Tumgik
#and uh second got soldier bc it was the last one left and it fits him as well it it'd fit the third so
pocketramblr · 3 years
Text
Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media
Soldier, Poet, King
Or, an attempt to exorcise the idea that wants to do an animatic
199 notes · View notes
nothinghcppens · 3 years
Text
small talk- pietro maximoff
part 2
part 1 here
masterlist
Tumblr media
pair: pietro maximoff x female!reader
summary: after being apart of the team of super soldiers that hydra experimented on, y/n was one of the successful experiments and had been released to the world. the winter soldier and the siren had become the most prolific assassin duo in the world. but what happens when they get taken in by the avengers? what happens when she meets a particularly fast superhero with an attitude?
warnings: swearing, mentions of trauma, alcohol, kissing but like only that, minor sexual jokes
a/n: hi !! i just wanted to say thank you so much for all the love and support of part 1 of small talk and bad liar omg <3 i also wanted to add a taglist to future fics so let me know if you want added it! make sure to specify if you want to be added to the marvel or the harry potter one bc i have a harry potter fic in the works rn! also i’m gonna write a part three that’s just cute bc i want to keep writing this character heheh
“wake up!” splash.
the feeling of cold water hitting your face shocked you awake and you sat up with a gasp. trails of blue flashed from beside your bed and out the door, the clang of a bucket hitting the floor. “pietro maximoff. i am going to kill your speedy ass!” you shouted, jumping out of bed. not even caring that you were only in a t-shirt and shorts, you chased after him, following the blue light.
the trails stopped eventually, and so did you. you glanced around, listening for any sign of him. you crept over to one of the couches and grabbed a pillow as a weapon. “where are you?” you called, i’m a sing-song voice.
you walked around the room, “come on, don’t hide from me now.” the faint sound of his breathing was heard along with the dripping water from your hair and t-shirt. you followed the sound of his shallow breaths to the island in the kitchen. you dropped the pillow, climbed up on the island and crawled across it before swung your head over the edge, in front of his. “hey there.
he gasped, “shit.” you flipped your hair back up and sat back on your knees. pietro stood up and turned to face you before bursting into fits of laughter.
“i don’t know what’s funny.” you mumbled, glaring up at him.
“yes you do, you look ridiculous.” he huffed between laughs.
“i won’t look ridiculous when i’m putting a bullet through your head.” you spat.
“calm down, love. it’s only a bit of fun.” he said.
“i was sleeping piet!” you protested. you moved your legs so that they were dangling off the edge.
“okay, i’m sorry. i’m sorry!”
“you better be. i’ll get you back though.”
he stepped forward and leaned his hands on the island, on either side of you. “will you, yeah?”
his head was an inch away from yours, you could feel his breath against your face. you saw his eyes drift from your eyes to your lips and back up again. he leaned in slightly and your breathing quickened. “what’re you doing?” you whispered.
“what do you think i’m doing?” he replied in the same hushed tone.
“something you should’ve done a long time ago.” you leaned in towards him, lips almost touching.
“good morning!” cap announced, walking into the kitchen, looking at his phone. you two broke apart quickly, pietro speeding and grabbing you a glass of orange juice and ten occupying himself by looking at something in the cupboard.
“hey cap.” you croaked, voice uneasy from the nerves coursing through your body. “morning steve.” pietro greeted, closing the cupboard and standing next to you on the counter. steve didn’t look up from his phone and didn’t notice your wet hair and clothes
“how’s our newest recruit?” he asked as he grabbed a mug from one of the shelves.
“steve, i’ve been here for like 6 months!” you complained.
he put the mug in the coffee machine and pressed a few buttons, “and? you’re still the newest.”
“might be the newest but i could still take you down old man.”
“don’t get too cocky kid, i think pietro’s rubbing off on you.”
“ew i’d rather go back to being tortured than be like him.” you joked.
“how dare you! you know you love being around me.”
you made fake gagging noise and steve let out a laugh. he finally turned around and looked at you two for the first time this morning.
“oh- uh y/n? what happened, why are you soaked?” he asked, averting his eyes from you. your eyes widened in realisation that you were wearing little-to-nothing in front of your captain and your t-shirt was clinging to your body.
“pietro is a dick is what happened.” you said, pushing yourself off the table. “if you’ll excuse me, i’ll go make myself decent.”
“you look decent all the time, love!” pietro called after you as you began to leave the kitchen. you swivelled round and flipped him off with both hands before leaving the room.
———
“do you remember when-“ you let out a giggle and pointed at bucky, “when we had to kill those french agents and you-“ another laugh, “you fell over a wall! god i mean because my brain was mush i couldn’t laugh but looking back on it that shit was hilarious!”
you and the team were recalling old missions gone wrong, with the assistance of alcohol obviously, and you were telling a story about you and bucky- much to his dismay.
“i didn’t fall.” he protested, taking a swig from the bottom of beer in his hand.
“so what happened then? did the sidewalk just crumble?” you questioned, laughing loudly. the rest of the team sat observing the interaction, large smiles across all their face. pietro sat to your left with his arm around your shoulder, a drink in his other hand.
“okay. maybe i did fall.” bucky mumbled causing a roar of laughter from everyone. “but, remember how we were running through a forest in, where was it again?-“
“bulgaria.” you said, already knowing where this was going.
“bulgaria! yes. and it was raining so it was super muddy and you got suck in the mud!” he laughed.
“you left me there! i had to drag myself out.” you complained.
“well we had a mission to complete! you would’ve done the same.”
you rolled your eyes, “you’re right. i would have.” you felt pietro laugh from beside you and you smiled at him. “time for a refill.” you announced, pushing yourself up off the sofa. you wandered to the kitchen and took the bottle of wine on the table and poured some into your glass. due to the alcohol already in your system you spilled a little on the counter, “shit.” you muttered.
“need some help there?” pietro asked.
“i can pour wine myself thank you very much.” you retorted.
“i think the table disagrees.” he chuckled.
“shut up.” you groaned. pietro sped from the door to grab a towel and stopped behind you. he reached over your shoulder and wiped the spilled wine up. his breath was hot against your neck. you turned around, wine glass in hand, and looked up into his eyes. his hands remained on either side of you.
“this is the second time we’ve ended up here.” he mumbled.
“good observation, captain obvious.” you teased. pietro rolled his eyes and huffed out a laugh.
pietro took his right hand and tucked a loose strand of hair behind your ear, staring into your eyes. he kept his hand on the side of your head and leant in slightly for the second time in the past week. your breathing deepened and your heart was thumping against your chest. you tilted your head up towards his head and your lips were almost touching, just as they were a few days ago
“y/n! can you get me a whiskey before you come back?!” tony called from the other room.
pietro groaned in frustration and pulled away from you, tilting his head up. “i’m going to kill those avengers.”
“good luck with that speedy.” you said, tapping his chest lightly.
he stepped away from you, letting you leave his embrace to get tony a drink. after pouring him a glass of whiskey and grabbing your glass of wine, you and pietro entered the room filled with your team. his hand was placed in the small of your back, guiding you back to the sofa.
you handed tony his drink and he smiled at you, “thanks kid.”
pietro sat on the couch and you flopped down beside him, his arm resuming its place of around your shoulder. you swung your legs up and across pietro’s legs, earning a few looks from nat and clint. they looked at each other and raised their eyebrows with a smirk.
steve and bucky were telling a story of a party they went to in the 40s and how bucky had to drag him to dance with these girls they met. you took a sip of your drink and noticed pietro’s eyes glancing at your lips, “want a sip?” you asked, smirking because you knew that’s not what he was looking at.
he pushed his tongue against the inside of his cheek and sighed, “watch it, y/l/n.”
“oooooooh we’re on last name terms now?” you teased, smiling.
“yeah if you keep pissing me off we will be.”
“don’t be so easy to piss off.” you replied.
he leaned over and whispered in your ear, “cant help it. i’m frustrated.”
you pushed out your bottom lip in an overdramatic pout, “boohoo.”
tony then shot forward in his seat and clapped his hands together, “tomorrow you two,” he said, pointing at you and bucky, “are gonna have a little fashion show, i’ve been working on some suits for you guys and i need your input.”
“wait really?” you asked.
“yup. i’m not having you two going on missions in your hydra gear.” he explained.
“shit, thanks tony.” bucky replied.
“where’s my suit?” pietro questioned.
“you’ll get on eventually. your girlfriend is just a little more improtant.”
“i was here first.” he protested.
“girlfriend?” you asked at the same time.
“wait your turn, turbo.” tony said.
pietro scoffed and everyone laughed at the interaction.
nat stretched her arms behind her head and yawned, “alright losers, i’m going to bed.”
“yeah, me too.” clint added.
eventually everyone had made their way upstairs and all that was left was you, tony and pietro.
“okay. what’s going on here?” tony asked, wagging his finger between you guys. pietro’s hand was now resting on your leg which was still across his.
“nothing.” you said.
“uh huh? yeah that bullshit doesn’t work on me kiddo.”
“piet, sure nothing has happened.” you glanced at him and a look of annoyance crossed his face.
“yeah stark. nothings happened.” he replied through gritted teeth.
“well if anything does happen, stay safe.” he winked at you two, “and if you hurt her, speedy, she’ll probably hurt you back worse.”
you laughed, “hell yeah i will.”
“oh i know you will.”
“goodnight .” tony said as he stood up from his chair and left the room.
you swung your legs off pietro and stood up, “well goodnight piet.” a smirk grew across your face as you began to walk away.
“nope.” he stated, grabbing your wrist and turning you back around. he pulled you onto his lap so you were straddling him, legs on either side of him. he placed his hand on the back of your neck and pulled your head towards his before crashing your lips onto his.
the kiss was heated, after being denied it twice before. your hands moved from his shoulders to the back of his neck and his moved to your waist. his fingers dug into your hips causing you to moan slightly, he took this opportunity to intertwine his tongue with yours.
eventually you broke apart, both gasping for air. you placed your forehead against his and closed your eyes.
“you don’t understand how long i’ve wanted to do that.” he muttered.
“worth it?” you asked, teasing him.
“nope.” he joked.
you leaned back and glared at him, “you bitch.” you leaned in and kissed him again, running your fingers through his hair and pulling it slightly. he groaned against your lips and you smiled through the kiss, enjoying the effect you had on him.
pulling away for the second time, you both had content smiles on your faces. you leaned your head on his shoulder and closed your eyes, “you’re comfortable.”
he let out a hearty laugh, “thank you?”
“it’s a compliment, i could sit here forever.”
suddenly you were no long sitting on top of him, you were being picked up and whisked through the building. your hair blew around until you stopped and were in your room. “what just happened?”
“i’m tired and the couch didn’t seem good to sleep on.” he explained.
“woah, woah, woah. who said you’re sleeping in my room?”
“i did.” he stated. using his powers he stripped himself down to his underwear and jumped on your bed, under the covers.
“i regret kissing you. you’re a pain in the ass.” you complained.
“and you called me a bitch?!” he exclaimed.
you rolled your eyes and grabbed your pyjamas that were at the foot of your bed and walked to your bathroom.
“where are you going?” he asked.
“getting changed, i don’t want you watching.”
you closed the door to block out his protests and quickly got ready for bed.
“hurry up.” pietro called.
“stop complaining or i’m going to sleep on the couch.” you replied, opening the door and leaning against the doorframe. pietro was sat with his arms crossed over his chest, his eyes raked over your body and a small smirk grew on his face. “eyes up here pretty boy.”
he laughed and pulled back the cover before patting the spot next to him, signalling for you to join him. you shuffled over and slid into the bed. pietro wrapped his arms around you and pulled you close.
“so much for the whole tough super soldier act, you’re a softie at heart, aren’t you love?” he muttered in your ear.
“anymore of that and i’ll suffocate you in your sleep with this pillow.” you replied, closing your eyes and relaxed into his embrace.
“no you won’t. you’re too soft.” he teased.
“pietro. i’m warning you.” you yawned, “i don’t care how good looking you are i will kill you.”
“good looking huh?”
“fuck off and go to sleep.” you spat.
“sweet dreams, y/n.” he said with a small laugh.
“yep they won’t be about you.” you murmured, before dozing off to sleep.
———
“i knew it!” nat squealed. you squeezed your eyes close and then opened them, blinking rapidly. pietro lay behind you with his arm draped over your waist. he groaned against your neck and looked over his shoulder at the team standing at the door.
“piet what’s going on?” you grumbled, too tired to sit up and look for yourself.
“so when did this happen?” cap asked.
you finally turned over and sat up, seeing everyone stood in your room. “what the fuck? get out my room you creeps!” you shouted, grabbing the pillow behind your head and throwing it towards them.
“oh come on kid, when did it happen?” he repeated.
“none of your business steve.”
“we’re not leaving until we find out.” clint added.
“you’re awfully quiet little brother, nothing to add?” wanda said.
“i cant believe this.” you muttered, lying back down.
“last night, happy? but all we did was kiss okay, nothing else.” you explained.
“yet.” pietro stated. you elbowed him in the stomach and he winced at the impact.
“so are you two together now?” nat asked.
“well we haven’t had the chance to speak about it because you guys ruined our morning!” you exclaimed.
“what’s going on?” bucky asked, rubbing his eyes. he peered in over everyone and laughed, “nevermind.”
it seemed that pietro had had enough too so he sped out of bed and pushed everyone outside the room, closed the door and locked it. “much better.” he said.
you heard the murmurs of everyone outside, “use a condom!” clint shouted. footsteps retreated from your door as everyone left to go about their day.
“i’m moving out i can’t live here anymore.” you groaned.
“it’s not that bad, you’ve got me.” he said, crawling back onto the bed and lying on top of you. you wrapped your arms around his head and played with his hair.
“so are we like together now?” you asked, mocking natasha’s previously asked question.
“would you like that?” he asked.
“god no.” you joked, “obviously dumbass.”
he lifted his head up and leaned in to kiss you.
“nope. you’ve not brushed your teeth.”
356 notes · View notes
an-avid-reader · 4 years
Photo
Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media
Prodigy (Legend #2) - Marie Lu
my rating: 4/5 stars
Synopsis of book 1 -
In a world where the Patriots, Colonies, and the Republic are at odds and there’s a plague in the poorer parts of the US, Day is an unstoppable street criminal with good intentions. When his family’s house gets marked by Republic soldiers, Day’s only thought is to steal a cure before his family member dies. June is a top student at Drake University—a prodigy. When her brother, Metias, gets caught in a cross-fire during a mission, June is fast-tracked to becoming a soldier. Her first mission: track down Day. As Day and June come from such opposite backgrounds, is it possible that their paths would’ve crossed otherwise? 
Link to Goodreads // Link to review book 1 // Spoilers (book 1+book2) in review below!
I haven’t read a trilogy in what feels like a really long time lmao; I think it’s because I’ve noticed that sometimes, the second book acts like a bridge book aka nothing really happens except for the last 50ish pages, which tbh just sets up book 3 (It’s like that one useless episode in a tv show that literally has nothing to do with the plotline). I’m VERY happy this wasn’t the case for Prodigy - if anything, there was even more action and more character (and world building) than Legend, which I much appreciated. That means that I also have a lot to unpack; buckle up!
I feel like the most natural place to start is from the stuff I didn’t really enjoy from the first book, specifically the world building and all the questions. It was finally explained that the Republic is essentially nonsense propaganda and the civilians are being fed false information--they aren’t winning the war, in fact they are losing! We also learned that the Colonies and the Patriots are two separate uh ‘groups’? And the Colonies fund the Patriots, but the Colonies are straight up left in the dark (and the Patriots were also hired by the Republic, but more on that later). I wanted to also briefly mention that when June and Day crossed into the Colonies territory, it was like a completely different world--maybe not better, just different. We also kind of get a glimpse into the history of the world--how climate change just absolutely obliterated the whole world. Which, tbh, I feel like if an ice cap near Antarctica (or Antarctica itself) were to melt, it would be more than just the edges of the US that would be underwater--it would go up to the Statue of Liberty’s torch :)))))))). Nevertheless, I really appreciated these explanations as it added more depth and also provided context for the setting, which I found was lacking in the first book (which, I get, you don’t want to overwhelm readers, esp in YA, with all the world building right away).
The other thing is that I wanted to know more about the plague, and Lu came through!!! So the plague is being used to try to create people as bioweapons, which makes me wonder if they were trying to clone those who were infected (or maybe just wanted to collect everyone who has a similar profile to Eden). I still have a few questions of the virus--like why did Eden and that other boy on the train go blind? Does the virus affect them on a genomic level?! I also find it hilarious that in LA they were quarantined for rioting--I feel like that pretty much just showed how weak the Republic is and how their power is no longer ominous (idk if that makes sense??).
Next, I want to touch on the characters and the character building (specifically June and Day, but others too!). I wanted to start off by prefacing that I’m not a fan of the love triangle vibes that we got throughout the books (and to be honest, the ending sort of pushed that narrative a bit further, which is not cool :///). So I’m not sure if it was Razor’s plan to cut communication between Day and June (on purpose) to prevent them from messing up the Patriot’s plans/to prevent Anden from becoming suspicious of June, but I found it so FRUSTRATING that they couldn’t communicate at least once before the assination (and I mean talk, not the signal bc that stirred up a lot of confusion with Day). Their separation really tested their relationship, but I also feel like there was a permanent wedge placed due to the lack of trust, and again, the ending just hammered that home. I will say, I really appreciate June and Day being completely transparent with each other when they escaped from the Patriots and got in the cave. It was like a necessary evil, but at least they shared relevant information with each other, which I believe strengthened their partnership, even if it took a toll on their relationship. Part of me hopes that they end up back together in Champion, but I know that it may not be ‘what’s best for them’, especially with that huge piece of information we learned about Day--that’s the one thing I’m mad about. They spill the beans in the cave but he can’t even tell June that he’s dying, instead he breaks up with her and then they end up kissing?? AH!
Tumblr media
Now for those…...love triangles…. .-. Let’s start off with Anden and June. I’m not sure how I feel about Anden; Lu paints him to be this kind of heartthrob and well-intentioned guy but he’s also sort of naive? Like I get that his whole plan is to reform the Republic with the help of June and Day so that the civilians are on board, but I hope he realizes that there will always be people who are going to 1) resist him and 2) betray him. I really hope he isn’t as quick to trust people as he was with June (which maybe that was because his judgement was clouded). As for being naive...how did he not see June’s paperclip ring???? And to add onto that - how did the Colonies not realize that ‘Sarah’ is actually June???
I don’t know it just seems very unlikely that he didn’t see it considering that June was fiddling with it during their nice little dinner. And also the fact that he was always itching to see her. I didn’t realize, however, that Anden is only in his early twenties—he also lacks the edge that June and Day have, you can tell that he’s a poised person. While it’s great that he stands his ground on the Republic, I find it hard to believe that he isn’t a pushover (even just a tiny bit). Thus, I don’t really see how Anden and June could be a good match; I also don’t think class should play a role into whether or not you should or shouldn’t be with someone.
That sort of brings me to another point, which is the idea of the Priceps and the Elector itself. I have so many questions about Anden's plans, and they mainly involve him. For example, would there still be an Elector (and Senate) after the Republic is reformed? If so, would his powers be minimized, or would he have the status of President? For Priceps, it wasn’t very clear in the book that she doesn’t have to be married to the Elector, but it almost seemed that it was implied; could Anden have chosen to be married and have a separate Priceps? What if the Elector wasn’t straight? So. Many. Questions!! That whole Priceps thing is one of the reasons I couldn’t give this book a full 5 stars, again, it sort of has to do with the lack of information (or the amount of assumptions I have to make).
The next love triangle I have major issues with is Tess and Day, which Day is mostly uh turned off by the whole thing (which I can get behind) but Tess is just so stubborn and tbh pretty jealous, which isn’t cute. I really hope that in Champion they end up reconnecting, especially since Day is practically on his deathbed, but as friends. Maybe Tess will understand where Day is coming from with his feelings about June. Part of me wants Tess to end up with Baxter but I also really don’t like him?????? Agh this really sucks! I wish their relationship didn’t end on such a sour note. Like yes Tess, you were always there for Day (especially when he needed medical care) and ever since they got into contact with June (or rather, when June was sent on her mission), everything went downhill—but I mean, at some point Anden’s father would’ve passed, and maybe things would turn out to be in a similar circumstance, except instead of June it could be a different girl? The fact that Day still calls Tess ‘cousin’ and she still went ahead and kissed him just made me feel slightly uncomfortable?? No, they’re not biologically related, but given the amount of time they spent together, they almost could’ve been. To some extent, I feel like Tess had a huge crush on Day, but she never wanted to admit it until they were separated bc she maybe didn’t realize how much he means to her/she wanted that cheesy movie-like feeling where the two best friends realize that they are perfect together but beyond friends?? I do believe that Tess deserves someone great though, I just don’t think that Day is the guy for that :///
The last relationship-thing I want to briefly mention is Thomas and Metias’ relationship. I’m glad that we have some LGBT+ representation here, but at the same time, I can’t help but wonder if it was forced or not (like a checkbox Lu wanted to tick). I don’t remember in Legend when Thomas kissed June, if there was a kind of repulsion/it didn’t feel authentic. To be honest, I really thought that Thomas was into June, but when we learn he is gay (or maybe bi), it just didn’t seem to fit the story at all??? Upon this revelation, June racked her brain for memories of Thomas and Metias when they were young and oh it just happens that Metias never ‘brought back’ anyone/any girls home. Listen, I’m all for diversity, whether that be the character’s race, gender identity and/or sexual preference, I just don’t want it to come off as the author just ‘checking off a box’; I’d rather it be genuine (even though it’s a fictional story!) For all I know, Lu may have planned this, but to me it just came off as an afterthought, that’s all :/ (and @ Thomas, just because you love someone and it shouldn’t be allowed bc of your ranks, it doesn’t mean you have to kill them even if CoMmAnDeR JaMeSoN said to).
I wanted to also talk about characters—more specifically Razor, Commander Jameson, Baxter, and Kaede (rip). So um I guess we’ll start with Razor aka the biggest con man there ever was. Well tbh I kind of found him fishy, just like June did from the get-go, I just didn’t think it was going to be that…bad??? This goes back to Lu’s foreshadowing—which I would say it improved as I wasn’t able to fully guess what was going to happen—she drops p obvious hints left, right, and centre, you just don’t see them until the events unfold; what may seem like a small detail (i.e. Commander Jameson in Razor’s room on the ship and Day (as a disguise) bumping into her) will end up being part of a bigger plan, so to speak. Part of me wishes we had a peek into his mind to see what he thinks like, and if he has more motives, besides just being “hired” by the Senate to assassinate Anden, maybe Razor has a personal vendetta?? I also definitely suspect that Razor and Commander Jameson may or may not be a thing *side eyes*. I’m excited to read Champion to see how he will stand up against the Elector / the Republic, and whether the other Patriots will stand by his side or if they will turn against Razor--especially because right now he’s in jail, but I doubt he will stay there for long! (which can someone explain why Razor and Commander Jameson only got charged with treason??? They almost flipped the Republic on its head). 
Speaking of Patriots...there’s Baxter, which I don’t know where he stands. I think he’s definitely jealous of Day / the fact that Tess has feelings for Day even though he doesn’t reciprocate them. Just a dash of jealousy. But he did predict that Day would betray the Patriots, which makes me think that Baxter may have a part in an uprising, but maybe there’s a chance that he’ll see the whole story. Part of me also highly doubts that he’ll be rational; he seems to be someone with a heavy confirmation bias--I wonder if he knew that Razor was hired by the Senate or if it just went over his head. What if he’s the main villain in Champion o.O him + Tess would be interesting, especially Day does a last hurrah. But anyways, Baxter was just so arrogant, and I could feel Day’s own disappointment when he did exactly what Baxter had predicted. Yeap, there’s definitely going to be some tension that needs to be revisited. 
Last and certainly not least, Kaede :( I’m a bit annoyed that she’s dead. It’s yet again another thing that could be used against Day (specifically his relationship with June; anything that comes near them dies). We got to learn so much from Kaede, and before we knew it, she got shot. It sucks because I think she seemed like a reasonable person and she always remained level-headed. She’s not one to judge quickly *cough cough Baxter cough cough*. Even in Legend she had her kick-ass moments, but she really saved them from the Colonies and how June and Day can’t really repay her unless they keep on going with their mission. Not cool to just kill her off like that though. 
What I loved from this book, besides the character growth and the depth of their relationships with each other (especially on trust, or the therelackof), I liked how this book is just action-packed. I find with the second book in trilogies, we have a plan with a clear end goal (in this case, assassinate the Elector), and that plan just gets adjusted over time as we uncover information until it gets to the end of the book. Here, that main event ended up being smack bang in the middle, which isn’t something we see very often. It left more room for the story to develop and to allow us to really dig deep into the story, which I much appreciated. At some parts, it almost felt like a rush, especially as the story unfolds and with so many characters to consider--it was a page turner! I’m not really sure if I enjoyed Prodigy more than book 1, as I mentioned, I didn’t really like the love triangles and then Anden is just too naive for me to take him seriously. There were also some cliches (I let go of the breath I didn’t know I was holding), and honestly, I was not a fan of the ending! I think that’s the main reason why I can’t rate this higher than Legend to be honest. At least with the first book, there was enough closure that could give us a starting point for book 2. Here is was...let’s break up lmao jk also I’m not going to let June know that I’m dying, peace out. 
This review is getting a bit too long lol, and I’m sure there’s something I forgot to mention, but overall I really enjoyed this book. The action, the intensity, the revelation of information and Lu’s foreshadowing make Prodigy a book that’s hard to put down. The characters’ dynamics are all over the place, which just adds to the chaos, but in a good way--it makes the story that much more interesting. I’m patiently waiting for book 3 from overdrive, so I’m not sure if I’ll be able to read and review it by next week--I’m itching to know what happens next! [Please, let both of our main characters live  p l e a s e]
I’d love to know your thoughts and opinions on Prodigy! Did you enjoy this book, how would you compare it with the rest of the trilogy? Let’s chat =D
Thank you for reading my review, I hope you are having a good day, wherever you are in the world!
~ Cassandra / an-avid-reader
2 notes · View notes
naussensei · 4 years
Text
Hephaestion
From: King of Conquerors: The Rise of a King
https://archiveofourown.org/works/17737967?view_full_work=true
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13203982/1/King-of-Conquerors-The-Rise-of-a-King
Chapter 12: Hephaestion
348 BC
The temple of Dionysus was the most lively and popular of Pella. Offerings abounding at the feet of the joyous god, brought by the numerous believers that came to thank him each day.
Everyday, except this one.
On the other side of the city, fallen soldiers were being mourned. The streets of Pella were dead quiet. Only a few merchants, servants, and a casual orphan roamed silently the alley by the temple.
The silence was suddenly disrupted by a little boy who came rushing down the street, followed by royal guards, holding onto the small bag he was carrying. The boy went into the temple to hide from the soldiers. He passed by the statue of the god and sat in the garden, finding a safe spot to admire the goods he had just looted.
“Finally!” he said to himself, opening the bag to admire the tasty looking bun he had stolen. But just before he could take a bite, his attention was drawn to somewhere else.
Another boy sat in front of the statue of Dionysus. Thoughtful, in silence.
Is he one of the orphans? The boy wondered.
He stared at his bread with guilt for a moment. Then put it back in the bag and walked towards the boy.
“Hello”, he said, but the boy did not seem to hear him. He walked a little closer, and as he did, he recognized his golden locks of hair from somewhere.
Isn’t that the kid who almost broke my nose the other day? He noticed, slightly surprised. I’ll teach him a lesson!
He walked towards him with determination.
“Hey!” He called again, standing in front of him.
The blonde did not reply.
“I said…Hello”
They boy bent over to take a better look at the blonde’s face. His eyes looked dull and his face absent-minded.
“Are you deaf or something?” He asked, genuinely curious.
“Just go away…”, the blonde finally spoke, turning his back at him.
The boy was speechless for a moment, wondering what he had done wrong to deserve such impolite treatment. He resisted the urge to insult him, and figured it must have been something else that was troubling the young boy. He noticed his face was dirty and his clothes, although of high quality, were reduced to rags. He carried no belongings, expect for a thick, old book.
The boy stood there and observed the blonde in silence as he turned the pages of the book.
“Woah!” The boy pointed at the book, suddenly excited.
“What?” Asked the blonde, without looking away from his book.
“T-that is… Are you a fan of the Iliad too?”
The blonde looked up, his eyes recovering their color for a brief second.
“H-Have you read it?” The blonde asked, shy
“Have I read it?” Repeated the other one, scoffing. “I don’t know anyone in Macedon who has not!”
The blonde looked at him with disapproval.
“That’s only because you don’t know anybody who can’t read, you highborn jerk”
The boy gasped, offended.
“L-look who is talking! You know how to read too!” He pointed out.
“My father taught me”. He fixed his eyes on the book again. “He also taught me to interact with all kinds of people. Unlike other nobles… No human life is worth more than another. We are all mortal in the end, only the gods are above us all.”
“A wise man he must be”, he nodded, fascinated by his wise words.
“Was…”, corrected him the blonde.
The boy gulped, speechless.
“His body is being incinerated right now… among all the other soldiers”, he continued.
“I am sorry…”
“It doesn’t matter now”, he said, bitterly. His hands shaking on his book. “He decided to fight. It’s his fault…”
“Hey,” said the boy in a sweet voice, “it’s OK to be upset…he was your father after all”.
“I’m not sad!” The blonde’s voice suddenly raised. “I am angry because all my friends have been left alone, and I will be forced to live in the palace. Why do I get to live there while they starve in the streets? Why can’t the other orphans have a home too?!”
The boy looked at him, eyes wide opened. He sighed, feeling deeply sorry for him and all the other orphans.
He sat next to him and offered him a piece of bread.
The blonde snatched it out of his hands and shoved it into his mouth.
The boy gave him a warm smile.
“It’s alright”, he said, “You don’t have to feel guilty because you have a better fortune than the rest. That is not up to us but only to the gods. You are just another boy who has lost his father, no different than any other child out there. You are allowed to feel sad. You can-”
He turned to him. The blonde suddenly started sobbing.
The boy, surprised, handed him over his own share of bread he had left.
The blonde took it, chewing and shedding tears in silence at the same time, in some sort of catharsis. As he swallowed, he realized he hadn’t eaten anything the whole day, noticing also his dirty clothes and hands, feeling suddenly miserable.
When he finished eating, he suddenly broke into tears, screaming, covering his face with his hands in shame.
The other boy patted him on the back. He had never heard anyone cry like that, a pain so deep it seemed like it burst out all at a time.
They sat there like that for some time.
“I wonder if he has met the great heroes from the past…”. The boy said after a while, looking up at the clouds. “Do you think one day I will be able to join them?”
“Them?” Asked the blonde, wiping his last tears.
“Your father I mean… and Achilles, and all the great warriors up there”
The blonde looked up, taking a deep breath.
“We’ll only know if we get there”, he said. Then took a deep breath and got on his feet.
He offered the boy his hand.
“I’m Hephaestion”, he said.
The other one took his hand.
“Alexandros”, he said as he got up.
“Huh?!” Hephaestion looked at him, surprised, “Alexandros as in…  prince Alexandros?”
“Yes, why are you so surprised?” He asked, amused.
“I don’t know, I thought you were a warrior.” He stared at the boy’s slim body, disappointed.
“I am a warrior…” he said, annoyed.
“Wait…” Hephaestion examined him closely, noticing his ginger hair. “Aren’t you that kid I beat up the other day during training?”
“I-I don’t know what you are talking about”, he lied.
“Yeah you are right, it can’t be. That one was a warrior…” He said, slightly confused.
“I AM A WARRIOR!”
“You certainly don’t look like one”
“Appearances can deceive you! You cannot judge only with your eyes”, the prince stood tall, proud of his own words.
“Then how about I judge you with my fists?” Hephaestion said with a smirk.
Alexandros grinned at him, and Hephaestion knew his challenge was accepted.
They wrestled for a few minutes, both taking the advantage at different moments. They kept wrestling until they were both beaten by exhaustion. None of them able to win.
They lied on the floor, panting.
“You are not bad, for a nobleman”, said Alexandros
“And you are not so awful, for a prince”, joked Hephaestion
They both chuckled
“You’ll see, tomorrow I’ll beat you”, said the prince with confidence
“We’ll see…”
From the next day on, the two boys met at the temple everyday. Each day at the same time, for 3 weeks, before everything changed for them.
“Wake up prince, don’t let your guard down!” Said Hephaestion that day when he found Alexandros relaxing under the shade of a tree, jumping over him.
Alexandros, smaller yet more agile, easily turned him over, pinning him down to the ground.
“Not today,” he said, “I want to show you something”
He helped Hephaestion up and guided him into a small room.
“What are we doing?”
“Shh, this is my secret place” Alexandros said, walking out of the room and into a small corridor that lead to the garden.
“Secret place for what?” He asked as he followed him.
“Look”, Alexandros pointed at a mosaic mural on the wall. The silhouette of two great warriors crossing their swords shone in gold under a bright sun. By their side, other warriors fought in the middle of an epic battle scene revived in the mural.
“Woah! Are those-!?”
“Achilles and Hektor. And look, there is Paris too… and Patroclus”, he pointed at the hero standing next to Achilles.
“How did you find this place?”
“This is were I come read and eat whenever I steal something from the kitchen”
“You are a prince, why do you have to steal food?”
“My mom won’t let me have any food until I finish my training” He said, pouting
“Oh, so that’s why I barely ever saw you before in the training grounds…”
“So…” the prince changed the subject. “I wanted to let you know that you will be moving in with us tomorrow”
“W-what? You mean with your family?” he asked, his faced showed concern
“You don’t want to live with us in the palace?”
“No-no, it’s just… I was expecting to live with the servants, or… somewhere more fit for me, I don’t know…”
“Well, I’m sorry that we don’t meet your standards”, he said sarcastically.
“Don’t get me wrong. I am happy.”
Alexandros sighed.
“My father, king Philip, he knew your father. He told me he was a great warrior. Naturally, as his son, you are welcome in the palace”.
Hephaestion smiled, his eyes suddenly became glassy.
“Thank you”
“A-anyway…!” said Alexandros, hastily. He did not want to see him cry again. “Since tomorrow, we will also be training together in the palace everyday with general Attalus”
Alexandros paused and turned to him, seeking a reaction.
“Which means… we no longer have to come here to spar”
Hephaestion looked at him, puzzled.
“So…” he paused and coughed, “I, uh…  I just wanted to show you this. As a parting gift”
“Parting?”
“I mean, to say goodbye to you as my rival. Since we are on the same team now”, said the prince as he walked away, leaving Hephaestion confused. “I’ll see you around”
“Wait, Alexandros. What’s that supposed to mean?” He said as he followed him. “Alexandros!”
After that day Alexandros continued going to his secret place, as always. Book in hand, carrying a bag with his precious stolen buns, he sat in the garden by the mural and waited. Waited all morning, at the same time for the next couple of days, but Hephaestion never came as he expected.
“I knew it”, Alexandros said, tossing the bread far away. “He’s not my real friend!”
He crouched against the wall and hid his face into his knees.
Nobody would want to be friends with a prince…
Painful memories flashed through his mind. He recalled the time when he used to sneak out the palace to play with other children. Until the war changed everything.
“It is your fault that our fathers and brothers are dead!”
“It is your father’s war they are fighting!”
“We don’t want to see you anymore!”
“Go back to your palace, prince!”
A familiar feeling of loneliness hit him like a spear though his chest. He closed his eyes and cried to sleep.
“Alexandros”
A voice called him.
“Alexandros, wake up”
The prince opened his eyes, Hephaestion was kneeling in front of him.
“What are you doing here, you are missing training”
Alexandros yawned, stretching his arms and legs.
“Let’s go, your mom is angry, she is looking for you”
“I don’t care”, the prince said, getting up with trouble. His legs had gone numbed.
Hephaestion helped him up.
“Go away”, protested the prince.
Hephaestion grabbed him, regardless, and carried him over his shoulders.
“Hey put me down!” he said, helpless. “What I do or not is none of your business! Why do you care!?”
“I don’t want you to get in trouble. You are my friend”
Hephaestion felt how Alexandros suddenly stopped struggling, and a tear drop landed on his cheek.
“You dumb prince”, he said, putting him down.
Hephaestion wiped Alexandros’ tears. He held his hand and they walked together back into the palace.
-
The next day, Alexandros skipped training again. This time Olympias spoke directly to Hepheastion.
“Boy”, the queen called him over when he was training.
Hepheastion looked around, hesitant.
“Yes, you. Come, child”
Hephaestion slowly walked toward her, slightly embarrassed by all the eyes suddenly on him.
“I saw you walking with my son, the prince, into the place yesterday. Do you know where he hides?”
A drop of cold sweat ran down Hephaestion’s spine.
“No, your highness”, he lied.
The cunning woman saw through his lie.
“If you happen to see my son, could you pass him a message?”
The boy nodded hastily
“Tell him that if I find out he has been skipping his duties, or if he has taken food without my permission, there will be punishment”
“Yes, your highness”
The queen turned around.
“Oh, and also tell him I said that anyone who is found with him, or helping him escape from his duties, they will be punished with him”.
The boy gulped. He waited for the queen to leave and excused himself to go to the bathroom, then headed to the temple of Dionysus.
When he walked into the garden, he found Alexandros relaxing on the grass, a leg crossed over his knee, hands behind his head.
Hephaestion sighed.
“Again with this, Alexandros”
He pretended to be asleep.
“Hey, you can trick your mom but not me. I know you are awake”
He came closer and attempted to poke him with his lance.
Alexandros reacted on time, grabbing his lance and throwing him in the air. Hephaestion grabbed onto the lance and pushed it into the ground between Alexandros legs.
“That’s a good start!”, he said, grinning and getting up and ready to fight.
“What are you doing! Your mom in angry! Now she is going to yell at me too! You are getting us both into trouble!”
“But it’s no fun over there”, he said, pouting, “Nobody can actually handle a fight. No one…except maybe you”
“I’ll fight you in the palace, come on let’s go”. He said, pulling his arm.
“I’ll go only if you beat me”, he said, clinging onto an olive tree with his other arm.
“Fine!” He said, letting go of his arm and getting ready to fight.
“If I win, you will have to come here with me whenever I come, and do everything I say!”
“That will never happen!”
But it happened.
The temple became the boys’ place hangout. At first, Hephaestion came to take Alexandros back to the training grounds, scared of getting scold by Olympias and Attalus. But Alexandros always found a different adventure to go on every time, and Hephaestion couldn’t resist. Hephaestion managed to negotiate with the stubborn prince, agreeing he would go with him anywhere, but only after finishing their training. Every now and then, they would both sneak out to eat in secret, or read and share their passion for the Iliad.
The days went by and the boys lived their days without big worries, until Alexander’s sixteenth birthday came.
Hephaestion had been waiting for a long time in the garden. It was already dark when Alexandros came.
“What took you so long?” he asked when the prince walked in.
Alexander walked slowly toward him, looking confused and astonished.
“Everything alright?” asked Hephaestion, suddenly worried.
“Father just left for battle”, he said, sitting by his side. “It has begun”
The blonde stared at him in silence. He knew exactly what he meant.
“He named me king regent…”
“What? That’s-”
“We’ll go into battle soon…Hephaestion”
Hephaestion’s heartbeat rose, exited yet terrified.
Alexandros lied on the grass next to him in silence, gazing at the stars. Hephaestion lied by his side.
It was a bright, clear sky. Orion shone in all its might. Both boys dazzled by the lights.
“Hey, Hephaestion…?”
“Yeah?” Hephaestion turned to him.
“One day I will be King. A real king. And when I am king, I want to see the world”
“Why are you telling me this?”
“Because I like you. And because I trust you”
Hephaestion blushed, speechless.
“Hephaestion, will you follow me into my greatest adventure?”
Hephaestion stretched his hand and held Alexandros’.
“I will follow you until the end of the world”
Alexander turned to him and smiled.
“I have only one condition” Added Hephaestion, suddenly sitting up. “One day, when our lives come to an end. But we will become heroes, together, and our names will become immortal.”
Alexander sat facing him, listening attentively.
“This means… we cannot die in this war with the Athenians. Your father will come back alive and unite this kingdom…and he will watch you as you become a greater king than he could ever be! A conqueror king, one like the world has never seen before!”
Hephaestion could swear he saw Zeus’s thunder sparkling in the prince’s eyes for a moment.
“I, Alexandros, prince of Macedonia, swear that you, Hephaestion, and l will become great heroes. And the people of Macedon… no, the people of the world will tell our legends and sing our songs for generations”
“Just like Achilles and Patroclus?”
“Exactly like them”
They both gazed up at the stars one more time.
“I would be Achilles, though” said Hephaestion, out of the blue.
“No, that would be me”, argued Alexandros
“Why? I’m stronger”
“I’m prince. I win”
“Fine…”, he agreed. “But…hey, wait a minute, nobody sings about Patroclus”
“Well then, we will make sure everyone sings about the great heroes Alexander and Hephaestion”
“Nice try. I’ll show you I would be a better Achilles by beating you”
“You can try” Alexander grinned.
They wrestled roughly, but none of them able to beat the other. Alexander chuckled as he watched Hephaestion break free from him every time, pinning the prince down to the grass.
“I’m beginning to think you enjoy losing against me sometimes, Alexandros”, said Hephaestion, smirking as he held on to Alexandros’ wrists. The prince did not resist, not even one muscle of his body tried to move.
“Maybe I do…”
Alexandros stared at him, intense eyes, a shy yet hungry smile on his lips. His cheeks glowing slightly red.
Hephaestion was stunned by that view for a second. His eyes fixed on the prince’s lips. He let go off his wrists and drew the contour of his mouth with one finger. Alexandros gently grabbed Hephaestion’s face to bring him closer to his. Hephaestion closed his eyes and slightly opened his mouth, feeling the prince’s breath on his lips.
8 notes · View notes
Text
Truth [Part 1]
Master List 
Request:
What’s up sug! sorry you’re struggling right now but I’ve come to help you If you could bring this to light for me I’d absolutely love for YOU TO DO JT So basically Bucky X Enhanced reader who are fuckin enemies. Hate each other to every last fiber of their beings bc Bucky is rude and she calls him out on it. AnywHs, they get drunk, truth or dare (go crZy baby) and LOTS LF dirty talk if u wanna do smut but if u don’t then buck taking care of her while she’s drunk cause she admitted her feelings
Pairing: Bucky X Reader (Enhanced)
Summary: Since The Avengers gave you a home the only blight has been Bucky Barnes, a ghost from your past that you can’t seem to shake. It makes you hate him. The feeling, it seems, is mutual. But maybe things aren’t quite as simple as they seem. (Post Winter Soldier AU)
Warnings: Violence, guns, plotting (lol).
A/N: Well. This is a thing. At first, when I got this ask I was like... uh... hmm... this is so not me. (Honestly, the truth or dare element threw me because let’s be real, I haven’t played that since high school.) But then I thought about it and realized I could totally run with this and have some fun. Then I ended up having too much fun I guess. (And look I’m not saying it’s perfect but damn I’m enjoying it.)
I think this won’t go past a three-parter but who knows. The next bit gets smutty (I know for sure since I’m currently writing it) so stay tuned for that. Also, this makes three fics I’m actively writing (you know plus my day job) so I can’t promise part 2 will be up next week but sooooon. 
Tags are open! 
@mywinterwolf  @disagreetoagree @peachthatdrinkslemonade @breezy1415
Tumblr media
I could do it, you thought staring down the ridge. No one would know it was me, too much chaos, just focus and BAM, the old fuck drops… Just then Steve flings Barnes the shield to fend off an attack and you remember that you can’t off the fucking Winter Soldier because Steve, who had unquestionably saved your life, would be absolutely devastated.
“Hey Y/N!” Barnes bellows over the com, “How about you pull your fucking weight?!”
No. One. Would. Know. “Hey Barnes, how about you go fuck yourself?”
“Kids,” Clint pipes up. “Play nice.”
You chose to ignore them both and plant your hands firmly on the ground. About 20 Hydra agents just ahead of you, you could feel the vibrations of their energy through the soil. Your breath stops and you begin to pull energy into your body, the air around you getting cooler with each second. This was going to be a show. Heat curls up your arms, you feel like you’re on fire, electric with this power. Admittedly this didn’t always work, focusing the energy through the ground but this time you had pettiness on your side and that was as powerful a weapon as whatever Hydra put in you.
“Fuck, on our twelve,” you hear Barnes say. Little late old man. “Goddamnit! Y/N why do-“
Now. Intentionally making the energy release a little more powerful than it needed to be you let go, concentrating hard, Just the Hydra agents, no one else, acutely aware of where each of them stood. White hot light snaked from the ground into the bodies of each unsuspecting agent, their screams loud, an uncomfortable sizzling hitting your ears as they lit up like candle flames. As gruesome as it was, in one shot you eliminated every single one.
“What was that about doing my part, Barnes?” You snipe over the com standing looking smugly over the ridge, “Your count was what, five?”
“We’re clear,” Natasha says before he can respond and you silence your earpiece, turning on your heel to head to the jet.
Back at the tower, you’re stripping out of your gear in the locker room with Natasha.
“You know you two could just fuck and get it over with.”
“What?!” You’re genuinely confused.
“Uh, you and Bucky. You go at each other like-“
You begin laughing, “Look I get your angle here but no, that’s not what this is. He’s a fucking asshole, and not in the way that gets me going,” and they didn’t know what he had been like before, not really.
“Whatever you say,” she slams her locker, dirty tac gear inside to be picked up for cleaning, “but there’s nothing like a good hate fuck to work out tension.” With that, she saunters away.
The thought of letting him touch you made your skin crawl. Though… No. Absolutely fucking not.
Tony had demanded everyone get together to celebrate a successful mission and as much as you weren’t a huge fan of social gatherings of more than two people even after almost a year of working with them all you begrudgingly agreed when it was made clear that this was a casual affair.
You stare in the mirror at yourself in black skinnies and a fitted white tee, so… normal looking. Who would suspect you were essentially a woman shaped atomic bomb? Sighing you throw your hair into a ponytail and head for the elevator. At the very least, Barnes never came to these things.
Mother. Fucker. When you got out of the elevator you had thought you were in the clear. Tony shoved a whiskey neat in your hand (spiked with his special ingredient to get the enhanced among you just as lit as the rest) the coast looked clear. Then across the room in a corner, you saw Barnes brooding, drink in hand, slouched in an oversized chair.
“What did I say earlier,” Clint says with a wink, jabbing an elbow at you.
You roll your eyes, “I always start off playing nice, thank you. It’s not my fault he’s determined to piss me off at every turn.”
“I’m on your side,” Sam pipes up from your other side and you can’t help but laugh at the exaggerated look of disdain on his face. Barnes looks at you then, eyes burning. All humor drains out of you and you turn away to head to the other side of the room.
The evening goes surprisingly well. Tony’s ‘special sauce,’ as he keeps calling it, is just enough to get you perfectly tipsy... if not bordering on drunk. Honestly, you couldn’t remember the last time you had felt this loose. Not to mention his playlist for the night was on point, unsurprising since you were technically Tony’s age (even if you looked half that) so you generally had the same taste in pop culture.
This was the first time since you had been with them that everyone was together and for the most part everyone was having an exceptional time. Everyone that was except for your resident cloud of darkness.
Unable to let sleeping dogs lie Tony finally plops down on Barnes’ lap, “You know, I made this hooch for you special, because out of all you,” Tony gestures to you, Steve, and Thor, “I think you’re the one who needs to let loose the most. So,” Tony picks up the tumbler that had been sitting on the table next to Barnes the whole night, “drink your juice, Shelby.” Between the Steel Magnolias reference and the look on Barnes’ face you nearly send your drink shooting through your nose with a laugh.
Barnes looks at you then back at Tony, not a flicker of humor in his tone, “I don’t think you care to know what me letting lose looks like Stark.” With that, he dumps Tony off his lap. The mood of the room immediately shifts, everyone afraid of just what The Winter Soldier letting lose would indeed look like.
“Wow,” you drawl, “really know how to kill a buzz don’t ya Barnes?” The look he shoots you is ice cold, Steve looks stressed, and all you can think is, Please, please give me a good reason.
He saunters over to you in, what Natasha has playfully labeled his ‘murder strut,’ and looms over you, “And you’re just the life of the party, huh?”
You sneer, “Nah, but at least I can pretend to be a normal human for a few hours.” His upper lip ticks just a bit, and you swear you can hear the metal plates in his arm shift. When he moves you’re already bracing yourself internally for a hit, instead he just plucks the drink from your hand and downs it in one shot.
“Alright, Tony, it’s not bad. Guess I’ll have another.”
“That’s more fucking like it!” Tony bellows getting up to make another drink for Barnes immediately lifting the room back almost to where it was before. As for you, you plaster a smile on your face but all you want to do is level that fucker.
Banner goes down for the night and Clint follows not far behind despite taunting from all of you. About being lightweights. Things had started to wind down but Natasha, still wide awake, isn’t quite ready to let everything go quiet just yet.
“Alright, now that the old men have left us I say we play a game,” the look on her face is filled with mischief.
“What kind of game?” Steve catches her tone and looks more than a little suspect.
She smirks, “Only the best kind of game when you’re in the company of soldiers, assassins, gods, and spies...” everyone stares, “Truth or dare.”
“I’m down,” you’re drunk enough to want in on this mess.
“What exactly is that?” Thor looks confused as if it can’t mean what it sounds like.
The rules are laid out. No truths that can get anyone killed because... well between Nat, you, and Barnes there had to be more than a few secrets that should 100% be kept. And, only minimal bloodshed would be permitted in the event of a dare. All rules everyone could easily abide.
Only ten minutes in and you realize the long con Nat’s been playing at... and that you should have definitely not agreed to this.
“Dare,” you say.
Natasha’s mouth curls into a smirk, “Good. Kiss Bucky.”
“What?!” You both spit at the same time throwing daggers at the other. Everyone is cackling.
“You can’t refuse, it causes no harm, and it’s the least the two of you owe the rest of us for making us deal with you,” shrugs of agreement from everyone. Barnes’ head drops to his hands.
“I’ll take a truth then.”
“Not how it works,” Thor chides laughing. “You have-“
“Want to make me?” The temperature around you dropping just a little as tiny streaks of energy snake up your arms. Any residual cheer drops away.
“Now who’s a buzzkill?” Barnes asks sardonically. You close your eyes and take a deep breath. He was right. And maybe you could zap him a little just to prove a point.
Without another word, you stride across the circle and pull him up by his collar, the fabric making a ripping sound. He doesn’t resist you and you kiss him hard, bordering on violent, forcing your tongue in his mouth just to be sure no one can say it wasn’t a thorough kiss. And... maybe you were curious as to what he would taste like. For good measure though you let just a touch of the energy zap his lips. He pulls back in shock at the feeling.
“Happy?!” You ask turning to the group. They’re all staring like they really didn’t expect it. “Good.” You sit down heavily next to Natasha without another word and diligently chose truth for the next hour.
Eventually, you all grow bored of the game and fall into just talking, though you mostly listen. You were so committed to ignoring his existence you don’t actually notice that Barnes had slipped away until everyone decides to disperse.
The rest of them seemed perfectly content to go to bed. You were envious. Being drunk went from being fun to making you feel anxious around the time of the kiss. The power had been too quick to come to you, too volatile, you knew that. Not being in control was something you hated and... if you were being honest wasn’t good for anyone around you.
Need to sweat this out, you think and head down to the training grounds buried beneath the tower.
You had intended to go to the shooting range. Tony had set up a special stall for you that had heating panels all around it so you could play with your energy manipulation more, refine it, make it your own. But as you walk up to the glass you see someone else emptying a clip at a bevy of moving targets, hitting each perfectly.
Lightening fast he changes the clip and you can’t help but watch as again not a single target is missed. You’re good but you can’t touch that level of precision. Not yet. But Barnes was good at what he did, no one, not even you, would question that.
It doesn’t take long for your admiration to sour though. He had this uncanny way of being at the wrong place at the wrong time.
Suddenly the steady sound of bullets stops and he hurls the gun at the targets, roaring. His hands rest on the small counter before him for a second, back heaving. Turning halfway, not noticing you, he leans against the wall of the stall and slides to the floor his head thudding against it, forearms resting on his knees, cheeks shining with moisture from sweat or tears you couldn’t tell.
Goddamnit, your dislike for him ran along the lines of hatred... you had thought about how to kill him so many times in so many ways it was almost comical. Right now though... You didn’t have it in you to comfort this man when you could hardly tell him good morning most days but you could at least give him privacy.
You turn to leave and you feel his eyes on you, “Enjoy the show?” Most wouldn’t have been able to hear his words through the thick glass but you weren’t most.
He’d seen you, no use in pretending. “Not particularly.” You open the door and stride in, heading toward your booth, “And as usual you’re right where I don’t want you to be.”  
You’re almost in your booth when he starts laughing, and you’re pretty certain you have never, in the years you’ve known him, heard him laugh. You lean around, “Something funny?”
He keeps laughing, “Yeah, you.”
“Oh?” You walk back to him and stand looking down, arms crossed. He’s cackling. “Do tell.”
“You really don’t know why we always end up here at the same time? Why we’re always at each other?” More laughter, “You really think you hate me.” Finally, he takes a breath, wiping the tears from his eyes, “Your obliviousness is hilarious.”
“You’re such a fucking prick,” you say and turn away.
“Yeah. I am. And you’re a cunt.” You spin so fast any normal person would hardly have seen your movement, streaks of light snaking around your skin, ready to destroy him. “I’d say we’re cut from the same cloth.”
“No,” you growl.
“Really?” He stands up and shoves his hands in his pockets. “So you’re not in here because you need to work off the feeling of not being in control?” He takes a step toward you and you move back in turn. “You’re not in here because you’re scared if you don’t get that energy out you’ll hurt someone?” A few more steps. “You don’t wind up in here more nights than you’re in your bed because you can’t sleep?” You're almost against the door. “Just. Like. Me.” Your back bumps against the glass.
He’s inches from you, so close you can smell the whiskey on his breath, “If you touch me I’ll fucking kill you.”
“I know you will.” He stares at you for a moment, “That’s why I’m glad you’re on the team.”
272 notes · View notes
jaaneymann · 6 years
Text
Warm
Pairing: Bucky x female!reader
Word Count: 1.1k+ (i was going for a headcanon, then i was like hey small drabble maybe and i think this is the avg size of my drabble now)
Warnings: literally none, just fluff
Summary: You accidentally took a freezing shower, how convenient is it that your boyfriend is a super soldier with a hot body? (in all senses of the term, duh)
A/N: I had to take a really cold shower today. I was obviously in emotional pain as I had to warm myself, how cruel is that? Another alternative I had for this was it somehow turns into a whole group hug bc everyone who passes sees the huddle and decides to join and it was a very warm idea but it had a lot of practical plot holes imo so here goes. Wrote this while I was still on/am in?? hiatus depending on idk when I choose to post this. It’s just trash fluff guys, hope you enjoy. Comments and feedback are appreciated, feed ya girl some validation thanks. // Present: this was in my draft for the longest time, so that when I was having a dry run w writer’s block I could w h i p out a fic if I hadn’t in really long and uh I haven’t managed to get anything done in ages sadly, so here’s now Bucky fluff for y’all! special tag for @spideywhiteys bc she’s going to scream in caps at me if she sees I didn’t tag her special <3 
- x -
“BUCKY!”
Bucky was doing something in the kitchen when he heard you scream. He’d recognise your voice from halfway across the world but why it was suddenly 7 octaves higher right now worried him. He leapt to his feet and rushed towards your room, expecting the worst like he always did.
“Y/N? Are you hurt what is it?”
Bucky rushed as fast as he could but when he finally reached the room, what he saw was something he wasn’t expecting at all. You were sitting at the edge of the bed wrapped in a towel and absolutely nothing looked out of place. Not that Bucky could tell.
“Doll, are you hurt? What happened?”
He approached the bed and sat down next to you, worry still in his eyes.
“i’m cold, the geyser stopped working midway can you hold me you’re warm thanks”
Before he could say anything, you leaned into his side and rested your head against his chest, the warmth seeping in immediately. The shower was brutal, you weren’t kidding. You were one of those people who liked to bathe in scalding hot waters fit for hell. Compare that to when suddenly in 3 seconds the water went from scathing (for others, comfortable for you) to freezing fucking cold. If you didn’t have to rinse your hair you would’ve made for a run. By the time you’d gotten out you’d barely adjusted before you realized that you’d left the windows in your room open and there was a cool breeze blowing which would’ve been comfortable otherwise but definitely not then. Instinctively you’d called out for Bucky, the serum making him a literal human toaster and one that you were very grateful for in moments like these.
“Is this why you called me?” Bucky’s right arm was slung around you as you nodded into his Henley, not bothering to form words.
“Baby you screamed I thought you were being attacked or something”
“i was being attacked by the COLD and you’re warm so can you please shut up and hold me or I’m calling Steve” You looked up, scowling at him before diving back into the comfort of his chest.
“Oh OKAY fine call your precious Steve then I’m outta here” Bucky got up like he was trying to leave.
“No wait I’m sorry I’m sorry I won’t call Steve” Bucky grunted his appreciation as he settled back down. A few minutes later your voice piped up again,
“How about Sam?”
“You’re on thin fucking ice y/n.”
You giggled at his response as you decided to shift, so you climbed into his lap and curled into a ball against his chest.
“Mm Bucky you’re so w a r m i love you” you purred into his pecs at best, this was so much better. It was the best version of being enveloped in a hot furnace with the perfect temperature. “I love you too, you little kitten.” You giggled as you settled in to be more comfortable. Bucky’s hands held you close to himself, as you slowly came close to dozing off then and there.
“Hey baby?”
“Mhm”
“You smell of vanilla; and your hair smells like strawberry.
"Mhm”
You were too comfortable to coherently reply to any of that. A little while later again-
“Hey baby?”
“Mhm”
“Y/nnn!” He dragged out the last syllable of your name and jerked his body to get you to wake up from your stupor.
“Bucky what just let me sleep,” you whined out aloud at the torture.
“Your uh towel’s falling off”
“Seriously? We’ve seen each other naked Buck stop being weird,” you grumbled.
“But you’re turning me on”
“I’m not even doing anything Bucky what do you mean I’m turning you on”
“You’re sitting on my lap smelling like a fuckin’ goddess with your towel falling off and your body’s wet and I can see your breasts and your ass is digging into my crotch what dO YOU MEAN you’re not doing anything are you tryna kill a man Y/N???”
You couldn’t help but burst into laughter at his sudden indignant outburst. God, he was adorable. A part of you was blushing at how easily he was still affected by you even though, like you maintained, you were doing nothing. Either way you got up from his lap disgruntled, making faces at him as you did so and walked over to the other room to change into clothes. Changed and now with dried hair, “can’t even cuddle my super soldier boyfriend in peace nowadays that’s what it’s come to,” you walked in complaining. “A little longer and you would’ve fallen asleep, doll,” Bucky chuckled at your indignation. “We’re dating and I can’t even fall asleep on you? Where are the perks these days wow it’s unbelievable.” You picked up a book you’d been trying to read for the past few weeks (with not much progress, sadly) and got into bed properly, pulling the covers up. Bucky crawled in from the foot of the bed to lay his head in your lap.
“Am I turning you on now too by just being in your presence, you big lug?” You removed the book from in front of your face to allow yourself that dig.
“You always do, doll,” Bucky said without missing a beat, looking right up at you.
You rolled your eyes with a smile as you kept your book on your left thigh, your right hand absentmindedly stroking Bucky’s hair.
“Hey baby?”
“Mhm?”
“You smell like cocoa butter now.”
“I know Buck, it’s my lotion.”
“It’s nice.”
“Thanks Buck.”
“I like it.”
“Thanks Buck, are you alright?” You asked, looking at him with almost a smirk and cocking an eyebrow. Bucky was suddenly behaving child.
“Can I kiss you now?”
“That’s what you wanted to ask all along wasn’t it?” Bucky nodded, a blushing smile adorning his face.
You giggled at his expression and leaned down to kiss him sweetly on the lips.
“Not fuckin’ enough, sugar.” Bucky sat up in less than a second, turned to face you and kissed you again. This time, a longer, a needier and a much harder kiss that left you in little puffs of breath when he finally drew away. He was desperate to close the space between you both and so he’d just grabbed you by your waist and pulled you onto his lap in one swift move. Your legs were wrapped around his waist and when you felt something warm and hard poking at your cunt, you giggled at the effect you so easily had on him. He smiled against your lips, knowing what that was for.
 “It’s really not my fault doll you can’t just walk around smelling like that and expect me to not react at all you know,” Bucky punctuated his words with bursts of kisses, biting your soft lips and tugging on them and grunts when you did the same to him in return.
“Mhm,” you giggled once again into his lips.
- x - 
Permanent taglist:  @donut-disturb0 @wombtotombs @xloue @marvellous-parker
Bucky Barnes taglist: @not-sebastian-stan @notthegodofknives @evans-against-the-wall@writeyourownname @buckysb-tch 
Masterlist || Want to be tagged? Let me know ! 
746 notes · View notes
Text
Truth Pt. 8
Master List: @afewmarvelousthoughtsadmin
Request:
What’s up sug! sorry you’re struggling right now but I’ve come to help you If you could bring this to light for me I’d absolutely love for YOU TO DO JT So basically Bucky X Enhanced reader who are fuckin enemies. Hate each other to every last fiber of their beings bc Bucky is rude and she calls him out on it. AnywHs, they get drunk, truth or dare (go crZy baby) and LOTS LF dirty talk if u wanna do smut but if u don’t then buck taking care of her while she’s drunk cause she admitted her feelings
Pairing: Bucky X Reader (Enhanced)
Summary: Since The Avengers gave you a home the only blight has been Bucky Barnes, a ghost from your past that you can’t seem to shake. It makes you hate him. The feeling, it seems, is mutual. But… a simple game reveals that maybe things aren’t quite so simple. (Post Winter Soldier AU)
Warnings: References to past violence
A/N: I don’t know what to say about this one. It’s stressful, and soft, and... yeah. 
Hope y’all like this one!
Tags are open!
Tumblr media
“Sargent Barnes, Mr. Stark, and the others are on their way here,” Jarvis says softly.
Bucky grimaces and looks down at you curled into a tight ball next to him breathing softly. It took about 30 seconds for you to drift off after you laid your head on his chest. You need this rest, desperately, so the thought of waking you pains him but it has to happen.
“Doll,” he gives your right hand a squeeze and kisses your head, “you have to wake up.” You groan a little and shift, “Come on, we’ll get this over with and you can sleep all you want.” He’d make damn sure of that.
Sitting up you rub your eyes, “How long was I out?”
“Just about fifteen minutes.” He reaches for your mug, “Here.”
“Thanks,” you take a huge gulp and go to get up for more.
“I got it,” Bucky plucks the mug from your grip.
“I can-” you begin to protest.
“Hush,” he says, “you’re a guest let me fill your mug.” As he’s pouring Jarvis announces the arrival of the team.
He meets your gaze from across the apartment. You look worried for an instant, unsure. He’s pretty sure he feels the same. But still, you nod strongly, ready to face whatever came.
“Let them in, Jarvis.”
Everyone flows in as he hands you the mug and takes his spot next to you once more. He knows it’s bad hosting etiquette, his ma would have a fit at him for not rising to greet guests or making them their drinks. It doesn’t matter. They aren’t his priority right now and he knows, it’s a power move.
Steve’s the first one in, “Coffee?” He asks.
“Yup, carafe full in the kitchen, help yourselves.”
Natasha is after Steve and she casts a worried look at Y/N who is refusing to lift her eyes from the coffee table, hands white-knuckled around her mug. Bucky gives her knee a reassuring squeeze and she looks at him with a halfhearted smile. Even that sends his heart fluttering a bit.
No one says anything as they fill their mugs and find a seat. Natasha takes the spot next to you on the couch. You turn to her. Bucky catches the warm smile she offers you and hears the whispered, “I got your back.” The loose bun on top of your head bobs as you nod in acknowledgment of her statement and your eyes focus back on the table.
He notices your right hand gripping your knee, small sparks just visible under the surface of your skin. Uncaring he takes your hand in his metal one. To his surprise you take it, holding tight enough to break a regular human's delicate bones there. For him though, it feels reassuring.
Tony sits across from you in one of the dining chairs and Steve is in the large chair to Bucky’s right, where he always is when he’s over. Everyone else but Thor is here, having had to leave a few days prior for some god business or other.
Bucky hears Tony take a breath as if about to speak but he’s interrupted by Sam.
“Hold up,” he lifts a hand in the air and gestures to the two of you on the couch, “I obviously missed something. Didn’t you threaten to kill him the other day?” Anger flashes through Bucky and he glares at Sam. You however just let out a little laugh.
“Sharp aren’t ya?” You quip and Sam’s face softens in a look that’s almost relief. He is your friend, after all, Bucky reminds himself.
“You owe me,” Clint whispers loudly at Natasha and she rolls her eyes. Another giggle comes from you and Bucky feels like he’s the one missing something now.
Sighing Tony dives in, “Sam does have a point there. You did threaten to kill a team member, Y/N, that’s a pretty serious issue.”
“I deserved it,” Bucky says staring Tony down.
“Oh?”
Your hand squeezes his and he continues, “I made a bad call. Would have gotten myself killed and probably everyone in range too. Y/N, made a better call. I behaved like an ass after. So any repercussions should be on me, not her.”
Steve snorts, “This isn’t the army, pal.” Bucky looks at his best friend, leaning forward in the chair smiling a half smile at the two of you. “No one’s going to get court marshaled. And this sure as shit isn’t Hydra, no one is going to be punished. We just need to know what happened.”
“And what exactly you were all up against down there,” Tony takes a sip of the coffee and gives an approving nod toward the cup before continuing. “Nat and Steve said… well that whatever came at you was-”
“Like me,” you finish the statement, voice hollow.
Tony nods, “Not that we even know exactly what like you means, Y/N. Plus there were the two other…”
“Assets,” Bucky whispers, the word leaving a bitter taste on his tongue.
“Yeah. Three seemingly high investments left alone? What’s that about?” Everyone is staring at the two of you waiting for an answer.
Bucky takes a deep breath. “That was an Asset Facility. It’s where… where they work on special projects as they call them. Where they make-”
“Weapons,” your voice again is devoid of any emotion. He looks at you a second before continuing.
“They likely got wind of our surveillance somehow and abandoned ship. Knew the project wouldn’t survive anyway and the other two assets were expendable puppets, not a high investment like…” He almost said like us but the words won’t come out. They all seem to understand anyway.
“We found the woman, the… project,” Tony grimaces a bit at the dehumanizing term, “and another corpse that was…”
“Incinerated…” you say. Bucky looks at you, he wasn’t aware of this.
“So you saw that one too?” Tony leans back in his chair. You nod. “Did one attack the other or?” You shake your head, eyes focused on the coffee in your left hand, grip tightening on his hand.
“No…” your hand trembles and he’s about to demand they all leave when you keep going, “they… it… I guess the best way to put it is spontaneous combustion. They burned themselves out. Alone. In that cell.” It’s the last bit that sucks the air out of the room, each person imagining what that kind of death would have been like.
Bruce clears his throat, fingers toying with a loose thread on his cardigan, “We, uh, did an autopsy on the woman.” You don’t look at him, just nod. “Her internal organs were… almost…” He clears his throat again trying to find the words to make the horrific more palatable and coming up empty, “Cooked, basically. She was burned from the inside out. There was no way she would have survived much longer in that state.”
Something like a hollow laugh comes from you, “Yeah. Call it a mercy killing if you want.”
“What we want is to know how someone in that condition could pose such a threat.” Tony’s tone is matter of fact, not aggressive, but it rankles Bucky’s nerves either way.
“You saw what she did to Steve,” it still made Bucky shiver, thinking of Steve being hurt.
“True,” Tony nods, “but you can’t tell me that you two couldn’t have handled that faster or-”
“She was going to blow,” your voice is surprisingly steady.
Bucky’s eyes shoot to you, “Don’t.” Your gaze slowly meets his. The two of you should have spoken about this earlier, should have worked out a plan.
“They need to know,” the look in your eyes feels like a knife in his belly. You’re terrified. He feels your hand release a bit but he refuses to let go. Taking a deep shaky breath you go for it.
“Like me, is a complicated thing to quantify… I don’t even really know how I do what I do or exactly how they made this happen. But at some level I’m…” You shudder and squeeze his hand, “I’m basically a human-shaped atomic bomb.”
Silence hangs as you gather your thoughts. “This… ability can be overloaded, pushed to a point that the energy will release all at once with enough force… well, I don’t actually know how much. I’m still here so that obviously hasn’t been tested. And she…” You're shaking all over now.
Bucky takes over, “There’s a tell. Bright pulsing, all over the body, one solid light. The project did that. We both knew what that meant in context to Y/N.” He glances at you and notices a tendril of light snaking up the side of your neck, “I made the call to hold the project off until Y/N could get the others to safety. The more I could distract her the less time it would take to blow. A gunshot or too much physical contact could cause it to go off too. It was a… delicate situation.”
“So how did you…?” Natasha says softly.
“She lashed out at Bucky, I took the blow like I had earlier, redirected her own energy back at her straight through her heart. I hope-”
“Wait…” Tony’s brows are knit. “You’re telling me you have the capacity to… overload?! And you don’t actually know what the consequences of that could be? So anytime you could just snap and kill everyone in range, Y/N?!
“That’s enough, Tony,” Bucky knows murder is dripping from each syllable.
“No. It’s not,” he slams his mug down. “That’s putting not only this team but innocent civilians at risk every time, all the time, you’re-”
“I’m not like her,” your voice is barely above a whisper, tremors visibly shaking your body. “I’m. Not.” You look up and meet Tony’s furious stare, “I have control. For whatever reason, I was able to contain this. I wouldn’t… I’d never… hurt any of you…” Your eyes dart around the room, frantically, begging someone to believe you. Bucky does, though he knows that control is… a relative term.
“I know,” Natasha lays a reassuring hand on your left thigh. “We know,” she flashes a murderous look at Tony.
“Wanting and doing aren’t always the same thing,” Tony says sighing. “Sorry, I’m not attacking you I’m just… thrown.” Your lips are pursed trying to keep your composure. Bucky catches Natasha’s worried look over your hunched shoulders.
“I can handle her,” Bucky’s voice is gruff. He hates saying this.
“What does that mean,” Sam’s gaze is cold.
“It means I can keep her from doing anything she can’t live with.” Sam just shakes his head and looks away, anger clear. Good, Bucky liked that Sam hated the thought of that almost as much as he did.
“But you couldn’t handle the one in the facility?” Tony again, isn’t trying to be an ass but that’s how it seems to Bucky.
“Not in the same way…” Fuck, he doesn’t know if you know exactly how he can handle you but… well, now you would. “It’s… there’s trigger words.” Your head shoots to him. Great, so you didn’t know. “Somehow they redirect the energy inside and cause…” He swallows hard, unable to say it, looking down at your hand still somehow confidently gripping his.
“Like the one in the cell?” Clint asks, voice soft. Bucky nods.
Tony lets out a long sigh and looks to Steve, begging him to take control of the situation.
Finally, Steve speaks. “How many more of you are there, Y/N?”
You stare at him for a long minute, “I didn’t know there were any." Bucky feels you begin to shake again. “As far as I knew I was the only one. They stopped when it worked with me. Even then…”
He remembered them complaining. Wipes lasted shorter times on you, the chair wasn’t as effective likely due to your own energy, making you difficult to control. Because of that, you were only brought out to the field for very select ops and often with not only a handler but the Soldier in tow.
“Why would they make more of you now?” Steve’s tone is measured, he can tell you’re shaken and he’s trying to be gentle. Bucky appreciates him silently. He’s worried you’re about to break but you take a deep breath, steadying yourself, this question seems to somehow bring you back to center.
“Why not? If they have the means a human-shaped bomb… that’s a statement maker. After everything it’s possible what’s left of Hydra is in the mood to make just such a statement.”
[Reader]
Nail meet head.
Everyone falls into a heavy silence. They’re either looking anywhere but you or right at you. The weight of your statement weighing on each individual.
You’d been thinking this over since the mission. It’s been one of the few things you could focus on with any accuracy. Setting your coffee down you hold your left hand up you watch the tiny points of light glow under your skin.
“I don’t really know how they did it…” Solid threads of light glow up your fingers, “All I know is it took years.” Natasha shifts next to you, the thought of that making her uncomfortable, Bucky gives your right-hand a reassuring squeeze. You hadn’t spoken of this… ever. “Years, trial and error… and a whole hell of a lot of pain. Unless they were working on them before, and I doubt it, they’re rushing this.”
“So their chances of success are slim,” Tony says, relief in his tone almost hopeful.
You cast him a dark gaze, “Their chances of repeating me are slim. Even more so without some form of the serum but…”
“They don’t need to repeat you to make a statement,” Natasha says next to you. You nod in agreement.
“All they have to do is place some half baked human bombs in key locations and people will start looking at high profile enhanced individuals with distrust.” You look around the room, “More distrust than they already do that is…” It was Hydra’s way. Indirect control.
Tony lets out a loud breath and gets up. He paces around the room a few times while your words sink into everyone.
“Ok,” Bruce huffs out. All eyes shift to him. “They’re trying to replicate you as best they can, given their limited resources. That means you’re the best lead we’ve got.” He pauses looking over at Tony, “We’ve been wanting to… examine your abilities for a while-”
“She’s not a science experiment,” Steve snaps. Bucky looks over at him, a pleased smile on his face.
“Of course not,” Bruce hold up his hands. “We never said anything because we wanted to give Y/N time to settle in here.” Tony slumps back in his chair.
“Look,” Tony leans forward, elbows on his knees, “we would never do something without your consent but… Y/N, you gotta throw us a bone here. We don’t even know what we’re dealing with when it comes to you and now this-”
“This is-” Bucky’s tone and the tremor in his hand says he’s about to go off, you cut him off.
“I’m down.”
“Y/N…” Bucky turns to you, face a mask of concern.
“It’s ok,” you give him a small smile. “You’re right, Bruce, I’m the best lead. What do you need from me.”
The shock on Bruce’s face is evident, “Oh… uh… no-nothing invasive. If we can get some solid energy scans from you, blood samples while your power is active, stuff like that we can start putting together an algorithm that can scan for that specific energy signature and variants close to it. See if they’re trying this elsewhere.”
“I can also try to come up with a suit or something similar that can keep you from… overloading so Manchurian over here,” you glance at Bucky, he hates this nickname from Tony, “won’t ever have to use whatever Jedi mind trick he has to make you blow yourself up.”
Relief floods your system. You hoped for an outcome like this but you didn’t let yourself believe it could really happen. A shaky half laugh trips over your lips, “That’s it?” Tears prick at your eyes as you scan the room.
“For now. Give me 24 hours I’m sure I can cook up some other fun ideas if you’re going to let us play with this,” Tony sweeps his hands up and down in your direction, “whatever the hell it is in your system.”
A soft smile lights his face, “You’re one of us, Y/N, we just needed to know you were ok. That you weren’t about to light Ice Boy on fire at a moment’s notice.” The smile turns impish, “And since it looks like you’re lighting him up in a whole different way-”
“Excuse you-” You jab an elbow hard into Bucky’s ribs. The tension breaks as everyone laughs at his surprised wheeze. Even Bucky is smiling as he looks down at you.
Steve stands, “I think that’s all we need to worry about for now.” He looks down at you two, a tender look on his face, “We’ll get out of your hair.” Everyone stands, including you and Bucky.
You sway a bit on your feet as Natasha pulls you into an embrace, “Get some rest please,” she whispers in your ear. You give her a solid nod in acknowledgment.
“Sparks,” Tony calls to you as Steve and Bucky embrace. You make your way to him, feeling more and more unsteady. He rests his hands on your shoulders, supporting you, “Anything you need you let me know, anything.” His gaze is intense.
“I will, Tony.” His eyebrows raise in doubt, “I promise. This was… I just…”
“I get it,” he smiles. “I’ll make you a recovery playlist,” he pats your shoulder and heads for the door. Turning he points to you, “Be sure to play it loud enough to annoy the grump.” You look to your right as Bucky approaches you, his eyes rolling.
You laugh, “You got it, boss.” Tony winks and heads out as Bucky slips a supportive arm around your waist. You’re grateful and lean into his steady frame.
“You have so much explaining to do, traitor” Sam quips, a kind smile on his face.
“You’re still my number one jetpack, Wilson, don’t be butthurt.”
He cups your cheek then glares at Bucky, “Take care of her.”
“I will,” you’re surprised at the smile playing on his lips.
“If you don’t, Winter Soldier or not I’ll beat your ass.”
“Sam, grown nuclear risk woman here,” you pat his hand still resting on your face, “I’ll be good.”
He smiles, “Oh I’ll whoop your ass too if you don’t take care of yourself. Just making sure he knows what’s what.” Tenderly, he pats your face and steps back. “Call your therapist,” he winks, Sam was always on you about it. He claps Steve on the shoulder before he’s gone too.
Steve is the last one there. Pulling away from Bucky you give the Captain a heartfelt hug. “Look out for him,” he whispers in your ear. Everyone could see how wrecked you were. Bucky wasn’t much better, it was just less visible. But Steve could see it plain as day. Your heart swells a bit in your chest to know someone is paying attention to Bucky’s needs too.
You hold his gaze and nod. A smile fills Steve’s face telling you he can sense just how much was held in that gesture.
“You both get some rest,” he says after he and Bucky exchange a hug.
“Aye, aye, Cap,” you give him a half-hearted salute.
“You’re worse than Tony,” he calls over his shoulder.
You laugh, “That cuts deep Steve.”
He turns back, “So sure. Call if either of you needs anything.”
Immediately you bury your face in Bucky’s chest, breathing in his reassuring smell. His arms curl around you, holding you tight pressing a kiss on top of your head.
“I told you it would be fine,” you say pressing your cheek against his sternum.
“That you did,” he sighs, “could have easily not been though.”
“Can’t live on could have beens Buck,” his stomach growls. “Wait,” you pull back and give him a once over, “you didn’t eat anything earlier.” He shrugs. Guilt washes over you for not realizing before. You grab his hand and start to drag him to the kitchen.
“I’m good, Y/N,” he laughs a little, “really. You don’t have to-”
“Shut up,” you push him on to one of the stools. “What kind of food do you have here?” Opening his fridge you groan. Eggs, protein shakes, a couple more of those Pedialyte drinks, and a few pre-made meals from one of those ‘healthy’ restaurants on the lower floors of the tower.
Groaning you look around the door to him, “You are such a dude.”
He laughs, “Not up to your standards?”
“Not by a long shot,” you flash him a smirk. “Ok, eggs, one of those terrible meal things, or order out?”
“Those meals aren’t bad,” he protests.
“They taste like fucking cardboard.”
“Eggs, because I don’t want to face your judgement,” he says smiling standing up, “but I can make-”
“Get back on that stool before I tie you to a chair.”
He sits and smirks at you, “Maybe later, doll,” he winks.
Once he’s eaten and you’ve downed a protein bar and bottle of Pedialyte you’re both just about ready to topple over.
“Thanks,” he smiles back at you as he loads the dishwasher.
“Just returning the favor.”
He rounds the island and tilts your face up to his, thumbs grazing your cheekbones. “I don’t know about you but I need sleep.” You nod.
Wordlessly the two of you undress and crawl into bed. The feeling of his skin on yours, his soft breath on the back of your neck, the steady thrumming of his heart, they make everything else fall away.
“Sleep well, doll,” he whispers against your ear.
And you do.
@midnightdream83 @mywinterwolf @disagreetoagree @breezy1415 @peachthatdrinkslemonade @wonderlandmind4 @piensa-bonito @handplucked @buckysstar @sam-jae @marauder--harder @for-the-love-of-the-fandom @andreagf56 @meg-asaur @jewelofwinter @fairislesheets @animegirlgeeky @lydklein1 @katecolleen @siriuslycloudy2
107 notes · View notes