alicedopey

[alicedopey]

Buck don’t delude yourself. You are just like her dad. She is a prisoner in her own home, she just traded one warden for another. And you made her do something she will never be able to take back. You are showing her off like a trophy, a silent thing next to you who just obeys. You are an asshole just like her dad and you would certainly deserve to be offed like her dad. Soon, I bet you will turn violent if she ever rebelled against you.

He really is terrifying and I am scared for her but also her sisters.

Death Wish 17

Warnings: non/dubcon, mentions of crime, violence/abuse and other dark elements. My username actually says you never asked for any of this.

My warnings are not exhaustive but be aware this is a dark fic and may include potentially triggering topics. Please use your common sense when consuming content. I am not responsible for your decisions.

Character: mob!Bucky Barnes

Part of the mob drabbles au

Summary: you’re desperate for a way out of your life and you ask a powerful man for help (plus!reader)

As usual, I would appreciate any and all feedback. I’m happy to once more go on this adventure with all of you! Thank you in advance for your comments and for reblogging ❤��

Photo Inspo

You sit beside Bucky. He’s stoic. Patient in an ominous way. You don’t try to mimic him. You know you can’t. You just keep still and listen. He does too. 

“Something in the boats, boss. Someone undercutting us down in the southeast.” Gio explains. “That fisherman, he drove off when I tried to talk to him.” 

“Hm,” Bucky nods. “And you’ve been watching? How do you know there’s something coming in?” 

“Just the way he’s actin’.” 

“The way he’s acting,” Bucky clucks and taps his fingers on his jaw. “Not much of a reason to pull the alarm. Put some eyes on the dock. Come back next week.” 

“Yes, boss. I’ll put my boys down there.” 

“Good,” Bucky sits back, hanging his arm over the side of his chair.  

He reaches for you, taking your hand and bringing it onto the high armrest. He squeezes. You focus on your posture. You resist the urge to look around at all those eyes staring back. You know they’re watching you. They have since the moment you got here. 

“The flower shop on third,” another man steps up. You recognise him. He used to come see your dad; Alfie. He meets your gaze with a squint. “They didn’t pay me in full. Said they can’t make cut.” 

“How much is cut?” Bucky asks. 

“1500” 

“Fifteen?” Bucky scoffs. “That’s as much they’d pay the government for their license. Take half.” 

“Half?” 

“Jumped up little man,” Bucky sniffs. “I got capos not taking that much from business in north side. Half. You’re lucky I don’t ask for it all myself.” 

He snaps his fingers and dismisses Alfie with a flutter of fingers. The older man gives you a long look as he backs up. His lip twitches. 

“One more thing,” Bucky drawls and shifts. “When you look at my woman, you don’t do it like that.” 

Alfie flinches. “I ain’t--” 

“Don’t fucking lie to me. Now walk away.” 

Alfie grits his teeth and lowers his head. He retreats. The air in the room turns stagnant. You focus on not fidgeting. You don’t want to draw any more attention. 

And the dress. It cinches to tight in the middle, it shows too much of your chest, it hugs your figure a little too snugly. You are dressed up like something you aren't.

“I got a wedding to plan. I need you all to start carrying your weight. You got a problem, go to the underboss. I’m not taking council over florists and fishermen.” He tuts. “Oh and make sure you RSVP.” 

He stands and tugs you up with him. You rise and adjust the high arch of the heels. He draws you to him and kisses your forehead. 

“Come on, doll. Now that it’s top of mind, we need to figure out flowers.” He lets go of your hand and puts his hand on your lower back, ushering you out of the room without a glance sideways. 

As the door shuts behind you, you exhale slowly, quietly. He takes you down the hall and up the stairs, pointing you up first. As you climb, he hums. “Perfect view.” 

You stiffen but keep going. You walk past a door and he chuckles. You turn back as he opens it. 

“You forgot?” He wonders. “It doesn’t remind you of that first night?” 

You blanch as you near him. You look him in the eye. “I remember.” 

His eyes flick up and down. He waves you inside. You enter ahead of him. The door clicks shut behind him and he brushes his palm along your rear as he dips in behind you. 

He goes around the desk to the cabinet in the corner. He pops open the glass door and takes out a dark bottle. He pushes his fingers into two glasses and pinches them together. He spins and carries it all to the desk. He sets them down with a clink. 

Quietly, he pours. He peeks up at you. A lock of dark hair falls forward. His dark tie is knotted high and firm, his collar starched and perfect. He puts the bottle down. 

“You asked me to do it.” 

“You didn’t.” You blurt out and look away. You shake your head and blink. Your finger twitches. You feel the trigger, you smell the gun powder. 

“I gave you the power you wanted.” 

You bite your lip. This isn’t what you asked for. You asked for safety. For peace. For your sisters. 

He comes around the desk. You sense him. You smell the alcohol before he holds out the glass. You glance at it and hesitate. 

“I don’t drink.” You say. 

“You need it.” 

You take it and turn away. You put it back on his desk. You keep your back to him. 

“You did good,” he says. You can hear him slurp. “You sat and listened. You didn’t let that man intimidate you.” 

“Why would he? He’s not you.” 

Silence. He drinks again. He comes up next to you. 

“You scared of me?” 

“I know I’m not in charge.” You shrug. “I know how it goes. I’ll do what needs to be done. Whatever it is you need me to do.” 

He sighs. “I’m not like him, don’t treat me like I am.” 

Maybe not, but the situation isn’t so different... 

“I know,” you lie. “Last week, I was just his daughter. I only had to worry about my sisters. It’s... a lot.” 

“And I know you can handle it, doll,” he rubs your hip and sets his glass down. “Come here.” 

He turns you to him, cradling your cheek as he steps closer. He squeezes the soft curve of your hip and smirks. His nose brushes yours. 

“I chose you because I know you can. You know when it’s time to take out the trash.” He caresses your cheek. “And you got a hell of a poker face.” He leans in and kisses you. You can taste the smoky scotch on him. He draws back and gazes at you, purring. “I’m gonna call your bluff, one day.” 

[alicedopey]

You know me too well 😳 I am definitely too predictable

D&D got cancelled this weekend so I'm hoping to do a bunch of writing.

Question is:

[alicedopey]

😆 Actually I have two in mind. You will have to guess

D&D got cancelled this weekend so I'm hoping to do a bunch of writing.

Question is:

[alicedopey]

Royalty ! You know who I would like….

D&D got cancelled this weekend so I'm hoping to do a bunch of writing.

Question is:

[alicedopey]

That asshole had it coming…and to think he probably did this to many women before. I am glad she headbutted him but he deserved so much worse. Somebody should have cut off his balls too 😅

Thank you for this because it is always very satisfying when the douchebag loses and justice wins. Captain Rogers was sure the best to help with that. I wonder if something is going on between those two. Maybe he also does have impure thoughts about those hips 👀

You're new in town and the sheriff stops by to tell your how things work around his county

Too Easy

Summary: Sheriff Bodecker gets up close and personal with a single woman moving into his county.

Warnings: Assault, Corrupt cops, Implied violence, Sexism. Please let me know if I missed any.

A/N: Reader is plus sized, female. No other physical descriptors used.

Lee licks his lips as he watches you get the last box from your truck. The neighborly thing to do would be helping you, but he likes watching your curves as you move and bend over. Wouldn't be too neighborly showing up to help with an obvious hard-on.

He'd heard the little house on Knox Rd had sold and was surprised to learn it was bought by a lady. The realtor said it seemed like you were fresh from a divorce. Lee huffed. With a body like yours, you must've been cut loose for your personality. No moving company, no help? You're probably one of them "independent women" types.

He'll teach you better.

For now, he'll let you get settled. Once he gets over the shock of how pretty you are and how much he wants his hands on those hips of yours.

About a week later, Lee knows he's got you figured out. He's been watching you like a hawk and learning all about you.

You're as sweet as you look, getting along well with just about everyone. He almost pulled his gun on the young Arvin fella when he shook your hand. Lee's got it bad for you and he knows it. If he wasn't already married he'd pick you up in a heartbeat. As it is, he's looking forward to getting the benefits without the hassle of a wedding.

The fact you live alone almost makes it too easy for him. Good thing he's never had a problem with taking the easy way. Besides, he can be nice, if you'll let him.

There's a knock at your door and you rush from the kitchen with a cheerful, "who is it?"

"Sheriff Bodecker, ma'am."

You open the door with a small frown that brings out the cutest lines in your face. "Can I help you, Sheriff?"

"We got some reports about Ol' Bob doin' a bit o' thievin'." He lays the accent on thick to get you to lower your guard thinking he's just a good ol' boy.

"Oh no!" your hand flies to your face in concern.

"Bein' new in town you're more'n likely to be a victim," he explains, leaving out the fact that there is no Ol' Bob. "Do ya mind if'n I check to make sure your place is secure? I'd hate to have him take somethin' precious o' yours."

"Of course, Sheriff! What do you need from me?"

"With yer permission I'll check the locks on these here doors and windows. Did ya have 'em changed before movin' in?"

A look of concern crosses your features. "No, I...I didn't think to!"

"Well fer now I'll go ahead and check 'em. But tomorrow you best be headin' to Billy and Ralph's hardware to get some replacements. I'll even come by and make sure to help you install 'em properly."

"Thank you, Sheriff, but you won't need to do that. I'm pretty handy."

Lee fights the irritation he feels at your comments. Just as figured, you're an "independent" type. He's gonna have to fix that.

"May I still come in an' check on your windows?"

"Oh, yes! Of course!" You smile widely as you gesture for him to enter.

"Thank you," he nods, smiling at how easy you're making all of this.

He makes a good show of checking some of the windows, giving himself a better idea as to the layout of the little house. He can't have you hiding from him when he's hungry for a rendezvous.

Your kitchen is smelling heavenly, he thinks. It's a damn shame you're not looking for a man, you'd be getting all the good, and bad, men courting you. But since you'd rather be all alone, he gets to treat you like a whore.

"You mind me askin' what your cooking? Smells divine," he praises, getting you to walk closer to the counter.

"Oh, it's just a strawberry pie," you coo. "Though it is about time to get it out of the oven."

Lee steps away as you put on some oven mitts and bend over to get the pie. He licks his lips and readies himself.

As soon as you close the oven door and set down the pie, Lee pulls back his arm and smacks your ass. You let out a yelp and turn to him, eyes full of confusion and fear.

"You've got quite the peach," he purrs. "Been wanting to get my hands on it since you moved in."

"Sh-sh-sheriff, that's not--"

He crowds closer to, pushing your back into the counter.

"Not what, darlin'?"

"Not...not right! You're the sheriff!"

"Which means I'm the man in charge," he replies. "I get to choose which rules get enforced and which ones can be ignored, and by which people."

"But...but..."

He chuckles coldly. "And ain't nobody gonna believe you, either. An outsider to the community? A woman living on her own? They'll be marching you through town with a scarlet A on your chest."

"I...I can go above your head!" you argue, tears forming in your eyes. "State police, FBI, even!"

"Even if they would listen, you'd never get to 'em before my boys get to you, hurt you badly, and leave your body where no one will find it."

"Your deputies are in on it?" you gasp.

He laughs, "not them. People much worse than them. Ruthless people who, if you're nice for them, will give you a quick death instead of a slow one at their hotel with them other girls."

A sob escapes your lips and Lee starts fondling your breasts.

"And damn you'd make those O'Donovan boys a lot of money."

"O'Donovan? The...they run the Heavenly Rest?"

"They're the ones. And they get one notice from me that you're trouble, they will make you wish for death."

"Roger that!" you shout, making him pause long enough for you to headbutt him.

Lee staggers back a few steps before charging towards you, ready to hit back. You easily dodge the blow and head towards the front door, Lee giving chase.

The second he steps outside, though, he's greeted by a couple of State Police vehicles. Some of them with open doors and officers pointing guns at him.

He angrily raises his hands in surrender.

The tallest officer steps forward and Lee recognizes him.

"Captain Rogers," he spits. "Fucking golden boy. Since when do you send innocent women to do your dirty work?"

"The Detective here was only too happy to sign up," he shrugs. "And I can't argue with the results. She even got you to give up your partners."

Lee's eyes furrow in confusion for a moment before turning into rage. "Recording device?"

"Yup," Rogers confirms. "We were expecting this to take a lot longer but, lucky for us, you're too easy."

Tagging: @alicedopey; @blacksilks; @delicatebarness; @icefrozendeadlyqueen; @irishhappiness; @iwudbutnah; @kmc1989; @lokislady82; @peaches1958; @ronearoundblindly

[alicedopey]

Look at him 🥹 his voice was so smooth, he made the puppies fall asleep near him. They felt so safe and calm.

Tom Hiddleston: The Puppy Interview 🐶

[alicedopey]

Ah damn Chase, why do you have to ruin everything ? They were getting closer in a very sweet way. Curtis is so caring, my heart would melt if I were in her shoes. He is patient, he doesn’t wanna push her and he respect her boundaries. I love him.

Now I bet she will be very upset after talking with Chase (if she goes and talks to him) Wonder what the douchebag will tell her…playing the remorseful one or pretending like he never hurt her and it was all in her head ?

It really gets me nervous 😬 I hope she will be safe.

Thanks for updating this one ❤️

Tech Tuesday: Curtis Everett

Summary: Your ex-boyfriend is a patient in the ICU where you work and he plays at your heartstrings.

A/N: Reader is female. No physical descriptors used.

Warnings: Abusive ex, Hospital setting. Please let me know if I missed any.

Previous

Tech Tuesday Masterlist

Chase had woken up and seen you. Whether he remembers you or not is another story. Right now he's still too weak to do much but lay there and go in and out of sleep with the all the machinery he's hooked up to. But he knows you're there, and that scares you.

Part of you knows you'll be okay. He doesn't hold sway over you anymore. You're not the naive girl you were when you first got together, thinking he was the bad boy with a good heart. That he only treated you badly in public to keep his reputation. That the sweetness he treated you with in private was proof he really cared about you.

You know better now.

You also know that men can be better than Chase. Well, you think they can. You know Curtis is, right? Or are you still just hoping he is?

You message Curtis saying you're not up for gaming tonight. He's quick to tell you that's okay and doesn't question why. Yet more evidence that Curtis is better than Chase. Chase questioned everything you did and made you feel like what you wanted was always less important than what he wanted. Curtis trusts you. More importantly, he respects you. He knows if you wanted to talk about it you would. It's not indifference, it's trust and respect. Right?

Okay, maybe Chase does still have some sway over you.

Curtis isn't gaming tonight. He's got too much nervous energy to sit still. Instead he ends up cleaning his entire apartment. He wants to be near his computer in case you need to talk. The frustration at not being able to just step in, and not being able to pull the plug on the machinery keeping Chase alive, is let out, bit by bit as he scrubs every inch of his place.

He has to hold back. He needs to prove to you that he can be trusted to simply have your back. He wants to protect you, but he must acknowledge and respect that you are strong in your own right. That you can fight your own battles. More importantly, that your boundaries are not stomped on.

Then he thinks of something. It's not much, but hopefully it'll help. Especially if he asks permission first.

That's odd, you think as you see the notification from Curtis. Usually he waits for me to say something.

Snowpiercer85: Can't sleep. Gonna go for a drive. Want me to bring you anything?

You feel yourself wanting to cry. He's offering help without forcing you to accept. And you know if you turned down the offer, he wouldn't make you feel guilty about it. He's not the type to hold that against you.

HeartMonitor3000: Will you let me pay you back? Snow: Sure.

Heart: You know that cafe, Mad Hatter's Tea? They have the most delectable red velvet macarons. Snow: How many do you want? Heart: I'll take what you can get me. They're open late for the college kids but they might be low on stock. Snow: I'll let you know when I've got the macarons. Heart: Thank you, Curtis. I really needed this.

You really could use the comfort food. The cafe is nowhere near your apartment and, even on your days off, you're either too tired or too busy to go there. You probably could've chosen something closer to the hospital for him to drive but, looking over at Chase's bed, you know you can use all the help you can get. And maybe, just maybe, letting Curtis help wasn't such a bad idea.

Curtis tells you he's arrived and you tell your boss you're taking your break. Curtis might be expecting just to drop off the cookies, but, hopefully, he won't mind talking with you for a bit.

He's out of his car by the time you get to the parking lot. He greets you with a smile, holding out a box with the Mad Hatter's Tea logo on it.

"Got their last batch," he informs you. He's not going to mention that he got a deal on them because he doesn't want you thinking about the price, about paying him back. His heart wrenches when he sees you. You look so tired, especially when you got close and finally let your shoulders relax.

You open the box and let out a little squeal at how many there are. "Did you try any?" you ask him. He shakes his head and you give a playful pout. "That's no good! You gotta try one, they're delicious!"

Curtis smiles and takes the one you offer him. His eyes widen as he eats it.

"I told you! Delicious!"

The rest of your break was spent talking and laughing with Curtis as you share stories and cookies. By the time you have to go back to work, you're feeling so much better that you give Curtis a big hug as thanks. You don't feel how his heart races at having you so close, but you do feel how firmly he holds you.

Back at the nurses' station, Vanessa tells you Chase woke up enough to write to her about if he wants or needs anything. He wrote your name.

Tagging @alicedopey; @delicatebarness; @ellethespaceunicorn; @icefrozendeadlyqueen; @jaqui-has-a-conspiracy-theory; @late-to-the-party-81; @lokislady82; @peaches1958; @peyton-warren @ronearoundblindly; @stellar-solar-flare; @thiquefunlover63

[alicedopey]

Awwww it was adorable. The kids were so cute, celebrating their father by spoiling him and of course, Sunshine did too. They make such a lovely family.

And Ransom 🥹my baby boy is rewarding the only positive father figure he knows. I want o hug him so much.

Sorry I am only seeing this now. I missed so much during my work limbo.

How do The Twins celebrate Father’s Day with Jake?

It was such a fun filled day for the entire family, just how Jake likes it!

When Sunshine got up she told him to go back to sleep or at least pretend he was asleep when he heard the excited "whispers" of The Twins. He smiled and snuggled into bed, hugging Sunshine's pillow.

He must've fallen back asleep because next thing he knows, Leia is hopping on the bed, "Happy Dada's Day!!" He smiles groggily as Luke lays on his chest to hug him with a "is your day, Dada!"

Jake playfully grabs the two in a big hug, making them both squeal with laughter.

The Twins urge him to get out of bed because "we made bweakfast! Mama taught us how ta make pancakes!"

"You two work with Mama? I know it'll be the best breakfast ever!" he smiles at them, making Luke beam with happiness while Leia giggles and happy-stomps her feet.

The breakfast of chocolate chip pancakes with a side of gummy worms, courtesy of The Twins, was delectable. Sunshine tells him all the ways they "helped" and Jake makes sure to "ooo" and "ahh" appropriately, enjoying every second of it.

After that came the gifts. Cards from The Twins and a Lego set from Sunshine. "They're perfect," he says, tearing up.

The day was spent alternating between playing video games together and watching Jake's favorite (age appropriate) movies.

🥞🥞🥞🥞🥞🥞🥞🥞🥞🥞

At work the following Monday, Jake gets a surprise visit from Ransom.

"I saw Father's Day was yesterday," he starts. "Try not to make a big deal of it, but I made you a little something. Because you're a good dad and that's... that's something to be rewarded."

Ransom sets down a little handmade "Dice Jail" made from glued together wooden pieces.

"I love it!" Jake smiles, eyes tearing up.

"I'm gonna get out of here before you try to hug me," Ransom mumbles.

[alicedopey]

Oh I will send asks, don’t worry 😏

Also, you should have seen the big smile on my face the moment Nick and Jonathan came into the story 😆 Yeah I know. I am obsessed.

The Arrangement - Ending

Summary: Jake's done a lot of things to keep his sister, and then his niece, safe from his parent's influence and manipulation. If he wants to keep them safe, he has to marry you.

Word Count: ~1.8k

A/N: Reader is female. No other physical descriptors used.

Warnings: Bad parents, Body shaming, Talk of abuse, Talk of human trafficking. Let me know if I missed any!

Part 15

Series Masterlist

The parents were enjoying their evening. Montgomery and Carol had invited William and Cordelia to join them for drinks at their favorite restaurant to celebrate the progress being made. Not only was the penthouse getting turned into a better hosting space, but the kids had been caught being intimate! Surely a pregnancy announcement was due at any time.

"We should probably start up some rumors now," Cordelia proposes. "If anyone has their doubts, it's because the pregnancy is so well hidden from her size."

"And it'll excuse how much food she's eaten at these events," Carol rolls her eyes. "The number of friends I've had tell me how crass she is about her eating! How does she not see it hurts our image as parents?"

"I've heard it's not just her now, either," Cordelia whispers. "Apparently, others have started engaging in such lowbrow behaviors."

"Kids these days," William shakes his head. "Though that does remind me, how are things with the..."

Montgomery picks up on his meaning. "He's been transferred to an assisted care facility. They run a tight ship and no one will be allowed to visit, nor will he be allowed out, without our permission."

"Excellent," William nods. "No expense spared when it comes to protecting our image."

"Cheers to that," Montgomery raises a glass for a toast, the others joining him.

Their continued chatter is interrupted by the arrival of two well dressed men. The slightly shorter one with close cut hair speaks first.

"Excuse me folks, I'm agent Nick Fowler with the CIA." He pulls out his badge to verify. Pointing to the other man he continues, "this is agent Jonathan Pine with Interpol." Pine also shows his badge. "We need you to come with us."

"What's going on?" Montgomery blusters, drawing attention.

"We'd prefer to handle this quietly," Pine responds. "If you'll simply come with us we---"

"We're not going anywhere until we know what this is all about!" Cordelia snaps. All eyes are now on the table.

Fowler clears his throat and announces, "the four of you are under arrest for attempted murder, money laundering and human trafficking. You'll all need to come with me."

William is immediately red in the face. "This is preposterous! We've done nothing of the sort!"

"You have the wrong people," Montgomery insists. "Let me see the warrant!"

Pine hands over the document and, as he reads, Montgomery's expression goes from enraged to shocked.

"We are allowed to contact our lawyers, yes?" is all he's able to say.

"This isn't good at all," their lawyer tells them.

"But we didn't do any of these things!" Carol shrieks, Montgomery having given up on trying to calm her.

"The evidence says otherwise," they point out. "It's your name on the penthouse, the address of which was found in the ledger of a known human trafficker that was recently arrested. Their books also show money laundered between your company and Jensen's and then sent to known fronts for drug dealers. Your own children are willing to testify against you."

"What?!" Montgomery is caught off guard. "We never did anything to them!"

"Did you, or did you not, force your daughter into marriage?" the lawyer sighs, knowing the answer.

"Well that isn't...that's not...It's how things are done!" Carol yells, slamming the table.

"Not legally," he answers. "Additionally, your son has signed a statement admitting to his own part in the forced marriage, as well as the Jensen's threat of kidnapping an underage girl for the purposes of marriage. He also says that a friend of his from the party admitted to being paid to give him his car keys and encouraging him to go drive. While the friend is currently being hunted down, the two of you are the primary suspects."

"It's hearsay!" Montgomery bellows. "We can easily say it's just our greedy children clamoring for our fortune."

"Jensen's lawyer has contracts indicating otherwise. The contract was drawn up for their son and the details are...incriminating. And even if that contract were to go missing, their son has, reportedly, offered up his own copy of the contract into evidence. That contract is enough to really cut the jury's disbelief of any other evidence associating you with the criminals you're charged with helping."

He tries to go over their legal options, but it isn't long before the two are turning on each other.

Things aren't going any better for Jake's parents. They turned on each other even faster, shouting loud enough that lawyer-client privilege wouldn't be able to protect the secrets they accused each other of. Agents Fowler and Pine are sitting within earshot, taking notes along with DA Barber who was gathering evidence for civil and criminal charges at the city and state level.

Pine had to admit, when Clay had called in his favor, this wasn't what he expected. But given what they've been learning, even if the evidence Clay's team had planted didn't stick, there'd be plenty of other things to keep these people in prison.

It was a good thing Barber had asked the guards at the jail to keep an eye on them. Carol and Cordelia not only ended up accusing each other of more things for Barber's people to look into, but they ended up having to be put in separate cells because they kept attacking each other. The last attack caused Carol to have to be seen by the nurse while Cordelia ended up with a black eye.

The four of them know there's nothing they can do, especially with how much they've already admitted to while arguing, as their lawyers continued trying to calm them. All they can do is wonder how they lost control so quickly.

In the end, it really hadn't taken much for you to convince Travis to throw your parents under the bus. He needed a target for his anger and, considering how quickly they turned on him, he was only too happy to send them to prison. Especially in exchange for a reduced sentence for his own crimes that came to light in the discovery phase of the lawsuit. And he only had to lie about his keys.

The Losers waited until after your own testimony, signed statements, and other legal filings were done before filling you in on the whole plan. You were grateful for that, unsure of your ability to lie, even by omission. it turns out they were working on a plan even before the wedding.

"Takin' out Travis was essential to do right away," Clay explains. "If he was dead or otherwise incapacitated, Jadah wouldn't be of nearly so much interest to her grandparents and the pressure would ease up right away. Aisha snuck his keys into his pocket while he and his friends were partying. After that it was all about findin' all the money both families had and Jake gettin' it to look like it was goin' to the wrong people."

"I would have been able to do that a lot faster but there were so many public appearances," Jake grimaces. "Then again, if I hadn't gone to those, I wouldn't have had as much time with you." You smile softly at him as he intertwines his fingers with yours.

"After that, we just had to fine tune the dominoes so none of 'em would fall on you and then put in a phone call to an old buddy o' mine at Interpol."

"Apparently all it took was a couple of agents showing up at the restaurant to get things going," Aisha shrugged. "People talked, investors and allies got spooked. Ended up creating even more of a mess than we predicted."

"All the more reason I'm glad we took the extra time to keep you safe," Jake adds.

"I don't think you're ever gonna get any of your family's money," Clay speculates. "But we've got enough funds to help you get back on your feet."

"That's so much more than I ever could have expected," you smile. "I really thought that, if anything ever happened to my parents, I'd be forever on my own and left with nothing. So thank you, all of you, for helping me."

"You were as much a victim in this as Jake," Aisha points out. "Probably even more so because you actually had to live with them for your whole life. Which reminds me, we're getting you into therapy, ASAP, and you will not argue with me about it."

"Wouldn't dream of it," you assure. "I know I'm going to need all the help I can get with...processing everything."

A couple of years later you find yourself affixing the hammerhead shark cake topper to your wedding cake. Jake had tried to argue for purchasing a cake, not wanting you to overwork yourself since you'd insisted on cooking for the event as well. You countered that it was such a small wedding, there really wasn't that much work to do. But he could help you out by taste-testing all the food.

You'd both decided to wait until the dust had settled from your parents' arrest before you got married. Neither of you wanted any lingering legal problems to get in the way of the wedding and marriage you wanted. You and Jake did end up getting some of your parents' assets. You'd used a good portion of yours to try to help Travis get a fresh start away from his old life, including you.

And you'd started your own life as well. You were now employed as the donations manager for an aquarium. It wasn't a dream job, but it does let you see sharks every day and your background in ecology helps you sell people on making donations. You're even able to help acquire grants and get to give tours of the shark areas from time to time. Which, in turn, made it easy for you to have your wedding held at the aquarium, a real dream come true for you.

Jake's family had also been very good for you. You never knew family could actually be loving and supportive, you thought it was all a fantasy sold by movies and TV. The only "friction" was Jake being worried Cougar would steal you away but you were quick to reassure him you prefer adorkable sweeties to silent sexymen. You even made it a point to hold Jake's hand whenever Cougar was around. Eventually it sunk in for Jake that he really was the one you wanted. And that's when he got on one knee for a "proper proposal."

And now you're here, the two of having a dream wedding with only the people you actually care about. Jake tears up while reciting his vows and you don't think twice about letting your own happy tears flow. The photos from your wedding are full of genuine smiles and loving kisses. You've never felt safer or more loved and accepted than you do with Jake. And, for the first time in your life, you're not afraid of the future.

A/N2: Thanks to everyone who's been reading along with this series! It's been a fun ~16k words of writing and I'm happy to have shared them with you. And, as with all my other stories, asks about this story will forever be open.

Series Masterlist

Tagging: @alicedopey; @ashdoctor; @delicatebarness; @ellethespaceunicorn; @embarrasingmf; @icefrozendeadlyqueen; @irishhappiness; @jaqui-has-a-conspiracy-theory; @kmc1989; @lokislady82; @missaprilt23; @peaches1958; @ronearoundblindly; @thiquefunlover63; @watermelonslut

[alicedopey]

🥹 I am so happy for those two. They deserve to be together and to spend the rest of their lives together.

I thought they would get into so much more trouble before reaching their final goal so I am a bit relieved (even though it’s quite bittersweet to say goodbye to this story)

Jake and his « family » did well and managed to trap those shitty parents. Perfect. Hope they will stay as far away from them as possible.

Now they are married, Sharky is exploring her new life and finally enjoying herself. I admit I would have loved to know how their wedding went 😏🤣 Same for their first time. But I am certain Jake was very patient and guided Sharky through it.

Wonderful story. Sad it’s ending but you did great ❤️

P.S.: I am sure the first meeting between Sharky and Jake’s niece was the cutest 😉

The Arrangement - Ending

Summary: Jake's done a lot of things to keep his sister, and then his niece, safe from his parent's influence and manipulation. If he wants to keep them safe, he has to marry you.

Word Count: ~1.8k

A/N: Reader is female. No other physical descriptors used.

Warnings: Bad parents, Body shaming, Talk of abuse, Talk of human trafficking. Let me know if I missed any!

Part 15

Series Masterlist

The parents were enjoying their evening. Montgomery and Carol had invited William and Cordelia to join them for drinks at their favorite restaurant to celebrate the progress being made. Not only was the penthouse getting turned into a better hosting space, but the kids had been caught being intimate! Surely a pregnancy announcement was due at any time.

"We should probably start up some rumors now," Cordelia proposes. "If anyone has their doubts, it's because the pregnancy is so well hidden from her size."

"And it'll excuse how much food she's eaten at these events," Carol rolls her eyes. "The number of friends I've had tell me how crass she is about her eating! How does she not see it hurts our image as parents?"

"I've heard it's not just her now, either," Cordelia whispers. "Apparently, others have started engaging in such lowbrow behaviors."

"Kids these days," William shakes his head. "Though that does remind me, how are things with the..."

Montgomery picks up on his meaning. "He's been transferred to an assisted care facility. They run a tight ship and no one will be allowed to visit, nor will he be allowed out, without our permission."

"Excellent," William nods. "No expense spared when it comes to protecting our image."

"Cheers to that," Montgomery raises a glass for a toast, the others joining him.

Their continued chatter is interrupted by the arrival of two well dressed men. The slightly shorter one with close cut hair speaks first.

"Excuse me folks, I'm agent Nick Fowler with the CIA." He pulls out his badge to verify. Pointing to the other man he continues, "this is agent Jonathan Pine with Interpol." Pine also shows his badge. "We need you to come with us."

"What's going on?" Montgomery blusters, drawing attention.

"We'd prefer to handle this quietly," Pine responds. "If you'll simply come with us we---"

"We're not going anywhere until we know what this is all about!" Cordelia snaps. All eyes are now on the table.

Fowler clears his throat and announces, "the four of you are under arrest for attempted murder, money laundering and human trafficking. You'll all need to come with me."

William is immediately red in the face. "This is preposterous! We've done nothing of the sort!"

"You have the wrong people," Montgomery insists. "Let me see the warrant!"

Pine hands over the document and, as he reads, Montgomery's expression goes from enraged to shocked.

"We are allowed to contact our lawyers, yes?" is all he's able to say.

"This isn't good at all," their lawyer tells them.

"But we didn't do any of these things!" Carol shrieks, Montgomery having given up on trying to calm her.

"The evidence says otherwise," they point out. "It's your name on the penthouse, the address of which was found in the ledger of a known human trafficker that was recently arrested. Their books also show money laundered between your company and Jensen's and then sent to known fronts for drug dealers. Your own children are willing to testify against you."

"What?!" Montgomery is caught off guard. "We never did anything to them!"

"Did you, or did you not, force your daughter into marriage?" the lawyer sighs, knowing the answer.

"Well that isn't...that's not...It's how things are done!" Carol yells, slamming the table.

"Not legally," he answers. "Additionally, your son has signed a statement admitting to his own part in the forced marriage, as well as the Jensen's threat of kidnapping an underage girl for the purposes of marriage. He also says that a friend of his from the party admitted to being paid to give him his car keys and encouraging him to go drive. While the friend is currently being hunted down, the two of you are the primary suspects."

"It's hearsay!" Montgomery bellows. "We can easily say it's just our greedy children clamoring for our fortune."

"Jensen's lawyer has contracts indicating otherwise. The contract was drawn up for their son and the details are...incriminating. And even if that contract were to go missing, their son has, reportedly, offered up his own copy of the contract into evidence. That contract is enough to really cut the jury's disbelief of any other evidence associating you with the criminals you're charged with helping."

He tries to go over their legal options, but it isn't long before the two are turning on each other.

Things aren't going any better for Jake's parents. They turned on each other even faster, shouting loud enough that lawyer-client privilege wouldn't be able to protect the secrets they accused each other of. Agents Fowler and Pine are sitting within earshot, taking notes along with DA Barber who was gathering evidence for civil and criminal charges at the city and state level.

Pine had to admit, when Clay had called in his favor, this wasn't what he expected. But given what they've been learning, even if the evidence Clay's team had planted didn't stick, there'd be plenty of other things to keep these people in prison.

It was a good thing Barber had asked the guards at the jail to keep an eye on them. Carol and Cordelia not only ended up accusing each other of more things for Barber's people to look into, but they ended up having to be put in separate cells because they kept attacking each other. The last attack caused Carol to have to be seen by the nurse while Cordelia ended up with a black eye.

The four of them know there's nothing they can do, especially with how much they've already admitted to while arguing, as their lawyers continued trying to calm them. All they can do is wonder how they lost control so quickly.

In the end, it really hadn't taken much for you to convince Travis to throw your parents under the bus. He needed a target for his anger and, considering how quickly they turned on him, he was only too happy to send them to prison. Especially in exchange for a reduced sentence for his own crimes that came to light in the discovery phase of the lawsuit. And he only had to lie about his keys.

The Losers waited until after your own testimony, signed statements, and other legal filings were done before filling you in on the whole plan. You were grateful for that, unsure of your ability to lie, even by omission. it turns out they were working on a plan even before the wedding.

"Takin' out Travis was essential to do right away," Clay explains. "If he was dead or otherwise incapacitated, Jadah wouldn't be of nearly so much interest to her grandparents and the pressure would ease up right away. Aisha snuck his keys into his pocket while he and his friends were partying. After that it was all about findin' all the money both families had and Jake gettin' it to look like it was goin' to the wrong people."

"I would have been able to do that a lot faster but there were so many public appearances," Jake grimaces. "Then again, if I hadn't gone to those, I wouldn't have had as much time with you." You smile softly at him as he intertwines his fingers with yours.

"After that, we just had to fine tune the dominoes so none of 'em would fall on you and then put in a phone call to an old buddy o' mine at Interpol."

"Apparently all it took was a couple of agents showing up at the restaurant to get things going," Aisha shrugged. "People talked, investors and allies got spooked. Ended up creating even more of a mess than we predicted."

"All the more reason I'm glad we took the extra time to keep you safe," Jake adds.

"I don't think you're ever gonna get any of your family's money," Clay speculates. "But we've got enough funds to help you get back on your feet."

"That's so much more than I ever could have expected," you smile. "I really thought that, if anything ever happened to my parents, I'd be forever on my own and left with nothing. So thank you, all of you, for helping me."

"You were as much a victim in this as Jake," Aisha points out. "Probably even more so because you actually had to live with them for your whole life. Which reminds me, we're getting you into therapy, ASAP, and you will not argue with me about it."

"Wouldn't dream of it," you assure. "I know I'm going to need all the help I can get with...processing everything."

A couple of years later you find yourself affixing the hammerhead shark cake topper to your wedding cake. Jake had tried to argue for purchasing a cake, not wanting you to overwork yourself since you'd insisted on cooking for the event as well. You countered that it was such a small wedding, there really wasn't that much work to do. But he could help you out by taste-testing all the food.

You'd both decided to wait until the dust had settled from your parents' arrest before you got married. Neither of you wanted any lingering legal problems to get in the way of the wedding and marriage you wanted. You and Jake did end up getting some of your parents' assets. You'd used a good portion of yours to try to help Travis get a fresh start away from his old life, including you.

And you'd started your own life as well. You were now employed as the donations manager for an aquarium. It wasn't a dream job, but it does let you see sharks every day and your background in ecology helps you sell people on making donations. You're even able to help acquire grants and get to give tours of the shark areas from time to time. Which, in turn, made it easy for you to have your wedding held at the aquarium, a real dream come true for you.

Jake's family had also been very good for you. You never knew family could actually be loving and supportive, you thought it was all a fantasy sold by movies and TV. The only "friction" was Jake being worried Cougar would steal you away but you were quick to reassure him you prefer adorkable sweeties to silent sexymen. You even made it a point to hold Jake's hand whenever Cougar was around. Eventually it sunk in for Jake that he really was the one you wanted. And that's when he got on one knee for a "proper proposal."

And now you're here, the two of having a dream wedding with only the people you actually care about. Jake tears up while reciting his vows and you don't think twice about letting your own happy tears flow. The photos from your wedding are full of genuine smiles and loving kisses. You've never felt safer or more loved and accepted than you do with Jake. And, for the first time in your life, you're not afraid of the future.

A/N2: Thanks to everyone who's been reading along with this series! It's been a fun ~16k words of writing and I'm happy to have shared them with you. And, as with all my other stories, asks about this story will forever be open.

Series Masterlist

Tagging: @alicedopey; @ashdoctor; @delicatebarness; @ellethespaceunicorn; @embarrasingmf; @icefrozendeadlyqueen; @irishhappiness; @jaqui-has-a-conspiracy-theory; @kmc1989; @lokislady82; @missaprilt23; @peaches1958; @ronearoundblindly; @thiquefunlover63; @watermelonslut

[alicedopey]

What a lovely refreshing story ❤️ Steve was his usual awkward and shy self as it comes to woo a woman. It’s a good thing reader confronted him about the whole roses business otherwise he would have never made the first move.

I am certain their first date will be great 😉

P.S.: Peonies are really beautiful, you are right .

The Peony Problem

Steve Rogers x florist!reader

Dividers by me in Canva pro (credit to the og artists)

Not beta'd. I do not give permission for my work to be translated, reposted, copied or put through an AI machine. All of my work is 18+ Read at your own risk.

Tags/warning: Fluff, flower shop au, Steve being romantic, grumpy x sunshine if you squint

Summary: You give the cute customer a stern talking to when he tries to buy roses again.

Word count:930 words

Masterlist | Pots and Petals AU | Steve Rogers Masterlist

The bell rang for the third time that day. It had been slow, seemingly never-ending day and your eyes were assaulted yet again by a blond-haired, six-foot-something angel delight. He popped by almost every week to collect roses, exchanging polite pleasantries with you. Which, you had to admit was better than the first time you met him and he had just turned on his heel and exited the shop when you had asked in your sweetest customer-service tone if you could help him with anything.

Every time he entered, you would watch him make a bee-line for the roses thinking to yourself; what lucky person could be getting such a handsome hottie to get them a dozen roses every week? Either he had so many dates or was an attentive boyfriend but it annoyed you that you were curious to know more about the mystery customer's dating life.

This time, however, seeing him make the same damn trek to the same damn flower bucket for the hundredth time you snap.

"Please!" You call over to him. "Get something else!"

He freezes and gives you a sheepish smile, while you continue to frown at him.

"I didn't know roses went out of fashion." He steps closer towards you, eyes drifting to some small cacti you have on display at your counter.

"They haven't." You sigh weakly. "But roses are so - so -" you air-grab for a word, attempting not to sound pedantic.

"Romantic?" He offers brightly.

"Over-rated." You say at the same time and pull a face. You point at the blush pink peonies hidden away in the corner of your store, large scented petals begging to be picked. "Peonies are a far better choice."

"They're..." The man struggles for a word and frowns. "Very... pink."

"Yes." You grumble. "They are. But they aren't roses."

He doesn't seem convinced and you fight back a roll of your eyes and fix him with an agitated finger-point.

"You come in here almost every week. Twice if you're feeling extra spry," Your eyes narrow accusingly and his cheeks match the peonies. "So either, you come in here because someone loves roses or because you have God knows how many dates; in which case, you should be buying something cheaper than a rose in this economy."

"It could be for another reason." He says defensively.

"Is there a secret third option I missed?" You quiz.

He smiles, radiant and warm. "Oh yeah."

"You gonna tell me what that is?"

"Nope." He punctuates the end of the phrase with a pop of his lips and you find yourself chuckling and shaking your head at him.

"Fair enough." You shrug, smoothing out the waterproof paper for a bouquet. "You gonna get your two dozen roses, then?"

"Why peonies?"

"What do you mean?"

"Other than they're cheaper. Why would you choose them?" He makes a pointed glance over to the blooms, then back at you; still smiling. "There has to be a reason for them out of every other flower in here."

"Well," you shift on your feet. "I'm a little biased because they're my favourite flower. But they smell nice and they symbolise love, prosperity, bashfulness, good luck, honour..."

You list off their symbolism on your fingers before looking back at him with a bashful smile of your own. "Plus not every flower has a Greek myth to go alongside them."

"Then I'll take a reasonable bouquet." He chuckles, his eyes following your movements as you pick out the nicer looking flowers and bring them back to the counter and wrap them in paper, sealed with a thin piece of tape. You tap the amount into the register and read it out and, as always, he hands you cash.

Handing the bouquet over to him, and he cradles it for a moment before handing it back to you.

"What are you doing?"

"Handing them back."

"Is this some sort of joke?" You balk, confused.

"I - uh - no?" He swallows and rakes a hand through his hair nervously."Man, I am bad at this - they're for you."

"You bought flowers in my shop and... gave them back?" Your brain takes a moment to process but then it clicks. "Oh."

"Yeah." He grimaces. "That's on me. I've been trying to think of a cool, romantic way to ask you to dinner sometime and I've chickened out every time and now I've just made you get your own flowers... from your own store...."

The sound of your own laugh surprises you and after a moment he joins you in your laughter, smiling boyishly with his cherub pink cheeks.

"That's pretty bad," you finally say after a few moments. "But I will forgive it because you're cute and somewhat romantic."

"Does that mean I can ask if you're free Saturday evening?" He raises an eyebrow at you looking hopeful, cheeky smile growing wider.

"It does." You smirk over at him, giddiness rising up from your toes. Looks like you were the lucky person to be getting bouquets from a mystery hottie. "Pick me up at seven?"

"Sure. I'm Steve," He nods brightly as you offer your name and hand him a business card with your personal number on the back. "I'll see you then."

"See ya then, Steve."

You give him a small wave and his smiling face falters slightly as he walks backwards towards the exit, almost tripping over the display stand of flower pots on sale.

Looking down to the pink peonies in your arms you can't help but think that your life just got a little bit more exciting.

END

A/N: This may or may not become a bigger thing. Maybe. Hehe.

More on Peonies.

Taglist - add yourself here

Or follow @grems-library for all my fic posts.

Everything Tags:

@jeremyrennermakesmesmile @brianochka @looking1016 @almostglitterybear @blackhawkfanatic @waywardwifey @peaches1958

Steve Tags:

@stargazingfangirl18 @steviebbboi @late-to-the-party-81 @alicedopey @irishhappiness @awkwardgiraffe726 @pandaxnienke @norseloki26 @doodooslay @fangfoxy @xamapolax @queen-honeybee-stories @dontbescaredtosingalong @leeemabean @ryubyy @maydayfigment

[alicedopey]

You mean we hooked up once and he decided to learn French to fly to France and « surprise » me. Why am I scared ? But horny (but scared)

[alicedopey]

It screams Cole actually 🤷‍♀️ with lovely reading glasses.

[alicedopey]

I am so happy you liked it ! I don’t know why but each time you have trouble at work, you inspire me and I send Jake to the rescue. I am glad you noticed it was a follow up to a previous drabble 🫣

Jake will take good care of you…and you will take good care of him, I am sure 😏😏

Meanwhile, Sophie can pout all she wants. You got the guy. 😆

Hey, Zombie ! Here's a little something to distract you from the heat. Sorry for the mistakes, because it was written very quickly.

You definitely loathed summer. The heat, the humidity, the stench coming from people who forgot to take a shower, the sweating…how could someone love this season? 

Oh, but you knew who could. Sophie from fucking HR. Sophie and her little skirts. Sophie who was constantly giggling at Jake and ogling his muscled arms. If you heard that bitch one more time today…

A knock on the door made you jump of your office chair and you felt your cheeks heat up at being caught having so many bad thoughts about a coworker.

“Yes!” You said sharply. 

The door slowly opened and Jake shyly revealed his head. Your demeanor changed instantly and you felt guilty for snapping at him. “Please, come in.” You told him in a softer tone. 

Jake opened the door fully and stepped into your office. 

“I…. I know you are busy but I thought you would need this.” He gave you a shy smile and your heart tightened in your chest when you saw the small portable air conditioner he was holding in one of his hands. You were feeling even more guilty by now. “I remember you mentioned you were not a fan of the heat and I always got an extra in my lair. This might also be handy.”

He put a fresh bottle of sparkling water. You were feeling indeed thirsty and licked your dry lips. “Thank you so much, Jake. It is extremely kind of you.” You felt so grateful you could have cried. 

“It’s the least I can do. I mean, I know the internet keeps blinking but I want you to know that err…the whole team is working on it. I’m so sorry everything is so slow right now. “He blushed and rubbed the back of his neck, ashamed. Damn this man and his cuteness!

“It’s okay, Jake.” You cooed. “It’s not your fault at all. It’s just…summer and all its flaws.”

“True.” He nodded. “Can’t wait for the sweater season.”

He would look good in a sweater. Maybe you could knit one that would perfectly fit him. Maybe he would let you feel the softness as he was wearing it. Maybe he would let you feel what he was hiding underneath.

Jake cleared his throat and you realized you had been staring. “Sorry…was just thinking about sweater season.” And now you were feeling even hotter and crankier. 

“Well…if you don’t need me, I will go back to my lair.” He pointed to your door. “You probably got tons of work to do. It was…it was very nice seeing you again.”

He smiled and you smiled back. You looked at each other for a few seconds before he cleared his throat again. “I’ll be off now.”

“Wait, Jake!” You exclaimed as he was about to open the door. You rose up from your chair and made your way to him. “I wanted to apologize.”

He frowned. “About what?”

“About not reaching out to you after our coffee date. I know it’s not an excuse but work has been crazy and…”

“It’s okay.” He cut you off gently. “I understand. It can’t always click.”

“But it clicked!” You almost shouted. His eyes widened a bit so you tried to compose yourself. “ I…I really liked this moment with you and I would love to do it again. If you want it too, of course.”

His eyes lit up. “Hell yeah!”

You chuckled and he blushed again. “What about going to the ice-cream parlor after work? My treat.”

“I would love that.” He answered in a more neutral voice but you could feel the excitement in his tone. 

You nodded and with one last smile, he opened the door and left your office. You sat back on your chair and turned on the air conditioner. Letting out a pleased sigh as the fresh air filled the room, you opened the bottle of water with a smile on your face.

“In your face, Sophie.”

First:

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! I absolutely love this! It's a wonderful follow up to the ice cream date drabble 🤩

Second:

I'm totally pouncing Jakey. He's so sweet and cute and he got me a personal AC!!! I'm gonna make him the comfiest, coziest sweater, perfect for cuddling. 🥰

And Sophie can kiss my ass! 😝

[alicedopey]

I think I already did that one and I don’t often take pictures (I mostly just save pictures of some hot actors that I find on Pinterest 😏) 😅 so I picked the latest four.

You wanna talk about uninteresting pictures, @thezombieprostitute ? Here I come 🤣

Thank you for tagging me, @ghotifishreads!

Four non-selfie pics from my camera roll.

NP tags: @stargazingfangirl18 @jaqui-has-a-conspiracy-theory @vonalyn @biteofcherry @krirebr @witchywithwhiskey @thezombieprostitute

[alicedopey]

Oh my, that was the loveliest thing I have read today. I really like the mutual pining, the awkwardness and then how, slowly but surely, the nature of their relationship shifted to something more intimate. I hope the mission will go well and that they can go on a real date. Together. ❤️

Just A Mission

Part of the 20s Challenge Character: Bucky Barnes Quote: "I love you. You know that, right?" Trope: Fake Dating + Only One Bed

Not beta'd. I do not give permission for my work to be reposted, copied, translated or put through an AI machine.

Tags/warnings: 18+ because of Nat's shenanigans FLUFF and SMUT (not described in detail but it happens), mutual pining, idiots in love, love confessions, fake dating, everyone wingmanning Bucky and reader lol, awkward situations because of only one bed, confessions

Summary: While on a mission, pretending to be a couple, you and Bucky are forced to admit that things between you are as simple as it seems.

Word count: 2.3k

Dividers by @/cafekitsune

A/N: this has been in my drafts since DECEMBER. I forgot about it. Found it 90% written. and yes... maybe a part 2 is squirreled away. Enjoy!

20s Challenge Masterlist | Bucky Masterlist| Navigation

You didn't want to be paired with Bucky on this mission. You'd secretly pleaded with Natasha to swap with you, who'd staunchly rejected the idea.

"You get to kiss and hold hands with your crush!" She argued, laughing as your cheeks brightened with heat.

"That's the problem!" You say, becoming more panicked. "I am so worried, Nat. This isn't funny!"

You throw a pair of socks at her when she laughs harder. You were already stressing about what to pack on your mission, more so now that you knew one Bucky Barnes would be your ride along. Long time crush, first time mission-partner.

No Hello Kitty pyjamas for you.

"You'll be fine." Natasha assures you, peeking into a drawer and pulling out a silk camisole, raising an eyebrow. "Especially if you take this."

"Get out!" You shriek, snatching the camisole from her and pushing her towards the door. "You are no help!"

The first part of the mission had gone swimmingly. You managed to hold it together when Bucky had grabbed your hand and held it tight when you walked into the restaurant and sat beside your targets and even managed to muster up the courage to press a quick kiss to his cheek as you stood from the dinner table to excuse yourself to powder your nose (aka placing bugs in the bathrooms and kitchen).

The moment your hotel room door had closed, however, you both broke apart like opposite ends of a magnet. Your heartbeat was erratic, excitable, and you knew it shouldn't be.

It wasn't real. Just a mission.

"First night was a success." Bucky says awkwardly, loosening his tie. "Well done."

"Thanks, you too." You give him a smile, taking the stupidly heavy earrings from your ears, padding towards where you believe the bathroom of the suite is. You can't wait to take your dress off, your heels, your make up and crawl into your own-

Your eyes befall a king-size bed with soft Egyptian-cotton covers. There's another door which must be an en-suite bathroom but you can't recall seeing another door in the suite.

"Bucky?" You call.

"Yeah?" Bucky's head peers around the door and he sighs. "Dammit. I'll call Sam. Take a shower, doll, I'll sort it."

Bucky had pleaded with both Sam and Steve about going on this mission alone. He didn't want you in the line of fire at all, not that you weren't capable, but because he didn't want you getting hurt.

He'd begrudgingly accepted his fate when Joaquín offered to go in his stead. You were, in Bucky's mind, ineffable. Beauty, brains, benevolent and so much more.

And now, after speaking with the receptionist of the hotel, he was stuck in the same bed as you.

He had a feeling Steve and Sam were behind this but he couldn't breathe a word of it to you. Only awkwardly offer to sleep on the couch in the suite that was too small for him.

"Don't be stupid." You huff, towel drying your hair with one of the smaller towels the hotel offered. "I'm smaller, I can take the couch."

"I need to be you be alert and ready," Bucky argues back. "I've slept in worse conditions."

It was meant to convince you but your frown deepens as you pad back to your suitcase in your towel, kneeling before it and rummaging through your clothes. Bucky studies the spectacle before him. It's almost domestic.

"We will just have to share." You say, hands on hips, cheeks red as you try to smile at him. You're putting on a brave face and Bucky can see it, and his heart aches with longing. "I'm going to get my pj's on."

You get to your feet and pad to the bathroom flashing Bucky a smile as he stands from his place on the bed. "I should put mine on too."

You close the door behind you, gripping the silk camisole tightly.

"Natasha you bitch." You mutter to yourself, unwrapping your towel and stepping into it. There was no robe in any of the rooms, so you were stuck wearing it until tomorrow, if you could jump into a department store.

The cups of the camisole had a thin lace frill as it cupped your breasts. The same lace frill sat in a V-shape from your hips where the camisole split. It was a lot shorter than you remembered.

You wanted to cry. This was embarrassing. You needed to explain to Bucky that you definitely were not trying right come onto him, even though you would really like to.

Adjusting your straps slightly, you open the bathroom door and step out. Your breath catches when you see Bucky stood in his plaid pyjama pants, his pyjama top between his palms. His whole body is well built but your brain ceases all function when you see just how well built. His chest is broad and toned, and there's a thin line of dark hair situated between his abs that disappears below the waistband of his pants. Bucky lifts his head as you open the door, smiling softly as he catches your eyes before you watch in horror as his eyes drop downward.

"Woah." You can see his body (his beautiful body!) stiffen and you panic.

"I promise I'm not a sexual predator!" You blurt suddenly, throwing your hands to your face. That was... not the right thing to say.

"Okay."

You can hear the smile in Bucky's voice and you want to curl into a ball. "Natasha took out my pyjamas and- and replaced it with this!"

"Why would she do that?"

"Because-" you catch yourself, pulling the hem of your camisole down a little, slowly dropping your hands. You swallow thickly. "She thought it would be funny. Look, I'm just gonna..."

You slide under the covers of the bed, pulling them all the way up to your neck. Bucky watches you before pulling his shirt over his head. His face is equally red as he flicks the light off and crawls in next to you.

"I could still go to the sofa." He murmurs.

"No it's... it's fine."

"Alright, well... goodnight."

"Goodnight, Bucky."

Bucky couldn't sleep.

Images of you in your camisole were etched into his mind forever more and now he had an issue that wouldn't go away.

He tried to think of Steve, coughing fits and all from before the serum, being iced, being in the same room as Sam, all of the death and destruction he had both caused and encountered in his lifetime. Yet, every time he thought he was free of you, you'd appear like a spectre at the edges of his mind, calling to him so sweetly.

You were right there. In bed next to him, sleeping soundly. Bucky could hear your soft breaths and his mind wandered, imagining what you'd sound like in other ways.

He felt awful. You were his friend and current mission partner. He knew having a crush on you was a terrible, bad, God-forsaken idea but he couldn't help it. His metal hand gripped his thigh so hard he almost tore the muscle out. He couldn't, wouldn't, touch himself in your presence. That's sick and twisted. But his issue wouldn't go away and was desperately begging for relief.

Bucky turns his back to you, biting down on his lips as his eyes squeeze shut. Had you done it on purpose to tease him? Stood looking so coy, so innocently cute, in possibly the sexiest negligé he'd ever laid his eyes upon. Your embarrassment had been real though, so perhaps Natasha was the one to thank for that.

Steve, Sam and Joaquín were to blame for the room.

Bucky's brain begins to fill with conspiracy. Was Nat working with the three musketeers? Were you? As he tries to piece together the puzzle, he eventually drifts off to sleep.

You wake suddenly. Despite the embarrassment of the night before, you slept well. The bed was cosy and soft thanks to SHIELD budget but the warmth from Bucky made your eyes flutter shut and shift in his arms. Then, realising what you're doing, realising Bucky's organic arm is weighted on your hip, fingers occasionally dancing against your navel, realising your legs are intertwined; your eyes flare open, heart in your throat.

Realising that you aren't the only thing awake.

Embarrassment creeps up your neck, heat rushing between your thighs too.

Oh, God.

Bucky mumbles incoherently but tugs you backwards so you're pressed against his hips, your camisole having risen slightly. You want to die. You knew this mission would be a living nightmare.

Bucky makes another sound, this making your flesh goosepimple, and shifts his head into your shoulder crease his lips brushing against your skin.

It's another twenty minutes before Bucky wakes up properly and you feel like you've lived in your own personal hell for eons. Every gentle roll of his hips or shift of his legs, every brush of his lips fuels your longing for him, your crush becoming something bigger and indescribable with each passing second.

The moment he's a awake, you pretend to have just woken as he practically throws himself from you with a quiet curse. You don't need him to feel embarrassed too.

"Morning." You murmur sleepily as Bucky disappears into the bathroom, heaving a sigh of relief.

"Morning!" He calls from the bathroom. "Sorry I... I didn't mean to cuddle you."

"It's just a cuddle." You say, hoping you sound nonchalant and perky instead of devastated. '"I'll get coffee and we can figure out next steps."

"Good idea."

"I, um, yeah. I'll be back." You quickly dress and sprint from the room, taking more time than needed before heading back to the suite. You don't know how you'll survive the next few days.

Strangely, acting like a couple was much easier after sharing a bed. Maybe because there were far more nerve-wracking and embarrassing things than giving Bucky a quick peck or holding his hand. The banter you both usually shared had made a comeback, and it seemed like your targets had fallen for the ruse, one of which commented how cute you both were.

"You've been together for years, I can tell." She nodded at you.

"Really?" You'd pressed with a smile. "How so?"

"The way you look at each other." She shrugged. "There's so much love in your eyes."

You'd both blushed and played coy but you hated that she was right. At least about you. Bucky was good at this sort of thing. A professional. You felt like a love sick puppy following him around, more comfortable (and eager) to touch his arms, his chest now after last night.

Getting into bed again was a lot easier now. For the next two nights you both chatted about the mission and endless nonsense, lying beside each other under the covers before falling asleep and waking up in each others embrace; each time less and less awkward.

By the fifth day of the mission, you're both climbing into bed at the same time and while you don't cuddle per se, you come as close to it without calling it cuddling.

"I have to admit," you murmur to him through the darkness. "I'm having a lot of fun."

"Really?" Bucky laughs.

"I... I kinda like being your fake girlfriend." You giggle nervously. You hear Bucky swallow next to you.

"I'd prefer to take you on a real date sometime. Rather than all of this... fearing for our life stuff." Bucky murmurs and you turn to face his silhouette next to you.

"You mean that?" You ask quietly.

"Wouldn't say it if I didn't." You can feel the bed creak as Bucky turns onto his side. Through the dark, his face begins to come into view; handsome and sincere. "I would have asked under different circumstances too. I just-"

He sighs and you shuffle closer, breathing against his chest, basking in his warmth but still not touching.

Bucky breaks first. His arm slings around your waist and tugs you closer. Your noses touch. Then your lips. Tentative turns tenacious, shy to self-confident as your bodies tangle together in the darkness.

You don't worry about what comes next. It's obvious from the way he clings to you in the afterglow that you're on the same page. Whatever was between you, whatever connection that had been brewing for months behind stolen glances and lingering touches, would last longer than a mission.

One week later, your mission is drawing to a close.

Almost two weeks of pretending, and then being, Bucky’s girlfriend had left you elated. However, the mission had taken a turn for the worse when Natasha had called you the night before with intel and new mission objective.

The intel? There was a rat amongst your new found "friends" and they had planned a shoot out at the restaurant you were supposed to attend - God-father style - to ensure no member or associate the the rival gang would be able to continue business; thereby creating a power vacuum and an opportunity to quadruple profits with the new businesses, properties and areas acquired.

Your mission was simply to stay alive.

You blinked up at Bucky the following afternoon, your hand hovering over the door handle of the sleek black SUV that had driven you to the restaurant. The next moments, maybe minutes, maybe hours could be your last and you had to get something off of your chest.

"Hey," you say softly. "I love you. You know that, right?"

Bucky's eyes widen as he looks down at you. There's a faint blush under your make up and your eyes glisten with worry for the next, possibly last, moments you will have together and your soul is bared to him. You're not lying. The words rolled off your tongue so naturally, Bucky could only wonder how long you'd been wanting to say it.

"I need you to know that." Your voice is quiet and you tear your gaze away from his, looking at the door and steeling your nerves.

He swallows, throat uncomfortably tight. "Yeah. I know. I love you too, doll."

Your face cracks as you try to hide a smile behind a nod. "Let's get this over with, then you can take me on a real date."

"I don't think I could afford such a luxurious hotel or car for after the successful date." Bucky smirks and you chuckle quietly.

He hopes, that whatever happens next, that the last thing his mind is your face lit up with a smile. With one last deep breath and a sweet kiss farewell, you both step out of the car.

End

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[alicedopey]

That asshole ! What he did was so risky, it could have hurt her pretty bad even if she fell on him. And on top of that, he is mocking her. He deserved so much worse than a punch in the face. Just like the reader, I preferred Bucky when he was moping. At least, he was grumpily cute.

And I hope Sam will hear about this !

Handle With Care 7

Warnings: non/dubcon, and other dark elements. My username actually says you never asked for any of this.

My warnings are not exhaustive but be aware this is a dark fic and may include potentially triggering topics. Please use your common sense when consuming content. I am not responsible for your decisions.

Characters: Bucky Barnes

Summary: your work blurs the lines between professional and personal.

As usual, I would appreciate any and all feedback. I’m happy to once more go on this adventure with all of you! Thank you in advance for your comments and for reblogging ❤️

You sit on the trembling bench, staring at the opposite wall of the plane. You keep your shoulders up, forearms on your thighs, hands limp. You’re focus on not letting the bubbling rise to the surface. You fucking hate flying. 

“Coming up soon,” Bucky warns from beside you. He’s bent forward, elbows on his legs, knees wide. Casually impatient. “Got your gear?” 

“What I need,” you pat the bag next to you. Brief said no set-up, only defusals. Simple enough. 

“Good. You travel light.” 

“Try to, when I have to,” your thumb taps and you stop it. 

“You afraid of heights?” He sits up as he looks at you. 

“Not the biggest fan.” 

The plan lurches and the light above the door to the cockpit flicks to orange. You sigh. 

“Is that why your heart’s going?” He wonders. 

You shrug. “Forgot about that...” 

“Forgot?” 

“You and your super ears. Super eyes. Super nose. Must be hell.” 

“Can be. I avoid crowds if I can,” he stands and checks the straps across his torso. “DZ coming up. Get your things.” 

“Sure.” You swallow down the nausea as the plane lifts one a jet stream. 

You push yourself up, staggering with the plane’s drift. You grab your bag and pull it over your shoulders. You secure the clasp across your chest. Bucky tugs the strap diagonal from one shoulder to his hip. He’s packed even less than you. You can hope for a short mission. 

Brief included the target and possible risks. Not much else. You’re annoyed with the lack of detail. 

“Alright,” Bucky beckons you over toward the door. “Once the light goes green, we got a three-minute window to jump.” 

“Jump?” You exclaim. “You can’t be serious? No we need to land--” 

“DZ. Drop Zone. There’s no place for this bird to go,” he says coolly and looks at the lights. The green one flicks on. Shit. 

“Well... shouldn’t I have a chute?” You ask. “Pretty important--” 

The door slides open and a gust of wind nearly bowls you over. Bucky grabs you, keeping you on your feet. He grins. 

“Don’t worry,” he hollers as the wind blusters around him, whipping free a few strands of hair from his ponytail. “I got you.” 

He jolts you closer and spins you. You stumble around and suddenly, his arms lock around you. He pulls you against his front and backs up. 

“Don’t squirm too much!” He launches himself backwards through the door and falls into the void. 

You screech in horror as he keeps your arms trapped at your sides. You’re paralysed as you free fall toward earth. You can’t hear but you can feel the rumble of his laughter. He’s enjoying this. You are making good with your existence. 

You close your eyes and clasp onto the loops above his pockets, just long his thigh. Does he not realise you’re not built for high impact? Oh, lord. You don’t have many to miss but your life was starting to even out. 

The collision knocks the air out of you, even with the cushion of Bucky beneath you. You gasp and let go of the fabric, digging your elbow into his side. He releases you as you cough and rub your chest. You roll onto your side. 

You finally inhale and your back and chest rack. You growl and push yourself up on your knees. Bucky lays prone on his back and chuckles. You grit your teeth and cock your fist. 

“Ah come on, it’ was fu--” 

The crack across his cheek makes him grunt. You recoil as your knuckles throb and you growl. “Jackass.” 

You sit back and rub your hand. You should’ve known he’s has a hard head. You huff and bend your knees, resting your arms on them. 

“Hell of a left hook you got,” he sits up, rubbing his face. 

“Don’t talk to me right now,” you roll forward, using your weight to stand. You check your watch. “We need to move.” 

“You mad at me?” He gets up. 

“You threw me out of a plane. Yes, I’m mad.” 

“I told you, I got you--” 

“No talking,” you slice your hand in the air and follow the coordinates on your map. “Safehouse is two miles.” 

You turn your back on him and set off into the brush. The ground is lumpy and the trees grow thicker ahead. He catches up to you without a noise, walking at your side. 

“Look, I’m sorry. A chute would draw attention--” 

You ignore him and keep going. He matches your pace. 

“If I didn’t know what I was doing, I wouldn’t do it,” he argues. “It was a controlled fall.” 

You shake your head and duck beneath a broken branch. He does the same. You wiggle your fingers. First he throws you from a plane, then he fucks up your hand. 

“Hey, I won’t do it again. Okay?” 

You shouldn’t have done it once! You hold in the retort, chewing on it. You walk on in silence. You can feel him looking at you. 

He snorts. You squint. You just want to get to the safehouse and figure out what’s next. 

He chuckles quietly and you huff. You shake your head. Stop looking at me. Sam is going to hear it all on this one. 

He nudges you with his elbow. You swing back at him and catch his upper arm. He laughs again. 

“What?! What do you want?” You stop and face him. 

“Nothing. You’re just funny when you’re mad.” 

You blink and grit your teeth. “Funny?” 

“Yeah,” he smirks. 

You glare at him. His dimples deepen. He tilts his head and your nostrils flare. 

“Well, you’re not funny,” you snip and veer away. 

You preferred Bucky when he was moping in his apartment. You never said you were going to be his fully time nanny. Especially not out in the middle of nowhere.