gaze went back and forth between the two children, but in the end, it stopped on five-year-old Christopher. "Care to explain how this happened?"

Christopher's mouth failed to open.

Simon was about to ask a second time when something strange happened. The wolf began to glow, and right before his eyes, the wolf began to change, slowly turning into a man. When the glowing stopped, Simon found himself face to face with none other than Alucard; the vampire who had helped him defeat Dracula years ago.

"Alucard? Is that really you?"

The white-haired vampire nodded his head, straightening from his crouched position. "I was hunting in the area when I came across two children playing by a cliffside. I thought it best to get them to safety, so I offered them a ride on my back and went in search of their home."

Hearing this, Simon glared over at his children, but they weren't paying him any attention. Christopher and Mary could only stare at the white-haired vampire in awe. With a sigh, Simon returned his focus onto his friend.

"It seems you've helped me once more," Simon stated. "Thank you for finding them."

"You're welcome."

Silence washed over them after that, both at a loss for what to say to the other. Many years had passed since they saw each other last. There were many things that Simon wanted to talk to his friend about, many things he wanted to ask him, but he didn't know how to go about it. Though Alucard was his friend and had saved him and now his children, the fact remained that he was a vampire and was a bit intimidating to say the least. He was the son of Dracula after all. It was to be expected.

Alucard broke the silence first. "It was nice being able to see you again, Simon, but I must leave now."

Simon watched as he turned and started to walk off. He felt an all too familiar tug in his heart, the very same tug he felt as he had watched his friend leave all those years ago. He knew only one thing … He didn't want him to leave … At least, not yet.

"Will you at least stay long enough to join us for dinner?" he asked.

The white-haired vampire stopped in his tracks. "You know I don't eat the same things as you do."

Simon silently cursed himself for forgetting about his friend's eating habits. He mentioned that he had been hunting when he found the children. Whether he meant humans or animals, that he didn't know. He seemed to recall something about only feeding on monsters, but he wasn't entirely sure if he was remembering correctly.

"Then at least come and visit with us while we eat," he insisted. "It's the least I can do to thank you after you saved my children."

At that, Alucard finally turned back to face them again, a small grin tugging at his lips. "Very well."

Returning the grin with one of his own, Simon motioned his children to him, taking hold of their hands as he began to retrace his steps, leading his group back to the cabin. The mist was cleared by that point, making it much easier to see. He assumed that to be Alucard's doing.

As they walked, he noticed the children kept glancing back at the white-haired vampire, as if to make sure that he was still there. It still surprised him how quickly his children had come to trust his friend. He had taught his children about the dangers of monsters, telling them stories of some of the ones he had fought. Perhaps they could sense that Alucard was different, that he meant them no harm. The thought pleased him regardless.

With the cabin within sight, Simon released his hold on the children, allowing them to run on inside ahead of them. With them gone, he took the opportunity to get a decent look at the white-haired vampire. For the most part, Alucard looked no different than he had seven years ago. Simon had to remind himself that his friend did not age. Though, he had to admit that he looked a bit more … healthy. His body had seemed a bit malnourished and corpse-like when he last saw him. It was good to see that he had regained his strength.

"Did you build this house yourself?" Alucard asked.

Simon nodded, "Aye, I built it around the time I got married. Didn't think my wife would appreciate living out in the wilderness like a wild animal."

"I don't know many women who would," Alucard let out a small snort. "You did a good job. It looks like a good home."

Simon smiled. The fact that his handiwork had obtained the vampire's approval made him feel pleased. After a moment, he followed after his kids into the house, motioning for Alucard to follow as well.

When the two of them stepped inside, they found the children already seated at the table, their mother standing with the pot of stew she had made, dishing spoonfuls of it into their bowls. It was on;y when Simon cleared his throat that Selena looked up, her eyes widening when she saw who was standing next to her husband.

"Selena, this is Alucard, the man who helped me defeat Dracula," Simon introduced. "Alucard, this is my wife, Selena."

Setting the pot of stew down in the middle of the table, she quickly wiped hands on the fabric of her dress before going to meet the man. "It's nice to meet you, Alucard," she said, reluctantly extending her hand for him to shake. "My husband has told me much about you."

Taking her hand, Alucard raised it to his lips, pressing a gentle kiss on top of it. "It is a pleasure to meet the woman who succeeded in taming the wild monster hunter that was once Simon Belmont."

Selena giggled at both the vampire's chivalrous gesture as well as his teasing remark. Every ounce of reservation she might have held towards him previously was now gone. "Such a gentleman. Simon could learn a thing or two from you."

Simon gasped, clutching at his heart in false shock. "You wound me, Selena."

"And I see that the two of you have been busy," Alucard claimed, motioning to Selena's belly.

Simon chuckled as he moved to his wife's side, wrapping an arm her around as he pressed a kiss to her cheek. "What can I say, I find it hard to resist such an attractive woman."

Selena rolled her eyes, pulling away from her husband as she returned to the table. With a motion of her hand, Simon and Alucard joined her, sitting down across from each other. After dishing a couple of heaping spoonfuls into Simon's bowl, she turned to offer Alucard some, which he respectfully turned down, claiming that he had already eaten.

Dinner passed by in relative silence, the only ones talking being the children. Alucard passed the time looking around at the inside of the house, and though she tried to keep her thoughts to herself, she couldn't help but voice some of them.

"If I didn't know better, I would think that you've never been inside a house before."

Alucard jumped slightly as if he had been snapped out of a trance. "Forgive me for staring, but it has been a long time since I've been exposed to such warmth and family love."

Selena immediately regretted her previous remark. "I'm sorry for my rudeness. I imagine Dracula isn't the most loving father in the world."

Alucard let out a small chuckle at that. "No, he most certainly isn't, but I suppose that's hardly his fault."

This remark piqued Simon's curiosity. He had never given much thought to what it was like to be the son of Dracula. It couldn't be easy. From what little interaction he had witnessed between the vampire father and son duo, he observed that the two were not close by any means necessary. He didn't know much about their history together, except for the fact that Alucard was angry at his father for turning him into a vampire.

"What do you mean by that?"

The white-haired vampire didn't reply at first, as he appeared to be lost in thought again, but after a while, he snapped out of it again.

"My mother died shortly after I was born. My father was away at the time, completely unaware of everything that was happening. The Brotherhood of Light stole me from my home to protect me from the monster they knew my father would become," he explained. "I knew nothing of who I was or where I had come from for many years. The Brotherhood chose to reveal the truth to me after I reached manhood, telling me only of the monster and nothing of the man he had been before. Ashamed of who I was, I marched into his castle with the intent of killing him, but … fate had other plans … It was as I lay dying that my father finally saw who I truly was."

By the time he had finished his story, tears had formed in the eyes of everyone in the house, including Alucard himself. Simon was at a loss for what to say. He had no idea that Alucard had suffered such a tragic life. Though that wasn't exactly his fault either. How could he have known with the tiny amount of time he had been given to get to know him. He felt horrible. The white-haired vampire had suffered so much, and yet he continued to help humankind, as he had heard he was through the stories of the White Wolf. It was at that moment he fully realized just how selfless and brave Alucard truly was.

"And that's why he turned you," Simon finished for him.

Alucard shrugged. "There was a part of me that hoped he might have turned me simply out of love or compassion, but upon our last encounter, I realized that I was mistaken. He only saved me because he thought I would join him in remaking the world."

Simon understood why he might think that. One of the first things Dracula did when Alucard entered the throne room was to express his disappointment that Alucard had not joined him. Obviously, he did not know the mindset of the Prince of Darkness, so he couldn't say for certain whether that was truly all he had hoped to obtain in saving his son. As he thought back on the battle, he recalled something that he had found odd at the time. Someone as powerful as Dracula could have easily broken free from Alucard's hold, but he didn't … It was almost as if he had allowed his son to hold him back … It was almost as if he had been willing to die.

He shook that thought from his mind. There was a possibility that what Alucard said was true. As an experienced monster hunter, Simon knew that you couldn't allow possibilities to cloud your judgment in battle. The important thing was that they had defeated him and gotten out alive.

No one spoke again until dinner was over. Mary and Christopher said goodnight to everyone, waving goodbye to their new friend as their mother led them upstairs to bed. Soon after they were gone, Alucard got up and headed towards the door.

"I shall take my leave now and let you rest," he claimed. "I thank you for your hospitality." And with that, the door was opened and he stepped out.

After hesitating for a moment, Simon got up and went after him. A part of him was half expecting to find him gone by the time he reached the door, but he wasn't, much to his delight. He could still be seen. Although, the mist was starting to set in again, indicating that the vampire was getting ready to vanish again. Simon couldn't bear the thought of that … especially after everything that had happened this evening. The thought of never seeing him again hurt his heart.

"Father, wait!" he shouted out.

Alucard froze in his steps, allowing Simon to catch up with him. When the white-haired vampire turned, there was a look of sadness etched upon his face rather than the shock that Simon had expected.

"You know." It was a statement, not a question.

Simon nodded his head. "The specter showed me who you were in the Mirror of Fate after you left the throne room."

Alucard hung his head. "I had hoped to spare you the shame of knowing what I had become."

Simon reached out and placed a hand on his father's shoulder. "I am not ashamed of you, father," he stated firmly. "In fact, I couldn't be more proud."

Raising his head to look at his son, Alucard couldn't help but smile as he reached out and pulled Simon close, wrapping his arms around him in a tender embrace. "I'm proud of you too, son."

Simon didn't hesitate to return the embrace, clinging to him tightly, perhaps a bit too tightly, but he knew that it wouldn't hurt him. His father was a vampire after all. At that moment it was almost as if time had rewinded itself somehow, taking them back to the last time they had hugged. The only obvious difference was that he was now a full-grown man, whereas he had been six years old the last time. His father's embrace still felt the same nonetheless.

"Please, don't go," Simon pleaded. "Not again."

Reluctantly Alucard pulled away from the embrace, the look of sadness returning to his face. "I have no choice, Simon," he said. "The Brotherhood is after me and they will not hesitate to come after you as well if they find out that I am staying with you."

"Then let them come!" Simon declared, allowing his anger towards them to come out. They were the ones who had separated him from his father in the first place. "I have defeated far mightier foes than them, and so have you!"

"I know, but it's too risky. You have created a wonderful life for yourself here, and the last thing I want is for you to be ripped away from your wife and children as I was from mine."

This statement rendered Simon temporarily speechless. All he could do was stare into his father's glowing yellow eyes, seeing the deep sadness within them. It was only then that he realized that his father was right. It was too risky. He couldn't risk the lives of his children or his wife, especially not while she was pregnant. As much as he didn't want his father to leave again, he knew that he had to let him go.

"All right," he relented. "Just promise me one thing … Promise me that you'll come back when you feel it's safe enough to do so."

Alucard nodded his head in agreement. "I don't know how long it will take, but I give you my word that I will come back."

Then with one last reassuring shoulder squeeze, Alucard stepped back, transforming himself back into his wolf form.

"I'll miss you, father."

The wolf howled back at him before turning and running off, disappearing into the mist. Simon wasn't entirely sure if he was just imagining it, but he swore he heard his father's voice echo through the air saying, "I'll miss you too, son."

[quietya]

YA Books You May Have Missed: April-June Edition

I did this for January-March releases (which you can see here) and I’m doing it again! I’m rounding up some YA releases that have come out between April and June. These are all books that are on my personal radar, so it’s not a fully filled out list of ALL the books, but it’s a lot of them. And as usual, I’m avoiding bestsellers and really buzzy books as much as possible.

We Rule the Night by Claire Eliza Bartlett Release: April 2

Seventeen-year-old Revna is a factory worker, manufacturing war machines for the Union of the North. When she’s caught using illegal magic, she fears being branded a traitor and imprisoned. Meanwhile, on the front lines, Linné defied her father, a Union general, and disguised herself as a boy to join the army. They’re both offered a reprieve from punishment if they use their magic in a special women’s military flight unit and undertake terrifying, deadly missions under cover of darkness. Revna and Linné can hardly stand to be in the same cockpit, but if they can’t fly together, and if they can’t find a way to fly well, the enemy’s superior firepower will destroy them–if they don’t destroy each other first.

You’d Be Mine by Erin Hahn Release: April 2

Annie Mathers is America’s sweetheart and heir to a country music legacy full of all the things her Gran warned her about. Superstar Clay Coolidge is most definitely going to end up one of those things. But unfortunately for Clay, if he can’t convince Annie to join his summer tour, his music label is going to drop him. That’s what happens when your bad boy image turns into bad boy reality. Annie has been avoiding the spotlight after her parents’ tragic death, except on her skyrocketing YouTube channel. Clay’s label wants to land Annie, and Clay has to make it happen. Swayed by Clay’s undeniable charm and good looks, Annie and her band agree to join the tour. From the start fans want them to be more than just tour mates, and Annie and Clay can’t help but wonder if the fans are right. But if there’s one part of fame Annie wants nothing to do with, it’s a high-profile relationship.

Descendant of the Crane by Joan He Release: April 2

Princess Hesina of Yan has always been eager to shirk the responsibilities of the crown, but when her beloved father is murdered, she’s thrust into power, suddenly the queen of an unstable kingdom. Determined to find her father’s killer, Hesina does something desperate: she engages the aid of a soothsayer—a treasonous act, punishable by death... because in Yan, magic was outlawed centuries ago. Using the information illicitly provided by the sooth, and uncertain if she can trust even her family, Hesina turns to Akira—a brilliant investigator who’s also a convicted criminal with secrets of his own. With the future of her kingdom at stake, can Hesina find justice for her father? Or will the cost be too high?

The Devouring Gray by Christine Lynn Herman Release: April 2

Uprooted from the city, Violet Saunders doesn’t have much hope of fitting in at her new school in Four Paths, a town almost buried in the woodlands of rural New York. The fact that she’s descended from one of the town’s founders doesn’t help much, either—her new neighbors treat her with distant respect, and something very like fear. When she meets Justin, May, Isaac, and Harper, all children of founder families, and sees the otherworldly destruction they can wreak, she starts to wonder if the townsfolk are right to be afraid. When bodies start to appear in the woods, the locals become downright hostile. Can the teenagers solve the mystery of Four Paths, and their own part in it, before another calamity strikes?

The Princess and the Fangirl by Ashley Poston Release: April 2

Imogen Lovelace is an ordinary fangirl on an impossible mission: save her favorite character, Princess Amara, from being killed off from her favorite franchise, Starfield. The problem is, Jessica Stone—the actress who plays Princess Amara—wants nothing more than to leave the intense scrutiny of the fandom behind. If this year's ExcelsiCon isn't her last, she'll consider her career derailed. When a case of mistaken identity throws look-a-likes Imogen and Jess together, they quickly become enemies. But when the script for the Starfield sequel leaks, and all signs point to Jess, she and Imogen must trade places to find the person responsible. That's easier said than done when the girls step into each other's shoes and discover new romantic possibilities, as well as the other side of intense fandom.

White Rose by Kip Wilson Release: April 2

Disillusioned by the propaganda of Nazi Germany, Sophie Scholl, her brother, and his fellow soldiers formed the White Rose, a group that wrote and distributed anonymous letters criticizing the Nazi regime and calling for action from their fellow German citizens. The following year, Sophie and her brother were arrested for treason and interrogated for information about their collaborators.

In the Neighborhood of True by Susan Kaplan Carlton Release: April 9

After her father’s death, Ruth Robb and her family transplant themselves in the summer of 1958 from New York City to Atlanta—the land of debutantes, sweet tea, and the Ku Klux Klan. In her new hometown, Ruth quickly figures out she can be Jewish or she can be popular, but she can’t be both. Eager to fit in with the blond girls in the “pastel posse,” Ruth decides to hide her religion. Before she knows it, she is falling for the handsome and charming Davis and sipping Cokes with him and his friends at the all-white, all-Christian Club. But at temple Ruth meets Max, who is serious and intense about the fight for social justice, and now she is caught between two worlds, two religions, and two boys. But when a violent hate crime brings the different parts of Ruth’s life into sharp conflict, she will have to choose between all she’s come to love about her new life and standing up for what she believes.

In the Key of Nira Ghani by Natasha Deen Release: April 9

Nira Ghani has always dreamed of becoming a musician. Her Guyanese parents, however, have big plans for her to become a scientist or doctor. Nira's grandmother and her best friend, Emily, are the only people who seem to truly understand her desire to establish an identity outside of the one imposed on Nira by her parents. When auditions for jazz band are announced, Nira realizes it's now or never to convince her parents that she deserves a chance to pursue her passion. As if fighting with her parents weren't bad enough, Nira finds herself navigating a new friendship dynamic when her crush, Noah, and notorious mean-girl, McKenzie "Mac," take a sudden interest in her and Emily, inserting themselves into the fold. So, too, does Nira's much cooler (and very competitive) cousin Farah. As Farah and Noah grow closer and Emily begins to pull away, Nira's trusted trumpet "George" remains her constant, offering her an escape from family and school drama. But it isn't until Nira takes a step back that she realizes she's not the only one struggling to find her place in the world.

Last Girl Lied To by Laurie Elizabeth Flynn Release: April 16

Fiona claims she doesn’t remember anything about the night her best friend left a party early and walked into the ocean. But the truth is, she wishes she could forget. Trixie’s disappearance is ruled a suicide, but Fiona starts to believe that Trixie isn’t really dead. Piecing together the trail of a girl who doesn't want to be found leads her to Jasper, Trixie’s former friend with benefits, and Beau—the boy who turned Fiona down, who loved someone else, who might be happy Trixie is gone. The closer Fiona gets to finding out what happened, and the closer she gets to Jasper and Beau, the more she realizes that the girl she knew better than anyone may have been a carefully constructed lie—and she might have been waiting to disappear the entire time.

The Tiger at Midnight by Swati Teerdhala Release: April 23

Esha is a legend, but no one knows. It’s only in the shadows that she moonlights as the Viper, the rebels’ highly skilled assassin. She’s devoted her life to avenging what she lost in the royal coup, and now she’s been tasked with her most important mission to date: taking down the ruthless General Hotha. Kunal has been a soldier since childhood, training morning and night to uphold the power of King Vardaan. His uncle, the general, has ensured that Kunal never strays from the path—even as a part of Kunal longs to join the outside world, which has been growing only more volatile. Then Esha’s and Kunal’s paths cross—and an unimaginable chain of events unfolds. Both the Viper and the soldier think they’re calling the shots, but they’re not the only players moving the pieces. As the bonds that hold their land in order break down and the sins of the past meet the promise of a new future, both rebel and soldier must make unforgivable choices.

Love From A to Z by S.K. Ali Release: April 30

Zayneb, the only Muslim in class, isn’t bad. She’s angry. When she gets suspended for confronting her teacher, and he begins investigating her activist friends, Zayneb heads to her aunt’s house in Doha, Qatar, for an early start to spring break. Fueled by the guilt of getting her friends in trouble, she resolves to try out a newer, “nicer” version of herself in a place where no one knows her. Then her path crosses with Adam’s. Since he got diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in November, Adam’s stopped going to classes, intent, instead, on perfecting the making of things. Intent on keeping the memory of his mom alive for his little sister. Adam’s also intent on keeping his diagnosis a secret from his grieving father. Alone, Adam and Zayneb are playing roles for others, keeping their real thoughts locked away in their journals. Until a marvel and an oddity occurs…

Belly Up by Eva Darrows Release: April 30

I’d planned to spend senior year with my bestie-slash-wifey, Devi Abrams, graduating at the top of my class and getting into an Ivy League college. Instead, Mom and I are moving in with my battle-ax of a grandmother and I’m about to start a new school and a whole new life. Know what’s more fun than being the new girl for your senior year? Being the pregnant new girl. It isn’t awesome. There is one upside, though—a boy named Leaf Leon. He’s cute, an amazing cook and he’s flirting me up, hard-core. Too bad I’m knocked up with a stranger’s baby. I should probably mention that to him at some point.

The Lovely and the Lost by Jennifer Lynn Barnes Release: May 7

Kira Bennett’s earliest memories are of living alone and wild in the woods. She remembers the moment that Cady Bennett and one of her search-and-rescue dogs found her perfectly. Adopted into the Bennett family, Kira still struggles with human interaction years later, but she excels at the family business: search-and-rescue. Along with Cady’s son, Jude, and their neighbor, Free, Kira works to train the world’s most elite search-and-rescue dogs. Someday, all three teenagers hope to put their skills to use, finding the lost and bringing them home. But when Cady’s estranged father, the enigmatic Bales Bennett, tracks his daughter down and asks for her help in locating a missing child—one of several visitors who has disappeared in the Sierra Glades National Park in the past twelve months—the teens find themselves on the frontlines sooner than they could have ever expected. As the search through 750,000 acres of unbridled wilderness intensifies, Kira becomes obsessed with finding the missing child. She knows all too well what it’s like to be lost in the wilderness, fighting for survival, alone. But this case isn’t simple. There is more afoot than a single, missing girl, and Kira’s memories threaten to overwhelm her at every turn. As the danger mounts and long-held family secrets come to light, Kira is forced to question everything she thought she knew about her adopted family, her true nature, and her past.

Dark Shores by Danielle L. Jensen Release: May 7

Teriana is the second mate of the Quincense and heir to the Maarin Triumvirate. Her people are born of the seas and the keepers of its secrets, but when her closest friend is forced into an unwanted betrothal, Teriana breaks her people’s mandate so her friend might escape—a choice with devastating consequences. Marcus is the commander of the Thirty-Seventh, the notorious legion that has led the Celendor Empire to conquer the entire East. The legion is his family, but even they don’t know the truth he’s been hiding since childhood. It’s a secret he’ll do anything to protect, no matter how much it costs him – and the world. When an Empire senator discovers the existence of the Dark Shores, he captures Teriana’s crew and threatens to reveal Marcus’s secret unless they sail in pursuit of conquest, forcing the two into an unlikely—and unwilling—alliance. They unite for the sake of their families, but both must decide how far they are willing to go, and how much they are willing to sacrifice.

Nocturna by Maya Motayne Release: May 7

To Finn Voy, magic is two things: a knife to hold under the chin of anyone who crosses her…and a disguise she shrugs on as easily as others pull on cloaks. As a talented faceshifter, it’s been years since Finn has seen her own face, and that’s exactly how she likes it. But when Finn gets caught by a powerful mobster, she’s forced into an impossible mission: steal a legendary treasure from Castallan’s royal palace or be stripped of her magic forever. After the murder of his older brother, Prince Alfehr is first in line for the Castallan throne. But Alfie can’t help but feel that he will never live up to his brother’s legacy. Riddled with grief, Alfie is obsessed with finding a way to bring his brother back, even if it means dabbling in forbidden magic. But when Finn and Alfie’s fates collide, they accidentally unlock a terrible, ancient power—which, if not contained, will devour the world. And with Castallan’s fate in their hands, Alfie and Finn must race to vanquish what they have unleashed, even if it means facing the deepest darkness in their pasts.

The Candle and the Flame by Nafiza Azad Release: May 14

Fatima lives in the city of Noor, a thriving stop along the Silk Road. There the music of myriad languages fills the air, and people of all faiths weave their lives together. However, the city bears scars of its recent past, when the chaotic tribe of Shayateen djinn slaughtered its entire population -- except for Fatima and two other humans. Now ruled by a new maharajah, Noor is protected from the Shayateen by the Ifrit, djinn of order and reason, and by their commander, Zulfikar. But when one of the most potent of the Ifrit dies, Fatima is changed in ways she cannot fathom, ways that scare even those who love her. Oud in hand, Fatima is drawn into the intrigues of the maharajah and his sister, the affairs of Zulfikar and the djinn, and the dangers of a magical battlefield.

The Lost Coast by Amy Rose Capetta Release: May 14

Danny didn't know what she was looking for when she and her mother spread out a map of the United States and Danny put her finger down on Tempest, California. What she finds are the Grays: a group of friends who throw around terms like queer and witch like they're ordinary and everyday, though they feel like an earthquake to Danny. But Danny didn't just find the Grays. They cast a spell that calls her halfway across the country, because she has something they need: she can bring back Imogen, the most powerful of the Grays, missing since the summer night she wandered into the woods alone. But before Danny can find Imogen, she finds a dead boy with a redwood branch through his heart. Something is very wrong amid the trees and fog of the Lost Coast, and whatever it is, it can kill.

The Things She’s Seen by Ambelin Kwaymullina and Ezekiel Kwaymullina Release: May 14

Nothing's been the same for Beth Teller since the day she died. Her dad is drowning in grief. He's also the only one who has been able to see and hear her since the accident. But now she's got a mystery to solve, a mystery that will hopefully remind her detective father that he is still alive, that there is a life after Beth that is still worth living. Who is Isobel Catching, and why is she able to see Beth, too? What is her connection to the crime Beth's father has been sent to investigate--a gruesome fire at a home for troubled youth that left an unidentifiable body behind? What happened to the people who haven't been seen since the fire? As Beth and her father unravel the mystery, they find a shocking and heartbreaking story lurking beneath the surface of a small town, and a friendship that lasts beyond one life and into another...

Don’t Date Rosa Santos by Nina Moreno Release: May 14

Rosa Santos is cursed by the sea-at least, that's what they say. Dating her is bad news, especially if you're a boy with a boat. But Rosa feels more caught than cursed. Caught between cultures and choices. Between her abuela, a beloved healer and pillar of their community, and her mother, an artist who crashes in and out of her life like a hurricane. Between Port Coral, the quirky South Florida town they call home, and Cuba, the island her abuela refuses to talk about. As her college decision looms, Rosa collides - literally - with Alex Aquino, the mysterious boy with tattoos of the ocean whose family owns the marina. With her heart, her family, and her future on the line, can Rosa break a curse and find her place beyond the horizon?

Birthday by Meredith Russo Release: May 21

Two kids, Morgan and Eric, are bonded for life after being born on the same day at the same time. We meet them once a year on their shared birthday as they grow and change: as Eric figures out who he is and how he fits into the world, and as Morgan makes the difficult choice to live as her true self. Over the years, they will drift apart, come together, fight, make up, and break up—and ultimately, realize how inextricably they are a part of each other. 

I Love You So Mochi by Sarah Kuhn Release: May 28

Kimi Nakamura loves a good fashion statement. She's obsessed with transforming everyday ephemera into Kimi Originals: bold outfits that make her and her friends feel like the Ultimate versions of themselves. But her mother disapproves, and when they get into an explosive fight, Kimi's entire future seems on the verge of falling apart. So when a surprise letter comes in the mail from Kimi's estranged grandparents, inviting her to Kyoto for spring break, she seizes the opportunity to get away from the disaster of her life. When she arrives in Japan, she's met with a culture both familiar and completely foreign to her. She loses herself in the city's outdoor markets, art installations, and cherry blossom festival -- and meets Akira, a cute aspiring med student who moonlights as a costumed mochi mascot. And what begins as a trip to escape her problems quickly becomes a way for Kimi to learn more about the mother she left behind, and to figure out where her own heart lies.

The Wise and the Wicked by Rebecca Podos Release: May 28

Ruby Chernyavsky has been told the stories since she was a child: The women in her family, once possessed of great magical abilities to remake lives and stave off death itself, were forced to flee their Russian home for America in order to escape the fearful men who sought to destroy them. Today, these stories seem no more real to Ruby than folktales, except for the smallest bit of power left in their blood: when each of them comes of age, she will have a vision of who she will be when she dies—a destiny as inescapable as it is inevitable. Ruby is no exception, and neither is her mother, although she ran from her fate years ago, abandoning Ruby and her sisters. It’s a fool’s errand, because they all know the truth: there is no escaping one’s Time. Until Ruby’s great-aunt Polina passes away, and, for the first time, a Chernyavsky’s death does not match her vision. Suddenly, things Ruby never thought she’d be allowed to hope for—life, love, time—seem possible. But as she and her cousin Cece begin to dig into the family’s history to find out whether they, too, can change their fates, they learn that nothing comes without a cost. Especially not hope.

The Kingdom by Jess Rothenberg Release: May 28

Glimmering like a jewel behind its gateway, The Kingdom is an immersive fantasy theme park where guests soar on virtual dragons, castles loom like giants, and bioengineered species--formerly extinct--roam free. Ana is one of seven Fantasists, beautiful "princesses" engineered to make dreams come true. When she meets park employee Owen, Ana begins to experience emotions beyond her programming including, for the first time... love. But the fairytale becomes a nightmare when Ana is accused of murdering Owen, igniting the trial of the century. Through courtroom testimony, interviews, and Ana's memories of Owen, emerges a tale of love, lies, and cruelty--and what it truly means to be human.

These Witches Don’t Burn by Isabel Sterling Release: May 28

Hannah's a witch, but not the kind you're thinking of. She's the real deal, an Elemental with the power to control fire, earth, water, and air. But even though she lives in Salem, Massachusetts, her magic is a secret she has to keep to herself. If she's ever caught using it in front of a Reg, she could lose it. For good. So, Hannah spends most of her time avoiding her ex-girlfriend (and fellow Elemental Witch) Veronica, hanging out with her best friend, and working at the Fly by Night Cauldron selling candles and crystals to tourists, goths, and local Wiccans. But dealing with her ex is the least of Hannah's concerns when a terrifying blood ritual interrupts the end-of-school-year bonfire. Evidence of dark magic begins to appear all over Salem, and Hannah's sure it's the work of a deadly Blood Witch. The issue is, her coven is less than convinced, forcing Hannah to team up with the last person she wants to see: Veronica. While the pair attempt to smoke out the Blood Witch at a house party, Hannah meets Morgan, a cute new ballerina in town. But trying to date amid a supernatural crisis is easier said than done, and Hannah will have to test the limits of her power if she's going to save her coven and get the girl, especially when the attacks on Salem's witches become deadlier by the day.

The Beholder by Anna Bright Release: June 4

Selah has waited her whole life for a happily ever after. As the only daughter of the leader of Potomac, she knows her duty is to find the perfect match, a partner who will help secure the future of her people. Now that day has finally come. But after an excruciatingly public rejection from her closest childhood friend, Selah’s stepmother suggests an unthinkable solution: Selah must set sail across the Atlantic, where a series of potential suitors awaits—and if she doesn’t come home engaged, she shouldn’t come home at all.

Five Midnights by Ann Davila Cardinal Release: June 4

If Lupe Dávila and Javier Utierre can survive each other’s company, together they can solve a series of grisly murders sweeping though Puerto Rico. But the clues lead them out of the real world and into the realm of myths and legends. And if they want to catch the killer, they'll have to step into the shadows to see what's lurking there—murderer, or monster?

If It Makes You Happy by Claire Kann Release: June 4

High school finally behind her, Winnie is all set to attend college in the fall. But first she's spending her summer days working at her granny’s diner and begins spending her midnights with Dallas—the boy she loves to hate and hates that she likes. Winnie lives in Misty Haven, a small town where secrets are impossible to keep—like when Winnie allegedly snaps on Dr. Skinner, which results in everyone feeling compelled to give her weight loss advice for her own good. Because they care that’s she’s “too fat.” Winnie dreams of someday inheriting the diner—but it'll go away if they can't make money, and fast. Winnie has a solution—win a televised cooking competition and make bank. But Granny doesn't want her to enter—so Winnie has to find a way around her formidable grandmother. Can she come out on top?

Like a Love Story by Abdi Nazemian Release: June 4

It's 1989 in New York City, and for three teens, the world is changing. Reza is an Iranian boy who has just moved to the city with his mother to live with his stepfather and stepbrother. He's terrified that someone will guess the truth he can barely acknowledge about himself. Reza knows he's gay, but all he knows of gay life are the media's images of men dying of AIDS. Judy is an aspiring fashion designer who worships her uncle Stephen, a gay man with AIDS who devotes his time to activism as a member of ACT UP. Judy has never imagined finding romance...until she falls for Reza and they start dating. Art is Judy's best friend, their school's only out and proud teen. He'll never be who his conservative parents want him to be, so he rebels by documenting the AIDS crisis through his photographs. As Reza and Art grow closer, Reza struggles to find a way out of his deception that won't break Judy's heart--and destroy the most meaningful friendship he's ever known.

When the Ground is Hard by Malla Nunn Release: June 4

Adele Joubert loves being one of the popular girls at Keziah Christian Academy. She knows the upcoming semester at school is going to be great with her best friend Delia at her side. Then Delia dumps her for a new girl with more money, and Adele is forced to share a room with Lottie, the school pariah, who doesn't pray and defies teachers' orders. But as they share a copy of Jane Eyre, Lottie's gruff exterior and honesty grow on Adele, and Lottie learns to be a little sweeter. Together, they take on bullies and protect each other from the vindictive and prejudiced teachers. Then a boy goes missing on campus and Adele and Lottie must rely on each other to solve the mystery and maybe learn the true meaning of friendship.

Stronger Than a Bronze Dragon by Mary Fan Release: June 11

When a powerful viceroy arrives with a fleet of mechanical dragons and stops an attack on Anlei’s village, the villagers see him as a godsend. They agree to give him their sacred, enchanted River Pearl in exchange for permanent protection—if he’ll marry one of the village girls to solidify the alliance. Anlei is appalled when the viceroy selects her as a bride, but with the fate of her people at stake, she sees no choice but to consent. Anlei’s noble plans are sent into a tailspin, however, when a young thief steals the River Pearl for himself. Knowing the viceroy won’t protect her village without the jewel, she takes matters into her own hands. But once she catches the thief, she discovers he needs the pearl just as much as she does. The two embark on an epic quest across the land and into the Courts of Hell, taking Anlei on a journey that reveals more is at stake than she could have ever imagined.

The Grief Keeper by Alexandra Villasante Release: June 11

Seventeen-year-old Marisol has always dreamed of being American, learning what Americans and the US are like from television and Mrs. Rosen, an elderly expat who had employed Marisol's mother as a maid. She never pictured fleeing her home in El Salvador under threat of death and stealing across the US border as "an illegal", but after her brother is murdered and her younger sister, Gabi's, life is also placed in equal jeopardy, she has no choice, especially because she knows everything is her fault. If she had never fallen for the charms of a beautiful girl named Liliana, Pablo might still be alive, her mother wouldn't be in hiding and she and Gabi wouldn't have been caught crossing the border. But they have been caught and their asylum request will most certainly be denied. With truly no options remaining, Marisol jumps at an unusual opportunity to stay in the United States. She's asked to become a grief keeper, taking the grief of another into her own body to save a life. It's a risky, experimental study, but if it means Marisol can keep her sister safe, she will risk anything. She just never imagined one of the risks would be falling in love, a love that may even be powerful enough to finally help her face her own crushing grief.

All of Us with Wings by Michelle Ruiz Kiel Release: June 18

Seventeen-year-old Xochi is alone in San Francisco, running from her painful past: the mother who abandoned her, the man who betrayed her. Then one day, she meets Pallas, a precocious twelve-year-old who lives with her rockstar family in one of the city’s storybook Victorians. Xochi accepts a position as Pallas’s live-in governess and quickly finds her place in their household, which is relaxed and happy despite the band's larger-than-life fame. But on the night of the Vernal Equinox, as a concert afterparty rages in the house below, Xochi and Pallas accidentally summon a pair of ancient creatures devoted to avenging the wrongs of Xochi’s adolescence. She would do anything to preserve her new life, but with the creatures determined to exact vengeance on those who’ve hurt her, no one is safe—not the family she’s chosen, nor the one she left behind.

Patron Saint of Nobody by Randy Ribay Release: June 18

Jay Reguero plans to spend the last semester of his senior year playing video games before heading to the University of Michigan in the fall. But when he discovers that his Filipino cousin Jun was murdered as part of President Duterte's war on drugs, and no one in the family wants to talk about what happened, Jay travels to the Philippines to find out the real story. Hoping to uncover more about Jun and the events that led to his death, Jay is forced to reckon with the many sides of his cousin before he can face the whole horrible truth -- and the part he played in it.

Tell Me How You Really Feel by Aminah Mae Safi Release: June 18

Sana Khan is a cheerleader and a straight A student. She's the classic (somewhat obnoxious) overachiever determined to win. Rachel Recht is a wannabe director who's obsesssed with movies and ready to make her own masterpiece. As she's casting her senior film project, she knows she's found the perfect lead - Sana. There's only one problem. Rachel hates Sana. Rachel was the first girl Sana ever asked out, but Rachel thought it was a cruel prank and has detested Sana ever since.

Wicked Fox by Kat Cho Release: June 25

Eighteen-year-old Gu Miyoung has a secret--she's a gumiho, a nine-tailed fox who must devour the energy of men in order to survive. Because so few believe in the old tales anymore, and with so many evil men no one will miss, the modern city of Seoul is the perfect place to hide and hunt. But after feeding one full moon, Miyoung crosses paths with Jihoon, a human boy, being attacked by a goblin deep in the forest. Against her better judgment, she violates the rules of survival to rescue the boy, losing her fox bead--her gumiho soul--in the process. Jihoon knows Miyoung is more than just a beautiful girl--he saw her nine tails the night she saved his life. His grandmother used to tell him stories of the gumiho, of their power and the danger they pose to humans. He's drawn to her anyway. With murderous forces lurking in the background, Miyoung and Jihoon develop a tenuous friendship that blossoms into something more. But when a young shaman tries to reunite Miyoung with her bead, the consequences are disastrous . . . forcing Miyoung to choose between her immortal life and Jihoon's.

Technically, You Started It by Lana Wood Johnson Release: June 25

When a guy named Martin Nathaniel Munroe II texts you, it should be obvious who you're talking to. Except there's two of them (it's a long story), and Haley thinks she's talking to the one she doesn't hate. A question about a class project rapidly evolves into an all-consuming conversation. Haley finds that Martin is actually willing to listen to her weird facts and unusual obsessions, and Martin feels like Haley is the first person to really see who he is. Haley and Martin might be too awkward to hang out in real life, but over text, they're becoming addicted to each other. There's just one problem: Haley doesn't know who Martin is. And Martin doesn't know that Haley doesn't know. But they better figure it out fast before their meet-cute becomes an epic meet-disaster . . .

The Virtue of Sin by Shannon Schuren Release: June 25

Miriam lives in New Jerusalem, a haven in the desert far away from the sins and depravity of the outside world. Within the gates of New Jerusalem, and under the eye of its founder and leader, Daniel, Miriam knows she is safe. Cared for. Even if she’s forced, as a girl, to quiet her tongue when she has thoughts she wants to share, Miriam knows that New Jerusalem is a far better life than any alternative. So when God calls for a Matrimony, she’s thrilled; she knows that Caleb, the boy she loves, will choose her to be his wife and they can finally start their life together.  But when the ceremony goes wrong and Miriam winds up with someone else, she can no longer keep quiet. For the first time, Miriam begins to question not only the rules that Daniel has set in place, but also what it is she believes in, and where she truly belongs.

[adashofstarshine]

🥀 Has your OC ever been hurt by someone they love? Ever been betrayed? Abused? Attacked? Give me the angst! (if you’d like, write a short drabble about it!)

Short answer - yes.

The rest is under this cut with trigger warnings for child abuse, and in a different situation, dubious consent.

Niki has a deeply-ingrained fight or flight response to even thinking about his parents. He spent the first eighty-five years of his life growing up in a Selesnyan vernadi. His parents were both Hierarchs - second in command to the dryad who ran the settlement. Because their dryad was very absent-minded and frequently wandered off to Vitu Ghazi, the Hierarchs were left in charge. 

This is what Niki’s parents wanted. Both extremely ambitious, they have their eyes set on the position of Dignitary - akin to high ranking Selesnyans like Emmara Tandris who work in their guildhall. Both from well-regarded historical elven families, Niki’s parents married out of joint goals, not out of love, which did not set them up to be good parents either. Niki’s mother Zahra, has a famously explosive temper that made people afraid to approach her. His father, Eugen, has a strategic mind, and though he lacks empathy, is seen as the more reasonable of the two, so became the authoritative face of the vernadi.

Zahra and Eugen met with Trostani once and since then have been determined to rise to the ranks of Dignitary by any means. This involved portraying the ideal Selesnyan family by having a talented obedient child who would devote themselves to the teachings of Mat Selesnya. Whilst they wanted a child, they didn’t want to raise a child. As a baby, Niki had a nanny, but having a governess for your child as they got older wasn’t the ideal. As soon as he was too old for a nanny, his parents put Niki on a strict routine of tutors, so they didn’t have to occupy him during the day. This started off Niki’s long history of gymnastics, acrobatics, music and dance. 

However Niki couldn’t be with a tutor all the time. His parents wanted results, the image of a perfect family, but didn’t want to spend the time crafting that. So they opted to ‘fast track’ their parenting by giving Niki (named Nikolai at this point) quick lessons. This was more akin to badly training a pet rather than raising a child. These included:

Knocking/Tripping him over if he walked/ran too fast in a corridor.

Hitting him if he broke something. (To give him the idea that if he damaged an object, he too would get damaged.)

Smacking him if he didn’t correctly use please/thank you, and other manners such as wiping his feet or making his bed.

Taking away or denying meals if Niki didn’t want to eat something, or was eating it incorrectly (not with a knife and fork.)

As he got older, and learned to stay out of striking range, Niki’s punishments became a lot more food-focused. Any wrong-doing would mean a denied meal - be it scoring badly in a test, being late for a meeting, or waking someone up with a nightmare. This resulted in periods where Niki couldn’t complete his physical training due to lack of energy, but would in turn be denied food, and then fail his training again in a vicious cycle. By that point, a tutor would feed him or he’d become so ill he’d have to be fed. 

Needless to say, this is where Niki’s odd habits with food came from.

The purpose of training him with gymnastics, acrobatics and dance was to have an impressive source of entertainment for visiting dignitaries. It would look very good on Niki’s parents for them to have raised their son to be completely devoted to Mat’Selesnya. And for him to show this dedication in fantastic displays of skill. When Niki started performing, he soon realised that was his only source of positive reinforcement. He revelled it until his teens, when he realised the compliments were not focused at him, but at his parents for raising him, and at his vernadi for having him. He tried not to let this bother him, but by the time he got to his late twenties, he desperately wanted the attention and praise he was owed. He started to ask questions, seek individual praise, which infuriated his parents and had him confined to his room with no meals until he grovelled an apologies. Which he always did, scared and hungry.

In his forties, he ended up running an errand for one of his tutors and there encountered another elf his age, who recognised him from his performances. The elf praised him and asked if he wanted to hang out later. Niki was sure that wasn’t allowed but nevertheless went to meet the elf in Hazelnut Passage. Though they just went to a cafe, learning about Hazelnut Passage was an eye-opening experience for Niki. He was famous enough for being the Hierach’s son, and so many in his vernadi had seen his performances. His first kiss happened in that tiny cafe a few months later, what started as solo performances for admirers turned into making out in alleys and being taught to give blowjobs - for which Niki turned to be very good. Thus started Niki’s reign as the uncrowned king of Hazelnut Passage - exchanging kisses or sexual favours for food, goods or services. 

As soon as his parents found out, he was in the worst trouble yet. He woke up in bed not remembering the beating at all but clearly bruised and feeling its effects. His parents denied it ever happening but Niki had realised that he could trust nothing that came out of their mouths. From that moment he started to purposefully act out, no sneaking around. He would take each beating if it meant he could have fun beforehand.

Pain and Joy are so intertwined with Niki, that he finds it hard to seperate one from the other. If he’s happy he expects to be hurt for it at some point, as if the scales needs to be balanced out. Had a nice evening? Get no breakfast. Did a good show? Push through a ankle injury. Have the best night of your life? Almost get murdered the following morning. To him it makes sense. 

By the time Niki had the courage to leave, he ran straight into the arms of someone who wanted to murder him. Dorian was a dream come true to him, not only pointing him in the direction of a new life, but being affectionate, supportative and everything he’d lacked over the last 85 years. Dorian drugged him, though the drugs were designed for humans and therefore didn’t take as much effect, and then tried to murder him with extremely violent sex.  However Niki had a wonderful evening beforehand, so waking up to agonising pain, just seems right to him, like paying the bill after a wonderful meal

Niki has learned to question his feelings for Dorian over the years. He is still attracted to him. He would very much like to punish him for trying to kill him. However what he hasn’t decided on, is how permanent that punishment will be? Could he sleep with him and kill him? Would that make Niki any better than Dorian though? Could he try controlling Dorian, tear him down and make him suffer, and then keep him as a pet? Would that work? Should he avenge the countless others Dorian has killed and just rid the world of the guy? He can’t decide because Dorian showed him affection. 

How could he cope with someone who shows him affection but doesn’t hurt him after? Niki would struggle to believe it, and perhaps try to work out the catch. However he’d mostly be over the moon and incredibly smitten.