aubreyreadsstuff

[aubreyreadsstuff]

Listen. I don't care if you read the operator manual to a super hornet. It's not fair you know the operator manual to my fucking heart and what exactly to do to make me do a fucking tailspin. I'm DYING HERE.

Terms Of Endearment is one of the best series I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. I can’t wait for the next update.

I hammered through this last night. It just came out of me. And that’s from your support and concepts and interactions. So thank you.

A little bit of a filler chapter but a necessary chapter. As always, here the Terms Of Endearment Masterlist.

Warnings: Jaidyn….just anything to do with Jaidyn at this point.

***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~

“It's nice to finally meet you.” Bradley couldn't help but to beam at you from across the booth he’d slid into across from you. “I mean, other than the time you told me to fuck off.” The Hard Deck was the first place Jake had brought you when he was finally able to get you out of the house. He thought the social interaction would be good for you. What he wasn't banking on though was that his wingman would gravitate to you instantly. Like a moth drawn to a fucking flame. Honestly, he should have expected it. 

“I've been meaning to apologise for that.” You smiled as softly as you could back at the moustache clag man sitting across from you and your daughter. “I wasn't in a good place.” 

“No need to explain.” Rooster took a sip of his beer as he watched you feed your little girl, she was too busy smiling up at him to register that you were holding up some mashed potato to her lips. “Just promise that I'll get a chance to see you around more often?” You couldn't help but to laugh. “And hear that laugh.” You just nodded in response. Feeling the heat righting in your cheeks the longer you sat in the booth in the corner of the Hard Deck with Bradley.

“Apparently Jake set me up with a job, so I think I'll be sticking around for a while if I'm being honest.” Bradleys lips twitched up into a shit eating smirk that's so pure, there's just something about you that has him so intrigued. He's got his sights set on you. 

“You Navy?” He asks just to keep you talking, wanting to know everything about you but he’d settle for what you were willing to tell him. 

“Indeed, not an Aviator like you bunch though, I’m just the engineer that makes sure your million dollar toys don't fall apart mid flight.” Again, you smiled, reaching across to stick your hand out to shake Bradley Bradshaw's hand for the first time. Ever. You were sure there was a spark there when his fingers grazed yours. “Fix it Felix at your service.” 

Bradley could have swore he felt his heart skip a beat when your hand slid into his for the first time. He couldn't speak, he just sat there and stared until you were clearing your throat. “Are you still there?” 

“uh – yeah! Yeah I'm just–” Rooster didn't know how to explain it but it felt like he'd been hit by a bus. So he settled for something super easy to manage. “Felix, its an honour to meet you, I’m Rooster–” 

***~***~***~***~***~***~***~

“Okay, okay, okay—“ Sometimes Amilia felt as if she strived for a life of apathy, she’d partake in callous deeds and other mindless acts of greed. There wasn’t jack for free these days, she even thought if given the chance they'd try and tax you just for breathing. 

“Fuck, fuck, fuck—“ It's like she fought day to day just to remind herself that she bled like everyone else. Mortal and unsure of her own significance in the world. She took flight in the night from lack of sleep because peace of minds the only time that she felt free. Her own insecurities had a hold on her, but she chased that feeling well into the morning if given the chance to. 

“Don’t think about it, just do it—“ Amilia Fisher was abundantly aware that she was just a grain of sand getting washed from God's hands, nothing but a lamb in the great expanse. She caught herself constantly staring into space, feeling so damn insignificant. Primal on the vinyl she felt cro-magnificent. But she was far that. She was important and she was significant and she was all the things she thought she wasn’t. She was just programmed differently. 

Amilia had scattered the content of her sister's survival kit across the boot of her car. Looking for something, anything she could use to stall this guy who she knew nothing about. But Jake seemed to be serious enough that whoever this guy was couldn’t leave with that little girl. And Amilia would be condemned to hell for eternity before she let some innocent little girl get swept up in whatever extenuating circumstances were currently going on. 

As Jaidyn waited in the lobby of SunnySide daycare, Amilia, as calmly and as cautiously as ever—made her way over to Jaidyns car. She sussed it out for a few seconds before taking a deep breath in. Holding, then exhaling—letting out a small huff as she stabbed the fishing knife her sister kept in her kit into the rubber of Jaidyns back left tire. 

“Oh my god, fuck yes.” To be completely honest, this wasn’t the first time Amilia Fisher had stabbed a tire. But she’d learnt from her previous mistakes and although most cars carry a spare which is easily swapped out, they can’t go over eighty kilometres an hour. She wasn’t sure what that worked out to be in miles and she wasn’t sure if Jaidyn even had one. 

But what she did know as she stalked around to the right side of Jaidyn Dolans Toyota Corolla, is that you don’t carry two spare tires. Letting out another gruff, she stabbed the knife into the rubber. Pulling it out as she admired her handy work. Watching as the tiers she’d stabbed holes into deflated enough to have the car sinking into the gravel. It made her feel so alive. 

“I better not get arrested for that.” She groaned, for a split second regret crept across her face, Amilia was stunned at her own stupidity, knowing that if she was even detained for a split second she could be deported in an instant. Her working visa only allowed her to do just that, work and travel. There was no clause for arrest. 

All her regret was instantly washed away when she heard the painful screams and gut wrenching cry’s of a little girl. A little girl being carried out of her daycare by who she only assumed was her father. But it just didn’t sit right—the way Odette pushed at his face, cried her little heart out and just wanted to jump from Jaidyns grip. 

“Okay, no—you did the right thing.” Amilia shook her head softly to clear her mind, throwing the knife into the boot as she closed it before making her way into the daycare to collect her nephew. “Hurry the fuck up Hangman—“

***~***~***~***~***~***~***~

Rhett Abbott had a lot on his plate. He was focusing on a national title when his phone rang out in his back pocket. Watching from the sidelines of the pit as his competitors were either demolished or held on just long enough to cling to a slither of a chance at success. He was gonna claim the title though, this was his rodeo, his domain. 

“Whoever’s on the other side of that call doesn’t know how important today is for you.” Rhett heard his old brother Perry mumble out of the corner of his lips beside him. Perry hadnt taken his eyes off the guy holding onto Mickey Bull long enough to even turn his head Rhett’s way–but regardless, his point had been heard loud and clear. When Rhett fished his phone out of the back pocket of his jeans and saw none other than the calling ID displaying ‘Rob’ he knew he was in some sort of trouble. 

Bob Floyd didn’t call his family for anything unless he was dead or had already died of death. So when Rhett caught himself staring at the caller ID until it left his screen, the call having rung out in his hand, a million scenarios played out in his mind that could have happened to have his eight minute younger brother calling. When the call dropped out with no message left, Rhett was calling back in a millisecond. 

Bob’s phone hadn’t buzzed twice in his hand before he was swiping the pad of his thumb across his screen. Sitting in the passenger’s seat of Penny Benjamin’s car that Jake had claimed as his own. He hadnt spoken to his brother in a year, so the impromptu call really had been one that put the fear of God in Rhett Abbott. He was expecting some he didn't know to answer–Rhett expected someone on the other end of the line to tell him that Rob had died in some sort of work accident, because it wasn't Royal or Ceclilia Abbott down as Bob's next of kin. It was Rhett. 

“I know you have nationals—“ Bob made sure to let Rhett know he still kept up to date on what his brother was up to. He always had and always would, even if he didn't reach out often to say that he was rooting for him on the sideline. 

“Are you alright?” Rhett asked first and foremost. His mind was running a million miles an hour. “Rob?” 

“And I know you’re probably in between rides.” Again, Bob knew. He always knew. He ignored Rhett's question because no, he wasn't. None of this was alright. Nothing about this situation was alright. But this wasn't about him, even if he wanted to just crawl into a hole in the wall and forget he ever got involved. “But I’ve got a situation here.” He didn’t know how to say it without sounding stupid or over the top. But regardless Bob had to get it out. “My friend’s girlfriend–” He started, choking back tears of his own because he really did miss his brother and hated the fact it took this to get him to just pick up the damn phone and call. “Her ex had been abusing her, for a while she was good but he’s in town and he’s abusing her again and I smacked him in the fact with chocks but—“ 

“Rob, Rob—“ Rhett sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose and stepped away from the roar of the crowd and the sound of the announcer blaring through the speakers. “Slow down man I can’t keep up, you're going a hundred miles an hour”. 

“I need you to come out to San Diego for a while.” That’s what Bob was trying to get at to begin with. “I need you to come out to San Diego because there’s a little girl who needs help and her mothers missing and this guy’s literally crazy and I can't do anything of any significance to help.” Jake frowned to himself at Bob's words. That was so far from the truth. If it weren't for Bob there was a major chance you could have ended up beaten half to death. 

“I can't come out to San Diego.” It's the answer Bob knew he would be met with, but it was still worth a shot to ask because Bob knew what was at stake here. “You made your bed man, sleep in it and I'll sleep in mine, here.” 

“Rhett, please–” Bob choked out. Jake could hear in Bob's voice that it was hard to say. Oh, he’d been there before. “I'm not asking for me, I'm asking because these girls man, they don't deserve to be put through what they're going through.” Rhett doesn't reply, he could hear his name being called over the loudspeaker. He could see Perry waiting for him, gesturing for him to hurry up. Now just wasn't a good time, but when had Bob ever been good at timing? “Please man, I wouldn't be asking if I had any other cards.” Again, Rhett doesn't answer. He doesn't know what to say because there's a part of him that's considering it. “Rhett?” 

“Don’t you work for good old Uncle Sam?” Rhett smirked to himself as he kicked his boot in the dirt, holding his phone up tight to his ear. He couldn't do this, not now, not today, not this week. “I’m sure there’s someone in your immediate vicinity that could help you out man—I got my own shit to deal with.” He didn’t mean to sound so unwilling to listen or help. He just didn’t have the time. 

“Yeah—“ Bob signed, he let his head hit the back of the headrest as Jake looked over. “Yeah No, no you’re right.” Closing his eyes, Bob knew he’d regret this call. Asking for help. He knew he should’ve kept his mouth shut. It would have been less painful to be turned away from flesh and blood. “Don’t even worry about it, we’ll figure it out.” There's so much tension between Rhett and Bob Jake could cut through it with a knife just by the one sided conversation he was listening in on. Their sibling relationship was clearly strained, to what extent though, Jake wasn't sure. 

Before Rhett could answer, Bobs already hung up, frustrated in himself for asking for help when he knew deep down what the answer was always going to be. 

No way no how. 

“Rob?” Rhett’s asking as he hears nothing but silence. “Hello?” As Rhett pulled his phone away from his ear to see that Bob had hung up, it dawned on him. Bob was pretty self sufficient, he never asks for help from anyone. Especially not him, not if he could go to anyone but Rhett first. 

And the one time he did Rhett turned him down. 

“Dammit—“ Rhett sighed as he jogged on over to Perry who'd been trying to coax him over for the duration of the call. He was looking all kinds of unimpressed when Rhett finally made it over. “That was Rob–” is all Rhett mumbled out, he’s gritting his teeth because he hates that he's even considering dropping everything as soon as Bob's calling. “Said he needs help.” 

“He seems like a real team player.” Jake tuts, he’s got his hands gripped tight around the steering while his foot is pressed to the floor. Road rules be damned. Dot needs him. “Listen, for what it’s worth, I appreciate what you were trying to do, but while we’re on the subject–I don’t remember you ever mentioning having a brother?” 

“Twin—“ Bob replied “Twin brother–” He still has his eyes closed. “Got an older brother too, Perry.” Bob lulled his head Jake's way, he didnt wanna dive too deep into his family history. There were more important things going on than the complicated relationship that was the Abbott-Floyd family. Besides, it didn’t matter anyway—Rhett wasn’t coming. “You never told us about Felix and Dot?” 

“Guess there was always a part of me that was scared to lose them.” Jake admitted to the weapons system office sitting in his passenger seat. “Thought If I spoke about them, no one would think they were as important as they are.” Jake had kidnapped Bob right after Rooster and Jake had decided on different paths on how to go about the whole situation. He’d marched out of the hanger on a warpath and Bob just so happened to be in his path. “So I kept her and Dot to myself—“ It probably wasn’t the best idea to keep you a secret for so long, but regardless if that ended up on his regret list or not, Jake couldn’t take it back. “Kinda backfired on me though.” 

“How so?” Bob asked as Jake turned into the carpark of SunnySide Daycare, catching a glimpse of Amilia standing over Jaidyn with two very familiar children on her hips. Odette Dolan and Chase Fitch. 

“Seems that everyone’s willing to put their lives on the line for her.” Jake spoke with enough conviction that even he had himself believing it. “Makes me feel sick to my stomach that I didn't step in sooner.” 

***~***~***~***~***~***~***~

“Shut-up!” Jaidyn was high strung, he wasn't prepared for the major hiccup that was not one, but two flat tires. He couldn't deal with the incessant screaming Odette was doing as she wiggled in his grasp either. “Would you just shut the hell up?” He snarled in her face, gripping her forearm a little too tight as she screamed out at an octave that could have broken glass. “God, just like your fucking mother, always fucking crying.” 

“Hi!” Amilia cooed. She’d come running up behind Jaidyn as he paced back and forth in the car pack with Odette on his hip. “Hey! I uh, I couldn't help but notice your girl’s a little upset?” 

“Someone fucked with my car–” Is all Jaidyn replied with, he barely even acknowledged the worry in Amilias voice when it came to the safety and security of his daughter. “She won't be quiet.” 

“Well when people yell at me I tend to wanna cry as well–” It wasn't a lie, moreso a fact Jaidyn didn't wanna know. He scoffed at the way Dot cried a little harder when he turned away from Amilia. Still pacing. “You got a flat or something mate?” Amilia was a grade A shit stirrer, it was one of her favourite past times. 

“Would you believe it if I said I've got two?” Jaidyn snarled, still trying to process how he’d ended up with two fucking flat tiers. Amilia just bit her bottom lip for a second before she spoke. 

“Damn, win some you lose some I guess.” The chuckle she let escape momentarily went unnoticed as Jaidyn kept pacing back and forth. “I could uh, hold her while you call a tow? I've got nowhere to be and Chase here's pretty content if we kick around for a little while.” It's an offer that Jaidyn nearly passes up, but as he turns to his car, really susses out the damage done, he knows he isn't going anywhere without calling a damn tow truck. Dot’s still crying in his arms, she's in hysterics and all Amilia is focused on is getting her hands on that little girl. “Honest, it's no drama.” 

“Uh–yeah, yeah sure here.” Jaidyn is handing over Dot to Amilia who's already holding Chase on her hip. Immediately as if Dot knows she's safe in Amilias arms, she begins to settle. “Far out, you got the magic touch or something have you?” 

Unbeknownst to Jaidyn, while Amilia had been in at reception picking up her nephew—she’d asked the woman sitting behind the counter to call the cops. It didn't look good that they’d been asked to call the police on the same guy in the span of one day. What also didn’t look good for the day care the Penny had recommended and had been so fucking good to you and Dot up until this point, is that they’d not once stepped in to help in the situation. Dot was basically in the early stages of being kidnapped by her biological dad. That shit doesn’t look good on paper. 

Amilia watched as Jaidyn walked away, leaving Odette in her care. Bouncing her up and down softly to soothe her sobs, growing quieter and quieter with every step Jaidyn took towards his car and away from Odette. 

“Guess kids are just super intuitive when it comes to knowing when they’re in safe hands.” 

***~***~***~***~***~***~***~

There's some time that passes before Admiral Simpson is returning to the scene unfolding in the janitor's closet. He has the most senior ranking nurse available to him on sight in toe. Lila Adams. Bradley had just been sitting on the ground amongst all the buckets and the chemicals and the rags that had fallen down in the time Jaidyn took to beat you half to death. Holding you in his arms as he rocked gently side to side and sung to you under his breath as you just laid there. Silently sobbing in his warm, comforting arms. 

“An ambulance is on the way, shouldn't be too far off now.” Lila crouches down to get a better look at you. Your face was so swollen that you could barely see her. “Lieutenant Bradshaw, she's in pretty bad condition, do you think when the medics arrive you'd be able to step aside and let them get her on a stretcher? Or will I need to call security and have them escort you off base?” It was a threat Rooster took seriously as the order looking woman looked him dead in the eyes, waiting for his answer without so much as twitching. 

“I’ll only let her go if you promise me I'll get to hold her again.” Lila knows it's not a question but a demand that escapes Bradley Bradshaw's mouth. He's distort, there's no amount of words that could comfort him right now. In the background Bradley can hear Admiral Simpson on the phone in the hall talking to someone about shutting down training for the next few days, but he doesn't care. All he cares about at the moment is you. “I need to stay with her, please.” Lila nods silently.

“As soon as she's stable and loaded up, I'm sure you'll be able to ride with her to the hospital. I can arrange for someone to contact whoever you need me to contact on her behalf.” 

“I'll do that.” Rooster knows the minute Jake finds out about this all hell will break loose. He doesn't want anyone getting caught up in this that doesn't need to be, he didn't want some poor nurse just doing her job to have to deal with the fallout of jake Seresin coming to the realisation that although they tried, Him nor Bradley had followed through with their promise to protect you. 

“Alright then, just wait there till the medics arrive and I'll let you know when they need you to move.” Lila coos. “Just keep her still for me, the less she moves around the better.” Bradley nods silently in response, his hands are wrapped in yours as you keep them close to your chest. There's blood everywhere, all over his hands and uniform. He doesn't know where it's coming from exactly. 

“Bradley—“ You sound like you're crying when your voice rips through the smog clouding Roosters mind. “You there?” 

“I’m here, I’m not going anywhere darlin.” It's hard to mask the way Bradleys voice quivers when he speaks. Looking down at your head that lays heavy and lulled in his lap against his thigh. “Hi beautiful girl.” 

“I’d really like to think in the end it’s us.” At first, Bradley thought you were just mumbling incoherently from the pain. But as he leaned over to listen in slightly, his heart broke for what felt like the thousandth time. “But I can’t help myself from wondering if you’re just another lesson.” 

“Oh god Y/n no—no baby no lessons to be learnt here.” 

“Another person to teach me something.” It's like you weren't listening to Bradley when he spoke to you. “Someone I don’t get to keep.” You were slipping, fast. Barely holding yourself together as unconsciousness threatened to take a hold of you again. 

“Hey, listen to me gorgeous.” Bradley can’t help the tears that are streaming down his cheeks. “You have me forever you hear me? You have me for as long as you’ll have me for and long after you decide you don’t want me, because you are so far out of my league it’s a joke.” The way Bradley leans in to press a gentle kiss to your knuckles as he guides your hand up to his mouth has you grinning gently. “You’ve had me since you first told me to fuck off and you’ll have me even after you don’t want me anymore, because you’re it for me.” It's the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. “I love you with all my heart.” 

“Roo it’s not doubt.” You could barely talk, but you’d fight the pain of your jaw aching with every word you spoke to tell Bradley how you truly felt. “And I’m not second guessing what we have, I’m just really scared to lose it.” That's about as much as you could stammer out before you were falling limp in Bradleys gasp. He broke out into a full blown sob when he relished you were gone again, he pressed two fingers into your neck to make sure there was still a pulse. There was. But it still didn't make it any easier. 

“I'm gonna marry you one day, show you everyday how you were always meant to be loved.” 

***~***~***~***~***~***~***~

“Who's holding Dott and Chase?” Bob asked Jake as he pulled up into the carpark of Sunnyside daycare. It makes Jake question to himself how the fuck Amilia knew Payback, because thats Paybacks son on her hip and thats Jaidyn on the ground looking as his back tier.

“That's the love of my life–” Jakes smiling to himself, he's kidding, being over dramatic and overzealous, but there's just a hint of truth in his outspoken declaration. “That's Amilia.” 

“Chelsea has a sister named Amilia.” Bob adds a piece to the puzzle as he unclips his seatbelt, watching as Jaidyn stands to turn to Amilia. “Is Amilia Reubens wifes sister?” 

“Holy shit–” Is all Jake can say as he steps out of Penny's car. He slams the door hard enough that it has Jaidyn craning his head in the direction of the thud. Jake points at the guy he wishes was six feet under, he's gritting his teeth harder with every stride he takes and soon enough his blood has reached a boiling point. “Amilia, give Odette to Bob, now.” Without so much as a second of hesitation, Amilia is walking towards Bob who she's never met before and handing the glasses clad Weapons System Officer the little girl who instantly clings to the familiar face. She's safe. “You're a dead man, you know that right?” 

“Mama?” Dot’s sobbing in Bobs arms. Her tears soak into his flight-suit.

“You fucking whore you’re with him?” Jaidyn scowls at Amilia as she places Chase down on his two little feet beside Bob, he's holding Dot on his hip and Chase's hand as he stands beside him. Amilia just squares her shoulders. 

“Well who the fuck else slashed your tires mate?” She says it in an isn't it obvious way. 

“You Bitch!” Jaidyn doesn't slow down for anything as he lunges at Amilia. He slaps her so hard it rings in her ears. 

“HEY!” That's all it takes for Jake Seresin to spring into action. He grips onto Jaidyns shoulder, swings him back before he’s balling his fist and landing a major right hook against his cheek. “YOU DON'T TOUCH HER! EVER!” 

“Oh–!” Bob flinches at the sound, he shuts his eyes and turns himself and the kiddos around as Jaidyn falls to the ground in a heap, he's unconscious. One hit was all it took this time as Jake shakes his hand out with a growl. 

“Oh my god what a fucking rush!” Amilia squeals, Jakes turning to her with shock in his eyes and a slack jaw. In seconds he's on her, cupping her cheeks and rubbing the pad of his thumb across the mark that's forming from the slap she took like a champion. 

“You alright?” Amilia feels her heart skip a beat at Jake's touch. She's so caught up in his stunning emerald green eyes that she doesn't notice that his gaze has trailed down to her lips and back. “Amilia–” Jake doesn't know what hit him when Amilias lips were suddenly on his. There's police sirens heading their way but Jake cant do anything but kiss this amazing woman back. She’d saved his niece's life all because she was in the right place at the right time. She’d saved his ass from incarceration for being in the right place at the right time. 

But Amilia Fisher never felt like she was in the right place at the right time. 

Although Alimlia started the unexpected but cherished kiss, Jake was the one who broke it. Only doing so because he felt like his heart was about to burst through his chest. He’s never believed in love at first sight, but Amilia was making him question his beliefs. 

“Who are you Jake, Jake Seresin and what have you gotten me into?” Amili smiled, biting her bottom lip as the police car finally pulled up to SunnySide Daycare centre for the second time that day. Jake simply smiled. His niece was safe with him, one problem down, one more to go. Now all that was left was to find out where you’d disappeared to. 

“I work with your brother in law.” 

***~***~***~***~***~***~***~

There's not much Bradley can do while he's in the ambulance with you, he just sits there watching as paramedics do their thing to stabilise you enough to wheel you up and out of the ambulance into the emergency department. 

Everything moved in slow motion around him, as Bradley stood in the middle of the waiting room at the Miramar Base Hospital. He's been given a sheet to fill out on your behalf but as it turns out he only knows half the information they need him to fill out. He needs to call Jake. 

With a heavy sigh and after having been standing there for ten entire minutes looking at the stupid icon of Jake's caller ID on Bradleys phone, he takes a seat and presses call–holding his phone up to his ear as it rings and rings and rings and rings. Until–” 

“Rooster, I got her.” Jake's answering, he's strapping Dot into her booster seat in Pennys car all the while Bob chats with Amilia and Chase. Jaidyn’s in cuffs over the hood of the police car in the carpark screaming his lungs out. It's a whole scene, but nothing could bring Jake's mood down now, he'd won. That ass hat was done for, finally. “Sorry I kicked up at you before, you were right, someone had to–” 

“Jake, I'm at the hospital.” Jake can tell by the tone in Roosters voice alone that he’d been crying. “I need you to meet me here because the nurses just handed me papers I can’t fill out because I don’t know Y/ns blood type and I don't know if she's allergic to any medication.” 

“What happened?” Jake can feel his chest tightening as he stares down at Odette. She was tired, already falling asleep against her booster seat headrest. “What did that fuck ass do?” 

“Cyclone found her.” Bradley explained as he looked down at his hands, your blood was all over them. He wanted to scream at the top of his lungs. “It's bad bro, can you just get here?” 

“Rooster, what did he do?” 

“Almost killed her man, exactly like he said he was gonna do.” That was Bradleys breaking point, he sobbed into the phone as he slouched in the world's most uncomfortable hospital chair ever. “She was tied up in the janitor's closet–” Jake's heart sank into his stomach as his knees buckled. “She was there the whole time we were looking for her.” 

“Oh god–” Jake could feel himself letting go of the grasp he had on reality as his legs felt weak. “Fuck–” 

“Jake?” Bob's voice broke through the haze. “Hey you alright?” He wasn't alright, not in the slightest bit.

“SHE FUCKING DESEVED EVERY SECOND OF IT SERESIN!” Jaidyn shouted as the cops cuffed his hands behind his back and led him into the back of the police car. “SHE'S A WHORE!!! SHE HAS IT COMING FUCKER!” 

“Hangman, you want me to drive?” Bob asked as he watched whatever colour Jake had in his face drain. He was spiralling and spiralling fast. “What happened?” 

“Jake, I need you to get here.” Everyone needed him. Odette needed him, you needed him, Bradley needed him. Jake couldn't take it, he couldn't breathe, he couldn't see, couldn't hear, couldn't think. Before he knew what was going on Bob had his phone and Amilia was leaning over him. Cupping his face, she was speaking but there was no sound. When did Jake end up on the ground? Had he passed out? The answer was yes, yes he had. 

“Hangman?” You alright?” Amilia frowned as she felt Jake's forehead. “Fucking hell mate you went down like a sack of shit.” 

“What happened?” Jake's groaning, reaching for his head as he sits up. “Holy shit I gotta get to the hospital, Y/n.” 

“Woah, woah, easy easy– You hit your head pretty hard when you hit the deck.” Amilia explained as she helped Jake to his feet. “I'll take you over to the hospital, Bobs gonna take Odette and Chase back to my sister's house. She doesn't need to see her mum right now if she's not in a good way.” 

“Yeah, yeah no that's probably a good call.” Jake mumbled as he rubbed the back of his head, letting Amilia lead him over to her car. “I'll call you later Bob, thanks man.” All Bob does is wave. He's got a back seat full of kids and a headache bigger than ever. It's been a long day. 

There's an unanswered message on Bob's lock screen that had gone unnoticed while Bob and Jake were at the daycare centre. Bob just sighs in relief when he finally reads it, letting his forehead rest against the steering wheel as he turns the key inside the ignition. 

Rhett: “I’ll be on the next flight out, don't say I never do nothing for you.”

***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~

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[aubreyreadsstuff]

Hello. I would just like to give you the biggest compliment a writer can get which is FUCK YOU! FIX THIS SHIT!! YOU ARE PLAYING WITH MY EMOTIONS AND I DO NOT LIKE IT!!

It’s only been a day and I’m already missing ToE. This is gonna be bad whenever it’s over.

I really think you’re going to regret saying that. Here’s the Masterlist for those playing along at home.

Warnings: domestic abuse, an absurd amount of violence against women and children. Manipulation tactics. Threatening behaviour. ANGST ANGST ANGST!!! Whump ahead.

***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~

It was like nothing you'd ever experienced. Time seemed to be moving at the speed of light yet frozen all at once. You could see the Admirals lips moving but there was no audio coming out as he spoke. All you could hear was the annoying buzzing sound ringing in your ears all the while Jake and Bradley spewed your darkest secrets to your bosses. Praying that they’d intervene. 

“He’s been abusing her since before her daughter was born, her third birthday is in four days which means she's been putting up with the asshole for three years too long, sir.” Jake groaned as he sat beside you, frustrated in himself more than anything else because he’d been too late. 

“When he first transferred here he hit the two of us, and Odette, while we were driving back from a dinner at Penny Benjamin's house.” Bradley added while Admiral Simpson eyes off the bruising starting to really show on your neck from where you'd been choked out. “It's public record, insurance claims will back up the time, date, it's all there.” 

“I brought the post it note Fe wrote on when she handed me the spare helmet.” Bob interjected as he stood behind you, his hands on the back of the chair you sat on. “She told me he had a knife–” It wasn't the conversation Admiral Simposon thought he’d be having this morning, but as he took notice of the way you seemingly sunk into yourself, didn’t speak back when spoken to, showed no expression on your face whatsoever as your eyes remained glassed over? He knew there was more going on here. He just had to figure out how to navigate the incredibly rocky and incredibly fragile terrain.  

“Lieutenants, I can't take action without any evidence to suggest there's abuse going on here.” Admiral Simpson sighed as he leaned back in his chair. “It's entirely he said she said at this point in time.” 

“Evidence? Are you kidding me?” Bradley groaned. “Shes got a fucking knife mark slit across her throat and you want more evidence!” Bradley Bradshaw was fighting for your life at this point. He knew that you were scared, that Jaidyn had a hold on you currently that would be hard to break. You wouldn't have let him so close to you if he hadnt said something incomprehensible. Something that put the fear of God into you. 

“Fuck off you need more evidence, Sir, just fucking take a look at her! She's basically shell shocked!” Jake added, his voice slightly raised as he grew increasingly more frustrated at every passing second he sat in this stupid office pleading for Admiral Simpson to intervene now that Jaidyn had crossed the line and brought his own stupidity onto base. 

“I'm sure I don't need to remind you both that that kind of language and disrespect will not be tolerated here.” Cyclone spoke sternly as Braldey sighed, shaking his head in defeat because this couldnt get any fucking worse. He must have spoken far too quickly as a knock rang out from the door. “I've asked Lieutenant Dolan to join us to discuss the accusations.” It was the first time Beau saw you move. He noted the way you flinched when he said Jaidyns name, how you flinched at the sound of the door opening and closing shortly after, how you sank a little lower in your chair with every footstep that inched closer and closer to you. “Considering I've got the three of you gentleman bombarding me with accusations I only thought it was fair that Lieutenant Dolan was here to listen and hopefully defend himself, because domestic abuse won't be tolerated on base or off it, to any of my staff, crew, or associates.” 

“You asked to see me Sir?” Jaidyn was good at masking who he really was, he was also good at pretending to be clueless, a master at weaponizing incompetence. It's what he’d done to keep the fact he’d been using you as his personal punching bag from Jake for so long. He’d run off to the bathroom the second he’d come to after Bob had smacked him down, knowing if he was going to keep his game going he couldn’t be caught by Jake or Bob. He was ready to play fucking ball now. 

“Floyd–” Jaidyn smirked as he eyed off the weapons system officer who stood behind you. “The hell did you hit me with? I think you broke my damn nose.” 

“Be thankful I'm not my brother.” Was all Bob mumbled back as Jaidyn made his way to the corner of the room, standing with his hips squared and his arms crossed over his chest. Watching over you as you sat with your back turned to him. He was always watching, always lurking. 

“There's been some accusations brought to my attention that you might have assaulted our engineer here.” Admiral Simpson tried to put it as respectfully as he could. “I'm just searching for some clarification here as to what may or may not have happened.” 

“The only assault that's happened on base Sir, was that Lieutenant Floyd here smacked me in the face with a set of rubber chocks when I asked Fe here to tie my shoe.” Jake could not believe what he was hearing as he turned his head to send Jaidyn a glare that sent shivers down Bradley's spine. He had never seen the look in Jake's eye before. One that read he was out for blood. “I had my hands full with something she'd asked me to fix and I didnt wanna trip, break my neck, and die in her workshop.” 

“You're so full of shit and you know it.” Jake spat, turning in his chair to face where Jaidyn sat, as far a way as he possibly could. “Who the fuck treats a woman like this huh? The mother of your fucking child mind you!?” 

“You mean the child that I'm almost certain is yours?” Rooster raised an eyebrow at Jake at the accusation Jaidyn had thrown Jake's way. Tabling that conversation for a later date. God you couldn't have sunk any lower into your chair if you tried. Bob saw how tense you were becoming, opting to rest a gentle hand on your shoulder as he worked to block you from Jaidyns view as Bradley and Jake herald abuse. “I should get a damn DNA test–”

“You should jump off a building—“ 

“Lieutenant Bradshaw that’s enough!” Admiral Simpson snapped. “This conversation feels like something you should be discussing with a therapist!” All Braldey did was crane his neck back to Admiral Simpson. 

“My pleasantries don’t extend to those who use women as punching bags sir, you have an issue with that right me up.” 

“Yeah you can go ahead and add me to that list too, this fucking guy, Admirial.” Jake paused, he wanted to look Jaidyn in the eye as he spoke his truth. “Should be in prison for the things he’s done.” 

“You ain't gotta ask anyone but dear old Felix here.” Jaidyn pressed his lips together into a smile because he knew if you were smart and if you loved your daughter then you'd keep your mouth shut, have his back and say he hadnt done what he did. You knew him well enough to know by now that he wasn't bluffing. If Jaidyn said he’d kill Bradley then kill Bradly he would. If he said he’d take Odette then he would follow through. “I didn't lay a finger on her.” 

“Well–” The room went silent as the ringing in your ear dimmed just enough so that you could hear what Admiral Simpson was asking you as he leaned forward on his desk, pressing his elbows into the paperwork that scattered across his desk. “Point blank, did Lieutenant Dolan assault you to any extent this morning Felix?” You felt like you couldn't breathe. “And before you answer, just know this will be dealt with accordinging and I will make sure whatever happened this morning is unearthed to the best of my ability.” 

This had to be some poorly written fanfiction at this point. Surely there was no way this was happening, your life hadnt come to this tipping point. You felt trapped with no one to turn to and nowhere to run. But with the ever looming presence of Jaidyn Dolan sitting in the corner of the room burning a glare so intimidating onto the back of your skull and the love of your life sitting beside you with your best friend on the other, how the fuck do you answer that questions honestly without someone getting hurt. 

The only person you were okay with getting hurt in this situation was you. 

“No.” Bradley swore he gave himself whiplash as he turned at your response. “No, Sir, it's all been a really big misunderstanding and I hope you don't mind but I've got a backlog of work I need to get done today and sitting here discussing empty accusations is just wasting my time.” Admiral Simpson knew then and there that you were blatantly lying to him, but he could tell by the way you sucked your cheeks in and bit down on the flesh inside that you were holding yourself together by a thin thread. Until he could find out more, there was nothing that he could do. 

“You’re excused.” He regrettably authorized and you weren't going to stay in his office a second longer than you had to be. You just needed to get back to work, get through this day and get home to your daughter. Nothing else mattered except for her. 

“Thankyou–” You nodded softly before rising to your feet, pushing your chair out slightly until bradleys hand was wrapped around your wrist. 

“Y/n—“ Bradley cooed, trying to read you but there was nothing there, no expression, no warmth. 

“Respectfully Lieutenant, please let me get back to work.” Bradley didn't want to let you go, he knew that Jaidyns presence had scared you into lying, he knew what you were doing and he wasn't having a bar of it. He didn't need protection. “Let go of me Rooster—“ 

“I'm not gonna let him scare you into being silent Y/n, he's dangerous and you know it.” 

“Seems the only person Felix here seems to be scared of is you Bradshaw.” Jaidyn chuckled as you finally turned your head to face him. Physically feeling sick to your stomach when he waved at you like a child on the playground at recess. “You might wanna look into that Admiral, it seems as though you might be barking up the wrong tree.” 

“I swear if you don’t stop running your mouth man I’m gonna break your jaw.” Bradley snapped, letting go of your wrist as he stood from the chair he’d been perched in since he carried you from the tarmac into the Admiral’s office. 

“Zeus, you’re excused to—“ Cyclone sighed as he ran a hand over his face, he was quick to follow through by reaching into his top drawer for an pre-emotive Advil to ward off the headache he knew he was going to have by the end of this conversation. “Get out of my office—go.” 

“Come on Felix, let’s go grab a coffee in the mess.” You nodded silently as Jaidyn came to wrap his arm around your shoulder. “I’m sure the Admiral here has far more pressing matters to attend to than false and embarrassing claims.” 

“Sorry to have wasted your time sir.” You were screaming for Cyclone to step in and see the bigger picture here. Crying on the inside for him to see you were beyond terrified. You weren’t safe. “It won’t happen again.” 

He knew—he could see it in your eyes as Jaidyn led you over towards the door, opening it for you before letting you take a few steps out into the hall before following you out. Shutting the door behind him with a little more force than anyone else would have used. 

“You heard everything I didn’t say anything.” It was the first thing you said as you looked around the empty fall as Jaidyn wrapped his arm around your bicep harshly. “Ow! Stop! Jaidyn you’re hurting me—“ 

“I don't care–” It was the way Jaidyn snarled at you as he came to a halt and pulled you so close to him that your chest hit his torso. “It doesn't matter what you said or what you didn't say, the fact of the matter is the Admiral knows something’s up and sooner or later someone is gonna take the blame.” You didn't know you were crying until warm tears spilled down your cheeks. 

“I did what you asked me to do, I didn't say anything.” 

“You wanna fucking medal or something?” 

“No, no I just want you to leave them alone, I don't care what you do to me but just leave my little girl alone, leave Bradley alone, leave Jake alone.” You were playing with your life, bartering like some type of martyr for the cause. “Jaidyn please, i'll do anything you want me to do, you can do anything you want to be just leave them all alone.” 

You saw the cogs turning in Jaidyns mind as he kissed your cheek. Only pulling back to break your great into a million pieces. 

“Break it off with Bradshaw.” Jaidyn snarled, spitting in your face before he leaned over to kiss your parted lips. You didn't kiss back but you didn't stop him, you wouldn't dare to stop him. “Break it off with Bradshaw and I won't go near him, you have my word.” 

***~***~***~***~***~***~

“Permission to speak frankly, sir?” Jake held his fist up to his mouth. His elbow bent on the arm chair. 

“Permission granted.” Cyclone knew he was going to regret those two words the minute they left his mouth. 

“He’s a fucking piece of garbage—“ Jake was at a lose for words, but he’d always find the right one to describe Jaidyn Dolan. “You.” Jake pointed at Admiral Simpson, gritting his teeth so hard he was shocked he didn't chip them on one another. “You just let her lie straight to your face.”

“I understand that you’re concerned, and believe me Lieutenants I can see it written as clean as day on that girl's face that she’s in trouble—but I can’t take action until I have solid evidence to back your claims.” 

“Fe has a camera in her workshop.” Bob spoke up, still frowning as he kept his eyes on the door you’d just walked out of with Jaidyn in toe. “He was in there for a while before I showed up, you should pull the footage.” All Admiral Simpson did in response was write it down on a notepad on his desk. 

“'I'm going after her.” Bradley wasn’t about to let you just walk into Jaidyns arms like that, he wasn’t able to watch you sacrifice yourself to keep those around you safe. You were the one he needed to keep safe. “Standing here doing nothing is going to get her killed.” 

“Rooster, we’re not finished here.” Cyclone tried to reason with the aviator who’d busted down his door all the while carrying a hysteric you. “If Felix is really in trouble I need—“

“I'm done listening.” Bradley huffed out as he stormed towards the Admirals door, ripping it off as he marched into the hall, catching Jaidyn with his hand around your bicep, holding you close in a far too threatening manner. “HEY!” 

“Bradley don’t–” You tried to plead but it fell on deaf ears. “Rooster.” 

“Get your fucking hands off her you fucking low life piece of shit.” Jaidyn thought this was all too entertaining. Putting his hands up in surrender as he pushed you back into the hall. Watching with a smirk so evil it made your heart drop as you smacked against the wall. Knowing that if anything, Rooster would go to your aid before anything else. “Y/n–” 

“Gonna have to make it quick Bradshaw, Fe has a lot of work to catch up on after she got distracted getting me off this morning.” Your heart sank when Bradley’s eyes widened at the realisation that you'd been forced to do such a thing. 

“This was a mistake.” You cried as Bradley helped you to your feet with loving hands. “I never should have let you anywhere near me.” 

“What are you doing Fe, huh?” Bradley asked as he cupped your face between his gentle hands. His worry filled eyes scanned you for any sign of new injury he wasn't already blatantly aware of. “Whatever he’s said, whatever he's threatened you with we can stop, but you gotta come back and tell the truth.” It was the worst thing you'd ever done but nothing mattered more to you than Dot did. You'd jump off a cliff to keep her safe if you had to, no hesitation. 

“I can't be with you anymore Rooster–” Bradley felt his world shattering around him as he heard your words mix with Jaidyns subtle laughter as he walked down the hall. Kicking his feet as he pocketed his balled up fists into the pockets of his flight suit. “I don't want to be with you anymore.”

“Tell me what he said to you.” Was all Braldey responded with as he wiped your tears away with the pads of his thumbs, you brought your hands up to cover his with your own and in that moment you wished more than anything that someone would just put you out of your misery because this was worse than death. “Fe, baby you can't kick me out in the cold now.” 

“Rooster–please don't make this harder on me than it needs to be, just go, I'm begging you, stay clear of me, stay as far away as you possibly can and don't ever stop running.” Bradley wasn't listening, all he did was wrap you in his arms as you cried uncontrollably into his chest. He held you so tight you felt like you could burst. Rooster nuzzled his mouth against your ear, carefully whispering under his breath so you and only you would hear what he had to say. 

“Tell me Y/n, I'm gonna walk away but I need to know what he's up to before I do.” For a second you weren't going to respond, but this may have been your only chance to cry out for help. Relay just what was on the line to those who could help. 

“He said he’d take Odette.” Bradleys heart sank into his stomach. “And I believe him, so please just go.” Your body language didn't match what you were saying as you grip around Roosters torso tightened. “I love you so much Bradley, but I can't let him touch my baby.”  

“I'm gonna tell the Admiral what's going on, what he's making you do, and I'm coming right after you, you hear me baby?” You didn't want to let him go. “I'm coming for you.”

“Im so fucking scared.” You shuttered out as you finally let go, wiping the tears from your eyes as you collected yourself. Turning your head over your shoulders to see Jaidyn waiting at the end of the hall. “But we’re over, Rooster.” You had to make sure that although breaking up with Bradley was something you were doing against your will, it had to be genuine. You were far too afraid of Jaidyn finding out it was anything less than genuine. “We’re done, I can't have you anywhere near my shit heap of a life, so just–go.” 

With his core temperature rising at the sudden realisation that this was real and that you were breaking it off with him, his heart shattered into shards in his chest. He knew he’d failed to do the one thing he promised you he would. That he’d protect you, but Jaidyn had a grasp on you so right it was impossible to breathe. 

“I know you don't mean any of this.” Bradley stood deflated, he really felt like he was trapped between a rock and a hard place as he stared back at you, watching how your light faded in your eyes and you stood before him like a ghost. Battered and bruised and just doing your best. “I love you, Y/n, I really do, but what you’re doing right now is fucking cruel and you damn well know that.” You flinched at Rooster’s words and the way he hissed at you, gritting his teeth to keep his head from spinning. 

“You have no idea what lengths I'd go to to protect my daughter!” You hissed through gritted teeth at the only man you'd ever truly loved, before rolling your shoulders back as you let out a sigh towards the ceiling, meeting Bradleys gaze just once more. Barely holding yourself together as you felt everything you’d worked so hard to achieve falling through your fingertips. 

"Giving you up is easy compared to losing her.” 

***~***~***~***~***~***~

“What kind of evidence do you need?” Jake asked, he was surprisingly a lot more level headed now that Jaidyn was out of the room. 

“What would really help us if you can convince Felix to report Zeus’s behaviour to the local authorities, they’d have to chase it up and at least while they’re investigating her claims he’ll be grounded.” Admiral Simpson knew this conversation was going around in circles. That pre-emotive Advil had not been nearly enough. 

“She’s terrified of the guy sir, there’s no way she’d do that.” Bob sighed, he’s taken Roosters empty seat after he’d left not a few minutes ago. “I’ve never seen her look so distressed before, she nearly didn’t ask for help, she was so scared.” 

“She told you he wasn’t abusing her because he’s holding something over her, Beau—“ Jake felt like he needed to reach his Admiral on a personal level. “She’s my best friend, I’ve known her all my life and I’ve failed to help her get out of this mess before and I refuse to fail her again.” 

“I need substantial evidence to open up an internal investigation, Jacob, my hands are tied.” Beau hated the position he found himself in, he knew that there was clearly some wrongdoing going on but to what extent he didn’t know. “Get me evidence, as immutable as gravity, and I’ll see to it he’s dismissed.” In the seconds of silence that followed, Jake felt his heart break, how the fuck was he meant to provide any more evidence. 

“He’s threatening Dot.” Bradley burst through the door like he didn’t care if he broke it off its hinges. “He’s threatening her daughter, Admiral—that’s why she’s willing to do anything he wants her to because she knows he’s manic and psychotic enough to follow through with any threat he’s made.” 

“What happened?” Bob asked as he stood, he could see the heartbreak smeared across Roosters face. “Bradley—?” 

“She just broke it off.” He mumbled, shaking off that detail because to home he didn’t care if you were his or if you weren’t, all that he cared about was if you were safe and right now you were in the most danger you’d ever been. “But that’s not the point, the point is he’s threatening her daughter and she’s willing to do whatever it takes to keep her face.”

You and Bradley had done everything right. You’d notified your place of employment of a romantic relationship ensuing between the pair of you. You’d both signed the paperwork, informed your officials, and tried your best to keep your personal lives and your private lives separated. But there was no black and white definition anymore. It was all grey. 

“You have to do something sir, it’s your job! You have a duty of care!” Jake stood at the realisation that his niece had been threatened. “She’s a two year old girl, for crying out loud!” Jake finally left the dam breaking as tears welled in his eyes, patting Bradley on the shoulder because he knew you loved his best friend so fiercely and so deeply that the only way you’d walk away was to protect him. “She’s still your girl Bradshaw.” 

“What if it was your daughter? Sir.” Bob hit Admiral Simpson where it hurt and he knew it. He knew it was a low blow but he felt like he had to do more to convince him to take action. “You’d want someone to look out for her, we’re begging here.” 

Beau Simpson sat stunned into silence as three of his Naval Aviators stood around his desk. All brooding, all with arms crossed and hips squared. All waiting for an answer that they weren’t leaving without. He was cornered, he felt the pressure weighing down on his shoulders and he knew at that moment that this wasn’t some goose chase, this was real—very real, and it was happening right under his nose. 

“I’ll open an international investigation, but I still need immutable evidence.” 

***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~

“You know I’ll give you credit where credit is due darlin, you know how to do as you're told when you’re scared out of your mind.” Jaidyn snickered as he walked beside you down the hall, passing people left and right, all of which minded their own business. 

“You’ll have to walk over my dead body before you get anywhere near my little girl.” You hissed back through gritted teeth, knowing that to some extent in a public forum you were safe. Noticing the way Jaidyn’s eye twitched at your protective nature for the child he didn’t want, didn’t love, hated knowing was on this earth. “Bradley’s a big boy, he can take care of himself and you? My fucking god Jaidyn don’t stand a chance if he gets his hands on you so you better pray that he doesn’t catch you, but more importantly you better pray that I dont decide to take my chances and turn you in for the piece of crap that you truly are.” 

“You feeling brave all of a sudden Fe?” Jaidyn spoke to you out of the corner of his mouth as he smiled at passing colleagues. “Sounds like you are.” 

“I know your time messing with me is running out, like sand falling through an hourglass.” Chuckling to yourself as you walked beside your ex, you were physically and emotionally exhausted. Drained. “I know how this ends.” 

You weren’t going to tell Jaidyn that you knew that it ended with you six feet under because that would give him too much power. But you’d accept your fate, come to terms with the fact that Jaidyn Dolan would be the cause of your untimely demise. But he didn’t have to know that’s what you meant. He didn’t have to know you were giving up, that you were ready to shut the lights off. 

“I know exactly where you end up in all of this and let me tell you something—“ You paused in your stride, chuckling to yourself as Jaidyn followed in your footsteps, stopping in his tracks to face you. “I hope you like confined spaces, because prison cells aren’t that spacious.” 

“You wanna talk about confined spaces?” Jaidyn snapped, looking around the corridor that had basically become barron, waiting until any sign of human life was gone before he was ripping open the janitorial closet you’d stopped in front of. “I’ll fucking show you confined spaces sweetheart.” 

“Jaidyn—!” You gasped as you felt yourself being shoved forward. “No!” Stumping into the closet as Jaidyn followed you in. Slamming the door behind him before locking it from the inside. “No, don't!” 

“This confined enough for you?” Jaidyn taunted as he swung an awfully powerful right hook against your jaw. Sending you spinning around and down into the shelves of the janitor’s closet. 

“I—I’m—“ You were trying to find the words to apologise, but instead of words? All you could taste was iron. 

“You think you can just humiliate me like you did?” Jaidyn asked as he pulled you up by your hair before throwing you back into the shelves. Enjoying the way you whimpered and groaned in pain. “I brought my friends back that night, promised them a good time—and you weren’t fucking there!” 

There’s a red blinking dot in the corner of the closet. It gives you the smallest amount of hope. You smile and laugh through blood stained teeth at the thought of Jaidyn coming undone at the seams by a flaw in his planning. He didn't check. He’d slipped up. 

“You think that’s funny do you?” 

“It’s fucking hilarious—“ That earnt you a knee to the stomach as you doubled over. You could take it, because with every second that red blinding light blinked back at you there was more hope to hold onto. “Stop—please.” 

“This is what’s gonna happen alright.” You swore Jaidyn broke your jaw when he hit you again. Sending you into the shelves on last time as your eyes swelled and your nose bled. Pressing you up against the shelving unit as he reached for the rope that sat neatly wrapped in a circle. “I’m gonna call the daycare, and you’re gonna tell them that Dot’s father is coming to get her.” 

“Over—“ It hurt to speak. “Over my dead body.”

“Trust me! I can arrange that.” Jaidyn took it upon himself to kiss your neck from behind. “And I can make sure your little girl meets you there, but right now honey all I wanna do is see that pip squeak.”

“Fuck. Off—“ Was all you managed to spit out as Jaidyn aggressively worked to tie your hands behind your back. Binding your wrist. 

“So help me god Y/n if you don’t do as your fucking told I will see to it that everyone you love is taken away from you and I will make sure you are left all alone in this world exactly like you were always meant to be.” Reaching into your pocket, Jaidyn pulled out your phone, he held it up to your broken face by pulling your hair back. It seemed as though he hadn’t done enough damage because your phone still recognized your face. 

“I’m not doing it—“ Your sobs were painful, but your defiance earnt you yet another crack to the face and another blow to your ribs. Sending you tumbling down to the ground in a heap. “Please!! S—stop!”

“Tell them I’m picking up my daughter!!” Jaidyn held the phone to your ear as he crouched behind you, he’d had a semi from beating you senseless but the sight of you completely shaking and crying and beaten had him nearly busting in his boxer briefs. “Tell them that her daddy is coming for her.” 

“Hello Sunny Side daycare, this is Melissa speaking.” You didn’t respond straight away as you looked Jaidyn in the eyes to see he’d gone completely mad. “Hello?” 

“Hi Mel—“ You choked out. Blood coating every word you stammered out. “It’s Y/n, I need to make an amendment to my daughter’s registered list of persons for pick up please?” You waited a few moments as the line went silent, only the sound of a computer keyboard being tapped away at filled the void of dead and utter helplessness. 

“Who would you like to nominate?” Mel asked as Jaidyn smirked down at you, his free hand working to palm himself off through his flight suit as he watched you shiver in pain beneath him. His knee crushing your sternum. 

“Uh, his name is Jaidyn, Jaidyn Dolan.”

****~***~****~***~***~***

Bradley had been searching high and low for you for the better half of an hour after he’d come out of Admirals Simpsons office. Jake too. They were looking to tell you how he’d agreed to open an investigation, that Jaidyn wasn’t going to get away with what he was doing. But—

They couldn’t find you. 

“What did Jaidyn mean when he said he wanted a DNA test for Dot?” Rooster asked as he walked with Jake trying to find you. 

“Can we talk about that later?” Jake didn’t wanna do this now, he just wanted to find you, make sure you were alright. 

“I think now's an appropriate time as any.” Braldey responded, cracking his neck as he did so. “If there’s something I should know Hangman—“ 

“Rooster, Odette is not my daughter! It’s just some lie Jaidyns convinced himself is fact because he’s always known Fe and I are inseparable.” Jake explained. “He tried that, it didn’t work, so now he’s on to believing we were an item, and it makes me sick to think about it so just drop the subject before I take a page out of Bob's book and smack you with a set of chocks.” 

When you weren’t in your hanger like you mentioned you were going back to, they both thought you may have gone to the cafeteria. When you weren’t there they thought you might be on the tarmac, floating around as people went through their pre-flight checks. 

The only person they could seem to find was Jaidyn, going on his Super Hornet with a fine tooth comb before his next run. Like he hadn’t just beat you half to death and felt you to rot in a janitor's closet. 

“Where's Felix, Zeus.” Jake hissed, squinting as he looked up at his former friend, the sun encapsulating him like Icarus himself. 

“Who?” Jaidyn snickered to himself, he still had your blood on his knuckles as he spoke down to Rooster and Hangman. “Sorry boys don’t know who you're talking about.” 

“Don’t—“ Rooster barked. “Where is she? What did you do?” 

“Fellas, I haven’t done anything alright, and quite frankly, I’m getting a little tired of the pitchforks you're stabbing me with.” Jaidyn sighed. “How the fuck did you get out of jail anyway? How did your pal here bail you out of indecent assault?” 

“Some girl took a video of you being the antagonist little weasel you are.” Jake replied, Jaidyn only huffed back. His first flaw, bystanders. 

“Well I’m sure whoever it is you’re looking for will turn up sooner or later, but right now I’m doing pre-flight checks, so fuck off.” 

“I don’t like this at all man—“ Bradley knew something was wrong, very wrong. “He knows where she is.” 

“She’s around here somewhere.” Jake looked around, trying to see if he could spot you. “She wouldn’t go too far without letting us know.” 

As Bradley and Jake looked around, you laid unconscious on the floor of the janitor's closet, a blinking red light monitoring you every passing second. With your arms and legs tied, even if you woke you wouldn’t be able to move. For good measure Jaidyn had stuffed your mouth with your own panties, he’d cut them off your body before duct taping your mouth shut. 

Knowing that if no one heard your screams, no one would go near that closet for hours. Not even the janitor himself who wasn’t due on base till well after dark.

***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~

Tags: @a-serene-place-to-be  @lilyevanswhore @thescarletknight2014  @blindedbythelightt  @averyhotchner @emma8895eb @blairfox04 @caitsymichelle13 @oxxolovemelikeyoudooxxo @teacupsandtopgun @aemondssiut @feltonswifesworld87 @akalei349 @notjustsomeblonde  @americaarse @avaleineandafryingpan @phoenix1388 @xoxabs88xox @je-suis-prest-rachel @pono-pura-vida @rosiahills22 @starset21 @anarchyrising

[aubreyreadsstuff]

Oh thank GOD! Life is good again!

27 Dresses - Part 12

Bucky Barnes x Reader AU

Summary - You are the epitome of “always a bridesmaid, never a bride.” You think you know what love is, but sometimes you can’t see what’s right in front of you.

Series Warnings - Pettiness, Snark, Secondhand Embarrassment, Sexytimes, and Cursing

Word Count - 1.5K

Steve pulled away after a moment and looked at you.  You gave him a questioning look in return.

“Maybe we should try that again,” he suggested.

“Yeah,” you agreed as you drew him back toward you.

The two of you spent a few awkward seconds trying to find the right angle, your noses bumping awkwardly.  Finally giving up, you both pulled back with a grimace.

“Nothing?” he asked.

“Absolutely nothing,” you confirmed.

Keep reading

[aubreyreadsstuff]

I've never seen this movie so PLEASE tell me she realizes this kiss doesn't make her feel half the things Bucky's kiss made her feel!

27 Dresses - Part 11

Bucky Barnes x Reader AU

Summary - You are the epitome of “always a bridesmaid, never a bride.” You think you know what love is, but sometimes you can’t see what’s right in front of you.

Series Warnings - Pettiness, Snark, Secondhand Embarrassment, Sexytimes, and Cursing

Word Count - 3.3K

You replayed the whole morning over and over again in your mind as the cab drove to Anika’s bakery.  For the life of you, you couldn’t figure out why he’d gone so cold.  You know you’d mentioned Steve’s name, but he had to know that after last night, you were moving on from Steve.  He had to know that you had chosen him.  You let out an exasperated sigh as you leaned your head back against the headrest.  Things could have been so different if you hadn’t had to run out on him like that.  Just another example of how you always sacrificed your own happiness to please others.

Your taxi pulled up at the same time as Nat and Steve’s.  You watched as they got out, full of smiles and laughter.  You felt as though you’d had a shot at that not twelve hours ago, but now, it seemed as far away as ever.  You put a smile on your face and walked over to meet the happy couple.

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[aubreyreadsstuff]

"I am the best wingman" oh my god I literally laughed out loud. I fucking love Brimsby

Best Friend’s Brother (College!AU) Part 4: An Outing

Summary: Y/N goes up to her friend’s ‘summer home’ for spring break to forget about the daily stress of being a student. She’s ready to let loose and have fun, but she wasn’t prepared to meet her friend’s attractive older brother…

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Reader

Warnings: mild swearing, drinking, sexual inuuendo and themes

Word Count: 1.5k

Dedicated to @marvelrose

Part 3 , Part 5

Series Masterlist

As the group began to trail out back, Y/N became lost as she thought of everything that had happened so far.  

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[aubreyreadsstuff]

RUDE! How DARE?? Don't mind my heart all broken on the floor!

(Please come back soon and fix this... I can't take it!)

Chapter Seven: The Place Where Flowers Grow

summary - You thought you knew the man across the hall. You knew he purchased a bundle of lavender every week and preferred ginger in his tea. You knew he liked songs from the 40s, scribbling his thoughts in notebooks, and walking the streets of Bucharest after nightfall. You thought you knew what he looked like when he smiled and the sound of his voice when he called your apartment ‘home’. But when a stranger shows up demanding answers, you realize you didn’t know him at all. You didn’t even know his name was Bucky.

warnings - italics are flashbacks, google translate, character death, one mention of guns, one mention of knives, brief mentions of blood, it’s not the best ever but I’m suffering from writer’s block so I’m calling it a win

word count - 2.7k

masterlist | chapter 08

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[aubreyreadsstuff]

I am in LOVE with this!!!! It is so cute and adorable and perfect! I am so excited for the next part!

Sweet Creature Masterlist

Pairing: Vet!Dean x Reader

Warnings: Fluff, Basic uneducated vet talk, fake dating 

Part One

Part Two

Part Three

Part Four 

Part Five

Part Six (FIN) 

[aubreyreadsstuff]

Um, hi. Hello. Hi. Come back and fix this please? My poor heart is shattered.

Delicate Edges (10)

series summary: Trapped under a mountain of debt to the Hydra club, it is only in moments when Bucky walks into your flower shop that you forget the cruelty of the biker clubs of this town. But a war is brewing. And Bucky will stop at nothing to keep you safe. (Biker!AU) pairing: Bucky x reader chapter word count: 10.1k chapter warnings: big angst, physical assault, canon level violence, this is a doozy guys hold on tight

series masterlist / series playlist

A week had passed by since the Hydra club came to collect their dues and you still had yet to reopen your shop. You couldn’t stomach the idea of crossing the threshold into the west, of facing Ms. Leary and her stories of her sweet ailing husband at St. John’s or the kind man from the Italian bakery. There was no pretending like you didn’t carry the threat of war over your head; surrounded by the empty shelves, fumbling through shaking hands, unable to push aside the fear that the Hydra club could storm in at any moment and rip it to shreds.

Rumlow had bought Bucky’s act that night, but for how long? How long could the two of you keep up this rouse that you were nothing more to Bucky than a means for easy release? It was all that Rumlow would accept as long as you continued to make your payments. Anything more and he’d exploit the knowledge of what Bucky might do to protect you until it ruined the 107 and the entirety of the east.

It was one thing for Bucky to use you for selfish, uncaring gain; another to actually love the woman Rumlow held claim over with a ball and chain.

Wait—

Not love.

Bucky didn’t—

Well, you were almost sure he couldn’t possibly—

“Doll?”

You blinked, startled out of your thoughts as you looked up to find Bucky watching you with a worry line painted over his brow. He still had traces of flour on his cheek from the pancakes sitting under warm towels in the kitchen, batter on his fingertips. An apron laid over his bare chest, exposing the sleeve of tattoos running down his left arm. He sank onto the couch beside you and licked his fingers clean of the batter.

“You all right?”

You nodded, tugging at your hands in your lap, though you could not hold his gaze. “Just thinking.”

“Your mind still on the Hydra club?” Bucky asked slowly, a wash of guilt laced into his tone. It chipped at the crack settling down the center of your heart.

Still, you met the calming waves of ocean blue in his eyes and sighed, “how did you know?”

Bucky pressed out a smile, though it formed a thin line over his lips, barely touching the crescent fall of shimmering currents in his gaze. He covered your hands with his own, easing the restlessness inside his firm grip.

“Your hands,” he explained slowly, giving gentle strokes along the insides of your wrists. Compression subduing the tremors. “They start shaking when you’re frightened.”

When had he become so attuned to you that he could notice such things? You stared at him, a little wide eyed as he kept his focus on your hands. He brought your fingertips to his lips, kissing your knuckles before he released you. When they settled back in your own lap, you realized they were steady again.

“What am I going to do, Bucky?” you whispered, weight hanging on the end of every word. “We can’t keep this up forever and Rumlow—he'll find out who you really are if you show your hand to him... if he knows that we’re... that I... that you and I are... that we...” You cleared your throat awkwardly. “The border could be in danger again. He could retaliate against you for your involvement with me.”

“Let him,” Bucky shrugged and your gaze shot to his, stunned. He sighed, brushing his hands through his hair and littering remnants of white flour into his brunette strands. “The night Rumlow came for his money was one of the worst thing I’ve had to do since I started this charade. The things I said about you...”

“I know it wasn’t really you,” you tried, but even you remembered that glimpse of doubt you felt when the two of you were alone again, the need to see the Bucky you knew behind the mask to replace the terrible swell of panic stirring inside you. He blended in so easily amongst the Hydra men, his ability to slip into a whole new personality so seamlessly it had frightened you.

But you’d also seen the devastation flash over his features when you asked him to remind you who he really was – the guilt and shame that had broken him so terribly you knew him again within an instant.

“I still said them and I’ve... I’ve done much worse. Things that would make you ashamed of me,” Bucky admitted softly; his voice flat, aching. You parted your lips to argue but a subtle shake of his head quieted your denial.

“I won’t do it again,” Bucky said, determined. “I can’t. We’ll come up with another plan. I’ll-- I’ll talk to the club. Most of us are vets, anyway. It’s not like we’re helpless without the rumors backing us up. But it will... expose my vulnerabilities. The town will know who I am. It will make you a target.”

The way Bucky looked at you then, you understood why he kept this side of him hidden for so long. He was terrified to lose the little he had left, to allow Rumlow and the Hydra club to drag out the carpet from under his feet. This mask was his armor. His protection. And it had served him well enough for a long time but now...

“I’m already a target, Bucky,” you replied, inching closer to him. The length of your thigh brushed his, pressed up against one another. “Whether Rumlow knows about us or not, he’s got it out for me because of the debt. I’m already there, Bucky. Besides, we know Dot could give us up at any second, couldn’t she?”

Bucky nodded tensely. “Still don’t know why she hasn’t. Probably waiting for the right opportunity to twist the knife in.”

You thought of Mrs. Marcovaldo’s café sitting across the street from the Centenarian and the tea shop Wanda and Pietro ran only a few short blocks from the border. If Bucky dropped the mask, the Hydra club could swarm the east. The 107 weren’t strong enough to protect the town on their own – they didn’t have the numbers. The lie was the only thing preventing Hydra from taking over the whole town.

“What will happen to the east?”

Bucky pinched at the bridge of his nose. “I don’t know. I don’t know how to carry this town without losing myself and I can’t... I won’t put anything above keeping you safe.”

You leaned your head against Bucky’s shoulder, your arms wrapping around his bicep as you pulled him closer. The tense muscle began to ease under your touch. His lips grazed against your forehead; warm, steady.

“We’ll combine profits from the Centenarian for next month,” Bucky offered gently, “or I’ll find a way to sell my bike. We’ll figure it out, okay? I won’t let anything happen to you. As long as Rumlow gets his money and I’m not a standing threat to the west, he won’t care about us. He won’t have reason to come after you.”

You squeezed at his arm, rubbing your eyes on his sleeve. While his club had divulged into something darker over the years, you knew at its core was the love of the open road and those expensive bikes parked on the street. The fact that he was willing to part with his for you shattered every shred of uncertainty you carried of his feelings for you.

You ached to tell him not to do it – to not even consider selling the bike that started the family he’d build with his own two hands. But you knew how badly you needed the money, knew that if you were short next month, Rumlow wouldn’t care whether Bucky put on an act or not. He'd kill you. Maybe Bucky, too.

“And if that doesn’t work...” Bucky sighed, “we’ll run.”

You lifted your head, lips parted as you stared at him. “You’re serious?”

“You doubt me, doll?” Bucky chuckled, though it was low, almost pained. It was the same thing he’d said to you the morning he wandered in your shop, masquerading around like he was in desperate need of flowers; blush adorned to his cheeks amongst the dark colors of his clothing and the tattoos hidden under his jacket. It felt like a lifetime ago.

“I always liked the thought of driving with nowhere to go,” Bucky shrugged, a dreamy look in his eyes. “We could start over somewhere new. Somewhere Hydra can’t find us.”

You smiled sadly, imagining the wind against your skin as you clung around Bucky’s waist. His back pressed tight to your chest, the smell of leather surrounding you. The purr of an engine you could come to love because it was Bucky’s joy – not a reminder of the men in the west. But your lips curved downward, sinking as the image faded away.

“You wouldn’t abandon your family, Bucky,” you reminded him gently. “The 107 are too important to you. And what will Mrs. Marcovaldo do without you? Who would she force her free coffee onto if not you?”

Bucky let out a pained laugh as you pinched at his side, aching to see him smile again. You didn��t mention how easily Rumlow could swindle her out of her own business in Bucky’s absence. The fierce old woman would sooner give up the café than deal with the shit Hydra put you through over the years. She was stronger than you were.

“And I would never ask you to leave behind the flower shop,” Bucky added somberly. His large hand slid over your knee, squeezing lightly.

You didn’t know how the two of you were going to get through this, but it was a comfort to know that Bucky would be with you. He’d proven himself again and again. Even when you showed threads of doubt, he never once hesitated. He cared for you more than you ever gave him credit for. Perhaps, it was time you started to believe him.

***

The sun was setting over the west. Curled up on the firm wooden booth along the wall of the Centenarian, you watched through the window as the colors swept up into the crystal blue sky. Reds and pinks and oranges dancing amongst one another, coaxing the darkness and the stars hanging overhead from the harsh reflection of daylight.

You thought of your shop and the empty shelves lining the walls. The shattered remains of broken vases and crumbled flowers piled into the dumpster in the alley. Your stomach twisted at the thought, as if you’d left behind a piece of your soul and in your absence, allowed it to starve and wither to nothing.

You ached to return to May Flowers, to feel the sticky sweet comfort of sap on your fingers and the smell of fresh roses in the air. You missed your loyal customers and the ring of the bell over the front door. The smudge of lipstick on Ms. Leary’s cheek when she smiled and the hearty laugh of Mr. Jacobson when he picked up his usual order for his restaurant. The colorful array of flowers surrounding you like a warm, weighted blanket, even on the days you felt like the darkness had swept in and taken a hold of you.

Your father’s watch hung heavy on your wrist. An ease tugged in your chest as you began to trace the links absentmindedly; trailing over decade old scratches on the glass face and the fading golden color on the inside of the wrist. You’d never had the heart to clean it properly. Even if it was scratched and discolored and the gears had stopped turning, it was a living embodiment of your father. The dirt smushed into the creases evidence of his work at the shop and his love of the flowers he left behind for you.

“You miss it, don’t you?”

Peter slid into the opposite side of the booth, his folded arms resting against the table. He followed your gaze to the outline of buildings on the westside just pass the clearing.

“I do,” you said quietly.

“I know it might not mean much, but it’s been nice having you around this last week,” Peter mumbled, fidgeting in his seat. “Things have felt a little lighter, I suppose. Hasn’t been like this since before the 107 got involved with Hydra.”

Your heart sank as you glanced over to the bar where Steve, Sam, and Nat were hunched over the countertop. The three of them were quietly arguing over how to handle the next month’s payment if Bucky wasn’t going to keep up the charade. You hadn’t even opened shop for the first half of the month and no spare change to show for it. Dead weight hanging at their ankles as they desperately swam for the surface.

“Peter, I appreciate what you’re trying to do,” you sighed, guilt swarming in your stomach as if it were made of lead, “but I’m pretty sure I’ve made things a lot more complicated for you guys.”

“Maybe,” he shrugged, “but that doesn’t mean you’re not worth fighting for.”

Something lurched inside your chest as you looked back at him – hope slipping through the cracks of a paralyzing acceptance you’d already surrendered to. Peter Parker, with his boyish features and a grin sweet enough to melt a heart as stoic as Tony Stark’s. He smiled at you and crawled out from the booth.

“I should head out, boss,” Peter called to Bucky, who had just emerged from the office in the back corner of the bar. “Aunt May’s got lasagna waiting for me.”

Bucky wiped his hands on the towel hanging off his shoulder. “I’m closing up anyway, kid. Sneak me some garlic bread, will you?”

Peter beamed, holding up his thumb before disappearing out the front door.

Bucky wandered over to Steve, Sam, and Natasha. “All right, you three get out of here.”

Immediate argument ensued, voices carrying over one another:

“Give us another hour and we’ll figure this out,” from Natasha, despite the faint look upon her features. You hadn't seen her eat anything in hours for how long she spent at that counter flipping through old files.

“Don’t tell me what to do,” was Sam, a scowl on his face, though he was massaging the nape of his neck, a wince breaking through the bickering layer on his features.

“We should really keep at it, Buck,” came from Steve. He was rubbing at his temples from the headache you’d heard him mumble over hours earlier. They were relentless in their determination to find a way out of your debt to the Hydra club but it was driving them to exhaustion. And Bucky could see it too.

“Go,” Bucky ordered, though his gratitude was evident in the soft influx of his smile. “You’ve done enough tonight, okay? We’ll talk in the morning. You’re no help if you can barely concentrate on what you’re reading. Get out of here. Sleep.”

Natasha’s mouth tugged into a frown, but eventually relented. It was her hand upon Steve’s forearm that got him to slowly peel himself from the counter. He groaned as he straightened his back, a slight limp in his legs as he gathered his footing again.

Sam hung back only a moment longer than the others, narrowing his eyes on Bucky.

“You sure?” he asked, the façade of the relentless teasing slipping.

Bucky nodded. He clapped a hand on Sam’s shoulder and squeezed the muscle. It was more appreciation that he could offer out loud. You could see the lines on his face, the love between this makeshift family who somehow found the space in their hearts for you too.

Stark and Barton were already home for the evening with their families, so after Steve, Nat, and Sam dragged their feet through the door and the low hum of engines faded faintly into the distance, Bucky finally turned to you. He folded his arms over his chest and leaned against the jukebox, the rumpled creases of his t-shirt rolled high on his forearms. Glimpses of ink peaked out from underneath the fabric.

“You going to kick me out, too?” you teased, sliding to the edge of the booth. The hem of your dress danced over the mid of your thighs – delicate shades of pastels in contrast to the dark, faded colors of the old rock band posters on the wall and the sun-soaked wood near the windows. The flowers that had once decorated the tables were long wilted and dried, most of them discarded – though a few still remained despite the wrinkled petals circled around the vases.

Bucky laughed, his voice filling the Centenarian. “Of course not, doll. Never you.”

He tapped the jukebox to his left, hitting the side of the machine with a closed fist. A deviously playful smirk tugged on his cheeks as How Deep is Your Love began to play through the speakers. The song crackled through the decades-old speakers. Wordlessly, he held out a hand to you, gesturing to the open space between the tables.

Slowly, you slid your fingers against his palm, watching as a shiver slipped through his spine at the gentle sensation. Your pointer finger traced the lifeline in his palm, slowly following up to the veins in his wrist.

Bucky quickly tugged you from the booth, unable to take much more of your teasing, and pressed the full of your body against his. You gasped against the full brush of his body as his hand slid along your lower back, fingertips tapping sweetly into your curves as if following the keys of a piano. His free hand brought your knuckles to his lips, kissing each ridge of the bone.

“What are we doing, Bucky?” you asked breathily, the teasing between you lost within the sincerity of his movements.

Bucky guided your hands around his neck, allowing his own to rest on the small of your back. He kissed your shoulder; kissed every part of you like he simply couldn’t stop him, like he could never be close enough without it.

“Well,” he sighed, break warm against your skin, “I’d say we’re dancing, honey.”

You smiled as you ran your fingertips through the nape of his hair. His eyes fluttered at the feeling, his lips falling slack, and you reveled in the sight of a man draped in black denim and leather reduced to putty in your hands.

“Feels like we haven’t had a moment to breathe,” Bucky admitted slowly, blue eyes sinking heavily into your gaze. “I just wanted some time to hold you. To just be here with you. Is that all right?”

His lips were drawn into a frown, the weight of the last few weeks pushing down on him. You’d gone from one awful encounter with the Hydra club to another – spiraling from the moment Bucky had spotted Dot at the Lilac Festival to the charade he’d put on a week earlier in the dark of your shop. Constant panic etched into your veins, trembling in your hands and fear burrowed in your chest. To give him this moment – to allow it for yourself, too – was the least the fates could offer.

In answer, you brought his lips to your own, grazing them sweetly, almost chastely, before you deepened the kiss. With the soft influx of a synthesizer on the jukebox, Bucky’s hands spread against your back, his fingertips inching over the swell of your curves, lips parted and eager to surrender if you could stay with him in the security of that moment forever. So lost in his kiss, in his arms wrapped so tightly around you, you did not hear the rumble of engines approaching from over the hill.

“You know I’ll take care of you, don’t you?” Bucky murmured between kisses to the corner of your mouth, to your jaw and neck. “That no matter what happens, you’ll never have to face this alone?”

You nodded, hardly able to string words together. Whether it was due to his expert lips or the sincerity in his voice – you weren’t sure. But you believed him in his promise.

Slowly, you drew his head back from your body, smiling at the pout forming on his mouth at the loss of contact. You needed to look at him for this, to see the shades of blue in his eyes that first allowed you to trust him under the streetlight outside his bar. To speak the words aloud that had been brewing under the surface for as long as you’d known him – terrified to rise beyond the paralyzing vulnerability of being known. But he was worth it. He'd always been worth it.

What you felt for him could hardly be quantified into a single word, but you hoped you could try – that he might understand how immensely you fell for this impossibly kind man who carried the weight of the world on his shoulders.

“Bucky,” you sighed, his name like a prayer upon your lips, “I–”

The door to the Centenarian swung open with a violent crash.

Before you could process what was happening, hands that had never once touched you with anything but gentle affection, roughly shoved you backwards. Bucky maneuvered his body in front of yours, the motion nearly throwing you off balance. Your ankle rolled in the sharp movement, pain shooting up through your leg as Bucky’s hand lunged backward onto your wrist to hold you steady. His grip ached around the bone.

“I see you’ve dropped the act, Barnes.”

The venom laced voice of Brock Rumlow punctured straight to your chest; like ice water doused over your head and coal burning fire under your feet. You sucked in a harsh breath as you pressed your forehead between Bucky’s shoulder blades, as if simply closing your eyes could transport you far away to somewhere safe, somewhere Brock Rumlow could not lay a hand upon you or the man who instinctively used his body as your shield.

“You’re on the wrong side of the border, asshole,” Bucky growled, disregarding Rumlow’s obvious intrigue of his protective stance in front of you.

Rumlow only laughed; something dark and voice of humor. “What border? You’ve been crossing it without consequence for over a month now. The border doesn’t exist anymore.”

Bucky’s grip on your wrist tightened and you were certain it would bruise by morning. You didn’t care. You’d welcome the swell, the discolor. It was the only thing keeping you from collapsing to your knees. His palm pinched at your father’s watch and it dug sharply into your skin. The pain of it held you together.

“What do you want?” You could feel the unsettling edge in Bucky’s voice tremble in vibration along his spine.

Rumlow paced along the border of the bar, his footsteps heavy against the old hardwood. They cried out under each step. “The rest of my money, you prick.”

It was only then that you realized Rumlow wasn’t alone. At least three other sets of footsteps walked into the bar – the final one delicate in stride with the clicking of heels against the sidewalk outside.

“Hi, sugar,” Dot purred and you felt every muscle in Bucky’s back tighten. Bucky started to turn, guiding you with him, as it seemed Dot was trying to get a better look at you from around his shoulders. She huffed in disappointment. “Don’t hide, Y/n. Let us say hello.”

Bucky squeezed at your wrist, urging you to stay put, but there was something in the challenge of Dot’s tone that surged fire into your veins. She paraded herself as if she still laid claim to Bucky’s pride, to his dignity and resolve. She made a mockery of his loyalty to her and the lengths he’d gone to protect her from the very men she climbed into bed with. To cower from a woman like that was to give her satisfaction she did not deserve.

You didn’t know whether she’d given up Bucky’s act to Rumlow or he found out the moment he stormed into the bar and found you draped sweetly in Bucky’s arms. You didn’t care. You weren’t going to let Dot thing she held a damn thing over you. Even if her manicured grip pictured through the thin tissue around your heart.

“Ah, there you are,” Dot smirked as you stepped out from behind Bucky. He let go of your wrist only long enough to drape an arm protectively across your chest, creating a barrier between you and the shine of reflective metal on the hips of the Hydra club.

Rollins was hanging back in the shadows, accompanied by two other men you didn’t recognize. A toothpick hung from his lips, twisting around his tongue as he greedily stared you down. That same hungry gaze remained in his eyes, the one that traveled from your chest to your ankles. Bucky inched closer to you.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen the inside of this bar,” Dot went on, drawing her hand along the countertop. A wicked grin curved high upon red stained lips as she locked eyes with you. “He fucked me once against the desk in the office. He do that to you yet?”

You tried not to let yourself react, knowing she was only trying to get a rise out of you, but you flinched at her words anyway.

You'd known who she was – that Bucky had once loved her enough to risk his life when he thought she was in danger. You’d known he’d been intimate with her and still— it hurt worse than you cared to admit. This woman who manipulated his heart and left him for dead, having touched him the way you have, his hands having been on her body the same way he lingered upon yours.

Bucky didn’t respond to her, barely showed any indication that her words affected him at all. But you felt Bucky's arm draw closer to you, felt the restraint radiating like heat off of his body to grab hold of you and run. You slid your hand along his spine, trying to ease the tension etching stone to his body. It was made of marble. Solid rock.

“Enough, Dot,” Rumlow sneered impatiently. She pouted, making a dramatic show of it before she winked in Bucky’s direction and slithered back in line with the rest of the Hydra goons. Rumlow returned his attention to you – his eyes near to black as he drilled holes with his stare. “You and I, my dear, have unfinished business.”

He took a step closer to you and Bucky pushed you backwards; the pressure of his forearm against your chest. Rumlow chuckled at the response, his gaze shifting between you and Bucky.

“You must think me a fool," Rumlow spat. "What were you hoping to accomplish with your little performance, Barnes? Huh? Convince me that she is little more to you than a toy to be played with and maybe I won’t punish her for her connection to you? Perhaps, you hoped that it would spare you as well, so that I might not retaliate against the 107 for stealing what is rightfully mine.”

“Y/n doesn’t belong to you,” Bucky sneered, his cheeks flushed hot with rage. “She doesn’t belong to anyone.”

Rumlow cackled loud enough for it to tremble inside your chest. “You’ve got it worse than I thought. For your sake, let’s hope she feels the same.” Narrowed eyes landed upon you, a devious grin curling upon his mouth. “Separate them.”

Bucky dove for you, but it wasn’t enough. Even if he had the chance to gather you into his arms before violent hands clamped onto his shoulders, yanking him back – what he could have done? Held you for just a moment longer? Preserved an ounce of the sanctuary you felt swaying in his arms just minutes prior? Pretend for just one more second that nothing bad could happen to you, to him, to the life you so desperately wanted to share together?

“Run!” Bucky shouted, his voice breaking in the effort, though you both knew it was no use. Each time he managed to shake an arm free, one of the Hydra men beat a fist to his spine, to his jaw or stomach, and he slacked just enough to grab hold of him again; an endless loop of hope for his escape and paralyzing dread with every hit.

Jack Rollins slowly approached you from the comfort of the shadows, a sinister look about his face as he admired Bucky’s helpless position from across the room. The toothpick snapped between his teeth and he spit the shards onto the floor. Hungry eyes trailed down the front of your dress, lingering along your exposed legs.

You backed into the corner, trying to keep as much space between you and Rollins as you could manage, but you knew it was only prolonging the inevitable. You couldn’t fight off a man like Jack Rollins. He was twice your size and you barely knew how to throw a proper punch. You grew up in a flower shop. You were trained in delicate things. Violence was never supposed to find you there.

The determination in Rollins' eyes and the sinister curve of his mouth sank like anvils to your stomach, weighing you down, sinking you deep underwater where the air could no longer touch your lungs. Unsettling dread.

Bucky was shouting on the other end of the bar, his feet scraping on the floors as he fought against the men holding him down. Even as they dove closed barrels fists to the side of his face, he shook it off, spit blood onto the floor, and tried again. He shouted your name, endlessly, but there was no use in running. No use in fighting. You were both trapped.

“Ain’t that sweet?” Rumlow chuckled, his attention turned to Dot. She smirked, a single unlit cigarette hanging from between the bright red stain on her lips.

Rollins grabbed a firm hold of your forearm and shoved you to the floor at the center of the bar. You spilled onto the hardwoods, laid upon the sticky surface where a faint outline of faded maroon soaked into the floors. Exposed. On display. You touched your fingers to discolored wood – to the spot where Bucky nearly bled out the night Dot betrayed him.

It was happening again. His blood was already trailing down his lips, dropping thick and heavy to the floor under his feet. New stains accompanying the old.

“Now,” Rumlow began, kneeling down next to you. He grabbed a firm hold of your jaw and forced your gaze to his, his fingers digging painfully against your cheeks. “You will get me the rest of what you owe. I don’t care if you have to steal it from a fucking bank. I still own you, darling.”

As if to punctuate his threats, Jack Rollins crossed the room and threw a heavy punch to Bucky’s stomach. You yelped, hands covering your mouth as Bucky doubled over in pain, an awful sound escaping him. The only thing keeping him standing were the two men restraining his arms.

“You see,” Rumlow began, “now that I know what he means to you, I will happily beat the arrogant prick within an inch of his life each time you fail to come through on your payments. Do you understand what that means, darling? I’ll break his face and I’ll give that son of a bitch brain damage because you failed to deliver what you owe me.”

You shook your head, tears swelling in your eyes as Rollins shook out his hand, readying himself. Bucky’s eyes met yours for only a second – a promise nestled into the blue of his eyes that he would be all right, that he’d survived worse, a terrible plea to just stand by and let this happen – before Rollin’s fist slammed into his cheekbone, breaking open the skin.

“Stop!” you cried, fingernails scraping into the floor. “Please! I don’t-- I don’t have the money! There’s nothing to give!”

“You think I give a shit!?” Rumlow slammed his hand against the counter, forcing a visible flinch from your body. “This is what happens when you fuck up, princess! You fuck me over; I beat Barnes into shit. Those are the new terms of our deal. Perhaps next time, it’ll be you instead. Maybe that’ll teach you a lesson.”

“You lay a fucking hand on her,” Bucky panted, blood spewing from his lips, “and I’ll kill you.”

The grin that curved over Rumlow’s mouth was near sickening. “You can’t do a damn thing, Barnes.”

Rollins' fist collided against Bucky’s cheek, bloodying the wound beginning to open along the bone. It silenced whatever argument he was about to make, his body fighting just to stay on his feet. Blood trickled from the ends of Rollins’ fingertips. Bucky’s blood, you realized.

“Please,” you begged, breathless as tears openly slid down your cheeks. “You don’t have to do this.”

Rumlow clenched his jaw, restraint inching away. Withering. His gaze remained on Bucky. “She says another fucking word, and I’ll go after her instead. You understand, Barnes? I know what she is to you, you pathetic shit. I’ll fucking kill her.”

Bucky swallowed what you were sure was the bitter, coppery taste of blood swelling on his tongue. His gaze slowly turned to you, eyes flickering hesitantly in Rumlow’s direction before he spoke.

“Doll, look at me,” Bucky called, his voice too gentle amongst such violence around him. You almost didn’t have the strength to meet his request, almost didn’t have the courage for it. But you could feel the warmth in Bucky’s gaze on you, how unbothered he was by the snickering taunts of the Hydra club around him.

Slowly, you met his stare and the thick ooze of blood drip from his lips and the open wound on his cheek. His skin was patchy with reddened marks. His lungs not drawing in nearly enough air and still his voice, though quiet was still as gentle as his kiss had been on your skin in the moments before hell swarmed through the doors.

“I’ll be okay, honey,” Bucky swore, though threads of uncertainty woven between every syllable. “You stay right there. Don’t make trouble for me. I can take it.”

A vicious grin curved up along the Hydra leader’s mouth – revenge coated satisfaction. Slowly, he slid his leather jacket down his arms and hung it over the bar.

“Listen to the man,” Rumlow taunted. He curled his hand to a fist. “Now, pay close attention.”

“Wait!” You lurched forward, fumbling fingers untangling the gold chain on your wrist. Cold air brushed at the exposed skin on your wrist as you removed your father’s watch and extended it to Rumlow. It shook violently in your grip. “Take this! Please. Take this and let him go.”

Bucky shook his head, devastation clouding over the blue still visible in his eyes. He knew what the watch meant to you; he’d seen you run your fingers against it enough times to understand the weight it carried; the last tie to your father now that May Flowers had been destroyed. His lips parted as if to stop you, to beg you not to, but he knew better than to speak as the men holding him back tightened their grip on his arms.

Rumlow narrowed his eyes, intrigued at the old, worn-down watch with hands that no longer counted the minutes. He peeled it from your fingers, your entire body feeling drastically lighter without it – like you might float off into the sky without its weight to keep you safe on the ground. He examined it in his hands and for a moment, there was a brief glimmer of hope that he might actually accept it as payment and leave.

But he was not capable of such a merciful kindness.

Rumlow dropped the watch to the ground if it were little more than trash. With your heart lodged in your throat, you watched as his heel came down over the glass, shattering it under his boot, fracturing the links to pieces. You barely flinched, too numbed to do much of anything else. You knees met the ground instead, your trembling hands gathering the fragile, broken pieces of golden metals and holding them to your chest.

There was barely time to blink before Rumlow barreled his first hit to Bucky’s temple. You dropped the scattered remains of your father’s watch, the pieces forgotten as Bucky grunted out from the pain. The sound punctured into your body, broke through your ribs, nestled into your heart and split through the seams from the inside out. It tore open every piece of you.

You scrambled to your feet; unrestrained now because they knew you could do nothing to stop them. Still, you inched closer with every punch, every drop of blood they spilled, every gasp for breath Bucky dared.

A terrible numbness took over as you watched Bucky’s body weakened in their arms. His face becoming swollen and red, blood dripping down from open cuts on his face. His knees wobbling, barely able to hold himself upright without the support of the men restraining him.

This man, who had given up his reputation, his life, to protect the town he loved.

This man, who dared to help a stranger under a flickering streetlamp in the dead of night.

This man, who so graciously offered you his heart, who held yours as if it were made of something precious.

And Brock Rumlow was breaking him.

Whether it was courage, adrenaline, or reckless anger, you could hardly feel the touch of flames burning on your skin. Red and scorching, surging through your veins. Ignoring Bucky’s desperate plea to stay safe within the shadows, to not draw any more attention from the Hydra crew that might turn their aggression onto you instead, you took a step forward.

Before Rumlow could raise another fist to the man who only ever sought to protect you, you grabbed a sharp hold of his arm, halting his fist in place. The surprise on Rumlow’s face was enough to startle his swing, shaking him off balance. Bucky looked to you with some sort of agony hidden behind the blood and bruising – agony you suspected had little to do with the pain coursing through his body.

“Fucking bitch,” Rumlow spat and peeled your hand from around his wrist. He shoved you to floor as if you were little more than a spec of dirt on the sleeve of his jacket, forcing your head to collide painfully against the frame of the bar. A terrible throbbing sensation followed, the warm drip of blood sliding down the nape of your neck. You smeared the red along your fingertips as you touched the aching blow.

Rumlow rolled his shoulders, cracked his neck. Then, he returned to Bucky, his knuckles bloodied and broken under the effort of his closed fist. Under the evidence of what he’d done to Bucky’s face.

When you tried to meet Bucky’s eye again, to offer even a glimpse of an apology you could not hope to live up to, your vision quickly began burred with tears.

Bucky couldn’t have looked to you if he tried. Whether it was the swollen tissue on his left eye or the blood dripping down from his eyebrow on the right – you doubted he could see much of anything. You could only hope he would pass out soon, that he would allow himself some level of relief from the awful position you’d put him in, though you knew he was fighting it everything he had left. Clinging to consciousness in effort to not leave you alone in a room full of Hydra thugs.

You winced as Rumlow landed another blow to Bucky’s stomach. Blood spewed from his lips. Tears slid over your jawline and traced down your neck, settling against your collarbone.

You slid your hands along the floor, trying to find something to keep you grounded, to hold you steady inside your body when you knew there was nothing you could do to save the man who so easily used his own body a shield for you.

Helpless. So fucking helpless.

Until your fingertips grazed the fallen contents of your bag laid until the barstools. Through the awful sounds of Bucky’s strangled gasps for breath and the violent collision of fists to his body, the gentle keystrokes of Billy Joel’s Vienna filled the bar. You felt for the familiar plastic on the edge of your keyring, and slid your fingers through the grip.

It had given you strength in moments of weakness, of fear and panic – this small token from the first night you met Bucky Barnes under the street lamp outside the Centenarian. It quelled the panic, the devastation, only long enough to allow the cold rush of determination to settle in your bones.

You lunged to your feet and balled your fist into the thin black fabric of Rumlow’s t-shirt. Deep into his shoulder blades, rough enough that you felt your nails scrap over his back as you yanked hard enough to force him to face you. Impatient fury barely had time to register over his features before you swiped the edge of the keychain across his face.

He stumbled backward, the room falling to silence. Slowly, Rumlow brought a hand to his cheek where the sharp ends of the keychain had broken his skin; bright red coating over his fingertips. Rollins stepped forward from his position next to Dot, a low growl vibrating through the room as he prepared to retaliate, but Rumlow held up a hand in warning. Rollins stilled like the obedient dog he was.

You watched, panting heavily, as Rumlow slowly straightened his spine, revealing the deep gashes drawn by the pointed edges of the keychain Bucky had given you the night you met. Blood trickled down his cheek, obstructing the side of his face untouched by the myriad of scars.

From the corner of your eye, you caught Bucky struggling to lift his head, his legs dragging on the ground. He looked at you, though you were unsure how much he could tell what was going on around him. You were sure his hearing had been reduced to a dull ringing by now.

It was probably for the best. He’d begged you to stay complacent long enough to survive this night and you’d done the exact opposite. You’d attacked the very man who would do you harm. Twice.

But you weren’t going to stand back and watch him beat Bucky into a pulp; not while Dot was sharing the same air as him, smirking around the unlit cigarette with every hit Bucky endured. You weren’t going to succumb to the self-preservation instincts your parents had ingrained in you the moment Hydra entered your world. Not if it meant sacrificing Bucky.

So, you waited for Rumlow to hit you, to pull out his gun, to do something. You waited for him to follow through on his promise, but instead – he began to laugh. The sound was worse than if he’d started screaming.

“You surprise me, darling,” he finally said, the low tremor of humor still on his tongue. “You’re tougher than you made me believe. Perhaps, when the time is right, I will convince you to join us.”

Bile surged in your gut at the thought. Meanwhile, Dot grinned from her perch in the corner of the room. She'd taken that deal once.

Without waiting for your response, Rumlow circled a hand in the air. The men holding Bucky’s arms released him without so much as a warning and his body fell onto the floor in a crumpled heap. Heavier than it should have. He hadn’t even tried to catch his fall. The side of his head slammed onto the hardwood and it ripped open something inside your chest. You rushed toward him, knees skidding against the floors as the men stepped over his body as if he were little more than the trash under their feet.

With shaking hands, you gathered Bucky into your arms, resting his head against your lap. Blood soaked into your dress, painting red along the soft tones of pastels. Your fingertips gently brushed along his cheeks, desperate to rid the blood from his face, only to smear it over his skin, drying fleck speckling into the stubble on his jaw. You barely recognized him with all the swelling and discoloration.

He did not stir as you touched him, did not attempt to open his eyes. He’d lost consciousness the moment his body hit the floor and for that, you were grateful. Grateful, that his body took over when his mind so stubbornly fought against its very instincts – desperate to stay with you, to endure what he must to not leave you alone.

You set a tremored hand on his chest, focusing on the slow rise of his breaths, the faint pulsing of his heart. Reminders that he was still alive despite the violence dolled to his body. You could only vaguely hear the sound of footsteps fading down the sidewalk, of engines purring to life.

But Rumlow lingered by the door, a satisfied smirk touching the open wounds on his cheek as he watched you. “I hope this will serve as a final warning, darling. You’ve had enough of those, don’t you think?”

Then, he was gone.

The jukebox was still playing in the corner of the bar, though you could no longer tell what song it was.

“Bucky?” you called, though his name was little more than a whimper. You brushed your fingers over his brow line when he did not so much as stir. You nodded to yourself, swallowing back tears as you let yourself hold steady to the weight of his body in your arms. “It’s okay. You’re okay. I’ve got you.”

Your hand slid into his pockets, searching for his phone. You had to be strong for him. Set aside the panic threatening to draw you under. Ignore the bile creeping through your throat, the taste of it bitter on your tongue. Focus on Bucky – on his shallow breaths and the warmth of his skin. Focus.

A pained gasp tugged in your lungs as the screen lit up in your hand. The glass had been cracked in the struggle; shards splintered down the screen, but the image that had once covered the screen when you first entered your number weeks earlier was no longer there. Instead, there was a picture of you – one he must have taken on a day he’d come to your shop during your lunch breaks.

In the image, you were looking to the left, a bright smile on your face as you carried an armful of bouquets. The petals touched your jawline, more than you could hope to carry, and the colors brightened against your face. You hadn’t even realized he’d even taken the picture, laughter echoing from the still frame. You couldn’t remember feeling so light, so unburdened by the weight of the war you’d become a catalyst for. It was an eternity ago.

You dialed Steve’s number first. What he said when he picked up, you weren’t sure. You were crying the moment his voice broke through the speaker; only vague murmurs of Bucky’s name and the Hydra club, begging him to come to the bar.

He stayed on the line even as he rushed out into the cold night air, even as the bike engine screamed through the speakers. You did not move a muscle until he barreled in through the front doors. Sam followed only seconds behind.

“Oh God,” Steve exhaled at the sight of his friend’s body laid unconscious in your lap.

Your hands were coaxing through Bucky's hair as if he were simply asleep, numbed to the dried blood now caked into his scalp and under your nails. Steve and Sam shared an uneasy look before they approached you.

“Hey, kiddo,” Sam sighed, slowly kneeling down beside you. His eyes trailed over Bucky, searching for fatal wounds. He’d seen this before – knew enough to not ask who had laid such violence upon Bucky’s body. Disdain burned into his clenched jaw, even as he set a gentle touch to your trembling hands.

Your eyes shot up to his, the blur of tears obstructing your vision.

“He’s alive,” you whimpered, gesturing to his chest and the light flow of air from his lips. “He’s breathing but—he hasn’t— he hasn’t woken up.”

Steve nodded, his gaze fixated on the swell of pink and red tissue on Bucky’s face. It would be badly bruised by the morning if the swelling even managed to go down by then. His nose was broken, blocking his airway, and leaving his lips dried with every strangled breath.

Steve reached out for Bucky to gently lift him from your arms but you tensed at the sudden movement, your grip on Bucky molding to stone as if you were protecting him from a new threat; forgetting the men who would have laid down and taken that beating themselves if it would have spared their friend.

“It’s okay, Y/n,” Steve said quietly. “I’m going to bring him home, okay? We’ll get him somewhere safe so he can rest. We’ll keep an eye on him. You know I won’t let anything happen to him.”

You stared into the pale blue of Steve’s eyes – so similar to Bucky’s, a tangible glimpse of the unbreakable bond they shared. Steve shared a pained look with Sam, both of their shoulders sunken with defeat the longer they looked at the unconscious body of their fearless leader.

Slowly, you leaned down and pressed a kiss to Bucky’s forehead and released him from your hold. Almost effortlessly, Steve lifted Bucky into his arms – the strain on his face more to do with the fresh blood smeared on your dress than the weight of his friend.

“Come on,” Sam eased, offering his hand.

You glanced down at your own to find the faint stain of Bucky’s blood coating your palms. You swallowed back something that tasted of bile and allowed Sam to guide you to your feet. Knees wobbling under you, legs feeling weak and jellied, you followed him to the door. The shattered remains of your father's watch were left on the floor in your wake.

***

After Sam used his spare key to open the door to Bucky’s apartment, he’d left to take word to the rest of the 107 of what happened. It was one thing to cross the border, another entirely to enact war in what they’d done to Bucky. Steve promised he’d stay the night to make sure the Hydra club did not return to finish the job.

“How long’s he been out?” Steve asked quietly as he set Bucky down on the edge of the couch.

You stared at Bucky’s face, paralyzed by the open wounds and bruising. Awful discoloration of blues and purples, reds swelling over his eyes and the gashes on his cheeks. Blood dripping down his neck, crusted. You could hardly draw in a full breath.

Steve prompted you again, ever so patient, and you clenched your hands into the fabric of your blood-stained dress. “Um-- I don’t-- I don’t know. I called you as soon as he collapsed. He lost consciousness after the Hydra club left.”

“Okay,” Steve nodded, seeming a little less distressed at the information. He offered you a smile, reaching out and setting a firm hand on your shoulder. “You did good, Y/n. It hasn’t been too long, all right? I got to you fast enough.”

You nodded, unsure. Steve tipped Bucky’s head back and lifted his chin. You watched as Bucky’s breaths slowly grew stronger in his chest. An eternity could have passed in the span of a few minutes – a millennia, maybe. You didn’t dare turn away, didn’t dare blink.

“Buck?” Steve called just as a twitch flexed on Bucky’s upper lip. The movement was slight, hardly noticeable at all, but it was there. Steve set a hand on Bucky’s shoulder. “Take it easy, pal. You’re home now. Everything’s okay.”

A low groan muttered from Bucky’s lips and your legs gave way. You dropped onto the couch beside him, relief seeping through the panic that had taken residency in your bones.

“Shit,” Bucky exhaled, his voice raspy as if sandpaper lined in his lungs.

Steve chuckled, his chin dropping to his chest. “Welcome back, punk.”

Bucky tried to open his eyes, though only one of them was able to part at all and even then – it was only a slit. He could hardly turn his head, barely move his body at all.

“Where’s--” his voice caught in his throat, almost like something had reached up through his lungs and swallowed it back whole. His chest was rising quicker, his hands clamping. He tried to push himself up from the couch only for his body to tug him back in pure exhaustion.

“Y/n?” Bucky whispered your name, a desperate request. Near fearful.

“I’m here,” you confirmed as gently as you were able and Bucky’s entire body seemed to sink into the soft cushion of the couch. Slowly, you moved yourself to stand within his limited line of vision and did your best to ignore the horrific brushing and swelling on his face. He tried to smile at you, his hand reaching out for your hip, but he winced in the effort.

Reflexively, you brought your fingertips, feather light, to the split of his lip. Bucky’s breath hitched at the sensation; the dull brush of comfort you granted over the wounds drawn by vile men. You traced your fingers under the open cut on his cheek, gingerly over the well of his eye. You touched him as if you could undo the damage done, as if you could turn back time to the night you met under the street lamp and spare him the scars on his body that would outnumber the one left on his ribs from a woman who never truly loved him at all.

Then, you set your palm against his cheek; the trembling evident as Bucky leaned against your touch.

“I am...” You drew in a harsh breath, and still – it was painfully shallow. “I am so sorry, Bucky...”

“Don’t say that,” Bucky pleaded, the rough edge in his voice only sinking the guilt deeper into your chest, clawing at your heart until it shredded under the talons. He closed his hand around yours. “Please, don’t say that. I’m okay. This isn’t your fault, honey.”

You pulled your hand tight to your chest and away from Bucky’s reach. He had little movement in his facial features amongst the aches and the swelling, but you heard his soft exhale when his fingertips slipped from your hand. It wasn’t mean to punish him. You simply couldn’t understand how he could offer you comfort when he was the one covered in bruises and blood for your crimes.

Bucky looked over to Steve, barely a word exchanged between them, and Steve quietly stepped out of the room. Bucky reached for your hand again, but you could not see his efforts for the tears blurring through your eyes.

This never would have happened if you’d been strong enough to deal with Hydra on your own, if you’d just gotten their money when they asked and sold every last valuable possession you had to get it done. But you were selfish and naïve, thinking you could hold onto your father’s watch and allow the register to remain short.

You did this to him.

The blood and the bruises and the swelling.

You might as well have done it yourself.

You sank to your knees at the edge of the couch, holding your arms tight against your chest to stop the shaking, though it would not relent. Violent shakes racked through your spine as you rested your forehead against Bucky’s knee. You could not stop the sob that broke through – the gut-wrenching sound that followed.

Bucky’s fingers brushed along your head, doing his best to soothe you though he could hardly keep his own eyes open. “Sweetheart...”

You gave yourself thirty seconds. Thirty more seconds to cry, to allow the guilt and the shame to crumble you completely. If Bucky was speaking to you, you could not hear it; not over the dull ringing in your ears, the memory of the god-awful sound that echoed through the bar each time Rumlow stuck his fist against Bucky’s face.

When your thirty seconds were up, you sat back on your heels. Tears were still fresh on your cheeks; wet and streaked along the flushed skin. You took in a steady breath.

“I’ll get a cloth for the blood.” Your voice was too flat, too clinical. It was all you could manage.

“Y/n, wait,” he started, but his limited gaze fell to the splattered red stains along your dress and his jaw wired shut – violence marred to the delicate floral patterns on a pastel fabric.

Steve had a first aid kit ready for you on the kitchen table. He didn’t say a word as he handed you the small plastic box and a warm wash cloth. On the table, Natasha’s name was lit up on his phone screen; three minutes and forty-seven seconds into the call.

He gave you a short nod, ushering you back to the living room. You were grateful for his silence because you knew the moment you parted your lips, horrors would spill out.

Bucky didn’t speak as you sat on the couch beside him. He only watched you as you gently dabbed the warm cloth against his wounds, cleaning away the bloodstains on his skin. Only once, he winced as you accidentally added too much pressed to the cut along his cheek. Another tear slipped over your jaw and Bucky did not flinch again, not even as you rubbed the antibiotic gel to the open wounds and tenderly pressed bandages against them to keep it secure.

When you were finished, you sank onto the couch next to him and turned on the television in hopes it might keep him awake. He wouldn’t be able to sleep for a few hours in case he had a serious concussion. Tension burned throughout your body as you forced distance between you and Bucky in fear of worsening his pain with even the smallest touch. It took until the end of the first late night show before Bucky managed to set his hand on the outside of your thigh and urge you closer.

Unable to resist his request, you inched closer to him and wrapped your arms around his bicep, holding him against your chest as you leaned onto his shoulder. You knew his arm was tender from where the men had gripped him – bruises already forming in hand marks on his skin – so you held him as gently as you could.

“You know I’d take that beating a dozen times to keep you safe, don’t you?” Bucky’s voice soothed through the low hum of the musician playing on the television.

You nodded against his sleeve, tears burning back into your eyes. That was the problem, wasn’t it? How easily he was willing to throw himself to the rubble for you.

Even hours later when Bucky had finally been allowed to sleep, you could not find the nerve to close your eyes. Instead, you kept yourself steady on the feeling of Bucky’s hand on the outside of your thigh, the warmth of his skin and the firmness of his shoulder. Tears swelled in your eyes even after you’d thought there were none left inside you to cry.

It had been foolish to think you ever had a chance of escaping your chains to the Hydra club. That debt would haunt you for an eternity. It hadn’t made an ounce of difference for Bucky to be himself or to wear the mask the town believed him to be. Rumlow was too powerful. The Hydra club would do everything in its power to break you down to your bones.

They destroyed your shop.

They threatened you.

They punished you by bloodying Bucky.

You didn’t dare imagine what they would do next, didn’t dare wonder whether Bucky would survive the next time they came seeking retribution for your lapse in payment. There was no escape. No surrender. The Hydra club would haunt you for the rest of your life.

Tears dripped onto the purpled skin on Bucky’s arm.

There was no escape.

[aubreyreadsstuff]

Awwww! This has my heart all bubbly like it hasn't been in so long! I'm so excited to read on!!!

Something Old and Something New — Part One

Mechanic!Dean Winchester x Reader

Summary: When life takes a turn and you take an unexpected break from college in Stanford with your best friend Sam, you return home to your job at your family’s co-owned garage. You return home to work alongside the guy you thought you hated—Dean Winchester.

Word Count: 3.8k

Warnings: mild angst, mentions of death, mild swearing, fluff

A/N: Part one to my mechanic!Dean series!

Kansas.

It’s always been home to you no matter what, even if your time was split between here on summer break and the apartment you shared with Sam while the two of you went to school together. It was somewhere that never changed despite your ever changing life, and that was something you felt you needed amidst everything swirling through your mind as of the last six months. A place that was always there to welcome you back home with open arms no matter how few and far between your stays back there were. It was home and it was familiar.

Keep reading

[aubreyreadsstuff]

Not to be dramatic but I am LIVING for this series and these two dumbasses who just need to fess up already! Super excited for the next part! And the next! And the next!

Home To You Masterlist

Pairing: Dean Winchester x Reader

Summary: Dean enlisted in the hopes to help secure enough money for Sam to be able to go to college. Of course he didn’t tell Sam. Why would he? Sam would understand, right? Turns out, Sam didn’t get it, and is giving Dean the silent treatment for over a year. In Dean’s desperation to reconnect with Sam, Dean reaches out to his brother’s best friend. Little does he know that the hurricane named Y/N will turn out to be the reason he wants to stay alive and go back home for.

Series Warnings: Slow build, slow burn, mention of violence, illness, minor character death, discovering hope, discovering feelings, a journey of reconciliation, a journey of rekindling friendships, friends to lovers, sweet fluff too, eventual smut.

A/N: This series has started to post on Patreon. Please let me know if you want to be on the taglist on tumblr (people already on the forever list will be tagged automatically)

Series beta’d by: @deanwanddamons​​​ <3

One ~ Two ~ Three ~ Four

Five ~ Six ~ Seven ~ Eight

Nine ~ Ten ~ Eleven ~ Twelve

Thirteen ~ Fourteen ~ Fifteen

Sixteen ~ Seventeen ~ Eighteen

Nineteen ~ Twenty ~ Twenty-One

tbc

[aubreyreadsstuff]

My poor heart is gonna explode from how freaking ADORABLE this is!!!

Imagine...Accidentally Cuddling Dean

Summary: The reader wakes up next to Dean in bed one morning. Very much next to Dean and he can’t for the life of him remember how she got there…

Pairing: Dean x reader

Square: Accidental Cuddling

Word Count: 562

Warnings: none

A/N: Written for @supernatural-jackles​​ Tell Me A Story Bingo and all my Dean girls out there that would love to play with his hair first thing in the morning…

________

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[aubreyreadsstuff]

I have no words. This was so beautiful and I loved every single word in the entire series. Thank you for writing this and sharing it with us 💜💜💜

A lot like ‘Us’ (Part 45- Final)

Word count: 6.7K

Pairing: Sam X Reader AU

Warnings: Feels and FLUFF

Series Summary: Y/N Y/L/N is eager and honestly, still in awe that she managed to get herself an acceptance from Stanford Law School. On the face of it, her life seems as put together, mysterious and independent as one might hope for. On the insides, she carries the burden of past that haunts her till date. Seemingly, she’d left it all behind; that is until she sets foot in the class of the Law School’s youngest, most promising professor.

A/N: The story employs two different timelines. The present timeline for the story takes place in 2014. Please let me know what you guys think :)

Beta: @deanssweetheart23​​​. A huge shoutout to the amazing girl who supported me throughout. I love you, Athina. You’re a rockstar! <3

A lot like ‘Us’ masterlist

“I’m sorry it’s taking so long.” Y/N made a face.

She sat at the foot of their bed, legs stretched in front of her, applying body cream. Sam noted with nostalgic surprise that he had somehow forgotten how she had a whole routine before bed- which included moisturising her entire body. Especially in the cold months. It was more of a prerequisite than a beauty regime to protect her sensitive skin. 

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[aubreyreadsstuff]

Hi there. I would be oh so happy if you would come back here and fix this, Kay? Thanks!

Legally Yours - Ch. 25

Pairing: Dean Winchester x Reader

Summary: Dean Winchester tops the list of hottest entrepreneurs 2020 and yet, there’s still something he wants but can’t have because, in order to get that, he would have to settle down and get married. She agrees too quickly because she wants to secure a more comfortable life for her and her daughter. Will she be able to help Dean get what he wants without losing herself in the fake story they spin up to deceive his father and the world?

Chapter Warnings: Angst… angst (I’m sorry)

WC: 4100

Beta’d by: @deanwanddamons​​​​​​ <3

This series is complete on Patreon

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Series Masterlist ~ SPN Masterlist

Y/N wakes up buried deep into the fluffy pillows. She nuzzles her head deeper into it, breathes in the scent of Dean’s faint cologne and their combined musk and sweat. She shamelessly has to admit that it’s her favorite smell.

What she misses is the warmth that normally radiates from Dean next to her, misses the closeness of one of his arms draping protectively around her. Before she blinks her eyes open, her hand reaches out to touch the empty space next to her. To her surprise, it’s cold which must mean that Dean’s already up and he took the warmth with him. 

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[aubreyreadsstuff]

Do I check daily for an update on this fic? Yes.

Do I pause everything in my life when I see an update so I can read it right away? Also yes.

Would I kill someone for the kind of talent and skill you have in creating and maintaining such an intricate and beautiful world? For the sake of my future lawyer, I will decline to answer.

A lot like ‘Us’ (Part-41)

Word count: 5.1K

Pairing: Sam X Reader AU

Warnings: Fluff and all the nice things :)

Series Summary: Y/N Y/L/N is eager and honestly, still in awe that she managed to get herself an acceptance from Stanford Law School. On the face of it, her life seems as put together, mysterious and independent as one might hope for. On the insides, she carries the burden of past that haunts her till date. Seemingly, she’d left it all behind; that is until she sets foot in the class of the Law School’s youngest, most promising professor.

A/N: The story employs two different timelines. The present timeline for the story takes place in 2014. Please let me know what you guys think :)

Beta: @deanssweetheart23​​​​. You’re the best! I love you so much <3

A lot like ‘Us’ masterlist

“I’m telling you, Y/N, we have to visit that boutique. All you need is some nice manicure and pedicure. You’ll be sorted for the month. Evil shall not touch you.”

“Because of a pedicure?” You eyed Madison skeptically.

“Yes.” She dead-panned. Madison jerked her chin up in the air. “Do not underestimate the power of a good pedicure.”

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[aubreyreadsstuff]

It's been a hot minute since I have sang the praises of this wonderful story. I absolutely love and adore every single chapter and get so excited when you post a new chapter! I wish I had a Sam in my life (but I'm perfectly fine not having Brad and Rebecca in my life, seriously FUCK those guys!)

A lot like ‘Us’ (Part-38)

Word count: 3.8K

Pairing: Sam X Reader AU

Warnings: Fluff, angst

Series Summary: Y/N Y/L/N is eager and honestly, still in awe that she managed to get herself an acceptance from Stanford Law School. On the face of it, her life seems as put together, mysterious and independent as one might hope for. On the insides, she carries the burden of past that haunts her till date. Seemingly, she’d left it all behind; that is until she sets foot in the class of the Law School’s youngest, most promising professor.

A/N: The story employs two different timelines. The present timeline for the story takes place in 2014. Please let me know what you guys think :)

This is also written for @superbadassnatural’s 333 followers challenge. The prompt is in bold. Congrats, Julia <3

Beta: @deanssweetheart23​. Love you babe <3

A lot like ‘Us’ masterlist

The blaring alarm should have woken you up. It didn’t. What did wake you was Sam’s low curse somewhere over you. You opened your eyes already alert to see Sam moving under you on the sofa.

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[aubreyreadsstuff]

Such an amazing chapter! Love the apology by Meg but I am utterly in love with the softness you made with their stargazing!! We're taking steps towards happiness y'all!!

A lot like ’Us’ (Part-33)

Word count: 3.9K

Pairing: Sam X Reader AU

Warnings: Feels, mentions of child abuse, fluff

Series Summary: Y/N Y/L/N is eager and honestly, still in awe that she managed to get herself an acceptance from Stanford Law School. On the face of it, her life seems as put together, mysterious and independent as one might hope for. On the insides, she carries the burden of past that haunts her till date. Seemingly, she’d left it all behind; that is until she sets foot in the class of the Law School’s youngest, most promising professor.

A/N: I quite like this part. It sets the tone for the rest of the series :)

The story employs two different timelines. The present timeline for the story takes place in 2014. Please let me know what you guys think :)

Beta: @deanssweetheart23​. Thanks, hon :)

A lot like ‘Us’ masterlist

“And, this is my room.” You spread your arm with a flourish at the door, feeling like a kid showing their prize winning project to a parent.

Dean’s eyes roved over the cream coloured walls and dark brown curtains, finally settling on the book on your nightstand. He smirked. “You kept that one, huh?”

“Couldn’t bear to part with it.”

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[aubreyreadsstuff]

Um hi, hello? Yeah could you please come back here and fix this? It would be greatly appreciated thanks.

Sunrise (8)

summary: After an explosion takes his arm and his only sense of belonging, Bucky is content to live out the rest of his days in the hollow comfort of the dark. This is, until Sam drags him down to the local VA and he meets you. (Modern AU) pairings: bucky x reader chapter word count: 5.3k warnings: sweet happy beautiful bucky, a unpleasant reminder of the past, whiplash of emotion, the angst I warned you about 🧡 series masterlist / series playlist

Bucky wasn’t quite sure how to hold onto this feeling without suffocating it.  

It had been nearly a year since he’d felt even an ounce of the relief like what washed through his body when you walked through the door. All it took was a single smile from across the room, the soft brush of your hair over your fingers as you nervously tucked it behind your ear, and he was gone.  

Enough for his cheeks to ache from smiling. Enough for his stomach to twist and knot from laughter. Enough for the wrinkles by his eyes to draw long and pronounced— the physical embodiment of joy upon his face.  

He wasn’t walking on eggshells, waiting for the carpet to be dragged out from under his feet, for the paralyzing darkness of an empty void to consume him whole. The shadows weren’t lingering in his wake, itching to clench their claws into his spine and drag him away from the one thing that finally drew light back into his life.  

For the first time since he stepped back on American soil, Bucky Barnes was happy. Truly and honest to God, happy.  

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