#enhanced reader

[creative-caramel-coffee]

The Spiders Sister - Chapter 1

Summary: Reader gets caught hiding out in the avengers tower. In the end it turns out for the best.

TW: non-sexual nudity, illness, fainting, swearing

Words: 4.1K

A/n: Super long first chapter

маленький паук – Little Spider

It defiantly wasn’t part of your life plan to be living with your bother again in your adulthood.

You had spent an excellent few months on your own having finally moved out of May Parker’s apartment, it had been perfect. Well … as perfect as life could be for a parker.

Then … you guessed it … parker luck struck again. There was a huge fight, one you had been itching to join but your brother, peter parker, had it covered. And since nobody knew that you sometimes wore the spider-man suit when peter wasn’t able to, it would all be over if two Spider-Man’s ended up fighting some of the weird aliens that had invaded New York.

You see, you and your brother had more in common than most siblings did. Peter parker had been bitten by a radioactive spider on a school trip as was known to a few people. But, at the same time, you had been eighteen and chaperoning the field trip.

When peter had snuck off to the side you had gone after him. When he was bitten, so were you.

But for now, you had decided to try and stay away from the superhero lifestyle. But when the itch came, peter lent you his suit so you could scratch it.

You had helped him refine his web-fluid and had your own web shooters as well as one of his old suits just in case. May knew about you and peter after finding out a while ago. However, peter and you had kept everything about your existence from the avengers so you could live a semi-normal life. At least for now.

But the day the avengers were fighting off the aliens, New York had taken some heavy damage. You had been running a small illustration business out of your apartment in queens. Your apartment … which was now levelled in the fight was gone. Along with your business.

Since you had moved out young, May only had one spare bedroom in her apartment which peter was occupying. Leaving the Parker’s with one option.

As peter had a room in the avenger's tower, you could stay there or with aunt may. Peter being Peter didn’t want to ask tony if he could stay in the tower for the unforeseeable future without arousing questions. So, you had been secretly living in the tower for about three days now.

Peter brought you food and had bribed Jarvis to keep your existence a secret. You had his old suit if you wanted to leave the tower, you could swing away instead of walking through the building and getting caught.

It was a pretty solid plan and it had been working pretty well. Until the day you got sick.

Peters' bedroom in the tower was on the floor with the other avengers, meaning you had to be somewhat quiet so Natasha, clint or the others didn’t find you. But it had begun to get colder out, and Peters old suit didn’t have a heater. It had been made before tony had found out spiders, including peter and yourself, can't thermoregulate. And swinging around New York without a heater in the nippy winter air had left you with a pretty nasty cold.

Unlike peter your powers didn’t give you super healing. In fact, your powers differed from peters in more ways than one. For one thing you had small fangs which you could retract, they didn’t do much, but they were cool, and peter was mildly jealous. Another thing was you had taken on aspects of jumping spiders as you could jump higher due to your super strength and some weird spider quality peter lacked.

Like peter the bit had given your excellent eyesight, increased metabolism, a lack of thermoregulation, the weird sticky thing, the spider sense and super strength and the allergy to peppermint. But due to sharing the suit anytime you went out as “Spider-Man” you had to refrain from using your own unique powers, so you didn’t give anything away.

The thermoregulating thing may have finally come back to bite you now that you were in peters old suit. After taking one of his patrols for him so he could finish his assignment and you could get out of his room in the tower, the cold had made you sick. Heres the thing about having a high metabolism when you don’t have an increased healing factor. It went one of two ways. Either you had flash colds which were taken care of quickly and at a much faster rate than the average human, or if it was stronger than your immune system, it was quickly made into a bigger problem than it should have been due to your body processing things faster and speeding up its strength.

Anytime this had happened in the past, due to not being able to go to a regular hospital, you had thanked the gods for May choosing a career in nursing. Though she had been able to treat you superficially with regular medicine and not anything made for super soldiers or spiders as that was a Bruce banner specialty that was unique to the tower's med bay. So, you often just had to ride it out and if things got really bad, peter would try and smuggle you some of his medicine out of the tower for you.

So, this is where you ended up. Curled up in Peters bed in the tower, stifling rough sounding coughs into his pillow and making a mental note to wash his sheets soon. You were doing your best to remain quiet and not alert either of the super spies to your presence or any of the other avengers. You thanked Thor that only you and peter had super hearing which meant you could usually tell if someone was in the halls.

Feeling miserable you buried yourself further into the sheets and shivered, it was so cold but in reality, you probably had a high fever. Your lungs let out a wheezing noise whenever you exhaled, and you were beginning to think maybe your asthma was back. Unlike peter you had not been so lucky as to have had it cured by the bite.

Your asthma puffer was one of the few things that survived your apartment being destroyed. As you laid in bed feeling awful you thought back to that day.

You thanked the gods you had been out at the time. You had gone to a coffee shop downtown with your sketchbook, laptop and usual things you took out, including a range of art supplies and of course your emergency puffer which peter had managed to smuggle out which had doses that worked with your metabolism.

You were broken from your daydreams as another harsh coughing fit wracked your body. From what you could hear nobody was in the halls, but you did your best to keep quiet regardless. The wheezing that trailed after each breath was getting worse and your lungs were feeling tight.

You had been trying to use the puffer sparingly so it didn’t run out because you didn’t know if and or when peter could get you another. But as drawing breath grew harder you made the executive call to use it. You rolled over in the bed and threw an arm down to fish around for your red backpack. Finding it you fiddled with the zip before your fingers wrapped around the cool plastic of the device. Tony being tony had insisted it have a Spiderman case thinking it was peters which ended up being rather ironic as it was fitting for you too.

You tried fruitlessly one last time to draw breath before achieving nothing but a crackling wheeze. Screw it. You uncapped the red lid and held it to your lips, propping yourself up on an elbow in an attempt to sit u straight to take it.

You exhaled and inhaled repeating it once more before drawing in a lungful of the super-medicine. Almost straight away you began to feel better. Your fast metabolism speeding up the medicines process.

Feeling like you could breathe again you replaced the cap and put it on the nightstand before curling up in the sheets again feeling cold still but also slightly damp from the thin layer of sweat that had been forming all morning.

You were dressed in spider-man pjs which had a thin t-shirt and long pants. You had considered getting up to grab one of peters hoodies to get warm or another blanket but the idea of standing up made your head spin.

You nestled back into the sheets and let your eyes fall shut despite it being almost midday. The curtains were drawn and so it didn’t bother you too much. You began to drift off into a semi-peaceful sleep broken by harsh coughing fits which were becoming harder to stifle in your half asleep and fevered state.

Meanwhile the avengers had just finished their morning training session, one which Peter had joined for once. Peter being Peter had barely broken a sweat and as a result had opted to hang out on the communal floor while everyone went o freshen up.

Stark had designed the tower well. With Peter’s bedroom being on the same floor as Natasha’s who was rather protective of her younger spider counterpart as well as Wanda’s, Yelena’s, Kate’s and a few spares. The rest of the avengers were a floor above.

At first peter had been a bit miffed about being on a floor of just girls but he ended up liking it a lot. And he had a second bedroom in the master suite with tony and Pepper which he proffered anyway. The one on the avenger's floor was more for if Tony and Pepper were away, and he wanted to be around the others.

Natasha was headed for her room after waving goodbye to peter who had settled down to watch more star-wars, when she paused in the hallway.

Retracing her steps she found herself stood outside peters bedroom door. Frowning she pressed an ear to the door and froze. Someone was inside and coughing. Knowing it wasn’t peter, nat carefully twisted the door handle.

Peter being peter had prepared for almost anything. As soon as Natasha had set foot inside peters room Jarvis had alerted peter of her presence.

Meanwhile Natasha peered into the dimly lit room. The lump in the bed was wriggling around and coughing. Nat was on high alert by now. She realised this person was ill but how had they managed to get in without Jarvis knowing? And why were they in peters bed?

She crossed the threshold and walked over to the bed. Taking note of the backpack on the floor and puffer on the bedside table as well as your spider-man pjs which had been a gag gift from Peter last Christmas.

Nat stood and observed for a second. Looking down at your flushed face which was burning with fever and the harsh coughs that were wracking your weak form.

Nat watched helplessly for a second unsure of how to deal with a sick intruder.

She hesitated before extending a hand to your forehead and feeling a very high fever. She sucked a breath. Despite being an intruder she had some ideas as to why you may have been here. Your likeness to peter wasn’t hard to spot. Yet. She was unsure.

Peeling of the blankets to get a better look at you, as she did you made a small noise of discontent and curled into a shaking ball still fever addled and half asleep.

Before she could continue the door opened and peter looked in.

“Uhh M-Ms Romanoff…” Peter said looking guilty as he stepped in and closed the door again.

“Peter, do you know who this is?” Natasha asked getting straight to the point. Peter hesitated and rubbed the back of his neck.

“Y-yes.” He said looking at your sick form with a frown.

“Peter.” She said crossing her arms. “Care to share whats going on?” Nat said as she headed for Peter’s bathroom.

“Um… She … she’s,, my sister.” Peter said unsurely. Natasha returned after a second and nodded. Now holding the first aid kit from peters bathroom in her arms.

“Anything else i should know?” She asked walking over to the bed and sitting down to rifle through the first aid kit.

“Petey?” You mumbled hearing his voice.

Peter seemed to break out of his trance and came to your side. “I’m here Y/n.” He said.

“‘S cold.” You mumbled making peter frown.

“Actually, I think she has a fever.” Nat said as she found what she was looking for, pulling out a thermometer from the kit.

Nat gently placed the thermometer under your tongue and turned to look at peter.

“Pete, you’re not in trouble but i need some more information.” Natasha said.

“This is Y/n. She’s, my sister. Her apartment was levelled in the last attack and so she’s been staying here ever since. She’s not a threat I promise.” Peter said almost tripping over his words in order to explain.

Before Nat could respond the thermometer beeped and she removed it to look at the small screen, drawing another round of coughs from you. Natasha rubbed your back with one hand while frowning at the screen.

“Peter… she should be dead. This says 106. There’s more isn’t there.” Nat said with some urgency as she began peeling the rest of the blankets off you in an attempt to cool you down.

“Ahh … yes. She had powers. Like mine. She … she wears the suit sometimes.” Peter said standing nearby and watching with a worried expression.

“Ok. So, she has spider powers? High metabolism, super strength, etc.” Nat said and Peter nodded. “Why hasn’t her healing fixed this?” Nat said feeling your forehead again.

“She doesn’t have it. Her powers differ slightly.” Peter explained as Nat cursed softly in Russian.

“Her fever’s still rising.” Nat said making a decision. “We need to cool her down fast before she gets too hot for her own good. Jarvis?” Natasha said and peter looked panicked for a second worried about more people finding out about you.

“Ms Romanoff-“ he started.

“Pete, we need to cool her down stat. I need some help.” She said and peter nodded still looking nervous. “Jarvis call wanda to Peter’s bedroom.” Nat said and peter relaxed slightly. Wanda was ok. She would be good for the situation.

“What are you going to do?” Peter asked.

“She needs a bath and I doubt you want to do that.” She said with a small smirk and Peter flushed for a second.

“Defiantly not.” He said shaking his head.

“Is there someone we can call? Someone who she’d be ok with dressing her once we cool her down. She may be sick but i don’t want to invade her privacy.” Nat said as she scooped you up from the bed and into her lap while they waited for wanda to arrive. You cough harshly again and wheezed making nat frown and look to peter.

“Asthma.” He said.

“Runs in the family huh?” She joked reaching over for the puffer on the bedside table.

“Uh… about that.” Peter said looking guilty. “Mine was cured by the bite. I need the puffers for her.” He said looking sheepish. Expecting Nat to be mad she grinned.

“You’re a good brother.” She said as she uncapped the device and pressed it to your lips.

“Exhale.” She instructed and by some small miracle you complied. When you went to inhale, she administered the medicine and told you to hold.

Recapping the device, she rubbed a hand up and down your arm. “Good job sweetie.” She said and felt you relax into her arms some more as you let out a breath.

The two sat in silence for another second before the door opened again and wanda slipped inside.

She was freshly showered, her hair damp and she smelt like jasmine and honey. She was dressed in a simple faded black t-shirt and grey track pants.

“Whats-“ she began before pausing, her eyes caught on you laid in Natashas lap half asleep.

“Wanda,” Nat said. “Meet Y/n. Peter’s older sister.” She said.

“Okay…” Wanda said looking lost before her expression morphed to concern as you coughed. “Is she ok?” Wanda asked.

“No. That’s why you’re here. Long story short, peter smuggled her into the tower, and she has spider powers and her fever is really high. We need to cool her down.” Nat said and wanda swallowed and nodded. “Peter?” Nat said turning to the younger parker.

“Yes?” He said looking up from where he had been studying his shoes closely.

“You never answered my question. Is there someone we can call to come and get her dressed after wanda and i bathe her?” Nat asked and peter blushed again and nodded.

“I can call May. It’s her day off.” He said and Nat nodded.

“You do that. Wanda and I will look after Y/n. We promise not to go further than her outer clothes.” She said and scooped you up into her arms. She headed for Peter’s bathroom with wanda trailing behind. You remained limp in her arms snuggled into her chest in an unconscious need for companionship.

Once the two redheads had you in the bathroom wanda looked at nat. “Now what?” She asked and Natasha smirked.

“Now we take her clothes off.” She said and gently she lifted your arms from where you were laid on the floor in her lap and pulled the spider-man t-shirt off over your head. Wanda blushed slightly at the sight of your red sports bra despite having seen Nat and herself train in about the same if not less clothes.

“You wanna help?” Nat asked with a grin that only served to make Wanda’s blush deepen. You squirmed slighting in Nat’s lap but stopped when she gently rubbed your arm after you buried your warm face into her stomach.

Wanda rolled her eyes in an attempt to feign nonchalance despite being way past that point.

She lifted her hands, and the familiar red glow of magic surrounded her hands. Her magic lifted your hips so Nat could slide off your pants. Wanda blushed again at the sight of your Black Widow boxers. Natasha however grinned at them finding it both adorable and very cute.

After a beat Wanda met Nat’s eyes again. “Now what?”

“We get her in the bath. She needs to be cooled down Asap.” Nat said hoisting you into her arms again as you wriggled, turning and grumbling into her chest.

“Not gonna lie she’s pretty cute.” Nat said and Wanda avoided her eyes as she used her magic to fill the bath with tepid water.

Natasha gently lowered you into the tub ignoring your whining protests and running her hands through your hair which seemed to calm you down as you relaxed again.

“So … now we wait?” Wanda guessed and Natasha nodded.

“Yep. Unless you really want to steal May’s job of getting her dressed again.” Nat teased making Wanda splutter slightly. “Im kidding.” Nat said. “I know what hot women do to your brain.” She winked and wanda slouched slightly.

After a second you grumbled and blearily opened your eyes, squinting at the two women.

“Peter is so dead.” You mumbled before letting your eyes drift shut again. There was a pause before wanda and nat both started laughing.

You groaned. “Peter!” You yelled before coughing again making Wanda and Nat frown. But before they could do anything the door opened to show a beat red peter with his hands covering his eyes.

“Yes?” He said in a small voice.

“When I get out of here, you’re dead.” You mumbled with a foggy glare sent in his direction.

“Hey. Peter did the right thing.” Another voice said from behind Peter.

“May?” You called. “Oh, wtf is going on right now.” You mumbled.

“Whats going on kiddo is that, once again, you failed to ask for help which landed you here.” May said entering the bathroom with a change of clothes.

“Nice to see you Ms Parker.” Nat said and wanda echoed.

“Please. Call me May. And thank you for looking after her.” May said and you groaned.

“I hate all of you.” You said hiding your face in your hands.

“Uh huh. Sure, you do.” May teased.

“It was no problem. Ms- May.” Wanda said. “We’ll wait in peters bedroom while you… yeah.” Wanda said before making a hasty retreat. Nat laughed and followed her out.

May gave you a disappointed frown once she had shut the door and turned back to you with a sigh.

“Honey.” She said.

“I know… I know.” You said still feeling like death but slightly less so. “Did the black widow and scarlet witch just really see me in my underpants?” You asked.

“Yes, and I serves you right for hiding illness … again!” She said as she came over, rolling up her sleeves and helping you out, practically holding all your weight for you as your head spun.

May frowned and guided you over to the covered toilet seat to dress you again.

Gently she began to towel you off and change you into fresh clothes.

“I can do it myself.” You whined but May shot you a look and you knew better than to challenge the angry Parker and you and peter had called her as kids when she was upset at you for something.

“Now, once you’re dressed you are going to thank those two for their kindness and your coming home with me.” May said.

“But-“ you began.

“No buts.” She said and helped you up, now fully dressed.

She helped you over to the door opening it despite still holding you up. The two of you shuffled into the room where Peter, Nat and Wanda were sat on Peter’s bed talking in hushed voices.

“Pete. I love you but I can hear everything you’re saying dumbass.” You said rolling your eyes and May lightly hit your arm.

“Right.” He said rubbing his neck. “Super hearing.” He nodded.

“I’ll add it to the list.” Nat grinned and you groaned before May jabbed you in the side and looked at the two girls.

You coughed at her actions making her frown but quickly got it under control for the sake of your already fragile image.

“Thank you, Wanda and Natasha, for helping me.” You said still leaning heavily on May. Now you had been standing for a bit the room began to spin. Your face went a shade paler making Natasha frown and stand. It was a split second before you stumbled, almost bringing May down with you in the process. Luckily strong arms wrapped around you, and you looked up into Nat’s pale green and worried eyes.

“Y/n?” You finally registered she was talking to you. “Y/n?” She asked again a little louder.

You let out a soft groan and she huffed. “Right. Up we go.” She said hoisting you into your arms and making the room spin again as you buried your face in her arm.

You felt her gently set you down on the bed and feel your forehead.

Distantly you heard May saying something along the lines of taking you home and the sound of Natasha arguing they were better equipped to help with your powers and sickness. May relented and you went back to dozing.

“What happened?” Peter asked from where he was stood by the door.

“Probably got too dizzy from standing up. Her body’s already trying to fight off sickness.” Natasha said and Wanda nodded.

“Peter? Don’t you have a super high metabolism?” Wanda asked.

“Yeah?” He said looking lost as May seemed to catch on.

“Y/n when did you last eat?” May asked and you groaned and buried your face in the pillow. “Well, that answers that.” May said rolling her eyes.

“Peter, do you have any of those energy bars that steve uses?” Wanda asked and peter nodded and headed for his bedside drawer.

He fished around and pulled out one of them and passed it to nat. She unwrapped it and shoved it into your hands.

“Eat.” She said and you made a groan of protest. “It’ll help.” She said in a softer tone.

“Fine.” You said sitting up against the headboard and nibbling on it slowly.

“Better.” Nat said and you frowned.

“You know you’re cute when you’re mad.” Wanda said looking surprised by her own words and blushing at Natasha’s knowing gaze.

“Get some rest маленький паук” Nat said once you had finished eating, and she begun to shepherd everyone out of the room.

PART 2

#wandanat x reader #spider reader #reader is peters sister #peter Parker #may Parker #aunt may #Natasha romanoff #wanda maximoff #sicfic #whump #fluff #comfort #marvel #wandanat #fanfic #wandanat comfort #wanda x natasha x reader #marvel fic #series #sick reader #sick r #fainting #passing out #fever #flu #enhanced reader #avengers #Bruce banner #black widow #Scarlett witch

[crazyunsexycool]

My little love

Chapter 1

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Enhanced!Reader

Warning: mentions of death, implied child abuse, slow burns, idiots in love- if i forgot something please let me know. 

Word count: 2.8k

A/N: AAAHHHHH!!!!! so here is chapter one to this new series. It really wasn’t my intention to start this series yet but when inspiration hits you just gotta go with it. Permanent and series tag list open

Series Masterlist

The hydra detention center had been the biggest the Avengers had come across. The area you were in was a prison block. There were three floors of cells and it was currently crawling with Shield agents. It was clear from the moment the team entered that the place was used to keep their ‘experiments’. It was too easy to identify prisoners from hydra scum. Anyone would be sick to their stomach just seeing the filth all of the detainees were being kept in. Most of them seemed to have been used and abused beyond reason. 

The crackling sound of your earpiece gave way to the voices of your team and friends. They each checked in as they cleared the area they had been assigned. Although you were enhanced and trained for combat, your main job was to be the team’s on site medic. So many times during missions you would be the one running from one place to another. Currently you were standing in a cell checking in on someone.

“They’re gone.” You say to Steve as you hear him approach the cell door. 

“Let’s keep moving.” 

You give a curt nod as you stand and start to walk out of the cell but Steve puts his hand up.

“If this gets to be too much for you, let me know.” 

“I will Cap. Come on, we have a lot more cells to check.” 

Steve moves his hand to his right ear and presses down on the earpiece. “Any updates?” 

A chorus of all clears rings through but one voice is missing. You look up at Steve worriedly before the last person checks in. 

“I found another lab in the basement. I really need a medic down here.” 

“Y/L/N is headed your way Buck.” Steve says as he watches you jog toward the elevators. 

The elevator doors slide open and you’re greeted by Bucky. The hallway is dimly lit but you can still see his panicked expression. He grabs your hand and pulls you down the hallway.

“I wasn’t sure what to do, I thought it would be better for you to take a look.” He says as you follow him into a viewing room. The huge windows are facing an operating room. In the center there’s a heart monitor that’s beeping steadily and all sorts of abandoned equipment. It seems that when the team stormed the facility they were in the middle of an experiment. But it wasn’t the place that gave you chills, it was the test subject. 

“Is that what I think it is?” 

“Most likely. That seems to be the only entrance.” Bucky points at a door at the other end of the room and you run towards it. 

Bucky is right behind you. It feels like it takes ages for the first door to close and the second to open. Once it does you rush to the operating table and have your worst fears confirmed. 

Unconscious on the table is a child. They look no older than two year old but considering how malnourished they look they could be older. You run over a few quick checks to make sure you’re able to move the baby. 

“It’s a girl.” You say softly after lifting the sheet that covered the lower half of her body to check for other injuries.

Bucky stands by feeling angry and helpless. It was one thing to use and torture adults but what had this innocent life done to deserve such treatment. It took you calling his name a few times before he snapped out of it. You ask him to relay information for what you’ll need once you’re on the jet and begin to remove everything that had been attached to the child. 

As carefully as you could, you wrap up the little girl in the sheet that had been covering her and then you take her in your arms. You look at Bucky and nod to let him know you’re ready. He leads the way back out to the viewing room and then to the hallway, his gun up and ready to fire if needed. Once you’re in the elevator you take a moment to look down at the child in your arms to make sure she’s still breathing.

“What could they want with her? She’s a baby.” Bucky asks, his back to you.

“Knowing hydra, a lot of things. I just hope we weren’t too late.” 

“She’s in great hands I’m sure she’ll be fine.” 

You can’t help the small smile that appears on your lips. The elevator doors open and Steve heads over to you. He opens his mouth to say something but the words are lost on the tip of his tongue when he sees the little bundle that you’re holding. You don’t wait for him to say anything, instead you rush past him and toward the main entrance where you see Bruce with the supplies you needed. The others kept their eyes on you as you rushed by, unaware of what’s happening.

“What’s going on Barnes?” Nat asked as she and some of the others approached the pair of super soldiers. 

“Hydra was experimenting on a child, a little girl. Hopefully Y/N and Bruce can save her.” 

You and Bruce rushed off of the jet and onto the medical area of the helicarrier. It was a fight against time to be able to stabilize your small patient. In a comfortable silence you both work alongside each other, only speaking when necessary.

There’s a small whimper that comes from the child and it stops you in your tracks. You look up at Bruce and he also stopped what he was doing.

“That’s good. She’s responsive, we still have a chance to save her, right?”

“Absolutely.” He responds with a hopeful smile. 

For the next few hours you work together until you're able to keep her stable. Once you’re done you head out of the small room to find the rest of the team waiting. Bucky and Steve walk towards you first. 

“How is she doing?”

“Bruce and I are confident that she’s going to pull through. She’s a fighter.” 

“Told you she was in good hands.” Bucky says proudly, making you smile.

Steve stands beside you both and rolls his eyes, amused at how oblivious you both were. He clears his throat to get your attention.

“Do we know what they were testing on her?”

You shake your head. “No, we were stabilizing her. Once we are able to push some fluids and she’s able to stay stable for a longer period of time we’ll start doing an in-depth physical. Bruce is doing some x-rays and we’ll go from there.” 

“Ok good, Tony is looking through the files to see what we find on her. Keep us updated.” 

“Sure thing.” You watch as Steve informs the others before they disappear into other parts of the helicarrier. 

“Do you need me to get you anything?” 

Your eyes moved from the hallway back to Bucky. He looked tired but as handsome as ever as he stood there waiting for an answer. 

“Yeah, if it’s not too much trouble could you get my go bag. I want to change out of this.” You motioned towards your uniform. “I wouldn’t want to scare her if she wakes up.”

“You got it. I’ll be right back.” 

You returned back to the room where Bruce was busy reviewing something on the computer. When he heard your footsteps he turned. 

“Come take a look at this.” 

You come to stand beside him as he pulls up the scans he’d done while you were talking with the others. Bruce begins to point out multiple healed fractures on her arms, legs and ribs. As you both tried to figure out how old the fractures were there was a knock on the door. Bucky popped his head in and opened the door more once you waved him in. 

“Here you go.” He hands you your bag and you excuse yourself to go change. Bucky takes a moment to look around the space before his eyes stop on the girl. “Do you know if she has a name?” 

“Not yet, Tony’s looking through the files though. I’m going to meet up with him now. Can you let Y/N know?” 

Bucky nods and Bruce excuses himself. He gets slightly closer to the stretcher, taking in the tiny body wrapped up in clean sheets. They had shaved her head, it was evident by the tiny scars on her scalp from where they used a razor. She was incredibly pale and malnourished. If he wanted to, Bucky could count her ribs. 

He takes his gloves off and grabs one of her hands in his right one. Bucky smiled slightly at the huge difference in size. Although she wasn’t awake her little fingers wrapped around one of his. He was so focused on her that he didn’t hear you walk back in. You observed the scene before you with a small smile. 

“Where’s Bruce?”  You asked quietly.

“He went to meet up with Tony.” 

You hum in acknowledgement as you grab the chair Bruce had been using and move it towards the stretcher, sitting down in the process. There were no words exchanged for a few minutes, just the two of you watching over the little girl. 

“What’s going to happen to her?” 

“I’m not sure. I’m going to talk with Fury and ask to keep her under my care until we’re at least able to determine what hydra was planning. After that I’m not sure.” 

“Well if he objects I’m sure the team will back you up, myself included.” 

“Good.” You smiled and you were about to say something else when Jarvis announced that you were a few minutes away from Shield’s headquarters. So you get up and start preparing some of the equipment and your little patient for transport. 

When it was time to move Bruce and Steve appeared at the entrance of the room. Both men along with Bucky escorted you out and into a jet so that you could fly directly to the compound while the others handled the other people they had taken into custody. 

It was turning into a long night. Once you’d set foot into the compound you were relieved to find that some of the nurses had been appointed to help you with your patient, Angel, as they had nicknamed her. One of them even had previous experience in working with kids. You weren’t surprised when you walked into the medbay room that had been assigned to her and found a crib along with the medical equipment needed for someone so small and other necessities such as diapers and clothes. 

The nurses had insisted you go get some rest but you weren’t ready to leave Angel alone just yet. You took some time to clean her up and get her dressed. Jenna, one of the nurses, stepped in and helped with the diaper. After that you did finally go to your living quarters, took a shower, changed into some pajamas and finally took a nap.

About two hours later you wake up to the smell of food and you make your way out to your kitchen to find Bucky at the stove. He turns his head to look over his shoulder and smiles. 

“I went by the medical wing and Jenna said you came to rest. Thought I’d make you some food.” 

“Thanks,” you say as you sit on one of the barstools that line the kitchen island. There were two plates and coffee cups. “What is the chef preparing this evening?”

Bucky turns with the pan in one hand and a spatula in the other. “French toast. I know it’s your favorite. And some coffee because I’m pretty sure you’re going back down to see Angel.” He says as he places a few pieces on your plate and then a few on his. Then he moves to fill your coffee cup and sets some sugar and creamer. Finally he sits down next to you.

“Thank you.”

“You are very welcome.”

“Are the others back yet?”

He shakes his head. “Nat called to check in, said they were still dealing with all the detainees and Stark was in a meeting with Fury. Steve headed back there to join them.”

“Is it about the baby?” 

“Yeah, but Steve said not to worry about it. He isn’t going to allow her to leave anytime soon.” 

Hum as you flick your wrist, your fork and knife begin to work on cutting up your French toast while you add cream and sugar to your coffee. Bucky shakes his head while he chuckles. 

“What’s so funny?” 

“Your little party trick.” 

“You’re just mad you can’t do it.” You say before taking a sip of your hot drink. Bucky hides his smirk behind his own coffee cup. 

You both sit in silence as you start to eat. It’s easy for both of you, not needing to fill every single minute with conversation. Once in a while you look at Bucky out of the corner of your eye. It still amazes you that he felt so comfortable with you, how much he had changed from the first time he came to the compound. How at ease he was around you. Even after all he’d been through he had shown you that he could trust you and you trusted him too. It’s why you didn’t mind when he just came into your apartment and vice versa. There was nothing hidden between the two of you. 

You stood and grabbed your now empty mug and plate, taking them to the sink.

“I’ll wash the dishes if you want to go down and check on her.”  

“But you already made food.” 

Bucky waved you off before walking towards the sink with his own dirty dishes. “I know you want to check on her, go. Really.” 

You reached up and kissed his cheek before thanking him. He stood there with a pleased smile as he watched you go. 

There wasn’t much for you to really do down in the medical wing. But you went anyway. Normally when you helped someone on the field, you would help get them on the jet and once you arrived at the compound you’d tell the medical team what happened and what you did so they knew what they were dealing with. Now you have a feeling that you’ll be spending a lot of time here, or at least as long as it takes for the sweet Angel to recover. The nurses had informed you that there was no change in her condition and she was still unconscious which was starting to worry you. But still you dragged a chair and sat by her crib. There wasn’t much to do but you wanted to keep an eye on her. You grabbed your phone and searched for fairytale stories, once you found one you liked you began to read to her. 

Every once in a while there would be a small whine or whimper coming from the crib. In those instances you’d stop reading and stand up to get a better look at her. You’d grab her hand gently and tell her that it was ok that she was safe. 

“And they all lived happily ever after. The end.” You finished softly and you looked up to the crib. A small gasp leaves your lips as you realize that not only is your patient awake but she’s looking right at you.  

You get up slowly and you move to stand by the crib. She follows every move you make. The closer you get though her bottom lip begins to wobble and her eyes close. 

“It’s ok sweet girl, I’m not going to hurt you.” You coo softly as you try to grab her hand. She flinches at your touch as she begins to cry. Without many options you carefully pick her up and bring her to your chest, letting her head rest over your heart. You do what you’ve seen your mom do with your younger siblings which is to sway slowly and hum a lullaby. 

Once the crying dies down you turn your head to look at the baby in your arms and find her looking up at you. Stunning bright blue eyes. Eyes that you’ve looked into before. You move to the other side of the room and open a few drawers until you find a sealed off q-tip. 

“Ok sweet Angel, I’m going to get a sample from you just to check something ok?” You said as you sat her on the counter. She wobbled a little before settling down, blinking slowly as she looked up at you. You rip open the package and take a sample of her saliva. When one of the nurses comes by to check in on both of you, you hand her over and head towards the lab. 

With some help from Friday you manage to run the sample and compare it to everyone in the Avenger’s database. You sit back as the monitor mocks you by displaying the result you were almost sure you’d see.

Hydra’s newest test subject was Bucky Barnes’ daughter.

Ch. 2

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[tfatwsiguess]

Exposed

Berlin, Germany

The next morning, you and Sam followed Bucky through a corridor in the Joint Counterterrorism Center residing in the capital of Germany. It was silent as a guard led you down to the baron, Helmut Zemo's, wing. It felt like you had to bypass a dozen sub levels and guards before you got to the right floor. But your mind wandered elsewhere as you followed through the halfway submersed prison.

You were a little concerned with the stakes of this situation, considering how hard a time Bucky's already had on this mission. Of course, yesterday was rough on all of you. And in more ways than one. But you had thought about it overnight. The way he had been the one to suggest going to talk to this guy despite it being the hardest to deal with for him especially. Whether that was nobility or instability, you were yet to be sure of.

"He is just through this corridor."

"Alright. Give us a minute." Buck nodded to the man in uniform before he left you all with a sub level clearance pass to get into the cell, then turned back to you both. "I'm gonna go in alone."

"What? Why?" Sam immediately questioned, while your eyebrows raised in surprise.

"Because he didn't know you," he turned from you to Sam, "and you're an Avenger."

"And you're a super soldier."

"Yeah, but he might be more inclined to help if it's only me."

"Why? 'Cause he used you as his weapon the last time you two met? Ya aren't exactly known for frolicking in the sun together."

"He was obsessed with Hydra. We have a history together." His blue crystalline eyes flicker between you and Sam as he tries to reassure. "Trust me. I got it."

To your right, Sam's head shook doubtfully. "He's gonna try to get in your head."

"Yeah, well, he can't do that anymore."

"That's not what I meant."

"I know what you meant."

Sam sighed, but you observed the soldier as they talked. Noticing his taut shoulders and gnawed lips and baggy eyes. You kept waiting, expecting to see any sign that too much of his past was being drenched up all at once in talking to this man. That it would become too difficult for him to handle. But he only ever responded with his insistence. So when he turned to you, you nodded firmly. "We'll wait out here."

His stare held with yours for a moment, still never giving away a single transparent thought to you that he didn't want to. He nodded gruffly before carrying himself through the corridor's doorway.

"Sam, with or without us, are you sure Bucky talking to Zemo at all is a good idea?" You finally asked, leaning your back against the opposite wall once Barnes was out of sight. "He's been kind of on edge..."

"That's his natural state." He responded shortly, arms crossed and eyes staring off distractedly as his back rested against the wall across you. When your eyebrow raised and he caught your gaze, he gave in. "He's still upset over the shield."

"Is that what happened with your couple's therapy yesterday? He brought up the shield?"

"Joint therapy... And, along with other things, yeah." Your head bobbed in confirmation, lips sealing. "What, you're not gonna ask about it?"

"Not if you don't want to talk about it..." you reasoned, stare lingering on him as he reflected your silent gaze right back. A grin tugged at the side of your lips. "Do you wanna talk about it?"

"Only if you're on my side," he cracked a smile.

Yours grew, and before you knew it you were beaming back at him. "Well of course I'm on your side, Samuel."

"Really?"

"Against the government jerks who gave away the shield, yeah. But I'm not against Bucky." You clarified.

His face fell into pouty disappointment. "Oh."

With a light chuckle, you straightened up from the wall. "I'm sure you made the choice that felt best for you. I'm just saying that with Bucky... I get it too. Fork what I know it's important to him for different reasons, ya know? You're both at different mercies with that thing."

"You think I shouldn't have given it up either, right?" Both his eyebrows raised, expectantly waiting for what everyone else has said, or, avoided saying to him out loud.

"Don't you?"

"Of course I do. But I certainly didn't think they'd turn around the next day and hand it to someone else either." Disappointment etched into his features. "I guess I should've seen that coming."

You shook your head at seeing his self scrutiny, all because of those lying government asshats. "Honestly, if the shield had stayed retired in the exhibit like you wanted, things wouldn't be as bad. But since those assholes lied to you just to give it to the next Steve-Rogers-look-alike, it's different. I mean I don't really know about this Walker guy."

"You're not the only one." Sam sent you a look, in accordance with you. He straightened away from the glaringly white wall. "Look, you can bet I wouldn't have given it up if I had known the GRC was gonna try to remake a new old Captain America. But I didn't, and it's done now. There's no point in bellyaching over it anymore."

He was confident as he said it, but it was still there. The subtle ache of resignation on his face. And you knew it wasn't yourself he wanted these words directed at.

"... I'm sorry." You said genuinely. And judging by the look on his face you guessed he hadn't received a lot of sympathy on the topic. "It's wrong. They shouldn't have taken advantage of you like that."

"Thank you... I can't really expect the tin can to understand that."

You smile a little, but shake your head. "Well all the robot jokes don't really help."

"It's how we communicate." A devious grin finally tugs at the corner of his mouth. "I just don't understand why he's making such a big deal out of something that has nothing to do with him."

"Is that what you said to him? Well no wonder he hates you!"

"There it is. I knew you were on his side."

"No, I just mean," you couldn't help the laugh that escaped. "I know he's giving you a hard time about your decision, even if it's not fair. But... look, if Steve was his best friend I get why it's so important. He's lost a lot. Including the last person he considered family. The one person he knew in this world." You thought back to what you realized the day you heard the news of Bucky's lost connection, shortly before his being pardoned. "He's just getting back to the modern world, which he doesn't know anything about. And clearly he's still adjusting. Even more than the rest of us. The shield is like, the one thing he has left that's familiar... I can understand that."

Sammy shifted again, those eyebrows scrunching in consideration of your point. "... You sure know how you feel after just meeting the guy."

Your eyes flick up to him, realizing how deep in thought you were over the circumstance. "... I listen and assess more than I talk." You shrug with a loose smile. "It's important skill."

He nodded slowly, taking in your input. "... How long did it take for you?" Sam knew bits of your past. Like your life without parents, emancipation, and entry into agent work, and that's about it. That's how you knew exactly what he was asking. "To adjust, after everything that happened in your past?"

You immediately thought back to mere months after you were reinstated in school as a teenager, around the same time Uncle Nick got you your own apartment and worked out your official emancipation. It took that long to even start to get back into a rhythm.

"Hm... I think the middle of high school was the only time in my life when almost everything felt normal, and mundane. Other than that it's kind of all chaos but, since then it's not so bad."

"It must've been hard, being on your own that young."

"Well, taking care of myself wasn't the hard part." The hard part was actually the constant paranoia for years to come, but you weren't going to say that. "After everything I kinda liked being alone. Having my own space to process. But, after all the years of solitude now I don't find others' company so bad." A smile comes to your face as you look across at Sam, his expressions mirroring the same back at you. "But, I still had help getting readjusted, and it made every bit of difference." Two faces came to mind. The ones who were such a big reason for you having the freedom you have today. It'd been too long since you'd seen them. "The point is, as much as people try to isolate themselves, you really can't get through the hard times without someone there to help you. Some kind of support. But isn't that exactly what Bucky's trying to do?"

Sam blinked.

Out of all the soldiers feeling out of place he's worked with, he hadn't stopped to think about Bucky's new life now. Not between all the chaos going on in his own life.

Before he had reached out to him, knowing that between Stark's funeral and saying goodbye to Steve, he was processing a lot. Otherwise, Sam had Sarah and the kids to worry about, to work out his own financials and personal post-blip reinstatement business to tend to. It was relentless work, but he realized how much easier it was for him, as someone who's already lived through today's world.

Maybe it was just harder to understand that with someone he had didn't have the best personal relationship with.

The silence that stretched as Sam was caught in his own head made you think about the weight of the topics and memories brought up.

"Yeah. That was a lot to bring up at 10 AM."

"Well don't try to take it back now," he teased with a tug at his lips, but you could see the thoughts spinning behind his eyes. You grinned before pointing a look at him, tilting your head. "Okay, maybe you have a point."

"Oh maybe I have a point?" You repeated, nodding.

"Alright, alright. Suddenly you're the counselor and I feel like the kid."

You chuckle and shake your head.

After that, it wasn't much longer before an alarm went off all around the compound. Red flashing lights blinked out of nowhere and sent the facility into high alert. You stepped away from wall, shooting a concerned look to Sam. Before either of you could bolt to the door Bucky had gone through, he reappeared out of it and headed down the corridor past you two, not stopping.

"We should get going!"

"Wha– how'd it go?" You asked. "What did he say?"

"Not here."

"You have any idea what's going on with these alarms?" Sam followed behind quickly, some accusation lacing his tone. "Maybe anything to do with our little visit?"

That question, Bucky never answered. Between the blaring sirens and his reluctance to say anything yet, neither of you asked anything else until you took an elevator up and finally exited the blaring compound.

"Bucky, stop." Sam finally stopped your group outside the door, an emergency exit that you probably weren't supposed to use rather than checking out with security at the main entrance; especially while the prison was going on lockdown. Turned out that visitor's card permitted a lot. "What happened?"

"Zemo said he knew where to start." He said vaguely, making you wait. "He wouldn't give me anything else."

Sam's head shook. "That's all you could get?"

"At the time," he answered, then continued down the valley towards the street.

You followed along again, squinting at the back of his head. "What do you mean 'at the time'?"

"We need to break Zemo out."

"Bucky, where the hell are we?" Sam demanded as you all made your way through an empty, darkened building.

It seemed like you had been walking for forever between small buildings and back alleys without getting answers. Until Bucky led you inside a small building that was too dark to see inside.

"And do you wanna explain what you mean by 'break Zemo out'?"

Sam had immediately done a double take and proceeded to harass Bucky with a string of questions like if he had lost his mind or if Zemo had, in fact, brainwashed him again during the brief time he was in there. You may have partially gotten through to him about Bucky, but clearly it wouldn't stop him from holding back now.

"We don't have any leads, any moves, anything."

"Well we got one of the most dangerous men in the world behind bars."

"And we also have eight super soldiers on the loose." Barnes rebutted, reaching some box you could barely make out on a pole in the middle of the floor.

"Look, Zemo's gonna mess with our minds, especially yours." Sam stressed, to which you nudged him for. "No offense."

Bucky turned a lever, finally illuminating the place. A car repair garage of all places. "Offense. Super soldiers go against everything he believes in. He may be crazy, but he still has a code."

"And I've been on the wrong side of that code. So have you! He blew up the UN meeting, killed King T'Chaka and framed you for it." Buck paced back over to you, clearly getting annoyed at all the chatter. "If word gets out that he's escaped who knows who's gonna come lookin' for him? Who knows what he'd do if he finds out Alex has her own powers?"

"What, you think he's gonna get trigger happy over a retractable glow stick?" Buck snapped irritably, to which your head tilts defensively at him. "Sorry– that frustration was at the wrong person..." He retracted, sending Sam a look before turning back again and switching up more lights.

"Look," Sam takes a breath, taking his time down a few noticed. "I get why this matters to you so much, but it's pushing you off the deep end."

"We don't know how they're getting the serum." Barnes counters easily. You watched him in the stretching silence as he so ambitiously argued for this case. "We don't even know how many of them there are right now."

Sam shook his head at the 100-year-old, turning away when he had no another attempts.

"You're really willing to risk it? After everything?" He looked to you, as it was the first you spoke in the matter while they argued. By now you were used to getting past the bickering to get to the rationalizations. That and, you were at a disadvantage when it came to comparable knowledge about this guy. "It is a big risk to let him out. Could we even keep him under control?"

"I know he's dangerous. But his speciality is mind games, and other than that, he's just another guy with basic training. He only becomes dangerous if we let him." You hear Sam scoff, and Bucky looks back to him. "Between the two of us and our secret weapon, it won't be a problem."

Sam laughs when Bucky gestures to you. "Oh, from glow stick to secret weapon, huh?"

"Okay– can we all stop saying glow stick?" You groan.

"Look, can I just walk you guys through a hypothetical? Let me walk you through it–"

"A hypothetical." Your eyebrow couldn't help but inch up doubtfully.

Sam turned back to him slowly. "What did you do?"

"I didn't do anything." He gave an unconvincing shrug.

None of you said anything, the awkwardest pause stretching after the blatant lie. You took a breath and went for it. "And, what is this hypothetical?"

"How to Break Someone Out of Jail 101."

"We're not breaking Zemo out! It's never gonna go the way you plan."

"Just let me break it down, okay? The weakest point in any system isn't the software, or the hardware. It's the meatware. The human element." He begins, voice gliding over the premise like butter. "In their lockup, it's nine to one, prisoners to guards. And if two prisoners start fighting, then the protocol says four guards have to respond."

"So why would two prisoners randomly start fighting at that moment?" Sam questioned before you could ask how he even knew these details from a single walk through the compound.

"Who knows? This place detains some of the most high level threat terrorists in the world. There could be many reasons. But the point is, things escalate. Lockdown procedures would have to be initiated, and with all those bodies flying around left and right, it wouldn't be hard to slip down a hallway or two." He continued, making a jailbreak from such a high security terrorism prison sound so effortless. "And if the fire alarm got tripped while the prisoners were being separated, they'd have to let the prisoners out to be accounted for. Someone could easily use the chaos to their advantage."

The beginning of the plan sounded well formulated enough, you couldn't deny; but it didn't seem like the first time he'd walked someone through it either. And getting Zemo out, in the "hypothetical" would only be one of the many problems that came with it. At this point, it was clear to both of you that he was up to something.

"I don't like how causal he's being about this..." You mumble.

"It's unnatural," Sam concurred. "What did you–" He cut himself off, finally looking around in frustration at the odd choice of location. "Where the hell are we, man?"

Just then, a door opened. You all looked towards the end of the room, where a silhouette moved behind an opaque tarp. A man in what looked to be a captain's hat walked closer, but from the other side what actually came was a familiar looking figure in a prison guard's uniform.

Your eyes narrowed as the man drew nearer in the dim lighting. "Did you actually..."

Your half-question was answered when you heard Sam utter, "Whoa."

You looked over the man standing before you in the flesh, a ways away from his cell. "Oh crap..."

"Whoa whoa whoa– What are you doing here?!" Wilson marched towards the newcomer, and Bucky was already holding him back.

"Well. That whole conversation was pointless." You stared at the man, and it was clear who he was. You never even had to dig him out of Bucky's past. The guy was all over the news right after Bucky was, when the police cleared his name and revealed Zemo as the murderer who framed the poor guy.

Wow, you thought to yourself, two highly acclaimed criminals in two days. Can't wait to slap this on my resume.

"Hold on, look! I didn't wanna tell you 'cause I knew you wouldn't let this happen..."

"What did you do?!"

"We need him, Sam–"

He didn't listen, throwing a finger to the Sokovian. "You're going back to jail!"

"Listen, Sam!"

The blond man raised his hand. "If I may–"

"NO!" Both barked at him, causing his mouth to clamp, and he nodded understandably. "Apologies..."

Bucky turned to Sam once he was finally calm enough to listen."When Steve refused to sign the Sokovia accords, you backed him. You broke the law and stuck your neck out for me. I'm asking you to do that again." His voice was low and gravelly as he really tried to level with Sam for the first time. You knew this was probably the closest he'd get to begging.

Although the speech wasn't even directed to you, and clearly there were no other choices anyway, it was hard enough to say no to that. You could see it on Sam's face too, but he still seemed well against the idea of working with Zemo. "... Okay. Ya know what? I think Alex should decide."

"Great idea." Bucky slid his hands off of his shoulders once he was certain Sam wouldn't lunge at the escapee, and both turned to you.

You sighed when their gazes set upon you, sensing a pattern. "Seriously?"

"You're the most reasonable between the three of us." Buck gestured between the two of them, then glanced back to Zemo, who was already sizing you up. "Your call."

Yep. There was definitely a pattern going.

You thought more over the new situation at hand. On the nay side, it's not like if you decided against this Zemo would ever let you take him back to prison so soon. Especially with the chance to take down a group of new age super soldiers. And even if you did, Bucky would be in serious trouble with some higher ups after bringing him right back. If he's not already, that is... Which reminded you how much he's risking with his pardon, too, by doing all of this. Those two points alone were enough for you to conclude that Bucky was either out of his mind, or just as desperate as Sam says to figure out this whole super soldier mess.

Above all else, it was clear you had no other choice now. Barnes knew exactly what he was doing letting this guy out before saying anything about it.

You took a breath and turned to Sam, knowing he wouldn't be happy. "He's already out..."

"What?" He groans in disbelief the same time Barnes throws his hands up, shouting, "Thank you!" Gesturing towards you with a glare to Sam, who clearly only suggested your decision under the impression that you would side with him.

"Are you serious?"

"I mean, he just got out we can't take him back now. And it's not like he's hurt anyone!" You immediately turned from Sam to the baron with deadly seriousness. "You haven't hurt anyone right?

"None other than the guard I took out to acquire this uniform."

"... You mean knocked out."

"Yes, of course." He amended through his thick accent, no hesitance.

"And then there was the walk over here where no one kept an eye on him–" Sam pointed out.

"I really think I'm invaluable."

"Shut up." Wilson silenced him again, rubbing his temple. "Okay... if we do this, you don't make a move without our permission."

"Fair." The stranger agreed, a little too reasonably than what felt right for you. You all shared a look, on your toes.

"Okay, Zemo... where do we start?"

Life sure was exciting in your line of work. One second this was only gonna be a duo mission with Sam, and the next second it turned to a trio with the infamous Winter Soldier himself. Someone who nearly killed you and sent you into hiding for years. And now, you're working with a real jail-breaking murderous criminal. Bucky surely caught you off guard with this decision.

You were at another garage now. Zemo's car garage with a ridiculous amount of vehicles for any one person or family to possess. The soldier and falcon didn't seem too worried about the baron digging around in his cars for minutes on end, but you kept a close eye on him as he was packing, even as he leaned out of eyesight into his car. You were the only agent here who hadn't interacted with Zemo firsthand before, and the disadvantage made you extra cautious. You made your choice, but knew Sam was so against it for a reason.

You saw his hand linger on some weird looking rubber mask, and you watched him take it, shoving it into his bag a little too quickly for something that should be harmless. Oh yeah. Dude's up to something.

As he packed and explained his search methods, you could see sneaky running through his veins; in his eyes and in his accent. You didn't have to watch the news coverage to know, it was an intuitive feeling you sensed in abundance. You were good at working with what you knew, even if it wasn't much. Your instincts weren't gonna let him out of sight, even to pack a post-jailbreak bag.

"I've ended The Winter Soldier program before. I have no intention of leaving that work unfinished. To do this we'll have to scale a ladder of low lives."

"How ironic," you mumble.

"First stop is a woman named Selby. Middle level on the ladder, we climb up from there."

"How long is this gonna take?" You asked as you three followed him out.

"The jet ride should be less than a day," he responded, only raising a second question instead of answering the first.

"Where are we going," Buck specified for you.

"Madripoor."

He seemed unimpressed. "Of course we are."

"Never heard of it."

It seemed Sam hadn't either, judging by his expression of thought when you looked over. "Unbelievable..." You hear him utter, then look over to see the sleek private jet awaiting outside. "You've been rich this whole time?"

"I am a baron, Sam. My family was royalty until your friends destroyed my country."

While that was a big piece of the puzzle for Zemo, it didn't explain how all this luxury was still here while he was being imprisoned. Like it was all just waiting for him to return.

Zemo took his seat across from you once on the jet, and Bucky to your right, Sam adjacent. The baron mutters something to the flight attendant in Sokovian, nodding to the boys, then glancing his eyes to you for a moment.

The white-haired geezer let out a laugh. That old man chuckle made it sound like he was close enough to Bucky's age. "Good to have you back, sir!" You rolled your eyes as he turned to hobble back to the front.

"He sounds like he's on the verge of death," you remarked in skepticism.

"Be kind. Oeznik is sensitive about his age and I insist on keeping my staff happy." He smiled diplomatically to you, as he pulled out his book titled 'Machiavelli' from his bag. The hint of smirk on his face made you feel like a cold hand was reaching up and tickling your spine.

"Why don't you tell us about where we're going?" Sam diverted, but Helmut waited before responding, eyes moving across a line of words.

"... I'm sorry. I was fascinated by this book." He was looking down at the pages, but pulling something else out from between the folds. Small and black from what you could see. "I'm not sure what to call it, but, this part seems important. Who is Nakajima?"

Bucky leapt out of his chair and had his metal hand around Zemo's throat in an instant. No one else even had a chance to move before the little journal was back in his other hand. "Touch this again and I'll kill you." He promised in a whisper, looking him in the eyes.

Zemo was stiff, but nodded. It was the first, and will probably be the only time you had seen him taken off guard. You wouldn't know what the significance of that journal is, but you knew Zemo should've been expecting such a reaction when he brought it up in such a slimy way.

The little book Bucky held nearly folded in his his tight grasp, causing your eyebrows to crease in peaked curiosity. Your eyes flickered from Bucky to Zemo as he released his hold, and sat back down with the notebook protectively in hand. Less than a minute on the plane and it seemed this master of mind games was already making it a priority to mess with his former victim.

Sam sat back once hands were no longer around throats, but Zemo kept going.

"I'm sorry. I understand, it's a list of names of people you've hurt as The Winter Soldier?"

At that revelation, you couldn't help but glance over to Bucky; to the book. Both your eyes caught one another's for a moment before you averted your gaze, and he looked out the window. "Don't push it."

"I recognize that journal. Steve used it when he came outta the ice." A smile came to Sam's face as he glanced at you, then back to Buck. "I told him about Trouble Man. He wrote it in there. Did ya listen to it? What'd ya think?"

"I like 40's music so."

You felt a ghost of smile trace your lips at the response. In an entirely new time he still managed to be an old soul. You looked to Sam, expecting a reaction.

"You didn't like it?"

"I liked it," he shrugged defensively.

"Oh but you didn't love it though..." He questioned, tone accusatory.

"Sam." You warned on Bucky's behalf as your grin spread, because you could tell how he was about to get.

"It is a masterpiece, James." Zemo weighed in. "Complete, comprehensive. The soundtrack truly captures the African-American experience."

Not completely aware, you shot him a look, but Sam was the first to speak.

"Wha– Okay, he's outta line, but, he's right. It's great... Alex tell him, didn't you love watching it?"

"Huh?"

"The movie, the soundtrack, didn't you love it?"

"... It's– it’s a movie?" You blinked.

And as deep disappointment bled into The Falcon's face all over again, you knew you said wrong thing. "Oh, my God."

"Uh oh," Zemo singsonged in a baritone voice, and didn't miss the narrowing glance he got from you.

"So you haven't heard it either."

"Well, no– not that particular Marvin Gaye album. The way you talked about it I thought you were only talking about songs."

"I can't believe what I'm hearing!" He shakes his head, looking up to the heavens.

"You forget she is much younger than you, Samuel."

"Now hold on, I wouldn't say 'much'–"

"You're making this as weird as you possibly can, aren't you?" You smiled thinly at the commenter.

"This isn't the point. Everybody loves Marvin Gaye!" Sam redirected, looking between the two of his partners.

"I like Marvin Gaye." Bucky countered, hardly fazed.

"Steve adored Marvin Gaye!"

"Sam, come on–"

"Nah I'll deal with you later," he shut you down before going right back to the irritated soldier cross from him. "My question is, how could you not love the soulful stylings of The Prince of Soul himself?"

You laugh incredulously as he went off on his tangent. Bucky just looked over at you instead of dignifying him with an answer. "I think we're in trouble."

"Yup. Should not have said that." You and Buck turn back to him simultaneously, and you whisper to Sam, "Am I uninvited to the cookout?"

Bucky cracked a smile, but Sam wasn't amused. Though he digressed while you laughed.

"You must have really looked up to Steven... But I realized something when I met him." The air became heavier as Zemo began. "The danger with people like him, America's super soldiers, is that we put them on pedestals–"

"Watch your step, Zemo."

"They become symbols. Icons. And then we start to forget about their flaws. From there, cities fly. Innocent people die... Wars are fought."

You cocked your head to the side at his dramatic speech. "I'm sorry, didn't you blow up a peaceful UN meeting? In fact, the very one that was meant to prevent stuff like what you just said from happening?"

"That particular sacrifice was not my finest moment." He conceded a little too casually. "Though I have no failures or regrets on the subject, I was still very much in grief."

"Oh! I didn't realize you were in grief." You stared at him blankly, deadpan. "Silly me."

"My point being, when there are idols, there is always a butterfly effect." His gaze zeroed in on the WWII veteran, who was tense again in his seat. "You know that, don't you? As a young soldier being sent to Germany to stop a madman? The question is, do we want to live in a world filled with people like The Red Skull? Certainly not. That is why we are going to Madripoor."

"Great. So what's up with Madripoor?" You ask, wanting to segue out of his sermon.

"Yeah, you guys talk about it like it's Skull Island."

"It's a place where pirates settled in the Indonesian archipelago in the 1800's," Bucky spoke up, his voice low and thick again, gaze still averted out the window.

"It has maintained its lawless ways since then. Think of it as a criminal safe haven where we can find the answers we need about the serum. But, we still cannot walk in there as ourselves."

Sam eyes the blond, just as the jet starts to take off. "So what are you thinking?"

"We go undercover of course. I know a place where we can get what is needed for your fake identities."

Madripoor, Indonesia. It was definitely beautiful from a distance, but you could imagine the facade of perfection chipping away the closer you four walked down the bridge. And your suspicions were only supported by the acidic smell.

Zemo practically gave you and Sam extreme makeovers. At least, yours were more extreme than his and Bucky's. Colorful accessories were added into your hair and around your ears and neck. Zemo insisted it would complete the cultural look.

You switched out your pants, top and jacket for... well, he practically got you the same semi-tactical fit you were wearing before, but much... brighter. And with many more patterns. It seemed he was going for a more African mixed with western fashion look that Sam was also sporting. Cultured but still modern, some of your prints matching with his suit. But luckily you didn't stand out as much as he did. It wasn't exactly subtle like you were used to, but strangely enough, you kinda liked it. For your undercover character anyway.

You couldn't help smiling to yourself as Sam fiddled with his colorful suit. "We gotta do something about this, I'm the only one who looks like a pimp!"

"Only an American would assume a fashion forward black man is a pimp."

"Nah. That suit, all the patterns and designs? Straight up pimp." You scoffed in amusement, tinged with some annoyance. "That was outta pocket by the way. Points for saying 'black' this time though."

"He looks exactly like who he's supposed to," Helmut digressed. "An African rake. Very charming, sophisticated."

"Well that's great. Ya know I've been working on my Wakandan accent lately," the pimp griped sarcastically.

"Ya know there are other African countries besides Wakanda, right?" Bucky remarked.

"I know you didn't just ask me that."

"Do not worry, he was raised here most of his life but has been traveling the globe for years now." Zemo cut back in, and handed Sam a phone with the picture pulled up. "His name is Conrad Mack, a.k.a., The Smiling Tiger. No accent required."

You looked down at your tiger print protective jacket. "Is that what's up with all these loud animal prints?"

"You need to look associated with him. You will be his body guard. He never travels here without one."

Sam looks to Bucky, who simply traded his hoody and jacket for a black leather one with a protective vest over it. "Why's he get to look normal?"

There was the slightest of teasing in Zemo's voice as he answered. "James will have to become someone he claims is gone."

His amusement was clear in his face, same with Bucky's apprehension. You shook your head, wondering if he was ever going to let up on the guy, especially considering he's the reason Zemo was even seeing daylight. You quickly changed subject before the psycho could do a deep dive into Bucky's past opportunities to use as method acting.

"What about you?" Your criminal had changed into what you had to admit was a nice ass coat. He certainly looked at home in it.

"I have an old contact to reconnect with. James will be my protection." A car comes up the otherwise empty, lit up bridge. "No matter what happens, we have to stay in character. There is no margin for error; our lives depend on it."

No one said anything else, but there was no doubt everyone was on their guard. You figured it should be easy enough for you, as a faceless bodyguard. They're more seen and not heard, and it would give you the opportunity to be extra cautious of your surroundings without seeming suspicious.

The car drives into town, six motorcyclists surrounding the car closely as it entered the city. It followed the sound of music and chattering dwellers until you finally got to your drop point. And Zemo was right, you all truly fit right in. Your cover would've been blown the second you walked in, had everyone been wearing their American sneakers and hoodies.

You couldn't help noticing all the different things going on: exchanges of unfamiliar currency, exotic animals, traffic flow in and out of bars. Ominous spray paintings about some 'power broker' all over every other brick wall, people standing around with full on rifles flashed about like it either was their life insurance or merely a fashion accessory. But you didn't stare or make eye contact with anyone as you all walked through, maintaining a stone face. You were here on business after all.

"Wasn't expecting you, Smiling Tiger."

You stood adjacent to Sam at the bar, letting yourself look over the room now. Brass knuckles on fingers, and guns in raggedy holsters. It was a room full of paranoids. The bartender was no exception.

"His plans changed. We have business with Selby." Zemo answered for him.

With a nod, the bartender turned back to your boss. "The usual?"

With his best pimp face, presumably, Sam gave a silent nod. You tried with everything in you not to make a face of disgust or laughter as Sam stared at his snake-gut tainted drink.

"Ah, yes. Your favorite, Smiling Tiger."

"Mm... I love these..." He stalled, staring at the shot glass in hand. He hesitated a little too long, but eventually downed it in one swift motion, barely maintaining character as his face twisted. You didn't miss the satisfied nod from Bucky either, and had to restrain your lips from tugging up.

As the bartender tended to other patrons, you watch as a bearded man walks through the crowd, up to Zemo. "Got word from on high. The Power Broker don't welcome you here. None of you."

"We have no business with The Power Broker. But if he insists, he can either come and talk to me..." At this, Zemo gestures to his own guard.

"Get a new haircut?" The thug sneered, to which the soldier only remained stoic faced, like a blank slate. If you hadn't just spent the last day with him, observing him, the hint of uneasiness coming through his eyes might've been invisible to you.

"Or, you can take us to Selby for a chat."

He must've not known what to do with that response, between being challenged with The Winter Soldier, and following his boss' orders. Cleverly, he walked away. For now.

You eyed the group he retreated to, seemingly all interested in the infamous celebrity brought along with the baron. "What was that about?" You muttered, voice low.

"Seriously." Buck added, eyes shifting about. "A power broker? Really?"

"Every kingdom needs its king. Let's just pray we stay off of his radar."

"You know him?" Sam leaned on the bar, trying to look comfortable, but even as you continue sizing up room while tuning into the convo, you noticed the taste in his mouth still making him grimace.

"No. Only by reputation. Here he is judge, jury, and executioner.

Another man, bigger than first one sent, made his way over towards the group now. You turned from the bar to face him, but Zemo turned his back to him, and muttered something in German to the super soldier at his side. By the look on Barnes' face directed at Zemo, you could something unpleasant was about to go down. Zemo didn't make a move as Thug Number Two grabbed his well-clothed shoulder.

That poor hand was hardly even full grip before Bucky twisted it into his hold and walked the man away from the bar. He moved out to the open floor as the guy squirmed in pain. People began onlooking, but Barnes was looking back to Zemo with a glare of masked reluctance. Like he was about to do something he'd regret.

Your eyebrows raise slightly as the tension became palpable with that single gaze, before the beat down could even begin. And you watched, captivated as he took the man down in a single motion, like it was as effortless as snapping a toothpick. More of this Power Broker's followers foolishly came after him, and your first instinct was to step in, but Barnes didn't give any of them a second to breathe. The way he blocked every blow and returned it tenfold, sending men flying back, was somehow so undeniably smooth.

Maybe it shouldn't have been the spectacle it was to you, but when you saw him before he wasn't fighting. Just blew up the car you were in. And you could tell even during the truck top fight he was holding back. Now, he had plenty of motivation not to. And it was way too mesmerizing not to stare as he let loose. Even with the level of skill he brought to a bar fight with a bunch of low life thugs, it was like he was freaking indestructible.

Men kept coming from every angle. The former assassin swiftly kicked a table leg off its side, sending another to the floor, and kicked one other guy from behind him far back into the crowd without even looking in his direction.

"Damn," you whispered beneath your breath.

Onlookers emitted ooh's of secondhand pain as they watched the fight, if you could call it that. Some people were recording, and for a moment you worried of the risk of word getting out that The Winter Soldier is back.

"Didn't take long for him to fall into form," Zemo smiled from aside Sam, whose concerned face morphed into a glare. But you didn't even register as you watched Bucky take six men down so effortlessly in one spot, in a span of thirty seconds, no sweat. You had become captivated, even though violence wasn't something you were typically drawn to like this... He was certainly impressive when he did it.

Your focus only came back when Bucky singlehandedly picked up the first man from off the floor by the neck, marched back to bar and slammed his back on the tabletop. He was held down in a merciless chokehold, unmoving. That's when everyone decided to square up with their guns. Clearly this Power Broker had a lot of loyalists.

You stepped forward in front of Sam, fingers twitching and ready to catch some bullets if need be. Sam placed a hand on Buck's arm, but it was unclear whether it was for the gangster's sake, or Bucky's.

"Stay in character or the whole bar turns on us," Zemo whispers quickly, as if every gun in the place wasn't already trained on you. Sam slowly stepped back, but you ignored him as your eyes scraped over every gun in the crowd. Your palm tingled, already feeling out the mass of weaponized metal in the room. Maybe The Smiling Tiger's bodyguard didn't have metal-bending superpowers, but you weren't about to let a wall of bullets take this team down.

Zemo's hand slapped proudly onto Bucky's back. "Gut erledigt, soldat."

You heard a desperate gasping for air, but Barnes doesn't let the man go until the bartender looks at him with wide eyes. "Selby will see you now..."

Metal plates moved as Bucky released, and the henchman finally fell to your feet, coughing and gasping. When you looked up, the shifting features on Bucky's face coiled a knot in your stomach. Before it had been scrunched in deadly focus; intense and menacing. Now, there was shame and mortification. Like he had just woken up from a nightmare. It all happened so fast, and as the adrenaline wore off, you could see he wasn't ready to see what it felt like to step back into that role again.

"Thank you." Zemo smiled, following behind, taking no notice of what he had so much fun bringing about.

But Sam only watched the man who was breathing heavily with wide eyes. "You good?"

He looked to Sam, snapping out of his trance. His mouth shut, masking his true expression again. With a quick nod, and a sniff almost too subtle to miss, he marched after the baron. It did nothing to curve his overwhelming emotions, nor your desire to make sure he would be okay. But you only moved once Sam followed him too, and they all walked out unharmed.

"You should know, Baron. People don't just come into my bar and make demands." A blonde woman was draped along a couch when you walked in. "I thought you were rotting away in a German prison. How did you escape?"

"People like us always find a way, don't we?" Zemo makes himself comfortable across from her. Bucky stays by his side while you follow "Conrad" across the room. "I'm sure you've already figured out what I'm here for."

"You're taller than I'd heard, Smiling Tiger." She waves a finger towards where you and Samuel settle above them. Again, Sam only gives a curt nod, causing her to emit some sort of flirtatious growl. Satisfaction sets in her face upon seeing yours and Sam's disturbed expressions. "What's the offer?"

"Tell us what you know about the super-soldier serum..." Zemo arises from his chair, striding towards James. "And I give you him."

Your jaw tightened shut. He was already at it again, and that shit-eating smile on his lips forced you to resist the urge to roll your eyes. Who cares if it was strategy at this point, he was clearly enjoying the opportunity to torture Bucky while he had no choice but to be unresponsive.

"Along with the code words to control him, of course." He rasped, circling the offering. Personal space was of no concern as his gloved fingers cupped the soldier's taut face, as if he were a prized weapon to auction off. "He will do anything you want."

You couldn't explain the bubble of anger that ignited wildly in your stomach. Your fists clenched in your stance when you saw Bucky's embarrassment slipping through, and Zemo eating up every bit of it. You had no idea where it came from, but you had to resist your sudden urge to cross the room and choke out that shit-faced psychopath while he gripped Bucky's chin, for inflicting and relishing in this so much.

"Now that's the Zemo I remember. I'm glad I decided not to kill you immediately. Yeah, you were right to come to me." Satisfied when Selby's eyes rake over the soldier, Zemo leaves Bucky alone, sitting back down in comfort as if he hasn't just offered to trade a person for information.

The woman couldn't tell, but it was clear enough to you the distress all over Bucky's face of having to stomach that as if he weren't completely aware of it.

"The super-soldier serum is here in Madripoor. Dr. Wilfred Nagel is the man you wanna thank. Or... condemn, depending on what side of this you're on. The Power Broker had him working on the serum, but... things didn't go as planned."

"Is Nagel still in Madripoor?"

"Ah ah, Baron. The breadcrumbs you can have for free. The whole bakery's gonna cost ya. And before you get all cute, don't think for a second you can find Nagel without me."

The sound of a vibration stopped the conversation. Everyone's eyes shoot over to Sam's pocket. You didn't move. He grabbed the phone and glanced at Selby, looking like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar. Everything in your mind just screamed at him to play it off better than he was now. It felt like you were looking at a little Sam from thirty years ago being berated by his mother.

You heard boots click and felt Selby moving closer to where you and Sam stood. You turned to see her stop beside you, and Bucky who was quietly following over behind her, ready to act.

You actually decided to remain calm, unlike Sam, since a phone call in itself wasn't anything to be suspicious of. But the way this lady moved about with wolfish eyes still kept your defensive sights set on her. A phone call was normal, and as his bodyguard used to being at his side, you had to play it off better than he was doing now, while still staying ready at his side.

"Answer it. On speaker." She gestures toward the guard behind the two of you who stood ready with a gun in his hands. When he moved closer and readied his finger over the trigger, you turned to him before he got any closer to Sam, daring him to make a move. He looked over your smaller form and didn't seem the least bit threatened at all.

"Hello?"

"Hey, um, we need to talk about the situation. It's been driving me nuts."

"What situation are you talking about exactly?"

"... Are you high? You know what situation, it's the only situation you and I have."

Oh. Must be his sister.

"What situation, Sarah? Say it!"

"The damn boat! And watch your tone. I may have let you slide at the bank but–"

"Huh, yeah the bank. Laundered so much money," he laughed obnoxiously, and you wanted so badly to facepalm. Oh God, Sam. "They'll come around."

"If that was the case then why'd they dog you out, big time?"

"Damn right I'm big time." He boasted, haughty. You were praying he'd receive your telepathic messages to just hang up the damn phone. But he kept going, his gaze turning dark when he delivered a pretty dramatic line– and pretty well actually. "You'll see, when I have that banker killed."

Okay, Sam, there are those acting skillssss.

You turned your head to sneak a peek at Selby who was walking around the room as she listened. She was eyeing James up and down, and then wandered behind an alert Zemo, running her finger along the back of his chair.

"Cas! What did I say about the Cheerios?! I don't have time for this– Sam, I'm sorry, lemme call you back."

"Sam?"

You sighed heavily.

"Who's Sam? Kill them!"

The giant guard pulls up his gun, and you lunge forward, grabbing it from his hands and hitting the butt of it on the side of his head swiftly. When he crumpled you turned with the barrel pointed to her, but her body was already dropping after another shot already barreled through the window and into her chest.

Bucky didn't miss a beat and took out the second guard, grabbing his firearm, too. Everyone moved toward the entrance at once, away from windows.

"What the hell was that?"

Sam pressed his back to the door as he looked at Selby's bleeding body on the floor. "Too many people know we came to see her, they're gonna try to pin this on us."

"We have a real problem. We need to go, now. Leave your weapons and follow my lead." Zemo rubbed his gloved hands together, actually seeming nervous. But the three of you still followed him out through a back exit, into an alleyway back outside. The plan must've been to get out of the area before anyone discovered what had happened. After that spectacle Bucky– well, The Winter Soldier made in the bar, everyone knows who was last to see Selby.

The four of you walked quickly, but unanimously tried to seem anything but suspicious as people passed by. It was only a few seconds before phones were buzzing and chiming all over after that. People looked around, and you had some idea of what the message must have said. Next thing you knew, you heard gunshots all around you, and the rest of your team broke into a sprint. Even more rounds followed your footsteps, just missing the four moving targets.

You and Zemo split off down a different way, acting on the same impulse since the shots came from behind and the two of you were in the back.

"I can't run in these heels!"

Sam and Bucky had run off straight ahead, missing the bullets as far as you could tell.

Motorcycles are flanking on the left, and you both make a hard veer to run down a path on the right. Only more men appear riding from that direction, too. You scramble to change course at the speed you're fleeing, leading Zemo on your heels through the only course left. The two of you moved swiftly between the market tables, luckily losing the pursuers that were closing in on the left. There was another opening at the end of this road, but with the cyclists converging on you from every direction it could just as easily be a dead end.

It didn't stop you from evading the men by sprinting that way, but you only caught up with Sam and Bucky also running into the back alley with their own group of attackers riding after them as well. All four of you reunited at once, boxed in while shots began firing at your partners.

"Shit!" You slide to a stop and your hands fly up. Rounds of lead speed towards them, but the array of bullets stop and hover just a foot away from them before they can make any contact. Seconds later, when the gunman saw their pointless efforts and the firing stopped, you dropped your arms, the wall of lead clinking at their feet.

The sound of more motorcycles coming to a stop behind you and the baron, along with firearms being cocked, caused you to whip around. Quickly, you reached a hand up and yanked it back with a grunt, lurching every one of their scooters from underneath them, and watching the men hit the ground.

Bucky watched slack-jawed as you revealed even more powers, taking down multiple shooters so effortlessly. Zemo wasn't exactly keeping his cool from beside you either.

Your ears perked when once again, guns clicked from behind you. "Take her down!"

You spin around in irritation, ready to rip them from their hands, but you didn't have to bother. Some hidden sniper fires shots on your attackers before you can, and they drop lifelessly to the ground as well.

Your hands lowered slowly as the others looked all around the alley, the fiery green energy dissipating. It seemed like invisible snipers had been following you all since you stepped foot in this place.

"We seem to have a guardian angel," Zemo commented aloud, then stopped searching amongst the upper levels to narrow the disgusted shock in his eyes on you. "And you seem to have some explaining to do."

"Well this is just too perfect."

A voice and figure finally emerged from the shadows behind Barnes and Wilson. Once she stopped between the motionless bodies and unhooded herself, you saw it was...

Well, you were finally beat. You had no idea who she was.

"Sharon?" Bucky breathed out.

"Drop it, Zemo." That gun rested well in her hands, and she had it set on the rake.

He slowly set the weapon on the ground, and you realized you didn't even know when or where he got it from.

"Sharon, wait." Sam held his hand out as she kicked it away, well out of the baron's reach while still pointing hers at his forehead.

"I lost everything because of you."

Zemo straightened very slowly, his hands in the air. He backed away, putting himself between you and Sam, who spoke again. "Someone recreated the super soldier serum, and Zemo had a lead."

She laughed, looking up at the sky incredulously for a moment. "That explains why you guys are here. And why Selby's dead."

"We didn't kill anybody." He clarified.

"Then someone must have framed you for it to get a lot of money. Welcome to Madripoor."

"What are you doing here?" Bucky cut in from beside you.

"I stole the shield, remember? I also stole the wings for your ass so you could save his ass from his ass," she swung the gun about, pointing it aggressively from Sam, to Bucky then Zemo.

"Okay, easy." You warned when the others tensed with guilt.

This shifted her attention to you. "I didn't think I'd ever meet you though. Then again I never thought you'd end up anywhere near these guys. Now how did that happen?"

"What are you talking about?" You shook your head, confused as to why she looked over you with such familiarity.

With a huff, Sharon finally lowered her gun. "You're Alex. Nick Fury's precious little niece."

"Say what?" Sam looked from her to you, but you only stared at her in confusion.

"... How do you know that?" There were only two other people on this planet who should've known about you and your Uncle's relation, and one was dead now. Neither of them included this Sharon, but they both at least knew better than to just go around saying it.

"He enlisted me to watch over you after you got in that car crash–" Fuck, STOP TALKING. You screamed mentally before she would reveal one of the other secrets you were keeping. You couldn't help but glance at Bucky whose eyebrows were creased in confusion. "He wanted me to make sure you didn't get into any trouble or draw attention with those nifty powers of yours. Of course, that only lasted two years until I went off the grid after helping you guys get all your weapons back."

It took you a moment to realize she was talking about the in fighting between the Avengers that happened two years after you went into hiding, but suddenly pieces of the past were starting to make sense. She watched over you for the two years you were in hiding from The Winter Soldier. After you found out Nick was a secret agent but before you knew it was in SHIELD, or what SHIELD even was. Two of those three years of constant paranoia at least made sense. There was someone watching you... They were just sent by a friend, not an enemy. 

"Wait. You're Nick Fury's niece?!" Sam backtracked, stepping out of line to face you now.

You looked to Sam and opened your mouth to say something, though you had no idea what it was. Honestly your head was still wrapping around this complete stranger not only knowing you and your uncle, but spying on you for two whole years.

It's not like you would deny the truth to Sam, but you weren't used to being forced into admitting it either.

"Don't take it personally, Fury's always been the need to know kinda guy. I guess it's still not something they're telling people." At that remark your head rolled to look at her, to which she shook her head and shrugged. "My bad."

"And the surprises keep coming." Zemo drawled. "This one's sneakier than I thought."

Bucky had become quiet, his cheeks sinking inward when his jaw clenched. Nick Fury was one of many names that always pulled him back into guilt-ridden thoughts when mentioned around him. Only now, that guilt suddenly extended to you. A detail you completely missed since your focus was on Sharon.

"You spied on me for two years?"

"Just doing my job."

And all that time you spent convincing yourself it was just paranoia. You rationalized there was no way they could be surveilling you after their demise. Sure, you knew there was always a possibility of a rat or two escaping, but your old connections bent over backwards to make sure they'd never go after anyone ever again. It took many years for you to finally convince yourself it was all in your head. And apparently it still was, all that time before the car wreck and going into hiding. Now after finding out there was someone watching you, you didn't know whether to be disappointed in yourself or not for forcing yourself to ignore instincts for the sake of blissful denial.

Sam looked back and forth between you and Sharon for clarity. "You're telling me that Nick Fury... is an uncle."

"They come in all shapes and sizes. There's a reason he enlisted me to keep tabs on you. That is, right up until big time terrorist here blew up the UN Sokovia Accords meeting." She answered rather casually. "But unlike these guys I didn't have The Avengers to back me up, so, I'm off the grid in Madripoor."

"Hey, don't blow that smoke at me, I was on the run, too."

"Yeah, was. Big difference. I haven't spoken to my family in years. I can't. My own father doesn't know where I am." Anguish dashed her eyes, causing Sam to back off.

"Look, Sharon..." Bucky spoke up again, more timid now. "We need your help." She laughed incredulously, and even though you didn't exactly like the idea, you became more distracted by the pleading expression breaking through the barrier of Bucky's features. "Please."

Sharon was looking up at the sky and shaking her head, as if she could see the cruel god so amused by her life. "This isn't over...” Her eyes cut at Zemo specifically. “I have a place in High Town where you can lay low for a while."

She didn't need any more discussion before turning away and walking down the alley. Bucky was the first to follow. There was a reflective silence as one by one, the group followed the third impromptu addition to the team. You don't miss her he glance Sam couldn't help giving you before pushing Zemo along ahead of him. It seemed that matter was dropped for now, but you knew you would have to acknowledge this later.

You just hoped she couldn't unbury anything else from your past.

#marvel #mcu #tfatws #bucky barnes #sam wilson #white wolf #bucky gifs #sebastian stan #bucky barnes scenario #bucky barns imagine #bucky x reader #enhanced reader #bucky barnes x y/n #bucky barnes x reader #the power broker #madripoor #helmut zemo #baron zemo #sharon carter

[theconstantsidekick]

I’m sorry to his might just be a dumb question but I started your stark verse series and why can’t y/n age?

not stupid at all. i have written a very overly complicated story because i am a complete asshole lmao. i'm constantly surprised that people are still interested in this fic verse. but coming back to your question, even though it's not clear what her parentage is, y/n stark is definitely not completely human. one of her parents was an alien, the other was human. her alien parent is responsible for the powers that she has.

she hasn't yet discovered which was which but if anyone is curious about it i do have a backstory for that too.

for a little more insight into her origin, you could read the Age of Ultron flashback or the Himbo and the Gnist.

#static verse #marvel fic #enhanced reader #avenger reader #steve rogers angst

[captainsimagines]

dreaming in june || eleven

Summary: At the request of an old friend who now happens to be the new Captain America, you move to a place that only vaguely feels peaceful, to secretly protect his best friend. There you meet Bucky Barnes, your next door neighbor, who has also lived countless lives, seen a lot of things, and lost the one he loved. You have more in common than you thought.

Pairing(s): Bucky Barnes x (F) POC Enhanced Reader

Based on the Song(s): Heat Waves by Glass Animals ; Coney Island by Taylor Swift and The National

Series / AO3 Link / Playlist

(11/15)

Warnings: blood and gore; blood offerings; demons; cults/religious cults; scary vibes; alcoholism and alcohol abuse; emotional angst; canon-typical violence; enchanted creatures; mention of infertility (if you blink); character ‘death’; descriptions of physical deformities; strong language; blood play (slight); mentions of suicide; fantasy vibes

Word Count: 7,600+

Author’s Note: Lots of shit goes down. Tread lightly lmao. xxMoni

~

“You don’t get to leave me. Not you. This time I’m begging.”

~

     Bucky’s pacing.

He’s giving himself a headache with how much he’s moving, but he is physically incapable of sitting down.  Nothing has calmed him long enough to think rationally. 

Sam, bless him, seems to be the only level-headed one.

Until Druig barged through the front door and demanded to know how the fuck three supers allowed for the kidnapping of his Princess.

“How fucking convenient of you!” Sam growls, pushing at Druig’s hard chest. The Eternal simply looks down at where Sam’s palms had connected. He doesn’t say anything. “The second time she needs you, relied on your intel, you weren’t fucking here!”

A muscle tics in Druig’s jaw. 

“We tried to stop that demon,” Sam explains, his face a permanent scowl. “But she cut the webs and basically sacrificed herself.”

“A demon.” The way Druig repeats the word doesn’t reveal anything. He says it casually, as if testing the taste. “Explain the encounter. All of it. In vivid detail.”

“It wasn’t an encounter. It was an attack,” Peter spits. 

But Bucky ignores the beef simmering, and spills it all. Every detail. Until his mouth has gone dry and his hands shake.

“And you say the demon referenced Greek mythology?”

“I am this close—” Sam says, pinching his fingers together for emphasis. “This close to fucking decking you.”

Druig casually intertwines his hands behind his back. “Why would you want to do that?”

Sam steps dangerously close. “You heard Buck correctly. From the beginning, you have been ominous and brief. So I’m asking you politely—one more time—to tell us everything you know about this cult, about the blood, and about demons.”

Druig scans Sam from his eyes to his feet. Chin held high, Druig makes a decision. 

“Just recently, Makkari informed me about this cult. A cult that began in the 1500s by none other than Rodrigo Graciano, Spanish conquistador who murdered hundreds either with his weapons, disease, or his bare hands. The blood my Princess infused into him made him Immortal—true Immortal. A true Immortal cannot die unless their mind and body are separated entirely or reduced to ash. There is no way to survive decapitation, nor burning into miniscule particles. In popular Salem, he was accused of witchcraft by a fellow follower who did not want to be Made. He burned at the stake. His followers, obviously, did not let the traitor live.”

A history lesson, Bucky thinks. Great. 

Druig continues. “There is a flaw. A glitch, if you would like to call it that. The Princess is a true Immortal. Anyone bred from her blood is true. Immortals created by second generation sources, third generation, fourth…” Druig grimaces, looking to the wall instead of their faces. “They do not possess the same healing abilities, the same aging, or the same mutation.”

Simple genetics then. The more a trait, a gene, a specific mutation is passed through a bloodline, the less and less potent it is if it is no longer dominant. You must carry the dominant, and since you have not created literal offspring of your own, you have not passed down the dominant gene through your blood. A natural birth, however—the dominant gene would pass.

Graciano had gotten the recessive. 

“The Princess is an Immortal who was born. The cult fanatics are Immortals who were Made. The Princess naturally stopped aging. Her body chose a point, and stuck with it. The followers change whenever they want, whoever they want, like vampires.”

“So with her blood, they can create true Immortals? Without it, they’re…what? Low grade?”

Druig smirks. “Yes, Samuel.”

“Don’t patronize me,” Sam snaps.

Bucky pushes in between the two males who are sizing each other up. He pushes Druig slightly harder, however. “How are we getting her back? How are we stopping these fanatics from hurting her? How do we deal with a fucking demon?”

Druig rubs at his jaw. “You mentioned it called her Persephone? It must be a demon of the Greeks, then. Christian mythology doesn’t have such dramatic demons. Egyptians do, but not like this.”

Peter snorts, “Lucifer literally went against God because he thought he was too pretty.”

“Lucifer was kicked out of Heaven because he grew an individual consciousness.”

Bucky ignores the quips, shaking his head. He continues, “So, if we’re dealing with a demon from Greek mythology, are we dealing with Hades? Does he want her for himself?”

“Hades isn’t evil like that.”

Sam holds up a hand. “Back up. Explain.” 

Druig rolls his eyes. “Hades is the ruler of the Underworld. He oversees, like a CEO. He doesn’t do the killing, or the raping, or the torture. Trust me, I’ve been there multiple times when he asked for a change in scenery.”

“Is this what we’re doing? Defending demons?”

“Hades isn’t a demon. He’s a God.”

Sam gives him a blank look, hand on his hip and foot slightly tapping. 

Peter interjects, his voice timid but still marked with a playful undertone. “Should we call Thor?”

“He’s Norse.”

Sam whirls on Druig once again. “What fucking difference—”

“I do not know if his skills will function well with a demon from another realm.”

Bucky blankly stares, completely unimpressed. “I hit things. This one shoots webs. This one is a human. I have no idea what you do. We need a literal God.”

It’s true. What the actual fuck were they going to do when faced with that demon again? You, with the most powerful powers of the three of them, seemed helpless. Or maybe you were in shock. 

If they are able to come up with a game plan, learn a little bit more about how to take down a demon, then maybe they stand a fighting chance. 

If Bucky has to take a fucking ring up a mountain, then so fucking be it.

“Perhaps this is what the cult is expecting,” Druig says. “The demon itself might have studied Norse mythology before preparing to attack. It could be expecting this."

“That motherfucker didn’t look like it reads,” Sam drily says. He shivers from the memory of bloodless lips and void eyes.

Peter cringes. “We’re going in blind, then?”

“You all must be prepared for bloodshed.”

“Great, my favorite.” 

Bucky’s got to give it to Peter. The kid is handling this better than he expected. 

“I’m serious. The Princess opposed violence many times until it was absolutely necessary. I deem this necessary.”

“These are fanatics,” Sam says, waving a hand as if the fight would be no big deal.

“These are made Immortals who summoned a demon. A dangerous and illegal offense.”

“Illegal?” Bucky asks.

“It’s certainly not a practice that anyone should partake in.”

“Okay, wait. Hold up, hold up!” Peter blows out a breath. “I need a minute.”

“I understand this is a lot to take in—”

“You’ve literally just told us that demons exist. That Gods exist, not just Thor. That our friend is a true Immortal who might very well be what we humans like to call Mother Nature! And I’m starting to piece together that the reason she didn’t forget me is because she is not fully human and her consciousness extends to deeper levels. Does Thor remember me? Did we even ask?”

No. They didn’t.

Sam grumbles, “We’re summoning the God.”

“Better than a demon, I guess.” Druig shrugs.

“Anyone got his number? I—” Peter asks, shrugging like fuck-all.

“I can get in touch with him,” Bucky quietly mumbles. There’s shame etched into that statement—the only times he’s ever gotten in touch with the God was for liquid relief. A meager volume of that hungover desire swims in his stomach, in his mind, on his tongue. He’s breaking—the elastic at its final tug—and if he doesn’t find you by the end of the day, he’s going to drown himself. 

“Great! While you do that—” Druig pushes the two folders he’s been holding this whole time into Sam’s chest. “File these for me. Call that lovely assistant of yours.”

Sam glowers at him. He opens the folders and scans. “What are these?”

“You think I haven’t been doing anything?” Druig insists, his face neutral. His words, however, come out wry. “The Princess wasn’t the only one who lost someone that day. We all lost our Prince.”

It’s all signed. Stamped. Official.

“You did all the groundwork. Thanks for flinging the Captain America title around. Really.”

Ari’s remains are to be returned to his only surviving descendants. 

His wife.

~

      You wake with a lump in your throat and clouds swimming behind your closed eyelids. You groan in discomfort, scrunching your face and wiggling your fingers. The air is cold and the surface you’re on pricks your thighs.

Oh, Hell. You’re in a t-shirt and panties. 

Bucky’s t-shirt. 

You go to snap your body upward, but the weight of your head is exhausting. Instead, you roll to your side. 

One of your legs goes over, dangling from the cliffside. Your stomach swoops—your body goes into fight or flight mode. 

You're at the literal cliffside. That fucking demon left you to tip over and take a massive plunge, all for his enjoyment. 

You roll the opposite way, now more alert. The sun is out, but just barely. The clouds cover most of it. You can’t tell if it’s morning, afternoon, or mid-day. 

Perhaps the several distorted faces staring back at you will have that answer. 

You struggle to stand but push through the pain to do so. Lying down is too vulnerable—you can swing your magic better standing. 

“Where am I?”

It takes a moment for you to realize that their faces aren’t their own at all. Their masks—masks of all colors and all expressions, extending from the top of the person’s forehead to their chin. You’d compare them to those drama mask expressions—the joyful and the anguished—but that would just ruin theatre as a whole for you. 

“Mother Earth.”

You shake your head. “Not my name.”

“No,” the one up front confirms. A male. “Your name is not yours at all anymore, is it?”

He’s the tallest of the group, and with the creepiest mask. Gold, metal horns stick out from the forehead of the mask, completely contradicting the sickly green color of the rest of it. You can’t see his eyes or if his mouth is moving—you simply see the frozen anguished expression. 

The trees rumble. Do not try to run! the small voice shouts. They have arrows pointed at you. 

You roll your eyes. An arrow wouldn’t kill you. Still, you listen. 

“So, this is it? You’re here to drain my blood or what?”

Several of them cock their heads to the left at the same time. A shudder travels up your spine. 

There looks to be about thirty people staring back at you. Not one sign of the original demon. 

“We must first prove you are the Mother.”

You frown. “Ew. Can’t I just say yes or no and get this over with?”

They don’t laugh. They don’t move. They don’t even seem to acknowledge your voice. Except for the one leering at you. Frozen and calm.

“The universe chose you to be one with the earth. And since me, humans, and all other living beings come from the earth, we come from you.”

You slowly nod. He continues, “For years, we have been trying to find you.”

“I’ve been busy.”

“Your blood will heal us. You will lead us.”

“Honestly, it looks like you’re doing fine without me.” Your lip curls as you assess the robes they wear—heavy, thick black robes (or rather, cloaks) that sink to the floor in an extravagant puddle. 

This shit is too movie-like. Yet, it’s not the craziest thing you’ve ever seen. It’s just the first time you’re seeing something like this. 

Right? You shuffle through your memories at lightning speed. 

Yeah, no cult encounters.

What time is it? The sky is a sickly, gray-blue and the sounds of the nearest village are faint. The trees don’t answer you.

Aggravated, the front man stalks toward you. Out of instinct, you step back.

He doesn’t like that.

He grabs your arms and holds you still, the mask boring its hollow eyes into your frightened ones. “We are your disciples. You will heal us.”

“Heal what?”

He hesitates, then abruptly pulls the long sleeves up his forearms.

Spikes grow from his skin. Nasty, dangerously sharp spikes. The flesh around them is bruised and bloody. His veins are a heinous red. It’s like he’s a living rose thorn. 

You cup your parted mouth. “Oh my Gods.”

Others step forward and showcase their deformities. 

Some have real horns. Others cannot speak. Bones are easily breakable. Claws, or feathers, or bothersome shadows. There’s even one member who is intangible. Your hand goes right through them. 

The fact they're all undeniably human is what they share in common. The ones who lack deformities in the face look like any person you’d pass on the street. 

And there are literal children. Children. Immortal children. Their age, bizarrely, in nothing but a number. They speak like the grown adults around them.

“Now you see.”

You look up at their leader, brows furrowing. “I wouldn’t know what to do.”

He shakes his head rapidly, his mask still unnerving. “We know what to do. You simply need to offer up your blood.”

A startled laugh rattles your chest. “You literally sent a demon to retrieve me and you want me to help you?” You step away, trying your hardest to not look at the members with more severe disabilities. “Where is it anyway? You cannot let that thing wander through the mortal world without a leash.”

“I have been alive for two hundred years. I am the oldest. If you are worried that we follow Graciano’s ideology, you are mistaken,” the leader explains, ignoring your initial question. 

Another laugh. “That would settle me if you people weren’t dressed like this or if you hadn’t sent a fucking demon to terrorize me.”

“Sending the demon was a precaution. We did not know how powerful you would be.”

Your mouth opens for another retort, but someone else from back of the group chimes in with, “I suggested we unleash a pixie messenger instead of the demon.”

“And this whole ordeal has demonstrated that you would not have willingly left with a pixie tour guide.”

“Damn right,” you mumble. 

What the actual fuck is going on? 

“Mother Earth,” the leader says. “Please help us.”

You piece it together bit by bit.

The cult is a literal cult with freaky attire, unsettling line delivery, and horrible manners. They unleashed a demon because they’re fucking idiots who couldn’t just ask you for help. Are they a cult like those that make the news? Violent, out for blood, and look up to a leader that will ultimately sacrifice them in the end? Or are they merely a group of people who found each other, donned creepy fucking masks for the hell of it, because of their shared life experience?

They are not original, Made Immortals. They are third generation, maybe fourth. You have no idea if they wanted to be Made or if they regret their decision. All you know is that they are horribly deformed and begging you to help them heal. 

Which means they must be in awful pain and discomfort. 

You’ve lived for hundreds of years. Your bones ache, your skin occasionally dries, and your heart slows from time to time. Yet, your physical appearance is that of someone who finds no need to hide. 

Should you trust that they do not follow Graciano’s ideologies? Druig seems to think they still do. 

You can’t help the overwhelming feeling that plagues your chest, though. Graciano’s blood runs through their veins. Their maker’s blood runs through their veins.

Your blood runs through their veins. 

Children of Mother Earth. The title has you cringing. 

“What would helping you entail?”

~

     “Okay—” Thor runs a large hand down his face. “I think I’m all caught up now.”

Thor has his hair strung up in a bun. He wears a Guns N Roses t-shirt and regular jeans pants. The God is even wearing leather boots and a belt. Peter stares at him in pure wonder. 

Sam rubs his temples, his face drooping from tiredness. 

“Do you think you can help us?” Bucky asks. 

“I can help you slaughter the cult. I do not know if my lightning will harm the demon.” 

“Slaughter makes it sound so…”

“Evil," Sam stresses.

“Put down? Slay? Destroy?"

Peter clears his throat. “Wouldn’t the cult be hard to kill? You know…Considering they’re Immortals?”

Everyone takes a few moments to digest the words. 

Bucky grunts, “Are we going to have to decapitate those fuckers?”

Druig snorts. “We don’t actually have to do much. I can control their minds and make them slice into their own throats. They’ll decapitate themselves.”

Sam shudders. “This is…Too fucking vivid. Too heinous. I don’t know if I can do that.”

“What do you expect to do then, Samuel?” Druig demands. 

Sam glares at the Eternal. “I’m not letting Peter see that shit. It’s too fucking graphic for an eighteen year old kid.”

“I’ve literally seen the guts of aliens spilled on the floor, so,” Peter says, shrugging. 

“Bear with me, kid.”

“Okay,” Bucky sighs. “We locate the group through Druig’s mind reading slash listening thing. Once we have their location, we search for Ace in the—”

Sam tilts his head. “Ace?”

“Yeah.”

It only takes a few seconds for Sam to piece it together. “Like, Acer?”

“Like Acer.”

“What does it symbolize?”

“Peace, because that’s what she’ll fucking need after being kidnapped by a fucking demon.”

“For sure.”

“Can we get back to the main situation?” Druig groans. He hovers near Thor mostly, probably because he’s the only other Immortal-like being in the room. Yet, Thor aims his facial expressions at Peter, who returns them excitedly.

“Right,” Bucky replies. “Thor—if the demon is present, you take care of that motherfucker. Peter, Sam, and I will be responsible for getting Ace out of there safely. Druig, you handle the cult.”

“With pleasure.”

If anyone would have asked Bucky what the hell he thought he would be doing today, this week, this month—it most certainly would have had nothing to do with demons and cults. He thought Hydra was bad with its government corruption, Nazis, and presidential assassinations. At least with Hydra, Bucky was dealing with real-life, flesh and bone human beings. Although, he would argue that Nazis aren’t people. They don’t deserve to be categorized in the human species at all. 

Demons and cults, however…That makes his stomach churn and his blood run cold. He doesn’t know how to deal with those things. He’s the goddamn Winter Soldier—a ghost, a spy, a lethal weapon. No amount of bullets, spying, or grenades is going to stop a demon. Or maybe the demon is tangible…

No. Bucky would rather sit that shit out. 

God, you must be so scared.

“Where do we put the bodies after we…” Peter inquires. 

Thor raises his hand. “I can obliterate them.”

Sam gasps, “Hard no.”

“We have to put them somewhere.”

Bucky cringes as he says, “Ace mentioned that she could…lift roots. So the bodies could be hidden underneath—”

“This is such a fucked up conversation.”

“As if we hadn’t had worse shit happen to us,” Peter argues, rolling his eyes at Sam.

Sam sighs, bowing his head as he rests his hands on hips. Bucky watches him, and sees a little bit of Steve’s mannerisms. 

It’s got him grinning, even if all his nerve endings are on edge.

They’ve wasted too much time just calling Thor to Earth. Precious time. You could be hurt, tortured, taken to the fucking Underworld. 

Bucky hasn’t felt this way since T’Challa had told him Steve and Sam were coming to Wakanda back in 2018. That impromptu visit resulted in half the world dying. 

Bucky reminds himself that you’re strong, stronger than him and damn well stronger than a lot of people he has met. If anyone could survive a demon, it would be you. He doesn’t know how much longer he can stand not knowing. 

Not knowing will be the death of him. 

He does not know why his luck was shit and he disappeared in 2018.

He does not know why Steve left him so suddenly. It’s not like Bruce destroyed that stupid time machine. 

He does not know why you were cursed to live forever, having to watch everyone else around you grow old and wither away. 

He does not know why people are evil. From his experience, people are simply born that way. Evil people tend to be evil to the core. A person's environment and experiences are factors, but if they’re willing to change—Are they truly evil? 

“When do we suit up?” Thor asks. 

“Right now,” Sam answers. He looks at Druig, who nods. “Miles and miles until you find their minds, man. Go for it.”

Druig breathes in slowly, and searches. His eyes glow a bright yellow. 

~

     “You each get a drop.”

You’re crazy. Absolutely fucking idiotic, to be honest. 

But here’s the thing:

They’re already immortal. You found the proof in their heartbeats. They weren’t lying when they said they were only a few centuries old. That would mean that none of them were around when Graciano ruled or when he was executed. 

Besides, healing them wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world. If they turn out to be evil once they’re healed, then you’ll kill them then. Plain and simple. But you cannot walk away from them when they’re suffering because of some fucker who utilized the “gift” you didn’t know you gave. 

They’re already Immortal, you tell yourself. You’re not making them Immortal again. 

“As you wish.”

It’s late in the evening and the sun is starting to set. Beautiful hues of blue and orange paint the cliffside and compliment the massive fire they have built and contained. They all stand in a circle, like the fucking cult they are, no matter how often you asked them to get into a single file line.

Like you’re giving out party favors. 

Oh, Gods. 

One of the nine women of the group gave you their robe so you’re not just parading around in your underwear. You tried not to stare at her moving flesh, almost like fish scales, when she handed it to you. 

You glance at the fire, at the knife in your hand, at the human circle. Not even the Cold War felt so eerie. 

“If I give you the drop, and nothing changes or something bad starts happening, I will not continue with the others,” you tell their leader. You’re grateful they all removed their masks for this. The man in front of you is in his mid-thirties, or mid-two hundreds really, and frozen in time. His black curls shine in the fire's light, as do his green eyes. He reminds you of every fictional character you've imagined when reading. Young, devastatingly attractive, but his eyes are old. Pained. 

He nods. “We trust you.”

Quickly, because you’ll lose your nerve if not, you slice the palm of your left hand. Balking slightly, you look at him with the question you refused to ask earlier. 

He nods again, understanding. He takes your mangled hand, looking directly into your eyes, and raises it to his mouth. His tongue peeks out, then lies flat as he swipes from the end of the cut to the top. Shivering, you watch as he laps at your blood like it’s the most desirable dessert. 

It’s erotic, and quite unsettling. Drums pound in your ears, possibly the unsteady beat of your heart, as you watch his tongue poke out again. He laps it all up, even if it’s never-ending. Completely greedy. 

“Had enough?” The stable delivery of your words elates you.  

His eyes rise to meet yours. He wipes the side of his mouth, breathing heavily. “Yes. I apologize.”

“That was more than a drop.”

The confidence he had when he was licking you vanishes a little bit, a shy smile forming instead. “Don’t hold my fault against the others.”

You clear your throat, awkwardly. “Is it really that delicious?”

As quickly as it vanished, his confidence resurfaces. Cocky. “The richest flavor. It makes me want to get on my knees.”

You feel your face grow warm. Turning from him, you walk to the second recipient. Your palm is beginning to heal. 

With your face flushed, you force yourself to look back at the leading cultist. “Is it working?”

He’s quiet for a moment, as if he’s trying to dig deep inside himself for the answer. He’s still breathing heavily. 

“Take off your cloak,” you instruct. His brow lowers. “Take it off.”

He smirks, strips, and that’s when you see it. His thorns are shrinking, curling then snapping, his veins turning green, red, blue, purple. You watch his face and his arms. The pain flushing his features is unmistakable, but he’s enduring it. Every bit, every thorn submersion, every instance of blood poisoning. 

He falls to the ground, a heaving mess. Someone unlinks their hands from the circle to crouch beside him. He clutches at their arms, their face, the ground. 

When he falls silent, his body unnaturally still, you worry. All your original worries crowd in the forefront of your brain, screaming, scolding you. You move to fall beside him, but he revives. Breathing in deeply, everything falls into place. 

The thorns are gone, replaced by beautiful golden skin and natural freckles. His veins run down their corresponding arms, alongside perfectly placed arteries and tendons and ligaments, shining green and purple. 

It worked. It worked, it worked, it worked. 

“You’re—”

“I’m me again.” His voice wobbles. “I’m me.”

“I do not know if it’ll last—”

“Mother Earth,” he says urgently. “You made me me again. If I die now, I will die myself. And I am grateful.”

Breathing in, you slice your palm again and hold it out for the next person. They too take more than a drop.

~

     The last person, the Intangible, hesitates. 

“I cannot do it. I cannot drink or eat. I am Midas without the touch.”

Fuck. You’ve healed each person besides him. 

“How do the clothes on your back stay in place?”

He turns away, ashamed. “Maxwell believes it’s because I was gifted them. Something of my own, declared mine.”

You assume Maxwell is their leader. 

“So I gift you my blood.”

“As easy as that?”

“We will see.” You slice your hand for the tenth time tonight, barely even wincing. “Tilt your head back.”

You raise your hand in the air, squeezing a fist, as the blood almost slips—

A scream erupts from the circle. You turn around and see a man with a knife in hand, slicing through his own throat. Whipping your arm out, tattooed vines stem from the tips of your fingers to your shoulder and neck. Nearby roots reach up and wrap around the man’s wrist, tugging him down and throwing the knife away. The man gurgles and tries to stop the bleeding himself before two women come to his aid. 

Another scream, this one more brutal, and you witness the same thing. Except the woman is about to fling herself into the fire. 

You bring the roots up, rumbling the ground and chipping rocks off from the cliffside. They wrap around her waist and hold her down. 

“What’s going on?” you yell. You’re preventing two people from hurting themselves, and if others begin doing the same, you don’t know if you’ll stop them all soon enough. 

“What—” You cut yourself off when you see a yellow glow emerge from the nearby woods. Dread and relief assault your senses simultaneously. Behind Druig, your friends appear. And they brought along Thor. 

Fuck.

“Druig,” you call, resisting his pull. “Stop controlling them!”

The people you’re holding down begin snapping the branches keeping them safe, their own eyes bright yellow. 

“Druig! Enough!”

Everyone behind him pauses. Like they’re the only ones who heard you.

“Druig! There are children here! Stop it! Stop!”

His head tilts, confused, but his rampage doesn’t stop. Another person begins screaming. You curl both hands, all your fingers, using all your might to call upon the Earth. The ground explodes the moment your eyes shine bright green, a roar sounds, and all heads snap to the woods your friends just emerged from. 

Sam and Bucky tackle Peter to the ground when something leaps over them and sprints toward Druig. The ground shakes with its every step. 

Bucky risks looking up. What he finds stuns him stupid. 

A monstrous, twenty-foot thick tree roars, practically shattering the sound barrier. Its mouth—its fucking mouth—opens wide, spiked wooden teeth rattling as it roars again. It barrels across the short distance, picking Druig up with its arms, and slams him to the ground. 

Half of your attention remains on Druig while the other half focuses on the task at hand. You bring your hand up, motioning to the speechless cultist in front of you. “Bend, and open wide.”

He obliges and you squeeze your fist hard. Drops of blood fall into his open mouth, remaining there, flowing through him. His wide eyes let you know he’s surprised too. 

Once that’s done, you slowly turn back toward your magical creation pummeling Druig. Gritting your teeth, your eyes still glowing emerald, you curse. “Now, what the fuck did I say?”

Druig’s eyes are no longer yellow. In fact, he’s not controlling anyone’s mind anymore. He’s simply guarding his chest and head from the punches, eyes frightened. 

You stalk toward him, hands still extended and tattoos still visible because of the crumbled sleeves. “When I say stop, you stop.”

Druig nods quickly, groaning. 

“Tell me, Druig! Tell me you understand what I’m telling you!”

“Yes! Yes! I understand!”

You swipe your hand through the air, and the tree goes flying. Bucky hears it crash land somewhere back in the woods, but he’s too stunned to focus on that right now. 

…What the fuck just happened?

“Am I not your Princess?” you ask Druig while he crawls from the hole. Your tone is death. “Should you not obey me?”

Druig stutters over a crumpled sound. 

Before you can speak again, you’re knocked off your feet and thrown several feet away from him, back to the fire. Shocked, you look up to meet the hideous eyes of that same demon, blacker and more deadly. You quickly stand, powers ready. 

“Oh,” you sigh. “It’s you.”

“My instructions were to capture you,” the demon explains, words somehow slick and sticky. “I was never given a time stamp.”

Maxwell, the lead cultist, curses loudly from behind. “It's lying! Its instructions were to bring you to us!”

“And yet, you did not instruct me to return to Hell after I succeeded.”

Maxwell meets your gaze, sorrow swimming in his irises. 

“If you want me—”

Your words fizzle when a blast of lightning smashes against the demon’s skeletal body, throwing it away from you and to the ground. Its shadows dim, but it quickly recovers. 

“A Norse God,” the demon licks. “What a treat.”

Thor has the good sense to look scared. Yet he challenges with, "War, demon! That is what you are starting!"

“I’ll leave you with this.” The demon vanishes, only to appear at your side. Bucky, Sam, and Peter are almost to your side when its shadows swallow you up. The demon floats over the cliffside, holding you by the back of the neck. 

“When her heart beats again, I will come to collect my prize.”

When gravity pulls a body down, the stomach leaps up. You didn't think it would feel so traumatic.

You scream and claw at the air as you fall to the rocks below. Roots and branches swing over the ledge, but they’re not fast enough to catch you. Still, they persist. 

Someone threw themselves over. This, you can see. Fog and mist blind you, but this you can see. 

Webs stretch from his wrists, quicker than the trees, and snap against your abdomen like a sucker-punch. 

But your head hits the rock, and you see nothing. 

Peter falls on a nearby rock, but not with the same momentum as you. He scrambles on his hands and knees, hyperventilating. 

“Oh my god,” he mutters. “Fuck, oh my fucking god.”

Peter doesn’t want to move you. He doesn’t want to make it worse. 

“Oh my god,” he sputters, lips wet and eyes watering. “Oh my god!”

Bucky lands beside Peter with Sam’s hand in his. Sam’s wings re-enter their pack. Thor falls on the other side of you. 

“Peter—” Sam tries, but is interrupted. 

“I thought I—” Peter chokes. His hands hover over your chest. “I thought I caught her.”

Bucky’s not breathing at all. He tries to ignore the puddle of blood pooling beneath your head, tries to ignore the dead look in your eyes. Grief, upon grief, upon grief. Not even Hydra’s hands inflicted this much pain. 

He drops to his knees just as Thor declares, “She’s Immortal. She’ll recover, she’s—”

Thor stops himself when Bucky tries to lift you up, and finds that the back of your head is practically caved in. Thor is right. You’ll survive this. You’ve inflicted worse on yourself—but does that make it any less gruesome, any less painful?

A million times no.

Bucky hiccups, holding you steady. His forehead rests on your sternum as he pleads, brokenly,  “You don’t get to leave me. Not you. This time I’m begging.” 

He begs the entire flight up the cliffside. The entire walk back to the house, avoiding the eyes of the cultists and Druig. Even when he and Sam place you in the bathtub and wash away all the blood they can. 

You’re dead. 

You’re actually dead, and Bucky can’t do anything but wait for you to come back to him. 

~

      It begins similarly as the last time. The same beautiful, blue cliffside and the same deafening silence. Yet, if you listen closely, you can hear the break of waves and whistle of the wind. But you don’t bother trying to define the elements—no—not when Ari is running to wear you’re standing.

You crash into each other in the same level of dramatics as before. There is no negative connotation to that word, however. You’ll be as dramatic as you want. You have five hundred years of dramatics to make up for. 

“My love.”

God, his voice is like liquid caramel. So delightfully delicious. Memories bombard you: Ari, drunk and happy and dancing around the campfire on his birthday; Ari, brilliantly naked and stretching his morning muscles from deep sleep. The stories he would tell the children, how he would hold their hands when they learned how to swim—how you two tried to have children of your own. 

“I’m dead,” you say, a gurgled laugh accidentally breaking through. 

Ari stares at your face, scanning, then bursts into laughter. Your laugh mixes with his like chocolate and sugar. 

“You will be back soon enough.”

Last time you “died”, resurrection occurred a few hours later. Of all the ways to die, this wasn’t the most pleasant.

“Did I do something bad?” you ask. 

Ari shakes his head. “No, my love. They were telling the truth.”

Air tumbles from your shaking mouth. At least that’s one good thing that’s come from this. You just hope your friends heeded your instructions and didn’t leave a massacre behind.

“I love you,” you respond, seizing his cheeks in your hands. 

Ari smiles, teeth and all. “That has always been one of your first declarations whenever you see me.”

“I feel a lot of things, Ari. But my love for you exceeds all else.”

He grabs each of your wrists, but doesn’t pull you away. “And yet, the love I declare for you exceeds even that.”

You chuckle, allowing him to take your wrists to kiss the insides. His lips like a movie soundtrack, his touch mimicking dialogue. 

“When will I wake?”

Ari takes the opportunity to come in closer, his chest against yours. “Soon.”

“And when we defeat this demon, will I see you again?”

Ari’s breath hitches. “I do not fault you or anyone for keeping the living safe. I understand your fight. But, my love…” Ari’s eyes close, and he rests his forehead against yours. “I am so tired of wandering alone.”

Five hundred years worth of cracks in your heart. What’s one more?

“There are no other lost souls with you?”

His expression is answer enough. 

“You have been alone all this time? For over a century?”

“Have you not been alone, too?” It doesn’t sound like a question. 

You pat his broad chest, too shaken to do anything else. “I am going to put you to rest, Ari. I promise you. I promise with everything in me.”

He nods, your connected heads moving at the same time. “I will stay with you now, after, and beyond.”

“If you want to rest forever, I will not prevent you from doing so.”

An afterlife can mean two things: Either he chooses to wander for however long he wants, at peace, until he decides to lay his soul to rest or resurrect. Or, he chooses to wander forever, his soul never resting but still at peace. A ghost in the afterlife, essentially. 

As much as it pains you to let him go, you have to.

Ari places a soft but fierce kiss to your lips. This is your peace. 

“I do not know if this is the last time we will see each other,” Ari mumbles. Even his breath tastes like caramel. “But if it is…My peace will always be found with you. Three or five hundred years, my love—It was not enough. No amount of time would have been enough for me to wholly sink into your soul.”

“Nor me, yours.”

You pull away from him to memorize his face. But it’s a face you’ll never forget, no matter how hard you try. 

“I love you,” Ari whispers. 

“For five hundred years more. And however long after that.”

~

      Bucky leaves your room when he can no longer stand the dryness of his throat. All his screaming has left him sore, as if the demon’s claws dragged ugly indents along the walls of his throat. He looks at you, anger and grief a dangerous combination, and exits. 

You’re dead. 

You died. He saw you die. Peter tried to catch you, and you fucking hit your head so hard, you died. He had to watch you die because throwing himself off the cliff wasn’t a decision on the table. But he was ready—ready to spring himself just far enough to grab you, turn, and break your fall. 

Is this how Steve felt when he watched Bucky fall?

Bucky cringes. Why would he think about Steve at this time? Why would his brain conjure up the image of him, when it knows it’s starting to make him angry? It almost feels like he’s cheating on you. He didn’t think about Steve once when he was sleeping with you, but now that you fucking die? It makes his stomach turn upside down.

How did this love become tainted? How did loving Steve become such a burden? Steve makes him love New York, then he hates the city. His memory soothes Bucky’s soul, but his actions make him miserable. 

Is it possible to love and hate someone at the same time?

Bucky throws the glass across the room. It shatters in a triumphant display of glistening water and the shards of his heart. 

“Leave me alone,” Bucky whispers, haunted by the very fact he’s asking that of Steve. 

Isn’t that what he did? the voice in the back of his head cruelly whispers. 

“It wasn’t the Steve I knew.”

Steve during the war, during Bucky’s rescue from Hydra, before Thanos—that was Bucky’s Steve. What the hell happened in those five years? Steve only had Natasha. Sam and Bucky were both snatched from his soul, coincidence and shit luck. Did it break him? Did it make Steve yearn for a world where everything was familiar? Did it make him forget?

Maybe in a few days, weeks, months, Bucky will forgive Steve entirely. Grief is a strange thing, a long haul of paralytic agony, that has no cure. 

Bucky thinks of you, and how you’re still grieving after five hundred years, and is scared. He doesn’t want to grieve for that long. He wants it to end now. 

Now. 

He thought he never would, but he has begun cursing Steve’s name. His whole existence. What was the point of sending something so angelic, so heroic, so gloriously noble and marvelous, into Bucky’s life? What was the point of having Bucky Barnes fall so hopelessly in love only to end up with a disastrous story? Shakespeare would laugh, or capitalize from his heartbreak. Bucky’s life is a Shakespearean tragedy—Steve is the tragic hero, Bucky the tragic villain. 

What else? Those two characters always have the most dire, erotic, agonizing tension that straddles the romantic dynamic of a tragedy. Steve was the play’s hero. Bucky, the villain. They were each other’s heart-wrenching antonyms, yet so terribly similar in the way their souls spoke. Characters so unfortunate in their endings, and an exhausting constant in each other’s dreams. 

Last time Bucky had a good dream about Steve Rogers was when the Wakandan summer faded into autumn in the tragic year of 2018. 

He misses that summer. He misses dreaming in June. 

Shakespeare’s characters always meet a dreadful end. One that is unsatisfying. Bucky can’t think of a description more fitting when he opens that fucking bottle in the haunted, Icelandic house. He tips his head back and hates himself for it.   

“You don’t get to do that.”

Bucky shuts his eyes tightly. 

“Go back to bed, Sam.”

“I know we all deal with shit our own ways. You drink, Shortcake wallows, Peter works until he can’t feel his bones. But I’m begging you right now…Do not drink that.”

Bucky can feel it eating away at his insides. He needs another taste, the sip of the liquor that’s been soothing his stomach for the past year and half, making his heart beat just a little quicker, making him forget for just a few hours. He wanted to drown in it when Steve left, when Sam started putting his life in danger, when you didn’t open your eyes as he tried shaking you awake. It’s itching like crazy, picking and pulling at the open slip of skin near his lips. 

And yet, the thought of Sam begging has his hands shaking. “Okay,” Bucky says quietly, putting the bottle down on the table. “I won’t do it.”

“I lost him, too,” Sam mutters quickly.

“Sam—”

“I lost him, too! He was my friend, too!”

Bucky chokes on a choppy inhale. Of course Steve was Sam’s friend, too. Of course he was, Bucky knows this. But it’s the exclamation that rocks Bucky to his core and causes his chest to heave once, then twice, as he tries to respond. There are angry tears forming in Sam’s eyes, incessant.

“You’re not the only one he fucked over! He left me, too!”

Bucky raises his flesh hand in a sort of surrender, unable to keep it from trembling. He turns a little to the side so he doesn’t have to look directly at Sam. If anyone walked in right now, Peter probably, it would look like Bucky is shielding himself from an incoming blow. But Bucky seriously, honestly, is curling in on himself. 

“I know you loved him,” Sam continues, breath hitching. “And I know I’ll never know exactly what you’re feeling. But he left me, too.” Sam smiles sadly, then shrugs, as if it’s all his body can do. “He left me, too.”

The moment is frozen. For seconds, maybe minutes. Bucky doesn’t walk down the path of the bottle and Sam doesn’t leave the room. He feels like a small child being scolded, but Bucky knows that’s not a fair comparison. He doesn’t even want to call this a guilt trip. He’s had an intervention coming any day now. He just didn’t expect it to be so startling and blue. 

“I’m not gonna let you drink yourself to death. I don’t know how your body works, or how the serum works, but I’m not gonna let it happen. I’m not your counselor, fuck, I’m nobody’s fuckin’ counselor. I’m your friend.” 

Bucky looks at the bottle, his fingers fidgeting at his sides. His ribs are incredibly sore, and each intake of air resembles a stab of fire. 

He lifts his head, meeting Sam’s brown eyes. “I need help.”

Sam’s lips part and a small crack in his throat loosens. His entire face flushes with grief. “Yeah, Buck.”

Bucky shudders, his eyes watering. “I need help.” 

“I’m gonna get you help, okay? We all will. I promise.” Sam closes the massive gap between them, holding Bucky’s shoulders in place. “I’m going to be there along the way, okay? I’m not leaving you.”

Bucky grips the fabric of Sam’s sweatshirt. “Don’t leave me.”

Sam shakes his head fast. “I’m not going to leave you. But you gotta promise you’re not going to leave me too, yeah? You’re not going to leave me, or Ace, or Peter. We need you just as much as you need us, Buck.”

“Why did he leave us?” Bucky breaks, sobbing into Sam’s chest. He feels as if the fog in his brain has just lifted, but it’s fighting to stay clear. 

Sam holds him, staring over Bucky’s shoulder. “Million dollar question, Buck.”

Maybe Bucky isn’t the tragic villain of this play.

Maybe it was Steve all along.

~

TAGLIST: @cloudyfeel​​ @howlermonkey69​​ @wintersgirl1917​​ @aquariusbarnes​​ @fandoms-writings​​ @shirukitsune​​ @goldylions​​ @real-jane​​ @mannien​​ @sentimental-for-maneskin​​ @dezthegeek​ @avengershoney​ @ginger-swag-rapunzel​ @natbarnes1917​​ @cutechubbybunnyy @gabewerk

#Bucky Barnes #bucky barnes x reader #reader x bucky barnes #dreaming in june series #dreaming in june #Bucky Barnes x female reader #bucky barnes x poc!reader #bucky fanfic #bucky barnes x you #enhanced reader #captainsimagines #by Moni #chapter eleven #marvel fanfiction

[sergeantbarnessdoll]

Got My Doll Back » Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier

Pairings: Husband!Bucky Barnes x Wife/Enhanced!Reader with Steve Rogers/Captain America, Sam Wilson/Falcon, and Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow

Summary: Bucky gets his wife back after thinking that she was dead for years.

Warnings: Fluff, language, mentions of past memories & trauma, fighting, crying, kissing, pet names (doll)

A/N: Y/N has the same powers as Wanda.

A/N #2: Thank you to @buckys-wintersoldier for helping find the first aesthetic picture🩵

Written on my phone. I’m sorry for any mistakes and typos.

Header made by @buckys-wintersoldier

“These 4 people are your mission. Get these 3 out of the way.” Pierce shows you pictures of Captain America, the Falcon, and Black Widow. “And bring the Winter Soldier back to us alive. Understand?” He says, showing you a picture of the Winter Soldier.

“I understand, sir.” You reply.

Alarms at the base you’re at went off, along with a flashing red light in the room. Pierce went to the security system to see four people walking through the hallways of the base separately. Pierce chuckles and smirks before turning to face you.

“This mission may be easier than we thought. Go to the south end of the base and bring the Winter Soldier to the room.” He tells you.

You nodded and headed towards the door. An agent opened it for you. You headed to the south side of the base. Your walk was cut short when you heard a woman’s voice. You turned around to see a woman with red hair and wearing a black mission suit, one of your targets. She rose one of her arms, getting ready to shoot one of her widow bites at you. Your powers glowed red in your right hand, along with your eyes glowing red. She began to walk towards you, but you used your powers to throw her against the wall, making her groan in pain when she landed on the floor. You ran away from her before she could get up and get you.

“Rogers, Barnes, Wilson. There’s a woman wearing all black with a red jacket is going to the south side of the base. She’s enhanced.” Natasha says into her ear piece.

“I’m on it!” Sam replies, running to the south side.

You rounded the corner to see your second target causing you to stop in your tracks, seeing a man standing across from you.

“I’m not about to fight a woman so let’s do this the easy way.” Sam says.

“That’s a shame.” You say, slightly tilting your head.

Your eyes turned red, along with a ball of red appearing in your hand. You threw it at him causing him to fall to the floor. You ran past him to find your other two targets.

“She’s going east now!” Sam says into his ear piece.

“I see her!” Bucky replies.

Bucky shoots at you. You quickly ducked to the floor to avoid the bullet. You chuckled and stood up with your back facing him.

“Got outsmarted by a woman, didn’t you, Soldat?” You say.

Bucky froze and his eyes went wide. The voice sounds all too familiar. It sounds like someone he knows. Someone from his past.

Steve rounded the corner and caught up to Bucky. He waved his hand in front of his face to snap him out of his thoughts.

“Bucky!” Steve shook him. “Did she do something to you?” He asks.

“N-No.” Bucky stutters.

Steve looks at you to see you facing away from him and Bucky.

“Turn around.” Steve orders.

Steve got his shield ready as you chuckled and turned around.

“You know, the last man who ordered me around, got thrown off of a building. I’m sure you don’t want that to happen to you, Captain.” You say, slowly turning around.

You looked up to see the two men with surprised looks on their faces. Bucky put his gun in the hostler and Steve lowered his shield.

“Oh my god.” Steve says, completely speechless.

“Y/N?” Bucky says with hopefulness in his voice.

You furrowed your eyebrows in confusion, tilting your head to the side.

“Who the hell is Y/N?” You say.

Bucky couldn’t believe what he was seeing. His wife from the 40s was standing a few feet away from him. He slowly approached you which was a mistake on his part cause the next thing he knew was being thrown into the wall. Steve threw his shield at you, but you stopped it with your powers. It fell to the floor in front of you.

“Listen here, Captain and Soldat, but I’m not who you guys think I am.” You say.

Bucky stood up from the ground in time to see your eyes glowing red and a red light glow in your hands, making his eyes to widen.

“I was given a mission and I need to finish it. I’m sure you can relate to that, Soldat.” You say.

Before you could use your powers on them, you felt shocks to the back of your neck causing your body to tense up and lose consciousness. Bucky was quick to catch you before you hit the floor.

“While you two were busy dilly dallying with her, me and Sam got the file.” Natasha says, holding up the file.

Bucky moved your hair from your face to get a closer look at your face causing his breath to hitch in his throat and his eyes to tear up.

“What did they do to you, doll?” Bucky asks, talking more to himself.

Sam and Natasha furrowed their eyebrows in confusion as they looked down at Bucky.

“Doll? Barnes, do you know this woman?” Natasha asks.

“He’ll explain later. We need to get out of here.” Steve says.

Bucky stood up with you in his arms and carried you to the quinjet, holding you like his life depends on it.

A couple hours later, you woke up in a room that you didn’t recognize. You looked around the room, gathering your surroundings. Your eyes landed on a man sleeping in a chair next to the bed you’re in.

“Hello?” You say, raising an eyebrow.

Bucky woke up immediately. A smile grew on his face when he seen that you’re awake.

“Thank god you’re awake.” Bucky says relieved.

He reaches to grab your hand, but you backed away from him. You felt yourself beginning to panic.

“I’m not going to hurt you.” He says in a reassuring voice.

You took a moment to yourself to think. You felt yourself starting to become overwhelmed, your breathing became uneven.

“Wh-Where am I?” You asked, looking around the room again.

“My apartment.” He tells you.

You closed your eyes for a moment, trying to calm yourself down. That’s when memories flooded your brain. Visions of a man appeared in your mind. The man looks exactly like the man sitting next to you. You opened your eyes and looked at the man. There was a few different features about this man compared to the man in your vision. He has long hair, stubble, and a metal arm.

“I know you from somewhere, but I don’t know where.” You say.

“Take your time. It’ll come to you.” He says softly.

You took your time and thought. You kept thinking until your head started pounding by more memories flowing back into your mind. You put your hands on the sides of your head and squeezed your eyes shut. You jumped slightly when you felt a hand on your back, but you didn’t move away. When your head stopped pounding, you opened your eyes and looked up at the man with tears in your eyes. It didn’t take long for you to realize that the man next to you is your husband.

“Bucky?” You say in almost a whisper.

“It’s me, doll. It’s your Bucky.” He says with a smile.

Tears spilled from your eyes as you hugs him. Bucky pulled you onto his lap, holding you close to him. His eyes teared up. Bucky never thought he would get the chance to see or hold his wife again.

“I missed you so much.” You cried against his chest.

“I missed you too, doll.” Bucky says, tears rolled down his cheeks.

You sniffled and looked up at your husband, looking into his beautiful blue eyes.

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I was told to—” Bucky silenced you with a kiss.

“You didn’t hurt me.” Bucky says, looking into your eyes.

“I-I blasted you with my powers.” You say.

“It wasn’t you, doll.” He says, cupping your cheeks.

You shivered when you felt cool metal against your skin.

“What happened to your left arm?” You asked with concern in your voice while looking at his metal arm.

Bucky didn’t want to upset with the details of how he really lost his left arm so he came up with a different way to tell you what happened.

“I got hurt years ago and when I woke up, I had this.” He explains, showing you his metal arm.

Bucky watched as you carefully touched it, watching as your fingers traced the plates of it.

“I’m sorry for hurting your friends with my powers.” You say, feeling ashamed for your actions.

“They’ll understand that it wasn’t you, doll.” Bucky says.

“I didn’t hurt Steve, did I?” You asked.

“No you didn’t.” He says.

You smiled to yourself, knowing that you didn’t hurt your best friend.

“Is it ok if I see Steve and meet your friends?” You asked.

“Of course.” He smiles.

You got off the bed and followed closely behind Bucky while holding his hand as he led you to the living room where Steve, Sam, and Natasha are.

“Someone would like to see you guys.” Bucky says to them.

You slowly stepped out from behind Bucky and looked at everyone.

“Do you remember me?” Steve asks, trying his best not to overstep.

“How could I forget my best friend?” You say.

Steve smiles as you approached him to give him a hug. You looked at the two people standing next to him.

“I’m sorry for hurting you guys.” You tell them.

“It’s ok. We understand.” Sam says.

“Don’t worry about it.” Natasha says.

All of you talked for a while until you got tired and wanted to go to bed.

“I’m happy that I got my doll back.” Bucky says, making you smile.

You smiled and laid your head on his chest and played with his dog tags.

“I love you, Bucky.” You say sleepily.

“I love you too, doll.” He almost whispers. “Get some rest.” He says.

“Will you be here when I wake up?” You asked, looking up at him.

“Of course I will. I’m never leaving you out of my sight again.” He says, leaning down and kissed you passionately.

🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵

-Bucky’s Doll

#sergeant james buchanan barnes #sergeant james barnes #sergeant barnes #james buchanan bucky barnes #james buchanan barnes #james bucky barnes #james barnes #bucky barnes #winter soldier #sebastian stan #sebastian stan characters #avengers #marvel #bucky barnes x female reader #bucky barnes x wife!reader #bucky barnes x enhanced!reader #bucky barnes x reader #bucky barnes x y/n #bucky barnes x you #bucky barnes fluff #bucky barnes oneshot #bucky barnes imagine

[purifiedclitoris69]

In it together

Hiii. I am alive, just very busy and overwhelmed with living ig. College fucking sucks and so does everything else rn, but figured i get a lil blurb out before i have to lock back into my classes. hope you enjoy!! don’t really know what ima do w my series or when ima update so i am sorry bout that LOL. anyway bye for now 👋👋

You were absolutely exhausted. A 2 week mission with only 3 hours of sleep total takes an intense toll, even if you are a super soldier. Letting the burning hot water run down your back , flashes of the recent mission ran through your mind. The experiment files were horrific, so many deaths, so many children.

You had only been at the compound for about a year and a half now, the team rescuing you from Hydra’s control like Bucky. You were free of the brainwash but not of the memories and this long ass mission had brought it all right back to the surface. It was getting better, your in therapy, bonding with the team, learning how to control your strength, your growing. But this mission, feels like it’s all about to come crumbling down. It made you feel sick. Thoughts of losing yourself, the team… of losing, Natasha, it burned your throat.

What you have with Natasha is confusing, complicated, but nice. No one else knows the true nature of it but you two. Falling into each others beds continuously for the past 8 months, staying tangled in each other, every single night, cuddling, and giggling like little teen girls. The team simply thought you guys were close friends, both you two being spies, it wasn’t too hard to hide your extracurriculars. But you both knew it was more, so much more. You held each other in the most gentlest ways…the most loving, opting not to leave one another when you guys inevitably came undone. In front of the team, you had a front, a quiet brooding one, but with her, it was peaceful, relieving, you felt free, like yourself. It was absolutely terrifying.

Not realizing it tears were beginning to mix with the water running down your face and crescent marks formed in your palms from clenching your fists too hard. You love her. You’re in love with her, but how could you tell her, would you. Your whole life you’ve been used as a weapon, serving for the military, then hydra. You were dangerous…a monster. It was late, almost 2 am, you couldn’t go to her now, she need rest, not a burden. no matter how much you yearned for her warmth. Turning off the burning water, you stepped out into the steam filled bathroom. Drying off, you wrapped the towel around your waist and another draped over your shoulders, you opened the door to your bedroom-on your bed sat Nat. Dark circles surrounded her eyes, her hair was slightly ruffled, she wore an old shirt of yours, and some of her loose sleep shorts. She looked absolutely stunning, you couldn’t help but give a soft tired smile.

“hi.” she spoke softly with a matching smile.

“hi,” you answered stopped in place just taking her in.

“you gonna get dressed,” she smirked tiredly, “tho i don’t mind.”

“oh really” you joked walking over to her and cupping her face as she looked up at you, “i missed you,” you spoke softly the tiredness bringing out a transparency.

She leaned into your hand closing her eyes, “i missed you,” she answered. Your heart swelled and the flashes came back, you could hurt her, what if you lose it. Suddenly taking a step back her cheek still warm from your touch, her eyes flew open. You turned your back, getting dressed by your closet, “is everything okay,” she asked as you pulled your tank top over your head and braced yourself against your dresser.

You opened your mouth unsure what you wanted her to know, “yeah,” was all you could muster.

“I really did miss you,” she walked up behind you wrapping her arms around your waist and leaning her check against your back, just enjoying your smell, “i don’t sleep well without you anymore.”

“me either,” you turned around wrapping your own arms around her middle and looking to the side as hers went to your neck, “it was a rough mission,” you mumbled

“oh, baby,” she spoke, moving her hands to your face this time, “look at me please,” your eyes were burning with unshed tears as they met her soft deep green ones, “oh, my love, it’s okay,” she brought your head down to her shoulder as you released a shaky breath and let your arms fall from around her waist, “is there something else,” she asked dropping her own hands. You walked past her to sit on the bed not really sure where to start as you looked at your hands in your lap, “we don’t have to talk about it, it’s okay,” she spoke sitting beside you and gently take your hands in her own.

You finally looked back at her face, your eyes still glossy. You stared deep into each others eyes, “you’re so beautiful, Natasha,” you said memorizing every detail of her. She laughed quietly as a soft blush rose to her face.

“Shut up,” she said putting her forehead against hers.

She closed her eyes at the action as yours remained open, “I mean it, you’re the prettiest girl there is.”

Her blush grew as she pulled back and looked away slightly, “god i love you,” she mumbled out casually bringing shock to both your faces. She immediately pulled her hands away and stood from the bed, her mouth opening and closing unsure what to say as you looked at her, overwhelmed with emotions, “y/n i’m sorry i-“

“You do?” you asked getting up from the bed with her, “you love me?”

“I..” She spoke uncertain, taking a deep breath in, “y/n i’m in love with you.” You laughed slightly in disbelief. You moved towards her with purpose grabbing her waist and pulling her into a bruising kiss, pouring every amount of love into it as possible, like it was the last time, like you were consumed by everything Natasha. You both grinned wide into the kiss, forcing the two of you to break apart.

Taking a deep breath, “Tasha, I..,” the thoughts all came rushing back. Your going to hurt her, you don’t deserve this love, your going to lose it all.

She moved her hands down from your neck to intertwine with your own, “I know,” she whispered.

“I really do,” you said, your foreheads still pressed together, “I..,” your mouth fell open and closed absolutely terrified to say something wrong, “Im just scared,” you mumbled, closing your eyes, but never dropping your hold.

“Don’t be,” she answered, moving her hands back up to cup your face, “we’re in this together.”

#enhanced!reader #marvel fanfic #natasha romanoff x reader #natasha romanoff #super soldier #natasha angst #angst with a happy ending #fluff #marvel #black widow x reader

[vase-of-lilies]

Shh...Just Kiss Me...

Pairing: Wanda Maximoff x Enhanced!Reader (f)

Warnings: Soft smut, fingering, morning sex, thigh riding, grinding, nudity, boobiesssss, fingering, snuggling, kissing, orgasms, some self-doubt, ranting, interrupting with a kiss lol, mommy kink, sexual intimacy

A/N: This is not a part of the series, only a little drabble for Phase 3 of "Levels of Intimacy." This falls under sexual intimacy. I felt like I needed a break from some of the darker stuff. I hope you like this addition to Levels of Intimacy! I will be working on this series a little more lately, now that I am in a slightly better headspace, but I will also be working on some of the Tiny Verse too, so don't worry!

"Baby, I can hear your mind screaming, whats going on?" Wanda whispers in your ear, her arm snaking around your belly and pulling you against her bare chest. You had woken up no more than five (5) minutes before you heard her voice, your mind silent for a short time. It was when one stupid thought pushed your brain to be racing with thoughts of self-doubt and self-hate. Wanda could feel it...

"Hm? Oh, nothing," You say, leaning back against your girlfriend's chest with a soft sigh, your lie not passing through her. You feel her lips smile against your neck, causing chills to cover your body.

"We both know you are lying sweet girl, now tell me what's going on?" Wanda says softly, assisting you in turning in her arms so you are now facing her. "You can tell me anything, you know," She smiles as she kisses your nose and then up to your forehead.

It was her reassurance that flipped the switch to the dam that held in your tears. Burying your face in Wanda's chest, you sob quietly against her skin. She sighs, her nails drawing soft circles and shapes on your back as she holds you close. The sensations were relaxing, but being in her arms felt even better.

As Wanda listened to your struggles of the week, she really listened. She gave advice when you asked and bit her tongue when you mentioned that one pesky professor. But when your words turned to self-hatred and self-doubt, she cups your cheek and turns your face towards hers. You keep talking, only looking at your girlfriend head-on.

Hot tears rolled down your cheeks as you continued talking, seconds passing before you noticed Wanda's concerned look.

"Wh-whats wrong?" You sniffle, wiping your nose with the back of your hand. "I-I'm sorry if I said t-too much, I just need to stop talking. God why do I tal-" Your rant is cut off by soft lips against your own. The kiss takes you by surprise, but it helps you relax further into Wanda's arms.

"Shh, дорогой (sweetheart)..." Wanda whispers against your lips, cupping your cheek. Her intent was to mute the thoughts trailing in your head and by your reaction, she succeeded. You don't protest, staying silent as Wanda takes care of you. "Just kiss me..." She whispers against your lips again.

Her hand trails from your cheek, to the back of your head, and down to the nape of your neck. She pulls your head closer to her, sucking in every ounce of love you'll give her. Your lips and hers mold together in a kiss that could end anyone's racing mind. And god, did it put yours to rest.

To deepen the kiss, she rolls over and pulls you on top of her, your legs straddling her waist. "Such a good girl, малышка (little one)," A smile spreads across your lips and you can't help but giggle at how much you love Wanda. Staring at her from above, even after just waking up, her beauty was stupefying. All you could do was ogle at her.

Wanda tilts her head, a half smile on her face. "What are you thinking, принцесса (princess)? What is going through that beautiful mind of yours?" You wait before you answer, shaking your head while biting your lip.

"I just love you, and I don't know what I would do without you," Your eyes sparkle in the dim light of the morning sun, Wandas doing the same. "That's all," You smile down at her.

Wanda sits up so her back is against the headboard with you sitting perfectly in her lap. Your chest meets hers as you wrap your arms around her neck, pulling her into a hug. She hides her head in the crook of your neck and kisses your skin softly, moving up to your jaw and back to your lips.

"My beautiful girl, so sweet and just for me," Wanda loved to shower you with words of affirmation and you absolutely loved it. Every single word that she said about you made the butterflies in your belly flutter every time. "Mmm, move your hips, baby, just like that..."

With Wanda's hands now on your sides, she guides you to move your pussy against her thigh. A moan leaves your lips as you lean forward against her chest, whimpering as her left-hand moves from your waist to your breast, rubbing your nipple like a little ball of clay. All of these sensations pull together a sense of euphoria, and you can't help but arch your back in response.

She helps you move faster, your aching clit rubbing perfectly against her skin. "There you go, baby, good girl..." She whispers in your ear, her lips planting open-mouth kisses to your neck. The room fills with the aroma of sex, and sweat starts to form on your body. Your moans got louder, and at this point, Wanda knew that you were close to your orgasm.

"That's it, зайка (precious), I know you're close, just let go," She looks up at you, your face contorting to an expression of pleasure. A face that Wanda can't get enough of. Her arms move around your back, holding you against her body while you came, a whimper of satisfaction and orgasmic relief muffled in against Wanda's neck.

"Good girl, good girl cumming for mommy..."

As she continues to hold you, she pulls your right leg from between hers and has you wrap your legs around her waist. You were in just the perfect position for Wanda, you pussy wide open and wet. "How about one more, sweet girl?" She asks, her hand dipping between your legs and her fingers moving lazily around your clit.

A moan is all she gets for an answer, and that is really all she needs. Gently, two fingers prod at your tight hole, Wanda's thumb continuing to rub your clit in hopes of relaxing you. "It's ok, sweetheart, let mommy in. Let her take away all those pesky thoughts." Your body obeyed her, allowing your walls to loosen just enough for her fingers to slide all the way in, the knuckles of the two barely peeking from outside of your hole.

"Look at you, taking my fingers. It's like you were made for me darling," Her words sparked so much joy inside of you, and you smile against her shoulder as your sensitive pussy is played with. Her thumb continues to roll around your clit, her fingers pumping in and out.

Startled by the sudden movement, you yelp in pleasure as Wanda's hand turns, a third finger poking your entrance while her palm grinds against your button. Your soft, wet walls pulse around her digits as she moves them faster, your own fingernails dragging against the skin of her back.

"M'gonna cum again, mommy, o-oh please," You beg in her ear, your second orgasm coming closer by the second. The moans that leave your mouth get higher, faster, and louder as you cum for a second time, your mind going blank as your body shakes in Wanda's arms.

Slowing down, she helps you ride out your orgasm, smiling as you fall limp against her. She kisses your slightly damp forehead and tickles your back softly.

"How do you feel, sweetheart?" She asks, and you let out a quiet chuckle.

"Much better," You mumble, smiling as Wanda lays back down, you still comfy on her chest.

"Get some more rest, sweetheart," She pauses and gently lifts your head up. Pressing a kiss to your lips, you see her smirk. "I'm craving breakfast in bed, and I know I'll be starving..."

The two of you share much-needed laughter and love, allowing the vulnerability of being with each other.

#wanda maximoff x reader #wanda maximoff #wanda x reader #Wanda Maximoff x enhanced reader #wanda maximoff fanfiction #wanda maximoff fluff #wanda x y/n #wanda x female reader #Wanda maximoff smut #Levels of Intimacy #LOI Phase 3 #Wanda Maximoff smut #wanda maximoff x female!reader #wanda maximoff fan fiction #scarlet witch #the scarlet witch #wanda x you

[yaksha-lover]

Pink in the Night

i’ve always wanted to write a soulmate au :)

Malleus Draconia x Reader

wc: 5.9k

cw: reader is yuu, major character death, descriptions of violence/injury, mentions of fae heat (brief, sfw), pmmm inspired, yandere-ish

For the first few hundred years of his life, Malleus is convinced he doesn’t have a soulmate. While other children gleefully show off small scrapes and bruises that magically appear on their skin, Malleus’ own remained blemish free. He wonders if perhaps his soulmate is simply being considerate; trying to save him from harm by living a careful life.

He remembers when Silver first got a scrape on his knee, how the seven-year-old had started crying when it appeared. Lilia had consoled him and taken care of the injury, telling his son what it meant. By the end, young Silver had shed tears of excitement for the future.

A bittersweet feeling climbed Malleus’ throat at Lilia’s words to his son - fate, destiny, soulmates - it seemed the world had simply forgotten about him. Perhaps that was his destiny: to rule Briar Valley undistracted and alone, concentrating only on his kingdom. While uncommon, it wasn’t impossible - there certainly existed some unlucky enough to be born without one.

Five hundred years later and the time in which Malleus wished for a soulmate has long passed. The thought rarely crossed his mind anymore - it was no different than any other loneliness he’d felt it in his life. Unlike other children, he’d grown up without his parents. Just the same, he’d do fine without a soulmate.

The morning of NRC’s orientation on his third year, Malleus feels a sharp scratch on his arm, like that of the cat which had scratched him as a child when attempting to flee his touch. It’s faint and quick, and his fae blood means any visible mark is gone within a second. Malleus pulls down his sleeve anyway, eyes scrolling over the area of his wrist where he’d felt it. His pale flesh is as unblemished as ever; he almost feels like he’s hallucinated it.

The feeling leaves him in thought and he decides to take a walk on campus. Absorbed by the morning’s events, Malleus barely takes notice of the bustling of the students around him, all preparing for something he can’t quite remember; he makes a note to ask Lilia about it later.

Malleus walks until that the sky darkens into a deep azure. The tranquility of nature is soothing to him; he feels like just another one of the trees. The birds chirp freely in his presence, uninhibited by fear or distaste. Eventually he runs into Shroud, talking to himself in the courtyard. Malleus is almost pleased at the encounter: him and his fellow dorm leader seeking to find peace in similar ways.

The pleasantries are quickly dispelled when he realizes Idia is dressed in his black ceremonial robes. Malleus is confused, and Shroud quickly becomes defensive when he questions his choice. He does not struggle with the idea for too long. Malleus figures that perhaps there are things that fae and humans simply cannot understand about each other.

His day is quickly soured when Lilia informs him that he’s missed the school’s ceremony again. The distraction of another lost opportunity means he forgets all about the strange incident from the morning.

*

Time passes quickly for Malleus, it always has. He blinks and Heartslabyul’s dorm leader has overblotted. He blinks again and another Spelldrive tournament approaches.

Another late night, Malleus escapes Diasomnia dorm to take a walk by himself. He only has so long before Sebek realizes he is gone, so the prince makes haste to his usual spot.

Ramshackle reminds him of why he enjoys nature: it is another place where Malleus can simply exist amongst the gargoyles, where his presence causes no disturbance and nothing to change. It seems this kind of peace can only exist for him in places abandoned by others.

The solitude he’s enjoyed so long is shattered when this time, the dorm is not empty. A child of man walks out from the gates of the dorm, rubbing their eyes and dressed in simple clothing.

You seem as surprised to see him as he is by you. It catches Malleus even further by surprise that you do not cower at his appearance.

You offer your name, and Malleus finds it unusual. He is certainly well read, having been educated on all major parts of the world since he was a child (it wouldn’t do well for a prince to be aware of only his own kingdom), and yet, he has never heard of your name. He doesn’t dwell on the details, certainly it could be the mistake of the outdated nature of Briar Valley’s texts.

Malleus decides not to offer you his own name. He wonders if perhaps keeping it to himself would help maintain the serenity of Ramshackle; without his name, perhaps you will still treat him as just another person. He silently mourns the loss of this space, and vows to find more ruins in which he can find peace.

*

The next time Malleus sees you, you call him ‘Tsunotaro,’ and he laughs for the first time in a while. He’d thought maybe you were bluffing last time, pretending not to know who he really was. Your bravery to call him by this nickname is delightfully baffling.

You tell him about Azul and the contract, and Malleus almost feels sorry for how pitiful and doe-eyed you look. It’s not as though he can’t understand the sentiment. In a way, he’s grown fond of Ramshackle too. He leaves you with words of encouragement and disappears into the night.

*

Three days later, Malleus drops to his knees in his room, feeling like his bones are being crushed into dust. The pressure is so overwhelming he passed out.

He awakens on the bed of his room, with Sebek standing by his bedside. As soon as the half-fae sees his eyes flutter, Sebek is yelling out for Lilia and Silver to come. Malleus groans at Sebek’s loudness and lightly chastises him. He immediately apologizes in a softer tone as the two others come rushing in.

The prince moves his arms and legs, relieved to find them in tact. Although he feels sore, his bones and tissue are not fractured and split as he worried. He wonders if he’s dreamt the pain; it feels like a distant memory. The only thing that remains is a sort of empty pit in his stomach, but he supposes it’s likely because he hasn’t eaten. Lilia checks up on Malleus, pressing his small hand to his forehead.

‘Strange’, his guardian remarks. ‘A fae’s first heat is often painful, but it shouldn’t have been for someone like you. Well, at least it seems you slept through the worst of it.’

Malleus isn’t sure what it should feel like, but the crushing of bones definitely seems extreme. Still, he accepts Lilia’s explanation for his condition easy enough. He retained no actual injury, so there doesn’t seem to be any explanation other than his own body.

*

When Malleus feels well enough to return to his duties as housewarden, Lilia explains the situation he had been hiding from Malleus while he was in his incapacitated state.

It seems Ashengrotto was more dangerous than Malleus gave him credit for. Kingscholar and a few other students had stopped his overblot, but during the fight, destruction to the nearby dorm building caused a student to be crushed and killed.

Lilia explains the chaos that the school has been thrown into while he’s been asleep, the attempt at damage control by Crowley, and Azul’s further breakdown once he’d realized what he’d done.

Ashengrotto was hardly Malleus’ favourite fellow housewarden, but his situation was terribly sad. He knew, despite his greediness and flaws, that Azul was not a bad person.

*

As he walks around campus, the courtyard is empty of students. Malleus loves the quiet, but not like this. This kind of quiet is constrictive, like oxygen has left the air and Malleus can no longer breathe. He spots a single student walk down the hall, so distracted that he fails to even notice Malleus as he walks past.

The next few days pass in a similar silence. It seems even those who did not know the student who was killed are shaken by the event. Ashengrotto has left the school and gone home; Malleus isn’t sure if it was by choice or not.

Lilia encourages Malleus to attend the vigil for the student who died, stating his attendance to be important both as a housewarden and the future king of Briar Valley.

The two of them walk to the vigil, accompanied by Silver and Sebek. Malleus is so lost in thought that he doesn’t realize they’ve walked the path to Ramshackle dorm.

It’s then that he spots the giant picture of you, printed on a canvas, set in front of the dorm gates. You smile in the picture, but he can tell you were caught off guard by whoever took the picture. It’s not unflattering, but he’s surprised they chose that one. It seems more like a causal picture taken by a friend than one meant for a funeral. When he asks Cater later on, he’ll learn it was one of the few anyone had of you. The picture is surrounded by white candles, probably twenty or so.

Blue hair catches his eye and Malleus notices the two freshman boys he’d occasionally spot with you standing off to the side of the portrait. The redhead keeps his gaze cast down, but the blue-haired boy is unable to keep the tears from spilling down his cheeks. Malleus imagines if he was any closer, he’d be able to hear the soft sobs spill from his lips.

Malleus doesn’t realize he’s stopped walking until Lilia is ushering him quietly to stand behind the crowd. At his height, he’s still able to see over the rest of the students. A blur of grey flashes by his eyes as something runs between legs to the front of the crowd.

Grim sits frozen at the bottom of your portrait for a moment, the rest of the students going silent as they watch him. Malleus notices Leona standing off to the side of the crowd beside Ruggie, the two of them looking as glum as he’s seen; it’s strange for him to see the prince without his usual smirk or sneer.

The cry that breaks the silence a moment later replays in Malleus’ head for days. Grim’s grief at your death haunts him; the more he remembers it, the more the pit in his stomach grows.

It’s the pity that sets Malleus on his next decision. This experience, this loss the campus has faced has undeniably changed things. He feels sorry for you and your friends, of course, but mostly Malleus hates the silence he can no longer escape.

Malleus doesn’t bother telling Lilia; his guardian would likely try to stop him, but Malleus knows he’s in no danger. His grandmother had given him the magic shield only because she knew he could handle it.

The prince straps the small, metal shield to his wrist, before spinning it’s round edges until it aligns with his designated mark.

*

Malleus finds himself two days before Azul’s overblot. He knows he’ll have to do something before his heat becomes too much of an issue for him to intervene. The fae sneaks away from his guards in the middle of the night to place magic-resistance charms on the Octavinelle building; he hopes it’ll be enough to prevent your death and all its fallout.

The next two days play out just as before. Malleus finds this part of time-hopping quite tedious; the repetitive nature of reliving the same days over and over again. Although he supposes it isn’t much different than how he normally feels through the school year. Without extra events to attend, his routine is rather simple. Unchanging, even. That is the life of a fae as old as him; every day feels the same.

Some minor things feel a bit different than before: Malleus hadn’t remembered Kingscholar glaring at him from across the hall the last time around. The behaviour isn’t unusual for Leona, so Malleus doesn’t think too hard about it.

Malleus mentions to Lilia about his ‘bad feeling’ regarding Ashengrotto; he hopes it will be enough to entice him to keep watch of the situation while Malleus is forced to stay in his room and face his heat.

The prince waits in his room, staring at his stone ceiling. He anticipates the pain, but as the sky turns dark and his room is only lit by candlelight, nothing comes. His bones do not crush and his head does not splinter. He wonders if he’s made a mistake; could casting a simple spell and telling Lilia about the incident change enough to not have his heat come?

*

Malleus goes to see you once more after Ashengrotto is dealt with. He doesn’t expect to feel so…strange seeing you alive again. You thank him for the advice he’d never intended, but he can’t help but feel an unusual happiness at hearing you bring up the gargoyles.

He doesn’t see you for a while after that, but it’s difficult not to think of you. Things become busy, and so he sends you a holiday card to make up for his lack of visits. He feels oddly upset at your lack of reply. Perhaps you’ve discovered his identity and no longer wish…Malleus perishes the thought and resolves himself to return to your dorm when he can.

*

The next time you meet, snow covers the ground around Ramshackle. Something else has changed too; you look happy. He finds that the faint red that dusts your cheeks and nips at your nose… it becomes you.

When you pass him the tickets, Malleus starts to hear his pulse ring in his ears. Surely he’s misunderstood your intent? Your casual demeanour does nothing to quell his surprise.

Malleus composed himself before thanking you and promising to attend. He goes back to Diasomnia and makes Sebek vow to ensure he makes it there. He hates to use the half-fae’s devotion for his personal needs, but Malleus refuses to disrespect you by failing to attend the first event he’s been personally invited to since coming the NRC.

There’s still days before the event, but Malleus can’t stop thinking about the encounter. He is…ambivalent about you. In a way, you’ve given him hope and that is much worst than those like Kingscholar who outright reject his presence. You don’t know him, and so you do not fear him. Is it truly possible that his name and his position is all that keeps others away? Or perhaps you are special; Malleus allows himself to believe for a moment that you might accept him anyway, before banishing the thought to somewhere it will not harm him.

*

The day of the SDC, Sebek reminds him repeatedly of it’s time, and insists on guiding him to the event. Malleus declines Sebek’s request when he happens to feel a dull pain shoot against his shoulder, like he’s been hit by something heavy. He checks his body but no bruise colours his skin. Still, Malleus grows increasingly restless as he wonders, so decides to head over early.

This time, he watches your death in real time.

Schoenheit’s overblot form rages above you all. Malleus approaches the group, intending to step in, but sees the release of the poison mist a second too late. As the purple haze consumes your body, Malleus feels an uncomfortable feeling in his chest. When you fall to the ground, he feels his limbs grow weak and heavy. Suddenly, any pain is gone, and you have grown still.

The others are distracted by subduing Vil, not yet noticing your fallen form behind them. Malleus approaches you silently, and his stomach begins to turn the closer he gets. When he catches sight of the blood trailing down your left shoulder, he does not stop to help the students that now call his name.

*

Malleus turns his shield and he’s back in his room. He’s left himself a couple days before the SDC, just enough time to fix things.

Malleus wonders if you have any idea that he is your soulmate. He wonders how you would feel. Pleased? Ambivalent? Afraid?

He pauses on the last possibility and stays there until he is overwhelmed by a tight feeling in his stomach.

Part of him is angry as well. Malleus is one of the most powerful mages in this world, but the universe has decided his fate was to be bonded to a fragile human, and a magicless one at that.

He dismisses the thought as soon as it comes. No, it all makes sense. Malleus is strong precisely because you are weak; he was made to keep you safe, to protect you from anything that would seek to harm you. He knows that now.

If destiny has ensured you be bonded together, he will ensure it is forever.

*

Malleus sees you again, but now he only watches from afar. It’s strange to see you in this new light.

You are his soulmate. Someone the universe designed for him; someone who would be forced to accept him.

He casts a spell of invisibility as he approaches you, sitting outside Ramshackle with Grim. The two of you bicker gently, but Malleus is too focused on his goal to really notice. He casts charms of protection and invulnerability on you, and slips away as quickly as he can.

Malleus intends to leave, but he’s held in place by the sound of your laughter; it rings free and clear. He flees the scene before he can think too long about why the sound replays in his mind.

*

When the day of the SDC finally comes once again, Malleus is sure to enter the stadium early enough to sit in the shadows in case he needs to intervene.

His protection spells work as intended, and he only reveals itself when it’s time to reconstruct the stadium - he still has a show to watch, after all.

The others’ shock at your friendliness with him is quite amusing. Malleus imagines the surprise they’d feel if they knew you were his soulmate too.

Although he hadn’t really wanted to do it this way, Malleus figured that it’s necessary to reveal his real identity to you now; if you are to be his forever, there’s no reason to spare you the details.

Your continued use of the former nickname you’d given him pleases Malleus. It confirms to him what he’d believed - soulmates were obligated to love each other, no matter what. Even the fearful reactions of your friends did not serve to deter you from him. How could they? The two of you were meant to be.

*

In the days following the SDC, Malleus contemplates how to tell you that the two of you are soulmates. The matter is rather delicate and although the two of you are in a good place, he’d rather not reverse his progress.

He decides to consult Lilia, who is both surprised and overjoyed when Malleus shares the news. His guardian advises him not to rush into things, but rather to begin a courting process before revealing the truth, so as to not scare you away. Unfortunately, Malleus doesn’t have much experience in the area.

His first strategy is one traditional of his family; the giving of gifts over a period of seven days. Malleus sends letters back to Briar Valley to bring him the most expensive and desirable collection of jewelry and artifacts in the royal family’s care. Malleus’ grandmother writes back in congratulations and sends what he requested.

Unfortunately, he failed to account for the cultural differences between fae and humans. One night as he stops to chat with you outside Ramshackle, you pull out one of the gifts he’d left at your doorstep: an ancient necklace, said to be blessed by the original thorn fairy herself.

Malleus prepares himself to finally reveal the truth to you, excited that you’ve finally acknowledged his courting.

Then you tell him that you’re afraid you have a stalker and ask if he’s seen anyone lurking around Ramshackle, claiming that ‘cursed’ objects have been left anonymously at your doorstep.

Malleus takes a moment to compose himself (it’s a little rude of you to call his gift ‘cursed’) before promising to keep a look out.

He goes to Silver that very night to ask him about human courting rituals. Silver explains the concept of ‘dating’ to Malleus, and that night, the prince asks you to accompany him to dinner at the Mostro Lounge.

Malleus feels the excitement bloom in his chest when, after walking you home from dinner, you ask him to attend a play with you the following week.

*

The two of you go on many dates, until he’s begun spending the free time he has at Ramshackle.

Sitting on your couch, he makes a mental note to make renovations to some of the older furniture when he has a chance. He’d like to preserve the ruins look of the building, but not at the cost of your discomfort.

The doorbell rings, and you’re jumping off the couch to answer the door. Ace and Deuce stand outside with bags of snacks in hand. They smile at you, but just a bit of that happiness drops at the sight of him on the couch.

Your best friends haven’t exactly taken well to his newfound presence. The feeling isn’t entirely not mutual - it’s them who should apologize for taking so much of your time. You’re his soulmate after all, not theirs. You usher them inside and they take a seat on the chairs farthest from the couch.

“Sorry, Malleus, I totally forgot I made plans with them to come over earlier. Is it possible for us to watch the movie another time?”

“Of course, my love,” Malleus says, watching intently as your friends wince at the pet name. “I will see you tomorrow for tea with Lilia?”

At your nod, a small smirk rises to his face as he approaches you, dropping a small kiss on your lips as he departs. He notes the embarrassed and disgruntled look your friends faces; as much as he hates to let them see you in any intimate way, he needs them to know their place before he leaves.

*

One day, Malleus walks in on Deuce holding you. Your arms are awkwardly grasping at his shoulders, and he grips underneath your arms. It’s clear you’ve fallen, and yet Malleus can’t help but let the picture freeze in his mind; it burns into his memory.

Deuce helps you stand properly before the two of you let go of each other. You apologize and thank him awkwardly; the two of you haven’t even noticed him.

Malleus greets you from the doorway and both of you flinch in surprise. You gesture him inside, telling him all about the ‘funny story’ that just happened with Deuce.

He tries to sleep that night, but every time he closes his eyes, Malleus sees you in Deuce’s arms. He knows there’s nothing between you; it was an accident, and you love him after all.

*

Malleus makes the decision to reveal that he’s your soulmate the next time you two are alone. That happens to be two days later, once again on the Ramshackle couch.

He told you he wanted to discuss something serious, and he feels terrible at how anxious you look from across the table. Malleus wordlessly takes a small needle he’d brought with him and gently pricks his index finger.

You just stare at him, bewildered. Malleus takes your hand, flipping it palm-side up. No red pools on your finger, and no indentation appears either.

It’s his turn to stare in confusion. Every time you’ve been injured, he’s felt it. All your deaths, he’s felt. You’re human, you should not be healing this fast. He tells you as much.

“Is-Is this about soulmates, Malleus?” Your eyes flick up to his, voice wavering a bit. You glance back down to your lap as your hand rises to scratch at your neck. “In my world, we don’t have soulmates. I’m sorry, I should’ve been honest with you before, but I was worried that if you knew I wasn’t your soulmate that you wouldn’t want to be together anymore.”

The words echo in his ears, but he can’t understand them. A world without soulmates…? But how?

“I’m sorry to ask this of you, but will you prick your finger. Just a tiny amount will do.”

“Malleus, I-“

“And please, keep an eye on my hand.”

You frown but nod. You prick your hand, wincing at the sensation, eyes flicking down to his own finger, eyes taking in the slight prick that appeared before quickly closing.

Malleus holds his breath as your face blooms into a myriad of emotions: confusion, shock, uncertainty, and finally a smile.

You launch yourself at him, capturing his lips in his very first kiss, and for once, Malleus does not think. He only feels the brush of your soft lips against his own inexperienced ones, following your lead. The moment lasts forever in his mind, but you still pull away too soon.

“Malleus, I’m sorry you’re not my soulmate but I’m so happy you’re mine~”

Your words unsettle him, but before he can think of it too long, you pull him into another kiss.

*

Things pass normally for a few days; the two of you continue to go on dates and avoid the subject of soulmates.

Malleus fears the worst when the campus is invaded, but rushing over to Ramshackle, his anxiety is temporarily relieved at the sight of you still on campus. You cry to him about Grim and he frets over your injuries - however mild, any threat to you is worth dealing with.

He begs you to stay at Diasomnia since your dorm was destroyed but you refuse. You insist on staying at Ramshackle and even ask that he not stay alongside you, promising that you can handle yourself. Malleus almost does it anyway, but Lilia warns him to give you space in your grief and worry for Grim and your friends

*

He visits you one last time before he’s forced to stay with Diasomnia as their dorm leader. Malleus closes his eyes as he pulls you into his arms. Now that he’s had you close, being apart always feels like there’s something missing in his life, a lingering anxiety in the back of his mind that keeps scratching at his brain and ignoring the rational side of him.

The two of you stand in silence, wrapped around each other, until you pull away a couple minutes later. Giving his hand one last squeeze, you slip a pink, string bracelet on his arm, asking Malleus to keep it safe until you seem him again before encouraging him to return to help his dorm.

Malleus tries to leave but feels himself pause in the doorway. He looks back at you, sitting on your bed and staring at your phone, and gets a bad feeling.

It’s just paranoia, he rationalizes. You’ve been through so much, he can’t lose you again. But this time, you’re here and away from the action. Nothing will be able to harm you anymore while you’re on the same campus as him.

Malleus still silently casts a couple of protection spells on you before he takes his leave again.

*

He isn’t able to visit for some time after that, with his dorm leader responsibilities leaving him occupied. He knows your protection spells haven’t activated, so he tries to reassure himself while being away from you. He sends Lilia to check on you, and his guardian returns confirming your health.

Two days later, Malleus sits at a table with Lilia, Sebek, and Silver when he feels it. There is no pain, only a chill that seeps deep into his bones, stopping him mid-sentence. He feels everything at once: fear, despair, and finally, relief. The table remains silent as Malleus is struck with emotion, the others watching him in concern.

“Malleus? It is unbecoming for the future king of Briar Valley to be lost in thought mid-conversation.” Lilia speaks with a light-hearted tone, but Malleus barely hears him.

“Something is wrong with them. I know it,” Malleus whispers, mostly to himself. “No, no. They’re still on campus, that can’t be. You confirmed this yourself, right Lilia?”

Lilia’s pause kindles the fire of Malleus’ worst fear.

“I’m sorry, Malleus. They needed to help their friends, and they knew you would never allow it. But the rest of them are strong, I never thought-“

*

The confirmation comes three hours later when the rest of the students arrive back from the Island of Woe. Lilia and Malleus rush to the group of students gathered to greet their fellow dorm mates.

You are noticeably absent.

He barely hears their words, their explanation about your sacrifice, and your fall into the underworld.

He sees the shocked faces of the other students (even Kingscholar, lacking his usual smirk), and Lilia is ushering him away before he can even think about the wetness dripping down his cheeks. Out of the corner of his eye, Malleus sees Leona try to reach them, but they are too fast for him.

The tears come full force once they’ve teleported back to Diasomnia, but he does not sob. Malleus Draconia is not someone who cries. He wipes the wetness off his face, before turning to Lilia.

“We’ll need to wipe their memories as soon as possible. The future king of Briar Valley cannot be remembered to be so…emotional.”

The cold neutrality of Malleus’ tone shakes even Lilia. He continues to stand, staring at the wall in concentration.

Lilia places a hand on the prince’s shoulder: “Malleus, please sit down. You need to rest after what’s happened. The others can wait-“

“No, no, I won’t have to, I’ll go back again and fix things. It’s simple,” Malleus says, mostly to himself.

“Go back? Malleus, please, what are you saying?” Lilia grabs on to both of Malleus’ shoulders, but he does not break free of his conviction. “You don’t mean-“ Malleus’ lack of response confirms his suspicions. “That watch has never been meant to be used, Malleus! It was for world-ending emergencies, for a threat to your kingdom! You have no idea what you’ve done, the cost you’ve had to pay-“

“I’ll see you soon, Lilia, and all will be right again.”

“You don’t understand! If the prefect continues to die after you’ve already intervened, then that is fate! Nothing you do to change time will change the fact that they aren’t meant to survive.”

“…Change time? No, we’ve moved beyond that, Lilia. I’m not going to change time, I’m going to break it.”

-

“I will help the new prefect,” the student says. “I’ll show them to Ramshackle.”

You are sure that if Crowley’s face were not concealed by his mask it would be frozen in an expression of shock that mirrors the rest of the students.

“Uh, Draconia, that is very…kind of you, but it seems like a lot to trouble yourself with. You are very much needed here for orientation. Perhaps one of our vice housewardens might take care of it?” Crowley looks around but no one steps up to contradict this ‘Draconia.’

“I will be going now. Lilia, please handle the new students.”

Before anyone can further question his decision, Draconia puts a hand on your shoulder and guides you out of the room, leaving behind silence.

*

“What the hell do you think you’re doing, Draconia? You think you can just- what, change the world to your perfect dream? Change time again and again just because of the prefect? These are people’s lives you’re playing with! We’re not here to be subjected to your stupid whims.”

Malleus turns around to face Leona.

“And what, pray tell, do you plan to do about it?”

“I’m not afraid of you, overgrown lizard. You know it isn’t right, forcing us to play these roles that you’ve designed. And the prefect? Forcing them to be with you? You think-”

“Do I need to remove those petty claws of yours, Kingscholar? In fact, I bet you barely remember why you’re here.”

Leona’s face tells all Malleus he needs to know: “I-I know you’ve done something. My head, it just won’t clear-”

“It’s best if you forget about it and play along. We wouldn’t want you to cause more problems for yourself and your friends. The prefect is easily upset - I wouldn’t want to have to do anything bad to keep the world perfect for my soulmate.”

“Hey Leona,” Ruggie says, jogging up to the group before noticing Malleus. He stays close to Leona as he whispers to him: “You got class in ten. You know Crewel will freak if you miss again.”

Leona glances back at Malleus before reluctantly following Ruggie.

*

You try to be subtle as you sneak glances at him, but you don’t think you’re very successful. You don’t have a clue why this- well you don’t know very much about him but considering everyone else’s reactions - probably very powerful fae has taken an interest in you. He doesn’t glance back as he walks in front of you. The two of you continue that way until you suddenly run into something hard. You squeak out an apology but Draconia does not turn around or explain why he’s stopped. His question breaks the silence.

“Are you happy, prefect?”

“…Happy? I-I mean, I don’t know. I have these memories but…something feels off. Something is missing or different and I have no idea what. The headmaster claims I was always a student here, I just had some kind of injury but - this person doesn’t feel like me. I know these halls but I was not the one to walk them. I feel- Ah, I’m so sorry! I don’t even know you, why am I going on like this! Please forgive me, uh, sorry again but I haven’t gotten your name.”

“Malleus,” he says, “Malleus Draconia.”

“Sorry Malleus. We can continue to…my dorm. Thank you for volunteering to take me.”

You wait for Malleus to continue walking down the hall, but he only turns around. You are taken aback by the piercing gaze of his eyes: he looks at you as though he is searching for something lost deep in you.

Malleus pulls a needle out of his robes, and you begin to sweat. He doesn’t look at you, only holding the needle to his hand before using it to prick his index finger.

You wince as you feel a prick on your own finger, swiping over the pooling blood with your thumb before looking back up at him in realization.

“You- You’re my soulmate? Malleus, that’s- How did you even know? Is this-”

You’re interrupted by a large form enveloping your body. Malleus’ arms squeeze you so tight it becomes harder to breathe. You struggle instinctively, wanting this stranger to stop smothering you. Regardless of being your soulmate, you barely know him.

He lets you go, pulling away before taking your wrist and slipping a string bracelet onto your arm.

“Everything is as it should be. There’s no need to worry, my soulmate, you are exactly where you should be, and with who you should be with.”

#experience may be enhanced by listening to mitski song of same name #malleus draconia x reader #malleus x reader #twst x reader #twisted wonderland x reader #malleyuu #soulmate au #twisted wonderland #twst #twst malleus #twst malleus x reader

[creative-caramel-coffee]

The Bear || Chapter 2

Pairings: Wanda x R || avengers (platonic) x R

Word count: 3K

TW: swearing, violence, hangover, injury, fainting (more like getting knocked out but ok), implied trauma, vomiting, medical inaccuracies (maybe maybe not), concussion (+ adjoining symptoms)

Summary: You join your uncle tony in the avengers, it wasn’t your original plan but you never planned for your powers either so here you are. Now your at the avengers tower and falling for the girl of your dreams. With a haunting past and interesting abilities can you navigate your way through the challenges of being a hero? After a mission gone wrong and a cruel twist of fate the team starts digging for answers. Can tony keep them from finding out the truth?

PART 1 || PART 2 || PART 3 || PART 4 || PART 5 || PART 6 || PART 7

A/n so far i have four chapters planned out for this series so i hope you guys like it lol

The next morning when you woke you were grateful for nat making sure you hadn’t made a complete fool of yourself. Your splitting headache subsided slightly with the pain medicine and still in your pjs you slipped on your fluffy triceratops slippers and shuffled out into the kitchen. Wanda’s breath caught in her throat when she saw you. You were so cute with your bed head and pj’s with the cutest slippers she had ever seen.

“Ahh theres the party animal.” Tony said slapping you on the back.

“Too loud.” You groaned “need coffee.” After nudging tony away nat pressed a warm mug of coffee into your hands.

“Im not sure how how you like it but its better than nothing.”

You took a sip humming at the taste as your shoulder slumped in satisfaction. “Perfect nat thank you.” You said shuffling over to the table and sitting next to Wanda.

“It’s Clint’s morning to cook so we’re having pancakes. I hope thats ok.” Nat said sitting on your other side.

“Sounds perfect.” You grinned.

“You obviously don’t know Clint very well then.” Nat teased and laughed when she felt a burnt pancake hit her in the back of the head thanks to Clint.

“Shuddup” he huffed and went back to cooking pancakes.

About half an hour later the team was sat munching on the pancakes Wanda had cooked after Clint nearly set the tea towel on fire trying to fan the pancakes which were also on fire.

“Damn these are really good thanks Clint.” You teased and Wanda rolled her eyes zapping you with a small flick of red magic. You burst out laughing and nearly choked on the pancakes but nat started smacking your back hard enough that you stopped. She handed you some water and you shot her a grateful look as you took small sips.

You were about to make another comment when Jarvis piped up.

“Ms Maximoff, Ms Romanoff and Ms L/n director fury is requesting your presence in the meeting room.” Jarvis said and you groaned in sync with Wanda as nat stood up.

“Duty calls.” Nat winked and dragged you and Wanda out of the kitchen.

It was a simple mission really. Nothing you hadn’t done before with tony before … well … before everything. So far nobody had seemed to question your ability to fight like a pro or the way you naturally seemed to have all the experience to match some of the older team members like Natasha or Steve even. But they had just assumed tony had trained you or more likely paid someone else to train you. They could not have been more wrong. But you preferred it that way.

You threw a few things in a bag before stripping down and changing into your new suit tony had designed. By spinning your ring on your left pointer finger left then right then left again the suit appeared starting at your finger tips and then melded over the rest of your body. It was red and black. Kind of like peters suit but the mask was a skull mask. You weren’t ready for the world to know who you were and you had valid reasons for it. Throwing a few knives onto your belt and a gun on your waist you stepped onto the jet a few minutes before Wanda. Wanda did a double take at your outfit. She had to admit you looked pretty badass. Black combat boots, your mask, your suit and an old tactical jacket with the logo ripped off the sleeve and chest made you look awesome.

As you stepped off the jet you walked up to Wanda deciding to take a chance and get some adrenaline running. You whispered in here ear your lips almost touching her neck. “I love the outfit, but I’d love it more on the floor of my room later tonight.” With that you went on your tiptoes and kissed her cheek. Wanda flushed, the two of you had been flirting for a while but nothing so outright as of yet. Until now. Wanda couldn’t wait until the mission was over. Carefully she tried to retrain her mind trying to focus on the mission.

The mission was going well, good even. Nat had taken the floor above and Wanda the floor below. You were in the middle. Te hydra base was nearly empty on a skeleton crew. Things were going too well and you knew your luck would run out soon. Rounding the corner and walking down a long hallway you stopped and pressed against the wall hearing voices in the room beyond the door.

“Nat” you whispered into the earpiece. “I’ve got company.”

“Ok I’m coming, Wanda meet me at y/n’s location. Do not engage until we get there.”

Your luck however had finally run out as the door opened and the men saw you.

“Shit” you swore and pulled out your gun. Dodging the bullets and taking out the guards was second nature although you were a bit rusty. Once most of the men had fallen or run you entered the room cautiously. When suddenly a guard appeared from nowhere and punched you in the face. Your mask cracked and fell to the floor. Your cheek bled from where it had cut you. Quickly you took the man down. After taking a minute to breathe you heard a slow clap. Your body stilled, swivelling on your heals you pulled you gun on the man and froze. It was him. The man who had haunted every night terror you had since you escaped. Your blood ran cold. Ice stilled in your veins and you were afraid your heart would stop beating. Hell it felt like it had. Your breathing stuttered and you didn’t register Wanda and Natasha arriving still frozen in place.

“Guards.” The man said and before any of you could react a burly man threw you into the wall. Your head collided with a sickening crack and you fell slumped on the floor, back still against the wall, out cold. “Y/N!” Nat yelled and ran over to you while Wanda jumped into action and fought off the two men who escaped.

Nat held you close to her in her lap and check you over. She knew you would have a nasty concussion and a hell of a headache when you woke up. But what concerned her most was that you froze. She had never seen you so afraid before. And it puzzled her why this seemingly random hydra scientist had such an impact on you.

“Wanda can you cover us?” Nat said into coms “we need to get her out of here she’s out cold.” Nat said and Wanda agreed.

Careful not to jostle your head nat scooped you up and carried you bridal style in her arms out the room. Carefully she jogged slowly making sure the action wasn’t moving your head too much until you could be properly assessed by Bruce back at the compound. Wanda stayed close behind making sure to cover the three of you and taking out any of the guards along the way. Nat had actually just gotten what they came for moments before you ran into trouble so at least the mission was a success in some senses.

When the three of you finally reached the jet Wanda carefully took you from Nat’s arms who gave a tight nod before going to pilot the jet. She would be back once they were up in the sky and she could put Jarvis in control.

Wanda laid you down on the floor with your head in her lap. The jet didn’t really have anywhere else for you to lie down so the floor was the best option. She carefully stroked the hair from your eyes and inspected the cut on your cheek. It wasn’t deep but it was bleeding. Reaching for the first aid kit without standing up she used her magic to bring it over. Carefully she cleaned the cut with some anti sceptic before putting on a plaster to keep it clean. And because you wouldn’t know any better she pressed a small kiss to the bandaid and stared lovingly down at you. Sure she was worried you hadn’t woken up yet but you looked so peaceful lying there. Carefully she checked your pulse and was glad to feel it strong adjacent her finger tips. She hummed and went back to running her hands through your hair. She paused momentarily as your eyes fluttered but stayed shut. Carefully you opened them winced and then closed them again.

“Don’t stop” you murmured and Wanda smiled softly before running her hands through your locks again. “‘S too bright” you mumbled and used your arm to cover your face. Wanda carefully pulled your arm away.

“No none of that. You need to be carefully y/n/n you probably have a nasty concussion and we need to get you to Bruce before you start touching your head.” She said and pulled you closer to her front as you were now fully curled up in her lap. Tears pricked your eyes as the headache hit you in full swing.

“Aww bubs come here.” She said hating to see you in pain. she pulled you closer again and you hummed into her stomach as she still was carefully stabilising your head. Wanda giggled slightly at the vibrations on her skin and hummed in content. Soon after Natasha returned and sat beside Wanda.

“You two look comfy.” She smiled.

“Shhh too loud.” You whimpered and both girls hearts broke for you. Nat hadn’t been speaking loud at all you simply had one of the worst headaches you had ever felt in your life. You buried your face into Wanda’s stomach again and missed the concerned looks the girls exchanged before looking back at you. They smiled slightly at the soft snores they heard coming from you a few moments later.

“Should we wake her up?” Wanda asked concerned

“No she probably needs all the rest she can get its a long flight home anyway. Also here take this you never know if she’ll need it.” Nat said handing Wanda a plastic sick bag.

“She might be sick?” Wanda asked raising a brow and badly hiding her concern. Nat simply shrugged.

“It can happen with bad concussions so its better to be ready than be covered in it.” She said masking her own worry better than Wanda could.

You slept for a few hours before you felt the plane start to descend. Without opening your eyes you felt yourself being lifted from the floor and the warm tingling of Wanda’s magic surround your head as she carried you inside keeping your head stable with her magic. You turned you face into her chest and she chuckled slightly.

“You sure are cuddly aren’t you.” She said smiling softly and you simply gave a sleepy hum of agreement.

“Come on cuddle bunny lets get you to Bruce baby girl” she said mind running back to the way you had kissed her on the jet before the mission. She wanted more but knew you needed help first. She would ask you to be her girlfriend later your head was more important right now anyways.

Nat’s silent footsteps followed Wanda as the three of you headed towards the med bay, nat had alerted Bruce already that you were coming. They were almost in the clear, nat still had the sick-bag in her hand as you stepping into the lift. However your stomach and head did not like the jolt as the lift began to move and nat noticed your face pale as the nausea peaked.

“Y/n/n? Are you ok?” She said carefully. You shook your head as a spike of pain hit and a slight green tinge took your skin.

“Gimme that.” Wanda said urgently as she used her magic to put the sick bag under your chin. Because she didn’t have any hands free nat quickly went to help Wanda. Guiding the sickbag to your chin and holding it there with her nimble fingers. A second later you threw up into the plastic sick bag and sobbed slightly as it made the pain in your head worse.

“Shhh shh shh” Wanda shushed whispering encouragement and sweet nothings in your ear as you heaved again. Nat frowned at you feeling bad you were sick and she couldn’t help. Nat held the hair from your face as you finished and went limp in Wanda’s arms. Body no longer tense as you stopped throwing up. Nat brushed the hair from your face and e your eyes fluttered they knew you were awake ad hadn’t passed out again, you were simply exhausted.

“Are you done y/n/n? Not got any more?” Nat said carefully

You weakly hummed a no snuggling further into Wanda’s chest. Nat took the bag away deciding to believe you. She wasn’t grossed out she and Wanda had seen much worse. She tied off the bag and as the lift opened the two of them stepped out, you still in Wanda’s arms as nat went to find Bruce and discard of the bag.

Wanda went to set you down on the bed, freezing when you began to whine as she was concerned she had hurt you.

“Y/n?” She said sounding alarmed, if you were sick again she didn’t have anything else to give you. “Whats wrong sweetheart?” She asked carefully.

“Stay” you said in a small voice as you tugged the collar of her shirt. She was pleasantly surprised and sat on the medical bed with you laid on-top of her. A moment later nat and Bruce arrive and nat raises an eyebrow but doesn’t say anything but Wanda’s cheeks heat regardless. Bruce hurries to your side gently positioning you so he could see your face and he began to feel the back of your head. After hearing you were thrown into a wall he wanted to first check the site to make sure there was no bleeding.

Satisfied there was just a large bump he laid you against Wanda again. Wanda hummed and noticed nat was holding another sick bag, she raised a brow at her and nat mouthed ‘just in case’. Wanda nodded and drew circles on your back and Bruce shone a light in your eyes to check the pupils reaction. After a few more tests and a scan, Bruce determined that you had a bad concussion which made nat scoff as she predicted it from the start.

He said you were free to go back to your room but to stay away from screens, bright lights, loud sounds and to rest for a bit. He then turned to nat and Wanda and told them they would need to monitor you just in case due to the severity of the concussion. Bruce said that if you got worse or they grew concerned to check in with him and if needed bring you back to a reevaluation. He rattled off a short but concerning list of possible symptoms to expect but reiterated concussions were different case by case. He handed nat a couple more sick bags before discharging you with some pain medicine. Wanda sighed as she realised you still weren’t going to let go. She stood with you in her arms still. Its not that she didn’t want to spend time with you but she did simply want a shower. This time the lift didn’t seem to set you off but nat was ready regardless. As Wanda walked into the room you were glad you had put your drawings of her and nat away before you left. Your sketchbook was on the bedside table along with your pencil-case of essential supplies. You clung to Wanda who sat on your bed.

“You take a shower I’ll take the first shift.” Nat said peeling you out of Wanda’s arms and taking her place on the bed.

You nuzzled into her still only half understanding what was going on.

“Thank you i wont be long.” Wanda said shooting nat a grateful look as she headed for the door.

“Take as long as you need we’re gonna have our hands full with this one.” She said jabbing a thumb at you while you began to snore softly in her arms. Wanda held back her desire to coo at your cute form, instead she settled for a shower and slipped out the door.

You barely remember nat feeding you the pain medicine but you do remember it tasted like burnt cardboard and paint. As an artsiest you had eaten your fair share of paint, accidentally of course. Painting before lunch and then it getting in your food. Only small amounts though nothing harmful.

Wanda returned a while later and swapped spots with nat who carefully handed you to her and by some small miracle you stayed asleep. Wanda prayed you would stay that way until nat returned from her shower, she knew how to care for people and despite being experienced she felt out of her depth with you, she didn’t want to make a mistake and hurt you in anyway. But she knew she wouldn’t.

MASTERLIST

#marvel #the avengers #wanda maximoff #wandanat #natasha romanov #sicfic #wanda marvel #natasha romaoff #wandanat comfort #wandanat x reader #the bear series #mcu #reader #y/n #concussion #i forgot to tag this when i posted it lol #shapeshifting #teleporting #powers #enhanced reader #wandanat x r #wandanat x y/n #avengers #avengers compound #set when they are all alive #nat is alive #no splattasha #medical stuff #injury #illness

[crazyunsexycool]

My little love

Chapter 2

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x enhanced!Reader

Word count: 4.2k

Warnings: Gun is used, death of a minor character, physical abuse toward a newborn(if you don't want to read skip the part that says "this is graphic") , Bucky and his feelings. Use of petnames/nicknames (Angel, sweet Angel, sweetheart, sweet girl)

A/N: I have no idea how I wrote this so fast. Chapter 3 is also currently being written! Not beta'd. All mistakes are my own!

Series Masterlist

Ch. 1

She cried and cried. At least her lungs were healthy. No matter what anyone tried to do, the sweet little Angel wouldn’t stop crying. That first time she woke up and she let you soothe her was a fluke but you couldn’t blame the innocent child. All she’s known is pain and suffering. The nurses had suggested giving her a sedative but you refused. She needed to get used to someone and if it had to be you so be it. 

“Sweet girl, it’s ok.” You cooed from the side of the crib. She had pushed herself against the other side and refused to let you hold her. Although if you really wanted to, all you had to do was lean forward a little bit more and pull her towards you. But you weren’t going to do that. In her own way Angel was asking for space and you would give it to her. 

“Hey, I’m heading out for the day, the next nurses will be here soon.” 

“Thanks Jenna, try to get some rest ok.” 

“You too.”

You smiled at her and then looked at your watch. 7:00 am on the dot and Angel had already been up a few hours. You’d hope she would’ve tired herself out by now but that wasn’t the case. If the paternity test was correct, which it was because you ran it three more times, she had the super soldier serum running through her veins. Angel wouldn’t need as much sleep, just like Bucky. Instead of trying to get her to come to you, you decided to sit down next to the crib. Close enough to see her but far enough away that she didn’t feel threatened. Looking back down at your hands you start to play with the metal bangles you always wear and you get an idea. Grabbing your phone out of your back pocket you looked for the app where you had first read her a fairytale and chose another. Then you moved one hand over the metal bracelets and reshaped them to resemble the characters of the story. 

Finally after reading and manipulating the little metal figures around she calmed down. She even managed to pluck one of the figures midair and was currently sticking it in her mouth. You’d started a list of things to get her on your phone and now you’ve added pacifiers to it. Her eyes were starting to droop and before long she laid down and started snoring lightly. You breathed a sigh of relief as you manipulated the metal from her hand and added it to your bangles again, making a mental note to wash them later. As you settle down in your seat again the door opens slowly revealing the day shift nurse.

“Hi, Y/N. Mr. Stark assigned me to your team. Is there really a baby?” 

“Hey Ivy, meet our tiniest patient.” You whisper as you nod toward the crib. 

You watch as she silently makes her way over and looks in. Her hand goes to her chest and she pouts. 

“I was briefed on her case. I can’t believe someone would hurt a baby like that.” 

“Me either but here we are. I tell you I’d like to get my hands on those bastards and make them feel what she did.”

“Well, sign me up. Oh Mr. Stark said to meet him up in the conference room by his lab.” 

“Thanks, call me if she wakes up.”

“Will do.” She says as she takes your place and you slip out of the room.

When you got to Tony’s conference room you only found him and Steve. They seemed to be in deep discussion so you knocked on the door. Steve waves you in and you open the door, closing it behind you and taking a seat. 

“How’s the patient?” Tony asks. 

“She’s awake with a healthy set of lungs.” 

Steve smiles. 

“So we talked with Fury and he agreed that the safest place for her is here. At least until we figure out who the father is.” Tony says.

“What about her mother?” 

Tony and Steve trade looks before Tony grabs a remote and turns on the tv that’s mounted on the wall. 

“This is graphic.” It’s the only warning Tony gives you before hitting play. 

In the video you see a woman on an exam table giving birth. She holds on to the side as she pushes and grits her teeth as a curse escapes her. Once the baby is born a guard walks up to the woman and shoots her in the head. You gasp when you see it. 

“The new perfect weapon gentlemen.” The doctor who held Angel directed his words to people off camera.

“How can we know for sure? What if it’s not as good as the first?”

“Only one way to find out.” He says. 

You turn your head but it doesn’t matter, you still heard the snap and the sharp piercing scream of a baby who’s arm had been broken. For what? To determine if she had super soldier serum in her veins? All they had to do was take a blood sample. Tears of both rage and indignation escaped you.

“Now we wait to see how long it takes to heal. Then we’ll have our answer. Take her away.” 

Steve was at your side, kneeling so that he could look at your face while one hand rubbed soothing circles on your back. 

“We assume her mother maybe had some ability or the super soldier serum but until you’re able to do the testing we can’t be sure. We have all her files but there isn’t a mention of the father so we’ll need a DNA test and compare it with all of the people we arrested yesterday.” 

“That won’t be necessary.” 

“And why not?” 

“Because I already did one and I know who the father is. Although I didn’t really need one.” 

“What do you mean?” Steve asks, still kneeling beside you.

“She has his eyes.” You say, your voice small but both men can hear you. Steve tenses up beside you before speaking up.

“you’re sure?”

“I ran the test four different times. And every time it came back that Bucky is the father.”

“Oh fuck.” Tony says. No one says anything for a few minutes, unsure of what happens next.

“We have to tell him.” 

“Yeah but imagine what it’s going to do to him. He’s going to ask how she got pregnant and none of the answers are good. This is going to destroy Bucky.”

“He still has the right to know, Y/L/N.” Tony agrees with Steve. “I’ll have him come up here and we can tell him.” 

“No.” You and Steve say at the same time.

“We’ll tell him later today. We need to figure out how we’re going to do it first.” 

“As long as you do it today it’s fine with me. I’ll talk to the lawyers to see what this means for him legally.” 

“He didn’t do anything wrong.”

“No, I know. I mean he’s the father he should have custody, but we have to figure out how that needs to happen. She’ll need a birth certificate and social security number. Also this is kidnapping which means everyone in that room gets additional charges put on them.” 

You nod and stand to leave with Steve following close behind. 

“Can I see her?” 

“Yeah, she’s sleeping now though.” 

“It’s probably best. I don’t want her to be afraid of me.” He tells you as you get into the elevator.

There’s a quiet tension building in the small space. It’s almost suffocating. Both of you know that this news is going to change Bucky.

“How do you think he’ll react?” 

“I mean back before the war he wanted a family, but now I’m not so sure. Especially if hydra was involved.” Steve answers.

The elevator door slides open and the sound of crying reaches your ears before you’ve even set a foot in the hallway. Steve lets you out first and you rush to the room. Ivy stands by the crib, gloves on her hands and a needle ready for use. She looks frazzled as she turns when the door opens. 

“What are you doing?” You ask as you get closer to the crib. 

“I thought we needed blood samples. I was just trying to help.” 

“You don’t take blood samples or do anything with her unless you’re told to do so, got it?” You say with a quiet sort of anger. The difficult part was not snapping at her while there was a screaming toddler in your presence. “You’re excused.” You say as you turn back to the crib. 

The littlest Barnes sits against the opposite railing crying bloody murder. Her cheeks are both red and tear stained. Her hand has a little drop of dried blood but you’re sure the puncture wound has already healed. During this Steve stands by the door, a pained expression on his face. He’s useless in this situation. How was he supposed to help calm down a baby that didn’t trust anyone? He was pulled from his thoughts when he heard you humming a lullaby and you changed your metal bangles into different shapes to distract her. 

“There you go sweet girl. You’re ok.” You cooed as you lowered the makeshift toys closer to her. Slowly the crying dies down and her attention is now on the toys that hover above her head. She hiccups every once in a while as she reaches up. “You can come in.” You tell Steve but you keep your eyes on what is happening with the toys. 

He slowly walks closer but still stays at a safe distance. Steve hoped that he wouldn’t be noticed but he should have known better. Bright blue eyes that are slightly puffy and red connect with his. There’s a small whimper and baby Barnes looks at you. It shocks you when she makes little grabby hands in your direction. You’re quick to scoop her up in your arms and she hides her face in the crook of your neck. 

“She really does have his eyes.” He finally says as he crosses his arms. You smile, more to yourself than anything but Steve noticed. “Are you sure your special ability isn’t calming down the Barnes family?” 

“Ha ha so funny Steve. She’s just comfortable around me because I was the first face she saw when she woke up.” 

“Yeah, and what about Bucky? Have you been the first thing he sees when he wakes up?” He teases.

“Steven Grant Rogers, what are you insinuating?”

“Oh come on, I see how you look at him and he’s crazy about you. And it seems like it runs in the family.” He nods in your direction and when you look down you find Angel looking up at you. You smile down at her but when you move to cup her cheek she flinches and her bottom lip wobbles. Without much thought you begin to sway back and forth in hopes of avoiding more crying. 

“You’re a natural with kids. Were you like the neighborhood babysitter or something?” 

You shake your head as you take a seat. “I wish but my parents never really let me out of their sight. I was born with my ability and I couldn’t control it when I was younger. I used to get hurt a lot and they were scared I would hurt someone else.” You shrug your shoulders. “I used to watch my mom take care of my younger siblings but she never let me help out of fear of me hurting them. I guess that’s where I picked it up though.” 

Steve hums as the door opens to reveal Bruce. His eyes widen in surprise as he sees that not only is the toddler awake but that you’re holding her. He smiles as he steps in.

“When did she wake up?” 

“Last night. I didn’t get a chance to call you this morning. I was in a meeting.” 

“Don’t worry about it.” Bruce waves a hand dismissively. “I was able to find her file amongst everything that Tony had brought with him.” He says as he taps away on his tablet. “They kept her on a very strict diet, if you can even call it that. It had just enough nutritional value that she wouldn’t die but she’s severely underweight for a three year old.” 

“She’s three?” 

Bruce nods. “At least it’s what the file says. She’s also behind in her developmental skills so we’ve got our work cut out for us. We should keep her on liquids for now and slowly move into soft foods. I’ve already started working on a more nutrient rich formula for her. Think of it as a protein powder but it’s going to provide all the nutrients she’s been missing out on. All we would have to do is add a spoonful to whatever she’s drinking, and really it can be added to anything she eats. I’d like to try a smoothie first, maybe some fruits would be good for her first meal.”

“I like the sound of that.” You say.

“So do I.” Steve adds.

“I’ll get it ready then.” Bruce says but he doesn’t leave immediately. “Tony told me about the paternity test.”

“Yeah, we can safely assume she has the super serum in her system.”

“Once she’s comfortable enough with us I’d like some blood samples to make sure there isn’t anything else we have to prepare for.”

“Ok.” 

“Alright I’ll be back in a bit with breakfast for the little one.” He says with a smile before leaving. 

“So…” 

“So, Rogers.” 

“We invite him to my place for dinner and tell him then?” 

“Yeah. There’s really no way around this.” You frown slightly before looking back down at the child in your arms, she’s kept her eyes on you the whole time. One of her hands rests over yours and the other is holding a small metal cat. The grip she has on it is tight as if she were afraid someone would take it away from her. 

After a few minutes of you and Steve talking about what things need to be bought for the girl, Bruce walks back into the room. He holds a sippy cup full with a pink smoothie and a spoon. 

“Ok, here we go.” He hands you the sippy cup. “I brought a spoon just in case we have to feed it to her. She may have never been given a bottle so this could be a foreign concept to her.” 

You nod and then you bring the sippy cup up to her lips but she turns away. A small whine escapes her as you try to get her to drink. Anytime the tip of the sippy cup comes close to her mouth she moves her face away.

“This isn’t going to work.” 

“Let’s try the spoon then. Maybe if she sees you eating it she’ll feel more comfortable?”

For the first time since he walked in, Steve walks closer to the girl, who doesn’t seem as scared of him anymore and kneels down. He takes the sippy cup and unscrews the lid and holds it out. Bruce hands over the small spoon to you. You grab it and take a small amount of the smoothie and you bring it to your lips. Humming in approval of the sweet flavors. You grab more of the smoothie mixture and bring it up to her lips, she hesitates for a moment but then she lets you feed her.

“Mmm.” She hums out. The three of you breathe a sigh of relief as you grab more and she happily gets more. With every spoonful of the cold and sweet concoction both you and Steve praise her. Trying to get her used to both of you so that you can at least have someone else she can trust. 

“Sweet Angel you did so good.” You say as you hand Bruce the spoon and place a small kiss on the top of her head

. She was only able to finish about half the smoothie but it was enough.   

“I’ll put this in the fridge for later.” He puts his hand in his pocket and pulls out a container. “Here is some of the formula I made. You just add a teaspoon to whatever you’re going to give her.”

“Thanks Bruce.”

“No problem. Let me know when you get through that and I’ll get you more.” 

“I will.” He walks out after saying his goodbye. 

“So what now?” Steve asks.

“I’m not sure. I was thinking maybe going out to the garden? Some fresh air could do her some good.” 

“Ok.” Steve replies as his phone starts to ring, he pulls it out of his pocket and frowns. “I have to take this.” Is all he says before he walks out. 

“Well I guess it’s just us girls.”  You say as you look down, only to find that baby Barnes is falling asleep. Without much knowledge of what had been done to her, you can only assume she’s been kept awake for long periods of time. So you set her back in the crib and ask Friday to inform you when she wakes up again. 

Before heading up to your apartment you go find Ivy and apologize for the way you reacted. She said she understood and that she would check in on the sleeping toddler while you rested. With that you left the medical wing and headed to your apartment. 

Before you knew it, the time to talk with Bucky had come. You had gone down and checked on his daughter before heading up to Steve’s apartment. At the door you find Bucky about to knock when he turns to look at you. A smile appears on his lips when he sees it’s you. 

“Hey.” 

“Hey, are you having dinner with us?” 

“Yup.” You smile up at him as you knock. The door opens almost too fast, as if Steve had been standing on the other side the whole time. Your eyes narrow when you eyed him suspiciously and he gives you a smirk. 

“Come on in, dinner is almost ready.” 

Steve steps out of the way and Bucky lets you in first. Both men follow you as you walk toward Steve’s living room where you take a seat on his couch. Bucky sits next to you and Steve sits on an armchair across from both of you. The apartment was very him and when Bucky saw it for the first time he mentioned it felt like walking back into the 30s and 40s. So whenever they were feeling homesick you could always find them here. 

“Oh before I forget. I um-” Bucky raises a hand up and shows you a bag. “I had to see my therapist today and I stopped at a baby store. I thought the kid could use a toy or two.” He said as he handed you the bag.

Sure enough the bag contained a pink teddy bear, some rubber ducks and even a doll. There were also some pacifiers and a blanket. when you look back up at him your eyes soften, there’s a slight blush on his cheeks and it causes you to smile up at him. 

“Oh for the love of God.” Steve mutters under his breath with an eye roll and that causes Bucky to clear his throat.

“My therapist said she might need some items that can bring her comfort so I just got a few things. Maybe it’ll help.” 

“This is really sweet of you.”

“How is she doing?” 

You look at Steve and he just nods. “She’s doing good, she woke up and we're working on building up her weight and getting her healthy. But um we actually needed to talk to you about her.”

“What? Why?” Bucky furrowed his brows. 

“I did a paternity test on her.” 

“Do you need help finding the parents? Are we going on a mission or something?” Bucky looks between you and Steve. 

“No nothing like that. Her mother is gone, hydra killed her as soon as she had the baby, we have video proof.” Steve added.

“And the father?” 

“That’s what we wanted to talk about.” You say softly as you look at him. His eyes widen and he shakes his head. 

“There’s no way.”

“I did the test four times, Bucky, she’s your daughter.” 

He stands from the couch abruptly and begins to pace. You can tell he’s lost in thought as he tries to think of when it could have happened. As gently as you can you call his name and when he finally looks at you, his eyes are full of unshed tears. Bucky walks back over to you and sits down. He grabs your hands to try and ground himself.

“Please tell me it’s wrong. I can’t… I can’t take care of a kid. She can’t be mine.” He pleads and your heart breaks for both of them. You hear Steve sniffle from where he’s at. 

“I’m sorry Bucky.” 

You pull him in for a hug. He hides his face in the crook of your neck and you can feel his shoulders moving as he begins to cry. Bucky’s grip on you tightens the longer he stays in your embrace. After a few minutes he pulls away but he won’t meet your eyes.

“How did it happen?” Bucky asks as you rub circles on his back.

“I’m not sure. Tony is still looking through files.”

“Do you think they made me…”

“Made you what, Buck?” Steve asks.

“Do you think they made me force myself on her?” 

“We’re not sure. But I don’t think so. They might have done it through medical procedure so that they could ensure the pregnancy happened.”

Bucky turns to look at you again, his expression is a mixture of hurt and heartbreak. 

“You have to know that I would never do that. I could never hurt anyone that way. Please, you have to believe me.” 

“I do believe you.” You say as you cup his cheek. “I know you would never do anything like that.”

Bucky closes his eyes at your touch and breathes a sigh of relief when you tell him you believe him. But he’s still tense and you can’t blame him.

“So what happens now with her?”

“Well Tony is working on getting a birth certificate and all that legal stuff and we are working on getting her healthy. We just have to go one day at a time.” 

“I can’t take care of a child. I can barely take care of myself.” 

“We’re not asking you to do this alone Bucky-“ Steve starts saying in hopes of calming his best friend down.

“At all. I can’t do this at all. Hydra has controlled my life for long enough and now I have to take care of a kid I didn’t want to have?” Bucky’s voice raised with every word until he was yelling. He stands up again and puts some space between himself, you and Steve. “I’m sorry but I can’t be responsible for her.” Is the last thing he said before walking out of Steve’s apartment. 

You can’t say you were surprised. Steve sat there with a distressed look on his face as he looked at you.

“You have to know he doesn’t mean it.”

“I know Steve. It’s a lot to deal with. I can’t say I would have reacted differently. We’ll have to talk with the lawyers to see if we can set up a guardianship or something.” 

Steve just nods but doesn’t say anything else. He just gets up and heads to the kitchen.

“Come on, we might as well talk about next steps in her care over dinner.” But you look towards the door, with the need to follow Bucky out. “He won’t listen to reason right now. He has to process this his own way.”

You get up and follow Steve. For the next hour or so you decide what needs to happen next. When you’re done you grab the bag of things Bucky had bought and head to the medical wing. You can hear Ivy talking sweetly to her and when you open the door you find Ivy feeding her. 

As soon as you step inside the sweet girl’s eyes are on you. They light up in recognition and for the first time you see a smile on her sweet face before she turns and accepts the last spoonful of the smoothie Ivy had held in her hands. 

“I’ve got a surprise for you sweet Angel.” You coo as you get closer. Her eyes stay on you as you get closer. Your hand disappears into the bag and you pull out the pink bear and hold it out for her. She hesitates for a moment but her little hands eventually wrap around the bear and she hugs it to her body. When she realizes that it’s soft and won’t hurt her, she lets out a small squeal of joy. Ivy excuses herself and you’re left alone with baby Barnes. 

“That’s from your daddy sweetheart. He’s a little scared right now but I think he’ll come around soon. He’s a good man.” You said to her as you sat down and pulled out the doll and handed it over to her. 

You were unaware that Bucky was standing by the partially closed door when you said it.

Ch. 3

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[justkending]

Finding Memories. Chapter 22.

Series Summary: Waking up with little to no memory of her past, and being saved by a group of individuals who call themselves heroes, sends a long time captive for a whirlwind trying to find some form of grounding in this world she quickly learns runs on chaos. But she’s not the only one trying to figure out her forgotten backstory. Bucky Barnes, along with the other Avengers, can’t help but sense that there is a lot more to the whole situation than a diagnosis of amnesia. Her background slowly starts to come forward in pieces of her past and hidden information discovered. Who is she? And why was she in the room they were meant to destroy?

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Enhanced Reader 

Word Count: 2800+

TW: Torture, cussing, gore, PTSD, triggers.  

A/N: I hope this came out right as I was slightly intoxicated while writing it😂 Hence why this chapter has a few more jokes in it from the normal chapter, but I felt it was fitting since we’ve been so serious the last few chapters. Enjoy and let me know what you think! Your comments help me grow in writing :) xoxoxo

Chapter 22:

“I need to talk to Gabriel.”

All heads turned back toward the entrance of the room they were in and saw Y/N marching in. Her demeanor was a 180 turn from when she had left. 

“You’ve said that,” Tony squinted an eye at her. “What happened?” His question was pointed to Wanda who was following in behind Y/N. He could tell something was up and he wanted in on what it was.

She didn’t answer but instead pointed at Y/N who could explain for herself. 

“To keep what we still can simple, my memories have been coming back piece by piece,” she sighed, placing both hands on the side of the table she had left from earlier. 

“They have?” Bucky had a look of concern on his face but it quickly changed to anger when he saw the guilty look Nat and Wanda shared. “You two knew…”

“Not our secret to be told,” Nat shrugged instantly wiping the guilt off her expression though she did feel it. 

“Our job is to keep her protected,” Bucky hissed. The comment came only through his clenched teeth as he tried to stay level-headed, but was struggling. 

“She’s in one piece,” Tony waved off. “What do you know, Y/N?” His mission was on one thing and he knew Bucky’s feelings were getting in the way. 

Though he did agree they were supposed to work together to keep her protected, he also knew that no real harm would ever come to her. Especially if Wanda and Nat were by her side. 

“That’s not the point,” Bucky continued to talk through his clenched jaw. 

“Point or not, your damsel in distress seems a little bit in distress right now. How about we focus on that issue first?” Tony snarked back. 

Bucky took a step toward Stark, but Y/N grabbed his shoulder pulling him back. 

“We don’t have time. The people we are working against are much more of a problem right now.” She looked him deeply in the eyes. “And they have a reputation for being quite relentless when they want something.” 

Bucky’s demeanor changed seeing the fear of her past in her eyes. They showed all he needed to know that her next move was more important, and for some reason, he could feel the urgency too. But not like he was feeling it himself, but as if she was passing the feeling onto him through her touch alone. 

“How did you do that?” he looked down at her hand, knowing that it was giving off the transfer of energy. 

Her eyes showed grief for something she had no time to actually grieve. 

“I remembered some things.” 

Those things were more than just power related. 

And this time she didn’t have to send the emotion for him to feel it himself. 

“If I know how to read a room, and I do,” Tony started. 

“You don’t,” Wanda mumbled and Nat agreed with a head nod.  

“You seem to be on a time crunch, yet we still haven’t gotten to the point of all this,” Tony looked at them both with wide eyes and hands out in waiting. 

Y/N pulled her hand back to herself and turned to the group.

“Gabriel is brainwashed. He is not like that. Whatever they did to him, it wasn’t by choice. If I can break him out of that chemical fog he’s under, I can maybe get some information off of him. It could tell us what the real purpose of his being here is. If they infiltrated some of the world's most elite superheroes and good guys that can take down countries without hesitation, why do they so badly want to take me, an amnesia-ridden nobody, back?”

“We’ve already come to terms that they want your powers. Gabriel would probably say the same thing,” Tony said. 

“Do you want to know their plan, or do you want to just settle for, ‘we came to terms with’. Cause last I checked, they’re sending bigger guns in each time.” Her sass was clear, but she kept a challenging face with it, making it more intimidating than sarcastic. 

Bucky was arguing in his head that he wouldn’t label her as an amnesia-ridden nobody, especially after that comment. 

He was happy to see the side of her that he was scared of pointed toward someone else. And when it’s Tony Stark, that’s just a bonus. 

Everyone turned to Tony and instead of a sneer back, his lips turned into a giant grin. 

“I like this version of you much more,” he crossed his arms before pointing a finger at her. “I can get behind working with her,” he threw a thumb at her when he looked at Nat, who of course rolled her eyes. 

“Do you think Gabriel would know that kind of information?” Wanda asked. “Who’s to say if he was given any knowledge of their plans? The girls who came for you first were told nothing of who you were besides a target. They didn’t even know your background much.”

“Gabriel will. He knows the ins and outs of that place more than me.” She hesitated before saying the next part. “He was there before I was…”

The room was silent and they could tell she was saddened by the thought of him going through something that long.

“If you need to talk to him, we should go now,” Tony broke the silence and moved to grab a few things before heading to the door. 

“Yeah, great reading the room,” Nat mumbled and Wanda elbowed her as she walked by. “Ow.”

_____________________________________

Down in the basement where the inmate was being held, they were unlocking the door and going through protocol before opening it when Wanda walked to her side. 

“You sure about this? I know it was a lot going in before…” 

“It’s different now.” 

“It’s been less than 5 hours.”

“Yeah, well, 5 hours ago I didn’t have the memories I have now,” she shrugged taking a breath and straightening her posture some. 

“Another reason I’m worried about this,” Wanda raised an eyebrow watching her. “This is a lot in a little amount of time to process all this. Take it from someone who’s worked under emotional distress; it’s best to walk away from it and come back when you’re ready.” 

“We don’t have time, Wanda,” she sighed, dropping her shoulders in defeat and turning to her. “I would love all the time in the world to actually sit down and process my life from what I knew to what’s become home in the last 2 weeks, but we don’t have that time. We weren’t fortunate enough to have it.” A sad smile graced her lips as she showed she was coming to accept what her fate was. “And I could stop, but my brain would never shut up if I didn’t do something knowing more innocent people would get hurt. And because of that, I can’t. I can’t stop.” 

Wanda understood completely and though she didn’t even need the speech in order to be convinced, she was happy to hear it. 

“You’re a stubborn ass, but a good-hearted one, that’s for sure,” she smiled. “Need my help?” 

Y/N smiled back at her. She still was getting used to people actually caring for her and each time she was reminded that it was a norm around here, she became a little lighter inside. 

“I think I actually got this one,” she said as she looked down at her hands. “But for emotional support, I could really use that,” she looked back at her with a shy grin. 

“That I can do,” Wanda nodded, stepping to her spot by Y/N and nodding when looking to Tony who was waiting for the all-clear. 

“Opening,” Tony shouted and the door hissed open. “Make it quick, Obi-Wan.” 

“That’s never leaving, is it?” Y/N turned to Wanda with a grimace. 

“I did one thing and now I’m The Witch, so,” she shrugged and brushed it off then motioned for Y/N to lead. 

She took another breath and walked in the same way she did before, hesitantly and then quickly putting on a brave face. 

“She’s back,” he hummed. 

“Gabriel, we need to talk.” 

“Someone found their voice,” he chuckled, but his voice was rasped as he refused to drink any water they gave him.

“Sounds like you’re losing yours,” she retorted, not just meaning physically.

He looked up at her slowly. 

“Someone really found their voice,” he chortled as if he was offended by her having something he wanted. 

She was in front of him seconds after walking in. Her eyes never left him, and her posture showed she wasn’t going to be easy to break down this time. She didn’t know how she knew how to do this type of intimidation tactic, but it felt natural like a lot of other things that were coming back to her. 

“Can we get over the tough guy act and give this a try the less painful way?” she asked. 

Nat, Bucky, and Tony were all staring at each other on the other side of the glass trying to see if any of the others had a clue as to what she was hinting to. 

From the sounds of their agreement, they were going to talk to Gabriel about this. They didn’t expect her to even consider a torture talk.

“Did she just say-” 

“May want to be on stand-by Romanoff,” Tony interrupted. 

“She wouldn’t,” Nat brushed off easily, attempting to throw the men off her nerves.

“Do we know that for certain?” Tony turned to the redhead more. 

“She wouldn’t hurt anyone who didn’t start the fight first,” Nat waved them off again, putting her hands in her back pockets. 

“You do that when you get nervous,” Bucky pointed at her hands. 

Tony gasped. “Oh my God, you totally do,” he said pointing with him, his tone mocking a high school girl’s.

Whether or not he was totally serious no one would know, but either way, Nat and Bucky looked at him with judging eyes, before moving on as if desensitized to his antics. 

“You think she’ll do it?” Bucky asked Nat. 

“I don’t think she will,” Nat repeated for extra measures. 

After the boys finally somewhat believed her enough to stop studying her further, she coughed under her breath. 

“Oh, my God!” Bucky let out an angry chuckle and threw his hands up. “How are you one of the best spies in the world and you can’t lie to save your own ass!” 

“What?! I’m not lying!” Nat let out a ‘psh’ sound. 

Bucky just stared at her with a bitch-face. “Seriously, you couldn’t get any worse.”

“Jesus, then go in there yourself if you’re so worried,” Nat waved her hand in that direction, arms now crossed. “If you want an excuse to save your not-so-damsel in distress, you got it.” 

“No,” he backed down real fast. “I mean I trust she won’t do anything. She’s level-headed enough,” he said more so trying to convince himself he knew her enough that that would be accurate.

“Wanda’s on standby anyway, we already talked,” Tony said still watching the interaction between Y/N and Gabriel while they talked. 

“What?” Nat and Bucky both asked turning to where he was leaning on the wall by the glass. 

“We both agreed she may not have been fully mentally stable to be making this call, so we promised we both clear the worries by just keeping a closer eye on her,” Tony said. 

“I mean,” Bucky paused, “That was smart, but why didn’t you let us in on that?”

“You two were going to protect her either way, why did you need the warranty?” he shrugged like it wasn’t that big a deal. “Now shut up we’re missing the showdown. It’s crazy how good she is for someone who didn’t know her name 2 weeks ago.”

Wanda could hear everything being said on the other side of the armored wall and now it was her turn to roll her eyes. Sometimes certain members of this group shouldn’t be left alone in a room together.

“Gabriel, I need you to try and remember something for me,” she tried to give him some form of sympathy, but he was making it really hard with the random curses and stabs at her trauma he threw.

“Oooh! You don’t think I have my memory? Like you?” he cackled. “That’s so sad,” he continued to laugh like a manic, still strapped in a straight jacket. “

Y/N’s face went from empathetic to a scary aggravated face. 

“Pet,” he spit the name out with the venom it held. “I remember it all… And yet I still choose to do this.” 

His eye contact showed a promise and it was one no one would like.

“Maybe the torture tactic isn’t such a bad idea,” Bucky stood staring sharply at the restrained man sitting comfortably. Only a glass wall was between him and that chair. 

“I’ll take a turn myself,” Nat said in a similar stance. 

“You two are going to get a lawsuit on my hands. Let her do her thing and we’ll see if we need to step in,” Tony waved them away. 

Inside Wanda could see the expression of hurt on her face, turn quickly to obstinacy. 

“You’re such a liar,” she laughed, before walking around him to where she was behind his back and he couldn’t move to see her. 

A move that freaked him out and she could tell it made him uneasy. Uneasy and challenged men love to try and show how tough they are by usually… Proving a point. 

“Why would I lie about that?” he asked, angered by her put down. 

“Because why would they send a low-level agent into the field with any knowledge that was important to them? Do you know how easily a place like this could squeeze you completely dry of all your secrets? Seconds, Gabriel. Seconds,” she said in a disappointed grimace. “It’s rule number one in class.”

His face was in a frustrated frown and his cheeks seemed to be burning 

“Class? What class teaches that?” Nat asked, and Bucky answered.

“I’m worried what I’m thinking isn’t far from the truth.” 

“I’m a higher-up agent now. Higher than we knew existed,” he hissed. “There are things I get access to that others don’t.” 

“Cool. I still don’t think you’re telling the truth, but cool,” she shrugged, standing in front of him in a relaxed position knowing she had the upper hand. And that infuriated him. 

“I don’t have to prove anything to you,” he said moving in his seat to readjust. 

“He’s uncomfortable,” Bucky noticed the movements. 

“This isn’t her first rodeo,” Tony said casually, and Bucky and Nat shared a worried look. 

“Great. Then we can do this the other way,” she said moving toward him with her hands out. 

“Wait!” he stopped her, looking at her hands in fear. 

She stopped in her step and gave him a patient look. 

“They told me the location of one of their bases,” he said quickly. “I could tell you, but there has to be something in it for me.”

“Nice offer, but I’m going to just get that information either way if we do it my way,” Y/N shrugged and continued on. “I’m sorry by the way 'cause this isn’t going to feel good.” 

“Y/N,” Wanda watched closely and took a step. “What are you doing?” 

“Just a little mind trick to get him back to normal,” she answered positioning her hands to touch his temples. “It wouldn’t feel great, but it’ll bring him back.”

“You haven’t practiced this before.” 

Gabriel was trying to scoot back on the chair, bobbing to get away from her, but making little to no difference in his position and restraints. “Please! Please!” 

“I’ve done it too many times to count,” she thought to herself, but Wanda could hear and immediately knew what she meant. 

As Stark said, “This wasn’t her first rodeo.” 

The next second her thumbs were placed on the center of his forehead and her index fingers touched his temples, and he stopped squirming and sat completely still. 

It was like she put him to sleep, but his body was on autopilot. After a few seconds with Y/N looking down, she was wincing at things she could see while she closed her eyes. 

“Y/N?” she asked, stepping up more and looking at her carefully. 

“Wanda, what’s happening?” they asked in the comms.

“She’s going into his memories, but it’s,” she paused coming about 4 feet away from the interaction not sure what to do, but she tried to look in Gabriel's head and it was… “She’s taken him to some place in space. Mentally at least,” she said. “I don’t know what’s happening though.” 

“The hell is going on in there?” Tony questioned before he started marching to the doors. 

Bucky and Nat are following out of concern for Y/N.

Once they walked in, Gabriel’s eyes were open and he was looking around lost. 

“What the hell happened? Where am I?” he asked frantically, and the look in his eyes was not the same sadistic ones from earlier. 

These were scared, yet awakened, eyes.

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#bucky barnes x reader #bucky barnes series #finding memories #marvel x reader series #reader insert #bucky barnes x reader insert #bucky barnes #bucky barnes x enhanced reader #y/n insert #reader x bucky barnes #marvel #mcu series #enhanced reader #justkending

[buckrecs]

2023 𝙗𝙪𝙘𝙠𝙮 𝙗𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙨 𝙛𝙞𝙘 𝙧𝙚𝙘 1

masterlist | ✨- fav fics | status - complete

All of them are COMPLETE Series.

1. hurts like hell by @extremelyblackandwhite

Bucky x Maximoff!Reader

she loses him at the battle of wakanda and grows into a morally grey witch trying to gain him back.

2. Broken by @soulgazingwithbucky

Bucky x Reader

You built the bridge between you and Bucky Barnes, but he only knows how to watch things burn.

3. Blood Petals by @picassho-18

Mob!Bucky x Assassin!Reader

When the famous death hungry assassin, the Blood Mistress, and the charismatic mob boss of Brooklyn city, James Barnes meet, heads will most definitely roll.

4. It’s A Match by @ofstarsandvibranium

Chubby!Bucky x Reader

You’re back home for Spring Break and you’re swiping through Tinder in the middle of the night. You come across the profile of your high school history teacher that you may or may not have had a slight crush on. Throwing impulse control out the window, you swipe right. Lo and behold, you’re shocked to find that you matched.

5. Ruin by @sinner-as-saint

Mob!Bucky x Reader

You work at a café owned by your family, close to your uni. And most of your days are pretty laid back and calm, but that is until you catch the eye of the mob boss. Your cute skirts and soft sweaters make him weak. Your innocence captivates him. And he wants you, badly. He wants you in his bed, wants his hand under those cute little skirts… he wants to ruin you. 

6. A Taste for Older Men by @seventven

DBF!Bucky x Reader

y/n is moving back in with her parents after breaking up with her college boyfriend. due to an emergency at work, y/n’s dad is unable to pick her up and sends his friend bucky in his stead. to bucky’s surprise, y/n is no longer the innocent girl he remembers from years back.

7. Always by @jadedvibes

Best Friend!Bucky x Reader

Bucky realizes he's in love with you right before graduation, but you accepted a job offer across the country. Fortunately, nothing, not even distance can hinder the way you feel about one another.

8. Running From the Past by @green-eyeddragonfanfiction

Bucky x Mutant!Reader

Reader is a mutant who was experimented on by HYDRA. Due to her unique powers, she escapes without being seen when the Avengers attack the Hydra compound she’s been kept in for the last 5 years of her life. Her mutations and Hydra experiments allow her to blend in with her surroundings and change her appearance in minor ways, though the changes are only temporary. She’s now on the run, avoiding both Hydra and SHIELD.

9. Operation: Faking It…? by @povlvr

Bucky x Avenger!Reader

Surely faking a relationship to improve the public opinion of one beefy super solider known as Bucky Barnes would be the easiest of mission for two well seasoned Avengers? Tony Stark seems to think so & decides to task you with 'Operation: Faking it', but what happens when you realise there might be less faking needed than originally planned?

10. Misconceptions by @firefly-in-darkness

Bucky x Reader

Bucky Barnes overhears a conversation that he shouldn’t have…

11. Bucky & the Beast by @thejamesoldier

Assistant!Bucky x Boss!Reader

“You were an asshole back in high school but now you’re my boss.”

12. Buckyvision by @fictionalmemories ✨

Bucky x Reader

While fighting Wanda with you, Bucky gets hit with her power and wakes up to a reality that’s not his own.

13. Best. Date. Ever | Best. Proposal. Ever by @bitsandbobsandstuff

Bucky x Reader

This wasn’t quite what you had in mind.

14. Just Like You by @ladyfallonavenger

Dad!Bucky x Mom!Reader

The Reader loses Bucky in the snap and life presents a whole new challenge.

15. Heart of Steal by @invisibleanonymousmonsters

Knight!Bucky x Princess!Reader

Sir James is known throughout the lands as the most fearsome and honorable warrior. Ballads have been written about him. Men fear him. He is the most trusted knight of the King Henry. So why has he given up the glories of war and pledged his loyalty to Princess Y/N? 

16. will you love me tomorrow? by @buckys-darling

Bucky x Reader

You and Bucky are friends who fuck and nothing more. That’s what you’ll keep telling yourself, at least.

17. I Needed You by @ofheroesandvillains ✨

Bucky x Reader

Reader tries to make sense of her feelings, it doesn’t really go too well, especially when Bucky already has a girl. 

18. sweet by @noceurous

FWB!Bucky x Reader

it was something cliche but your fuck buddy fell for you nonetheless, even though you swore you would never do relationships again. But rules are meant to be broken.

19. Hope Of It All by @bethdutten ✨

Bucky x Avenger!Reader

set between WS and CW; after saving Steve and breaking from Hydra, Bucky remembers you from the helicarrier. He doesn’t know where else to go.

20. Season Of The Witch by @msmarvelwrites

Bucky x Enhanced!Reader

Your witchy abilities get you in quite a bit of trouble from time to time… But this time you don’t mind so much. 

21. The Last Word by @thefallenbibliophilequote

Bucky x Reader

you and Bucky never get along, it’s not that you hate him- it’s just that he always finds ways to get on your nerves. You’ve had enough of it.

22. Super Mom by @marvelous-imagining

Bucky x Single Mom!Reader

23. Take Me Out by @shamevillain

Assassin!Bucky x Assassin!Reader

You and Bucky are both professionally trained assassins. Both contracted to kill the other. Both completely unaware.

24. Like I Want You by @tmpestuous

College!Bucky x Reader

you and bucky have been best friends your entire life and it’s never been anything but platonic. so why do things get so bad when he gets a new girlfriend?

25. Overthinking by @galaxy-siren

Bucky x Assistant!Reader

Tony and Bruce’s lab assistant, Y/N, is harboring feelings for Bucky. When she accidentally texts him that he’s cute, she overthinks the whole situation. It might just take the meddling of the other Avengers to work this out.

26. So This Is Love by @ofstarsandvibranium

Chubby!College!Bucky x Reader

friend and roommate, Bucky, is a bit of an annoying fuckboy. He sleeps around as well as tries to be as annoying to you as possible. But here’s the thing: you don’t mind any of it.

27. Some Alpha by @/ofstarsandvibranium

Alpha!Bucky x Reader

Bucky is an Alpha, but can never seem to find someone who wants him to be their Alpha. Until he finds you, a Beta, who’s as firey as an Alpha, yet also tender-hearted like an Omega.

28. The Favors by @bbyboybucket

Virgin!Bucky x Reader

Reader assumes that Bucky is experienced due to him being a ladies man in the 40s, however, she finds out that he’s never been touched and decides to help him out.

29. take my breath away by @buckycuddlebuddy ✨

Dilf!Neighbor!Pornstar!Bucky x Reader

who knew that your silent, very good-looking neighbor with the cutest kid was such a devil under his grumpy and quiet behavior... 

30. Capital Letters by @sinner-as-saint

Writer!Bucky x Assistant!Reader

James Buchanan Barnes, one of the best, most admired and affluent authors of your time turns out to be nothing but a heartless man... or so you thought. 

#bucky barnes fic rec #bucky barnes x reader #bucky barnes x y/n #bucky barnes x you #bucky barnes smut #bucky barnes series #winter soldier x reader #mob!bucky #chubby!bucky #bucky x assassin!reader #dbf!bucky #best friend!bucky #bucky x enhanced!reader #bucky x mutant!reader #bucky x avenger!reader #dad!bucky x mom!reader #dad!bucky #bucky barnes x single mom!reader #Knight!Bucky x Princess!Reader #fwb!bucky #bucky x hydra!reader #assassin!bucky #roommate!bucky #bucky barnes college au #college!bucky #bucky x assistant!reader #alpha!bucky x omega!reader #alpha!bucky #pornstar!bucky #dilf!bucky

[orions-athenaeum]

From Your Smile to Your Soul

Bucky Barnes x F!Enchanced!reader

Synopsis: You don't want to go on this mission and Bucky doesn't want the girl whose smile brings him happiness getting hurt. But what can either of you do when your job is to heal others? If only you had told him that you weren't ok, if only he had made sure you were right behind him.

Word Count: 4.8k

Warnings: angst, language, drinking, mentions of guns/injury/blood, hypothermia, asshole SHIELD agents, Bucky gets teary eyed, happy fluff-filled ending...

-I do not consent to having any of my writing, under the username Orions- Athenaeum, translated, posted or published on third party sites, apps or platforms-

Bucky didn’t think there was anything worth enjoying in his new life. Of course he appreciated Steve’s unwavering loyalty and the ease that he brought Bucky after he was freed from Hydra. There was also Sam’s annoying banter which usually gave Bucky something to smirk about, but he would never admit that to anyone. When Bucky didn’t understand what a text message was, Wanda and Natasha helped him adapt to the technological wonders of this modern time. He was even glad when Tony would crack an “old joke” just to get under his skin, because Bucky knew humor was Tony’s way of showing he cared. While Bucky was grateful for everything his teammates did for him, there was still a very obvious void, that felt almost like a ten ton weight sitting on his chest, trying to steal his breath from him. That feeling of immense pressure and simultaneous emptiness only began to lessen about four months ago, on a balmy summer evening when Steve dragged Bucky to one of Tony’s lavish galas.

Bucky didn’t know who or what the event was for, in all honesty he figured Tony was just looking for another excuse to throw a party. The former Winter Soldier had been a part of the team for a while now, but these types of social gatherings never failed to make him feel extremely unsettled. Maybe it was the way he felt people’s eyes lingered on him for too long, whether it was from fear or judgment. Or maybe it was that the suit Natasha had helped him pick out was nearly suffocating him. It could have also been the glass filled with some unknown booze that felt uncomfortably heavy in his vibranium hand. All this to say, Bucky was certain the tension in his shoulders was palpable as he checked his watch for the thirtieth time that evening; he was waiting for the hands to tell him he had waited a respectful amount of time before he could seek out the comfort of his own room. Bucky reluctantly pulled his eyes up from his watch and began to scan the room, hoping to find Steve and with him some sense of calmness. His search was cut short when his gaze landed on a girl chatting with Peter near the bar. She had short y/h/c hair that reminded him of a girl from his own time, messier and not as curled perhaps, but classic nonetheless. Her long, black, strapless dress and sleek platform heels reminded him of something Natasha might have worn. He wondered for a second if maybe Nat had helped her pick out an outfit too. Deciding that was an utterly ridiculous thought a second later, Bucky found himself enamored by her smile. It was all he could focus on: that beautiful, perfect smile. One corner of her mouth curved up more than the other and her full red painted lips made it impossible for Bucky to look away. Seconds felt like hours and as Bucky continued to look at her, he found a smile involuntarily tugging at his own lips. Amazingly enough, he didn’t feel so out of place anymore.

“It’s rude to stare.” Bucky quickly jerked his head towards Sam’s voice. His smile immediately faded as he glared at his friend. 

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Wilson.” Even Bucky didn’t believe his words and chances were Sam didn’t either. Despite being a pain in the ass, he was smarter and more observant than Bucky liked to give him credit for. Sam rolled his eyes and ignored Bucky’s hint to drop the topic. 

“Why don’t you go and ask her to dance?” Bucky couldn’t breathe. There was no way in hell he could do that. Standing across the room was the prettiest girl he’d seen and Sam thought it would be a good idea for him to ask her for a dance. 

“Yeah that will not be happening.” Bucky tossed back the rest of the liquid in his glass, knowing that the pleasant burn of the alcohol would not affect him in the slightest. He wished it would. Maybe a little liquid courage was the push he needed to go over and speak to her. 

“Look man, she’s gorgeous and really sweet, I met her this morning. All I’m saying is that she would totally say yes if you asked. She was staring at you too, by the way.” This morning. Bucky recalled Sam telling him he met a new member of the team earlier that morning. Maybe he would have the chance to see her again if she was the one Sam was referring to. Shaking his head to extinguish any false hope he had conjured up, Bucky realized that Sam was telling the truth; the girl was staring right back at him. After a few seconds, she raised her delicate fingers and sent a small wave. Bucky almost keeled over on the spot. Not knowing what else to do, he awkwardly raised his own hand back. She smiled. He smiled. And just like that Bucky knew he was a goner.  

Four months later…

“No.” Bucky refused to change his mind. Steve rolled his eyes at his friend, who currently stood across the room with his arms crossed over his chest with a look that said, this is your final warning. Steve knew better than to try and push his best friend around, but this really was a mission that required her skills. There were dozens of hostages, and they would need medical attention. Not from doctors, but from her. 

“Buck. You know I wouldn’t put Y/n in the field if I didn’t think it was absolutely necessary.” Bucky did not move. Steve sighed. And people call me stubborn. He thought to himself. 

“I understand that you want to protect her Bucky, I really do. But she is a part of this team. Y/n’s an Avenger and her role is to heal people. Now, there are people who need her help and she is going to go and help them. If you would prefer not to lead this mission than I can have someone else take-”

“No.” Bucky was quick to cut off Steve’s offer. His tone was firm, but just below the surface Bucky was panicking. He didn’t want his girl out in the field. But if Y/n had to go, he couldn’t stand the thought of not being out there with her. Steve raised a brow. 

“I’ll go. But you better make sure there is no way we’re gonna get ambushed. We’d better be prepared. I won’t hesitate to beat your ass if something happens to Y/n.” Bucky turned to leave the conference room as Steve muttered something under his breath. 

“What?” Bucky snapped. 

“I just said it seems like you care about Y/n an awful lot when she isn’t even your girlfriend.” Bucky knew Steve was trying to get him to admit that he was too scared to ask her out. But honestly, Bucky wasn’t in the mood for his best friend to play matchmaker. So, without a look back, he stormed out into the corridor towards the gym. He was set on taking his anger and fear out on some punching bags, but as he walked through the halls all he could think about was her smile. He needed that smile safe. If he could just wrap it in his arms and shield it from all the bad, he would be happy for the rest of his life. 

————————————————————————

You were certain there had to have been some kind of mistake. The thick Manila folder that sat on your desk marked “MISSION BRIEFING” had to have been delivered to the wrong room. Bucky was just across the hall, so maybe it was for him. That had to be it, because there was no way they were seriously considering putting you out in the field after only four months of being on the team. You weren’t even supposed to be a field agent. Nick Fury had recruited you because of your powers. Sure, you could mend a broken bone and fuse a gunshot wound close, but that did not mean you fought on the front lines. It meant you waited until your team was back to the safety of the compound to help them. Refusing to open the folder you picked it up and made your way to Bucky’s door. 

“Buck?” You called as you knocked on the cool wood. You gasped as it opened not a second later. Bucky was standing in front of you in all his post gym, sweaty, shirtless glory.

“Hey, doll. What’s up?” He asked with a smirk tugging at his lips. That damned smirk. You immediately drew your gaze away from his tight abs and pretty smile up to his eyes. Which, honestly, didn't help because you found yourself getting lost in a sea of  deep cerulean blue. It seemed that every aspect of Bucky had an overwhelming effect on you. Deciding it was best to stare at the carpet instead, you fumbled with the folder before showing it to him. 

“I think they gave this to me by accident, because I’m not usually in the field. Actually I’ve never been in the field and so it’s probably yours and I just wanted to give it to you.” Your words came out all in one breath and you kept your gaze focused on the floor at your feet. You felt Bucky gently take the folder from your grasp. You were ready to let out a sigh of relief when you felt his fingers thread through your own as he lightly pulled you into his room. As your heart beat began to quicken, the brief confusion you had felt quickly morphed into anxiety. Why didn’t he just take his mission briefing and send you on your merry way? He gestured for you to sit down on his bed as he sat next to you. 

“No, this is yours.” He finally said. The finality in his tone made you want to throw up. “Steve told me this morning. But I made him promise that there would be no combat, and I’ll be leading. There will be two other agents, so you’re not alone. The mission should be fairly quick, in and out and then we come home. I promise I won’t let anything happen to you.” His words were somewhat of a comfort. You also knew that the rest of the team was fairly confident in your abilities, since Nat, Sam and Steve had all trained extensively with you over the last four months. Bucky refused to spar with you but that's besides the point. Although, you weren’t really worried about not being able to defend yourself. You had been trained and ran through mission scenarios, but the weight of the briefing envelope in your hands was making this too real. It also didn’t help that every single agent wanted to rip you apart because you were given a spot on the Avengers without making it into SHIELD as an agent. You had tried to put yourself through training, but during your first field test, you instantly choked. All of the sudden the gun pointed at the enemy agent in front of you made your arms feel like lead. Your brain wouldn’t let you pull the trigger, so you stood there, frozen. You were positive you were going to be removed from the program, but when Nick Fury heard about your healing powers, you were suddenly offered a spot as an Avenger. So, to put it plainly, every single SHIELD agent hated you. They hated that you failed training and still got the most coveted title, they hated that you lived in Avengers Tower, they hated that you got everything they wanted. The real problem, which was much bigger than any jealous agent’s spiteful remarks, was that you could not stomach the idea of hurting someone. That was the reason why you failed your training in the first place, because bad guy or not, you were given the gift of healing. You were never supposed to cause pain and it seemed as if the concept of harming someone was against your very nature. Pulling the trigger on a paper silhouette was one thing. Aiming a gun at another human being was quite another. So while the training you had done prepared you for taking down enemies, you’re not entirely sure you could bring yourself to that. 

“Ok.” Was all you could manage. Some time during your internal spiral Bucky had begun rubbing soothing circles on your back. Bucky was another aspect of this assignment that you had to consider. You weren’t sure how to feel about him going on the mission with you. Your relationship was a little confusing at times to say the least. You knew that you cared about him more than a friend would and he often made it seem like he felt the same way. You had felt this way from the very first night you met him, when he caught you staring at him and you awkwardly waved (who the hell waves at a hot guy across the room?) Bucky was also the first one to make you feel like you were truly part of the team. He would bring your breakfast to the lab when you were working mornings and didn’t have time to eat, he would make sure you had a good spot on the couch for team movie nights (it was coincidentally always next to him) and then there were time like these where he would comfort you and do everything in his power to make you feel safe and cared for. Basically, in the four months that you had known him, you were falling in love with Bucky Barnes. 

“Ok, what, doll?” And those stupid pet names definitely weren’t helping you keep your feelings at bay. 

“Ok. Sounds good, I guess I’ll see you at the hangar in a few hours.” You replied, unwilling to meet his eyes, you slowly picked up the folder and walked towards his door. An unnerving feeling overcame you as you heard the heavy wood close behind you. 

————————————————————————

     You figured the mission would not be a walk in the park, and as you sat in the middle of Siberia, with two agents that hate you and hostages with far more injuries than Steve had anticipated, you knew this easily made your “Top Ten Worst Days list.” Of course you were more than happy to help every hostage, that was the only part you enjoyed. However, the  amount of energy it took to heal so many injuries resulted in black dots clouding your vision by the time you had helped the last hostage. The thing about your healing abilities was that you had to use your energy to heal others. Meaning healing their injuries literally exhausts you. And on top of the twenty broken bones, abrasions and burns you’ve healed, Megan and Nick had a few bumps and bruises from breaking down the door and restraining the guards that needed mending. According to Megan, Bucky told them to go to you since they need to be in top shape for the trek back to the safe house. While the safe house sounded pleasant, the fact that it was currently 40 below and that the shelter was three miles out in the middle of a forest, was not as pleasant. After you finished healing Megan’s bruised ankle, the dizziness that had settled in a few minutes prior was now overwhelming. If you could just sit down for a few minutes and maybe close your eyes, you would feel much better. 

“Get up. We need to meet Bucky in a few minutes. A storm is moving in so we can’t take the jet back until morning. Bucky secured the hostages in an exit raft and we need to find the safehouse soon.” Megan sneered as she pushed your hands away from her ankle. 

“Could I just have one minute? I’m not feeling-”

“You’re an Avenger, right? So get off your ass and start walking.” You hesitantly stood up, apparently too quickly because you began swaying and lurched forward, catching yourself against a tree. The frozen bark cut into your skin, slicing your palms. Willing your head to stop spinning you looked down at your bloodied hands. Another downside of your powers was that once your energy had been spent, it became nearly impossible for you to continue healing, which meant you could not help yourself or others when you were this exhausted. You heard Megan’s boots crunch in the snow as she began to walk, blatantly ignoring your compromised state. Since it appeared you had no other option, you began walking as well, but the edges of your vision were fuzzy and it felt like someone had thrown your head against a wall. If you could just get to Bucky maybe he would let you rest for a minute. No. You couldn’t ask him for that, Megan and Nick already thought you got special treatment for being an Avenger you didn’t need them to see parts of yours and Bucky’s friendship in the field. Plus, Bucky had been acting weird ever since you stepped foot on the quinjet. He called you by your last name and his usual soft eyes and teasing tone had left him completely. It made sense, you told yourself as you pushed forward, because this was his job, and he didn’t really care about you like that. The frigid chill had begun to seep through your suit, and though you had never been a huge fan of the cold, you were thankful for it now. It was keeping you awake and alert, the sting of the snow hitting your face gave you something to focus on so you wouldn’t pass out. Finally you reached the clearing where Bucky was waiting. You glanced up to find his concerned gaze looking you over. You used all your strength to muster up a smile and nodded your head to let him know you were ok. He seemed satisfied enough, and told the team to start walking.

How you managed to walk two miles you weren’t sure, but what you did know was that you were now falling behind the others. You were following Nick and Megan who had been keeping a fairly even pace with Bucky. But now, with the snow whipping all around you, you couldn’t see or hear any of them. Maybe this would be a good time to take a break. It would only be for a few minutes and nobody would notice that you had taken a breather. As the snow storm had progressed you had lost feeling in your fingers and toes, and it seemed like everything was moving in slow motion. You thought you reached out to brace yourself on a tree but instead you felt like you were falling. It didn’t hurt when you hit the powdery snow, its cold embrace only called you to rest your eyes. You obeyed and felt your eyelids slowly blink shut. I’ll only rest for a minute, you told yourself. Just as you were about to let sleep pull you under, you heard shouting. The voice sounded familiar as it called your name over the howling of the wind. You knew you should answer but you simply didn’t have the energy. Then, you felt strong arms lift you up and a familiar fresh, piney scent filled your nose. This is what Bucky smells like, you thought to yourself. 

“Could you open those pretty eyes for me. Please, doll. I’m begging you, give me anything.” 

Bucky sounded like he was talking underwater. 

“You are not allowed to do this to me, I swear I’ll make it up to you but you gotta wake up so we can talk.” And why did he seem so worried? You wanted to tell him that you were fine but you couldn’t get the words out. 

“Why wouldn’t you say something?” Bucky’s muddled voice had more of an edge this time. His sharp tone made sense, he had every right to be mad at you, it was you who was slowing down the mission and now he had to pick up the slack. 

“I didn’t see her fall behind, she was fine a minute ago.” This time it was a woman who responded and somewhere in your mind you figured it was Megan. But you hadn’t been “fine a minute ago,” in fact you hadn’t felt ok for over an hour. 

“You’re supposed to watch out for your teammates, so I’m going to ask again, why the hell did you not say something?” In your dazed state you realized Bucky was directing his anger at Megan not at you and well you felt some reprieve from the fact that Bucky didn’t seem too disappointed in you, you were beginning to slip further and further into the shadows of sleep. You knew you needed to stay awake, but you couldn’t feel anything, not the snow hitting your cheeks, or Bucky’s frantic pace, and your entire body felt completely numb. Time began to pass strangely after that moment, you heard some more gargled shouting before you felt your body being laid down on something hard. You found some odd burst of energy and forced your eyelids to open, looking up to find Bucky’s worried eyes desperately trying to hold your gaze. His eyes seemed glossier and much more concerned than normal, but you couldn’t figure out why. “C’mon Y/n, I’ll get you warm and you’ll be alright. I’m gonna have to get your wet gear off first, but I promise I’ll make it all better ok, sweetheart? I love you too much to let go now.” Love? Why would Bucky be talking about love, he seemed so frustrated with you in the field. His face disappeared from view a moment later and you thought you heard the sound of fabric ripping. Bucky yelled for someone to get blankets and before you could tell him that all his shouting was confusing and much too loud, you surrendered yourself to the peaceful comfort of unconsciousness. 

You didn’t know when you became aware of your surroundings again, whether it had been minutes or weeks, you couldn’t tell. You could smell burning wood accompanied by a familiar piney scent that you soon identified as Bucky, but you couldn’t open your eyes to confirm your theory. When you heard a deep voice laced with a Brooklyn accent from somewhere around you, you didn’t have to look at Bucky to know whose arms were protecting you.

“...Remember when we were in Queens and you made me go inside that old book store with you? We stayed there until they closed and you kept handing me books that would, “change your life, I swear it, Bucky.” I didn’t like reading much in the forties but I woulda stayed there with you for weeks if it meant I got to see that smile of yours every time you read something funny. I’ll take you back there but you gotta wake up first, alright?” Bucky’s words were soothing, and his soft voice gently lulled you back to sleep before you could answer his request.   

Bucky was talking again when you tried to wake up for a second time, 

“...Everything about you is perfect, doll, like how you always scrunch your nose when Sam’s cooking looks awful, but you eat it anyway with a smile on your face because you’re just happy he cared enough to make you something.” You wanted to smile for Bucky, open your mouth, say anything. But your head was still too heavy and you couldn’t break through the cloud of sleep that kept dragging you back under.

This time you could feel warmth running up and down your arms, as if someone was trying to coax you from sleep with their caring touch. You waited for Bucky to talk to you again, you found yourself needing his words to anchor you to consciousness.

“...You should’ve told me sooner, sweetheart, I coulda carried you, given you a little break. You know I would do just about anything for you right? Hell, I think everyone on this damn team thinks I’m weak when it comes to you. But you don’t make me weak, Y/n, you give me a reason to smile, you make me feel better about the world and like I’m not too broken to be a part of it…” You wanted to take Bucky’s face in your hands and tell him that he was not broken, that he was worth more than your words would ever mean. But it still seemed like too much work to open your eyes, so you kept them shut and let your mind slip back into sleep for a little longer. 

————————————————————————

Your skin felt like it was on fire, that was the first thing you noticed when you fully regained consciousness. Something heavy was laying across your stomach and there was a solid presence holding you that seemed to radiate the same amount of heat as the crackling fire in front of you. 

“Y/n? Doll? Thank God you’re finally awake, how’re you feeling?

At the sound of his voice you slowly turned to face Bucky and were met with a look of adoration in those blue eyes, which made you feel even worse for making him take care of you. 

“I’m sorry I messed the mission up, Barnes.” Even though your sight was still a little blurry you could make out the confusion in his face. Pushing some hair out of your face he asked, 

“You never call me Barnes, what’s up with that Y/n/n? And what are goin’ on about, “messing up the mission,” you didn’t do a damn thing wrong. If Megan and Nick had done their jobs as teammates you wouldn’t be in this situation. It’s my fault too ya know, I should've checked you over before I made you walk three miles. You looked a little tired when I first saw you but I think I tricked myself into believing you were safe, all I ever want is for you to be safe, Y/n.” You weren’t quite sure how to answer him, your brain felt like quicksand, trapping your thoughts from becoming words.

“And you never answered my question, Y/n, you feelin’ better?” You nodded slowly, during the time you had been asleep your body had slowly heated up, you had regained feeling in your limbs and your mind was feeling less foggy by the minute.

“Thanks for getting me out of there, Bucky. I mean, it’s not like I needed your help, I just wanted to sleep for a few minutes.” You attempted to lighten the mood by pushing out a laugh that sounded more like a light exhale. 

“There she is, that’s the girl I love.” You whipped your head back with such force that Bucky had to place his hand on your neck to prevent you from giving yourself whiplash. You stared into his eyes, determined to find out if he was really speaking the truth. 

“I do love you Y/n, I have from the minute I caught you smiling at Tony’s stupid gala. You’re perfect to me, in every possible way, from your smile to your soul.” Of course you felt the same way for him. Bucky was your best friend, he made you laugh and his heart and the care that he gave out freely never ceased to amaze you. You watched his lips turn into the most perfect smile  and you found yourself smiling twice as big knowing that there was no moment in your life more wonderful than this one. Right before you could respond a shiver ran through you and Bucky turned you around so you were facing the fireplace again. 

“Hey, Bucky?” you received a low hum and a kiss behind your ear in response. “You should really shower, you smell like an old barn.” He chuckled and replied, “Jeez, doll, I save your life and tell you that I love you, and all you do is tell me that I smell?” You could tell that Bucky knew you were teasing, but you didn’t feel like letting him off the hook quite yet. 

“I guess I love you too.” You mumbled with an obvious grin in your voice. 

“I know you do doll, I only wish you had said something sooner, then I woulda had more opportunities to torture you for makin’ fun of me.” With that, Bucky began to tickle your stomach, while still being wary of your injuries, earning an eruption of giggles from your mouth. After a few seconds Bucky pulled you back against him and whispered a soft, “sleep, sweet girl, I’ve got you,” into your hair. Your eyes slowly fell shut and you felt completely content, knowing you were safe in the arms of the man who loved you, and who you loved right back. 

#bucky barnes x reader #Bucky fluff #marvel fan fiction #bucky barnes x enhanced reader #bucky x y/n #bucky x female reader #bucky fanfic #bucky barnes angst #bucky barnes fluff #bucky one shot #bucky fic #bucky barnes fic

[theconstantsidekick]

heyyyy...how are you doing.????

I was just wondering that if you have the idea of writing one shots for static verse , could you.. maybe write something where static takes Bucky as her date to her Harvard reunion...

may be when she was studying , everyone used to be so jealous of her cuz she is basically a sassy smartass...but now in the reunion they are acting so nice because she is a lawyer/avenger.. Definitely faking niceness...

and Jamie boy being too proud of his girl...

The Class of '92 | b.b

Pairings: Bucky Barnes x Stark!Reader, Tony Stark x Stark!Reader (siblings)

Genre: Fluffy with a chance of angst.

Summary: Y/n goes to the Harvard Reunion to reap the benefits of the alumni fees she's been giving out for the last three and a half decades.

(This takes place after the events of Static: Get, Set, Glitch. However, it can be read as a stand-alone piece. But it’s fun. I promise.)

Warnings: Swearing, Mentions of Recreational Drug Use, Mentions of Sex, Minors DNI, 18+ Only.

a/n: I think I strayed a little away from the original premise? I'm sorry?

Bucky Barnes, The Boyfriend (other one-shots) | The Falcon, The Winter Soldier and Static | Static: Get, Set, Glitch | Static Verse Masterlist

If she were being completely honest, she never entertained the idea of going to her class reunions. The whole ‘being-half-alien-aging-like-a-nebula-and-looking-the-same-for-years-on-end’ thing kinda took the wind out of her sails whenever she even thought about accepting the invite.

But that was then. 

Now people know who she is, what she is. No more reasons to hide, no Ross on her ass trying to hunt her down for the Accords, no giant purple grape looking alien knocking at the door threatening to burn the world down, no younger brother constantly being confused as her older brother.

Fuck. She’ll never get used to that.

The moment the invitation popped up on her laptop screen, her first reaction was to call Tony.

“You’ve got Tony Stark. I’m probably busy saving the world or curing a hangover. You can leave a message at the beep but I only get back to people if they’re hot. F.R.I.D.A.Y. will delete your message if you’re not. You’ve been warned.” The pre-recorded voice-message cut off with a beep.

Exhaling harshly, she spoke softly, “I was calling to ask you if you wanted to go to my reunion with me. Free booze, snobby assholes, jealous losers who hate me for being smarter, and did I mention the free booze? Totally your scene.” She fidgeted with the folder on her desk, nervous about a voicemail. “But you’re busy… being a dead dick so… So I guess I’ll just skip it this year as well.”

Life had other plans, though.

Well, her beloved boyfriend James Bucky Barnes did.

“I can go with you?” He offered. 

“What?” she asked him, confused.

“To the reunion,” he answered easily, his eyes still fixed on the omelet he was making for her. “I can go with you. Can’t guarantee I’ll be as fun company as your brother, but I can show you a good time. Pull out all the stops, be the trophy husband of a lifetime.” He smiled at her then. “Only if you want to, though.”

And now here they were. 

“This was a bad idea,” she comments, sipping on her drink.

“Why?” Bucky asks her, more confident than her—which don’t get her wrong was hot as fuck, but very unlike them.

“They’re all… they’re all—”

“Old?” Bucky finished with an amused smile. 

She couldn’t help the smile that slipped out.

He looks good, comfortable and sen-fucking-sational. He’s wearing a black tux with a white shirt and black bowtie. She’d been a little too busy trying to decide what to wear to have noticed him changing into the outfit. Eventually, having finalized on a white twill suit and a blood red silk shirt with a matching tie, she stepped out of her room. And he was a fucking vision.

Looking at him might just be her favourite hobby. She could pursue that shit as a vocation.

“That happens sometimes.” Bucky tells her. “People do get old, you know?”

She looks around at the crowd. They’re at the prime location for people watching, standing at the bar, far in the corner of the vast room. The lights are dim, only sprinkles of yellow scattered around the venue, the rest is overshadowed by a sea of ocean blue. So, she takes the moment, the isolation and takes a while to soak in his words. 

‘People do get old.’

“Yeah… yeah. I know,” she responds solemnly.

He takes a moment too, not to look at the crowd. Bucky seldom looks at anything with interest apart from her. He does the same now, he looks at her, studying the expression on her face. With his assessment done, he says, “I’ve never seen you nervous before.”

“I’m not nervous,” Y/n bites back, scolding him with absolutely no heat whatsoever.

“I’ve never seen you anxious before,” he amends.

Rolling her eyes, “I’m not anxious.”

“Scared?”

She has to look at him then. Brows furrowed, she frowns. 

Bucky throws up his hands instantly, admitting his mistake with an adorable smile.

“I used to steal Bruce’s homemade tacos before he learned to control the Hulk,” she smiles too. “I’m not afraid of anything.”

He takes a step closer to her, his words are softer when he speaks but bold enough for her to hear with ease. Gently placing his hand on the small of her back, he asks, “Then what’s wrong, sweetheart?”

“I wasn’t exactly… well, let’s just say there’s a reason I avoided going to class when I was in college,” she answers. Bucky’s face scrunches up at the insinuation.

But before he can enquire about it any further, before she can warn him, a voice cuts in.

“That was because you used to be a facetious little know-it-all,” the man comments. “You didn’t need the classes anyway.” He smiles, and there is no warmth in it.

Bucky must notice because his arm tightens just a little around her.

This was bound to happen sooner or later. She decides to roll with the punches. She knew what she was getting into when she came here.

“Charles Walton,” she greets him with a smile, just as dead as his. “Been a long time.”

“I’d say the same, but you look exactly the same as you did back then—not a hair out of place. I’m not sure time even passed,” he jokes, or well he tries.

“What can I say? It’s the price of being an Avenger,” she bites back.

He laughs, a hollow thing. “Hey, Milkovich!” He yells out over her head. “Guess who showed up!”

Well, fuck.

That one shout is enough to draw the attention of the entire class of 92. Cause almost instantly there’s a crowd gathered around Bucky and her. There’s chuckles and whispers among them—some are bewildered at her presence while others seem itching to make this a battlefield. 

“Ah, the famous Avenger,” a female voice chimes in. “You're famous around these parts, you know?” She takes a couple steps closer to them. Assessing her from head to toe, “Not just for being an Avenger, but being so elusive that you didn’t show up for a single reunion… But at least now we know why.”

“Nice to see you too, Seline,” Y/n tells her, calm and centered.

“Shit, Stark!” Mickey Milkovitch balks. “You look the fucking same!” 

And fine, she can take it from Milkovich. The guy was always crass but never rude. He just lacked a fucking filter.

So the smile that she smiles is open and kind. “Thanks, Mick. I could say the same about you.” She’s not lying. The guy looks pretty good for his age… and for the copious amount of alcohol she remembers him consuming during every party and every lecture.

“Not as good as you, holy shit! You really don’t age, do you?” He asks and it’s genuine so again, he gets a pass.

Nodding, “Not enough. My telomeres don’t work right, I think. Rest of me is human… mostly.”

And Mickey seems to take a lot of pleasure in her answer—smiling, he holds up his glass to cheers. She meets him with her own glass.

“Can’t lie, it’s a surprise to see you here,” another woman speaks up. “We thought we’d seen the last of you at the graduation.” 

“Sorry to disappoint you, Candace. I saw the invite and I just couldn’t help myself,” Y/n bites back.

“Didn’t have time for us before?” Candace Huston asks.

“Ah.” Y/n never really liked these snobby prep school kids. Even after all these years, they’ve somehow managed to not change at all. She doesn’t know why she expected them to. “I was a little caught up.”

“Saving the world?” Archer Bass suggests, mocking.

“Yes,” Bucky cuts in before she can form some modest version of that answer. She can always count on him to stump the opposition while she reloads. “That’s the day job. Doesn’t pay as well as whatever it is you guys have been doing. And oh! Odd hours, really odd. But it’s good work, wouldn’t you say, sweetheart?”

She smiles, finding comfort in the warmth of his gaze. “Could’ve been worse. Could’ve been a Personal Injury Lawyer.” Bucky smiles at that and fuck if that doesn’t just rile her up. “Oh! I almost forgot, this is my boyfriend—”

She’s cut off by Charles ‘Chickenshit’ Walton, “The Winter Soldier. We know who he is.”

“At least he’s a looker,” Seline snickers. “I’ll give you that.”

“The two of you make a great couple—The Winter Soldier and Static, ex assassin and ex assassin,” Candace adds with a snide smile. There’s more catty bullshit like that from the rest of the crowd but she kinda zones out.

And fuck it all to hell.

Her entire college life was avoiding these fools.

All her life she’d watched shows about the shitshow that is high school. She hadn’t attended it, of course but Harvard was supposed to be her first try. It was supposed to be her playing her hand at being utterly and completely normal, one with the crowd. College wasn’t supposed to be as brutal as highschool but not as uncaring as a desk job. It was supposed to be an easy middle between the two. Part of her was excited even. But the reality wasn’t all that movies made it out to be.

They were snobs, the fucking lot of them. Always looking at every tiny little detail, studying it a microscope, planning and scheming to find a chink in her armour just to break her down. She didn’t understand why then. Why they didn’t like her, why she was the outsider. Because despite everything she wasn’t exactly that different from them, not to their knowledge at least. Howie was fucking loaded, ipso facto she was too. None of them knew her past but everytime they looked at her their eyes were always hungry, always searching for some weakness.

She gets it now.

It wasn’t hunger. It wasn’t some twisted version of distrust.

It was straight up jealousy.

They were jealous of her.

They were jealous of her back then and if possible they are even more jealous of her now.

Y/n just laughs. She can’t help it, okay? It’s hilarious.

She really, genuinely believed at one point in her life that these fucking dipshits would figure out her secret, when all they were looking for was a way to top the class. These are some of the smartest individuals she’s come across—graduates of Harvard Law. Fuck! They were just kids fighting for brownie points when she was fighting for her freedom. God fucking damn it, she’s been so damn dumb. 

So she laughs.

Bucky looks at her for a second, raises his brow in concern. She waves her hand at him, letting him know she’s fine. It’s just funny.

“Something funny, Stark?” Archer asks, wearing a smile on his face that contradicts his tone which is just a little too shrill to be considered calm.

She shakes her head but continues chuckling.

“Don’t wanna share it with the rest of the class?” Charles bites. “Guess some things just don’t change.”

Y/n laughs a little harder. “My god, Charlie. You sure I’m the only one not aging here? Cause you sound like a sullen teenager.” She waves off his response before he can even form one. “Anyway, as I was saying, this is my boyfriend, Sergeant James Buchanon Barnes.” She drops a kiss on his cheek. “You can call him Sergeant Barnes… Well, except Milkovich. He’s just Barnes to you, Mick.”

Mickey seems pleased with her words, “Nice to meet you, Barnes.” He extends his hand to Bucky who takes it without hesitation. “Always thought your arm was really cool.” 

That one throws Bucky a little. He looks back at her, eyes big and a sneaky curve of his lip. It screams, ‘Where the fuck did you find this guy?’ But like she said, no filter on that one. 

“Why does Milkovitch get special treatment?” Seline rebukes her.

Y/n just shrugs. “Cause he wasn’t a dick to me in college?” Isn’t it obvious?

“Excuse me?” Candace exclaims like the hit was personal. “We were never anything but generous, which was more than what you deserved considering the shit you pulled.”

“One, that is wildly inaccurate. You were all dicks, all of you. But I don’t think I blame you for it, pompous kids do what pompous kids see. And two, what shit did I pull?” She waves at the bartender asking for a refill.

“You are seriously going to pretend you don’t know?” Archer throws back.

Taking the last sip from her drink she sets the now empty glass down on the nearest table. “Yes, enlighten me.”

“You were sleeping with Professor Keating to get the answers to all the tests,” Charles answers, disdain clear on his face.

“I—” She looks from his face to Bucky's, who feigns shock before breaking into a smile.

Charles cuts her off. “You hid it well enough but everyone knew you spent most of the free time between classes in his office. You scored well in every single one of his tests, which were impossible to crack and he was always so very eager to call on you in class.” He scoffs. “We were never able to find any concrete evidence to pin you down, we’ll give you that. But that doesn’t mean we were naive enough not to see it.”

“I—” She begins laughing again. “Professor Keating.” Fuck.

“What’s so fucking funny, Stark?” Archer pushes her. Well, he tries but before he can grab the collar he was reaching for, Bucky’s metal arm is already pulling him off.

“Easy there, cowboy,” Bucky warns.

“Get your hands off me!” Archer tries to brush Bucky off, pushing him back, trying desperately to get out of his grip, but come on. It’s Bucky. “What do you think you’re doing?!” 

“Saving you the ass beating of a lifetime, buddy boy. Be glad it’s me and not her,” Bucky comments causally as he twists Archer’s arm behind his back.

“It’s fine, Sunshine. Let him go,” she coos at him sweetly.

And because he’s Bucky, he urges Archer to take a few steps away from her and then simply lets him go.

“Are you still mentally unstable?! How dare you touch me? I’m gonna sue your Nazi ass for that!” Archer warns. 

“I mean, you can try. But he’s got a great lawyer,” Y/n tells him, grabbing her new drink from the waiter. She takes a sip. “Got him pardoned for countless assassinations. You think assault is where I lose that battle?” The blood drains from Archer’s face, all the color is gone. “And as for the Professor Keating matter,” she giggles again, before forcing herself to compose. “He was ex-KGB. I used to hang out with him after class to find out if he knew the updated location of HYDRA bases.”

“Ex-KGB?” Seline asks, just as pale as Archer.

“You expect us to buy that bullshit story? His name was Arthur Keating for Christ’s Sake!” Candace shouts.

“Which he changed when he asked for political asylum here. His real name was Boris Levitsky. His family was murdered by HYDRA when he couldn’t free some official high in their ranks. After that he was fairly willing to spill all about them,” Y/n explains.

“To a college student?” Charles question, clearly not buying it.

“To an undercover S.H.I.E.L.D. operative,” she corrects.

“You were an undercover S.H.I.E.L.D. operative back then?” Bucky asks her, reclaiming his position next to her with a steady arm around her waist.

“No,” she tells him. “But he didn’t know that.”

Bucky’s face breaks into a proud smile. The sprinkles of yellow around the venue seem to be attracted to her sun. They fall softly on his face, lighting up the curve of his cheekbones, the smile lines around his lips. He seems so much more comfortable in his skin than he used to before. And he shines brighter, if that was even possible. She thinks maybe she’ll have to carry sunglasses around from now on.

“How the fuck did you score so well then?” Seline question, furious at the revelation.

“Did you guys ever think maybe she’s just that fucking smart?” Bucky throws out, kissing her forehead. “My sweetheart’s a fucking genius!” He leans in closer. “A lesser man would be very intimidated by that, you know?”

He’s so close, she can taste his scent on the tip of her tongue. The smell of summer in the woods, and remnants of leather. It drives her insane.

“A lesser man, huh?” She teases. “You’re not intimidated by it then?”

“Oh I am,” he tells her. “Just not very intimidated.”

God, he’s so fucking beautiful.

“Hey! Lovebirds! We’re not done here,” Charles jumps in. 

Rolling her eyes and reluctantly turning back to face the asshat, she asks, “What do you want?”

“Winter Soldier here might think you’re all that, but I know better.” He looks like he’s about to spontaneously combust into flames purely out of anger. “You’re not that smart. Unlike you, some of us worked hard to get where we are. We didn’t rely on fake daddy’s money to make something of ourselves.”

Now that’s just stupid. “Charlie… Come on, man. Howard Stark was not my father, he was my best friend, I just needed a cover. And his money got me nowhere. And, and! The fucker went and got killed before I even graduated.” Bucky’s head falls at the mention, but her time at college was too closely knit to his passing for her to not mention it. “But even after all that if you think I got in because he bribed the board—I didn’t fucking graduate Summa Cum Laude by kicking my feet and batting my eyelashes. I barely came to college to even do that with perfect follow through. That was my dropping-acid-and-doing-fireball-shots phase. I’m surprised to be alive, honestly.” She takes a step towards him. “Maybe in retrospect it seems like everything was handed to me on a silver platter now that my life seems so glorious on the outside, but that wasn’t the case, dude. Part of me wanted to be a lawyer so I could fight for my freedom if the time ever came.”

“Freedom from what, Stark?!” He yells out. “Your life is fucking perfect! You’re an Avengers, governments step aside to make way for you. You’ve got a super hot boyfriend who can clearly throw a punch, what more could you possibly want?” 

Tony.

I want my brother back.

The answer is right there, on the tip of her tongue. But they don’t need to know it. They don’t really deserve it. Not their fault—most people don’t. 

So, instead she steps back, clasps her hands into Bucky’s. “Nothing, actually. You’re right. I couldn’t ask for more.” Someone in the back catches her eye then. “Lighten up, Charlie.” She looks around at the rest of them. “You’re supposed to be the brightest minds of the nation, not petty fucking 6th graders. Lighten the fuck up, kids. I assure you there are worse things to be than fucking Harvard graduates.” She pulls Bucky by the hand and this hunk of a man follows along without an ounce of hesitation, as always. She yells out without turning “I’d say it was nice to see you guys, but it really fucking wasn’t.” But then her steps halt. She turns, “All except you, Milkovitch. It really was nice to see you again. Call me sometime, we should catch up.”

“I don’t have your number,” Mickey replies innocently.

She smiles. “Fine then, I’ll call you.”

“You don’t have my number.”

Her smile just turns mischievous.

Mickey picks up instantly. “Of course,” he says, a little embarrassed. “World class spy—I forgot.”

Hugging the man quickly, she turns and grabs Bucky by the hand again and begins walking off.

“This was amazing! Let’s do this again next year,” Bucky yells out, waving at the gaping faces they’ve left behind.

“Shut up, James.” She hushes him without heat.

“Where you taking me, sweetheart?” He asks, but there is no real curiosity in his question.

So she says as much. “You don’t really seem that curious about it.”

“I’m asking for the fuck of it—to hear you talk. I love hearing you talk.”

“Sap.” She’s smiling.

“I’ll follow you anywhere, don’t care where you take me,” he promises. 

They’ve stopped walking, her target is in her eyesight so she’s all too worried. So she takes the moment to drink him in.

“FUCKING SAP,” she chides, pushing him a little.

Bucky (pretends to) stumble. “Only for you. Always for you,” he tells her, honest and true. He covers the distance between them with a few short steps. His hand comes to caress her jaw, gently—always so gently. He leans in. His lips brush against her as he speaks, “Till the end of my days, sweetheart.”

“Till the end of mine,” she corrects him and then closes the gap.

The best thing about kissing Bucky is that it always feels like the first time. No matter however many times she kisses this boy, every time it feels overwhelmingly new. It feels like her mind is melting, like she’s turning to mush under his hands—one flesh, the other metal. He always knows how to give her exactly what he craves, maybe because she mostly just craves him.

With one hand on her cheek, the other on the small of her back, Bucky pulls her in closer. His tongue tastes of whiskey, but his lips are all him. They are delectable enough to eat. It takes everything in her not to bite down too hard. But she can’t resist the urge to pull his lip between her teeth, biting just hard enough to leave them red. He kindly obliges by slipping his tongue into the mix. He’s so hungry for her, he’s always so fucking hungry for her.

Absent-mindedly she thinks maybe he feels it too. The inexplicable newness in the repeated action of kissing each other. Because hunger like that—hunger like his, seems insatiable. She would give away all of herself to it. Let him consume her whole. She will do just that… Just not here, not now.

Reluctantly, with great strength and determination, she pulls herself away. 

Bucky, this fucker, whimpers. “What?” He whines.

She can’t help but chuckle. “I need to one thing then we can just get the fuck out of here and do more of that—a lot more of that.”

He pretends to think for a second but she already knows she’s won him over. “Fine,” he says after a beat. “What do you need?”

“An answer,” she tells him, before fixing herself a bit and walking over to the woman who’d caught her eye before. 

She’s a tall woman, short black hair—a pixie cut that she pulls off flawlessly. She’s standing alone, smoking in the open area of the venue, looking out at the scene ahead of them.

Y/n approaches her cautiously. “Jeri Hogarth,” she calls out, making the woman turn. “You’re a hard woman to reach.”

“Y/f/n Stark.” Jeri doesn’t even turn to look at her. She keeps on staring straight ahead, smoking. “Did you ever consider, maybe I didn’t want to be reached?”

Y/n lets go of Bucky’s hand, but not before giving it a gentle press as a promise to come back soon. She walks up next to Jeri. “I did consider that possibility, but couldn’t bring myself to care about it, unfortunately.”

And then, finally Jeri turns to look at her, “What do you need for me? I mean it must be something big if you decided to show up here.”

Y/n shrugs. “It’s not big, I wouldn't say. I think it’s more that it’s… urgent?” That seems to intrigue Jeri, she cocks her brow in question. And Y/n answers, “I need to speak with Danny Rand.”

That seems to throw Jeri off. “I—I don’t know where he is. Besides, if you want his business—”

“It’s not about Rand Enterprises, Hogarth.” She clicks her tongue in disappointment. Nothing that fucking arbitrary would bring her here. “I want to talk to Danny’s friend. I want to talk to the Iron Fist.”

“I don’t—” Jeri looks like she’s at a loss for words which, yeah, a fairly new look on her. Y/n had very rarely seen Jeryn Hogarth lose her calm in class. They shared a lot of them, and while she wasn’t exactly kind to Y/n, she wasn’t unkind either.

“I know that you know, Jeri. I also know about Jessica Jones and… Kilgrave.” Y/n doesn’t want to be unkind to her either. “I am sorry about what happened…” Jeri just looks away. “I wouldn’t ask you if it was important, and I wouldn't be looking for Danny if it wasn’t urgent. But I need to talk to him.”

“And you think I can help?” Jeri challenges, finally finding her ground.

But Y/n isn’t here for a fight. “I wouldn’t be asking if I didn’t know you could.”

“Why should I?”

“I don’t have a very good reason for that. I don’t think I have anything of value to you that I could even barter with? But I’ll owe you one,” Y/n offers.

“You’ll owe me one?” She asks, unconvinced.

Y/n shrugs. “Yes.”

“And that’s supposed to be good enough?”

For the second time tonight, Y/n just wears a mischievous smile with furrowed brows. 

Jeri seems to understand her without any words being spoken. “Yeah. That’s good enough.” She nods. “Okay, I can try to get a message to him, but there is no guarantee that he’ll respond.”

“He’ll respond,” Y/n answers easily.

Jeri eyes her suspiciously. “So, what’s the message?”

“Just tell him we need to talk,” Y/n answers.

“That’s all?”

“What else am I supposed to fucking say? The peacock rests peacefully in the moonlight?! This isn’t Mission Impossible. I’m not Tom Cruise. I just wanna talk to the dude,” Y/n rebukes.

“Fine,” Jeri tries to calm her down half-heartedly, turning back to the view ahead of her.

“Thanks, Hogarth,” Y/n says one last time before heading out.

Jeri takes out a fresh cigarette and lights it. “Just remember you owe me one.”

With that out of the way, Bucky and Y/n leave the reunion of the class of '92, hand in hand. It’s much later when they’re out for ice cream does Bucky ask the question she had been anticipating the entire night.

“Something was off tonight—before the whole sleeping with the teacher thing.” 

She chuckles at his words. “Was there?” She asks.

“Yeah,” he doesn’t let her dodge it. “You wanna talk about it?” He does give her the option to opt out. He’s so considerate, how can she deny him anything?

They are sitting on the curb outside the 24 hour ice cream shop. They are bathed in the harsh light from the streetlight. Bucky, she thinks, somehow manages to still look pretty in that. He has a chocolate ice-cream cone in his hand that’s melting away at a matching speed to the vanilla cone in hers. They’d spent a little too long lost in each other’s mouths to focus on the ice-cream in a timely fashion. Both of them are now trying to furiously make up for that.

It takes her a moment to find the words. “I… It’s hard looking around at the room and seeing so many people who are… who are…”

“Old?” Bucky supplies again.

She shakes her head, laughing and trying to lick the ice cream off the cone—save it from falling. “No, Jamie. Not that.”

“Then?” He prompts, leaning to lick the leftover ice cream off her fingers.

Taking in a long breath, she musters up her courage and begins. “Tony’s the same age as Milkovitch. Or well, Tony would have been.” Bucky’s eyes turn softer in an instant. “It’s weird to see it—people who used to be young, who used to look like me, a crowd that I could have blended into seamlessly become old and gray. I mean, I lived it with Tony but I was there to see it day in and day out. He aged in front of my eyes, so it felt—it felt…”

“Natural?” Bucky offers.

And yeah. Yeah, it did. So, she nods. “Natural,” she agrees. “I remember when I noticed his first gray hair,” she laughs. “I freaked the fuck out but I didn’t want to tell him, cause that seemed fucking shallow, you know? I tried to hide it but man, I don’t think I was doing a good job ‘cause two days later the poor kid had dyed it black—that one single strand.” Bucky laughs too. “I think he figured out why it was freaking me out and that was his way of—I don’t know—calm me down, maybe?” She clicks her tongue at the thought. “The wrinkles were an easy adjustment. It began with smile lines, crinkles around his eyes every time he’d laugh at a joke, so it was…”

“Comforting?” Bucky suggests, once again giving her the words she can’t seem to find.

She rests her head on his shoulder then, “Yes. It was okay after that—especially after Pepper. Watching him age began feeling like a privilege. It felt like he was growing old instead of, you know, dying?”

Bucky nods. “Are you worried about that now? With me?” She punches him in the side. “FUCK! What was that for?”

She pulls back to face him, “I am not thinking about that shit yet!”

“Oh I’m sorry!” Bucky yells out annoyed and animated. “I was just drawing the LOGICAL conclusion to the conversation, but of course, that was stupid.”

“You’re such a little shit, James,” she rebukes him, shoving him and getting back on her feet.

“I’m a shit?! What did I do?!” He gets up as well. “We keep making grand promises about how we’ll love each other to the end of your days because you’ll obviously live longer.”

“BUCKY, DON’T SAY THAT!” She begins walking towards their motorbike parked in the parking lot.

He follows behind, “It’s not breaking news, Y/n! It’s inevitable.”

“Bucky!”

“But I have a plan!”

That makes her halt. She turns to face him, he almost runs into her. “What’s the plan?”

He smiles all cheeky and insolent. “Freeze me for a decade once in a while.” She can’t believe her ears.”Put me in the fridge every ten years or so for a decade and then pull me out. I’m also open to being in the freezer for a year with a two year gap in the middle as well.” She wants to punch him again. “I haven’t done the math on which will make me live longer but both will definitely extend my lifespan significantly.” She is going to punch him again. “I age a little slower anyway, this was I think we could extend this relationship into the next millennium at leas—” She punches him again. “FUCK! WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT ONE FOR NOW?” 

Turning around, she begins walking off again. “You’re not ice-cream, Jamie. I’m not fucking freezing you!” She cans the ice-cream in her hand, having lost her appetite.

He follows her again. “I have another plan!”

“Shut up, Barnes!”

“What if we ask Banner to make me body like you guys did for Vision?! Put my consciousness in there?” Bucky asks as they reach their motorbike.

She pulls out the keys, handing them off to Bucky. “What made him capable of emotions was the Mind Stone, you got any spare of those lying around?”

Bucky hops on the bike and then thinks for a second, “Steve told me you guys put Zola in a big computer kinda thing.” She gets on behind him. “What if we did that? I know our sex life might suffer but—”

She punches him right under his ribs..

“STOP FUCKING PUNCHING ME! These ideas are golden.”

She punches him again.

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[adastra121]

Touchstarved Vere x Reader headcanons:

Vere eventually learns your heartbeat to the point where he can easily recognize it in a crowded room. He can pick up on slight changes, hear when you’re feeling happy, nervous, angry, etc.

Really, he can listen for changes in anyone’s heartbeat (it comes in handy for parsing out whether someone's lying) but as you two grow closer, he finds himself subconsciously tuning in on yours whenever you’re together. Wherever you are.

In the crowded Amaryllis District, in the raucous Wet Wick. When you two are alone and everything’s quiet save for the light scratching of his charcoal on paper, he finds himself just…listening to the soft rhythm of your heart.

He focuses on your heartbeat on bad days when he feels more easily overstimulated by the endless racket around him.

The sound of your heart beating becomes comforting to him. Grounding.

Vere also grows familiar with your scent, the way it changes ever so subtly with your emotions. When he smells the sour scent of your fear, that’s his cue to be on guard. Whatever instilled that fear in you will find no mercy from his fangs.

Also this means he 100% knows when you’re having horny thoughts about him.

"Oh? Really, darling? Now?" His teasing comment comes out of nowhere as you get lost in thought. It takes you a moment to realize what he's talking about but when you do…well, I guess it depends on how shameless you are. XD

He gets almost unbearably smug about it, lips pulled into a sultry smile, eyes shamelessly roving over your body, dropping unsubtle innuendoes no matter where you two are — actually, the whole thing is rather unsubtle. You might get a dirty look from Mhin.

He has a sensitive nose, so he can get headaches from very strong scents. He is quietly touched if you make efforts to avoid any scents that are too overwhelming for him, like changing your soaps and perfumes to something he can better tolerate or even foregoing it whenever you decide to spend a day together.

Vere knows what your blood smells like. It's intoxicating to him (this bitch has a blood kink, I just know it) and makes for some fun in the bedroom if you're into that sort of thing but on the flip side…

It's fucking terrifying when he's on a Soulless hunt and he catches it.

The sharp scent of your blood.

And he's made to instill fear in the living, but as soon as he smells it — the scent of your spilled blood, too fresh and too close to where he is tracking down Soulless — for the first time in centuries…Vere freezes during a hunt.

His fear doesn't paralyze him for long. He is a hunter, after all. He kills the Soulless he is ordered to with a frantic and desperate kind of viciousness — he doesn't even toy with his prey as he usually does, he is messy and violent, a living, breathing massacre with the singular goal of finding you.

The scent of blood and gore clings to him and still, yours is sharper than the rest, because all of his senses, every part of him, just instinctively hones in on you, automatically seeking you out as naturally as breathing.

You're fine, by the way. You're alive. You just got a little nicked, but with Kuras's help, you're looking at a speedy recovery. And Vere, begrudgingly, does feel the slightest bit of gratitude toward the doctor for it.

Vere doesn't tell you how relieved he is (the most honest man you'll meet if you don't listen to a word he says). But he does get more affectionate than usual. You have more cuddle sessions with his face just buried in your neck, his whole tail wrapped around you like another hug. You're not really sure why he stays like that for several minutes at a time. You figure it's a fox thing. Or maybe a uniquely Vere thing.

(Vere likes your neck, you're very warm and your scent is stronger there. It's comforting. And he can feel and hear your pulse underneath him, it's soothing to him.)

#these are very self-indulgent — I wanted to see more about Vere’s enhanced senses #vere in the demo: ‘I knew I smelled blood on you…’ #me: ‘ohoho there’s so much fun we can have with this.’ >:3 #the witcher fandom has prepared me for the fox boy! #let’s goooooooo! #touchstarved #touchstarved vere #vere x reader #touchstarved x reader #headcanons #my headcanons #my writing