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lazydoodlesandfanfic · 1 year

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More Than An Intern (Tony Stark X Daughter!Reader) *PARENTAL

Characters: Tony Stark X Daughter!Reader

Universe: Marvel, Avengers

Warnings: Mention of drug addiction, child abandonment

Request: Imagine: Tony has a daughter in a one night stand when he's 21. He doesn't know of the kid's existence. Mom has post-partum depression, struggles financially, becomes an addict and sells the baby to random guy (he works for Hydra and knows that the kid is Tony's-It's an extension of Project Insight and they wanna train people with brilliant ppl DNA). Around Ironman 1 and 2, she gets inside Stark Industries as an intelligent intern and Natasha catches her spying and the rest is left to you. 😊

The silence in the stairway where you were sat against the wall between floors was deafening, so quiet that you were certain that if someone was to step into it they’d hear your heartbeat from the top floor. You could definitely hear it, so loud that it was like standing beside a speaker at a concert, but you tried to act calm and collected like any other day, hunched over your phone, a half eaten sandwich in hand, like you did every other day in this internship that you had been working for the past 3 months.

Nothing to raise suspicion. Nothing to make anyone think you were up to anything. Nothing to make anyone think you’re a spy.

You weren’t entirely sure why you were so nervous about this. You’d done similar things before in the past despite your age, but this was a much larger project for you. You were stealing weapon blueprints and plans from one of the greatest minds and also in one of the most secure buildings you’d ever seen. Normally you would be able to do a simple sneak in and out within an hour, but you quickly realised that this would be a case of sneaking in, hiding in plain sight, not raising suspicion, gaining their trust, gathering the intel, and then sticking around a while afterwards instead of booking it to maintain that trust and also to get them off your scent and tie up any loose ends if needs be. You couldn’t mess this up. They’d kill you.

After finishing your sandwich, you checked the clock on your phone, having memorised the routine of those who use the lab just down those stairs, and knew it would be empty now. You packed your things up, before heading down the steps, going through the door at the end and into the hallway. You tried not to look around too much, instead heading straight to the lab door, going on your phone, and after clicking a few buttons you glanced up at the camera in the corner of the room, seeing it power down, before you walked to the door, finding it unlocked and letting yourself in. You wasted no time in searching the space quickly for anything important, not wanting to focus your time on something and as your leaving realise you’d missed something even more valuable. You spotted Tony’s desk as well as some of his suits in the corner in the midsts of construction and repairs. Seeing no cabinets, you walked over to the desk looking over everything on the table- papers, blueprints, and the interface instead of computer. Unfortunately for you, you knew that to get in you’d have to temporarily disengage JARVIS to get inside unnoticed, so that was down, so you were relying on the physical copies, which luckily it seemed that Tony had out- usually to show to the ‘old people’ like Mr Rogers and the God who you kept away from. You looked over the papers, not moving any of them, just looking for anything of importance. You saw design ideas for his suits, suits that didn’t exist yet, designs for their unique abilities- notably weapons that fit in your hand. Bingo.

“What’cha doing?” The voice made you jump a little, eyes shooting up to the door of the lab, seeing a familiar red head leant against it with a smirk, arms crossed. You of course knew who she was- Natasha Romanoff, one of the most deadly assassins in the word, and she just caught you somewhere where you didn’t have clearance.

“Oh- I’m so sorry- I was looking for Mr Stark. My clearance pass keeps messing up and my supervisor didn’t know how to fix it so I hoped he’d be able to…” You switched to the personality you’d perfected the last 3 months, a shy, anxious, fly on the wall girl fresh out of college, eager to learn and a goody-two-shoes… okay some of those traits might have already been yours, but it just selled the character. “And now I’m saying it aloud I realise that’s… stupid. Sorry. I’ll go.” You tried to excuse, but as you went to rush out embarrassed, she stepped in front of you, making you halt. She glared down at you, and you shrunk into yourself. “I’m really sorry, I won’t come in here again, I promise.” She raised an eyebrow at you, before grabbing your arm, pulling it out, showing her your phone, and she plucked it from your hand. She removed the case off the back, turning it over, showing the small chip on the back- a small tracking device that also sent all info on the phone to another location. HYDRA. You were anxious before, but the second her eyes landed on the chip, it vanished. You’d failed your mission, and now it was a lose- lose situation, all options probably ending in you tortured or dead, or both. Now, you were terrified.

Her eyes came back up to meet yours, and it felt like she was reading you like a book, dissecting you piece by piece. She knew your name was fake, your background fake, your credentials fake.The person she’d seen around the tower didn’t exist, and now she was piecing together who you really were. A Hydra agent. A young one at that- she thought you looked a bit young for 23, but clearly had at least some decent skills to have snuck under her nose and get past Tony’s security checks for months. “Are you going to co-operate?” She inquired.

“I don’t have a choice.” You huffed, dropping the act. The red head grabbed your arm, leading you out of the lab and to the elevator, taking you up to the floor where the meeting rooms were (why Tony needed more than one you never knew), shoving you into one of them, sitting you down in one of the chairs. “JARVIS?” She called, hoping that the AI would still be working here.

“How may I be of assistance Miss Romanoff? I am aware that I seem to have lost connection to Mr Stark’s lab-”

“I’m also aware of that. Please let Mr Stark know immediately that I’ve caught an undercover agent in his lab- that was why you’ve been locked out.” Natasha interrupted the AI, not wanting to waste any time. “I’m keeping her in one of the meeting rooms.”

“Of course Miss Romanoff.” The AI responded. You slumped into your seat, chin resting on your chest as you kept your eyes on Natasha who guarded the door to ensure you didn’t make a run for it, and it wasn’t long till you could see Tony Stark through the glass walls of the room, and he looked back at you as he came into the room.

“So, who’s this little troublemaker, Romanoff?” Tony asked her as she shut the door behind him and locked the door.

“Undercover agent, probably HYDRA, it’s their usual style, though I think this one has been here a while… JARVIS?” Natasha called again.

“Our files say she’s been working here for 3 months. I’ve done a deeper background check on her files and it seems she does not exist, and is using a fake identity.” JARVIS answered. Your eyes were kept on Natasha after Tony entered the room- she was the deadly one, one of the main ones they had warned you about, and your eyes were focussed on her so closely you didn’t spot Tony stalking closer till he stepped in front of you, blocking your line of sight on the woman, and squatting down in front of you. In that moment, your fear of Natasha seemed to diminish as Tony looked at you like a disapproving parent or something. You felt almost ashamed. Almost.

“What’s your name? Your real name?” He asked you. You paused, not answering him. “Don’t make this difficult. If you cooperate then we-”

“Are you going to kill me?” You asked, interrupting him. Your question seemed to catch him off guard as he straightened his posture a little, blinking a bit.

“No. Of course not.” He spoke confidently, but also bewildered, which gave you some comfort that he was probably telling you the truth. “Is that what they told you? That if you failed this mission they put you on you’d be killed by us?”

“Or them… You caught me, if they find out they’ll kill me.” You spoke lowly and oddly calmly despite how terrifying that thought was.

“Were you in the Red Room?” Natasha inquired to you. It was something she remembered being told when she went on missions before she graduated, a way to control her and the others, and it seemed to line up with your age, but you shook your head. “How long have you worked for HYDRA?” She asked instead, and she caught you swallowing in response.

“Better question, how old are you?” Tony asked. “I’m not sure if you have a baby face or if you’re actually a child.”

“I’m not a kid.” You huffed.

“That’s something a kid would say. More specifically a teen.” He responded. “Especially a teen who’s close to no longer being one and wants to be seen as an adult. 16? 17?” He questioned, and when your eyes averted at the second guess, he knew he hit the jackpot. He knew from his own guessing that you were a kid, but to actually confirm it seemed to light something inside of him, a sort of despair and fury. You were a kid, a kid with training that would have taken years, and the brainwashing they’d ingrained in you to make you think they’d kill you is something they’d have to have put into your head at a young age. So young you knew nothing of the outside world. “Do you know anything other than HYDRA? Parents? Siblings?” He asked far more softly, tilting his head a little.

“...I had a mom. She gave me to them.” You answered him in barely a whisper.

“How old were you when she did that?” He asked, getting a shrug in response. “So young. Really young, probably younger than 4, maybe a baby or a toddler?” He asked, and you nodded. Your sudden willingness to respond to his questions didn’t go unnoticed, and Tony knew he had unlocked a way to get you to open up- softness and kindness, something you probably hadn’t seen… ever. “Do you know what her name was? Or what she called you?” He asked.

“I don’t know her name, but HYDRA called me Y/N, so I think that’s my name.” You answered him.

“Alright. I really want to find out more about you so I can help you, okay? Would you be okay if we get Dr Banner here so he can get a few swabs and maybe some blood to try and find out more about you? Who knows, maybe you have some siblings or some grandparents wondering where their granddaughter is and we can give you a fake name and you can start afresh, alright?” He suggested to you, and when he didn’t get a disagreement, he turned to Natasha, standing up. “Let’s up security to ensure she’s safe.”

The next couple of hours were admittedly quite boring. You were placed into a holding cell, searched for other weapons or technology, Dr Banner came, took some swabs from your mouth and some blood, and Natasha quizzed you about your entire time under HYDRA, what you had worked on prior, names you remembered and the sort of thing they put you through. Admittedly, you weren’t very talkative with her- she was quite stern and cold with you, and you were expecting that as soon as she got her answers she’d just put a bullet between your eyes, which was why you purposely kept some of your own information from her. Inevitably she gave up and left you be, and after another half an hour of boredom, you tried to get comfy, eventually finding yourself resting your head on the cold table in front of you, and closing your eyes, drifting uncomfortably between sleep and enough conscious to know when someone was walking by your cell, and it was enough to know when the door opened. Your eyes opened, your head already turned to see the door, letting you see it was Tony stepping in, stopping when he saw your eyes on him, before he shut the door behind him and moved to sit down as well, and only then you raised your head to look at him. You noted the slip of paper in front of him, which was odd since he usually liked to keep things digitalised, though he took one glance at it before placing it face down so you couldn’t read it.

“Did you find anything?” You asked him, his eyes looking up to meet yours, and you immediately knew from the emotions swimming in them, he had. There was a heavy feeling of guilt emitting from him, weighing his eyes down and making it hard for him to meet yours, and you knew it wasn’t good news. “If it makes you feel any better, I have no memories of my life before HYDRA, so I have no emotional ties. I’m not gonna cry.” You tried to assure him, mostly hoping he’d just spit it out. He cleared his throat finally, leaning on the table, resting his arms on the piece of paper.

“You had a mother.” He started, and your mind immediately noted the past tense.

“Dead?”

“Complications due to drug use. A few years ago.” He confirmed. “She formed the addiction a few weeks or months after your birth- I got records of your birth, they gave her a blood test then and she was clean and healthy. It was probably Postpartum Depression that led her there, and after your birth there’s no trace of you, so you weren’t taken by social services, or reported missing…”

“So she handed me over to them? Is that what you’ve established?” You inquired, sticking to your word and not showing emotion, remaining calm and collected and cold, and Tony nodded, his eyes dropping again, the guilt he was emitting seeming to only weigh heavier.

“I knew her… your mom.” He admitted after a pause, still not looking up. “Before she had you, before she… I knew her when we were in university together. She was studying something else in a different building, I don’t remember what, I never really got to know her despite the fact that…” He seemed to catch himself before he said anything, shuffling in his seat, and his nervousness was starting to rub off on you as you shuffled in your own seat, crossing your arms against your chest, not sure what he was getting at. Did HYDRA know he knew your mother? If so, why did they send you to do this mission? Why does that matter?

“How is this relevant?” You asked him blankly.

“We were…” He seemed to stumble over his words, before he rethought the, and spoke again. “We were able to track down a paternal line as well, and that proved that you’re… mine.” He confirmed, and it was like there was a flick of a switch, and you felt the change both in the room and in your body. Ah. That was why he was so anxious all of a sudden. His eyes stayed on you, but remained quiet, waiting for a reaction, though you weren’t giving him much. Your expression barely changed, with no signs of shock or joy or sadness or anything, other than confusion, judging by your eyebrows coming closer together.

“That doesn’t make sense. Why would HYDRA send me to do a mission involving you if they knew we were father and daughter?” You asked him.

“I don’t think they knew. We don’t know what kind of detail your mom gave about your background before handing you to them, or if she even knew I was your father to begin with. But that doesn’t matter right now- what matters now is that you’re here, you’re safe, and you’re my top priority right now. I need to keep you hidden to the best of my ability until we can even convince HYDRA it’s a lost cause to go after you, or think you’re dead.”

“So, a safe house?”

“Exactly. I’ve got this little cabin on the edge of a lake that surrounded by woodland, little to no internet connection, it’s practically hidden from a birds eye view. I’ll up security there, but I’ll have it excused by me also being there as a sort of getaway with me and Pepper. That’ll also let us get to properly know each other, see where we stand, what you’re comfortable with and how involved you’d like me to be. If at the end of the time there you decide you want to go and do your own thing I understand, I’ll support you with whatever you want to do. If you want to go live in a tiny town in Wyoming then I’ll find you a nice place there and I’ll just want to keep tabs on you to ensure you’re safe. If you want to make up for lost time, go to college and live with us until you’re ready to go, then I’m happy with that.” He explained, almost rambling in nature, but it brought a faint smile, but a smile none the less to your face.

“Thank you.” You interrupted him, making him stop, and relax a little and smile back.

Hope you like it! If you have any questions, please send them in!

*Not my gif

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httpscomexe · 6 months

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Small Town Freaks Pt. 2

Summary: Lee Bodecker, the alias of Bucky Barnes after he’s gone lowkey to be a sheriff in a very small town in Massachusetts, slowly begins to have a liking for this girl who just turned 18. But by God does he need to train her.

This part has a lot of flashbacking really soooo... kinda dry

Parings: Lee Bodecker/Bucky Barnes x Reader (Mentions of Y/N)

Warnings: (Individual warnings) Trauma, lots of angst, abuse by stepmother, running away, using God's name in vain a few times, pet names, (Pumpkin) I think that's it. (There's a pasta recipe at the end) I promise it'll get spicy next chapter.

Word Count: 1477

Part one here if you're interested - Part 1

7 years ago…

Since my dad is ironman and famous and all that, I figured I should make him his favourite dish tonight.

Creamy cajun chicken pasta.

The first time you made his eyes were practically rolling to the back of his head. He loved it so much he started picking off of your plate and went for seconds, then thirds, and fourths, then even asked you to make more. You were genuinely surprised at how much he was able to eat. Of course, you laughed it off and refused to make a second batch, you were scared if you did he totally would’ve blown up.

But now that he’s married to Pepper Potts, literally the worst thing thats ever introduced itself into your life, your relationship with your dad hasn’t been so happy.

She’s always hated you. Always wanted you to just… disappear…

Of course, as much as you dreamed about running away, you just simply couldn’t run away. Or at least that’s what you told yourself.

“Ew, brat. Why are you home so early, aren’t you supposed to be at school?” Peppers mocking voice breaks the silence of me reading as some water boiled in the kitchen.

“I was let out early, it’s a half day today… I walked home.” Just keep your tone even and nice, and she won’t get all mad at you…

“Great, what are you making now? Something good hopefully…” She scoffed as if she was being funny. I got up to check on the water when I could hear the lid being taken off the pot.

“I’m making papas favourite-”

“God you’re so… not normal you know that?” This bitch cut me off.

“How’s that?”

“You’re 10 with the brain maturity of a 40 year old and you cook like you’ve done it for years. Only thing you do that’s normal for your age is you think you’re good at what you do.” She says it without hesitation and it makes you wanna backhand her… but you’re trying so hard to just behave and deal with it. “You gonna just ignore me or are you gonna do something like you always do?” Just… Breathe… “What’s wrong with you? Are you really ignoring me now?!” Fucking breathe Y/N. “God you’re such a slutty b-”

“Will you just leave me the fuck alone!” You cover your mouth quickly, you hate cursing but this bitch…

“Why you little-!” She pauses when she looks down and sees your dog. A husky you’ve had for years that was trained to protect you, and only you. The next thing you see out of the corner of your eye is Pepper grabbing the boiling water sitting on the stove. You think she’s about to dump the water on your puppy so you drop the hand towel you were holding to the floor in shock and are about to jump forward when Sunshine, your husky, jumps in front of you.

You don’t feel the boiling water searing your skin at first. Your main focus is on your dog whining in pain and sitting up from the floor you were now on to inspect her. She was whimpering slowly and her eyes were closing in front of you. Only then did the pain in your upper thigh start to register in your brain. Now hot tears were falling down your face. Most of them falling for Sunshine, the other few of them falling for the heating pain now encircling your entire right thigh.

Then without even thinking, you threw your 10 year old body at Pepper. You would’ve knocked her over if the counter wasn’t behind her. Instead you only shoved her against the corner of a counter which was sure to hit her spine. But of course, I’m the unluckiest person in the world.

“Hey!” Was your only warning before two large hands gripped onto your shoulders, pulling you back and turning you around. Then you see your dads face, written in anger. “What the hell has gotten into you Y/N!!” Now your tears only stream down your face even more. Your thigh was heated and throbbing in pain, your dog was lying lifeless on the floor, and Pepper was crying in pain and holding her spine as your dad shook you and just screamed in your face.

But you didn’t hear a single word of it.

Your ears were ringing.

Pain clouded your head and your knees felt weak from the pain on your thigh and you emotions were feeling really heavy from the pain of losing your bestest friend.

Suddenly you were breathing heavy. Your head was throbbing and only whimpers of pain and fear were coming from your throat.

Then everything went black…

Present day…

Fuck that hurt… You had your head leaned back against the cold cell wall. It was almost morning and Bodecker was going to let you go home. You could hear him snoring at his desk. He had fallen asleep a long time ago which gave you time to think about your past.

Your step mom, and your dad… But you haven't seen them since you were 10. You waited as long as you could for Bodecker to fall asleep before you looked down at your thigh to see the huge scar from the burn still on your skin. It wasn’t super obvious, but you could still see how your skin went from a light peachy colour, to some shade of tan.

That wasn’t even the most hurtful part of that memory though. You’ve never looked at huskies the same after seeing your little Sunshine, dead on the floor of the kitchen because she wanted to protect you. But part of you wish she hadn’t. If she wasn’t there to protect you, yes, your leg would have been ravished, but she’d be alive and maybe, just maybe… Your dad wouldn't have been mad at you and he would've left Pepper…

“Alright it’s about time for you to-” Bodekcers voice brought you quickly out of your thoughts. “Hey are you alright?” You didn’t look up at him but you could hear his keys opening the cell you were in. “Hey Pumpkin, talk to me.” You only brought your knees up to your face, hugging your legs to your chest and staying quiet. “Alright then.” You could hear him sitting next to you on the cold hard floor, then his arm wrapping around your shoulders and pulling you close.

“Today is my 18th birthday…” You whisper through sniffles.

“So why’re you crying then?”

“Because it’s officially been 8 years since I’ve seen my dad.” Your voice cracked embarrassingly as you spoke and he rubbed circle on your back, keeping you close.

“I assume you’ve been living with friends?”

“No… I have my own place.” Why am I telling him all of this? I should not be sharing this much with him. Why do I trust him so much? I feel so drawn to him… “I’ve just been so broken and lonely for so long… It's hard to be in school sometimes cause I just simply can’t hold myself together an entire school day.” My crying stopped and you didn't even realize it until you feel Bodeckers arm leave your shoulder and he leaned forward as you sat up. Looking you directly in the eyes. You puffy, red, crying, embarrassing eyes.

“Why is there a huge burn on your thigh?” I could tell he didn't wanna bring it up based on the tone in his voice. But he’s been wanting to question it since the moment he saw it.

“It’s a long story, but my dad didn’t choose the best step mom for me…” I mumbled… He sighed so heavy I could feel his breath on my face, then every traumatic thought left my mind and all I could feel were butterflies in my stomach again.

“How about this? I have the next week off. How about you come over to my house, we watch some movies, hang out. You get to relax.” He pauses for a moment and sees you staring right back into his eyes. “You like cats? I have a cat. His name is Alpine, super sweet. I’ve got a huge house, all to myself. We can bake cookies since it’s almost christmas…” His voice trails off as he lists things you could do together. He sounded almost urgent in wanting to hang out with you. Like it was all that mattered to him… He makes me feel so… loved… “Do you?” Shit.

“Yes” I hope I answered right…

“So you do have a family to hang out with on holidays…?” Of fucking course I answered wrong.

“No I don't, I'm sorry… Oh my God… you lost me at Christmas cookies.” He smiles as I chuckle a little.

“So you’ll come home with me for this week then?”

“Yes…”

Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta - NatashasKitchen.com

#lee bodecker #bucky x reader #lee bodecker x reader #fanfic #pasta #tony stark #pepper potts #starks daughter

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firedrakegirl · 3 months

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I stared tiredly up at the now shattered Stark tower, before taking a breath and heading inside. The fighting had literally just stopped, but something was pulling me in…something needed me. I’d learned to follow those pulls. They’d never steered me wrong. I walked up and up and up, all the way to the floor where Ironman had been thrown through the window. There…the reason for everything. I knew instantly upon seeing the green clad god that it was all his fault. “You absolute asshole.” I stormed over to where he was lying on the ground, clearly in pain. “What did you do to me?” Despite my tone, I was gentle as I started looking him over for more than bruising, carefully removing his armor and tunic. “Roll over, let me see your back.”

“Who are you?” He did, and there was something….right about the fact that this being who didn’t trust anyone was giving me his back.

I hissed in sympathy at the mottled bruising that was getting worse even as I watched. “What hit you?”

“I believe he is called the Hulk.” Green eyes looked over his shoulder at me with curiosity.

“Then I think you’re lucky. From what I know, he’s stupidly strong. I’m gonna go find you some ice for the swelling so you can at least move a bit more easily.”

“Who are you?”

“I’m the person who’s been dreaming about you for years. Didn’t know it was you til now though.”

Confusion then understanding dawned in his eyes. “I did a spell, a very long time ago. I always thought it failed.”

“What kind of spell?” I stood and headed toward the half ruined bar.

“Someone to be by my side as my brother should have been.” His voice was soft, vulnerable. I froze.

“Well then.” I gathered some ice and brought it back to him after a moment. “Guess I’ll do that then. Everyone deserves someone by their side.”

He struggled to sit up fully then smiled at me. It was a small, sad thing. “Are you sure about that?”

“Positive.” I nodded, smiling back. “I know a little of what you’ve been through. I have your back.”

He laughed and rested his forehead against mine….then all of the sudden…

I was so different from everyone around me. Bright gold hair and muscles were everywhere, even my brother, but I was long and lanky with dark hair. I didn’t have the muscles, but I so wanted to be like my amazing older brother. Mother did her best to teach me the best ways to fight while being small, and it worked! I could almost keep up on the training grounds, without my magic! Mother taught me magic too, helping me learn and grow and nurturing my interests in a way no one else did.

I learned and grew and idolized my brother. father told us we were both meant to rule as he told us stories of the glories of past wars. Brother and I

Brother gained new friends, the warriors three. They had another hanger on, a girl, Sif. I thought maybe we could be friends because we were both so different. It was not to be, as she took more after my golden brother. One would think she was his sibling rather than me. That was okay. I was just grateful he and his friends let me tag along. They liked it more when I could help them thanks to my magic.

Brother told me magic wasn’t a manly thing to do. It’s always amused him though. But…I suppose Asgardians are more about the muscle, aren’t they. I tried to build muscle like he did, but it didn't work. I got better with throwing knives, learning to strike before anyone realized I was even there. It was considered cowardly, but I didn't have the sheer strength of the other Aesir. Decades of adventures and danger and being treated worse and worse led me to spending more and more time in the library until I found an old spell. The concept intrigued me. Forgotten sedir that would allow him to find that bond, that connection with someone that he'd once had with his brother before they grew apart so harshly. That bond he so desperately desired and craved, as the outcast of the royal family. No one in his life gave me that bond, and as time passed and I still lacked such a close connection to anyone, I gave the idea up as a failed experiment. Life continued, Thor's adventures and having to talk them out of danger, a few memorable moments of mischief, Thor in a wedding gown, Odin manipulating me into seducing a stallion, my first child ripped away before I could even get to hold him, rumors circulating, my brother becoming more of a stranger, secluding myself in the library more and more. Then the day of Thor's attempted coronation, trying to talk to the man I still thought of as my father about my concerns and being brushed off. Having to trick a couple Jotun into appearing in the Vault. Everything going so terribly, horrifically wrong. Heimdall committing treason, turning blue, Thor's banishment, learning about being adopted, Father falling into the Odinsleep, being the temporary king, Thor still managing to cause trouble, Heimdall committing treason again, Laufey, the fight on the bifrost, falling....falling falling...pain, so much pain. a blue jeweled scepter, new thoughts and ideas, preparing to lead and army to Midgard, the defenders, the green beast, then a human, covered in dust and bruises, calling me an asshole with soft eyes and gentle hands as she helped and...oh. That bond was so much better than I ever thought it could be.

I opened my eyes again as myself and smiled at Loki. "You are so amazing."

"W-What?"

"You are amazing. You've experienced so much and done so much and are just amazing." I pulled him into a close hug, squeezing him tightly. "I'm so proud of you." For a moment, Loki was stiff in my hug before utterly melting, burying his face in my shoulder. It wasn't long before I felt my shoulder growing damp as he cried. I just held him tightly and hummed softly and off key to whatever showtunes were in my brain.

"Don't leave?" His voice was so much smaller than it should have been, thick with tears and the pain he'd been dealing with alone for far too long.

"Never Loki. You're mine." I assured, stroking his hair. "I'm not leaving your side, as long as I live."

"You'll live a very long time now." He muttered, starting to pull himself off of me.

"I know. And you'll live a much shorter time. I'm sorry about that."

"It's okay. I'd rather a short life with someone who truly cares than a long one without."

"I know." It was weird to know all these things I hadn't before. "I love you, big brother."

"And I love you too, Sister."

"You need rest. I'd say let's go somewhere but..."

"But I attacked the city and need to atone for the crimes I committed."

"And I think you're too worn out to actually do anything to protect us if we ran."

"Indeed." He sighed and laid back into the hole created by the Hulk. "At least this spot is exactly the right size."

I winced at the feeling of rubble pressing into bruises. "I'll grab the cushions from the couch. It'll be better for our back."

"Good thinking."

"I'm used to caring for bruises."

"I've noticed. I'm not exactly sure how you've managed to live this long."

"Oh, don't worry. You're not the only one wondering that." I laughed, pulling ruined cushions off a couch that probably cost more than I made in a year.

"You should sleep too." He snagged them easily as I tossed them over.

"I'll be fine. I want to make sure no one tries anything while you're out of it." I helped him tuck the cushions behind him so that he could rest more comfortably.

"We're tied closely enough that I don't know you'll have a choice."

I hummed my agreement, curling up next to him. "Either way, I'm staying here and doing my best to protect you."

"Puny mortal." He teased, gently stroking my hair.

I lightly slapped his chest before resting my head over his heart. "Silly god."

"Trix are for kids?" I could feel the sleep pulling at our consciousness.

"Mmhm. Sleep hun."

"K..."

#Fire’s writings and drabbles #loki #marvel mcu #au #self insert #AU after the avengers #back to 2012 avengers fic #old tropes #chaos #more about fun than canon #character Fire #not to be confused with real person Fire #fanfic

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134340am · 2 years

Text

pierced

oikawa tooru + iwaizumi hajime x gn!reader, 1.1k words, suggestive.

“get back here! you’ve been avoiding my hugs for two weeks—two weeks too many!”

with reflexes you never knew you had, you leap over the couch in your cramped living room, round the sharp corner dividing said living room and your own room, and slam the door shut before tooru can try to grab you.

peace and quiet.

the familiar comfort of your own space doesn’t last long, however—within seconds, you can hear tooru whining outside our door like a kicked puppy. muffled, pitiful cries of “i’ll wither away and die, i’m serious!” and “it’s just a hug!” echo through your door, and your stomach flips anxiously at the thought of facing him. under normal circumstances, you’d have obliged and let him in already, but not now.

not today.

you slump against the door, putting your weight on it and determined to keep your best friend out, but your hands find the doorknob on instinct when you hear tooru’s exaggerated whines turn into yelps of pain instead.

“ow, ow, ow, iwa-chan— ouch!”

“you don’t fucking chase someone around the house because they don’t wanna hug you, shittykawa—”

“let go! i swear, i’m already balding—”

“stop being a damn crybaby.”

“don’t act like you’re not hug-deprived too!”

“shut your trap, trashykawa!”

oh, that’s it.

you love your two best friends, you really do, but they can be such a pain in the ass to deal with sometimes. you yank open your door, only to be met by the sight of the two grown men tangled in a misshapen pretzel, tugging on each other’s hair with their teeth bared.

the ridiculous sight had you sighing deeply in regret. but perhaps it was time you explained yourself, lest these two idiots end up actually hurting each other, or worse—balding from violence-induced hair pulling.

“stop it, idiots. let me explain.”

a quick glance back at your dark bedroom had you cringing at the intimacy of the space. you herd the two idiots—their hands now off of each other, thank goodness—back to the living room, where you sit them down on the couch.

you sit cross-legged on the floor to get comfortable. when you look up at the two men, their legs spread naturally and attention fully trained on you, whatever control you thought you had over the situation went flying out the window.

all of a sudden, in front of their bulging biceps and broad shoulders, you felt very small.

“you don’t have to say anything if you don’t want to,” hajime starts. “but—and i hate to say this—for the sake of my sanity, i’d like to know why you’ve been avoiding us.”

“i haven’t been avoiding you,” you pout, eyes averted to tooru’s sock-clad feet. he’s wearing his favourite ironman ones today. cute. “i just… don’t feel comfortable hugging anyone right now.”

“but you’ve never said no to a hug,” says tooru, genuine concern edging his tone. and in a somewhat smaller voice, he adds, “especially not a hug from me.”

a laugh escapes you before you could help it—made up of half-air and half-fear. “it’s not like i don’t want to hug you, tooru, but… it’s more like i physically can’t.”

with your best friends’ faces swimming with confusion and concern, you decide it’s best to just show them what you mean. you grip the hem of your oversized sweatshirt and pull it up quickly, peaking over the edge shyly.

silence.

their reactions are mixed—tooru lurches forward immediately to take a closer look, and it took all of you to not flinch at how near he was. hajime freezes up completely, eyes the size of dinner plates and knuckles turning white from how hard he’s gripping the fabric of his grey sweats. you wonder if he liked what he saw.

“pretty,” tooru whispers, and you blush at how his close proximity sends a swift puff of breath brushing over your chest.

“thanks.” your voice was just above a whisper, and you clear your throat in embarrassment as the two men continue to ogle at your chest.

tooru reaches out on instinct, entranced by the shiny silver jewellery, but you smack his hand away immediately. “hey! at least ask first.”

that breaks hajime out of his reverie.

“yeah, shittykawa. fucking ask first.” hajime cursed. then, as if nothing happened, he redirects his attention to you. “so can we? touch you?”

“no. i got it done recently and it still hurts a little.” you tug your top back down and fold your hands in your lap. somehow, that went better than you expected.

tooru flops back on the couch and groans exaggeratedly in disappointment, a dramatic arm thrown over his eyes. “so no hugs for… how long more?”

“maybe another week or so.” you shrug.

“that’s too long!”

“...you’ll live.”

“no, i won’t.”

“let’s stop talking about this.”

“how about back hugs?” hajime pipes up next to tooru.

you blush at the thought, fingers curling up into your palm. “can we start the movie now? please?”

the two idiots acquiesced, sensing your palpable embarrassment that rolled off your figure. there was some shifting around—hajime helps you up onto the couch before shuffling off to grab the remote, while tooru manoeuvres you into his lap. it was a little too stuffy to cuddle today but you let him, figuring you at least owed him this much after two weeks of running for the hills whenever you saw him with his arms outspread.

besides, you like when tooru back hugs you like a cuddly teddy bear—a hundred eighty from his usual confident, almost cocky demeanour.

you drape your legs over hajime’s lap as the movie starts. like clockwork, his fingers find your calves—in firm, circular motions, he works out the soreness in your legs, taking care not to press too hard. you giggle softly when his fingertips dance over the back of your knee, but go silent when they travel further up your thigh before retracting.

as always, tooru passes out first, a victim of his early mornings and strenuous schedule. when his breathing stills and his hands fall from your body, hajime leans over to tug you into his lap instead. you sleepily comply, snuggling into his warmth while the movie droned on in the background.

in mere minutes, your eyelids were heavy and drooping. you melt into hajime, limbs feeling like goo and head fuzzy with the promise of sleep.

just as you were about to pass out, you feel a familiar hand brush dangerously close to your side, tugging your body impossibly closer.

hajime speaks, warm breath tickling your ear.

“so. they heal in a week, huh?”

a/n: !!! i had this rotting in my drafts since FEBRUARY for some reason... she finally got out of the dungeon can we have a round of applause everyone T^T

(masterlist)

#this is for my besto friendo—you know who you are ^o^#iwaizumi x reader #iwaizumi hajime x reader #oikawa x reader #oikawa tooru x reader #haikyuu x reader #haikyuu fluff #iwaizumi fluff #oikawa fluff #yuna writes

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areiton · 10 months

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Cap-IM Rec Week Day 3

It’s All About AUs today!!! AU’s are my favorite, when talented authors take my favs and put them in a completely different situation and world and still makes them recognizable. Whittling it down for today’s rec list for @cap-ironman was especially difficult, but here are five of my favorite kinds of AUs.

(By Any Other) Name by Captain_Panda

When Steve went down with the Valkyrie, he thought his days with dragons were over.

Then he meets Tony Stark, who inherited Howard Stark's dragon.

As the kids say: "It's complicated."

This Dragon!AU series is my favorite dragon AU. The world building is excellent, as is the relationship developed between Steve and Tony. I think I’ve read it a half dozen times and already look forward to the next reread.

Knight of Wands by Sineala

Steve has reigned as king for ten years, and in a few days peace will finally come to his kingdom. Representatives of the Kree Empire are soon to arrive for the negotiations that will end the war between them once and for all. Steve is looking forward to settling down, with his hand-picked Avengers at his side -- led, of course, by the masked knight Iron Man -- and also his trusted advisors, the most beloved of whom is Tony, his court magician, the most powerful mage in all the land.

But when Steve's life is endangered, Tony makes the greatest sacrifice of all to protect his king, a sacrifice far greater than his life. And when Tony disappears under mysterious circumstances, Steve learns that even his closest friends keep secrets that he could never have suspected.

I have a soft spot a mile wide for King/Lionheart stories, especially when Steve is the king and Tony is advisor/wizard/knight. It’s just a perfect dynamic, and as always, Sine is flawless at telling a story.

I Whisper Your Name on Each Star I See Falling by JezebelGoldstone, littleblackbow

The day Natasha first told Steve her idea, he never would have dreamed that her fool notion would land him here: watching the train roll into the station and trying to wrap his mind around the fact that somewhere in there is the man who agreed to marry him.

Steve, an alpha farmer living outside a small town in the Rockies who doesn't want to admit how lonely he is, has been exchanging letters with omega Tony for nearly a year. When at last Tony arrives in Big Eden, Steve is confronted with the fact that he doesn't know Tony as well as he thought he did - and falls for him harder than a landslide anyway.

This one is hard--arranged marriage au’s are near and dear to my heart, and picking just one was near impossible. But how soft Steve is with Tony in this one breaks me every time I read it, so--here you are.

Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree by Annie D (scaramouche)

Steve doesn’t mind that Tony doesn’t return his feelings. He just would've preferred if it didn’t come with the side effect of his coughing up flowers and possibly dying.

I struggled between hanahaki or soulmate AUs, and decided on this because I’d put soulmates in an earlier list this week. Hanahaki is both beautiful and heartbreaking, just the way I like my fic. This one is amazing.

ad astra by Areiton

The first time he kissed Tony Stark, the stars danced overhead.

Ok, I might be cheating a little by including my own AU here, but. I really love this one? It’s a space AU which I always love, and plays with the movie from 2019. Anyway, it remains one of my favorite pieces of writing.

#capimrecweek #cap-im #stevetony #stony #steve rogers #tony stark #iron man #captain america

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aurumacadicus · 1 year

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Just saw a post of a TikTok saying cardio/running doesn’t make you skinny and as someone who runs regularly I want to add something without derailing the post.

Most of the thin people you see in pictures/on podiums were thin before they started running. If they weren’t, they also changed their diets substantially in conjunction with their exercise. People who run competitively or do long distance running want to be as fast as possible and to do that isn’t just physical; it’s caloric, too. To run long distances and run them well requires fuel. Every time I pick up running again (I’m a fair weather runner, I hate being out in the cold), because I don’t eat before my run, I am starving by the time I get home. Yeah you’re burning calories, but extended running is a strain on the body. It’s why long distance runners carry snacks (nutrient-dense stuff made specifically for running) that they eat at certain points of their runs to make sure they have the right amount of fuel for their bodies.

My older sister, when she trains for marathons, has bought a meal plan to make sure she gets the right amount of food for the distances she goes. I have a copy somewhere I can get a picture of to show you if you’re interested. The food is healthy but it’s also calorically dense. Carb loading isn’t a joke, it’s something common in long-distance runners. My mom has made offhand remarks that she’s surprised my sister isn’t skinnier with all the running she does and I’m just like. Have you seen how much she eats? She’s constantly trying to top her marathon PR and to be fast as fuck you’ve got to be fueled as fuck. This year she’s training for a half-Ironman so I get the feeling if she’s not working out she’s going to be eating.

So like. I’m sorry if I ever made you think I ran to lose weight and that you could too. I run because my sister runs and we like to do it “together” (she zooms around the track and waves each time she passes me, I huff and puff and feel accomplished because I did something, we finish at the same time and complain about the same fucking insects that bothered us). I run because it doesn’t require a gym membership, just a good pair of sneakers and a sports bra, which I already own. I run because I like the way my legs look after I build muscle on them. I run because I also have a drive to beat my 5K PR and have dreams of running a 10K.

I do not run because I want to be skinny. That’s just setting myself up for failure. I burn three hundred calories maybe when I run and I eat it all back because I’m not in a position to change my diet right now. And I’m okay with that.

#reioka runs #health and body

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thestarkerisobvious · 2 years

Text

Two Sore Arms - Conclusion

by @cutepandaprincess

and myself

Chapters 1-2 are here

Chapter 3 is here

Chapter 4

Peter was happy to be in Tony's embrace. Everything made sense when he was there.

"Thank you, Daddy" he murmured after a while in that position "You're the best."

“Angel…” Tony breathed, but he didn’t say anything else for a while.

For a while, they both slept.

Tony knew Peter slept when he jerked awake, tensing in Tony’s arms. Tony would tighten his arms and kiss his hair, murmuring reassurances, until the boy relaxed again. Then Tony would find Peter squeezing his hands, calling his name gently, reminding him that he was all right.

“Oh god,” Tony moaned finally, sitting up. He pulled away from Peter’s arms and stretched, yawning largely. But when Peter made no move to get up he finally lay back down again, wrapping his arms around his young lover and kissing him on the back of the neck.

Oh god, he had it so bad for this kid.

He said nothing about it. He never had. He never would. Because there was no point in that train of thought - that train of thought only led to disaster - so he shut it down fast. Hard.

He shut it down the way he usually did… by talking.

“I am going to, you know…” he said wickedly. He moved forward just enough to press a kiss against the warm skin of Peter’s neck.

“Tomorrow night. When we play our special game. Daddy’s going to make you feel so good…”

Peter was still half asleep, but felt a shiver running down his neck spreading over his body. "Hmm… Daddy..." he hummed, perhaps thinking he was still dreaming.

"How?"

“Oh… Daddy knows lots of ways to make his little guy happy…”

Of course, the difficulty lay in thinking of just ONE way, and more importantly, how to EXPRESS it. But after a moment of thinking, Tony hit upon an idea. Sitting up, he reached up one hand to stroke Peter’s hair a little out of his face. Then, kissing the shell of his ear, Tony began.

“Sometimes… sometimes I know you like to play with Daddy’s cock…”

He grinned down and stroked Peter’s cheek as it blushed. “But you’re too shy to ask, unless it’s very late at night, and very dark, and I’m holding you very close.

“Sometimes after the shower, when we’re clean and dry and snuggly, you like to ask to play with it, to hold it in your little hand… oh your little hand feels so good…”

Peter felt his skin shivering, his lower parts responding almost immediately. Tony was right. He was too shy to ask when they were up and in daylight. But at night when they were alone…

“... I know you like to try to fit all of it in your mouth… and I always tell you that it takes practice, but Daddy doesn’t let you practice very much, does he? And I know I’ve been promising, been promising for a while, that I would let you finish someday. That I would let you taste Daddy’s come… I know you don’t think it’s fair that Daddy gets to taste your sweetness over and over again, and maybe it’s not fair. Maybe, tomorrow night, Daddy will be good and take turns, just like his baby said he should…”

That perked Peter's head up. Looking into Tony's eyes he asked, "Promise?" He needed to know if Tony was being serious. He had asked him so many times.

The catch in Peter’s voice made Tony’s heart hurt just a little. “Daddy hasn’t been very good to you, has he? I’m sorry, I’ve been greedy… yes, baby. I promise.”

Peter looked at him with his big doe eyes, but he was trying to analyze. Trying to analyze Tony's mind. Analyze his soul. He had been promised things before and been... disappointed. He shifted his shoulders until he could look the older man full in the face. Then he took the bearded chin in one hand, making their eyes focus on each other's.

"Tony…" he said quietly. "Do you really promise that?"

And there it was.

Sometimes this boy in his arms could make his heart stop.

This was one of those moments. When the fearless Ironman found himself closing his eyes. Because there was nowhere else to hide.

He kept his eyes closed, and he spoke.

“When we both… feel better we’ll… we’ll have a date night. And we’ll…

“...we’ll take it slow.”

“And Daddy will… and I’ll let you. Yes. I know it means a lot to you swee… Peter. And I yeah, I’ve been holding out on you. So… if… if we can… and if you still want to then…

He spoke very carefully. He didn’t make promises he didn’t keep.

And Peter knew that.

“And then… and then I’ll try. I promise.”

“Thank you, Tony,” Peter murmured, noses touching. “I trust you with all my heart.” He felt his cheeks burning, caressing Tony’s chin. “Okay?”

“Oh…”

It was the sound of a grown man losing his breath.

But he covered it well.

“Oh yes, sweetheart. Oh, yes. That is more than okay.”

Tony pulled the boy close to him, closing his arms tightly around that little bit of magic. He wasn’t entirely sure he was going to actually agree to Peter’s request, though. He turned it over in his mind, weighing the possibilities even as he drifted off to sleep. He wasn’t completely sure he could allow Peter to really go down on him … certainly not to completion, anyway. Certainly he wanted to give his lover anything he wanted, but still…

On the one hand, Tony wanted to be a more generous lover. More giving. Wanted to be the man who could let go more, give up more control.

On the other hand…

…on the other hand, if he came in Peter Parker’s mouth, it might end in disaster.

Because Tony had a secret.

And Tony wasn’t sure if he could keep that secret much longer.

Tony was secretly, desperately, eternally in love with this young man.

And if he came in his angel’s mouth one night, well…

…that might be the night that secret might just slip out.

THE END

#Starker #Peter Parker/Tony Stark #Trigger Warning: use of the word 'daddy''#TheWticheway writes stuff #CutePandaPrincess And I Write Together #tony stark has a heart #TONY FEELS #Tony Needs A Hug

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nerdyenby · 1 year

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ANTMAN AND THE WASP QUANTUMANIA SPOILERS

Marvel trilogies go so hard

In Ironman 3, Tony destroyed the suits to let go of his obsession and paranoia to try to build a proper life for himself and Pepper.

In Captain America Civil War, Steve gives up the shield after refusing the accords and giving up any remaining patriotism, choosing his friends and family over his country.

In Thor Ragnorak, Thor’s hammer is destroyed by his sister as he finds out his father had lied to him his entire life, he then learns that Mjolnir is merely a tool and that he himself is the source of his power.

Not pictured but the third Avengers film is Infinity War and they lose. They lose the fight, half their people, their purpose, their morale, and each other.

In Spiderman No Way Home, Peter loses his family. He just lost Tony, no longer has any privacy, watches May die, loses everyone he’s ever known, and starts over from scratch with a suit he made himself.

In Antman and the Wasp Quantumania, Scott’s helmet breaks in his final fight. Very reminiscent of CW, his symbol — his protection — is damaged and cast aside in the heat of battle. Keep in mind that the helmets are crucial to Pym technology, shrinking without it causes irreparable changes to a person’s neurochemistry. There’s a reason that final duel was a fist fight, there was no escape. Scott is no trained fighter, but the very first time we meet him in the original Antman is him getting punched in the face. After all he’s been through, he’s still just a guy outmatched, but he’s never let that stop him before and it’s certainly not going to now.

In every third movie, the protagonist loses their symbol. What they’re known for — what they rely upon — is taken from them, willingly or otherwise. They’re stripped to the bare bones of who they are as people and are left to try to figure out what that means, how they make it out when they lose their sense of self and their source of strength.

#don’t mind me I’m merely Thinking #marvel #mcu #antman quantumania spoilers #antman quantamania #antman and the wasp #antman #scott lang #film analysis

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sleepingsun501 · 1 year

Note

What is something that you're proud of, but you never get to talk about?

Oh wow, thank you for this great question!! Something I’m very proud of is that I finished a half Ironman when I was 17. For those who don’t know, a half Ironman is a 1.2 mile swim, a 56 mile bike, and a 13.1 mile run all completed consecutively. It took a year of dedicated training to prepare for that, and I was the youngest one competing. It was a great day.

#thank you for the ask!#sleepingsun501 answers

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abbatoirablaze · 2 years

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The Avenger's Initiative, Chapter 9

Word Count: 4.7k

Warnings: depictions of rape (mentioned beforehand), abduction/kidnapping, basement wife, Stockholm syndrome, mention of violence

Steve’s POV

"Bunny, I can hear you," I all but yelled as she hopped into my arms excitedly. I spun her around and set her back on the ground, "I just heard you calling my name! Tell me it's real. Tell me I'm really hearing you. Tell me I'm not just hallucinating!"

'Steve! It's me.' She replied, 'It's me.'

Her silky voice echoed through my mind, and I couldn't stop the grin that was on my face. Thoughts of me kissing her raced through my mind and her eyes went wide.

Shit. Did she see that?

She blushed and I let go of my grip on her waist quickly. She looked down at the ground as I searched for some way to explain it.

"I-uhm, I-"

"What the hell is going on?"

Bucky glared at the two of us and she turned to him with a returning glare.

"Hey, hey," I whispered, taking her hand. She turned towards me. It felt like she was just rambling a list of words into my head, "hey. Don't worry about him, okay?"

'Misogynistic Narcissistic asshole.' I watched as she began getting so angry, she literally started to shake.

"You're okay," I whispered, pulling her to me, "I got you, bunny."

She gripped onto me, and I led her back over to her cot. Putting the ice on her jaw, I laid her down and sat with her until she fell asleep.

"What the hell was that?" Bucky asked.

"That gentleman is something you are very welcome for," Loki smiled, coming up the stairs, "I have brokered a deal with the maiden, Jade in the basement. She gives herself to me completely and in return I have given her friend a way to communicate with the lot of you."

"What?"

"Just graced her with a bit of my magic," he smiled, "but it will only last until she can speak again."

"Wait, you mean you could have done this the whole time?"

"Let me remind you, Captain Rogers I've only been here for the better part of a half day," Loki groaned, "and someone that both Ironman and Hulk have told me is off limits doesn't exactly make my high priorities list."

"But her friend does?"

"Precisely," he smiled, "in just half a day I have acquired a choice, and I will have no need for this barbaric ritual that you avengers dabble in. She has agreed willingly to become mine, and mine alone, so I hope that the rest of you animals can stick to a gentlemen’s agreement and not touch her. I really don't understand how it's taken the three of you so long."

Bucky's jaw tightened as did mine. I stood up so that I was toe to toe with Loki, "you got such a problem with it, why you here, Loki?"

"Curiosity," he smugly answered, "and now that I've got what I've come for that curiosity is gone. Just need her to complete your 'training' as you animals require it of her and then we'll be back to the city."

"It's not that simple, Laufeyson," Bucky growled, "don't you think if it was then we'd already be out of here?"

"Has she talked to you yet, Barnes?" Loki asked, studying Bucky. His jaw ticked again, and this time I noticed his arm twitch, "better yet, did she get rid of the tick she gave your arm when she disassembled it from it's socket?"

"What is he talking about?"

"I know what is going on in her head because it's my magic that's allowing her to be involved in communicating with you," Loki grinned, looking at me, "I know what she's thinking about at all times now. For instance. Her dreams. Do you know what she's dreaming about right now? Barnes? Rogers?"

"It's none of your business," Bucky growled, "just like my arm."

"She's dreaming about intimate moments she's had with each of you," he chuckled, taking a few steps towards her. I watched in a frozen state while his magic danced over her form, "she's dreaming about the night that you spent in her bed, cap. She wanted you to kiss her, but she was far too afraid to make a move. Far too shy...so she tried another method. A sneakier one. When her hands touched your crotch accidentally, it wasn't really an accident. She thought you would take the hint, and when you didn’t, she assumed you weren't interested. That you were being a 'good friend' to her. And you, Bucky. The first day she met you, when you took your shirt off and let her examine you. She found it. And she couldn't stop thinking of you, so she slept in your shirt a few times...and the date...she's thinking about if her date had continued...she was ready to give you her virginity...did you know that Sergeant Barnes? A little, mortal virgin. Such a tiny little thing, and she's conflicted. Because she knows that both of you are monsters. But she has feelings for each of you, even though you beat the hell out of her."

"Enough," I growled, looking between her and him. My chest felt heavy as I watched her sleep. Saw how slight the movement was where her thighs squeezed together just light enough to create the tiniest amount of friction as she shifted deeper onto her side, "we don't need to hear this Loki."

"I want to hear it," Bucky replied quickly, instantly changing his mind. I looked at him and he shrugged, "I want to know what she's thinking."

"Seriously?"

Loki smiled, "of course you do, Sergeant Barnes. She probably hasn't said a word to you yet, has she? I feel her hesitation, you know. The guilt. She thinks so much of you. She wants to hate you for what you did to her...but she feels bad because she knows she hit a sequence in your arm that would cause the ticks. She knows that both of you are at fault, and yet, she still fights herself on it. But then there is Captain Rogers…"

"Stop," I growled, looking between Loki and my best friend, "what's in her mind doesn't belong to you."

"No," Loki chuckled, "I'm renting the space. And boy what a show she provides."

"Get out, Loki," I growled, stepping between him and Mira. He held his hands up defensively and looked towards Bucky, "I said get out."

"Just wanted to inform the two of you what was going on," he said in a fake charming voice, "I mean no disrespect."

I looked to Bucky after he went back down the stairs. He was staring at her sleeping form, "Buck?"

"Yeah?"

It sounded like a painful question coming from him. The sadness radiated out from him as he watched her.

"Buck look at me!" I ordered. My best friend tore his eyes away from Mira and stared at me. There was a wonderment there. Curiosity. I felt my jealousy growing, "you know Loki probably just said those things to get under our skin."

"I didn't tell anyone I left my shirt there," he said slowly, "when she texted me, she told me she hadn't seen it, but I caught her going to bed in it a few times before our date."

"That doesn't mean what he's saying is true," I reminded him, "he's probably just saying that to get to you."

"I didn't even tell Bruce and Tony about the ticks in my arm," he reminded me, "she's the only one that knew about that."

I looked down at her sleeping form and she shifted again. Did she really want me to kiss her? Did she really have feelings for me and Buck?

I shook the thoughts from my head and Bucky looked at me, "I can't give up on her bud...I won't give up on her."

"Well, I'm not going to give up either, regardless of what Tony and Bruce said," I added in. I took a deep breath and looked between her and my best friend, "so what do we do now?"

"I don't know," he admitted, "but like I said, Stevie. I'm not giving up on her."

'Steve,' she whimpered, pulling me from the staring contest with my best friend. I looked back at him again and the sadness in his features was replaced with a calm stoniness that he'd learned through the military and as an asset to HYDRA. She refused to meet his gaze, but stared at me, 'Steve.'

"I'm here bunny," I sighed, caving into her needs. I crawled onto the cot and pulled her onto my chest. In her fight against sleep, she gave up, snuggling into my chest, "I got you."

Bucky’s POV

**WARNING: This section contains graphic depictions of rape and adult themes. Please be warned and consume at your own discretion. **

"You're stuck with me yet again, doll," I said to her slowly as I came into the attic. Steve's on duty in the basement today with Thor."

I sat down the tray at the edge of the cot and took my spot at the desk, not bothering to look at her today. The past few rotations both Sam and Loki had made me switch with them, so I'd been forced to be around Mira more than normal. And I'd be lying to say that her refusal to even so much as look at me hadn't taken a toll.

It killed me inside.

She would glare at me nonstop, only taking a break when she pointed downstairs to let me know that she had to go to the bathroom, when she happened to fall asleep, or when she was focusing on working out.

And it felt like my arm started to get worse. More and more I had noticed the ticks. That was yet another example of when she'd stop glaring at me. Yeah, the glares would stop, only for the smirk to appear, and then disappear when her jaw disagreed with the position.

She huffed and I didn't spare a glance at her. Instead, I began looking at the cameras. I could see Steve and Thor heading down with the trays for the girls.

'Steve and Thor didn't make this.'

"No, they didn't," I replied, thinking nothing of it, "I figured the least I could do for you as an early Christmas present was make you breakfast. It'll be the last time I'm up here before then. Rotations and all."

'Bucky.'

"I know the guys don't give you anything extravagant," I said softly, buzzing them into the room, "Brittany told me that was your favorite breakfast though the other day when I saw her."

'Bucky.'

"I know it's a little burnt," I admitted, "but I tried for the better part of an hour trying to make you French toast. I’m not really that great a cook. I only made that one dish for our date because it was easy, and I’ve known how to make it because of my ma. What’s on your plate was the best looking one. And sorry about the fruit. Steve and Thor started eating it themselves."

'Shut up.'

"What?" I asked, turning away from the desk, "are you serious? I spent all morning trying to make your favorite breakfast and you're telling me to shu-"

'Thank you.'

I felt a smile coming to my lips as I realized that she had been talking to me in my mind. Taking her tray and putting it at the desk, she pulled up a second chair and sat beside me.

"Did you just talk to me?"

'Shut up before I change my mind.'

And that stupid fucking smile found it's way back to my face.

She tucked one of her hands under the good side of her jaw and leaned on it, then batted her lashes at me.

"Doll you're talking to me."

'I know.'

I mirrored her actions and leaned against my flesh hand, unable to stop my own happiness as she seemed to have come to terms with our relationship. She smiled lazily at me, and her free hand pushed my hair back and out of my eyes.

"You're being awfully kind."

She looked down at her cup and pulled out a second vitamin. One that I'd convinced Bruce to start her on. A painkiller.

'I know that this wasn't any of the other guys...was it?'

"No," I admitted, "I convinced Bruce to bring it with him."

'And they only show up in my cup on the days that you make my meals.'

I sighed, falling into a half grin as she caught me red-handed.

"Are you mad at me?"

She shook her head, not needing to use the abilities that Loki had given her in those moments. Her eyes flickered from me back to her breakfast. Smiling, she stabbed the French toast with her fork and held it up to me.

'Eat.'

"I made that for you."

'And I want to share it with you. I won’t be able to eat it all anyways. My jaw is getting better, but eating a lot hurts.'

She continued to hold it in front of my face until I begrudgingly opened my mouth. Once I'd chewed and swallowed it, she smiled happily and lightly tapped the side of my face.

'Now that I know you didn't somehow drug it,' she said, sending me a wink. She took her own bite of it now, along with a gulp of her orange juice, and downed her multi vitamin and the painkiller.

We continued our little back and forth of her feeding me some of the French toast, and then her eating some of it on her own until it was gone. Then she took to staring at me and poking my face when she got bored.

"Doll," I tried, not wanting to upset her, "I know you're a little loopy from your meds, but you're gonna have to go lay down. I have to pay attention to the guys now. They already dropped off your lunch and now they're taking the girls theirs."

I didn't so much feel her say anything as I felt an emotion drawing my eyes away from the cameras. She was giving me the sweetest sad face, complete with large doe eyes and pouted lips.

'Where's Brittany?'

"Sam took her out of there last night. She's staying in his room with him now." She cocked her head at me and I felt the need to explain, "once we feel that our chosen girl is committed enough to us, we can pull them from the basement and they start to stay in our rooms with us. If none of the girls progress after three months to our rooms, we end the trial."

She took a deep breath and looked at me through furrowed eyes. When it clicked that us 'ending' the trial meant killing the women she shivered. Her eyes seemed to search mine for something, anything to tell her that I was lying.

'But-'

"It's what we do," I said with a shrug, "most of our exes came from these things. Same with our current partners. Pepper. Rhodey's wife, Jackie. Brittany."

'Have you ever left with someone from here?'

"No," I admitted, shaking my head, "Up until recently I had seen myself as a monster, not worth someone's love...and also admittedly, about five weeks ago I started thinking that again."

She bowed her head in sadness. She knew I was talking about her.

'You're not a monster.' She said slowly, 'I-I thought you were but...a monster wouldn't make me French toast because he knew I was sad. And a monster wouldn’t go out of his way to make sure I had painkillers.'

"Yeah," I replied, "but I guess you're right too. A normal guy would get to know a girl outside of this situation. I still feel like a monster knowing what I did to you...that your jaw is broken because of me.'

Then she looked at me with a glint of humor in her eyes.

'I did manage to disengage your arm and take you down. How many of the others can say that?’

"You didn't take me down," I laughed, shaking my head. She bit her lip and nodded at me, and I let another smile go, "no you didn't. You pushed me over...I was back on you in no time."

'And the ticks?'

She gave me a knowing smile as I felt my jaw drop, "you know?"

'Your pressure points,' she replied, biting her lip, ' I might have hit them in a certain sequence.'

"A LITTLE HELP HERE!"

Both of our attentions turned to the screen where the twins were yelling at Steve, making a mess of the limited area they had access to. I pressed the button that would send a high pitch frequency towards them. While it wasn't something that was fatal, it would be extremely annoying to them. Both girls hunched over, immediately covering their ears.

"Make it stop!"

"PLEASE!"

Mira looked away from me, ashamed at what I just did. Sure, I hadn't physically hurt them, but it was something aimed at them, nonetheless. I saw her look down at the ground and begin fiddling with the bottom of the tee-shirt she was wearing.

When I'd stopped the sound both girls were huddled into small balls and covering their ears, crying.

"Now. Who wants to listen?"

Kenzie hesitantly took the pills and apologized for creating a mess. Her twin, however, spat in his face when he tried to offer the pills to her once again.

"That's it!" he yelled, backhanding her. Stunned, she didn't move. But that was all the time that Steve nodded to rip her jeans and underwear off, leaving her bare in the room.

In a furious rush, Steve began to undo the belt on his jeans. I saw Mira's eyes go wide as she began pulling on my shirt.

'Please. Stop him. Buck-'

"Doll, I can't," I said sadly as I looked at her. Her eyes went back to the screen as she watched Steve rape Danielle, "I can't stop that and you know it."

Tears formed in her eyes as she looked away. Shifting off of her seat, she moved away from me and pushed herself into the corner of her cot, 'Please turn it off. I-I can't see this.'

"Mir-"

'Please,' she whimpered. Watching her, my heart broke in two. She'd seen just what Steve was capable of. And while I didn't want Steve to end up with my girl, I didn't want her to think we were all monsters. I turned off the monitor and watched her as she cried on the cot.

"Steve's not that bad a guy," I offered, "you know, he just-"

'Don't try to make up an excuse for him,' she growled, 'he's raping one of my friends because she didn't listen to him. He's raping her, James.'

She looked up at me again with tear-stained cheeks. While I had turned off the monitor and she couldn't see Danielle and Steve, she could hear the sounds still coming from it. Mackenzie begging him to stop and calling him a monster. Danielle crying and whimpering in pain. Skin slapping skin as Steve took what he wanted.

"I-I can't turn off the sound."

'I know,' she cried. I got out of my chair and made my way over to her. She didn't shrink back from me, so I pulled her into my lap as she continued to cry.

"Hey, don't focus on that," I told her, using the calmest voice I could, "focus on what's going on in here, okay. Do you hear my heartbeat?"

'Yes,' she nodded, 'I hear it.'

"Focus on that. Okay?" I asked.

'But-I-'

"Don't argue," I commanded her. She took a deep breath, and shuddering, she put her head against my chest. I could hear her trying to even out her breathing as she listened to my heartbeat. Slowly rubbing my flesh arm up and down her back, "focus on this. You're doing so well."

Soon enough, her sniffling stopped, and when I couldn't hear the sound of skin on skin, I noticed that she'd fallen asleep. Placing her back down on the cot, I moved back to my chair.

"Buzz me out."

Turning on the screen I saw Steve waiting by the door, a heavy layer of sheen across his forehead. He'd had some scratch marks on his arms and looked pissed off. Danielle was in the corner silently sobbing to herself while her twin was hiding her face in her own corner of the room.

"BUCK!"

Both girls jumped as he yelled at me. I hit the button and he walked out. Thor was coming down the hall with Cassie and Jade.

"Don't worry about the other two," Steve smirked, passing the trio, "already taken care of."

"Where are you off to?"

"Need a shower," he grumbled, "then I'll make them some lunch."

When he got to the top of the basement stairs, he looked at the camera, "you gonna buzz me out or do I have to wait again?"

Mira’s POV

'GET AWAY FROM ME!' I wailed as he tried to touch me, 'GET AWAY!'

"Bunny what's wrong?" he asked. Some drops of water fell off of his still wet hair as he tried to pull me into his arms, "What's wrong with you? What on earth got into you? Did Buck do something?"

He tried to touch me and as he got close enough, I kicked him. I heard a crack as he fell off the cot. The movement was too quick, but when I blinked Bucky and Steve were rolling around on the ground.

"YOU LITTLE BITCH!"

Bucky shoved Steve back, and that's when I saw blood coming down Steve's nose, already dripping onto his tee-shirt. I felt my heart going a million miles a second as Steve's normally brilliant blue eyes were cloudy. He was pissed.

"Steve, back off!"

"Fucking, little bitch."

"STEVE!"

Bucky and Steve glared at one another.

'I don't want him to touch me.'

"He won't. Don't worry, doll," Bucky muttered from in front of the cot, "Steve won't touch you."

"We've been too fucking lenient with all of them," Steve growled, staring directly at me, "and it started with her. You broke her damn jaw Buck, but ever since then these girls have been thinking they're golden. That they don't have anything to be expected of them. THEY ARE OURS! AND IT'S TIME THAT THEY LEARNED THAT."

"What in the world is going on up here?" Sam asked, running up the stairs. Thor and Loki had followed the sound of the scuffle.

"Oh, I see where this is going," Loki grinned, looking directly at me, "did you make the two lovebirds fight, pet?"

"DON'T TALK TO HER!" Steve roared, "None of you talk to her."

"She's not going downstairs," Bucky said definitively, putting an arm back towards me. My eyes went wide, "I know that's what you're referring to, Steve, but she's not going in the basement."

My heart felt like it was pounding in my throat as Steve smirked, "yes. Yes, she is. She's healthy now. She can go into the basement with her friends."

"Did you forget?" Bucky asked, "Banner and Stark said she's off the board. She's not going down there."

"I don't give a damn what Stark says," Steve replied, "she needs to know her place."

'Bucky,' I pleaded, getting off of the cot. I ran up to him and felt myself wrapping around him, 'Don't let them put me down there. Please.'

"She's not going."

"BUCK."

"I'm not arguing it," he said in a deathly low tone, "This isn't up for a debate, punk."

Steve's nostrils flared as he glared at me and Bucky. Then he looked to Sam, Thor, and Loki, "aren't you guys going to say anything?"

"Stark said she was off the board," Thor said dismissively, "we can't put her in the basement, can we?"

"Whose room she gonna stay in then?" Steve asked, "Loki's claiming one of the chicks already. Sam's got his girl..."

"If the two of you fight, Lady Mira will stay in my chambers."

I looked at Thor with wide eyes. It was no secret that he was a bit of a man whore. I doubted that my virginity would stay intact and of my own decision if I were in his room. I looked to Bucky, 'Please. Don't let Steve or Thor take me.'

"She's going to stay in my room."

Steve's jaw twitched and he shook his head, "no way. You broke her jaw."

"And you were about to attack her because she wouldn't let you touch her."

"She doesn't know what she wants."

'I want Bucky!'

The guys all looked at me. Steve's jaw twitched yet again.

'I want Bucky.'

"I think she wants old metal arm," Loki said with a chuckle. I nodded quickly, "well then it's decided. She's going with Barnes."

"Buck, if you want to take some time, you can take Mira to your room," Sam said slowly, "I can watch the screens for you."

I looked up at Bucky and he nodded, holding his hand out to me. Taking it slowly, we walked past Sam, Thor, and Loki and down the stairs. Going onto the landing of the second floor, we walked down the hallway. He led me into a room that went straight back. Opening the door, I saw that it was a simple room. We were in a little sitting area with dark blue colored furniture. While it appeared homey, there was an air that made it feel like I was in a hotel.

"This isn't what my room at the compound looks like if you were curious."

I jumped, forgetting that he had been behind me the entire time. He chuckled.

'It looks homey.'

"You don't have to lie," he laughed, going further into the room. I followed him until we reached the bedroom. He took off his jacket and put it over my shoulders, seeing me shiver a bit at the air conditioning, "I like it cool in here. Let me grab you something to wear."

'I'm fine.'

"Doll, I can see you shivering."

I sighed as he went into the closet and began looking for something that would possibly fit me. Sitting myself down on the bed, I took in the room. That's when I'd noticed the bed was perfectly made, and on the floor was a blanket and pillow.

"I've never been able to feel comfortable in a bed," he admitted, seeing me stare at the floor, "least not since before I went away to war."

'So, you sleep on the floor?'

"Yeah," he nodded. I couldn't stop the look of sympathy that crossed my features, and he turned away, placing a pair of sweatpants and a large tee-shirt on the bed beside me, "I'll let you get changed."

'Bucky.'

But the door closed behind him. Huffing, I got changed out of the pair of shorts and cami that I'd been wearing since I'd been put in the attic. I closed my eyes as I slid the all too big shirt on. It smelled like him.

Looking back down, I felt my sadness come back. I laid the blankets out so that it would look like a made bed, then fluffed up his pillow. Heading back towards the sitting room, I saw Bucky coming out of another door in nothing but a towel.

My mouth went dry.

"Sorry," he muttered, brushing past me so that he could head into his room, "I forgot to grab clothes for myself."

I nodded, unable to tear my eyes away from his form.

"You okay doll?"

I continued to nod, and he chuckled, walking into the bedroom. Part of me wanted to follow him, but against all urges I stayed in the sitting room area. I didn't want him to think of me as some girl following him like a little puppy.

"Mira, you alright?"

Looking up, I saw that he had changed and was staring at me with a mix of concern and curiosity.

'Yeah.'

"I've been trying to talk to you for a few minutes," he replied, "I was just going to ask you if you were hungry? It uh-It's coming up on time for lunch."

'Yeah, sure.'

Chapter 10

Tag List: @krissy25, @lohnes16, @multifandom-world8, @cjand10

#dark marvel #marvel #marvel au #the avengers #steve rogers #captain america #bucky barnes #james barnes #sergeant james barnes #sergeant james buchanan barnes #james buchanan bucky barnes #james buchanan barnes #falcon and winter soldier #the winter soldier #winter soldier #dark steve rogers #soft dark steve rogers #dark avengers #avengers initiative

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mathcat7 · 2 years

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I'm sick and tired of hearing this argument; that proc skills are overpowered and carry the run. Newsflash, the proc skills aren't broken; you're wasting skill slots. There are upwards of a hundred-and-thirty of these things. I can go through the entirety of Conquest Lunatic without a single usage of a Luna. You wanna know what's actually broken? Pair-Up bonuses. Rescuewarp trains. 1-2 range weapons. Canto. Second-gen characters. I could grind for Profiteer early and never find a single gold bar. What's pavise gonna do when your best tank gets blasted by siege magic? And I always hear this argument "Oh Astra is good because it more than doubles your effective damage" Now your sword is broken. How are you gonna kill anything? This isn't casual mode, welcome to the real game. All it would take is one counter-hit from your own ignis to end your own ironman. I mean literally, half of these skills are nothing more than extra rng. You gotta be backshotting my entire asshole if you think that a Rend Heaven is gonna help you kill Anankos. I'm pretty sure fucking Relief is more value producing than Sol. You know how many proc skills do basically nothing? You'd be lucky to hit a vengeance doing any more than 3 extra point of goddamn damage. How is this motherfucker gonna beat an alchemical nightmare of a fell dragon? How the hell is Corrin gonna survive fuga's wild ride with nothing but dragon fang? Here's your answer Einstein; they don't. Ever heard of Hexing Rods, dumbass? What are you gonna do against Inevitable End Enfeeble? Get out of Valla and into reality. I bet every dollar Fire Emblem has ever made that you'd get freed up by Conquest 23 and Rallyman. Fuck me, remove half the shitty procs from the equation, I'd like to see Luna Nephenee outperform vantage wrath. What's she gonna do when she has to take EP fights against Feral Ones and they oneshot her bumpkin ass? Your argument sucks. you suck. I win. suck my dick.

#fire emblem #fire emblem fates #fe #fire emblem awakening #enjoy my copypasta

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masterofthelivingforce · 2 years

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Grief is just love with nowhere to go

starter for @ironifiicd

Grief is just love with nowhere to go.

Despite having read hundreds of books by enlightened philosophers and Masters of the Mystical Arts alike, what unexpectedly came to Quinn’s mind in that moment was a Doctor Who quote: painfully honest in its simplicity, it defined Quinn’s pain and didn’t offer any useless platitude.

Many people had offered Quinn their condolences, but they had all slid off of him like water off a rock - maybe because that for all that Ben had been loved by all, the Snap had caused so many victims no one could spare the young apprentice more than a brief moment of sorrow.

The human mind, for its own sake, had a limited capacity for pain before it became numb, and those times were testing everyone’s limits.

Thing was, Quinn had been beside Ben when it happened. They’d been sparring, with the apprentice outrageously sassing his master in an effort to distract Quinn long enough to land a hit. Ben had been commenting on Quinn’s failure at romance when he’d suddenly stopped and just -

He’d looked at Quinn, eyes wide like a spooked horse, a grimace of pain on his face, and then he’d started to dissolve into dust. Quinn had immediately jumped to his help, throwing a spell of protection, hoping to cut Ben off from whatever magic was affecting him, but to no avail: in the span of a few seconds his beloved apprentice was no more.

No warning, no noise, no nothing. Just the terrified look in Ben’s green eyes as he’d looked at Quinn, silently begging his master to save him.

Quinn’s first reaction had been rage. He’d stormed off, rallying their ranks against the invisible enemy, only to discover that the same had happened to other people in the London Sanctum - and when he’d ran to Kamar-Taj, he’d discovered that it happened universe-wide.

The first few days that same rage had fuelled Quinn as he joined his brothers and sisters into trying to find a solution. They’d pulled off the shelves pretty much all the books in their libraries, hoping to find some solution in the writing of their ancestors, both human and not, they’d reached out to similar Orders on other planets, but to no avail.

As the days went on and it dawned that they couldn’t do shit to bring their loved ones back, the anger dimmed and despair rose. Wong, their new Supreme Sorcerer, was helping the Avengers locate Thanos, so that they could take the Gauntlet and the Infinity Stones back and reverse the Snap, but Quinn had a sick feeling of dread even as he grasped at the straws of his rage.

(Rage was so much easier to handle than sorrow.)

All over the world people had funerals for the Snapped. The Order had a commemorative ceremony as well, where all the names of their lost ones had been inscribed in stone in Kamar-Taj, but even as Wong gave a speech about not losing hope, deep down Quinn had already known that there was none.

Then the Avengers really did find Thanos, and discovered that the Titan had destroyed the Stones.

And just like that, Ben was really gone forever.

Ever the stubborn man, Quinn had refused to crumble under the weight of his grief. He’d maintained his British stiff upper lip and he’d thrown himself into his duties as Master of the London Sanctorum. He’d kept the place running despite being half-staffed, training the remaining Sorcerers to fill the gaps in their ranks, supporting and helping his grieving brothers and sisters, offering to help Wong with whatever he needed. If he kept himself busy enough, eventually the sorrow would pass on its own, surely.

He couldn’t afford to be weak when his Order needed him to be strong.

Eventually, Wong had taken him up on his offer - but instead of asking him to protect Earth from some extraplanet or extraplanar enemy, the Supreme Sorcerer had asked Quinn to help with the rehabilitation of Tony Stark, the Ironman.

Apparently, the man had been stranded for way too damn long on a spaceship drifting through space and was now little more than a corpse with a pulse. Because that was a thing that could happen, apparently.

Quinn had jumped on the chance to distract himself and he’d accepted, of course. He was no doctor with a PhD like Stephen had been, but he was versed in the magical arts of healing body, soul and mind.

The first few times he’d met Tony Stark, the man had been almost comatose. Quinn had conferred with Stark’s personal doctor, thankfully an enlightened woman who’d easily accepted his magical help, and together they’d drafted a plan to get the man back to health.

When he’d finally been able to talk to his new patient, Quinn had been surprised to discover that pretty much everything he’d ever heard about Tony Stark was a lie. He wasn’t arrogant as much as he was very self-confident: he wasn’t a conceited asshole, he wasn’t mean to people around him. He was actually pretty funny, with a humour very in line with Quinn’s.

What had endeared him to the Sorcerer, though, had been how Stark - Tony, actually, they quickly switched to first-name basis - wore his guilt.

It was a feeling Quinn could relate to all too well.

And that day…

That day Quinn had forced himself to finally go into Ben’s room at the London Sanctorum to box his things.

The place had been left untouched. There had been a layer of dust on everything: the floor, the nightstands, the desk, the shelves, the books, the knick-knacks.

And under the dust of abandonment, the room felt jarringly lived-in. Ben’s dirty clothes were still in the hamper beside the door. His laptop was still charging. The bed was still unmade, sheets rumpled and his PJs lying around.

Ben was never coming back.

In the privacy of that empty room, Quinn had broken. He’d crumpled on the bed, crying his heart out, grief ravaging him until he was shaking and trembling and sobbing.

The claws of a Dauij demon had left some impressive scars on Quinn’s chest, but the physical pain of those wounds had nothing on the way his whole body hurt from Ben’s death.

Forcing himself to stand up and box everything Ben had owned was perhaps the single hardest thing Quinn had ever done in his life. Tears running down his cheeks, he pulled all the clothes out of the closet, the books off the shelves, the posters off the walls, the knick-knacks off the desk, and neatly put them in cardboard boxes.

He remembered the day Ben had come to the Order, a lost stray off London streets.

He remembered the first time Ben had managed a portal, his infectious excitement.

He remembered all the times they had tea in the middle of the night because neither could sleep, in quiet company and perfect harmony.

He remembered showing Ben countless planets and interdimensional planes, the wonder in the boy’s eyes and the way his smile made him shine.

And throughout it all, Quinn had never told Ben that he was like a son to him, that he loved him.

Grief is just love with nowhere to go.

When all the boxes had been taped close and put in the basement, Quinn had desperately needed to do something useful: he felt restless, his grief eating him from the inside, and he feared that if he were to try and train or practice magic in that state he'd hurt someone - probably himself.

So Quinn had opened a portal and had gone to visit his patient in the United States, even if there was no visit scheduled for that day. Tony could do with one more check-up, considering how he always tried to push his limits.

“Hello, Master St. John,” F.R.I.D.A.Y.’s voice greeted Quinn when he stepped out of the portal in the Avenger Compound’s lobby - it was basic Sorcerer etiquette not to portal directly into someone’s apartment. “I’m informing Mister Stark of your arrival. Please take the elevator on your right.”

“Thank you Friday.” A.I. or not, his ma had raised him with good manners.

Up the elevator he went.

#Grief is just love with nowhere to go #marvel au #starter

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