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itskateak · 4 years ago

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And They Were Roommates, Mr. Stark!

(Oh my God, they were roommates, Peter.)

Summary: Well, there was only one bed...Peter can’t help being a meme and Tony will join in every time.

Characters: Bucky Barnes, Peter Parker, Tony Stark, Velika Dante King (Fem!OC)

Pairing: Bucky Barnes X Fem!OC

Warnings: Fluff, nightmares, probably blackmail because why not

A/N: There’s really not a plot here. I just wanted to write an Only One Bed trope for my babies. Because why not. This isn’t beta read or proofread. It’s four-thirty am. leave me be.

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The safehouse was actually...nice for once. Well, it wasn’t in the middle of the damn woods, for a start. And it wasn’t falling apart, nor did it smell musty and unused. This safe house must be newer, which was a comfort after a mission gone slightly awry.

The door didn’t stick when Bucky opened it, nearly stumbling over his feet when it swung in with way less resistance than he’d expected. There were three rooms in total, as usual. A living room and kitchen combination, a bedroom, and a bathroom. He dropped their stuff on the table and immediately began to strip off his tactical gear.

Velika kicked the door shut and leaned against it, exhausted. It was supposed to be a short mission. Get in, get the files, and get out. Well, the base wasn’t abandoned. In fact, it had been crawling with Hydra agents. It wasn’t impossible for the two of them to get through the agents, but that didn’t make it easy. Her body ached in ways she didn’t think possible.

“You wanna shower first? You look dead on your feet.” Bucky asked, laying weapons out on the table from where they’d been strapped to his body. “I’m gonna try and make contact with Stark. Let ‘em know we’ve made it here safely and get an ETA.”

“You’re a blessing.” Velika pushed off the door and pulled the zipper of her jacket. She shucked it off, tossing it over the back of the only couch as she passed. “I’ll try not to use up all the hot water.” She teased.

“I spent the last seventy-ish years on ice. A little cold won’t kill me now.” Bucky shot back over his shoulder. It earned him a laugh and he smiled to himself as the door to the bathroom shut.

He grabbed his jacket and snagged hers on the way by and walked to the door. There were a few coat hooks on the wall. He could at least tidy their mess up. He toed his boots off and placed them out of the way. He grabbed a lighter from the cupboard and made his way to the fireplace with full intention to light a fire.

Bucky paused and furrowed his brow, looking at the open door of the bedroom. He stood and crossed to the doorway, poking his head in. Well, that was fantastic. There was only one bed. It wasn’t that he didn’t like Velika. The opposite was the case. And he didn’t know if he’d be able to keep his hands to himself if they were in the same bed together.

He sighed and returned to the fire, lighting it quickly. Once it was crackling and putting off warmth, he wandered back to the kitchen table. He rifled through the duffle bag for his change of clothes, finding Velika’s there as well. He smiled and shook his head fondly.

Bucky knocked on the bathroom door lightly. “You left your clothes out here. I’m gonna come and set them on the counter, okay?”

“Oh, thanks!” Velika called from the other side. He opened the door, steam hitting him in the face, and reached out to plop them on the counter.

Bucky shut the door behind him and sighed. He dug around in the bag again for the SAT phone, finding it quickly. He pulled it out with his clothes, setting those down on the table. He sank into the chair, wincing as his knee popped. It didn’t hurt. It just sounded bad.

“Stark?” Bucky leaned back against the chair, slouching.

“Hit me, Barnsey.” Tony’s annoyingly cheery voice crackled over the receiver.

“We made it to the safe house.”

“Great! Uh, can you hang tight for the night? There’s a storm comin’ in tonight that’s grounding us until the morning. There should be food there and running water.” Now he just wanted to punch Tony in the face.

“Yeah...see you in the morning, then.” He ran a hand over his face and hung up. Well, twelve hours or so until evac.

“So, how long are we cooped up here?” Velika asked from behind him. She was pressing water from her blonde hair, her head tilted to the side. She now had a pair of sweatpants and a loose t-shirt on and she looked far more comfortable now. And tired.

“There’s a storm hitting New York tonight that’s grounded even us. We’re here till morning.” Bucky stiffly rose to his feet.

“Ew. I was hoping to get an actual meal tonight.” She wrinkled her nose up like she did when she smelled watermelon or kiwis. They weren’t allowed in the compound anymore as the smell just made her nauseous. “Let me get my crap out of the bathroom and then it’s all yours. There’s still hot water left.”

Velika disappeared back into the bathroom and reappeared with her shoes and tactical clothes. She stuffed them into the duffle bag and pulled her hair up.

“You hungry?” She asked as he scooped up his clothes and headed for the shower.

“A bit, yeah.” Bucky leaned in the doorway, his head resting against the wood.

“Want me to cook something?” Velika offered.

“Please?” He almost looked like a puppy for a second and she knew immediately that she couldn’t deny him even if she wanted to.

“Go shower, then. Can’t promise it’ll be done by the time you get out, though, knowing your penchant for three-minute showers.” Velika teased and started for the small kitchenette.

“You took eight minutes. Five minutes longer than you usually do.” Bucky countered, pushing off the doorway.

“Oh, you’re timing my showers, now? Go, you dork. Before I change my mind and let you starve.” He chuckled and the door to the bathroom shut.

Velika rifled through the pantry and found non-perishable cans of food. At least they weren’t reduced to MREs this time. She pulled a can of soup out and glanced it over. It would do for the night. She found a pot and set it on the stove before pouring the contents of the can into it. She set the lid on the pot and let it slowly start to heat up.

She leaned against the counter, eyes falling shut as she waited. She was exhausted. Though she’d hoped to be in her own bed tonight, whatever was here would have to do well enough. She’d certainly slept on worse, considering her time in the war and in the POW camp.

“I can cook for myself if you need to get some rest.” Bucky had a towel over his head and was ruffling it over his hair to get the water out. When he removed it, he looked like a fluffy dog. “Oh, by the way, there’s only one bed.”

That made her eyes snap open in disbelief. “You’re serious.”

“Check for yourself if you don’t believe me. I don’t mind taking the couch.” Bucky ducked back into the bathroom and returned with his clothes.

“We’re adults. If the bed isn’t tiny as hell, then we can share. It’s one night.” Velika turned the stove off and found a bowl. “Clear the stuff off the table, please.” After hearing the duffle bag hit the floor, she turned and set the food on the table for him. As an inhuman being, she didn’t really need to eat and she didn’t feel like forcing herself to.

“Alright. Thank you.” He sat down across from her and quietly started to eat. “Did you turn off the stove this time?”

“Yes!” Velika swiveled around anyways to check. “Did Stark give you a time to expect him by?”

“Nope. Just said they’d be here in the morning. Gives us time to sleep, at least.” Bucky leaned his face in his hand. It seemed that was the only thing really keeping him awake. Now that the adrenaline was gone and they were showered, it seemed they were both headed to crash soon.

“Well, I’m going to go get settled. Which side do you want?” She stood and raised her arms above her head, stretching her back out.

“Lef’ side is fine.” Bucky brought his hand up to catch the little bit of soup that slipped out as he spoke.

Velika snorted and placed a hand on his shoulder before heading to the bedroom. He was right. There was only one bed, but at least it was a double. She pulled the sheets and blankets back, her exhaustion quickly catching up to her. She crawled in and settled, finding the bed was actually very comfortable.

She was nearly asleep when the bed dipped with Bucky’s weight. He sighed tiredly and she fell asleep to the soft sound of him breathing.

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“Report.” The voice came from behind her somewhere. She was staring at the floor with a blank expression. Where was she? What was going on? The last thing she remembered was falling asleep in a safe house with Bucky. Wait, who was Bucky?

“She’s ready. Go ahead, sir.” Another voice that she didn’t immediately recognize responded. No, not again. Not this again. They promised they’d leave her alone.

The words were jumbled but she knew them all the same. Her breathing became labored and she struggled against the chains binding her. Please, don’t do this. Not again. The feeling rose in her chest as a scream. Her voice was grating and rough.

Velika felt the tears run down her face. She got out. She was away from this. But they’d just dragged her right back into it. As the words continued, she started to still and calm. Her handler stood in front of her, waiting.

“My body and soul are yours to command.”

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Velika sat up quickly, chest heaving. She hated those dreams. Those old memories dragged to the surface always came after her when she slept. She ran a hand over her face, wiping away the tears that had fallen. She took deep breaths to calm herself.

Five things. She could see her hands and the shape of the room. The air tasted damp like a small rainstorm had passed through. She could smell the soap provided for them and the traces of Bucky’s cologne. The blankets were soft beneath her fingers. The sound of Bucky’s steady breathing...was no longer something she could hear.

“Y’okay?” Bucky mumbled, voice low and slurred. He splayed his left hand on her lower back, thumb rubbing softly back and forth. She glanced over her shoulder at him. He’d rolled onto his back and was looking up at her with a sleepy yet concerned expression.

“Nightmare. M’okay.” Velika shakily sighed. “Did I wake you?”

“Yeah, but ‘s’okay,” Bucky assured her, continuing to trace patterns on her back. “Wanna talk ‘bout it?” His Brooklyn accent was coming out more since he was only half awake.

“Not...really. Just old memories.” Velika felt her heart begin to slow down. “What time is it?”

“Four in the morning, about. At least a couple hours till they’ll be here.” Bucky yawned and blinked tiredly. “You gonna try and sleep some more? I know how it can be after a nightmare.”

“I’d like to sleep more but honestly...I don’t know if I’ll be able to.” She sighed, staring at the corner of the room. She was still drained from the mission and her body needed the rest.

“C’mere.” Bucky rolled onto his left side, tugging on her shirt lightly to encourage her. “Maybe you’ll feel safer knowing ‘m here with you.”

Velika cautiously laid down next to him. He shifted up a little to give her a little more space. She settled in, head tucked under his chin. He pulled her closer, throwing a leg over her waist to effectively wrap himself around her. He reasoned that if he did that, maybe he could protect her from more nightmares tonight.

Bucky pulled the blankets back over them, making sure she was comfortable. “Get some more rest, m’kay?” Without thinking, he pressed a kiss to the top of her head. She tensed in his arms and he panicked for a second.

“If you’re gonna kiss me, at least do it properly.” Velika teased and he was glad to hear lightness in her voice.

“Didn’ think it was a good time, considerin’ you woke up from a bad dream,” Bucky admitted, face heating up. Her hand cupped his cheek and tilted his head down to look him in the eye.

“All things considering, I think it’d be the best time. Gimme a good memory to combat the bad.” She whispered, a twinkle in her eyes.

Bucky smiled and shyly leaned in to kiss her. It was gentle and timid. He didn’t want to give her the wrong intentions. She pressed closer to him, returning the kiss and he could feel her smiling against his lips.

“’S that gonna work?” He muttered when they parted.

“I think it’ll do just fine.” Velika giggled and snuggled into him. “I really like you. Like, romantically.”

“Oh, good. I was hopin’ it was that and not you checkin’ to see if I brushed my teeth.” He joked, eyes falling closed.

“Did you?”

“Nope.” He grinned and kissed her forehead.

“Well, guess we’re even ‘cause I didn’t either,” Velika mumbled, eyes fluttering as she fought to stay awake.

“Get some sleep, angel. We can talk about where we go from here once we’re comprehensive.” Bucky couldn’t help the smile spreading over his face. It was still there when he fell asleep.

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Peter quietly opened the door to the bedroom and poked his head in. His eyes widened and he very quietly climbed up the wall to get a better vantage point. What he thought he saw was actually what he saw. He smiled widely, happy that the two of them had finally worked things out. He’d been trying to get Bucky to say something to Velika for months now.

He snuck down and out of the room just as quietly and shut the door.

“Are they still asleep, kid?” Tony asked, Ironman suitless. Once he’d scanned the area and found that things were safe, he’d figured it was easiest to just walk into the safe house without the armor. Peter pulled his mask off with a grin.

“And they were roommates, Mr. Stark.” He recited. Tony gave him a confused look and started for the bedroom door. He opened it and poked his head in as well before turning to Peter with an expression similar to a kid in a candy shop.

“Oh my God, they were roommates, Pete.” Tony immediately pulled out his phone and snapped a few photos. A little blackmail wouldn’t hurt for the future. He wouldn’t use it to do anything too terrible. Maybe just get Velika to wash the dishes for him when he didn’t want to. Something like that. He shut the door and turned to Peter. “Give ‘em five more minutes.”

Tony crossed his arms and stood quietly for maybe all of thirty seconds before checking his watch. “Okay, time’s up. Grab the pots. Let’s wake these lovebirds up.”

Tony Stark was lucky Velika and Bucky weren’t armed.

#bucky barnes #velika dante king #tony stark #peter parker #bucky barnes x original character #bucky barnes x original female character #bucky barnes x oc #bucky barnes x ofc #fluff #and they were roommates #oh my god they were roommates #bucky barnes fanfiction #mcu #mcu fanfiction #my writing #only one bed trope #because sue me

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itskateak · 4 years ago

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It’s Been a Long, Long Time

(Bucky Barnes x Fem!OC)

Summary: Stark’s charity events were always a hit, but Bucky never really liked attending any event anyways. Live music changed the atmosphere and he was surprised to find Velika singing a familiar tune. Well, he couldn’t leave her high and dry without a dance, could he?

Warnings: Mentions of past trauma, nightmares, things that go along with PTSD, blood mentions, and tooth-rotting fluff

Word Count: 3,802 (dang)

A/N: If you didn’t see me yelling about my laptop shutting down mid-writing this the first time...now you know. Thank you, Windows for updating a day before I had scheduled you. Haha :)

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Bucky leaned against the bar, half-listening to what Steve was saying. The glass in his right hand was half full with some kind of smooth alcohol that Natasha had poured for him earlier in the evening, insisting that he try it. It wasn’t bad, but he wasn’t partial to it. He preferred something that burned the back of his throat when he was done. He nodded slowly along to the story Steve was still rambling on about, gaze somewhere trained on the floor.

Music drifted over the low chatter from a live band Tony Stark had hired. The musicians played jazz, blues, and swing like they were directly from that era. But it wasn’t all classic music. They took modern music as well and turned them into classic and vintage songs. He was quite impressed by the musicians and whoever had arranged the music. The main vocalist sounded like he was taken directly from the 30s and Bucky wondered for a moment if he was. It wasn’t like it was impossible with everything that he’d seen.

“Are you even listening to me, Buck?” Steve lightly shoved his shoulder to gain his attention. Though his tone said he was a little irritated, his expression was amused and his eyes were alight with fondness.

“Of course.” He lied, giving his best friend an unconvincing smile before he cracked a real one at Steve’s arched eyebrow. “I blanked for a minute. Parties aren’t my thing and I’m starting to, well...you know.” Starting to feel anxious and out of place.

“If you need to step out and get some air, you can. Don’t let me keep you here.” He gave Bucky’s shoulder a reassuring squeeze and a soft smile. Steve Rogers, always so kind and caring and conscientious of his needs. He was patient and so selfless. Sometimes it made him want to punch Steve in the face.

“I’m okay for now.” Bucky nodded and looked back over the crowd of celebrities and his teammates.

Tony was somewhere out there, talking to a celebrity or rich person trying to swindle more money out of there for the charity. Sam and Rhodey were probably knee-deep in women, trying to one-up each other with getting-out-of-proportion stories. Wanda and Vision were probably on the terrace getting air. Natasha and Bruce had tucked themselves away in a corner to get away from the crowd. And Clint and his wife were somewhere in the conglomeration.

Everyone was mingling, but Bucky was by the bar, hiding. If people wanted to speak to him for some reason, they could find him. But he couldn’t promise to hold a decent conversation. Socialization was not his thing anymore. Not since his run-ins and dealings with Hydra.

“Have you seen Velika, yet?” Steve asked, glancing over the crowd. “I thought I caught a glimpse of her earlier, but I couldn’t be sure.”

Velika Dante King was one of their team members that joined after the Accords were signed and the chaos with Thanos had been taken care of. According to her, SHIELD and Fury had been after her for years, trying to get her to join the Avengers. She refused for a long time, insisting she didn’t want to be back in the line of duty. As an ex-guardian angel (who worked in the Palace of Light as a guard. Boring job, she’d said), she’d seen enough action for many lifetimes. Not to mention her years as a bounty hunter later turned hitman for the Silver City She had gotten out and had been living a fairly peaceful life. Eventually, she caved and joined the team.

Velika and Bucky got along fine, understanding each other without words. She’d lived a long time, being an immortal and all, and had been one of many people to sit down and catch him up on things he’d missed. She got him in a way he didn’t expect, even with his past and the things he’d done. She didn’t care, having spilled her fair share of blood in ways that would make even the most experienced assassins nauseous. She got what it was like to wake up at night from nightmares and the inability to sleep because of them. She got jumping at loud noises and having bad days and everything that came along with being the way they are.

Velika was always there when he really needed her.

“No, I haven’t seen her. I suspect she’s up near the stage. Told me that she hasn’t seen her brother in months and Stark hired his group.” Bucky responded, taking another sip of his too smooth drink. Why was he even still drinking it? Natasha wasn’t anywhere near them and he was planning to finish it to not be rude to her.

“I heard Wanda and Nat talking about the dress she’d decided to wear. From the way they were talking, I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s got company.” Steve said, setting his own glass down on the bar top. He had a suggestive glint in his eye which was paired with a raised brow. With all the time Bucky spent with the woman, Steve had decided that there was something more than friendly between them. Ever since he’d found them asleep on the couch together, his head in her lap, Steve had been relentless. It had been a month so far, and he had yet to let up.

Bucky rolled his eyes and shoved his shoulder. “If that bugs you, punk, then you go find her.” He teased, ignoring the twisting in his stomach at the thought of some high-class, snobby man flirting with her. He had begun to feel things for her that were in the territory of more than friends but he was never going to admit that to Steve nor himself. Before Steve could make comment on it, a familiar voice came over the speakers.

“Evening, everyone! Thank you for coming this evening and donating to the charity. We’re very happy to say that we’ve more than met our goal, but don’t let that discourage you from donating more. Relief for those still being affected by The Snap is very important and all of us on the Avengers team have made our own contributions.” Velika had taken her brother’s place at the mic and addressed the crowd with a smile. “I am very proud of my brother, Dakota-”

Indignant muttering (Bucky couldn’t hear it well from where he was, but it sounded like something along the lines of: “You know I hate that name.”) interrupted her from her brother beside her and she laughed, waving the white-haired man off. He crossed his arms and pretended to be mad before he broke out in a truly radiant smile.

“I am very proud of my brother, Dakota King, and his group, The Devil Tones, for their success. These very talented musicians agreed to help me with a special project for some very special teammates of mine. I promised Tony Stark, our generous host, that I would sing something if he paid me a thousand dollars.” The guests laughed as she beamed. “Obviously, since I’m up here, he paid me. Which I then turned around and donated to the charity because I’m not a selfish twit. Stark.” She fake coughed to badly conceal his name.

“Not fair, Velika! I will dock your paycheck!” Tony yelled from somewhere in the crowd, though his voice was full of amusement.

“This song is a lovely post World War Two tune that tells of a wonderful homecoming. My brother arranged a beautiful rendition featuring himself on trumpet and Anthony Grey on saxophone. So, to our resident fossils on the Avengers team...wherever you are....” Velika scanned the crowd with her unnaturally blue eyes and spotted the pair at the bar. She waved to them and grinned. “We dedicate this to you. I hope you enjoy.”

Bucky spared a glance at Steve. So, she’d prepared a song for them. He had never heard her sing, knowing that she had trouble with crowds and being in front of an audience. It was admirable that she had stepped out of her comfort zone to bring them a gift.

Velika conducted a measure before cueing the band in.

Immediately, Bucky recognized the song and a smile involuntarily crept up on his face. It’s Been a Long, Long Time was a classic post-war song. He had never listened to it before he had been shipped off to the frontlines. And after Hydra had gotten a hold of him, he hadn’t had the opportunity to listen to it. Steve had played it for him when catching him up on everything he’d missed. It was one of his absolute favorites and Bucky had learned to appreciate it.

The band was phenomenal together. Everything was balanced so that moving lines were heard overtop the rest. The strings were (thankfully) in tune and the drums didn’t feel like they were clashing with the rest of it. The trumpet player, King (as he apparently liked to be referred to by last name rather than first) sounded exactly like the recording, and Bucky was almost convinced that he had been the one to play it in Steve’s record. The tone was so clear and warm and the sound enveloped the entire room without ever being too much.

People started to slow dance with each other, the sentimental message of homecoming drawing them together. Tony found Pepper and drew her close. Vision and Wanda took the floor together. Clint grabbed his wife’s hand and urged her out with a smile. Sam and Rhodey chose one of the women in their audience to sweep off their feet.

“I’m going to go find Sharon before someone steals her away. Can’t pass up an opportunity to dance.” Steve clapped a hand on Bucky’s shoulder before disappearing into the crowd to find the woman.

Alone, Bucky watched Velika perform with fascination. She had such an air of charisma that anyone who didn’t know about her aversion to performing would think she was most comfortable on stage. She had a beautiful voice, he realized. It was smooth with a hint of smokiness to it, like a good whiskey.

“Kiss me once, then kiss me twice, then kiss me once again. It’s been a long, long time. Haven’t felt this way, my dear, since can’t remember when. It’s been a long, long time.” Velika swayed side to side, a smile on her face. Her platinum blonde hair was curled loosely and hung over her shoulders and back like a veil. She looked everything in the world like she had just walked out of a speakeasy during Prohibition.

Bucky downed the rest of his drink, pushing the glass towards the bartender and nodding to say he was finished with it. He shoved his hands in his pockets, tilting his head as the performance went on. It really was a nice gift, and the arrangement was done wonderfully. If he closed his eyes, he could almost imagine being back in a club before the war. Even if the song was post-war.

Steve was right, though. The dress she had worn was beautiful. It fit her perfectly, showing off her body in all the right places. It was a deep blue that offset her light eyes and hair. The floor-length mermaid gown had sheer sleeves with lace decorations that wound up her arms like vines. He wouldn’t be surprised if she’s been fending off men all evening. He fought a sneer at the thought.

“It’s been a long, long time.”

The saxophone player began his solo as she backed away to give him the spotlight. If anyone had any doubts that Anthony Grey loved what he did, they just needed to watch him. Each note he played was like a bit of his soul, and if it were liquid, it would be pooling at his feet and flooding the floor. Something about a good saxophone solo healed the soul. His tone was rich and clear but had the trademark raspiness of a jazz sax player.

Velika swayed along to the beat in the background, not detracting from the attention, but holding Bucky’s regardless. The lights made her appear like she was glowing. If she had stepped down from the stage, he surely would’ve asked her to dance. But she claimed she had two left feet and therefore would’ve likely turned him down.

The song ended faster than he expected or wanted and he applauded the performance. King hugged his sister and said something to her that made her throw her head back and laugh. Damn, Bucky thought. Under the spotlights, that had been gorgeous.

Velika approached the mic. “Thank you! I hope you all enjoyed that. I’ll hand the microphone back over to my brother and let you get back to your evening.” And with that, she backed away to leave the stage.

“Thank you, Vel. After that touching song, why don’t we pick things back up?” King said before the band struck up with a swing version of I Wanna Be Like You, which Bucky remembered was originally made famous by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. It was a group Velika had introduced him and Steve to as they played similar music to their era.

King had much more charisma onstage than his sister. He moved with the music and had a presence that reminded Bucky of Cab Calloway. He watched him, amused and amazed, as he wasn’t aware the male body could move that way. He swung his hips side to side in such a fluid motion that he almost expected him to be made of liquid.

“Are you checking my brother out?” The teasing lilt of Velika’s voice drew his attention and he found her standing beside him, a broad smile on her face.

“Mm, not my type.” Bucky teased back, turning to her. “That was incredible, by the way.” Up close, she was far prettier than he expected. Whoever had done her makeup (as she had confessed she had no idea what to do earlier that week) had done it perfectly to suit her features and bring out her eyes. He knew there were challenges when it came to doing makeup on monolids. A girl back in the day had complained about it to her friends one time and he happened to overhear it.

“Thank you.” She ducked her head sheepishly and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. “I spent so many hours trying making sure I did it some justice instead of butchering it horribly.”

“You did it more than justice, Vel. How’s your evening going?” Bucky felt his nerves and out of placeness return, not realizing that they had been washed away during her performance.

“It’s good. Though, I was regretting my choice of attire earlier. I kept fending of guys and their compliments and flirting. Ugh.” She rolled her eyes in annoyance but still had a smile on her face. “I’m feeling a little anxious now that the performance is done and my adrenaline has worn off.”

“I don’t s’pose you’d mind if I steal you away for some air, then? I’ve been feeling closed in, too.” Bucky straightened up. “The roof should be open.”

“Shall we then?” Velika offered her arm up to him and he looped his through. Together, they headed for the elevator.

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“Oh, God. I regret wearing these shoes.” Velika used Bucky’s arm to keep her balance as she slipped her heels off. She ditched them by the elevator doors. “My knees hurt.”

“Why did you wear them, then?” Bucky asked, shaking his head slightly in amusement.

“Because I’m short, Barnes, and I’d trip over my dress if I didn’t!” She lightly socked his bicep, causing him to laugh. She wandered to the railing, staring out over the city.

Bucky joined her, the light breeze ruffling the ends of his hair. It was quiet up here, as the party was four or five floors down and the levels muffled the music until it was just a whisper. The city lights were different from the stage lights and lit up Velika’s eyes like stars.

“Did you find some dame to dance with?” Velika asked, shifting her hair over one shoulder. She quirked a brow with a smirk, having put on a heavy New York accent to badly imitate a young Bucky. He playfully shoved her shoulder.

“I would’ve asked you, but you were busy providing the music.” He admitted with a smile.

“Well, you know I have two left feet. I wouldn’t want to step on your foot, hon’.” Velika turned around and leaned her back on the railing. “I do kind of wish I’d gotten to dance, though.”

“Miss King, would you do me the great honors of joining me for a dance?” Bucky made a show of extending his hand to her, putting on his best posh accent to make her laugh.

“Here? Now?”

“Well, I can’t leave my best girl without a dance.” He leaned forward a little more, urging her to take his hand. She did with a smile and pulled him away from the railing to a more open part of the roof.

“I’m your best girl now, huh? Don’t let Nat hear you say that.” Velika swung their hands a little.

“I couldn’t care less about what Nat thinks.” Bucky rested his metal hand on her lower back, clutching her other hand tightly. Her hand settled on his upper arm. He was about to take the first step before he realized they were missing something. “Are we going to awkwardly sway or is there some music you’re gonna magically put on?”

“Give me your phone, you dork.” She giggled and began navigating through it once he’d passed it to her. “Do I have to do everything?”

“I will throw you off this roof, Miss King,” Bucky responded. Despite it being a threat, he was trying to conceal laughter.

“Is there a specific song you’d like me to play?” She asked after shoving his shoulder again.

Bucky considered it, thinking of all the songs he’d heard that would be good to dance to. He only wanted to slow dance, as that would minimize the risk of injury from his two-left-footed partner. At least she wasn’t wearing the heels, so it wouldn’t hurt him. “Ella Fitzgerald and Bing Crosby. Dream a Little Dream of Me.” He finally said.

“Oh, good choice.” Velika turned the volume up on the song and tucked it into the pocket on his chest, resting it against the folded handkerchief. She took up his hand and settled her hand on his bicep again.

Bucky gently laid his metal hand on her lower back again and began to sway from side to side. The tempo was perfect for a relaxed dance. There was no one to impress. No one to watch (other than FRIDAY through the cameras) and no one to point out that they were far closer to each other than was really necessary for a simple dance like this.

Velika stepped on his shoe and broke into giggles. “Glad I took my heels off?”

“I’ve been hurt worse.” He let go of her hand and brushed a strand of hair out of her face, tucking it behind her ear. “How is someone as graceful as you so bad at dancing?”

“I’m a fighter, not a dancer! They never taught me to dance, jerk.” She lightly slapped his chest. “My brother’s the dancer.”

Bucky slowly spun her under her arm before pulling her back in. She looked beautiful that way, smiling at him over her shoulder in the light of the city.

Velika raised a brow as her hand slid down to his elbow rather than his bicep. “You’re staring.”

“Sorry, can’t help it.” Bucky chuckled. “You’re beautiful. Used to seeing you all strapped in and ready to fight. Can’t blame me if I just want to take it in.”

Velika shook her head but smiled nonetheless. He seemed to be getting her to smile a lot tonight, but that wasn’t a bad thing. He adored her smile, even with the fact the left side didn’t rise as much as the right. She leaned her head on his chest, eyes closing.

Bucky wrapped his left arm completely around her waist, pulling her closer. Something felt right about this, and all feelings of being out of place and on edge left. He was sure she could hear his heartbeat steadily increasing. He never would have imagined that the woman he met a year ago, jaded and untrusting, would be in his arms, dancing with him on the roof.

It felt peaceful, domestic. For once, Bucky felt like he was entirely human again. Like he wasn’t always walking on eggshells with himself to avoid relapsing into his old ways, even after T’Challa had his team had helped remove Hydra’s programming. And for once, he felt that he could leave it behind and start a life.

The song was ending far too quickly for his liking. He wanted this moment to last forever because he didn’t know if he’d ever feel like this again. If they’d ever be like this again. As the song came to a close, he spun her under her arm again and brought her into a gentle dip, supporting her with his metal arm.

Velika looked back up at him, hands holding onto his shoulders with a loose grip. She trusted him to not drop her. Her unnaturally light blue eyes flickered between his, judging his expression. One hand came up to tuck a stray lock of hair behind his ear. It lingered on his cheek.

Bucky leaned in tentatively, heart in his throat. Was he really going to do this? This could destroy the friendship they’d built over the last year. He couldn’t keep it in any longer. He liked her more than a friend and he wanted to hold her like this all the time. He hadn’t realized he’d been hovering a hair away from her until she pulled him down.

Velika kissed him, the hand still on his shoulder wrapping around his neck. Her lips tasted like strawberry chapstick and some kind of alcohol that she had had earlier. They were soft and moved against his own like a perfect match. A missing piece in a puzzle finding its place. A wandering warrior finding their home.

He broke this kiss and leaned his forehead against hers, watching those bright blue eyes flutter open. He couldn’t help the smile that broke out on his face. She returned it with a soft giggle, her teeth catching her lip.

“Can I...can I kiss you again?” He asked, breathlessly.

“You can kiss me as much as you want and whenever you want, James Buchanan Barnes.”

#bucky barnes #bucky barnes x original female character #james buchanan barnes #james buchanan bucky barnes #mcu fanfiction #marvel fanfiction #my writing #velika dante king #writeblr #marvel #mcu #bucky barnes imagine #bucky barnes one shot #bucky barnes x ofc

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itskateak · 4 years ago

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(Snapchat video titled Bucky @ God)

Bucky: (sitting on a bench in the airport, staring at the ground distantly like he’s actually not present while TSA figures out whether or not to let him pass because of the metal arm)

Velika: (singing quietly from a distance while slowly zooming in) Wheeeere was I when you stopped loving meeee? Wheeeeen did I become history? There’s not many things that escape my memoryyy. So tell me where was I when you stopped loving me?

#shitpost #i had a dream and it was weird so here it is #bucky barnes #velika dante king #incorrect mcu quotes

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itskateak · 4 years ago

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For Whom the Bell Tolls

(Sneak peak)

Summary: The Winter Soldier worked alone most often, but common interests meant that HYDRA was making him work with another assassin. For the first time since being under HYDRA’s control, he finally feels like someone sees him. Too bad it’s the one person who he was warned to stay away from.

Pairing: Winter Soldier!Bucky Barnes x OFC (Reaper!Velika Dante King)

Status: Coming soon - After September 26th - Prequel to Oceans and Stars

Note: Velika Dante King was once known as The Reaper, an assassin under the control of the Silver City for many years.

Prologue below the cut

◑ ━━━━━ ▣ ━━━━━ ◐

Bucky grumbled as FRIDAY paged him again, five minutes after he’d left the common room again. They were gaining a new teammate today and he was really not looking forward to meeting them. New people always made him uncomfortable and self conscious. They always stared at him like he was some kind of rabid animal that needed to be put in a cage or something fragile that needed to be danced around. He hated it.

Sam Wilson slid out of the room he’d been hiding in, following Bucky to the common area. Apparently, he was moving too slow for the nuisance that was known as Falcon.

“Come on, old man! Move it, Frosty!” Sam shouted. “My grandma could move faster than you and she’s been dead for twenty years.”

Bucky rolled his eyes and cussed at him under his breath. “Then go around me, Wilson! And stop yelling. You’ll wake your grandma from the grave.”

Sam slipped in front of him, nearly bouncing on his feet. Bucky shook his head in pure annoyance. His energy was irritating.

The common room was filled with people already. Steve was standing near the new teammate - a platinum blonde woman who was smiling at something Tony had said - and Natasha was sitting on the back of the couch.

“Hey, new blood!” Sam yelled with a broad smile. The woman flinched slightly.

“No need to shout.” Bucky grumbled, crossing his arms.

“Sam Wilson. The team’s best-looking member.” Sam stepped forward and extended his hand to the new teammate. Velika gave him a warm smile, piercing blue eyes crinkling up at the edges. He knew those eyes and that smile.

Had she been someone he knew during his Winter Soldier days?

“Velika Dante King.” She said. The name wasn’t familiar to him, but he’d always struggled with names.

“I’m James Buchanan Barnes, but everyone calls me Bucky.” Bucky kept his volume down. He didn’t need to shout. The room was quiet anyway. “Welcome.”

“Thanks, Bucky.” She nodded to him, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear. “It’s really been nice to meet all of you, but I’m exhausted and really need some time to adjust. New surroundings and people and all…a lot to take in.”

“Hey, no problem. I’ll show you to your room. You guys are free to go.” Steve touched her shoulder and she started. He pulled his hand away with a quiet apology.

Tony and Natasha met up and left the way they’d came, chatting idly about something unimportant. Bucky watched Velika leave, brow furrowed as he stared at her back.

“I know her.” He said once she was out of earshot and down the hall.

“What? How? We just met her.” Sam gave him a confused look.

“We worked together in the nineties for eight months. I didn’t think I’d ever see her again.” Bucky sounded distant, nearly wistful. He doubted she would’ve recognized him or even remembered those eight months.

“Well, who was she?”

“The Reaper.”

Take a look to the sky just before you die

It is the last time you will

For Whom the Bell Tolls

Time marches on

#james buchanan barnes #bucky barnes #bucky barnes x oc #bucky barnes x ofc #the winter soldier #winter soldier!bucky barnes #velika dante king #reaper!velika dante king #mcu fanfiction #marvel fanfiction #bucky barnes fanfiction #bucky barnes x original character #bucky barnes x original female character

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itskateak · 4 years ago

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Is anyone interested in seeing character designs for some of my original works??? Some of them are hand drawn (badly, please leave me and my people drawing skills alone) but most would be made through the sims because I can make them really well through that

#my writing #oc #ocs #original characters #ive got a few of #velika dante king #and a couple of #tzion dantra

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itskateak · 4 years ago

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i’m in the mood to write some Bucky and Velika things

so uh

Send in some prompts? :)

Please specify if it’s Reaper and Winter Soldier days!!

and I might be convinced to do short Bucky x reader things too

#bucky barnes #bucky barnes x original female character #bucky barnes x ofc #velika dante king #send prompts #writing prompts #ren's writing request #bucky barnes x reader

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itskateak · 4 years ago

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Oceans and Stars - Chapter 1

(Art by itskateak...do not repost without permission)

Story Summary: A story of how Bucky Barnes falls in love with oceans, stars, and the woman who gave him the reasons to.

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Velika Dante King (Fem!OC)

Chapter Summary: Velika Dante King is new to the Avengers team. It takes her time to find her place among them and to learn to trust them. Through many moments, she’s given many reasons to trust the team.

Warnings: Canon typical violence, mentions of PTSD and Anxiety, mentions of nightmares, mentions of past trauma (brainwashing, death, assassinations, physical and psychological torture)

A/N: This is post-Endgame but Tony didn’t die and Steve didn’t yeet himself to the past and Nat was brought back and everything is fine. Not beta read. We die like men in this household.

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𝓕𝓻𝓲𝓮𝓷𝓭, 𝔀𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝔀𝓲𝓵𝓵 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓼𝓮𝓮 𝓸𝓷 𝔂𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝓵𝓸𝓷𝓰 𝓳𝓸𝓾𝓻𝓷𝓮𝔂?

Velika Dante King stepped out of the car, hiking her bag up on her shoulder. She stared at the Avengers’ compound with intrigue. The building was large and very much influenced by Tony Stark’s technology. A group of agents was running on a track to the side of the building, a higher-up barking at them to move faster. She smiled and shut the car door.

“We’ll have your stuff taken to your room, ma’am. Captain Rogers will be waiting for you in the foyer.” Happy startled her out of her thoughts and she nodded in approval. Her first impression of Happy Hogan was that his name was ironic. He looked grumpy pretty much the whole car ride from the airport. Maybe he was stressed about something or had a bad morning. He had a good heart, though, and that allowed her to brush off his sour countenance.

“There’s no need to call me ma’am. Miss King or Velika works just fine.” Velika said, giving him what she hoped was a friendly smile. Change was never easy for her, nor were unfamiliar environments. She wouldn’t have accepted this job, anyway, if it hadn’t been for Nick Fury’s incessant nagging. Every couple of months, he would contact her with the same proposition. After many, many years, she finally caved.

“Alright, Miss King. If you would follow me, I’ll take you into the building to meet Captain Rogers.” Happy returned her smile, living up to his name for the first time since they’d met. It was brief, but it proved her theory that he had his heart in the right place.

“Thank you,” Velika said, walking behind him toward the compound. She chewed on the inside of her lip, anxiety fluttering in her chest. The building was nowhere near the compound she’d lived in for so long, but there were enough visual similarities that her jet-lagged brain was beginning to panic. She took a deep breath to steady herself and pulled her bag further up. “What should I call you? Mister Hogan? Mister Happy?”

“Just Happy, Miss King.” Happy responded as he opened the doors for her. She smiled briefly in thanks and entered the building. The air conditioning hit her immediately and she hadn’t realized how warm it had been outside. She felt a little bad for the agents running outside, but then remembered that the weather wouldn’t ever be perfect for a mission. And the fact that she had run in worse weather.

“Ah, Lieutenant King! I’m Steve Rogers.” Steve extended his hand to her once they were close enough, a friendly smile lighting up his expression. He’d grown a beard since the last time she’d seen pictures of him, and it actually really suited him. “It’s nice to finally meet you.”

“I don’t know what Nick Fury told you, but I’m not a Lieutenant anymore. Just Velika or Miss King works. A pleasure to meet you, too.” Velika took his hand and shook it. His hand was calloused, much like hers, and his grip was strong.

“Thanks, Happy. I’m sure you have other things going on.” Steve said. Happy nodded and left them to attend to his duties as head of security. “So, how was the flight?” He gestured with his head to follow him.

“Smooth, luckily, but very long. I had the chance to stretch after landing.” Velika kept up with him easily, taking in her surroundings.

“I’m glad it went well. We’ve had issues lately with airspace.” Steve shook his head and sighed. “That’s politics for you.”

“Gross.” Velika wrinkled her nose up and Steve barked a short laugh. “I’ve always hated politics.”

“Other people take care of that for us, now, so you don’t have to worry about it.” They started up a staircase to the right of the atrium. “That was the main foyer. It splits the building into two parts. This is our residential wing where only people granted access can visit. The team’s in the common room.”

“How many people are on the team?” Velika asked, glancing out the huge windows. The scenery wasn’t too bad. The compound seemed to be in a wooded area.

“Our unit here is made up of eight people. Including you, that would be nine. We have a few other people who we consider apart of the team that are in other places.” Steve typed in a passcode at a pair of glass doors and opened it for her.

“And how many am I meeting today?” Velika nodded in thanks and entered the common room. She didn’t know if she could do many people today. Not until she was rested and not jet-lagged to Hell and back.

“Five, counting me. Vis and Wanda are running a mission and Bruce is taking a much-needed stress-relieving vacation.” Steve smiled before sighing in frustration. “They were here. Friday, can you call the team down to the common room again?”

“Yes, Captain Rogers. Right away.” A disembodied voice spoke and she jumped slightly.

“Friday is the artificial intelligence program that keeps things functioning around here. She’s probably the only thing keeping Tony alive when he’s working.” Steve shook his head fondly.

“You were taking ages, Rogers!” A red-headed woman said as she entered the room. “It doesn’t take that long to get downstairs and back up. Are you getting old or something?”

“That would be Natasha Romanoff,” Steve said and Natasha smiled in greeting and waved. “And yes, Nat. I am getting old.”

“Nice to meet you. Bikinis or one piece?” Nat asked with a perfectly arched brow of curiosity.

“Uh, bikinis?” Velika replied in a confused tone, head cocked slightly in thought.

“She can stay.” Nat crossed her arms with a grin and Steve rolled his eyes.

“Come on, old man! Move it, Frosty!” Shouts from down the hall caught their attention. “My grandma could move faster than you and she’s been dead for twenty years.”

“Then go around me, Wilson! And stop yelling. You’ll wake your grandma from the grave.” Another voice followed, sounding very annoyed and gruff.

“Have dumb and dumber arrived to give us all headaches or have I miraculously made it ahead of them?” Tony Stark asked as he walked in, holding a foam cup probably containing coffee.

“They’re down the hall, announcing their arrival through their bickering.” Natasha boosted herself up onto the back of a leather couch and crossed her legs. She had a nice figure, which her tank top and jeans accented. “They’re always that way.” She stage whispered behind her hand.

“Oh, great. I thought I could avoid it.” Tony grimaced and held his hand out to Velika. “Tony Stark. Brains behind the idiots and the tech mastermind.”

“Velika Dante King. Nice to meet you.” Velika smiled. His sense of humor was already incredible and she could already feel herself relaxing around him. Her ability to trust strangers was slim to none and she hadn’t realized how tense she was.

Two men entered the room, one nearly bouncing as he walked. The other ambled in, shaking his head at the other, an expression of pure annoyance on his face.

“Hey, new blood!” The first yelled with a bright smile. She flinched not at his volume but the term. Back in her military days, the recruits being trained were called new blood. It brought up bad memories.

The man behind him muttered something that sounded like ‘no need to shout.’

“Sam Wilson. The team’s best-looking member.”

Velika introduced herself again, shaking his hand. She usually would’ve had some kind of witty comment to shoot back, but the jet-lag (and being rattled from a term she didn’t expect to hear) had her just smiling and nodding.

"I’m James Buchanan Barnes, but everyone calls me Bucky.” Bucky, who had his arms folded across his chest, spoke quietly in comparison Sam. “Welcome.”

“Thanks, Bucky.” Velika nodded at him and tightened her hold on her bag. “It’s really been nice to meet all of you, but I’m exhausted and really need some time to adjust. New surroundings and people and all...a lot to take in.”

“Hey, no problem. I’ll show you to your room. You guys are free to go.” Steve touched her shoulder and she started. He pulled his hand away with a quiet apology. The others in the room dispersed as Steve led her down one of the side halls.

She pretended not to notice Bucky Barnes’ gaze boring into her back.

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“Okay, it’s your turn,” Sam said, turning his attention to Velika. “Truth or dare?”

“I’m just here getting a drink. I’m not playing.” Velika grabbed a glass and dug around in the fridge for the bag of limes she’d asked for.

“Aww, come on! You haven’t joined us for our game nights yet. Just one, please?” Sam begged as she pulled a lime out and cut it into slices.

“No, because I’ve heard how you can be. I’m not choosing between a ridiculously personal question and a stupid dare.” Velika dropped the slice of lime in her glass and returned the bag to the fridge.

“If we’re gonna be on a team, we need to get to know each other and all our dirty secrets! How else are you gonna trust us?” Sam’s words made her tense up. Trust was a hard thing for her. She’d already been there for two months and had yet to really forge any connections with anyone. Sure, she’d trained with Natasha on occasion and spent time in Tony’s lab to get gear fitted. Other than that, she kept to herself and stayed very quiet.

“Easy. I don’t and I won’t.” Velika said as she swept out of the common and back to her room.

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“Three on your six, Velika.” Natasha’s voice in her ear made her press against the wall and wait silently, gun drawn. “Make that twelve, wait...fifteen.”

“I don’t see them, yet.” She muttered, drawing another handgun.

“Barnes, help her out,” Tony ordered.

“On it.”

“I can handle this on my own.” Velika hissed, poking around the corner and firing off a shot. She earned three back as she swung back around into cover. “I’ve dealt with worse.”

“We’re a team, Velika. When are you gonna stop thinking we’re your enemies?” Nat asked, a hint of frustration in her voice.

“When you give me a reason.” She fired down the hall again. Thirteen enemies still standing. This was her first mission with the full team. She and Bucky were part of the ground team. Steve and Natasha were across the building.

“How many left?” Bucky called from across the hall.

“I said I can handle this on my own.” She said, stepping out of cover and shooting three times. Velika ducked back behind the corner, holstering her now empty weapon.

“Quit being stubborn.” Bucky shot her a frustrated look and fired twice down the hall. “How many left?”

“Twelve. Happy?” Velika cocked her weapon.

Bucky didn’t respond, shaking his head slightly. “I can get two on the right from here. Can you get the three on the left?”

“Yeah.” Velika shifted and aimed. She fired five times, taking out the assigned targets. “Six left.”

Together, they took out the remaining members in short time.

“You okay?” Bucky asked, looking her over.

“I’m fine.” She snapped crossing the hall to get closer to him. “And I would’ve been fine without your help.”

“We’re on your side, here, Velika,” Bucky argued, brows furrowed gently.

“If you were really on my side, you would’ve let me handle it on my own. Teammates are supposed to-” Velika was cut off as he suddenly grabbed her arms and threw her to the side. She slammed into the wall with a grunt, about to tear him a new one when she looked up.

Bucky was fighting to disarm the agent they’d forgotten to count. The knife in the man’s hand had almost been driven into her back. He twisted the man’s arm and smashed his head into the wall, rendering him unconscious. He panted, tossing the knife away.

“Teammates are supposed to have your back when you need it and help you to make sure you don’t,” Bucky said, extending his hand to her. She took it and let him pull her upright. “Are you hurt?”

“No, I’m okay. Thanks.” Velika gave him a small smile. “Seriously, thanks. And...you’re right. You guys are on my side. I’m just...I can’t-”

“Trust doesn’t come easy for you.” Bucky interrupted her. “I get it, I do. When I first joined the team, I didn’t trust anyone but Steve. Now I trust them all with my life.”

“Even Wilson?”

“Even Wilson.” Though his tone was sincere, his expression showed his distaste. She laughed and shook her head. Maybe Bucky wasn’t so bad.

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“I’m going to smother you with a pillow, Velika!” Tony yelled, nearly throwing the table in his rage. She cackled wildly as he added twelve cards to his hand. “Sleep with one eye open.”

“You did that to yourself, Stark.” She giggled, fanning her cards back out. “Not my fault you didn’t count on the rest of us having draw twos.”

“All of you. Sleep with one eye open. I’m killing all of you and it starts with her.” Tony points an accusing finger at Velika with a deadly look in his eye.

Natasha laid down her next card, calling uno. Steve played a reverse, announcing that she certainly didn’t have another green. Nat tossed her green three onto the pile with a broad grin while Tony nearly started another war with Steve. Sam threw his cards onto the table, flipping the ex-assassin off.

Velika caught Bucky staring at her with a small smile as he set his cards down. She cocked her head to say ‘what?’ and he shook his head.

Eight months after she’d joined the team and she was finally sliding into place. Eight months later and she was finally beginning to trust them.

Yeah, they’re not so bad.

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Velika watched the stars quietly, breathing in the night air. She’d woken from another nightmare and needed to get away from her room to calm down. They weren’t frequent anymore, but they were still vivid and always got her heart racing. Some nights, she even woke in her room thinking that she was back on her silver chain.

The peace of the night sky always calmed her down and reminded her that she wasn’t there anymore. The stars were always a friendly sight for her sore eyes, twinkling against the black background. She took a deep breath and felt her heart rate finally start to go down.

“Oh, I didn’t...Sorry, I’ll go.” Bucky’s voice startled her and she whipped around to see him standing awkwardly by the rood access door. He wasn’t wearing shoes (well, she wasn’t either) and his sweatpants were loose and his sweatshirt looked like he’d just picked it up off the floor. His hair was a wreck, though she assumed hers looked that way, too.

“No, it’s okay. I wouldn’t mind some company.” She said, turning back to look at the sky. “Other than the stars, of course.”

Bucky was quiet as he joined her, keeping a safe distance between them. He’d even walked to her other side to stand on her left. She assumed it was because of his arm.

“Nightmare?” Velika asked, leaning against the railing.

“Yeah. You?”

“Yep.” They fell silent again, both just watching the world around them. Crickets chirped to fill the space and an owl called in the distance. The trees rustled with the soft breeze drifting by.

“Wanna talk about it?” He offered, turning to face her.

“Do you?” She countered, glancing at him. His eyes were puffy. Her heart hurt for him.

“I...don't know if it would help,” Bucky admitted, sounding defeated. “Steve lets me talk about them sometimes but I can tell it bothers him. He blames himself for what happened, still, and I don’t want to add to his burden. I don’t want to be a burden.”

“James Buchanan Barnes, you’re not a burden,” Velika said, fixing him with a softly stern look. “Come on. Lay it on me. Dream for a dream. Then I’ll tell you a story.”

Bucky rubbed his right hand over his face, then ran it through his hair. “What kind of story?”

“A story about the stars.” Velika smiled. “Any constellation. Whatever you want. I know them all.”

“I...don’t know the constellations anymore.” He sheepishly ducked his head. “One of the things I lost when Hydra brainwashed me.”

“Luckily, when they brainwashed me, I didn’t forget them.” Velika sighed and shot a disdainful look upwards. “So, what happened in your dream?”

“It started normally. Didn’t think it was a nightmare at first. Just sitting in the common room, watching something stupid with the team. Next thing I know, I’ve got my hands restrained and someone...someone was talking to me.” Bucky drew in a shuddering breath, gripping the railing with his right hand. “Saying things that I can’t remember now, but...then I was being shoved back in that chair having my memory wiped. I blinked and I was approaching Steve with a knife. He greeted me kindly and I just slit his throat. One by one, I killed every single one of you and then just walked out.”

“Sounds like Hell.” Velika wrinkled her nose up. He’d been through a lot as the Winter Soldier and being under Hydra’s control, and it sucked that he couldn’t even get a break during the night when he was sleeping. “Have you seen a therapist for everything that happened?”

Bucky looked at her like she’d grown a second head. “What?”

“You went through a lot and without proper measures to cope and process, it’s only going to sit there and fester. It won’t get rid of your nightmares entirely, but it would maybe help decrease them.” Velika explained. “I got into therapy shortly after I got out. Saved my life, honestly. Got me back to a functioning person.”

“I...hadn’t considered that. I might have to look into that.” Bucky’s shoulders sank like the tension had been released. “Your turn.”

“That is the deal I made.” Velika sighed. “The dream started out of nowhere. I was dreamless until it suddenly popped up. I’ll spare you the gory details, but...it was back when I was under the control of my birth city. I think, at least. I couldn’t control my movements but I could see everything. They...they made me kill someone.”

“Who?”

“My brother,” Velika whispered, eyes falling closed as she swallowed thickly. “He was pleading for his life and I just couldn’t stop as I drove the knife into his chest over and over and over. Then as he was dying, I was back to myself and held him as he died.”

“Jesus.” Bucky’s eyes were wide. “Sounds like we’re both a mess.”

Velika laughed sadly and nodded in agreement. “Yeah, yeah...we kinda are. But we can at least be messes together.”

“You trust me enough for that?” Bucky asked with an arched brow.

“I do.” She admitted with a smile. “I trust you, Bucky. I trust the others, too.”

“Even Wilson?”

“Even Wilson.” Velika giggled and grabbed his arm. “Come on. Lay down. I promised to tell you about a constellation.”

She dragged him to a wider space of the roof and moved to his left side. She laid down with her arm behind her head. He cautiously laid next to her, giving her some space between them.

“Okay, so we can see a few constellations from this position. There’s one there, there, and there.” Velika pointed them out. “Which would you like?”

“How about...the third one?” Bucky suggested.

“Hercules was the son of Zeus and Alcmene...” Velika launched into the story, staring up at the sky as the stars twinkled back at them. Nine months with the team and she’d finally settled in.

𝓦𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝔀𝓲𝓵𝓵 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓼𝓮𝓮?

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itskateak · 4 years ago

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Lowkey...might write a Bucky X Fem!OC series based off a song I was supposed to sing in choir as our farewell song to the seniors (that we never got to sing because Covid)

It’ll be angsty and sad but I promise there’s a happy ending because I can’t be that mean

Anyone interested 👀

#my writing #katetalks #bucky barnes #james buchanan bucky barnes #james buchanan barnes #bucky barnes fanfiction #bucky barnes x oc #bucky barnes x original character #bucky barnes x ofc #velika dante king #of course its her #who else

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itskateak · 4 years ago

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Oceans and Stars - Epilogue

Story Summary: A story of how Bucky Barnes falls in love with oceans, stars, and the woman who gave him the reasons to.

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Velika Dante King (Fem!OC)

Chapter Summary: The Ocean at the Edge of the World has a legend about it. And Velika decides to put it to the test.

Words: 1K

Warnings: Fluff

A/N: And the series is done! Two things: I will never, ever get tired of listening to this song. And my next writing project is Mint Ice Cream & Bubblegum Kisses (Bucky Barnes x Reader). This has been fun to get into writing for tumblr and writing quick and short series. :)

This work is a gift to @fightmemacbeth, who is the whole reason I am in the Marvel Fandom in the first place. If it wasn’t for her constantly making references to the films (and Agents of Shield) for years on end, I never would’ve gotten fed up enough to just watch the MCU.

It’s also her fault I’m in love with Bucky Barnes. She started talking about Winter Soldier and I wasn’t remembering details of that film so I went back and rewatched the Captain America films. That was when I fell in love with Bucky Barnes and the Winter Soldier.

What I’m saying is: Thank you, Em, for showing me the wonderful thing that is the Marvel Cinematic Universe is.

Happy Birthday :) <3

I’m still not getting into Twilight.

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𝓢𝓽𝓸𝓻𝓲𝓮𝓼 𝓸𝓯．．．

Velika dismounted her horse and landed in the black sand. Her hair blew wildly in the breeze, her skirt billowing around her legs as well. She smiled as Bucky slid off beside her, a breath of amazement leaving him.

The Ocean at the Edge of the World was just as beautiful as she had remembered, if not more. The crystalline blue ocean reflected the setting sun, which painted the sky all sorts of fiery colors. The black sand was warm from the heat of the sun.

"You weren't joking," Bucky whispered, eyes wide. He looked out at the ocean to where it disappeared into the horizon. "It's gorgeous."

"I know. I had never been here before the war, but it was the perfect spot to camp for a few days." Velika took the horse's reins from him, leading them down the beach to the tidal pools, which held fresh water for them to drink from.

Bucky followed her, eyes trained on the ocean. His hair was tied in a low bun, but a few stray pieces framed his face from where they'd fallen out.

"Once I get the horses settled, we can watch the sunset and wait for the stars to come out." Velika tied the horses to a post, petting their muzzles. They snuffled at her and bent their heads to drink from the pools.

Bucky pulled the packs from the horses and swung them over his shoulder. She reached for his hand and twined her fingers with his, starting back down the beach.

"This really is a beautiful place," Bucky said wistfully.

"Just wait until the sun goes down and the stars come out." Velika smiled and tugged him closer to the water. They stopped and rolled out a blanket. She slipped her shoes off and ran to the water's edge, her hair flying behind her. She slowed and let the waves wash over her feet and she smiled broadly.

Bucky wrapped his arms around her waist, pressing a kiss to her cheek. He swayed her slightly, smiling as she laughed. "Your eyes are the same color as the water."

"My eyes are a lighter blue, darling. The water is turquoise. Or cerulean." Velika leaned back against his chest, looking up at him with an amused smile.

"You think so?" Bucky mused, glancing between the water and her eyes. "Yeah, I think you're right." He leaned down and kissed her gently, bringing a hand up to cup her cheek.

Velika laid a hand over his, pulling back after a moment. "You know, this was where I realized I was in love with you."

"Really?"

"Mhmm. During the war, when we camped here. I sat on the shore and stared at the stars. And I just knew." She turned back to look at the horizon.

"Remember that cove in the Caribbean we found?" He asked, resting his chin on her shoulder. The water washed over their feet, conforming around their ankles without care and greeting them like old friends.

"The one where I dragged you into the water in our underwear?" Velika rested her hands on his where they were wrapped around her waist.

"That's where I knew. Steve and I were out there to clear the base you and I reconned. It was while you were gone and I was missin' you like crazy. He and I just talked for hours and suddenly I just knew." Bucky hummed in her ear, pressing a kiss to her cheek.

"I love you," Velika said.

"I love you, too," Bucky whispered.

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The stars eventually began to fill the sky, twinkling brightly like they were laughing. The horizon entirely disappeared as the reflection on the Ocean made it nearly indistinguishable of where the sky ended and water began. It was still impossible to make any sort of constellation, but that didn't stop them from trying. A dolphin. A rose. A bunny with the moon.

Velika laid with her head on Bucky's chest, curled into his side. He rubbed circles on her hip with his thumb, other arm folded under his head. She sat up, rifling through the bags quietly.

"Whatcha doin', doll?" Bucky asked, rolling onto his side to watch her.

"There's a legend about this Ocean and I figured we could put it to the test while we're out here." Velika drew a marker and flat stone out with a smile.

"I'm intrigued." Bucky propped his head up with his elbow with a lopsided grin.

"Legend has it, Fate herself made this Ocean. If two lovers write their initials on either side of a stone and throw it as far as they can into the Ocean, the stars will tell them if Fate decrees they should be together. Legend says that every star in this sky were created by lovers casting stones in. A new star will join the sky if the lovers are meant to be." Velika explains, shifting to her knees. She writes her initials - V. D. K. - onto the stone and holds them out to Bucky.

Bucky took the marker and stone, turning it over to write J. B. B. by the light of the full moon. He got to his feet, helping her up and walking with her down to the water's edge.

"Would you like to throw it?" He asked, tucking the marker into his pocket.

"You do the honors, baby." She responded, stepping back to give him space.

Bucky brought his arm back and threw the stone as far as he could. The surface of the Ocean was barely disturbed.

Velika wrapped her arms around his torso, laying her head on his chest. His arms fell around her waist, resting his chin on the top of her head.

The Ocean's waves were steady, like Bucky's heartbeat. She watched the sky, waiting to see if the legends were true. The stars twinkled back at her, winking and blinking like they were excited.

Velika grinned suddenly and pulled him down to kiss her. She stood on her toes, throwing her arms around his neck to hold him tight. He smiled into the kiss.

A new Star sparkled brilliantly above them, reflecting in the Ocean.

𝓞𝓬𝓮𝓪𝓷𝓼 𝓐𝓷𝓭 𝓢𝓽𝓪𝓻𝓼

#oceans and stars #bucky barnes #james buchanan barnes #bucky barnes x oc #bucky barnes x ofc #bucky barnes x original character #bucky barnes x original female character #bucky barnes fanfiction #mcu fanfiction #marvel fanfiction #velika dante king #it's over #:")#it's over now the music of the niiiight #this is a weird feeling but i love it

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itskateak · 4 years ago

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Oceans and Stars - Chapter 9

Story Summary: A story of how Bucky Barnes falls in love with oceans, stars, and the woman who gave him the reasons to.

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Velika Dante King (Fem!OC)

Chapter Summary: A woman in uniform arrives at the compound and everyone knows what that means.

Words: 3.8K (dang)

Warnings: Mentions of war, mild language, loss, grief

A/N: I'm not sorry about this. :) but I also kinda am.

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𝓕𝓻𝓲𝓮𝓷𝓭𝓼 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓻𝓲𝓿𝓮𝓻𝓼 𝓰𝓸

The woman straightened her pencil skirt with shaky hands. She had done four notifications in the last week and they hadn't got any easier. These people had been her friends and seeing the faces of their families and friends deepened the hole in her chest.

The large compound loomed over her, casting a shadow that would've been intimidating if she hadn't been to Hell and back many times. The glass doors were easy to open and the chill of the air conditioning made her shiver. She approached the receptionist's desk, a file held in the crook of her elbow. The official report did very little to explain what had happened and it wouldn't provide any comfort to those who lost her.

"Hi, how can I help you?" The receptionist asked with a smile.

"Hello. I need to speak with those on the Avengers team urgently," She said, swallowing the lump in her throat.

"In regards to what?"

"Velika Dante King." The receptionist's smile fell and nodded.

"I'll page you through. Friday, please alert the Avengers to gather in conference room A."

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The moment Bucky walked into the room, he knew something was wrong. Something was terribly wrong. His chest tightened and his stomach sank as the woman in uniform gave them all a sympathetic smile. He knew immediately what was happening and his heart pounded.

"I am Lady Belial of the Office of Afterlife Services, but I am here as a representative of the Kingdom of Morningstar and Queen Lunara." Belial set a file down onto the conference room table, the Kingdom's seal printed on the front. A name was scrawled across the front: Lt. Velika

"What happened?" Bucky cut to the chase, surprised that he was able to speak at all. His throat was tight and his right hand was beginning to shake. This couldn't be happening. It was just a bad dream and he was going to wake up and everything was going to be fine.

"Bucky, who says anything bad happened?" Steve asked though he didn't sound convinced himself. He was just trying to calm him down.

"Because I know what this is, Steve. We both know what this is. We were in the military. It's a notification. So, what happened to her?" Bucky turned to the woman, an edge to his voice. He clenched his right hand to try and steady it. His nails dug into his palm to ground himself - a coping mechanism that Naomi had berated him for time and time again.

"The official report states that most of her unit went MIA on the southern front two days ago, but it's bullshit." Belial's shoulders dropped. "Two weeks ago, her unit went missing. We found most of them, but Velika is still MIA. If not found in the next week, we have to change her active status to inactive, announcing her killed in action. I'm so sorry."

Bucky felt his breath freeze in his chest and his throat closed up. He knew from the moment he'd stepped into the room that this would be the news delivered but there was something else about having it confirmed. He closed his eyes and willed himself to wake up.

Wanda was wrapped in Vision's arms, crying softly. She'd already lost so much and it never got easier. Especially during the younger years of her life. Even as a young adult, now, she still continued to lose.

Sam had his arms crossed, eyes on the floor. A veteran like himself knew the chances that she'd turn up were low. He sniffed and scratched under his eye, acting like he wasn't about to cry.

"How close is the war to ending?" Tony asked, voice thick. He'd sunk into a chair after the news, no doubt thinking about how he was going to break the news to his spider-kid.

"In Earthen time, a few more months from my estimations. It's been thirteen years for us and we're all wanting it to end." Belial said.

"Isn't there something more you can do?" Natasha's brow was furrowed, tone sharp like she didn't believe the woman.

"I'm so sorry. We're doing all we can but even then I don't know if it'll be enough. It's a large realm to cover and some of the fighting has even pushed into Purgatory." Belial sighed. "We do know they're moving her location from what her unit mates have said. If she's even in Hell or Purgatory anymore, that is."

Bucky dug his nails into his skin hard enough to nearly draw blood. He was sure he was the only one who really understood what that might mean. Velika's history with Heaven was very rocky and if she wasn't in Hell or Purgatory...he didn't want to think about it. He didn't want to even consider it.

"What do you mean?" Steve asked.

"It's possible they took her back to Heaven. And if that's true, there's no getting her back because they'll either kill her or put her under their control again." Belial looked grim.

"How could you let that happen? You knew it was a risk and still called her to fight. She knew it was a risk and she still went! She trusted that you wouldn't let it happen!" Bucky suddenly burst out, voice louder than he intended.

"Buck, I know you're upset, but don't yell at her. She wasn't responsible for what happened." Steve placed his hand on Bucky's shoulder and he shook it off.

"I wish there was more I could do. I really do. I know what they did to her. I know what happened. But if it was her decision to go and fight, then you need to respect it. It was her choice." Belial said. "You understand, Sergeant Barnes."

"She was drafted. I enlisted. There's a difference. I chose to fight. She didn't." He said through gritted teeth.

"She knew when she asked for protection from the Kingdom that if they were to ever go to war, she would have to fight. She chose that." Belial matched his tone. "Just like every other fallen angel who asked for the protection of the Kingdom. It was the price she knew to pay for her freedom."

"What kind of bullshit system is that? She wasn't free. She has a bag under her bed with supplies in case she had to run. Run to protect us because she was terrified someone would come for her and hurt the people she cared about." Bucky was shaking, anger surging through his veins. "That isn't freedom."

"The Kingdom would protect her."

"Just like they protected her from being taken on the battlefield?" Bucky shook his head in disbelief, tears pushing at his eyes. "She laid her life on the line to protect a Kingdom that didn't give a shit about her." He turned and left the room, ignoring Steve calling his name. He needed to be alone.

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𝓦𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝔂 𝓶𝓾𝓼𝓽 𝓰𝓸.

It had been three weeks since they'd been told of Velika's disappearance and two weeks since she was officially announced as killed in action. Two weeks since Bucky had left his room.

Steve and Sam came to check on him occasionally, bringing him food and taking the barely touched plates with them. They never lingered long, sitting on the edge of the bed quietly and giving updates on the world around him. He had no interest in the world around him. Not now that she was gone.

"Buck, you have to get up sometime. I know it's hard, but you'll feel better if you just walk down the hall," Steve said during one of his visits, a hand resting on Bucky's calf. He hadn't tried to get him up and moving until the last few days, hopeful that they could just get him out of bed for a change.

Bucky didn't say anything. He never did. He didn't trust himself to speak, afraid that if he opened his mouth, a sob would come out. He was so tired of crying and his head hurt constantly from dehydration. He couldn't bring himself to drink water to solve the issue. He could barely bring himself to eat most days.

"I know you miss her. We all do. But would she want you to waste away in your room like this?" Steve asked, patting his leg gently. He knew Steve meant well and came from a place of concern but he didn't want to hear it.

"Get out." Bucky croaked, eyes screwing shut.

Steve sighed and quietly shut the door on his way out, leaving Bucky to his misery.

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Bucky stared blankly at the ceiling, spread out across his bed. He'd gotten up and showered at least, but that was all he could bring himself to do. It's progress. He thought. His therapist would've applauded him and hyped him up about it.

That progress was quickly dashed when he saw her dog tags on the bathroom counter and it had caused him to spiral into a breakdown. He'd collapsed onto the floor in tears, clutching the only thing left of her in his hand.

When he'd gotten to his bed and found himself staring endlessly through the ceiling, he had no idea. But that's where he was when someone knocked.

The door opened and he blinked to clear his vision. That only pushed more tears down his face and he let them fall. He didn't want to put the energy into wiping them away. A weight settled on the edge of his bed.

"Hey, man. Just came in to say that Steve and Nat are heading to take down a base in an hour. There's a spot on the helicarrier if you want it." Sam said quietly. He'd always had a soft voice when he came in, which was a nice change from Steve's loudness. His best friend had always been louder than he'd intended, even when he tried to be quieter.

Sam had been good company on the days that he wanted it. He had stopped teasing him as much, but he still poked fun at Bucky on occasion. Never for things like wearing the same shirt four days in a row or having his hair look like a mess when it hadn't been brushed in days or making comments when he did dare to venture out into the common areas. He still made fun of him for walking slowly in the halls or standing in a doorway for more than half a second or yelling at him when he sat in 'his spot.' He wouldn't admit it, but Bucky was really grateful for that.

"They'd like to have you join them, but if you don't feel up to it, that's okay. The Guardians have landed so Gamora has offered to fill in." Sam further explained in a casual tone that really eased his guilt of not wanting to go.

Bucky opened his mouth to respond, but a sob slipped out. He drew in a shuddering breath, taken off guard at his own vulnerability.

"Are you okay? I mean, I know you're not okay. But what's up?" Sam turned with a soft expression, gently resting his hand on Bucky's knee in concern. "Do you wanna talk about it?"

"I miss her," Bucky whispered, throat burning from holding back another sob. "I miss her so much."

"I know, buddy."

"We were s'posed to go out," Bucky turned his head to look at Sam, voice wavering. "We were s'posed to go dancin' or sight seein' and she was s'posed to tell me about her favorite constellation."

"Aw, man. I'm sorry." Sam gave him a sympathetic smile. "Have you talked to Naomi yet?"

Bucky shook his head. He'd canceled his appointments the last three weeks, but he figured it would maybe do him some good to see his therapist.

He just didn't want to leave the compound and face the world without Velika.

"I'll call her office and see if she can do a house visit, okay? Do you want me to stay?" Sam asked. He always left the choice up to Bucky. Never wanted to intrude if he wanted to be alone.

Bucky nodded shakily, shifting to look back at the ceiling.

"Aight, man. I'll stay until you tell me to leave."

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Bucky had ventured out into the common room on a brave day, spending his time idly watching whatever was on the tv. It was some reality show about a famous family and he could not care less, but it was just background noise that distracted him from his thoughts. He had his computer sitting on his lap and he was reading through some of the social media posts he'd missed. He scrolled past the fan works, not really paying them mind. People would do what they would. As long as he didn't know, he didn't care.

Peter came in after school had gotten out. He usually came after school on Fridays and stayed the weekend for training. He was humming along to whatever music he was listening to and set his backpack down on the table.

Bucky looked up, watching him bop along to his music, and head for the fridge to grab a drink. He shook his head fondly and scrolled down.

"Oh, hi. Uh...Mr. Barnes, I-I didn't see you there." Peter said awkwardly, pulling his earbuds out.

"Don't think you saw much of anything while you were headbanging there, kiddo," Bucky replied with a friendly smile. "How'd that test go? History, right?"

"Uh, yeah! U.S. History, specifically. We've been talking about World War Two, so I pretty much nailed it." Peter shrugged.

"Helps to have us old farts around for your questions, huh?" Bucky had always found that conversation with the young Avenger came easy and even now in his very non-social state, it still flowed easily between them.

"Well, I mean yeah, but you're also fun to be around so it's really a win-win situation." Peter smiled and flopped down next to him on the couch. "Are you actually watching this?"

"Huh? Oh, no. It's just background noise. It was too quiet while I was just sitting here." Bucky looked up at the tv, brow furrowed. What an awful show. "If you want to change it, you can."

Peter grabbed the remote and navigated to one of the streaming systems. There was a bit of silence for a moment with intermittent plinks as he switched between titles. He gasped softly, which drew Bucky's attention.

"They have the Princess Bride! I haven't seen that movie in so long!" Peter grinned excitedly.

"What's that?" Bucky asked, looking up at the picture onscreen. He read the synopsis and became intrigued.

"Only like, the best movie ever? Have you not seen it?" Peter turned to him with a surprised expression.

"Uh, no. I think it was on the list that Velika...that Velika and I were working through." Bucky dropped his gaze to his laptop, the familiar ache in his chest returning. He missed her so much. The burning in his throat returned and he tried to hide how his breath hitched.

"Mr. Barnes, I know you miss her a lot...I do, too." Peter's tone changed immediately, becoming much softer and full of emotion.

"It sucks," Bucky muttered, not trusting his voice too much.

"It really does." Peter fell quiet after that, knowing that words weren't going to help.

Bucky was surprised when Peter pulled him into a hug. He turned and wrapped his arms around the boy.

"You looked like you needed a hug."

"I did, kiddo. Thanks." Bucky couldn't remember the last time someone had just hugged him. Steve would give him a one-armed hug around his shoulders, and Sam would pat his back. Natasha didn't really like physical affection so he never could count on it from her.

Peter didn't let him go until Bucky made the move to pull back. The hug had lasted long enough for the tv to go into sleep mode.

"So, you wanna watch it with me?" Peter asked, picking the remote back up.

"Is it worth it? Because Tony claimed The Fifth Element was the best movie ever made and that was a nightmare and a half." Bucky closed his laptop and leaned to put it on the coffee table.

"Mr. Stark is a tech genius. Not a movie genius." Peter grimaced. "The Princess Bride is fantastic. The book was even awesome."

"Alright. You've sold me. Let me get a drink."

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"Hey, Bucky. I was worried when you canceled your appointments but Steve told me what happened when I came in. I'm so sorry." Naomi perched on the side of his bed, glasses pushed to the top of her head. "I know how much she meant to you."

"You really don't," Bucky muttered, drawing his knees to his chest. He was sitting up against the headboard. He'd been having better days recently, but the last week had been very rough on him.

"Do you want to tell me about that, then?"

"I am...was in love with her." Bucky looked up at her with a vulnerability even she didn't expect. He'd never told anyone other than Steve. It was strange to say, but it felt right. Except it made his chest tighten in grief. "And I never got to tell her."

"Bucky...I'm really sorry." Naomi shifted and sat cross-legged at the end of his bed. "That's awful. I don't actually know what to say."

"We were supposed to go out when she got back. I asked her out on a date and she said yes. I was gonna take her out dancing." Bucky continued, eyes falling to the bedspread sadly. "Except she can't dance to save her life. Anything more than slow dancing and she'll step on your toes. I wouldn't mind, though. As long as she was having fun."

Naomi smiled, nodding along as she listened. She wouldn't correct him on his tense usage. Not yet, anyway. "Would you be interested in taking me down the trail that leads to the river? A walk through the woods always helped me and I think you could use some fresh air."

Bucky thought about it carefully. He hadn't been out there since he'd lost her. Granted, he hadn't been out of the compound much since they were given the news. He'd just barely started coming out of his room more than once a day. But a walk through the woods sounded nice. So, he nodded and unfolded himself from his curled up position.

An hour later, a photo was posted on his Instagram of the fallen tree across the river. He hadn't been around on social media at all since the official notice of Velika's passing had been put out. His messages and notifications were filled with condolences and support. He hadn't the heart to read them yet. He put a lot of thought into the caption, thinking maybe to go simple and talk about his favorite memory with her.

Bucky decided to be honest.

It isn't the same without my girl who once made me face my fears head-on. Now I have to face them on my own. I wasn't ready then and I'm not ready now, but I know she'd want me to keep going and take the leap. Fearing the fall will only make you miss the landing.

I didn't know what she had meant by that in the moment, but I understand now. I miss her every single day and I know several others do as well. My girl was special to me and to many people and losing her has been one of the most difficult things I've ever gone through.

This place is not the same without her, but the view is still worth the risk of falling. A part of me still believes that she's out there, somewhere, fighting to get back. I don't know if it's worth it to let myself hang onto that small hope. I keep thinking that this is all a bad dream and I'm going to wake up. It's been nearly three years since she left to fight, and nothing hurts more than the promises she didn't get to keep. That hopeful part of me is going to keep waiting.

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Bucky sighed and ran a hand through his hair. The ocean in the distance washed against the shore steadily, like the beating of a heart. He could barely see the inky water in the soft moonlight. The salty breeze blew past him, rustling the grass sprouting from the dunes below the deck.

Steve had decided that the team needed a retreat to take some time to recover. Being in the compound didn't give everyone time to heal from losing Velika, considering that everything around them kept moving on and there were daily reminders of the hole in their lives. A trip to a secluded beach had been his decision, which happened to be perfect as Tony brought up the fact he owned a private beach house in Greece.

The location only made Bucky miss her so much more. The stars twinkled back at him, but they had felt cold ever since he lost her. The constellations were not as friendly and intriguing as they had once been. He sighed again, pushing down tears. He was done crying.

It had been six months and they had received word that the war was over. Hell had won and her death wasn't in vain. Her brother had visited and could offer very little consolation before he had to leave to return to the business he ran.

The pain hadn't gotten any better, but Bucky had learned how to handle the daily heartache he felt. He wondered if it would ever get easier or if he would forever feel like his heart had been ripped out of his chest. Missions had become a great distraction to help him focus on other things, but at night, he was left alone with his thoughts. Like tonight.

Footsteps interrupted the sounds of the night, which warned him of someone approaching. He figured it was Steve, Sam, or even Nat coming to try and bring him inside. He couldn't sleep, so he came out to try and quiet his mind and find some peace. He didn't turn around to find out who it was, knowing they'd either move into his peripheral vision or speak.

"Hey, Bucky." He knew that voice. His eyes widened and he picked his head up. He didn't want to turn around, afraid that if he looked, it would be a hallucination. His heart was hammering against his chest, blocking out the sounds of the waves as it beat in his ears.

Against his better judgment, Bucky turned around and his breath caught in his throat.

"It's been a long time."

𝓛𝓮𝓪𝓿𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓾𝓼 𝔀𝓪𝓲𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰.

Taglist-

#oceans and stars #bucky barnes #james buchanan barnes #bucky barnes x oc #bucky barnes x ofc #bucky barnes x original character #bucky barnes x original female character #velika dante king #bucky barnes fanfiction #mcu fanfiction #marvel fanfiction

1 note · View note

itskateak · 4 years ago

Text

Oceans and Stars - Chapter 8

Story Summary: A story of how Bucky Barnes falls in love with oceans, stars, and the woman who gave him the reasons to.

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Velika Dante King (Fem!OC)

Chapter Summary: Bucky's life isn't easy without her, but he's getting by. And he's getting better.

Words: 3.2K

Warnings: Mentions of war, mild language, PTSD, Relapsing, Anxiety, canon typical violence, some fluff, harassment

A/N: I know the words of the song are the same as the last chapter, but that's because that section repeats.

Masterlist

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𝓛𝓲𝓿𝓮 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝔀𝓲𝓵𝓵 𝓵𝓲𝓿𝓮. {𝐿𝒾𝓋𝑒 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓌𝒾𝓁𝓁 𝓁𝒾𝓋𝑒}

Bucky glanced at his gloved hands, fingers laced as he rested his elbows on his knees. The waiting room was silent except for the receptionist taking calls from other patients. A diffuser puffed intermittently, spraying oils into the air. He recognized the smell of chamomile and lavender. It was meant to calm and relax people as they waited. Instead, it just made him more anxious.

He hated waiting in the open like this. He was lucky there wasn't anyone else in the waiting room with him and he was seriously considering leaving without even holding his appointment. The diffuser huffed out another dose of the anxious elixir.

Steve had offered to come with him, but he didn't want his best friend to see how broken he actually was. In some ways, Steve glossed over the cracks and believed the front Bucky put on when he was having a rough day or week or even month. It had been especially worse now that Velika hadn't been around.

"James Barnes?" A dark-skinned woman in a pair of jeans and a blue knit sweater called for his attention. She had a pair of thick-rimmed glasses pushed up onto her crown, holding her unnaturally colored box-braids back. Her eyes were a soft brown, which matched her soft and friendly smile.

Bucky stood slowly to not startle her and gave her the kind of smile people give when they hold doors open for others.

"I'm Doctor Naomi Winters. It's nice to meet you, James." Naomi extended her hand to him in a manner that didn't pressure him to return it. He did, though, and shook her hand.

"Bucky, please." He kept his left arm at his side and still.

"I'll make a note of that because I'm sure I'll forget in the next five minutes. It's been a long week. Come on back." Naomi rolled her eyes at herself and gestured with her head.

Bucky followed her down the hall. The walls were painted an awful beige color that reminded him of the sun-faded flour sacks he hauled down on the docks. Random paintings and pictures were hung between offices. Some were of plants and flowers, others were what he thought were meant to be inspirational quotes but really just sounded condescending.

Naomi opened a door to his right and invited him in, shutting it softly behind him. The room was a cool grey with paintings hung on one wall. A black bookshelf filled with various medical journals and alternative books was pushed into the corner. A plush rug in black was laid out across the floor, one edge of it hidden under a desk with a couple of computer monitors in sleep mode. A comfy looking grey couch was under the paintings and a chair by an end table sat opposite it. A deep red blanket was thrown over the back of the couch and a pair of decorative pillows sat against one of the arms. The room was dim, lit up by warm fairy lights in plastic jars.

"If there's anything you need to make you more comfortable, please let me know," Naomi said, grabbing a file from her desk and sinking into the chair.

Bucky nodded and sat cautiously on the couch, unsure of himself now that he was actually in the room with her. She picked up a pen and made a note at the top of the first page.

"Do you need a few minutes to get used to the room?" She asked, pulling her glasses down to rest low on her nose. She looked at him patiently over the top of them.

"I'm okay." He responded, voice much gruffer than he intended. He winced slightly and cleared his throat. "It's fine."

"Okay, Bucky. I glanced over your file and there's a lot to cover. We can start wherever you want and I won't push a subject if you tell me you don't want to talk about it in that session. I want this to be helpful to you and at your own pace," Naomi set her pen down and picked up a steaming mug on the table beside her. She wrapped her hands around it and took a sip.

Bucky nodded hesitantly. Where would he even begin? He furrowed his brow and dropped his gaze to the floor, eyes flickering over the threads of the carpet. There was a lot to cover over his life and finding a place to pull the thread without unraveling the carefully woven web he'd created was more difficult than he expected.

"Alright, I have an idea. I can see you're having a hard time trying to find a place to start. We can start with the intro survey you filled out and talk about each section. This will allow me to help diagnose you properly." Naomi spoke softly and with an evenness that was already loosening the tension in his shoulders.

"Okay." Bucky nodded again, lacing his hands together again.

"You checked most of the boxes for the anxiety parameters. Let's talk about that first." Naomi set her cup aside and took her pen up again.

Bucky took a deep breath. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad.

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"You okay, Bucky?" Steve checked in with him, putting a hand on his shoulder. They were between meeting people as the groups were being switched out.

"Yeah, why?" Bucky glanced at him before smiling to a fan who had called his name. He waved in the direction of the shout. The sea of people in line didn't let him pinpoint exactly who had said his name.

"I'm just making sure. It's a big crowd and it's a lot of people," Steve said, taking a step away as the next group of people were brought in.

"I'm okay. Promise." Bucky gave him a reassuring smile and had his attention diverted by one of the convention's staff. He greeted the person in front of him, making casual conversation and giving them a hug when they asked. He smiled for a photo, a warm feeling in his chest.

People had been wary to accept him at first. He hadn't attended public events like this often. He would sit on panels and do interviews, but other than that, he never did meet and greets. After attending therapy for a few months, he had felt stable enough to attend a short one.

A small boy, maybe ten, approached him with wide eyes and a smile. His mother stood behind him, a hand on his shoulder.

Bucky opened his mouth to say something when he noticed a pin on the boy's shirt. Immediately, he kneeled to be on the boy's level and pulled his sleeves up to the middle of his forearms.

"Hi!" Bucky signed.

The boy's eyes widened further in surprise. Even his mother seemed a little surprised. They had expected Clint Barton to know sign language since he was hard of hearing, but they really didn't expect Bucky Barnes, the ex-Winter Soldier, to know sign language.

"Hi!" The boy beamed.

"How are you?"

"Excited and happy to talk with you. How are you?"

"A little nervous. My sign is rusty. But happy to talk with you, too. What's your name?"

"My name is James."

"My first name is James, too. But everyone calls me Bucky." He tucked a piece of hair behind his ear. "What's been your favorite part about the con so far?"

"Meeting you." James ducked his head sheepishly. "Your arm is so cool! I really liked the-" James broke into a flurry of signs that Bucky couldn't keep up with.

"Hold on! Slow down, please. I can't understand at that speed." Bucky chuckled at his enthusiasm. It made his heart swell.

"Sorry. I got excited. I talk fast when I'm excited. I really liked the red star on your silver arm, but I know it was tied to really bad things in your past so I'm happy for you now that it's gone. Your new arm looks really, really pretty! I love the gold designs." James' enthusiasm wasn't dulled even with the slower signing. He was nearly bouncing on his feet.

"Thank you. I didn't design the appearance but I really like it, too. Shuri was excited the whole time she was fitting it. It's not as glitchy as the silver one, which means less time I have to spend around the compound missing an arm." Bucky wrinkled his nose up in mock disgust before chuckling. "Did you see anything cool today or buy something from the vendors?"

"I got this replica of your .... and meeting all of you guys was really fun!"

Bucky furrowed his brow and looked to his mother, repeating the sign he didn't understand and asking for its meaning.

"Oh! Motorcycle. That's not a sign I've seen before. I usually fingerspelled it. Would you like to take a picture?"

"Yes, please!"

"Do you mind if I use my phone to also take a photo?" Bucky verbally asked James' mother but signed as well so James could understand him.

"Go ahead!"

A staff member took Bucky's phone from him and he wrapped his right arm around the boy. He held his left hand up with the sign for I love you and smiled.

James' mother counted down with sign and snapped a few photos. The staff member followed her lead. They handed Bucky's phone back to him and he nodded to them in thanks.

"Can I give you a hug?" James asked with a shy smile. Bucky opened his arms up and nodded. James threw his arms around his shoulders, squeezing tightly. Bucky squeezed him back, rocking from side to side slightly.

James' mother tapped James on the shoulder and signaled it was time for them to move on. James pulled back and waved, thanking Bucky.

"I love you, James. You're a superhero."

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Bucky wandered through the bookshelves, head tilted inquisitively as he read the titles. His hands were sunk into his pockets. He'd discovered this small bookshop with Velika on accident. They had been wandering through New York's downtown areas when the rain had suddenly started to pour down. They found shelter in the family-owned bookshop tucked between a thrift store and a business office.

He pulled a book that had caught his attention from the shelf, reading the synopsis curiously. He'd been reading a lot more, finding it enjoyable again. Usually, his mind would wander while reading, and his thoughts would be completely unrestricted. Now, he could read for hours and be uninterrupted by his intrusive thoughts.

The synopsis wasn't as intriguing as he'd hoped so he put it back in its place and continued down the row.

A scoff behind him interrupted the quiet calm of the shop, but he paid it no mind. He did step closer to the shelf in case it was someone wanting to pass behind him. He took up a good amount of space in the small aisles and didn't want to be a bad person.

"I see you're letting anyone in here." The voice was muffled, and obviously feminine, but he heard it clearly. Blame his superhuman hearing.

"What do you mean, Loraine?" The owner, a kindly old Jewish man, asked in a gentle voice.

"You let a criminal in here." She whispered. "He deserves to be in jail. Not browsing your shelves."

"He has done no harm and he is quite kind. You would know if you talked to him. He's a hero. He saved my mother from certain death when he was a Howling Commando. This bookshop wouldn't exist if not for him. If you are going to continue, then you will leave." The owner's voice was firm and the door slammed closed shortly after. "I'm sorry about her, Mr. Barnes."

"You don't need to be sorry, sir. It's completely alright. I'm used to it." Bucky rounded the end of the shelf with a soft smile.

"But you shouldn't be. You should not be judged on the actions you could not control but rather the actions you did. That is what makes you the man you are." The owner extended his hand to Bucky.

"I have never asked your name." Bucky shook his hand firmly and smiled.

"Mendel Belenky. It is a pleasure to truly meet you, Mr. Barnes." Mendel said in a wistful tone.

"Please, just call me Bucky. Would you like to talk sometime about your mother and the war?" He offered, shoving his hands back into his pockets.

"I would love to, Bucky. And know you are always welcome in my store." Mendel's warm eyes crinkled up as he smiled.

"Thank you."

"Now, I haven't seen that lovely woman that is usually with you in awhile. Did you two break up?" Mendel asked.

"Ah, no. We weren't dating. We're just friends. Velika is currently fighting on the frontlines of a war between her homeland and her birthland." Bucky explained, face flushing lightly.

"I do hope she comes home. And you finally ask her out." Mendel winked and returned to the counter.

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𝓖𝓻𝓸𝔀 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝔀𝓲𝓵𝓵 𝓰𝓻𝓸𝔀. {𝒢𝓇𝑜𝓌 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓌𝒾𝓁𝓁 𝑔𝓇𝑜𝓌}

"So, how has the last week been?" Naomi asked, settling in her chair with a sigh. She flashed him a genuine smile as she picked her ever steaming mug of tea up.

"I didn't have any nightmares. At all." Bucky grinned, a feeling a pride spreading through his chest.

"That's great! That's really good!" Naomi's smile grew and she wrote it down on the notepad. "How many times did you feel overwhelmed or anxious this week?"

"Twice. I went on a mission Monday to Wednesday, so I was nervous beforehand. The second time was after I got out of the shower. I was thinking too much and it just hit me." Bucky stretched his right hand against his left, gloves tucked away in his pocket. He'd stopped wearing them as much in public.

"Any progress made is good. You were overwhelmed and anxious five times at the time of our last visit and you had two nightmares. I say that you're definitely getting better with every week." Naomi made another note. "Let's talk about fears this time since you mentioned feeling like you have irrational fears last time we met. Can you tell me more about that?"

"It sounds ridiculous, but I'm terrified of falling. Heights don't bug me, but falling? It scares me." Bucky sighed, leaning back against the couch. "Ever since I fell off the train and into that ravine, I just...I dunno."

"It's perfectly rational, Bucky. You fell something like five hundred feet. Anyone would be scared to fall after something like that," Naomi said.

"Jeez, you sound like Velika. She nearly said something identical to that a couple of years ago." Bucky smiled fondly at the memory.

"Tell me about that, then. And tell me about her."

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"Bucky, there's two on your tail!" Nat shouted from across the room before swinging herself around a guy nearly twice her height.

"Copy that." Bucky turned and engaged with the two men who had followed him. They weren't anywhere close to being a match for him. He continued towards the main server room, hand on the top of the pistol strapped to his right thigh.

"You guys have five minutes to get back out here before the charges go off. Get a move on!" Tony ordered through the coms.

"Yeah, yeah. We're movin' as fast as we can." Bucky ducked into a hall, firing rounds off at the people coming at him. He heard someone approaching from behind him but he wasn't concerned.

A round went off behind him and an exasperated sigh followed. "Barnes, you nearly just got your head blown clean off. What the hell was that?" Natasha asked.

"I...thought Velika was here again. Thought she had my six." Bucky admitted in a quiet voice. Nat's expression changed and she patted his arm sympathetically.

"I know, Bucky. We all miss her."

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"You son of a bitch!" Sam howled, nearly coming across the kitchen table in rage.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Did you say something, Wilson? I couldn't hear you over the sound of all this money." Bucky dramatically fanned himself with millions of dollars worth of Monopoly money. He had a shit-eating grin as he watched Sam turn red in rage.

"He cheated. He had to have cheated." Tony threw his money onto the board in frustration.

"That's it. You're banned from playing Monopoly with us ever again." Nat threw a handful of popcorn at Bucky and he started laughing.

"Sleep with one eye open, Barnes. You're gonna pay for taking away my win." Sam fumed, crossing his arms.

"Whatever you say, Wilson. Whatever you say."

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𝓢𝓲𝓷𝓰, 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝔀𝓲𝓵𝓵 𝓼𝓲𝓷𝓰.

Bucky leaned his head back against the seat of the couch, emotionless gaze staring at the grey wall. He hadn't slept for the last two days and he was exhausted both physically and mentally. He'd been doing so well and suddenly it all fell apart. So here he was, sitting on the floor of his therapist's office.

Naomi settled next to him, reaching over his legs to set a mug of tea on the solid floor. She held her usual cup in her hand, sitting cross-legged and facing the wall with him. He wasn't ready to talk. He felt numb. Shattered. His arms laid limply in his lap and he stared blankly ahead.

"If you need anything, you just have to ask. When you're ready to talk, I'll be here. I've cleared the rest of my schedule so you can be here as long as you need." Naomi quietly broke the silence.

"You didn't have to do that," Bucky muttered, voice gravelly and hoarse. His gaze didn't waver from the grey wall.

"I didn't, but I felt it was the best option for you. I felt it was what you needed." Naomi took a sip of her tea. "I will be here whenever you're ready."

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Bucky felt his phone buzz in his pocket and he pulled it out to check the notification. Rain tapped against the window, breaking through the soft jazz music playing from an old record player. He unlocked his phone and navigated to Instagram. A memory had popped up from two years ago. He clicked on it and couldn't stop the smile that spread across his face.

The photo was of him and Velika on the fallen tree above the river. She had her braid pulled over her shoulder, a bright smile on her face as she leaned against his shoulder to be in frame. His left eye was squinted because they were facing the sun, but he was smiling as well. Today's adventure included nearly falling into a river because that one wanted to sit on a tree above the water.

"Let me see her," Mendel said, shifting his glasses further down the bridge of his nose. Bucky looked at him with mild confusion. "Oh, don't pretend it isn't her. I know that smile when I see it."

Bucky turned his phone around to show him the photo and Mendel smiled with a nod. "She is beautiful. An angel, yes?"

"You have no idea."

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Bucky laid on the roof with his left arm under his head, watching the stars. It wasn't the same without Velika, but it brought him comfort on the nights he couldn't sleep. He played with her dog tags as he stared, a slight smile on his lips.

"I love you, Velika," He whispered to the moon.

𝓨𝓸𝓾'𝓵𝓵 𝓼𝓲𝓷𝓰. 𝓨𝓸𝓾 𝔀𝓲𝓵𝓵 𝓯𝓵𝓸𝔀.

Taglist-

#oceans and stars #my writing #bucky barnes #james buchanan barnes #bucky barnes x oc #bucky barnes x original character #bucky barnes x ofc #bucky barnes x original female character #bucky barnes fanfiction #velika dante king #mcu #marvel #mcu fanfiction #marvel fanfiction

1 note · View note

itskateak · 4 years ago

Text

I know I have the Tzion/Julian thing but that’s taking longer to write as I realized I have no idea what to do for it now, which is ridiculous because I pretty much had the whole thing planned and then I sat down to write it and there it went.

Anyway. Inspired by Its Been a Long, Long Time, comes a story I may want to write if people are willing to read it. A one shot with a character name Velika. Just cute fluff.

Anyone game for a marvel one shot?

#my writing #katetalks #velika dante king #ignore her for now #marvel #mcu #bucky barnes #bucky barnes x original female character

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itskateak · 4 years ago

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Oceans and Stars - Chapter 3

(Art by itskate....do not repost without permission)

Story Summary: A story of how Bucky Barnes falls in love with oceans, stars, and the woman who gave him the reasons to.

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Velika Dante King (Fem!OC)

Chapter Summary: Something has Velika on edge but she refuses to talk about it. She's looking for answers and takes the team with her.

Words: 1.9K

Warnings: Mentions of war, anxiety, and death

A/N: The version of this song our choir did can be found through this link, now. :) It's a rehearsal version as we didn't get to perform it...so my choir teacher talks at the very end.

Masterlist

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𝓦𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓭𝓸 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓮𝔁𝓹𝓮𝓬𝓽 𝓽𝓸 𝓯𝓲𝓷𝓭?

The helicarrier touched down on the Arctic tundra, expertly maneuvered to land on the edge of the coast. The engines melted divets in the thick snow as they powered down. The water froze to create an icy sheen as soon as the engines shut off. The setting sun painted the land with soft pinks and oranges. It was still early enough in the winter season that the sun hadn't set for the few months to cover the tundra in a long night.

Velika pulled a heavy fur cloak around her shoulders, securing it at her neck. The bear fur would keep her warm even in the subzero temperatures when the sun was fully below the horizon. She tugged a pair of gloves on, tucking the ends into her jacket sleeves, and took a deep breath as the tailgate lowered to the edge of the ice. The cold air blew in immediately, swirling snow onto the landing.

"Christ, that's freezing!" Sam gasped, wrapping his arms around himself. He rubbed his arms quickly to generate some heat.

"We're above the Arctic circle, Wilson. Of course, it's freezing," Velika responded, starting down the ramp.

"So, what're we looking for?" Tony met her outside, hovering above the ground. "I'll do an air recon and see if I can find whatever it is."

"Ruins or a temple made of ice. If the temple is still standing, then the ice should look like it's holding galaxies and the aurora." Velika flicked her flashlight on and pulled her scarf up to cover her face.

"Got it. Magical ruins." Tony nodded and blasted off, heading north. He disappeared into the light of the sun, his armor blending in with the star.

"Don't make me carry you through the snow," Bucky teased, pulling the fabric mask up over his nose. "I am not doing that again."

"Serbia was different!" Velika shot him a glare. "The snow was three feet deep and I had two bullets in my leg."

"She's got you there, man," Sam said through their coms. He was staying at the ship to track their GPS locations because he didn't like the cold. He refused to trek out into the frozen lands.

"No one asked you, Wilson," Bucky grumbled, tucking his chin into the collar of his jacket. He shoved his hands into his pockets despite wearing gloves.

"At least someone's on my side." Velika shifted the fur cloak to block against the wind blowing from the east. "Once we get on the ice, the snow won't be so bad."

"Ground Control, this is Major Tom. I'm seeing nothing to the north. Gonna follow the coast down to the east before circling back to the west." Tony's voice made her sigh in frustration. Anxiety was already building in her chest. They had to find it.

"This is Ground Control to Major Tom. We copy." Velika took the lead toward the west. She squinted through the darkness, scanning her light from side to side. The ice flow was silent other than the howling wind and the conversation between them.

"Since when is he a Major named Tom?" Bucky asked, brow furrowed.

"It's a David Bowie song. Come on, Barnes!" Sam sounded exasperated as he sighed.

"Who?"

"David Bowie was a musician from the sixties and made music pretty much until he died in twenty-sixteen. He acted in a few movies as well. Played the Goblin King in Labyrinth. Ground Control to Major Tom is a quote from his nineteen sixty-nine song Space Oddity," Velika explained absently, scanning the horizon for anything that might indicate they were heading in the right direction.

"See! Even Velika knows who Bowie is!" Sam's grin could be heard in his voice.

"Sam, my brother slept with the man back in the eighties. I had no idea who he was before that," Velika laughed, shaking her head. Sam sputtered in her ear in disbelief.

Bucky smiled to himself, glancing behind them to make sure there wasn't any wildlife to threaten them. He hadn't heard her laugh in a while and it made him relieved.

"East is clear. Heading west." Tony interrupted. Sam confirmed that he had him on the radar.

"What do you expect to find out here?" Bucky asked, catching up with Velika. He lifted his shoulders to block the wind from whipping his face and squinted as a particularly strong gust blew past.

"Someone who can help." She responded, dropping her head. "I hope."

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"She's really snippy today." Natasha mused as she poured herself a glass of milk.

"I heard her on the phone the other day talking in a language I didn't recognize. She said her brother's name once or twice and kept running her hand through her hair like she does when she's stressed," Wanda tossed a piece of popcorn in her mouth. Her laptop was open in front of her and she had just paused the tv show she was watching.

"I don't know what's up with her. I asked and she shook her head and clammed up." Natasha wrinkled her nose up.

"Even Bucky has no idea what's bugging her," Steve sighed, looking up from Bucky's text message. The team's dynamic had been tense for a week after Velika's sudden personality shift. "He's tried to talk to her but she just shakes her head and walks away."

"I suggested that she needed to get laid or something but she just glared at me and left the room." Sam leaned against the counter, his arms folded across his chest.

"Guys, I need a favor." The woman in question suddenly swept into the kitchen with a notepad in her hand.

"Oh, hi. You're chipper today," Sam shot her a smile and got a glare in return.

"Try me, Wilson." She growled. "I'll be in conference room B. Meet me in ten minutes." Velika left as suddenly as she arrived.

The room was silent for a beat before everyone glanced at each other with the same thought. Something was up.

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"You want to do what now?" Tony asked, a brow arched.

"It sounds crazy, I know. But if there's even a chance that it's real, I need to find it. It's important." Velika had spent the last hour reading through her annotated version of an old legend about an ice temple that was home to Fate. She was sure she'd found the place it was describing.

"Well, I'm not doing anything this weekend so I'm game." Tony shrugged.

"I'll go as long as I get to stay in the helicarrier," Sam said. "I don't do cold."

"I'll go," Bucky, who had been silently worrying the inside of his lip the whole time, finally spoke. He looked up from the table and nodded once to double down on his statement.

"I only need three other people." Velika smiled for the first time in a week. Her eyes were alight with relief and her shoulders sank like a weight had been lifted off them.

"Let's get prepped, then."

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"Velika, we've been out here for two hours. It's getting darker by the minute." Bucky called from a few paces behind her. His metal arm was starting to stiffen and twitch. "We need to head back to the helicarrier."

"It has to be here! We can't go back without finding it." She shouted back, eyes squinting to peer through the darkness. The wind had died down out of nowhere and the sky was completely clear of clouds. The stars did little to light the way and the moon was entirely in shadow.

"Velika!" Bucky grabbed her shoulder, stopping her in her tracks. "What's going on with you? The last week you've been moody and distant. Now we're searching through some barren and cold land for a legend."

"It doesn't matter. We just have to find it." Velika tried to pull away from him, but he held her in place. "Bucky, please. I have to find it." Her eyes glistened with tears and her voice faltered. "There's no other option."

Bucky furrowed his brow in concern. He opened his mouth to question her further when she suddenly let out a broken sob, tears spilling onto her windburned cheeks. "Velika?"

"It's the last chance any of us have. The only option to save us from war." She cried, wiping the tears from her face before they froze in the subzero temperature. "I don't wanna fight, Bucky. I don't wanna face them. Don't wanna risk being dragged back to be put under their control."

"I don't understand." Bucky stepped around her, ducking his head to look her in the eye. It was hard to see in such darkness.

"Rising tensions between Hell and Heaven means that war is closer than it's ever been." She hiccuped, her chest heaving as she tried to breathe. She had kept this breakdown at bay for so long but now that she was faced with the prospect that the expedition failed, everything fell apart. "Any attempt at peace with Heaven we've tried to make has failed and if I don't find this temple and talk to Fate..."

Bucky pulled her into a hug, holding her tightly. "Velika, I think it's just a legend. If we haven't found it by now, I don't think we'll find it at all. I'm sorry."

She clutched at his jacket, shaking in his arms as she sobbed. His heart ached for her. When America had been on the verge of joining World War Two, he had been praying they wouldn't. But he knew they would in the back of his mind. "I don't wanna leave you guys. I don't wanna fight."

"I know. But you've done all you can and now all you can do is wait to see if war even breaks out." He soothed, rubbing her back. "And spend as much time as you can with the people you care about.

Bucky continued to hold her as she calmed down, whispering what he hoped were comforting words. War was a huge weight on anyone's shoulders. The fact she was trying desperately to find a peaceful solution to avoid it just to stay with them made his heart swell, but he felt that was selfish.

Velika lifted her head after taking a steadying breath, eyes soft and expression vulnerable. Her lips parted slightly and she looked past his shoulder in wonder. "Look."

Bucky turned his head to follow her gaze. "Oh, wow."

The Northern Lights were dancing overhead in vibrant colors of green. Purple lined the top with a pale red barely flickering at the tips. They moved like waves in the ocean, lighting up the sky brighter than the stars.

Velika drew in a shuddering gasp. A coil in her ribs made dread settle in the pit of her stomach. The lights were telling her something. The answer to her question. They were the temple she was looking for. "Two months."

"What?" Bucky turned back to her with a questioning look. He hadn't quite heard her while he was distracted.

"Gorgeous." She said, louder, covering up her revelation.

"They are. Come on. Let's head back to the helicarrier. I'm starting to feel the cold." Bucky gave her a lopsided grin and took the flashlight from her hand. He started back toward where they had come from and she sighed sadly before starting after him.

Two months later, Velika received a letter announcing the death of her ex-commander and the birth of war.

𝓢𝓸 𝓯𝓪𝓻 𝓪𝔀𝓪𝔂 𝓯𝓻𝓸𝓶 𝓱𝓸𝓶𝓮?

Taglist-

#oceans and stars #Bucky Barnes #bucky barnes x original female character #bucky barnes x ofc #bucky barnes x oc #bucky barnes x original character #james buchanan barnes #velika dante king #mcu #mcu fanfiction #marvel #marvel fanfiction #bucky barnes fanfiction

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