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samsexualdeancurious · 4 years ago

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Need a Hero

Pairing: Bucky x Reader

Words: 1,405

Summary: Y/N's date goes poorly and Bucky is there to help

Warnings: implied misogynistic language, emotional hurt/comfort

A/N: Written for Marisa for her March 2020 request. Prompt is bolded.

Betaed by @saxxxology and @manawhaat

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“How do I look?”

Bucky glances up from his book to see Y/N standing in the entrance to the hallway. She’s gotten herself all dolled up in a simple red dress with a pattern of little white flowers, a modest v-neckline, and delicately puffed sleeves. Her hair is perfectly styled, every curl in place, and her makeup is flawless. She does a little spin for him, skirt swirling around her legs, lifting just enough to flash some of her upper thigh.

“You look lovely,” he tells her honestly. “Where are you going?”

“I have a date,” she proclaims, bouncing across the room to sit beside him on the couch. “Martin, the butcher’s son, offered to take me out for dinner and dancing.”

“I thought we were having dinner,” Bucky says, trying to hide his disappointment.

“Sorry, Buck.” She pats his hand soothingly. “Tomorrow?”

He nods. She smiles brightly and that alone seems to make everything better.

“Martin had better treat you right,” he says.

“Or what?” she teases. “You’ll take him out back and teach him a lesson?”

“Exactly.” Bucky’s tone is serious and Y/N sobers up in response. “You’ll tell me if he tries anything?” His sincerity heats her blood a little and she can’t help the response.

“I will,” she promises as calmly as she can muster. “You don’t have to worry, though. Everyone knows about the big scary soldier who sleeps in my spare room.”

She nudges his arm with her shoulder and he chuckles. Someone knocks on the door then and Y/N leaps to her feet.

“That’s probably him,” she says as Bucky also stands. “Now you’re going to be on your best behavior, right?”

“I’ll do my best.”

She eyes him a moment before crossing the room to open the door. Martin is a big man with a grave expression that lightens when he sees Y/N. He’s dressed in a clean shirt and pants and carries a small bunch of flowers.

“Hello,” he says, offering the flowers. “I picked these for you.”

“Oh, they’re lovely!” Y/N coos, accepting the buds. She strokes the small petals with her fingertips and gives him a wide smile. “Thank you, Martin. I love them. Let me put them in water and then we can be on our way.”

As she passes Bucky on her way to the kitchen, she shoots him a pointed look - behave.

Bucky sets his jaw, eyeing the man still standing in the doorway. Martin hasn’t been invited in and so he’s still in the hall outside the apartment, which is a point in his favor. Martin meets Bucky’s steady gaze and shifts nervously - he’s bigger than Bucky, but they both know who would win in a fight.

Y/N reenters the living room a few moments later, glancing between them before moving to Martin's side.

"I'm ready to go when you are," she chirps, shooting Bucky another, not so subtle, pointed look.

Martin nods and offers her his arm, which she takes with a shining smile.

"Don't stay out too late," Bucky calls as Y/N starts to close the front door. All he gets in response is a jaunty little wave.

The apartment is always so quiet without Y/N in it. She's constantly making noise, singing and talking to inanimate objects and making little comments about anything on her mind. He doesn't like when she's gone. The quiet is oppressive, heavy on his chest and mind. Without something to fill the void, without her voice in his ears, his thoughts wander too easily, and he often finds them heading down paths he'd rather not tread. Y/N is always good at sensing when the war is catching up with him, and she's even better drawing him back to the present with a soft touch or word.

He always forgets how much he relies on her until she's not there.

Bucky spends most of the evening on the couch, jumping between his book and flipping through various stations on their old radio. Songs and sports announcers help fill the silence but it's not quite enough to put him at ease. War is unforgettable and changes a man, even one like Bucky. He manages to keep his mind out of dark places but he does wind up so deep in his thoughts that he has no clue how much time has passed when the phone rings.

"Hello?"

There's a moment of silence on the other end and then he hears a quiet sniffle.

"Y/N?" he asks, already moving as far as the cord reaches to pull on his shoes.

"Bucky." Her voice is barely more than a whisper but it cuts through him like a knife.

"Where are you?"

She sniffs again and then gives him the address of one of the seedier dance halls. Of course Martin would take her there. Bucky soothes her with some reassuring words and promises to be there as soon as he can before hanging up and running out the door.

He finds Y/N in a phone booth across the street from the dance hall. She looks physically fine, besides her tear swollen eyes and smeared makeup. When she sees Bucky, she throws open the narrow door and falls into his arms with a sob.

"Hey, hey," he murmurs, holding her close. "I gotcha, doll. C'mon, let's get you home."

Y/N looks so small, curled up on the couch in her pjs and bare feet. She's washed her face and let down her hair, and she gives Bucky a watery smile when he offers up a steaming mug of her favorite peppermint tea. She curls her fingers around it with a sigh, breathing in the fresh aroma.

Bucky settles on the other end of the couch. She clung to him the whole walk home but he's still careful not to get too close without her permission. She's clearly still shaken by whatever that bastard put her through.

"Do you want to tell me what happened?" Bucky gently prompts.

She shrugs, staring down at her mug.

"You don't have to," he continues. "But if that piece of shit laid a hand on you-"

"He didn't," Y/N interrupts. "He wanted to but I wouldn't let him and then he said some things. About… about how it's not fair that I'll put out for all the other men who take me dancing but I won't put out for him. But I've never done anything like that, you know I haven't. And even if I did what's the harm, right?"

Bucky nods.

"I told him I didn't and he laughed and called me a… a… you know. And then he tried to grab me and I ran."

She's on the verge of tears again and Bucky's heart twists in his chest. He reaches a hand out and she takes it, pulling him closer so she can lean into his chest. Bucky wraps his arms around her, rubbing circles on her back. She acts tough but she's still so soft inside and Bucky hates that someone hurt her like this.

"Martin is an ass," Bucky says bluntly.

Y/N lets out a small laugh and smacks his chest lightly. "You have such a way with words."

Bucky grins and gives her a squeeze. They stay like that until her eyelids start to droop and she's in danger of dropping her tea. Bucky becomes a hero for the second time that night when he rescues the mug from her hands and shifts to let her lie down on the couch with her head pillowed on his thigh. He grabs the throw blanket draped over the back of the couch to cover her with and she snuggles in with a soft hum.

"Stay with me?" she whispers, fingers tracing a sleepy pattern on the side of his leg.

"Of course." He adjusts the blanket, tucking her in. "That's what friends are for, right?"

"We're not just friends and you fucking know it," she mumbles wearily.

Bucky opens his mouth to respond to that but before he can, he realizes she's fallen asleep. Warmth swells in his chest and he settles in for a long night. His neck is going to hate him come morning and he knows they're going to have to have another talk, this time about themselves, but for now, he's more than happy to just be here for her.

---

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Team Forever: @mrswhozeewhatsis @laughing-at-the-darkness @tumbler-tidbits @imsuperawkward @emoryhemsworth

#bucky x reader #marvel fanfic #my writing

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katehuntington · 6 years ago

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Title: All I Want - part two Fandom: Supernatural Characters: Reader, Dean Winchester, Sam Winchester Pairing: Dean x Reader Series summary: Sam and Dean come across an object that could be the solution to Michael. The Pearl of Baozhu grants the beholder’s deepest desire. Once Dean focuses on his wish, the archangel remains caged in his mind however. Instead his former girlfriend Y/N shows up, who was killed in 2010 in Detroit, by no other than Lucifer himself. Summary part two: After another horrific nightmare, Dean joins his brother in search for an answer to take down Michael. They strike gold when they find the Baozhu, but Dean’s wish doesn’t ban the Archangel from his mind. Instead he reunites with the one person he never thought he’d see again. Warnings part two: NSFW, 18+ only. Spoilers season 14 episode 13. Angst, fluff-ish. Nightmares, descriptions of flashbacks, mentions of major character death, anxiety, grieving over lost loved one, swearing, alcohol consumption. All the tears. Word Count: 4019 words Author’s note: Part two of a multi part miniseries, based on the 300th episode “Lebanon”. Prepare for major angst, heartwarming reunions and heartbreaking goodbyes. Beta’d by the lovely @kittenofdoomage and @coffee-obsessed-writer, thank you so much for your feedback!

All I Want Masterlist

February 7th, 2019 Lebanon, Kansas

A rigid gasp for air ends Dean’s tormenting dream. He bolts up in bed, sheets and yesterday’s clothes clinging to the cold sweat that covers every square inch of his skin. His heart is racing as if he just ran up ten flights of stairs, shivers wrecking his body. Eyes wide open he stares at the opposite wall, trying to calm himself by focusing on his breathing. It’s not real, Dean. Not yet. Not now.

The splitting headache that has haunted him ever since he locked Michael in that coolcell far in the back of his mind, pushes itself to the front, pounding behind his eyes in the rhythm of the archangel’s fists on the door. The hunter breathes in deeply and exhales, letting the air flow from his lips. He’s not in the box, he’s not drowning like he was a second ago, and although he knows it is written in Billie’s book that this will be how he will meet his end, he has to hold on to the present. Dean sighs and closes his eyes. I’m in control.

A knock on furnished wood draws his gaze towards his bedroom door, finding the tall silhouet of his brother, carefully pushing it open. Faint yellow light from the hallway reaches into room number eleven, illuminating only one side of Sam’s face, but it’s enough for Dean to make out the worried expression in his features. “Did I wake you?” Sam asks hesitantly. But the oldest of the Winchester brothers shakes his head, rubs his eyes and glances aside at his alarm clock. Not even 3 ‘o clock, so that gives him… two and a half hours of sleep? If you can call back to back nightmares sleep, anyway. Then Dean notices the scratches on the wall next to his bed, traces of crimson in the concrete. When he checks his right hand, he finds his fingertips bloody, his nails scraped away to the flesh.

The hunter shifts his gaze back to Sam, who honestly doesn’t look like his night was any better. “What are you doing up?”, he wonders. “Cataloging Bart Kemp’s stuff. Thought I might find something that could help us out. He owned a ton of occult objects,” Sam asserts. “Need a hand?” Dean shifts, flopping his legs over the side. Sam frowns at that. Dean who wants to catalog hundreds of ancient items? That’s a new one. “Sure you don’t wanna get some rest?” Sam returns doubtfully, watching how his brother straps on his boots. “Nah, I’m good. Can’t sleep anyway.” He gets up and runs his fingers through his hair, smoothening it out.

Avoiding his little brother’s concern, he pushes himself past Sam in the doorway, awkward unspoken words hovering between then. He can feel the tall hunter’s eyes, fixed to unravel what Dean is desperately trying to hide. Endless nights of terror as Michael wreaks havoc in his mind. Reliving the worst moments of his life and experiencing the new definition of hell that is yet to come. Trapped in the Ma’lak Box, screaming for help, for his brother, for Y/N, as he tries to crawl his way out while the water seeps in.

As Dean enters the library with Sam on his tail, he grabs yesterday’s half a bottle of Jack Daniels from the table, unscrews the cap and takes a swig. His eyes roam over the collection of curse boxes, books and scattered notes, again ignoring the look his brother is throwing him. He has never shied away from liquor, but these days he fills more whiskey tumblers than coffee mugs. Self-medicating, he keeps telling himself. Anything to shut the tremors down. “So, what we got?” he wonders, trying to steer the attention away. “Dean...” “Don’t.”

With an agitated sigh the oldest of the two sits down, dismissing his brother’s attempt to start the conversation that he’s been trying to avoid for weeks. But for a short second, his mask wears thin. It confirms the worries that keep Sam up at night as well. Suddenly his brother seems older than forty, the age that the hunter miraculously reached last month. He’s much older when you count the decades he spent in Hell. Add the losses he suffered, the pain he’s been through, sleepless nights and tainted dreams; he’s an old soul, tired and worn. Keeping the Archangel on lock down is becoming more difficult with each day. Especially now that Michael is trying to break him by using the woman Dean lost his heart to. “I heard you,” Sam admits. “I’m pretty sure the entire bunker did.” Dean rolls his eyes slightly before looking away, opening his mouth to fire a second warning. But then Sam drops the bomb. “I heard you call out for Y/N, too.”

Y/N. The name of the woman Dean loved more than he ever thought he would be capable of, especially after all the horror he bared witness to. The name that’s never mentioned, not because she’s not worth to remember, but because even after all those years, he’s still afraid that touching that subject will wreck him the same way her death did.

His heart starts to physically hurt as pressure on his chest builds. Struggling to hide the discomfort from showing, Dean has another swig of whiskey. He can’t prevent his jaw from clenching as he swallows down the alcohol, allowing the strong after burn to distract him. He could blow up on Sam, remind him of the fact that last time when he brought her up, Dean threatened to break his little brother’s nose if he ever would speak of her again. But Dean doesn’t counter. He’s too tired to fight Sammy, too. “What do you want me to say, Sam?” Sam spreads out his arms and lets them fall against his side, despondency in his stance. “Anything!” he exclaims, his voice a little higher and a little louder than he anticipated. “Dean, I know nightmares come with the job, but this isn’t normal. Not even for us.”

“Of course it’s not normal, Sam! Having a fucking Archangel trapped in my head ain’t a typical day at the office either! Who do you think is causing these dreams, huh?” Dean snaps, looking Sam in the eye for the first time that night. Then he takes a breath and collects himself. Stop being an ass, Dean. Sammy’s just worried. “Michael is pulling out all the stops to crush me before we pin him down. Keeping me quiet by giving me what I wanted didn’t work, so now he’s doing the opposite,” he continues, much calmer now. “During the day I can handle him, but at night…”

Mixed feelings cause the hunter to pause. He doesn’t want to burden his little brother with the weight that comes with the knowledge. He’s troubled enough as it is, frantically trying to find another way to expel Michael and lock him away where he can’t hurt anyone else. Another option, a scenario that doesn’t include his big brother on the bottom of the ocean in the Malak’ Box. But God, Dean needs an outlet. “So this is his new approach? He shows you your darkest days?” Sam assumes, frowning empathetically. Dean averts his eyes back to the bottle, his fingers around the glass body. “On the big screen,” he confesses. “I’m not just watching, though.” “What you mean?” The younger Winchester has taken a seat, leaning his elbows on the rosewood surface as he leans over the table. “I’m not a witness,” Dean begins to explain. “Sometimes I’m under water, like I’m in the Box already. Other times I experience memories I wish I could forget, exactly the way it went down. It… It feels real. I’m there, in the moment, but I can’t stop it. I can’t change what I did or didn’t do.”

Sam runs his hand through his dark hair, feeling terrible that his big brother is forced to endure this every time he closes his eyes. His mind floats back to the moment earlier tonight, when Dean’s screams reached his hearing. His own name echoed through the hallways, but the chilling cry when he called out for her, will stay with him for a much longer time. “Dean, Y/N’s death was not your fault,” Sam tries to assure him. But Dean disagrees, shaking his head as he leans back in his seat. “I was supposed to protect her. She shouldn’t have been there with me, Sam.” “She was our back up.” “Yeah, and it got her killed.”

Dean swallows down another slug of Jack Daniels and sniffs when he lowers the bottle, having downed almost a quarter of it’s content already. He bites his bottom lip hard, tempted to draw blood as he thinks about that day in Detroit. He remembers the argument they had before entering the apartment building where Lucifer held up. She refused to let the brothers go in by themselves, claiming that they needed a third man in case the plan went south and there was no one to finalize the mission. She didn’t just wanted to be there for them, she wanted to be there for him. He was about to lose his little brother forever, and she wanted to catch him before he fell to his knees. Dean allowed it reluctantly, and minutes later her skull was crushed against the concrete, bringing her short but meaningful life to a screeching halt.

He was supposed to have her back that night. She was his girl. His girl he failed to save. And it’s not just Y/N who haunts him, because the son of God was right. His father, the Harvelles, Ash, Bobby, Pamela, Charlie, Kevin… The list goes on. All perished either because they gave their life for the Winchesters, or because they got caught in the crossfire. That’s on him. Every loved one he ever lost lost, they are all casualties he blames himself for. He doesn’t need an Archangel to remind him of his wrongs.

Dean rises to his feet and pushes his chair back, its legs drawing such a loud screech from the smooth furnished floor, that Sam startles. Both were lost in thought for a moment, until the oldest of the two snaps out of it and decides that it’s time to get to work. “Let’s not dwell on the fact that Michael is making my time in Hell look like Disney World. As long as I’m still sane, I much rather spend my night finding a way to end him.” He frowns at his little brother, his mask back on. “What do we got?” The younger Winchester gathers his thoughts and shifts some notes aside. “Well, uh - amongst all this there are a few artifacts that could be interesting. One of them is called the Pearl of Baozhu. It’s one of the eight ancient Chinese treasures.” “What does it do?” Dean wonders. “It grants wishes. Technically it’s supposed to give you ‘what your truly heart desires’.” Hopeful Sam looks up to the hunter at the head of the table, who shrugs and seems to consider it. “That would be Michael out of my head,” he concludes. “Exactly.” Dean takes a look around at the stack of boxes. “So you’re telling me that the answer to our problems is sittin’ somewhere in this pile of shit?” “Better start digging,” Sam suggests, pushing a box in his direction.

Serenity lingers in the bunker in the early hours of a new day. The table lamps spread their light over the surface underneath, their rays warm and gentle for tired eyes. Dean is surrounded by several boxes and books, going through a journal while leaning back in his chair and with his ankles crossed, somewhat more relaxed now that he contributes to something useful. He’s nursing his whiskey, kept busy in search for a clue in order to find the Pearl. It’s a few minutes past five in the morning, when Sam opens his third box of the night and reveals a small bag, the silk fabric tied together with a yellow cord. Curiously Sam takes it out and loosens the tie, unfolding a little red cushion, on which a perfect round shape rests. “Dean.” “Hm?” His brother doesn’t look up immediately, biting the end of pen as he scans through Bart Kemp’s notes. “I think this is it,” Sam states, looking down at the tiny object that could be the solution to everything. Now he does captures Dean’s attention, his green eyes darting up from sloppy handwriting to the little white ball. “That’s the Pearl?” he checks, for some reason expecting something so powerful to be bigger. Sam nods, hope pulling at the corner of his mouth. Intrigued Dean rises to his feet and circles the table, his eyes fixed on the powerful artifact. “Let’s do it.” “Are you sure you don’t want to call Mom, or wait for Cas?”, his brother suggests, somewhat anxiously. “No,” Dean dismisses, taking the unfolded red cushion in both hands gingerly. ‘If this mojo works like you say; great. If not; why get their hopes up?”

Sam holds his brother’s gaze for a moment, wondering if that’s all there is to Dean’s eagerness, or that the real reason why he’s jumping the gun, is his desperation for expelling the Archangel from the Alcatraz that is his mind. Deciding that this is not the time to test that theory, he agrees. “Okay, so…” Dean reaches for the Baozhu, not sure if he can touch it without consequence. “What do I do?” “I don’t know.” The younger brother shrugs hesitantly. “I… I guess you hold the pearl and concentrates on what your heart desires?” “Michael out of my head.” The man holding the Pearl imprints the sentence into his brain, while Sam shoots his sibling a short glare, as if just stated the obvious. “Got it,” Dean reassures, just a little too quickly.

To Sammy it might seem cut and dry, but the man who is about to make a wish isn’t so sure. He could think of a list of things he would want differently. What would the world look like if the Yellow Eyed Demon hadn’t come after his family? If all evil would disappear from the face of the earth, just like that? Would Mom have raised her sons to have a normal childhood? Would his father still be around? Would Cas have descended from Heaven? Would Dean’s path crossed Y/N’s? Would she be alive?

Dean regains his focus, picks up the little white ball from the cushion and holds it between his thumb and his index finger. Michael out of my head. That’s all he needs to keep in mind. Right now, that is all he wants. Before he rolls the Baozhu into the palm of his hand, the brothers exchange one last look, but then Dean encloses his fingers around the tiny treasure with such great power, and shuts his eyes. With furrowed brow Dean concentrates.

It only takes a few seconds before an eerie electric static reaches his hearing, triggering him to look up. The wall lamps in the library flicker violently, until the power shortage causes the back up generators to start running. All secondary equipment is switched off and the emergency lights come on, draping the Winchesters in a red gleam. Sam observes his surroundings allerted, his eyes adjusting to the sudden darkness. Cautiously the men try to pick up on even the slightest movement or sound, their senses heightened, driven by instinct.

Then they hear footsteps. Sam pulls his gun from behind his waistband in a split second, aiming at the central War room. His brother isn’t as quick on the draw, though, a hint of familiarity in the way the boots sound on the marble floors slowing him down. “Dean? Sam?”

Right there and then, Dean’s heart stops. He knows that voice, he’d recognize it anywhere. Soft and clear, just like he remembers, just like he dreamed. Shell shocked he stares down at the other room, where a silhouette appears from around the corner. Now he inhales sharply, wide eyes fixed on the figure approaching. No way… It can’t be.

The power switches back on, the ominous red emergency rays replaced with warm bright light. It reveals Dean’s careful suspicion and it knocks the air out of his lungs. He must be dreaming again. That, or he’s having a hallucination. It wouldn’t be far fetched, sleep deprivation and alcohol consumption considered. But when he steals a glance at Sam, he sees the same shocked expression while his brother slowly lowers his gun. “Y/N?” he stammers.

She walks up the steps and halts under the arched entrance to the library, a little out of breath after her run down the hallways of this immense place. She glances from one Winchester brother to the other, her wild eyes leaving Dean for a second as she looks around at the impressive library. She doesn’t recognize the place, but despite the brick walls and lack of windows, it feels welcoming and safe. Wait, is that a telescope? “What in the Hell? Where the fuck are we?” she wonders, returning her gaze to Sam. “And what happened to you guys? You both look like you aged a decade overnight.”

Sam lets the air flow from his lips with a short huff, not sure if she’s trying to be funny or doesn’t have a clue what is going on. It’s so unmistakably her, though. The wit, the way she lights the room, a carelessness in her stroll as she enters the library. This is, without a shadow of a doubt, his friend, the closest he ever had to a sister. He can’t take his eyes off her, and he’s not the only one. It doesn’t go unnoticed, because Y/N bounces her focus between the boys, frowning at the evident shock on their faces.

“W- why are you looking at me like that?” Uncomfortably she rubs her arm, her gaze now fixed on Dean.

Unable to answer, he dumbfoundedly stares, his mouth agape. A mix of disbelief and astonishment has the hunter frozen on the spot, something that rarely ever happens to him. In his nightmares the Ma’lek Box would slowly fill up, until he drowned. In reality it’s his emotions that overflow the walls of his mind, the waterline rising until it reaches his eyes. Mystic green shimmers, his vision fogging, but he still sees her. He still sees the woman he lost, yet never stopped loving.

Finally he’s able to move, stepping forward tentatively. With each step, Dean gets a little braver and closes the gap between them. When she’s at arm’s length, he stops, frantic eyes darting to take in every feature he never wants to forget. Afraid to burst the bubble, he slowly lifts his hand to her face. What if he touches her and she turns out to be nothing more than a mirage? An apparition of his hopes and dreams, crumbling to dust once he gets too close? Michael has played these kind of mind games before and it wrecked the broken hunter every time his fairytale world fell apart. But like he has done all those times, he reaches for her anyway, because what if this time, it is real?

His fingertips brush her soft skin, sending a shiver down her spine. Overcome by both love and fear that speak from his watering eyes, she returns a worried gaze. Not daring to speak, she keeps looking at Dean as he cups her face, brushing a messy strand away with his thumb. It’s clear as day that the connection moves the person who has such an important part in her life.

Feeling her under his touch, being able to connect with her when he thought he would never be able to again, it’s too much. He swallows down the lump that creeps up his throat, tears threatening to breach the walls. She’s here. Fuck, she’s really here.

Dean takes a final step towards the woman of his dreams while he pulls her in and, without wasting another second, he does what he has been longing for ever since her shattering death. He presses his lips to hers, kissing her with everything he has. For a short second he feels her tense against him, but then she slips her hands around his forearms and she answers him, melting into the kiss. The man who regained what he had lost can’t help the tremble in his breath, can’t stop the teardrops from rolling down his cheek. He doesn’t care about showing vulnerability, because finally… finally he got her back.

They part and she opens her beautiful eyes, confounded by his actions. A small yet genuine smile forms, breaking the shimmering paths of sorrow that came down his cheeks. Then the hunter pulls her in a tight hug, burying his face in her hair. Her heart beats against his chest rapidly and he can smell the shampoo she always used, feel the warmth she’s radiating. Memories roll into shore and the tough hunter holds back a sob. Noticing his distress, Y/N folds her arms around his back, giving him a squeeze that calms him down like only she could. God, does this feel good. She came back to him. It’s then and there that me makes himself a promise. I’m never gonna let this go.

“Dean, you’re scaring me,” Y/N whimpers after a while. The older Winchester brother snaps out of it and loosens his grip on her, distancing himself from her slightly, now that he realizes he lost track of time for a moment. He struggles to man up and shoots her another reassuring smile, not wanting to upset her. “I’m sorry,” he utters, his voice raw and on the verge of breaking. “It’s just… It’s really good to see you after all this time.” Puzzled she looks at him, not sure what he means by that. “What are you talking about? I saw you last night.”

Dean narrows his eyes at her in confusion. She saw him last night? How is that even possible? She’s been gone for nine years! “What day is it?” It’s Sam who asks, drawing both their attention. Y/N looks aside, then averts her eyes as she thinks. Monday, or is it Tuesday? As a hunter, there is no routine. Nights last long and days fly by, blending together endlessly. She forgets what part of the week it is all the time, nothing new there. Home Depot was closed when she went out to pick up a few errands yesterday; that makes it Sunday. Which makes today... “Monday,” she decides. Sam motions her to continue. “Monday, October 20th,” she adds. “2008.”

Stunned both boys look at her, the youngest of the brothers letting out a sigh now that his suspicion has been confirmed. “Y/N, it’s 2019,” Dean informs, his voice soft to cushion the blow. She cocks her head back at him, staring into his green eyes. Then she chuckles, shaking her head. She scoffs. “No, c’mon, guys. That’s… that’s insane.” But when both men keep a straight face that doesn’t in the slightest suggest that this is a joke, the grin on her lips fades. Unable to grasp what is happening, she takes a step back.

“How?” She questions firmly after a long silence, an uneasiness oozing through her veins. “I think we - uh…” Sam stammers, not sure if he believes it himself. “I think we summoned you.” Large eyes bore into him, then shift back to Dean, who watches empathetically how she struggles to process the information. Her gaze drifts off to nothing in particular, going over their words. This isn’t happening. This is fucking insane. Last week they wrapped up a hunt in Pennsylvania during Oktoberfest that involved a shapeshifter with a fetish for old school monster movies. That was enough crazy for one week, if you ask her. And now they are telling her that she was fast forwarded eleven years in time? “You boys better tell me what the fuck is going on,” she demands. “Right now.”

Holy shit! That was a ride, wasn’t it? Stay tuned for part 3, I hope to finish it soon. Meanwhile, don’t hesitate to let me know what you think so far!

Read part three here

‘All I Want’ tags:

@awesome-badass-cafeteria-sauce @justkending @the-is13 @wildsageleon

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infinitehouseofbooks · 8 years ago

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BLOG TOUR - Mark of Destiny

DISCLAIMER: This content has been provided to INFINITE HOUSE OF BOOKS by Bewitching Book Tours. No compensation was received. This information required by the Federal Trade Commission.

Mark of Destiny

Azrael James

Genre: Epic Fantasy

Publisher: Branch Publishing

Date of Publication: 03/02/2017

ISBN: 1544070276

ISBN-13: 978-1544070278

ASIN: B06XDSHCSS

Number of pages: 403

Word Count: 82,331

Cover Artist: T.K. Chapin

Book Description:

Her destiny will change the world forever.

Belstrom—an ancient and mystical land where the Curo Wizards rule and life is cheap.

Tizrah—a lowly armory brat who dreams of one day becoming a warrior but fate has other plans.

Korlin—a recent graduate of the High Wizard’s School of Curogath is tasked with an assignment to eradicate a lost magic system that threatens the very stability of Belstrom. Mark of Destiny weaves together the threads of a captivating fantasy adventure, while remaining epic in scope, and modern in its originality.

Amazon

Interview with the Author:

What initially got you interested in writing?

First and foremost, I have always loved reading. So I think that love of the story has always been there for me. Tolkien really broke me into the fantasy genre, and although I have read a little in other genres of fiction, fantasy is definitely my mainstay. Also, I have an author friend who encouraged me to create, and that was really the catalyst that inspired me to finish Mark of Destiny.

How did you decide to make the move into being a published author?

I don’t really feel that it was completely my decision, although, during the process of writing my first novel, I had to continuously remind myself of the decision I had made. There was also a lot of prodding involved, mainly from the author mentioned above.

What do you want readers to take away from reading your works?

I would prefer that a reader walks away from my work with a sense of satisfaction, combined with an aching to read more.

What do you find most rewarding about writing?

I enjoy bringing a world and characters to life.

What do you find most challenging about writing?

That would definitely have to be the editing process. By the time I’m done, my mind feels numb. Only much later, am I able to even look at the work objectively again.

What advice would you give to people want to enter the field?

Have a good story. Get the opinions of strangers. Nice covers do wonders as well. Do your research. Before you even enter the game, I would recommend putting your title out there and having a minimum of thirty reviews. It’s funny, you learn so much by diving in that you wished you would have known and utilized before.

What ways can readers connect with you?

Readers may find me flitting between the links listed below.

www.azraeljames.com

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15931581.Azrael_James

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100014282942851

https://www.facebook.com/themarkofdestinynovel/

Excerpt:

HOLDING HER EYE STEADY UPON the massive wolvike, Tizrah silently slid the longbow from her back. The care with which she moved came naturally to her.

The way she slipped unseen and stalked her prey might have even impressed the elite rangers of Ravenwood Forest, had they been there to see. Alas, they were not, and Tizrah was truly and utterly alone as she crept closer to the herd of colossal beasts feasting merely ten yards away. Flies buzzed loudly, and the odor of fresh blood hung thick in the air.

Tizrah’s heart hammered against her chest. She tried to calm herself using the measured breathing she’d been taught. It wasn’t helping. Sweat poured from her like rain, rolling down her face in droplets that stung her eyes. When she drew as close as she dared, she quietly climbed an ekenwood tree in hopes of finding a better vantage point from which to view the pack.

Breathing a sigh of relief now that she was off the ground, she waited. The branch Tizrah straddled offered a measure of safety, as well as a clear shot, and she sent out a prayer of thanks to Oshawa, who had given her the perfect perch from which to bring down one of the legendary beasts.

This kill would prove her worth before the men of New Hayden. It would change the direction of her life, and that was what Tizrah desired with all her burning heart.

Desperation had drawn her away from her home and directed her feet to the heart of the Labby Forest. When she had caught sight of the wolvike, Tizrah knew that this was to be her chance.

She had only read about the beasts in her worn school books, and the penciled drawings paled in comparison to the frightful creatures which stood less than a stone’s throw away. Nearly seven feet tall, paws to shoulders, the wolvike were imposing to look upon. Their fur resembled freshly fallen snow, and catching sight of the wolvike’s sickle- like, razor sharp teeth, Tizrah was reminded of the fine blades of the Knights of Eldor.

She knew from her studies that one bite would be enough to bleed a full-grown man out in a matter of minutes. Six—that’s how many of the beasts she counted. They grunted and growled below her as they tore a spotted deer to pieces.

Now, for one to stray from the pack.

Tizrah was patient. She wouldn’t let her arrow fly until victory was assured.

Releasing a long, controlled breath, she relaxed her muscles. Anticipating movement from the pack, she raised the bow to eye level. The largest of the beasts, having had its fill, began to traipse toward the nearby stream.

The moment had arrived.

Drawing her bowstring back with wiry arms, Tizrah followed the wolvike with her steel-tipped arrow.

Stopping dead in its tracks, the beast lifted its head.

Tizrah’s arrow shot across the clearing, impaling the artery running down the side of the beast’s neck. The wolvike toppled, its rapid blood loss dragging it down into the sleep of death.

The rest of the pack bolted, leaving their fallen alpha to Tizrah and her blade.

Dropping from the branch, she took a steadying breath, then strode to the trophy. She would need proof of her kill, as she wasn’t strong enough to drag the beast through the forest. I’ll take its eyes, she thought, nearing with her blade poised.

The eyes of a wolvike were unlike any other known mammal within the Four Kingdoms. Used to make costly medicines for the virility of the wealthy, wolvike eyes were extremely valuable. At the grisly sound of her knife cutting into the eye socket, Tizrah blanched. Having completed the unsavory task, she rolled them in an eken leaf and placed them in the leather pouch on the outer side of her main pack for safe keeping.

Bending over the prone form, Tizrah offered a whispered prayer. “Oshawa, Life- Giver, I pray that this death will not go in vain. I pray that it might bring sustenance to the beasts of the forest and afterward enrich the ground upon which it lies.”

Finishing her heartfelt plea, Tizrah stood and took stock of the situation. Three days, the time it would take her to reach home. The Warrior Trials were scheduled to take place five days hence. Perhaps, with proof of her kill, she would be able to convince Jax at the arena to add her name to the list. Dreams danced before her mind’s eye. Picturing herself crowned victor at the completion of the Warrior Trials set her feet in motion.

Tizrah wasn’t worried about the competition. Her only worry was whether Jax would concede to her request when she offered him the eyes. Years of working with her father in the armory had honed her muscles into steel beneath her skin, and she had hunted and trained in the fighting arts since she was small. Many thought her dedication odd, preferring girls to keep to their traditional roles. Girls were taught to cook, clean, and sew. They were also expected to birth offspring and take care of the men. Tizrah viewed the societal limitations placed upon her with hatred—not that it was wrong for others, but she wanted something more in life than hiding behind a stove and raising brats for some man.

Shaking her head to clear it of the endless stream of thought, she left the clearing and reentered the forest. Ekenwood trees towered above the various shades of green flora covering the forest floor. The chattering of wild poka birds echoed back and forth beneath the canopy of branches. How had they ever been trained as messenger birds?

While growing up, she had seen them flying overhead often enough, and she had been curious to know what important messages they might be carrying each time one passed over.

A single shaft of amber light pierced through the tree barrier, distracting from her musings. Tizrah entered the dazzling luminescence and reveled in its life-giving rays. She loved the forest above all other places; in the depths of its silence and solitude, she found peace.

Peace with her mother’s death, for Tizrah had wanted her mother to live and had been unable to save her. Disease rarely paid heed to the cries of children.

Peace with the way her father had hidden his broken heart at the bottom of tumblers of ale from the local tavern, instead of comforting his only child.

Tizrah even felt peace in the fact that no matter the trophy she brought with her, her chances of entering the Warrior Trials were slimmer than the dirty beggars who sat pleading for crusts of bread on the outskirts of Silvermeere. If Jax changed his mind, then she might be able to work her way up to fighting on the battlefield of Echo Flats, or even serve a stint in the Fireblade Mountains, where rumor had it the dragon still lived.

Pulling herself from her musings, Tizrah continued onward. As much as she would have liked to stay soaking up the rays of sunlight and marveling at the beauty of Oshawa’s greatness, Tizrah knew that for her dreams to be realized, she must trudge forward, allowing the old moment its death while a new moment was born.

After two days of hiking, Tizrah reached the southwest corner of the Labby Forest. She was almost home. Leaving the ancient ekenwood groves, she entered the forest’s area of newer growth that was still recovering from being logged off before the dawn of the Magi Wars.

When the wars ended two centuries past, people had found that the ashenwood tree was far superior in strength to all others. The newly founded Council of Nine had issued a mandate for the loggers to focus their efforts on gathering the stronger wood located in the ironwood and ashenwood forests that lined the southern end of Belstrom. According to the history of New Hayden, Tizrah’s home had once been a booming hub for logging, but the mandate had dropped its population by half, and afterward, the town had assumed a much slower rate of growth over the centuries.

Running lightly down the dirt path toward home, Tizrah nearly bubbled over with excitement. She imagined her father, Eldim, crafting an exquisite set of armor for her to wear during the Warrior Trials. He would choose fine ossen metal, for it was incredibly strong and lightweight and would reflect sunlight to the blinding of one’s enemies.

Nearing the western exit of the forest, Tizrah reached a stretch of the path that was open and straight, set between two groves. Halfway across the stretch, she caught movement in the sky. Diving down swiftly and alighting directly in her path was a large, gray and white-speckled gryphon. The beautiful and fearsome creature held Tizrah with its nerve-rattling gaze. Gryphons were considered the messengers of Oshawa, and to see one so close was considered either a very good omen or an ominous one.

What could Oshawa’s creature want with her, a lowly armory brat? Nevertheless, she waited, returning its gaze. She had nothing to fear; her heart was right before the One-God.

Seconds passed like centuries until Tizrah noticed a burning sensation sear her right arm. In a flash of radiance, the landscape surrounding her disappeared as she lost consciousness, falling to the ground like a crumpled doll.

The gryphon watched over her as she slept.

About the Author:

AZRAEL JAMES fell in love with Tolkien at the age of twelve leading to a life-long love of fantasy fiction. Writing stories that capture the imagination, James invites readers into a world where magic rules and ordinary life is forgotten. When not spinning tales, James teaches guitar to underprivileged fairy folk. He believes music and love are what binds all life together.

http://azraeljames.com/

https://twitter.com/AzraelJames_

https://www.facebook.com/people/Azrael-James/100014282942851

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15931581.Azrael_James

Tour giveaway

Three lucky winners will win a signed copy of Mark of Destiny in paperback.

Drawing will be held on April 18th.

Exclusive Giveaway, enter to win http://giveaway.azraeljames.com/

BLOG TOUR – Mark of Destiny was originally published on the Wordpress version of SHANNON MUIR'S INFINITE HOUSE OF BOOKS.

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