bingingcontentrn

[bingingcontentrn]

'Pretty Little Bird'

Pairing: Sam Wilson/F!Reader

Fandom: Marvel Cinematic Universe

Warnings/tags: Smut; Explicit, POST TFATWS-PRE CA:BNW, reader is in the air force, flirty Sam 🙂‍↔️ car sx, riding, use of titles, he calls you "little bird", half proofread; apologies if there's typos or edits i didn't make

this is for all seven sam fans let's goooo 💋

Word count: 2.7k+

Your presence demanded respect everywhere you went on and off base. It wasn't easy climbing the ranks, it never is, but hard is the last word you'd use. Luckily your intelligence wasn't questioned too much, but that didn't mean the occasional big headed douchebag wouldn't play devil's advocate at the worst possible moment. You also got lucky to meet one of your closest and long time friends, Sam Wilson.

Sam didn't play about you. He was well aware you could kick ass and take names but it came naturally to him. Having a sister and generally being a family man made it all the easier to stand at your side and hype you up any and all the time.

You'd just been transferred from San Diego last week and finished filling out some paperwork, talking with someone in your unit when you heard a voice call out from all the way down the hall.

"I know that ain't little bird!" echoed off the walls and made you both look in that direction. The sigh that left you caused the guy to chuckle before walking off in the other direction. You turned to the only man in the world that calls you that. The only one that's allowed to call you that, to which you haven't heard since 2013.

You watched him walk over excitedly with a big grin on his face, giving him a playful roll of the eyes.

"That's Lieutenant General to you." you corrected. His eyes went wide as he stopped in front of you.

"No shit!" he said, "Okay, three stars. Last I heard you were still Major Pain!" he laughed aloud and went in for a hug but stopped himself to stand at attention and salute theatrically. "I request permission from the Lieutenant General to engage in physical contact between two long time fr-"

"Just shut up and hug me." you huffed and wrapped your arms around him. He returned the hug and patted your back with a light squeeze.

"You look great," he said as he backed up to give you a once over. "For a little bird." he teased, and this time you sighed heavily.

"I told you to stop calling me that a long time ago."

"I know, I know but I can't help it. You just...you remind me of a little bird, I don't know what else to tell you." he said. "And I can't let your head get too big. Next thing I know you'll be ordering me to buy you lunch."

"That's rich coming from Captain America himself. And it's too late. My head's already big." you shrugged and started down the hall. Sam chuckled to himself and followed behind. He wasn't joking when he said you looked great. Even prettier than when he last saw you. Even tougher. Even cooler. And you wore that camo well.

Too well. And you smelled good.

"So you saw the news." he said, knowing good and well the whole world did.

"Every living organism on planet Earth knows who you are, Wilson. The man of the people graces us with his assistance on this fine day."

"Alright, first of all, don't be mad at me just cause I can fly, General." he nudged your shoulder, earning a smile you've been trying to bite back since you laid eyes on him. "Second of all, I should be saying that to you. Miss Lieutenant General graces the east coast with her commanding presence and stern, yet captivating eyes."

You let out a short laugh and shake your head at his last comment. "Flattery gets you nowhere." you quipped and stopped at the end of the hall with your arms crossed.

It was like the early days when he'd "jokingly" flirt with you every chance he got. Well, once he was sure you wouldn't whoop his ass for doing so. Sam thoroughly enjoyed the banter between you two since day one and it would never get old. For either one of you. And don't forget that subtle sway in your hips whenever you walked away from him for making a stupid joke. He almost started saying stupid things just to see it.

"Not even a night of catching up at that totally affordable local bar a half hour out from base at the end of the day?" he asked with another growing smile as he nudged you again. "Come on! When's the last time we got to hang out in our civvies? Together? Just us??"

"Okay, okay. You win, I'll go. You're paying though. Consider it a fee for interrupting me earlier."

Sam nodded and rubbed his chin, feigning consideration before pointing at you. "Deal."

The two of you met up after, dressed in your casual attire and ready for an evening of fun. You wore a jacket over a plain fitted shirt because of D.C's supposed unpredictable weather, but the front was kind of a V neck--slightly dipping below your cleavage. Sam whistled as he approached, a hearty genuine laugh coming from him.

"A woman that can rock fatigues just as much as she can rock civvies is a special one." he said with a wink before walking over to his truck and opening the passenger door. "M'lady General," he muttered but knew you heard him. The door closed before you could respond so you just grumbled half-seriously while watching him get into the drivers seat.

"Never change, Sam." you said and leaned on the window after putting on your seatbelt. When the truck turned on he smiled at you as he did the same.

"First names and we're not even off base yet. Somebody's having fun already."

"If it'll get you to cut out the 'General' bit early, I'll get ahead while I still can." you glanced at him with an unserious glare. He only shrugged as he pulled out of the lot.

"Maybe."

Sam played all the classics on the way there and you sung your heart out the most. The second you entered the bar it was lively with people and flashy lights. The place wasn't huge but cozy enough and luckily there weren't any other airmen hanging out to see what you're like when you aren't barking orders.

"Up for some billiards?" he leaned down to ask over the music bumping nearby. He had a slight smirk on his face as he waited for you to answer, that familiar grin returning when you glance at him with a raised brow.

"I'm a little rusty." you replied but looked around for a free pool table. When you spot one you start heading over to it. "But I never back down from a friendly game." you continued, handing him a pool stick before getting one for yourself.

"Ladies first," he mused and leaned on the table. You set them in the middle and just hoped you'd get solids, eyeing the cue ball as you leaned over. Sam watched you with intent from the moment, but also genuine admiration. You never failed to be at least a little serious about everything you did. Even a silly game of hitting balls with a stick.

You watched them splay across the green velvet, specifically an orange solid one bouncing around before slowly, but surely dropping in the pocket. You pumped your fist and kept your eyes on the display while determining your next move.

"It's only natural Captain America gets stripes," you said with a quick glance at him over your shoulder before bending over again to line up your shot. Sam rolled his eyes and moved out of your way.

"Corniest thing you've said in a long time." he said.

"You can't be serious!" Sam exclaimed as he watched your last solid fall into the pocket. He stared at his three striped balls in impossible positions in complete disbelief. "I thought you said you weren't good at this game."

You brushed past behind him, placing your hand on his shoulder and whispering in his ear. "I said I was rusty."

He shot a glare and huffed while you lined up your final shot for the 8 ball.

"10 bucks you don't make this next shot." he chimes, causing you to glance at him. "10 bucks and five shots says I do." you said. Sam nods with a smirk.

"You're on, lil bird. Prepare to be down like thirty bucks."

You hit the ball to the northwest pocket from where you stood, which was the best you could do. It wasn't a straight shot. Albeit a little bit of an awkward position, there was a chance at least with the force you used. The 8 ball rolled all the way up to it like with that solid orange ball. Just your luck..it stopped right at the pocket. You groaned loudly and facepalmed while Sam cheered and clapped like it was a football game. You could feel his arm drape over your shoulder, just picturing that stupid smug grin on his face.

"I really hope you like Bourbon."

You shrugged him off and gestured for him to take his turn. You weren't actually upset, more upset at the effect his cologne had on your senses. The way his smile lit up the room yet only being flashed at you. Though, before he could make another comment, a song that activates Sam started playing. He gave you that look. That 'you know what we have to do' look. He put down his stick and started lip syncing and dancing towards you.

"No- Sam," you laughed as he already had your hand in his because he knew you loved this song too just as much as he did.

And he was right.

You danced and sung along like nobody was around. Taking turns with different parts and all up on each other like nobody's business. When the song ended you quickly got off the dance floor and navigated through the crowd to the bar, only panting just a little bit.

You sat next to each other and he ordered 5 shots. When you were about to hand him a 10 dollar bill from your pocket he declined immediately. You looked at him funny and held the 10 up.

"I lost the bet." you said.

"And I said I would pay earlier." he responded and closed the bill in your fist.

"Don't," he added, seeing you were going to protest. "I just wanted to mess around with you. You can pay me back another time."

You watched Sam pay for the shots and give a polite nod to the bartender as he pushed them between you two. With a soft sigh you turned in your stool to face him and see just what the gentleman that is Sam Wilson had planned now.

"We're gonna play a game," he said. His gaze just barely glided past your chest before your eyes met. He leaned on the bar with his elbow before continuing.

"2 truths 1 lie. You down?"

"Hell yeah. Where do the shots come in?" you asked while sliding your sleeves up your forearms.

"Simple: If you guess the lie wrong you gotta take a shot. If the other guesses your lie right, you have to take a shot. I'll go first." he cleared his throat and thought for a moment before looking at you again and counting on his fingers.

"One time I walked in on Joaquin trying on the Cap suit, I have three nephews, and I can hold my breath under water for almost a minute." he said. You narrowed your eyes and hummed.

"You have two nephews. Cass and Aj." you said confidently.

"Damn, girl. When did I even tell you that?" he asked as he took a shot.

"Word travels fast." you shrugged. Now it was your turn. "Alright, um...I originally was going to be in the Navy, I have one little brother, and I was raised in the midwest." you said and crossed your arms over your chest, which really just pushed them further together. Sam ran his fingers over his beard as he intentionally looked away from you.

"You weren't gonna be in the Navy." he finally said but not as confident as you were before. You tsk'd and made an X with your arms, incorrect buzzer sound from your mouth included.

"I was raised in the southwest. Arizona. That's another shot for you."

A few more rounds go by. You took too shots and now it was just one more. Neither one of you were lightweights but the alcohol just ignited a bit of a buzz for both of you.

It was now Sam's turn.

He paused for a moment to just stare at you under the lights at the bar. He could see you a lot better like this and he was just star struck.

"Sam," you said, watching him just blink.

"My favorite artist is James Brown," he started. "My middle name is Thomas...and I really want to kiss you right now." he said. His voice took on a softened yet forward tone. He didn't even flinch.

You stared back at him for a second before licking your lips that had gone suddenly dry. You shifted in your stool and leaned forward just a hair.

"Your favorite artist is Marvin Gaye." you said, "Your middle name is Thomas and...I really want to kiss you right now too."

You took the shot before he could, letting out a crisp exhale while never taking your eyes off his. There was a familiar burn in the pit of your stomach. His too. Sam Wilson has wanted nothing - nobody more in his life.

His truck slightly rocked with the driving force of your hips slamming down into his lap. His calloused yet soft palms felt you up like he knew your body. As if he touched you before. Only in his dreams. He's only ever been able to just imagine what was under that baggy camo and that decorated tag of yours.

Lieutenant General. In the back of his truck giving him the business.

Your forehead rested on his as you tried to focus on not reaching climax so early. You'd only just begun and you'd miss the feeling of his hands on your bare back if you ended it now.

"Pretty little bird," he whispered. You sank down completely into his lap and grabbed his jaw. It was dark but you knew he was looking into your eyes.

"Don't call me that when you're inside me." you joked softly and kissed him. Sam nodded and pressed you closer to his broad chest.

"Ma'am yes ma'am."

You kissed him again and started to roll your hips in a circular motion--at least you tried to--and Sam groaned your name into your mouth. You broke the kiss and leaned down to kiss his neck, leaving a small mark there so he could see it but not that it'd be easily noticeable. Especially by Joaquin.

"Damn, Lt.," he said as he slid his hands down to cup your ass. "Should've asked you out to drinks way earlier." you chuckled, gently biting his shoulder and riding him again. All the while holding the other side of his face just because you can.

"Ohh, get me there...yeah," he whispered repeatedly as he got closer and closer. His hips started to move on their own, fucking up into you with fervor to stay in sync. You slowly unraveled by the second as you were about to blow. Breathing irregular. Vision blurring. Unknowingly digging your nails into his shoulders.

You pulled yourself off him as you came. Clung onto him tight while twitching and moaning his name. Sam did the same. His hands slid down to your thighs and held on like it was the only thing keeping him aware of his surroundings.

He never really imagined getting with you would look like this; feel like this. However he's not opposed. Trust.

"I didn't know you had it like that, Lieutenant," he teased while still breathless and catching up to the reality that is his fogged up windows and potentially fucked up seats. You slowly sat back down into his lap, not minding the mess he made coating his thick, firm thighs as you whispered against his lips.

"That's 'Pretty little bird' to you."

[bingingcontentrn]

FaceTiming after a mission?? lol idk

some fluff to light up your day? your wish is my command !! (⟡ᗜ⟡)

imagine joaquin calling you after a mission ~

w.c: 566; joaquin torres x girlfriend!reader

1AM EST; New York City (Reader) 10PM PST; California (Joaquin)

You’re already in bed by the time he calls. Already having lost the expectation that you were going to get a call that night.

Until your screen lights up with his name, and your heart jumps. You weren’t sure he’d have time, let alone signal. But he does. And it’s a FaceTime.

You blink, propping yourself up on one elbow, startled but smiling as you answer. The jingled swoosh of the application opening as his face appears.

“FaceTime? No top secret clearance things in the background for me to see?” you tease, voice soft and a little raspy from staying up too long.

He laughs, that low, tired laugh that makes your chest ache a little. His hair’s a mess. There’s a faint scratch on his cheek, like he tried to clean up before calling but didn’t get all the way there.

“You look so comfortable right now,” he says, eyes scanning over your blanket-covered body and sleepy face. “Did I wake you up, cariño?”

"No, just laid down now," your smile falters, just a little. “Are you okay? Did the mission go well?”

He looks off to the side. Doesn’t answer right away, then: “I just really wanted to see my beautiful girl’s face tonight after everything.”

You sit up more fully now, the soft warmth in your chest turning heavier. “It went that badly?”

He breathes out through his nose, gaze finally meeting yours again through the screen. He looks worse for wear at this point, having been gone for longer than usual. Today marking the third week of a long, drawn out mission that required more patience and careful planning than he liked.

“Well… not too bad, since I’m all in one piece here, right?”

You nod slowly, biting your lip. “I hope you really beat up whoever gave you that cut on your face then, since I wasn't there to do it myself.”

He grins at that. Tired, but amused at the tone in your voice. “Yeah,” he murmurs. “Nobody touches me on your watch."

His voice dips softer as he adds, “God, you look so sweet right now. I don’t care about this mission anymore, I’d trade anything to be next to you. Just to fall asleep next to you tonight.”

Your brain short circuited a little at that. The whininess of his voice tugging at your heart strings. But you can't help but respond without teasing him.

You just tilt the camera toward the other side of the bed and whisper, “There’s room.”

A bashful grin tugged at his lips at your response. That quiet kind of smile that says you’re it—you’re the part of his day he’s been holding out for. The only part that matters.

That he had left his heart across the country. The brightest part of his entire day, even now after a grueling trek through the desert and not an end in sight to taking down the group they were after.

"The prettiest thing I’ve seen in weeks,” he says gently. “You should write that down to remember it everyday.”

You feel your cheeks flush as you try to blink away how heavy your eyelids are getting.

“You shouldn't tempt me either,” he adds, smile deepening. “I can fly, you know?"

“Don’t expect me to stop you,” you say sleepily, the warmth of his voice pulling you further into sleep than any drug ever could.

[bingingcontentrn]

flirt

pairing: joaquín torres x f!reader summary: when staying at a motel after a mission, you forget to bring a pair of pajamas. joaquín offers you his own to wear. tags: fluff, swearing, pet names, reader is able to wear joaquín’s clothes, pre-established relationship, pining, idiots in love, joaquín is a major flirt <3333 word count: 299 author’s note: i love this man so badddd absolutely devestated that he isn’t real

“Home sweet home.”

Joaquín grins as he flops onto the motel bed, causing you to let out a small laugh at his antics. You set your duffle bag on the floor and rummage through it, looking for your pajamas. When you can’t find any, your stomach drops. 

“Shit,” you mutter.

“What is it?” Joaquín asks, sitting up. 

You sigh. “I forgot to bring something to sleep in.” 

“If you want, you can wear my stuff,” he says. 

Heat blooms in your cheeks. “What?” 

“Yeah! I brought extras just in case.” He gets up and digs into his bag, pulling out a t-shirt and a pair of grey sweats. “These should fit you, I think.”

You take the clothes he’s handing over to you. The fabric is soft against your fingers as you clutch them against your chest. “Are you sure you don’t mind?” you ask quietly.

He shakes his head. “‘Course not, amor.” 

You think you might go into cardiac arrest at the way he uses the pet name he uses so casually. Is he trying to kill you? You think so. Not trusting your voice enough to thank him, you rush into the bathroom to get changed. When you’re done, you glance in the mirror. Maybe you have died and this is heaven.

Joaquín’s eyes widen when you walk back out into the room. You suddenly feel shy as you duck your head, butterflies erupting in your stomach. 

“Why’re you looking at me like that?” you ask, wringing your fingers together. 

“‘Cause you’re so pretty,” he whispers. 

Your heart pounds so hard you think it might beat right out of your chest. “Joaquín,” you whine.

“What? I’m only telling you the truth.” 

You fail to bite back a smile. “Stop it.”  

He shakes his head. “Never,” he grins.

[bingingcontentrn]

pretty boy

summary: You call Steve pretty for the first time.

pairing: Steve Rogers x Reader

tags: fluff, established relationship, shy!steve rogers

word count: 445

You’ve always found Steve Rogers to be pretty. 

All of your friends (and everyone else, really) would describe him as hot. Handsome. Sexy. Of course you agree, but you also see something underneath that. A softness that seems to blossom from the inside out.

You especially notice it today. Nothing is out of the ordinary, in fact it’s a perfectly mundane day. Days like these have become a favorite – mornings spent cuddling in bed, Steve cooking a late breakfast while you’re in charge of the coffee, jazz music playing from the speakers that inevitably leads to a slow dance. 

Steve’s in the kitchen bent over a cookbook (a gift from you on his birthday), the light from the small kitchen window covering him in a golden hue. His hair lightens a bit, the blue in his accentuating from the sunlight, making them almost sparkle. He’s got his tongue darted out in concentration and all you can think is how pretty he looks. You’ve never called him that before, and honestly you doubt anyone ever has. 

“Steve,” you call. He lifts his head up and meets your eyes, a soft smile tugging on his lips.

“Yes, love?”

“You look very pretty today.”

A blush forms on the tip of ears and slowly creeps onto his cheeks. No matter how many times you compliment him, whether it’s about his physical appearance or his personality, it has the same effect on him. 

“Pretty.” He repeats it like the word is foreign to him. “I’ve never heard that one before.”

You frown, even though you figured that. Most people’s go to is to sexualize him, and you’ve made it your mission to never make him feel that way. “Well, that’s a damn shame.”

“Eh, it’s no big deal.” Steve shrugs. “Thank you, though. You’re always too good to me.”

“Because you deserve it.”

Steve smiles again before leaning across the kitchen island for a kiss. He tastes like the chocolate chip pancake batter he’s been working on. Sweet, like him. 

He pulls back and rests his forehead against yours. “I love you,” he whispers against your lips.

“I love you too, Steve.”

“So uh, you really think I’m pretty?” He asks like he can’t believe it. Because he doesn’t.

“Of course. I don’t say things I don’t mean, especially with you. If it makes you uncomfortable, I won’t say it again.”

“No, I…liked it,” he admits sheepishly, cheeks reddening again. 

“Well, I’ll make note of that,” you say with a teasing grin. “C’mon pretty boy, the food is gonna burn.” 

Steve shakes his head and laughs, turning back to the stove. “You’re going to be the death of me.”

[bingingcontentrn]

Five Years

Summary: You have a feeling Sam forgot your anniversary but you hope you’re wrong.

Pairing:Sam Wilson x Reader

Warnings:

Word Count: 1080

Waking up you expect to feel the warmth of your boyfriend Sam laying beside you where he usually is but instead you are met with an empty space. 

‘It's still warm, so that means he just recently got up,’ you think to yourself as you get out of bed and retrieve your robe from its hook. 

Making your way to the kitchen you half expect to see him brewing the two of you a pot of coffee, instead you are greeted with an empty kitchen. Sam didn’t even leave a note like he usually does if he has to run off somewhere early in the morning. There is a feeling of disappointment that maybe he forgot your five year anniversary but you try to shake it off, it's still early and you both are adults. 

“Maybe he just had to meet up with Joaquin to work on something urgent,” you whisper trying to settle your nerves as you begin making yourself coffee for work.

Throughout the day you keep periodically checking your phone hoping to receive some sort of message from your boyfriend but it is radio silent. On your lunch break you even decide to try to call him but it goes right to voicemail trying two more times you just send him a text while a knot starts to form in your stomach.

I hope you are having a good day, I can’t wait to see you later so we can celebrate.

‘There’s no way that he forgot,’ you think to yourself as you make your way back to your desk. 

By now no matter how much you don’t want to believe it there’s that small part of your brain telling you Sam definitely forgot. When you talked about it a few weeks ago it was agreed to keep it lowkey this year but you didn’t think that meant doing nothing at all, not even acknowledging it. Thoughts continue to spiral about what could be up with him and why he's not answering but before you can fall any deeper you hear a knock on your office door. Kate, your assistant cautiously steps through the door, you don't have to look up to know it's her.

“If you don’t need anything else im going to head out for the night Ms. L/N,” she says quietly and for the first time in apparently hours you pull away from your laptop.

The sun has set and it is well past six when Kate and the rest of the office usually leave, “I don’t need anything else, thank you though Kate. Go home and relax,” you say tiredly unsure where time went.

‘No point working your feelings away, might as well go see if Sam has made it home himself yet,’ you think to yourself packing up and heading out the now empty office. 

Sam’s truck is nowhere in sight when you arrive home causing one final wave of disappointment. Climbing out of your car you officially decide you are going to eat some of your favorite ice cream and go to bed because today has officially won. True to your word you make your way towards the kitchen instantly only to be greeted with a large bouquet of your favorite flower and a note. 

My Love, My Y/N, 

I bet you thought that I forgot our anniversary but I could never do such a thing. In Fact I have a few surprises in store for you. Head to the bedroom. 

          Always yours,

Sam 

The butterflies begin pooling in your stomach in a way only Sam could cause as you rush to the bedroom. On the bed is another note as well as a gorgeous dress with all the matching accessories.

Get ready and meet me head down to our favorite spot, I’ll be waiting. 

You rush to do something a little better with your hair and makeup before putting everything Sam laid out for you on and rushing to the little meadow you discovered on a weekend walk. When you arrive he is nervously standing beside a picnic blanket, food and drinks spread all across it. There are fairly lights strung across the trees that surround the meadow and you can’t help but to think this is what he's been doing all day.

“I was starting to think you weren’t going to come,” he says jokingly but you know under the surface he is serious.

“I got a little distracted at work and came home late. Honestly I thought you forgot I'm sorry,” you say quietly still taking everything in, “its beautiful. Did you do this all yourself?”

“We said we wanted things to be lowkey but I still wanted to do something special to celebrate the amazing years we’ve spent together,” he says motioning for you to sit with him on the blanket, this seemed like the perfect way to do both.”

“It is perfect,” you confirm before examining all the food, “I don’t know about you but I'm starving.”

“Well then by all means, let’s eat.”

 While finishing the last piece of fruit you see Sam begin to fidget, “Are you okay?” you question. 

“Yeah I just..I just,” He instantly stops and nervously clears his throat.

After another minute of him nervously fidgeting he smoothly slips onto one knee pulling something from his pocket. 

‘There is no way this is happening right now!’ you think internally screaming.

“Y/N L/N, my lover, my best friend, my better half. You have made these last five years the best years of my life, through the ups and the downs I couldn’t have asked for a better person by my side. The only thing that would make it better is if you agreed to take my last name and spend the rest of your life with me. Will you marry me Y/N?” He slowly opens the box revealing the most beautiful ring you have ever seen. 

“Yes! Yes! A million times yes!” you squeal like a little girl throwing yourself into his arms for a kiss.

When you pull away he slips the ring on your finger allowing you to admire it up close, “I had it custom made so it's one of a kind just like you.”

“Its perfect, just like today,” you say snuggling deeper into his chest.

The two of you get lost in each other as you lay there in the meadow under the stars the new engagement bliss already taking over.

[bingingcontentrn]

Finally Home

Summary: Joaquin Torres x fe!Reader -> You and Joaquin have been friends for years, but once you start dating and he comes home, he realises you've tracked each day until he came home.

Disclaimer: I wrote this one a while ago -- mostly just fluff, established relationship. Not Proof Read.

Finally. 

Finally.

He was home. As much as Joaquin loved his job and the luxuries it afforded him, such as being Sam Wilson’s - aka Captain America’s - right hand man. He was happy to be home. 

This was the longest he’d been away from you since you’d both started dating two years ago. You’d both been close friends for almost ten years, having met at College. But it took nearly eight of those to realise the reason why no girlfriend ever worked out, why he never wanted anyone else, was because what he wanted was you. 

He was careful when opening the door to your apartment. Six months into your relationship, you’d asked him to move in with you. It hadn’t taken much thought, really. Most of his stuff seemed to emigrate into your apartment anyway. It just made sense. And it wasn’t like you hadn’t lived together before. 

After his first tour, he’d come back and had been looking for apartments. Since you had a spare bedroom, it just made sense. Eventually he had moved out – a day that hurt a lot more than it should have done for both of you. 

But he was glad to be back. 

Almost nothing had changed since he left. The curtains he’d helped you put up before he left had changed into your summer ones, as had the cushions. But the smells, the feelings, the complete and utter comfort that washed over him knowing you were less than seventy paces away from where he stood. 

That hadn’t changed. 

Quietly, he slipped his boots off and dropped his things by the door before hanging up his jacket. From there, he carefully walked across the living space and towards the kitchen to grab a glass of fresh water. And for a few moments, he took in the silence of your home. 

It was in doing that he spotted something that had changed. 

On the other side of the apartment, where two windows looked out to the rest of the city that wasn’t just the main street, there was a section of wall. That had always been there. 

What hadn’t always been there, however, was a large piece of brown craft paper. On it was a large map of the world with sheets of a calendar underneath. On the map were different permanent marker colours with long forgotten pin holes inside their centres. Each landed on a different country. But the one that stuck out to him the most was where a piece of string was pinned to New York and stretched across the map before stopping at a very recent location to Joaquin. 

On the calendar sheets below, each day had been crossed off and the next day had block capital letters. 

HOME.

The longer Joaquin looked at it, the more he saw. 

Two clocks above the map. One was on New York time, the other was on Italy’s time. Beside the map was a colour code. Each base he’d been at, when he’d been there and for how long. Each ink stain seemed older than the last. 

Had you been doing this since he joined the Academy?

He’d known you for a decade. He’d lived with you for several months, long before you both started dating. How did he not know about this?

Smiling, he allowed his fingers to trace different sections on the map, over your handwriting beside it. Then, finally placing his glass down, he turned around. 

By the time he reached the bedroom, he paused by the door for a few moments. You were fast asleep, one of your hands reaching out to his side of the bed. On your nightstand was another book, different from the one you’d last told him you’d been reading. There was also a picture of both you and him. Taken long before you were dating, but at a time when he knew he was definitely and completely in love with you. 

Joaquin smiled. 

Walking inside, he sat down on his side of the bed, facing you before reaching out and taking your hand in his. He stayed still for a few moments letting the feeling of your hand in his again, sink into his skin. 

God, how he’d missed you. 

Joaquin kissed your hand before holding it to his chest and turning to look at you. You were slow to wake up, but he didn’t mind. He was just glad to be home. 

“It’s just me, Angel.”

Carefully, he brushed the stray hairs from your face as you stirred awake. 

“Joaquin?” By the tone in your voice, you were probably still sleeping. Dreaming that you’d heard him. 

“It’s just me, mi amore.”

Again you stirred, except this time your eyes slowly opened. Your vision was blurry at first, trying to focus on the feeling of your hand. You’d had this dream before and when you’d finally woken up for real, you came to find your home without Joaquin. 

But then you gasped. 

Squeezing your hand, he squeezed back. And spoke. 

“I’m home.”

“Joaquin.”

Saying his name was as easy as breathing. Hearing you say his name made him feel as if he was finally breathing again. 

You were quick to sit up, practically launching yourself at him to hug him. To hold him. To know he was real. 

He fell back, landing still on the mattress as he held you against him. From his grip alone, he was holding onto you like you were his anchor. And he was determined to never let you go. 

All your senses became filled with him in an instant. Something that had slowly been fading in the last few weeks without him. With the heat and keeping your windows open when you were home, it had let some of his memories out. 

But he was finally back. 

Finally. 

“Are you real?” You could cry. Maybe you were. 

“I’m real.”

You leaned back a little to look at him properly. Well, as properly as you could in the dark with nothing but the moon and street lamps from outside lighting your room up. 

With your hands, you held onto his face. “I’ve missed you so much.”

“I’ve missed you, too.”

Then, for the first time in months, you kissed him. And it didn’t take long for him to kiss you back. His hand in your hair, cradling the back of your head, all the while his other hand pulled you closer to him until you were fully laying on top of him, at your hips. 

The kisses peppered out and away, across his cheek and to his neck before you hugged him again. You could feel his lips kissing your skin, too. 

“Why didn’t you call me? I would have waited up.”

“I wanted to surprise you.” Joaquin told you. “We finished up early so Hill brought us back. I asked her and Sam not to say anything.”

You sighed, your entire body relaxing back into him. “I’m so happy you’re back. I know you being away is nothing new to me, but this is the longest we’ve ever gone without seeing each other.”

“I know.”

“And…I just wanted to tell you I love you.”

Joaquin held you tighter. “I love you, too.”

You pressed a kiss to his neck, cheek and finally, his lips. “I’m so glad you’re home.”

He kissed you. “I’m glad to be home.”

Once more, you hugged him again just before you felt him roll you both over so you were the one under him with your back to your mattress. 

“You have no idea how much I’ve missed you.” Joaquin told you as he leaned over you, pressing a kiss to your lips. 

“Do you know how long you’re back for?”

He shook his head. “No idea. But, I know Barton is looking for help with training some recruits. If Sam doesn’t need me, I’m gonna see if I can help there. It’ll mean I’ll be home for a while, at least.”

You nodded. “You should. It’ll be nice to have you home.”

Joaquin smiled before leaning down and kissing you once more. This time, slowly and deliberately. He’d been away for months. He promised himself he’d savour the moment you were back in his arms, his kiss combining with yours. 

“I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

Finally. 

Finally. 

He was home. 

[bingingcontentrn]

He’s a Thunderbolt

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Fem!Avenger!Reader

Summary: You find out Bucky gave up his position as a Senator and now he’s doing free agent work with….a new team?

Warnings: Slight Thunderbolts* spoilers!!, First meet with the team, Fluff, Hurt/Comfort, Reader is an Ex-Shield agent, Tinge of Angst, Banter, John Walker Hate- click off if you don’t want that, no physical description of reader.

AN: they’ll always be the thunderbolts to me guys idc. I wrote this in a rush, hope y’all like this!

Ps: I won’t tolerate any kind of Sam or Bucky hatred on my page.

You spent the night at Valentina Allegra De Fontaine’s gala with Bucky, keeping him company and helping him socialise. It was clear he had no interest in it but had to because, duties. But both of you were bored so you hung around the corners and stuck to each other’s sides. He looked rather sharp in his tuxedo and hair slicked back, so that was an advantage, and he couldn’t keep his hands off you, constantly reminding you how beautiful you looked in that formal black dress.

Although, watching Valentina flaunt all the Avengers property (including the ‘A’ from the Avengers tower) like it was a fucking auction was making your head spin. Your whole life and fragments of your dysfunctional superhero family was just laid out in front of you behind glass displays like they were art pieces. It was weird, it was odd and you didn’t like her from the first time you saw her. You had warned Bucky about her, and luckily he had understood because he felt the same.

So naturally, you assumed Bucky would stay out of her way and do his job. You were happy that he was finally healing, his words lighter and body language more relaxed as the days passed by and if he wanted to work as a Senator now to improve the Brooklyn constituency, then you’d let him do so, happy to see him content in doing what he wants and to let him have the autonomy.

And then, Bucky called you the next morning after he had left for office, to tell you something important, and he started the call with telling you not to get mad at him.

“What happened? Are you okay?”, you panicked, thinking someone had threatened him or worse.

Bucky let out a weary sigh, “Um- well..you see..”, his voice trailed off, like he was dreading this conversation.

You straightened up, “What is it? Just say it, Buck, don’t stress me out like that.”

“I-uhh…I resigned…from my…position”, he replied in a guilty voice. You paused.

“I’m sorry, what? But- why? Did something happen? Did Valentina do something?”, you growled.

“No- I mean, she’s sketchy but I didn’t resign because of her. I resigned because I am…I want to work as a free agent again. Actually, I’m in the middle of the Utah desert right now with uh- some people”, Bucky confessed, his usual light and unbothered voice a little heavy and subdued.

You quirked an eyebrow, “You…resigned..to work as a free agent again…with some people and you’re in the middle of nowhere”, you deadpanned. Bucky winced.

You couldn’t believe this man. Everyday there’s a new discovery with him.

“Bucky, what the hell are you upto?”, you sighed out.

“Sweetheart, I’m coming home with… these people. I’ll explain it to you once I get back, okay?”, he tried to reason.

“Yeah, alright. I’ll be waiting. Love you”, you murmured.

“I love you too, honey”, Bucky replied softly.

-

The doorbell’s sound echoed throughout your and Bucky’s house and you went over to open the door to see-

Bucky in an all black outfit, his black jacket, his knives and guns holstered around his legs and waist band, hair messy and there were 4 other people standing behind him- 2 women and 2 men.

The blonde woman had a cropped bob and piercings with hazel-green eyes, she looked worse for wear but she was beautiful, the other woman was a brunette with striking blue-gray eyes which were observant and you noticed that her suit was very cool. One of the men was large, with a graying beard and a shaved head, he was wearing a red suit that looked, well, trashy. And of course, you recognised the fourth one right away.

“What the hell is he doing here?!”, you stared daggers at John Walker and questioned Bucky. The other three stared at Walker in shock.

John pursed his lips and waved at you before Bucky blocked your view from Walker with gentle hands on your elbows. The three of them stared between you, Bucky and Walker and the blonde woman let out a low whistle at the look of anger on your face.

“Sweetheart-hi. I can explain. Can we come in?”, he pleaded with his ocean blue irises shining earnestly and you huffed in disbelief. Everyone, minus Walker, stared at the scene in shock. Bucky had a girlfriend?

“First of all, why are you hanging out with him? And why is he here? Why should I bring him in our house, Bucky-”

“I know, I know. You can punch him all you want but please- let me explain to you first, honey”, he almost begged and the two women snickered under their breath, Bucky turned around momentarily to glare at them before the large, bearded man clapped Bucky on his shoulder.

“It’s not good to hide stuff from your lady, Mr. Soldier”, his voice boomed, Russian accent prominent.

You quirked an eyebrow at him.

“And who are these people? And what are you wearing, Barnes? You wore your formals this morning”, you glared at Bucky and he grimaced. He didn’t think about the details before coming home and now he was in so much trouble.

Bucky cleared his throat before gently moving you inside, making his way past the threshold of the door to enter your living room. The four of them followed behind Bucky and Walker actually had the decency to close the door.

Bucky made you sit at the dining table while the others awkwardly stood by the door.

“Okay, baby, listen. We know Valentina was being odd, right? Well, she’s involved in something known as the Sentry Project. She’s been experimenting on civilians unethically. One of the casualties is a guy named…”

“Bob”, all of them chimed in exasperated.

“Yeah, Bob. The rest of the participants died, he’s the only one who responded to the experiment. And she’s gonna use him as a weapon. He’s-he’s very unstable and she knows it. Airlifted him to New York to try and manipulate him into turning himself to OXE again. We’ve been trying to rescue him”, Bucky finished and squeezed your shoulders lightly.

You furrowed your eyebrows. A crazy experiment like this and nobody bats an eye? Crazier things have happened, but with your experience and contacts you developed as an Ex-Shield agent and Avenger, you should have probably found out about this before.

“Wait, what? How does nobody know about this?”, you asked in confusion.

“She was experimenting on him in Malaysia and she has a secret vault in the middle of nowhere which was heavily guarded. Plus, she’s got the money and influence—Likely bought a lot of the security and government officials as well”, the blonde woman responds, her Russian accent just as prominent as the large man next to her.

“Hold on, who even are you guys?”, you grumbled and pointed at them.

Bucky let out a breath, “Yeah, uh- That’s Yelena”, he pointed at the blonde woman and she waved at you with a smile.

“That’s Ava”, he pointed at the brunette, “Hi”, she greeted you and you gave her a tentative nod.

“That’s…Alexei”, he pointed at the big man. “Greetings, my lady, it’s an honour to meet the woman who made an honest man out of Mr. Soldier”, he exclaimed and smiled big before approaching you with his hand extended.

You stared at his hand and nervously extended yours before Bucky stepped in between. “Yeah, no. That’s enough”, he announced and pushed Alexei back towards the group.

“And…you know Walker”, Bucky replied meekly. John grinned, “Hey, haven’t seen you in a while-”

“Shut up”, you and Bucky cut Walker off and he raised his hands in surrender. “And this is (Name), my partner, who’s also an Avenger”, Bucky introduces you to the team and they all “ooh” at that, Alexei being the most excited.

You gave them a close lipped smile before turning back toward Bucky, “What the hell are you doing in a team with him, James?”, you asked Bucky in a stern manner.

Yelena, Ava and Alexei stared at Walker and Bucky and chuckled amongst themselves. “Honey, we have to work together. And…he’s kinda useful”, he tried to convince you, Walker smirked smugly.

You gave him a look before turning back towards the group. “You”, you looked at Yelena. Something about her was familiar, “are you sure we haven’t met before?”

Yelena blinked and before she could reply, Alexei’s voice boomed again, “Oh, you must be friends with her sister, Natasha. She was very brave, my Natasha. I was so proud of her”, he announced in a somber yet proud manner.

You paused, “You’re…you’re Natasha’s sister?”, you whispered in disbelief.

Yelena frowned, her chin quivering and she nodded at you. Bucky smoothed a hand on your back, his face shifting in empathy, “Yeah, baby. Yelena and Alexei, they’re Natasha’s family.”

Your eyes widened. Natasha was one of your really good friends. Ever since she passed away, you have felt a hole in your soul. Her absence was visible and huge. She would always talk about her guiding light—her sister. You never thought you’d get a chance to see a part of Natasha’s life again and felt your eyes tear up.

“Oh my god, Buck”, you whimpered and looked at him, he gave you a sad smile and encouraged you to go towards Yelena. You walked over to Yelena and grabbed her by the shoulders, eyes taking her in.

“You- oh my god. You’re so much like her”, you whispered, kicking yourself for not realising that before. Her mannerisms, the way she carried herself—it was all Natasha.

Yelena’s eyes shone with tears, Alexei smiling tearfully next to her.

“She used to talk about you all the time. Called you her guiding light. I’m- oh god. I’m so happy to see you. She was so proud of you, Yelena”, you confessed sincerely.

Yelena frowned and his lips quivered, tears falling down her cheeks, “Really?”, she asked in a small voice. You nodded and gave her a fond smile.

Yelena let out a soft cry and leaned in to hug you, her arms going around your shoulders and her face smushed against them. You stumbled back before catching her and hugging her back just as fiercely. After a while she pulled back and stared at you with bloodshot eyes, “Thank you. For being my sister’s friend”, her shaky voice confessed.

You gave her a wet smile and squeezed her shoulder before turning around to face Bucky, who was looking at you with a soft smile.

“Well, what’s the plan?”, you huffed out in reluctance and wiped your eyes.

Bucky opened his mouth before Alexei cut him off, “Well, we have to take down Valentina and OXE! And we will go to New York and ride to her place like soldiers!”, he yelled in enthusiasm, “For the Glory!”

You stared at him with wide eyes and everyone else groaned loudly.

“Dad, stop it!”

“That’s not what we’re doing-”

“How are we just going to storm her place-”

“Well, if you listen to me-”

“Oh my god, shut up! All of you!”, you shouted and all of them quieted down and stared at you like bugs under a log.

“You guys don’t even have a plan! You’re talking about storming her place, you think she’s not smart enough to amp up her security?”, you questioned Alexei. He sputtered and looked around the room in shock.

You sighed, “Anyways. Where is her place, Buck?”

Bucky swallowed, “Well, she’s the one who bought the Avengers tower, so she’s going there now.”

You paused, momentarily forgetting that the tower belong to the OXE group and by that extension to Valentina.

“Right, of course. Uh- let me know if I can be of any help. I can order something if you want?”, you asked the group.

“Actually, some food would be great”, John spoke up and you glared at him. Bucky turned you around and walked you into your shared bedroom before grabbing your phone to order some takeout.

You turned around to face Bucky, “Does Sam know?”

He froze, his face locked in with a guilty expression and you knew right away.

“Barnes, don’t tell me you just teamed up with these people without informing Sam. You’re doing that isolation shit again”, you asked him sternly.

Bucky scratched the back of his neck, “I mean- no? No. I haven’t talked to him…yet”, he murmured.

Your eyes widened in disbelief, “You cannot be serious, Bucky! You just met him. What’s wrong?”

“I’ll call him soon, I swear. It’s just a lot, for now. This Bob guy, he’s very vulnerable and very strong. We cannot let Valentina use him for whatever motive she has. Just let them crash over for the night, we’ve had a long day…Please?”, Bucky requested you with his hands cradling your face.

You stared at him in mild irritation and grumbled, “The girls can take the guest room.”

Bucky smiled at you and pressed a loving kiss to your lips, “You’re the best”, he murmured against them and you finally cracked a smile, leaning into him and kissing him deeper.

-

You stepped out in the living room to see that Ava and Yelena had taken their seats on the kitchen island, bantering loudly with Walker and Alexei who were trying to find something in the kitchen, knocking over your things.

“You can take the guest—What the hell are you two doing to my kitchen?!”, you screeched and pushed them out of the way, putting things back into their place.

“Get out of our kitchen”, Bucky sighed in annoyance and pushed Alexei out before gesturing Walker to join him as well.

“I told you not to touch-”

“I just wanted some water!-”

“Well, you could just ask-”

“I want something stronger-”

You and Bucky looked at each other and shook your heads. These were children in adult bodies.

You silently filled up a glass of water and another glass with one of Bucky’s leftover rum before placing it in front of Walker and Alexei.

The whole room quieted down and the two men picked up the glasses, gulping the liquids down.

“You guys want something?”, you asked the Ava and Yelena.

They gave you sheepish smiles before asking for a glass of water each.

Alexei finished his glass of rum and gave you a huge smile, “Thank you, (Name), you have been so kind to the Thunderbolts.”

You paused and the others groaned loudly. You smirked, “Thunderbolts?”

“Yeah! That’s us! Inspired by the West Chesapeake Valley Thunderbolts, Yelena’s peewee soccer team-”

“Okay! Shut up!”, Yelena yelled and Alexei gaped at her.

“Lena, don’t yell at your old man like that!”

And the room erupted in chaos, again. Their voices overlapping each other’s and arms waving around wildly.

Bucky was standing there with his vibranium hand covering his face and the human one resting on his hip. Pursing your lips to stop the laugh from escaping your mouth, you made your way over to him and circled an arm around his waist,

“So…you’re a Thunderbolt, huh?”, you cooed teasingly in his ear.

He groaned loudly, “Don’t start, sweetheart, I swear to god…”

You giggled and looked around the messy assassins and soldiers in your living room, their chaos and banter making your house feel lively. Maybe, you could adjust with them. (Except, a particular someone.)

“They’re nice”, you murmured and Bucky scoffed, bringing you closer to him with his metal arm around your waist.

“Spend a whole day with them and then we’ll talk”, he kissed your cheek.

You held the back of his neck gently and looked at him, his eyes exhausted and lips cracked.

“Don’t scare me like that again. I expect you to, at least, give me a heads up before making such big changes, okay?”, you pleaded with a soft voice.

“Yes, I’m so sorry, baby”, he nodded and kissed your cheek again.

The room had quieted down suddenly and you turned your head to look at the four of them smirking at you two. Bucky let out an exhausted sigh next to you and you chuckled lowly.

These four combined with your grumpy boyfriend was going to be an interesting and entertaining bunch, for sure.

-

AN: I’ll make a second part to this where we talk about #that post credits scene. I’ve written a similar fic for Sam but i wanna write it for Bucky as well, hehe.

Please like and reblog!

[bingingcontentrn]

Trouble in Paradise

Pairing: Sam Wilson x Avenger!Fem!Reader, Joaquin Torres x Platonic!Reader, Bucky Barnes x Platonic!Reader

Summary: MAJOR THUNDERBOLTS SPOILERS!!! PLEASE DON’T READ IF YOU HAVEN’T SEEN THE MOVIE!!!

You and Sam react to the news that Bucky has joined the New Avengers. Aka you try to console him and understand both of their feelings about the situation.

Warnings: Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Fluff, Established Relationship, Found Family, Best friend!Bucky, Mentions of Mental Illnesses like Depression, Teasing, the girls are fighting 💔 (only for a bit!), We love Sam Wilson in this house. No hate will be tolerated against him because I don’t think he did anything wrong!, Joaquin being supportive cutie, that’s all I think! Sorry for any mistakes!

AN: i hope u all like this and sorry for the length! please like and reblog, I love to read your thoughts 🥹

“(Name)?”, Joaquin’s nervous voice rang out through the common room of the base as he made his way towards you, a tablet in his hand.

He was still recovering from his injuries, though his burn marks had healed and left behind scars, the broken ribs were troubling him, having to attend physiotherapy every week for that. But that also means that Sam had benched him and strictly warned him to not do any kind of missions, his suit locked away. This lead to you and Joaquin spending more time together since you had opted for handling the ground controls for now, while Sam was rebuilding the new team. A tentative retirement, if you may.

You looked up from the file you were reading, “Yeah?”

“Uhh…did you see the news today?”, Joaquin asked tentatively.

You furrowed your brows, “Not really, why?”

Joaquin shot you a worried look and wordlessly handed you the tablet. You weren’t sure what you were expecting but you surely weren’t expecting the news to say that Bucky had joined a completely new team without consulting Sam before.

“What the hell..”, you murmured in disbelief, scrolling through the article to read that it was a 5 member team, including John Walker, formed by some woman named Valentina and their name was—“New Avengers?!”, you yelled, face twisted with a grimace, startling Joaquin.

“I can’t bel-oh my god. Where’s Sam right now?”, you asked Joaquin with urgency, praying that he’s not in the middle of something important.

You couldn’t believe it. You couldn’t believe that Bucky actually went behind your backs and joined a whole different team and he didn’t even bother to talk to Sam or you before doing that. Especially when he knew that Sam was making a new team. Especially after that tender moment between them while Joaquin was being operated on. This was ridiculous and you hoped Bucky had an explanation for this because you knew Sam would not take it well.

“I think he’s making his way back, actually”, he informed you promptly. And just as he said that, the doors slid open to Sam entering the room.

You and Joaquin looked at him like deers in headlights. Sam chuckled, “Y’all okay?”

Joaquin glanced at you nervously and Sam noticed it right away.

“What’s going on?”, he straightened up in alarm, fearing the worst.

You got up from your seat and walked over to him, steeling yourself because you knew this was going to break his heart.

“Sam, have you seen the news, at all?”, you asked him nervously, hands fiddling with the tablet.

Sam furrowed his eyebrows and looked at you in concern, extending a hand to hold your elbow gently, “I didn’t get time ‘cause I was in a meeting with Bruce, why, what’s happening?”, he shifted his eyes from you to Joaquin.

“Baby, I’m so sorry. Look at this”, you said to him apologetically and handed him the tablet. Sam quickly took the tablet from you and read the news displayed on it.

You saw the way his jaw muscles twitched in irritation and the way his eyebrows caused a dent in between them from how much he was stressing his face. He gripped the tablet tightly and looked up, sucking in a deep breath and closing his eyes. You glanced over at Joaquin, who was just as worried as you, before turning back to lay a hand on Sam’s bicep.

“Sammy”, you whispered and he slowly opened his eyes to look at you. His pretty brown eyes were shining with tears and it made your heart break into a million pieces.

“Why would he do that?”, he asked in a weak tone, his usually cheerful voice sounding small. You frowned and smoothed a hand across his arm, his eye twitching from the effort to control his emotions.

“He knows how difficult it is to ask people to join. Half of them are dead and the rest are off the grid, what the hell am I s’posed to do? And- in the same team as Walker?”, Sam vented to you, his voice wavering.

You let out a sad sigh, “I know, I know. Why don’t you try talking to him?”, you tried to reason with him. Sam pursed his lips and shook his head.

“I don’t- I don’t wanna fight with him. This is-”, he cut himself off with a disbelieving scoff.

“Sam, you should try calling him. Maybe get some clarity on the situation. I don’t think he’s doing it willingly”, Joaquin suggested.

Sam looked at you for reassurance and you nodded your head. He swallowed thickly before sighing and pulling out his phone to call Bucky.

You gestured Sam to sit down on the couch and he reluctantly followed, Joaquin sitting opposite you two on the single seating sofa.

-

Sam’s POV

The phone must’ve rang thrice before Bucky received the call.

“Hey.”

Sam clenched his jaw to dampen the anger and frustration and closed his hands into a fist.

“Bucky, what the hell?”, Sam questioned him right away, voice cracking with emotions.

Bucky sighed on the other end, “Look, man, I-I really can’t help it. I-there’s no other option, okay? I’m stuck in a situation here”, he shamefully confessed.

“Dude, you can’t just excuse that with this half-ass explanation. You knew I was assembling a team myself. The government has been on my ass as well. Also, Valentina and Walker? Are you serious?”, Sam accused him.

“Sam- she’s threatening us. Said she’ll expose and frame us if we try to go against her. She’s got the money and shit. And Walker--He's just a part of it, okay, he works with her. It's out of my control, Sam. I swear, I didn’t do it willingly”, Bucky explained calmly, understanding Sam’s predicament.

Sam pinched his nose, “Do you know how much I’ve been struggling here? How much we’ve been struggling? There’s so many people to recruit, and you knew I was gonna assume that you’d want to be a part of my team. You didn’t even fight back, Buck. I need you here”, he confessed sincerely, Bucky’s side of the line turning silent at that.

Sam noticed yours and Joaquin’s faces twisted in worry—worry for him and Bucky both. The four of you were a family, and it’s been so comfortable between you that this argument because of a stupid formality, was hurting the four of you equally.

“I-I don’t know what to say. I really can’t do anything right now-”

“I’ll help you, man! You think I wouldn’t do this for you? C’mon, Buck, it’s us. You told me I stuck out my neck for you even when everyone was against you, right? I’m ready to do that again. What are you so afraid of?”, Sam stressed, his face crumpling in pain, like this conversation was hurting him.

He felt your hand on his knee, your thumb making soothing motions against his leg. Joaquin leaned forward, elbows on his knees and eyes focused on the coffee table, his whole body tensed.

“Because, it’s not that easy. There’s-there’s a bigger problem at hand. She has experimented on civilians. Only one of them reacted to it, became unstable and dangerous. He’s with us for now, but only because we agreed to make this team. She has every intention to use him as a weapon. If we don’t abide to her rules, she’s gonna throw us under the bus and ruin everyone’s lives by using him”, Bucky finally confessed, his voice tired, “I’m sorry, buddy, I really didn’t wanna do this”, he added in a pained voice.

Sam inhaled and leaned back on the couch, his fingers pressed tightly to his eyes. “Then I’m gonna have to follow the protocol”, he murmured lowly.

Bucky paused, “Protocol?”

You looked at Sam in question. What protocol was he talking about?

“Now that the news has broken out, they’re gonna ask me to sue y’all”, Sam let that sit out, the weight of his words finally dawning on Bucky.

“What? Sam, c’mon, you’re not really suing, are you?”, Bucky asked incredulously.

“Even if I don’t wanna, the government will do it anyways. And Buck, you really think I’m gonna let you be her pawn? We fought for the Avengers to be a separate, free, entity. We’re not doing this again. If anything, this case will free y’all from her conditions and y’all can join in with us”, Sam explained.

“Us?”, Bucky deflected, a slight jealous tone taking over his voice.

“Yeah, me, Joaquin and (Name).”

“(Name)? She’s already joined the team?”, Bucky asked hesitantly, shocked that you agreed to end your mini retirement already and jealous that his other best friend had already picked a side.

Although you and Sam have been dating way before you became friends with Bucky, it didn’t take you time to get along with him. Something about his grumpy nature and dry humour clicked with you and you two became fast friends, siblings almost. He always said you reminded him of his sister Rebecca and that was the first time you ever cried on each other’s shoulders, with Sam having to comfort the two of you at the same time.

Sam had basically adopted Bucky into his family, and you two were really protective over him, wanting to give him a peaceful life. But he was still navigating his autonomy and sometimes he made hasty decisions like this, nervous about his carefully arranged life falling apart because of a mistake, wanting to protect his peace at any cost. It wasn’t his fault, you understood why he did what he did—he was exhausted and frustrated from having to jump from fight to fight. What he did today, he didn’t do it to harm you or Sam. He would die for you two. It’s just how things were now. And you had to remind yourself, and Sam by that extension, that he was just trying to secure his life.

Sam sighed heavily into the phone, “Yes, she is. Anyways, I’m going ahead with the protocol. I need you to trust me on this, will you trust me on this?”

Bucky paused, his heart hammering into his chest. He was so torn--here was his family that had changed him for the better and protected him when nobody did and on one side, was his new ragtag family group of friends, who were just as important to him and he wanted to protect them as well. But he trusted Sam more than anything in this world. So he took in a deep breath and let it out before responding, “Okay”, his hands clenched into fists.

Sam let out a relieved sigh, “Alright. Don’t tell anybody about this yet, okay?”

Bucky hummed. “Can I speak to (Name)?”, he requested in a soft voice.

-

Sam mumbled a ‘yeah’ into the phone and handed it to you, asking Joaquin to join him in the debrief room. Sam squeezed your shoulder before departing, his face displaying the stress he was under.

You put his phone to your ear, “Hello?”

“Hi”, Bucky mumbled grumpily.

“Are you done fighting with your boyfriend?”, you teased him lightly, wanting to lighten his mood.

Bucky groaned, “Shut up. Why didn’t you tell me about you ending your retirement?”

You gaped, “Just like how you didn’t tell me about resigning from your position in the senate and joining a whole new team?”, you threw back at him.

Bucky closed his eyes, he walked right into this one. “Alright, okay, you got me. But, I swear, doll, I didn’t do this willingly. I-”

“Bucky, we know you didn’t do it willingly. The problem is that you didn’t fight against it when you knew how difficult it has been for Sam”, you explained to him calmly.

Bucky ducked his head in shame, “I know, I’m sorry- I don’t know what to do. I just can’t take any risks, doll. She’s a crazy woman with crazy influence, if she hurts any of these people…I feel like I’ll be responsible for it. And she’ll come for you too. I can’t let that happen, I can’t”, he said in a low, pained voice.

Your chest hurt with empathy for him. You realised how unfair it was to blame him either because he just wants to protect everyone as well.

“Buck…I understand. But Sam is hurt, too. It’s been so difficult for him, especially with Joaquin still recovering and with Rhodey off the radar. All of this is on his shoulders and he’s trying his best. He has to research and meet with every single potential hero to join the team. He expected you to be on his side, especially after that conversation you guys had a few months ago. Tell me, how is any of this fair to Sam either?”

Bucky was quiet on the other end, likely contemplating on what to do next. “You’re right. So-So, what now?”

You huffed, “Just follow Sam’s instructions. He’ll get you out of this, I promise. And don’t be upset if he’s a little annoyed with you, it’s been a rough few months.”

Bucky mumbled a sad little ‘Okay’. You knew just how much he hated this separation from the two of you.

“By the way, maybe I should visit you sometime…you know, meet your new family. And being teammates with Walker? You move on so quick, Barnes”, you teased him in a half-serious tone. You still weren't sure how you felt about him teaming up with Walker, but you knew you'd still beat if you met him.

“They’re not my family...Especially that loser”, he grumbled, but deep down he knew he had come to care for these…bolts. (except John)

“We’ll see about that”, you chuckled, “I’m also interested to see what the hell Valentina has done with the tower. I’m not happy about her buying it, at all”, you added, annoyed by the fact that this random woman had bought your house and one of the places that had Tony’s memories in it.

“Yeah, I get that. It’s not that different on the outside but I’m sure you know better”, he consoles you.

You hummed.

“Anyways…I miss you, Buck. And I know Sam does too. There’s wasn't a day in the last few months where he hasn’t talked about you”, you confess somberly. They'd rather die than admit it, but both of them missed each other terribly.

Bucky’s breath hitched, talking to you and Sam made him realise just how much he missed you two.

“Yeah. I know”, he said in a shaky voice, his ‘I know’ was enough to convey just how much he was hurting. “Uh, let me know when you’re visiting. And take care, yeah?”, he added softly.

“Hm, you too Buck. See you soon”, you said your goodbyes and cut the call, making your way back to Sam and Joaquin.

-

Sam was leaning over Joaquin’s shoulder to look at the screen, they were trying to find some more information on Valentina and the OXE group to strengthen their case.

You approached Sam and placed a hand on his back, bringing his attention to you. Sam turned to you and placed a hand on your waist.

“How’d it go?”, he asked you solemnly.

You smoothed a hand across his back, “He’s scared. Wants to protect everyone from Valentina…Sam, I really want you to be careful. She sounds-”

“Power hungry, I know”, Sam agreed with you, his face etched in a permanent frown.

“Baby…you should talk to him. He’s helpless too, you know?”, you tried to reason with him.

Sam let out a sigh and clenched his jaw, still feeling hurt from the shock of this sudden news. You looked at his face and decided to change the topic for now, letting him come to terms with it on his own pace. Choosing to lean your head against his shoulder, you patted Joaquin’s back and asked him about what he found.

“Well, she’s got the money, alright. She bought this big vault in the middle of the Utah desert and she was hiding all the patients and documents there. Complete with world class security. And she was working on this- Sentry project, where she was experimenting on civilians”, he informed you.

“Yeah, Bucky told me the same thing”, Sam announced.

Joaquin nodded, “And out of all the test subjects, there was only one guy who passed the experiment without dying- his name is Robert Reynolds. Apparently he was battling addiction and uh- he’s got some mental illnesses as well. He enrolled in the project because they had promised that the participants will get better..”, he trailed off.

Your brows furrowed in concern and your mouth suddenly felt dry, “So she’s manipulating a victim? That is so fucking gross. Who knows what she’s gonna do with this new team, Sam, we need to get rid of her”, you said in distress.

“And…he’s really unstable, guys. Like, we-need-to-be-scared-of-him-unstable. The serum that she used on him has given him 'the power of a million exploding suns.' He’s basically a god”, Joaquin murmured in disbelief and moved from the screen to show you and Sam a footage of this Robert turning everyone into…shadows? It was horrifying. And it reminded you of a certain human made disaster and that realisation made you freeze.

“Oh my god”, Sam mumbled next to you in shock, his eyes squinted in contemplation.

“We need to handle this before it goes to shit. This is bad. I can’t imagine how she’s treating them if she willingly did this to a victim like Robert", you turned to look at Sam fully. His face was shifting as quickly as his thoughts, trying to find a solution to this.

"I mean, she's not trademarked the name yet. We can totally sue her for copyright. We're already a team and Bruce is gonna contact his cousin and try talking to Thor. If we file it now, then she can't counter sue because the name will belong to us", Sam announced.

You and Joaquin gave him a hopeful smile, happy that he's back in his element.

"Yeah, we're gonna need a lawyer, because with Valentina being the director of the CIA and Ross being in jail...", Joaquin suggested, conveying that Ross being in the Raft made it difficult because his vote and opinion wouldn't be taken into consideration now.

"Yeah, don't worry about that. Try talking to Happy. He's got some contacts", you informed Sam and he nodded before pressing a kiss to your hairline. You closed your eyes and leaned into it, hands caressing his chest soothingly.

"I'm going to visit Bucky tomorrow."

Sam pulled back and stared you in disagreement, "Babe, c'mon-"

You shushed him, "Don't drag me into your silly fights. I'm going to visit my best friend because he needs some support too. You, relax and do your job, Cap", you poked his chest and he huffed before turning his face away. You softened up and grabbed his chin in your hands to make him look at you, his brown eyes sparkling with unshed tears.

"Hey, baby. It's gonna be okay, yeah? Don't you worry your pretty head about it", you cradled his cheek in your palm. Sam leaned his head into your palm and nodded reluctantly, not wanting you to go in the lion's den but also worried about Bucky at the same time.

You went on your tip toes to kiss him softly and Sam reciprocated it before Joaquin cleared his throat, a hand covering his eyes.

"Yo, can you two like.. get a room...like, please", he shivered dramatically. You and Sam separated before you smacked Joaquin's arm lightly.

"Stop procrastinating, bird boy."

Sam burst out in a chuckle and Joaquin rubbed his arm.

-

The next morning, you and Sam departed with a lingering hug, him not wanting to leave you but you gave him lots of kisses to make up for it. He still sulked but eventually left for a meeting with Bruce, Happy and Leila to discuss about the case. Joaquin offered to accompany you but you told him not to miss his physiotherapy session for this.

You finally reached the tower, which you learnt was now called the Watchtower, and it looked pretty much the same except for some minor aesthetic changes here and there. The receptionist asked you whom did you want to meet when a voice called out behind you, "(Name)?"

You turned around to see Bucky standing there with his new hairstyle, looking a bit more tired than usual. You looked at him for a moment before walking over and bringing him in for a hug.

"Hey, Buck", you mumbled into his shoulder and he squeezed you before breaking the hug.

"I can't believe you got a blowout", you teased him and he let out a bashful chuckle.

"Yeah, alright. Come on", he walked you to the elevator and you almost shuddered with the nostalgia. You used to frequent this tower with your...almost family and now half of them are gone while you were visiting as a stranger. It hurt.

"You okay?", Bucky asked you in concern, snapping you out of your daze.

"Yeah, just...never realised how much I missed this place", you whispered sadly and he sighed, bringing an arm around your shoulders to gave you a side hug.

You kept nervously fiddling with your hands before the elevator doors opened to the common area of the tower. It wasn't any different, just more flashy than Tony’s taste--the bar area almost identical to Tony's and you almost felt like you were going to see him sitting there with a drink in his hand, probably arguing with Steve over something. Or that you'd see Natasha lounging around on the couch after a mission. It was weird and it made your stomach twist in unease before your eyes fell on a blonde woman who was eating a bowl of something on the couch while watching something on a laptop, and a timid-looking guy in oversized clothes was sitting next to her, reading a book.

Bucky walked you over to the step before clearing his throat and their heads snapped up. Their eyes widened as they landed on you.

"Wait- you-"

"You're that Avenger-"

"What are you doing here-"

Both of them kept talking over the other before Bucky spoke up, "Okay! She's (Name), my friend and, yes, an Avenger. And she's here to visit me."

You gave them a close lipped smile and waved, "Hi."

The blonde haired woman raised an eyebrow, "I'm still surprised you have friends other than Sam Wilson", her thick Russian accent teased Bucky before she addressed you, "Hi, I'm Yelena", she introduced herself.

"I-I'm Bob", the guy next to her shyly introduced himself and waved back. And that's when you looked at him properly and realised that he was Robert Reynolds. You stiffened up and Bucky immediately took notice of that, "What happened", he murmured lowly so that only you could hear him.

You forced a smile on your face, "Can we talk somewhere else?"

Bucky pursed his lips and nodded before taking you to his room. You sat down on his bed while he leaned on his work desk.

"What was that?"

"That was Robert Reynolds", you simply stated and his face shifted in understanding. Of course you guys must have done your research.

"Yeah. He was. How are you?”

You sighed, “Alright. How are you?”

Bucky averted his eyes from your intense stare, “I’m okay”, he mumbled lowly.

“No, you’re not. You two are so stubborn, why don’t you guys just accept that this is hurting you?”, you questioned him sternly, fed up of him and Sam acting like toddlers and beating around the bush.

Bucky huffed out a humourless laugh.

“Buck, he’s doing his best. Trust me, this case will help relieve you from Valentina’s stupid conditions. Sam will do anything to keep you safe. I will do anything to keep you safe. Please, help him out”, you requested him, your voice bordering on desperation.

Bucky just looked at you with his ocean blue irises wide like a puppy.

“He didn’t want this, but he has to. And the stakes are higher- Robert is a dangerous individual if he goes back being who he is and Valentina is on a power trip, she will manipulate you guys. We don’t want that to happen”, you conceded.

Bucky swallowed before speaking up, “I get that. Okay.”

You let out a relieved sigh before quipping, “Can’t promise Walker’s safety though.”

Bucky let out a genuine laugh, his eyes closed and crows-feet deepened.

“I am proud of you, you know that right? That Avenger suit looks amazing on you”, you complimented him and gave him a small smile.

He laughed, “Thank you, doll”, before turning somber again, “I- will he talk to me?”, he asked nervously while referencing to Sam.

Your expression softened, “Give him some time, yeah? He’s been overworked and stressed, attending meetings almost everyday. I’m sure he’ll come around”, you reassured him before quipping, “Can’t stay away from his lover for too long.”

Bucky groaned and threw his head back in exasperation, “Oh, shut up. You’re such a pain in the ass.”

You guffawed and he grumbled. After your laughter died down, you asked him about the team.

“Who even are these people? Just the most rough and ragtag looking group I’ve ever seen”, you asked him curiously.

Bucky scoffed, “Yeah. Well, you know Bob- or Robert”, you nodded, “And you know Walker-”

“Unfortunately”, you butted in.

Bucky scoffed before continuing, “-then there’s another girl- her name is Ava Starr, she’s been in some trouble with Scott and Hank Pym”, your eyebrows raised in interest.

“Then there’s Alexei or Red Guardian, he’s like the Russian version of Steve”, Bucky grumbled and you scoffed, “Wow, I need to meet him.”

“Trust me, you don’t”, Bucky replied in boredom.

“And the blonde girl-Yelena?”, you asked him, noticing the way he didn’t mention her yet.

Bucky looked at you with sympathy, “Doll….she’s Natasha’s sister.”

You froze, “What?”

Bucky nodded and gave you a smile, “Yeah. She’s a widow, too. Really nice kid.”

“Oh my god”, you muttered in disbelief. You knew Natasha had a sister. But you didn’t know she was a part of the same team as Bucky? There was an ache in your chest, a hollow space where you felt the absence of your dear friend Natasha. And the fact that you had a part of her here, was overwhelming. You felt protective towards her, wanting to keep her safe as well.

You looked at Bucky with teary eyes and he gave you a close lipped smile.

“They’re not that bad, you know? They’re imperfect and have been in not so tasteful situations but….they will fight for you. They’re loyal. And that’s all that matters. You know, we helped Bob fight the Void with a hug?”, his soft voice rang out in the empty room.

Your mouth fell open and Bucky elaborated further, joining you on the bed, “I’m sure you know he’s got some…issues. The void appears when he has these depressive episodes. Valentina manipulated him into believing that we’re his enemies and that he’s alone, so he took matters in his own hands. Bob didn’t do any of that because he wanted to. He’s a really good guy. Just shy and really awkward. Somewhat of a recluse because of his past. Th-we are very protective over him. Just give him a chance, yeah?”

You looked at him and nodded in understanding, “Of course, Buck. When we say all, we mean all of you. Those guys deserve a chance too”, you conceded. The situation with Bob was a little sensitive, but you’ve spent enough time around people worse than him to be okay with it.

Bucky gave you a satisfied smile. “You can do anythin’ you want with Walker, though”, he quipped and you let out a laugh.

“Alright, I’ll get going before Sam loses his mind”, you said while getting up from the bed.

“Yeah, how’s Torres now?”, he asked in concern. Joaquin annoyed the hell out of him but Bucky had come to be fond of the kid.

“He’s okay now. The burn marks are slowly fading. Still going to physiotherapy for his ribs, so, Sam has benched him completely”, Bucky huffed a laugh at that, well aware of Sam’s helicopter parenting.

“He wanted to come with me today but I told him not to miss his session.”

Bucky raised his eyebrows in a knowing look, “Oh yeah. Cannot miss those sessions at any cost.”

You smirked at him and he walked you out of the building, both of you lingering by the main entrance.

“Keep in touch, okay?”, you chided him with furrowed brows, referring to his habit of isolating himself from others.

A guilty look passed his face, “Yeah, I will, doll. Take care and-and tell Sam I’m sorry”, he confessed in a quiet voice, his 6 feet, super soldier self, suddenly looking small.

You narrowed your eyes at him but felt your chest ache in empathy at his efforts, “You tell that to him yourself”, and wrapped your arms around his back. He hugged you back and sighed before mumbling, “So damn demanding”, into your shoulder.

You pulled back and gasped before pushing his shoulder. He shrugged before laughing freely. You looked at him for a moment and huffed out a laugh before departing with your chest full.

You just hoped your family would be okay and this time, come what may, you’d do anything to protect all of them.

-

AN: I needed to write this so bad pls I can’t handle seeing my sambucky sad and upset w each other 💔 They will be stronger #trust

Might write a part 2 soon or might write it if Sam is in the f4 post credits or after doomsday releases ao that I get full context 😔☝️

[bingingcontentrn]

The Bet | fratboy!Joaquin x Reader

Summary: you and Joaquin get chosen for the annual abstinence challenge between your two houses. It doesn’t go well.

Warnings: 18+ Only!!! !!!SMUT ALERT!!! PinV, praise kink, abstinence, language that would make Steve Rogers squirm

Word Count: 3.8k+

A/N: seeing as I am still no closer to having Oh baby finished, I thought I’d finish this piece off I started the other week for you thirsty lot. Hope you enjoy. Remember to reblog not just like 👍 have a great weekend!

Abstinence week, the one week of the calendar year no one was looking forward to. Each fraternity and sorority had to elect one member to go the whole week without having sex. Or watching porn. No kissing, touching or anything else of a sexual nature. Most of the college organisations didn’t really care. After all, it was more of a guideline than anything else- but not for your sorority. No, you guys were stuck in that stupid abstinence week bet with the fraternity across the street, a tradition that went back decades to even before you were born.

“Alright, alright, everyone gather round,” Peter said as you all crammed around the sofas in their backyard, ready for the choosing ceremony. The only people who didn’t have to pick a piece of paper out of the cups were those who had been chosen last year (if they hadn’t graduated that was).

“Okay, you all know the deal, everyone picks a piece of paper. Whoever ends up with the black spot, is this years competitors,” Jessica called out. “Ladies,” she said, stepping forward with the cup and making her way around your group, as Peter started to go round and do the same thing for the boys.

Gods you hoped it wasn’t you. You had a really stressful week coming up as it was and if you couldn’t let off a little steam, you for sure felt like you were gonna drown.

When the cup got to you there were only 5 pieces of paper left. You swirled them around as much as possible before you picked, hoping that someone else would have already picked out the cursed one.

“Right, has everyone got their piece of paper?” Jessica called out as she took the last piece from the girls cup and Peter did the same with the boys. “On the count of three, ready?”

“1…2…3!” Peter called out and there was a tense shuffling of paper as the little folded slips were all opened.

“Yesss!!!”

“Thank fuck for that!” People began to say, but you were silent.

Fuck! Absolutely double fucking shit balls! Of course you ended up with the spot.

“Who is it? Who's got it?” Jessica shrieked excitedly now she knew she was in the clear.

“Me,” you said dejectedly, lifting your little scrap of paper with the solid black spot in the air.

“And me,” one of the guys sat in the middle of one of the scruffy sofas said, lifting a couple of fingers in the air to distinguish himself from the group.

You recognised him. Joaquin Torres; fellow junior, basketball enthusiast and expert beer pong player. But he was also a bit of a ladies man and you knew this week was gonna be a lot tougher on him than it was gonna be on you.

You both stepped forward, as per tradition, to shake hands. “May the best man or woman win,” he said as he reached out his hand for yours.

“May the best man or woman win,” you agreed.

The first couple of days didn’t feel too bad. You threw yourself into your college work. Didn’t care when the other girls brought their current hookups over and made out with them in front of everyone. Or had sex with them really loudly in their bedrooms.

Sure it was annoying that due to the rules you had to abstain from reading your usual smutty romance books before bed, but over all, those first few days were easy.

But then the deadline for your paper began to loom closer and suddenly the whole situation felt a little less bearable. You were stressed and you couldn’t use any of your usual ways to relieve the tension building up inside of you. Instead of spending time with people in the common rooms of the house, you now avoided them completely.

Jessica had even set up a sorority cinema night one evening and even just looking at the couple on the screen kissing drove you mad with want for the things you couldn’t have.

“You know, it would be so easy to get him to break,” your roommate Gwen said as she began riffling through her closet looking for the best outfit to wear for tonight’s party. It was a last minute thing organised by the boys across the way, but if you were being honest, you really didn’t want to go. You were stressed out as hell about the assignment you had to finish off and hand in on Monday morning and so frustrated you wanted to tear your hair out. But you also knew the party would be a great distraction- and you could really do with one of those right about now.

“But isn’t that cheating?” You asked her as you closed down your laptop and put it to one side.

“I guess it all depends how you do it,” she said, picking out a black and white dress and holding it up to herself in the mirror.

“What did you have in mind?” You asked her.

“I don’t know, just talk to him. Turn on your womanly charms,” she said, waggling her eyebrows at you.

“But I don’t have any womanly charms,” you retorted.

“Sure you do,” she said, throwing the dress down on her bed as she made her way over to you. “You’ve got boobs. Extremely natural fluttery eyelashes- which I’m not at all jealous of by the way,” she joked. “With the right outfit and makeup, he’ll really struggle to keep his hands off you.”

“Okay…,” you say, dragging out the word, still not fully feeling confident in your ability to pull this off. “But what am I supposed to say?” you asked.

“Tell him he looks good,” she said quickly, as if the idea was just coming to her and she couldn’t hold it back. “Tell him the bet’s had you thinking of him. Back him into a corner,” she kept saying, adding more and more suggestions as they popped into her head. You made a quick mental note of them, despite doubting you ever had the confidence to really go ahead with this plan; but you were desperate and running out of time and needed to do anything you could to help alleviate those feelings of frustration so you could finally focus on that paper.

Two hours later you were stood on the front porch of the boys house in a low cut black mini dress, denim jacket and platform sneakers and still feeling not the least bit prepared for the mission you were coming here to carry out. Gwen had done your hair and make up for you and when you had taken in the final look in the mirror before you left, you couldn’t deny you did feel hot; but was it enough to turn Joaquin’s eye and get him to break?

As you entered the house and moved towards the drinks table for some liquid courage, you kept your eyes on the crowd, looking out for your target. He was of course over at the beer pong table, absolutely decimating the competition as per usual.

“YES!!!” he cried out in victory, as the ball he’d just thrown, bounced into the final cup at the other end of the table.

“That’s how it’s done!” one of his buddies cried out beside him, clapping him on the shoulder as one of the guys on the losing team, fished out the little blue ball and drank the warm beer in the bottom of the cup. “Who’s next?!” The guy then shouted, looked around for a challenger in the crowd, Joaquin’s own gaze moving with him until it landed on you.

His eyes dipped to take in your attire, the little black dress sitting high on your thigh and showing off way more leg than you were used to, but he didn’t seem to mind. You watched him closely as he swallowed hard and tried to move his gaze to anywhere else in the room but you- but his eyes kept glancing back.

You took a moment to look him up and down too. He was in a plain black T-shirt that hugged his biceps and enhanced his bronzed skin, black and white basketball shorts he wore low on his hips and a red and white cap atop his head that he wore backwards. You recognised it as his competitive sports mode look. Although he was a lot less dressed up than you were, he was still hot and you quickly found yourself growing a little bit flustered as your eyes became transfixed on the muscles of his arms. You lifted your cup to your lips to help hide it as he gave you a knowing smirk, but you didn’t think the act was achieving much.

Instead you left the room, seeking out some fresh air in the garden so you could gather your thoughts. As you went to sit on the back steps, the tops of your thighs rubbed together agonisingly and you found yourself silently cursing at whoever it was who came up with this whole godamned idea.

“How you holding up there?” You heard his voice say from behind you and you silently cursed again. Why did you let Gwen talk you into this. You were so unprepared and he was so competitive. He no doubt had already worked out your intentions for the evening the moment he laid eyes on you and was about to go on the offensive. Oh fuck, fuck, fuckety, fu-

“Fine,” you lied, leaning back slightly to look up at him and give him as good a look down the top of your dress at your cleavage as you could.

“Good,” he nodded quietly, trying desperately to keep his eyes on your face, but ultimately failing as they dipped to focus that little bit lower.

“How about you?” you asked him as he shuffled slightly and swallowed deeply.

“Yeah- I mean, yes!” he corrected himself as his voice broke nervously and it made you think, maybe Gwen had been right. Maybe this would be easy after all.

“What you drinking?” he asked as he came to sit next to you, his knee barely brushing yours as he began to man spread a little.

“Vodka, cranberry,” you said to him, as you swirled your cup in your hand.

“Can I try?” he asked, his hand hesitantly reaching out, but not quite touching you.

“You never had one before?” you asked and he silently shook his head. “It’s sweet,” you warn him as you pass him the cup, your finger tactically brushing over his in the exchange. It was a move meant to tease him, but unfortunately you felt it might have instead had the opposite effect, as a shiver moved through your hand and up your arm before moving down your body to between your legs. It was a feeling only made worse when he kept his eyes on yours whilst he drank from your cup, the moment both intimate and suggestive.

“Mmm, it’s nice,” he nodded as he handed the cup back, but you could tell he wouldn’t be exchanging his beer for it anytime soon.

“So have you been a good girl,” he asked. “Keeping your hands to yourself?” He raised his eyebrows at you suggestively.

“Have you been being a good boy?” you rebuttaled and he let out a breathy chuckle, shaking his head slightly at your audacity, but you also noticed the way he squirmed slightly.

“A little birdy told me you’re one frustrated little chicken,” he said leaning closer to you, his voice dropping slightly like what he had to say was some kind of secret.

“And who told you that?”

“Gwen,” he smirked, leaning back on the step above as he shifted his legs to spread even wider, his thigh well and truly rubbing against your own now.

“Traitor,” you muttered.

“Come on now, it’s not her fault you’ve been tossing and turning all night and keeping her awake. I bet a nice orgasm would sort that problem right out for you,” he said teasingly.

“Well, unless you’re deciding to be a gentleman and go first and lose the bet so I can…” you said sneakily.

“Uh, uh cariño. Not gonna happen,” he said, shaking his head vehemently, before he took a casual sip of his own drink.

“What if we did it together?” you suggested, suddenly getting an idea.

“What? Like both lose at the same time?” he asked, curiously leaning forward again as if you were both conspiring. Which I guess you were.

“Yeah,” you reply. “If we touch ourselves at the exact same time,” you suggest.

His brow furrowed as he thought it over. “And what if we touch each other?” he suggested seriously.

You took a moment to look him up and down again. “I could be up for that,” you said, your face as equally as serious as his as you began to negotiate terms.

“But what will everybody else say?” he sighed, leaning back and looking over his shoulder at a group of his brothers messing around with a keg in the kitchen. “I mean, they’re gonna want a winner,” he said, his eyebrow raised at you.

“Okay…” you said thoughtfully, dragging out the word. “What about, first one to make the other finish is the winner?” you suggested.

The corner of his mouth turned up playfully and you could tell he liked the sound of that idea. “Alright, you’re on,” he said, holding his hand out for you to shake on the terms.

“You know, I might as well go in there and shout my victory now,” he bragged as you let go of his hand and he began to get to his feet.

“Oh I wouldn’t be so sure of that,” you replied as you let him help you up.

“I guess we’ll see,” he said suggestively.

“I guess we’ll see,” you replied.

He snuck you up a back staircase in the house so no one would see you, before he quickly pulled you into his room and locked the door. You were both so desperate now, neither one of you waited a second longer than the click of the latch to smash your lips against one another, officially ending the chastity rules.

His hands felt firm as they roamed over your body, his fingers slowly inching up the bottom of your dress further to grab ahold of your ass and press you harder against his body. You could already feel his erection pushing against your belly beneath his shorts and you couldn’t wait to feel it within you.

As he blindly began to back you towards his bed, you moved your hand up to knock his stupid backwards cap off and expose his dark and luscious curls underneath. He was just the right side of needing a haircut that it really allowed you to dig your fingers in deep and get lost in them as his mouth opened wider and your tongues began to dance in the space between your lips.

The backs of your knees hit the edge of the mattress and he skillfully dipped you onto your back before he climbed on top you, your lips still attacking one another with fervour.

“Fuck, been wanting to do this for ages,” he muttered into your lips as his fingers gripped bruisingly at your bare thighs beneath your dress.

“Liar, you’d barely even looked my way until our names got pulled out of those cups,” you threw back, as you parted long enough for him to lean back and rip his top off.

“Not true,” he muttered as he leaned forward and began to trail kisses down your neck and across the top of your chest.

“Then why have you never made a move before?”

“Because I didn’t think you were interested in me. I’m not exactly one to stick my nose in where it doesn’t belong.”

“But you’ll do that now?” You teased as he moved down between your legs, lifting up the bottom of your dress and playfully nipping at your clit over the top of your panties. The feeling made your legs shiver and you let out a small frustrated whine.

“Ooh baby, I don’t think you’re gonna last long,” he said, kissing the insides of your thighs.

“Oh yeah,” you said, gripping his curls in your fingers and pulling him by his head back up the bed so his eyes were in line with yours. “We’ll see about that,” you challenged competitively, your other hand sneaking forward to cup his length over his shorts.

“No foreplay?” he stated in an attempt to keep things even.

“No foreplay,” you agreed, before you both parted long enough to completely strip off.

“You got condoms?” you asked as he kicked his shorts off of his ankles.

“In the drawer,” he nodded and you raced to get one out and hand it over to him.

As you watched him roll it down over his hardened length, you lay back on his bed with your legs open, your fingers passing through your folds and pumping inside you a couple of times just to make sure you were ready. He looked up and caught your eyes just as you circled your clit, your teeth biting into your bottom lip as you tried to hold yourself together.

“You ready?” he asked as he shifted back up onto the bed, his left hand moving to pull you down the bed towards him, whilst his right hand pumped his length in preparation.

“Don’t lose on the first pump now,” you teased him and he glowered playfully at you. But it was you who almost lost it when he suddenly thrust into you.

You both stilled, holding each other tight, your fingernails grazing his shoulders as you both allowed yourselves a second to adjust and compose yourselves again.

“So you gonna move or what?” you taunted him after a moment of you both being completely silent.

“Yeah, I’m on it. Jeez you’re so impatient,” he said with a suave furrowed brow and teasing smile that made you reluctantly want to swoon.

“Oh my god, come on Torres,” you groaned.

“Ask nicely,” he said with a grin but you just looked at him as if you were questioning if he was being ‘for real.’

“Man, I’ve never known someone so eager to lose a bet,” he teased, still not moving.

You rolled your eyes. “Come on.” you said with a whine.

“Ask nicely.”

“Fine. Joaquin, please would you-“ before you could even finish asking he slowly rolled his hips and his cock moved agonisingly slowly inside you, gliding over just the right spot to make you shiver.

It was torturously slow, every thrust intended to cause as much sensitivity for you, whilst allowing him to keep his control. “Oh fuck,” you whimpered.

“Oh that’s it. That’s it baby. Come on,” he encouraged you.

“Oh my god, would you just shut up,” you snapped back at him playfully.

“Why? You got a little praise kink? My words gonna make you cum?” he asked with a shit eating grin. You loathed to admit it, but you both knew he was right. “Want me to tell you you’re a good girl. That you’re doing so well for me?” he teased. “Come on baby, be a good girl. Cum for me. Cum all over my-“

“Oh my god, just shut up,” you gritted, reaching up to smash your lips into his to distract them and give them something else to do.

You tried to distract your mind. To think of anything else to help you ride this out and distract you from that feeling growing between your legs, but you were so sensitive you didn’t know how long you could hold out. You needed to find a way to make him break first. You needed him to go all out. Stop fucking you slow and timidly just for your pleasure. You had to make him think he was winning.

And there in lie the answer.

“Uh, oh my god. No, no, no. Stop, stop, stop please. I’m gonna-“ you said with faked panic, your body squirming as you tried to get away from him and sell the bit.

“Come on, baby, give it to me,” he countered, his fingers digging into your thighs to hold you in place as he began to pump inside you that little bit quicker.

“I can’t- please, no! Uh!” you cried out, screwing up your eyes like you were teetering on the edge of climax.

“There you go, come on baby, just give in,” he panted as his hips picked up speed. But his thumb moved onto your clit, the rough pad pressing down and putting pressure on the little sensitive spot.

“Fuck,” you genuinely cried, your cunt clamping down on him as you tried to keep yourself in check and hold it in. But he thought you were cumming.

“Ha, yeah. Who’s your daddy?” he cried out in triumph as he continued to pump inside you. “Uh thank fuck,” he cried out as his hips picked up speed, his head hanging with the exhaustion of trying to hold back his own release- but no more.

“Come on Joaquin, cum for me,” you encouraged as you reached round to cup his balls as he thrust once, twice, three times more before collapsing over you as he came with a grunt.

He stilled and you felt his length pulsate inside you as he filled up the condom. He groaned as he slowly pulled out of you and rolled over to flop on his back on the bed. You couldn’t help but let out your shit eating grin as he struggled to compose himself.

“What? Why are you smiling like that?” he asked when he finally looked over and saw the Cheshire Cat wide smile on your face. “Why are you smiling like that?” he asked again, his face falling into a look of worry as he propped himself up.

“You came,” you said to him.

“Yeah but you did first,” he countered.

“Did I?” you asked. “Or did you just assume I did.” you teased him.

“No, you did.” he said growing animated. “I felt it.”

“Did you?” you asked.

His face fell into a look of horror, “Oh shit,” he exclaimed as what you’d done fully hit him. “You faked it.”

“Yup,” you grinned.

“No.”

“Yes. And now you have to go tell all your friends out there that you lost the bet.” you beamed with victory.

He groaned, his head hanging forward. “Uh fine,” he conceded. “But-“ he said, his brown eyes locking onto yours earnestly, “not before I give you a real orgasm.,” he countered, feeling his pride on the line.

“Fine,” you grinned, agreeing to the terms. “But I’m not calling you daddy,” you said, laying back ready for whatever it was he planned to do to you. He let out a small breathy laugh of amusement over your joke, before shifting himself down to nuzzle between your folds until you came all over his tongue… again… and again… and again.

For Joaquin, losing never tasted so sweet.

[bingingcontentrn]

Hii I saw you were requesting fics for Danny Ramirez and omg can you pls write smth following the last scene im brave new world where Joaquin is in the hospital with Sam and then reader just barges in (as their gf I hope you do fem reader if not gender neutral is okay to!) all worried for him and how she takes care of Joaquin post surgery? TYY 🫶🫶🫶

“You’re still my Wings”| Joaquin Torres x Reader

Author’s Note: Just a soft post-Brave New World hurt/comfort moment with our favorite winged boy. Includes hospital scenes, injury recovery, and lots of care from fem!reader. CW for surgery aftermath, emotional distress, and medical setting—but mostly fluff, healing, and love. Hope you enjoy, and reblogs are always appreciated!

The chaos was over….but your world hadn’t settled.

The sharp white light of the hospital corridor made everything feel surreal as you sprinted past orderlies and nurses, heart pounding like a drum. The battle, the explosion, the broadcasted footage of Sam and Red Hulk’s rampage, it was all still playing in your mind. The reports said he’d been injured….That Joaquin had been hurt bad. But no one had said how bad. No one had told you anything that mattered.

Until now.

You turned a corner and spotted the room number.

A nurse tried to stop you. “Ma’am, you can’t go in there yet—”

You didn’t even slow down. “Try me.”

The door hissed open, and there he was.

Joaquin lay on the hospital bed, bandages wrapping his abdomen and shoulder, his skin pale and marked with bruises, IV lines feeding into his arm. His wings, His suit…what was left of them were folded and damaged on a table near the wall. Sam sat nearby, elbows on his knees, like he was carrying the weight of the world. Again.

You felt your chest tighten.

“Joaquin,” you gasped.

He turned at the sound of your voice. His lips curled weakly into a smile. “Hey, amor…”

You were at his side in an instant, falling into the chair beside him, hands searching, checking. Fingers brushed over his cheek, his arm, his chest—avoiding the gauze but needing to feel him, to make sure he was real.

“What did they do to you?” you whispered. “Why didn’t anyone call me sooner? You—God, Joaquin, you look like—like they pulled you out of hell.”

“I think they did,” he joked, voice rough. “Twice.”

You laughed, but it broke halfway out of your throat. Your vision blurred with tears as you leaned forward, pressing your forehead to his temple.

“I thought I lost you,” you said quietly.

He turned his head just enough to brush his nose against yours. “Nah. You don’t get rid of me that easy.”

Sam stood, rubbing a hand over his face. “He’s stable now. Needs rest. And someone to stop him from flying outta here tomorrow.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” you promised, barely glancing at him. “I’ve got this.”

Sam gave a small nod. “Alright. He’s in good hands.” He clapped Joaquin’s leg gently and walked out.

As the door closed, you finally let yourself feel it—the ache, the fear, the sheer rage of almost losing him. Joaquin watched you with soft, tired eyes.

“I know what you’re thinking,” he said. “You want to yell at me. Say I was reckless.”

“You were,” you snapped, wiping your cheeks. “But I’ll save the yelling until you’re not high on pain meds.”

He gave a low chuckle, which turned into a wince. “Deal.”

You got to work right away. You adjusted his blanket because the nurse had left it bunched up near his hips and helped him sip some water. You ran your fingers through his sweat-damp curls to calm him. You asked if he was cold. You threatened to unplug the monitors if they beeped one more time.

And when he got quiet, you sat back down and just… held his hand.

“I saw the wreckage,” you said softly, watching your thumb rub slow circles on his skin. “I saw what it did to your wings.”

He turned his head, guilt flashing in his eyes. “Yeah. They’re kinda totaled.”

You hesitated. “Does it… hurt?”

He nodded slowly. “Everywhere.”

You leaned over him, pressing a kiss to his forehead. “You’re still my wings. Metal or not. I don’t care if you never fly again.”

“I will,” he said, and you could tell he believed it, even if he was afraid. “But I’m not rushing back in. Not without you in my corner.”

You smiled, and finally, finally, it reached your eyes. “I’m always in your corner. Just don’t make me wait in another ER like this again.”

He squeezed your hand, eyes fluttering shut. “You’re the only reason I fought to stay awake.”

You rested your head gently against his shoulder, letting the quiet settle between you. His heart monitor beeped steadily, and you matched your breathing to it. One breath at a time. One heartbeat at a time. He was here. He was alive.

And he was yours.

You didn’t leave that night. Not even when the nurses gently suggested visiting hours were over. Not when Joaquin finally drifted off to sleep, hand still curled loosely in yours.

The next morning, you were still there, hair messy, hoodie borrowed from his go-bag, eyes heavy but alert.

He blinked awake groggily, disoriented until his gaze landed on you.

“You stayed.”

“Of course I did.”

Joaquin winced as he tried to shift up in bed, groaning. You were by his side in a flash, pressing the call button and gently adjusting his pillows.

“Hey, hey, easy,” you murmured. “You had surgery. You’re not going anywhere unless it’s in a wheelchair and I’m the one pushing it.”

He smirked despite himself. “Kinda hot, not gonna lie.”

You rolled your eyes but couldn’t help the smile tugging at your lips.

(Two Days Later – At Your Home)

He hated needing help. Joaquin Torres was used to flying, soaring above the chaos, always in control. But now, everything ached. His body felt like it had been stitched together with gravel and bad luck.

You were the only one he let see him like this.

You’d set up his apartment like a recovery ward. Extra pillows. Soft blankets. Pain meds on a timer. You even downloaded a Spanish audiobook because he said English ones made him feel like he was being lectured by Sam.

“Alright,” you said one morning, carefully crouching beside the couch where he was propped up. “I need to change the bandages.”

He groaned. “You sure a nurse shouldn’t be doing that?”

“You want a stranger touching you while you’re shirtless and half-asleep?”

“…Good point.”

He winced as you peeled back the gauze. You worked slowly, careful not to tug, your fingers gentle. The wound on his shoulder was still angry red, the stitches tight and healing.

You met his eyes. “You okay?”

He nodded, biting back a hiss. “Hurts less than yesterday. You’re getting good at this.”

“I YouTubed a few videos.”

He blinked. “Wait, seriously?”

You shrugged. “Had to learn fast. They don’t exactly cover ‘how to care for your Falcon superhero boyfriend’ in school.”

He laughed, a real one this time and you smiled, pressing fresh bandages into place, smoothing the tape down with practiced fingers. When you were done, you leaned in and kissed the top of his shoulder.

“There,” you whispered. “All patched up.”

“You always make me feel human,” he said quietly. “Even when I feel broken.”

You sat beside him, pulling the blanket over his legs. “You’re not broken, Joaquin. You’re healing. And I’m here for every second of it. The pain, the mood swings, the ugly scars, you’re not facing it alone.”

He turned his head toward you, his dark eyes soft. “I’m scared sometimes,” he admitted. “Of what comes next. Of not flying again. Of not being… enough.”

“You don’t have to be perfect,” you said, threading your fingers through his. “You just have to be mine.”

He squeezed your hand. “Always.”

And for the first time since the battlefield, since the blood and chaos and fire, Joaquin allowed himself to rest. Not just sleep but rest. Because you were there. Because home wasn’t just a place anymore.

It was you…

[bingingcontentrn]

Heyy! Just wanted to thank you for posting such quality work so regularly! Seeing the '' goosewriting posted '' notification genuinely brings me joy lmfao

Could you write about kindergarten teacher!reader x joaquin, who for some exceptional reason has to pick up his nephew/niece from school and meets the reader like that.

Maybe he doesn't mention the fact he works with Captain America or that he is Falcon, not wanting to brag or anything when they start hanging out. But then one day at school his nephew/niece brags about their uncle being Falcon and reader founds out like this

Matchmaker

summary: reader is a kindergarten teacher and gets a bit of a crush on that one handsome uncle.

relationship: Joaquín Torres x gn!reader

warnings: none

word count: 2.1k

A/N: tysm for your words, that really means a lot! i appreciate it 🫂🥰 i’m so sorry it took forever to get to, especially after you started your ask with me posting “work so regularly” 🫠 thank you for your patience and i hope you’ll like it c: 

[all masterlists] 🪶 [mcu masterlist] 🪶 [ao3]

(english is not my first language. constructive criticism and grammar corrections are very appreciated!)

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

“My parents told me to give you this.”

You turn around to where the voice came from and look down to see one of your kindergarten kids, Carlos, extending his arm towards you with a folded note in his hand. After taking the piece of paper, you unfold to check it; it’s from his mother, saying that her brother, Carlos’ uncle, would be picking him up today.

“Thank you, go ahead,” you say, and the kid takes off to go play with his friends. 

You grab the notebook from the drawer in your desk and write down the name from the note by Carlos’ listed guardians. After putting it away again, you face your class and clap a couple of times to get their attention to start the day. 

The hours go by relatively quickly, and luckily it’s pretty uneventful, except for one little accident where a girl spilled some watercolours all over herself. When the day ends, you bring your class to the entrance of the building, notebook tucked under your arm, as you hand the kids back to their guardians one by one, making sure everyone is accounted for. 

However, nobody is here for Carlos yet, so he waits by the entrance on a little bench, colouring in his book. You’re putting away some toys when someone appears at the door, and when Carlos looks up, a huge smile spreads on his chubby face.

“Tío Joaquín!” he exclaims as he leaves his things on the bench to go greet his uncle.

“Hey, little man!” the man says as he crouches down and opens his arms, letting the kid tackle him into a hug as he laughs.

You approach the two, a polite smile on your lips, opening your book and checking the name again.

“Hello, Mister…?”

“Joaquín Torres,” he says as he stands back up, taking your extended hand to give a shake. Now that you’re looking at him properly, you notice two things: one, he seems strangely familiar, but you can’t place where you’ve seen him before. And two, he’s very attractive: dark hair and eyes, strong build, tan skin, a smile that knocks the breath out of your lungs. There’s a slight prickle of heat on your cheeks, but you will it away, this really not being the moment to start crushing on one of your kids’ guardians. Luckily, your brain remembers to tell him your name as well as you shake his hand.

“Go get your stuff,” Joaquín says to Carlos, who runs back to the bench to pack his bag, and the man looks back up at you with a smile, and you inwardly curse at the beat your heart skips. 

“Mister Torres–”

“Oh please, Joaquín is fine,” he interrupts with raised hands.

You hesitate for a second, waging whether to be friendly or maintain some professional distance, but his name rolls over your lips far too easily.

“Joaquín,” you repeat his name, and he hums in acknowledgement, waiting for you to continue. “I know Carlos recognised you and you introduced yourself, but I still have to ask to see some ID.”

“Oh, of course,” he says, fishing out his wallet from a back pocket of his jeans, and grabs his ID to present it to you. 

“It’s just a formality, really,” you say sheepishly and take the card, comparing his name to the one you wrote in your notebook. Before you can stop yourself, you take a glimpse of his date of birth, corroborating your assumption of him being close in age. Not that it matters, you remind yourself. 

“Thank you,” you say as you hand him back the ID, and your eyes move on their own as you check for a wedding ring; there’s none. Good grief, will you calm down?, you reprimand yourself inwardly. 

“Not at all,” he replies, putting his ID and wallet back into his pocket. “If anything, thank you for taking this seriously and protecting the kids.”

He gives you a genuine smile, which you mirror. You both turn at the sound Carlos makes in frustration as he’s trying to sling his backpack over his jacket, but the side of it got stuck underneath.

“Oh, let me help you with that,” you say and walk the few steps back, crouching down at his side and straightening out the jacket to close the zipper at the front. “There you go.”

Carlos takes off again, but Joaquín holds onto his backpack as he tries to run past him, stopping him in his tracks. 

“What do we say?” he scolds the kid, who turns around to you with a slightly annoyed look, but he quickly corrects it when he sees Joaquín’s warning glare. 

“Thank you for helping me,” Carlos mutters. Then he looks up at his uncle, who lets go of the backpack to take the kid’s little hand in his. “Can we go home now?” 

Joaquín sighs with a slight shake of his head, but a smile spreads on his lips. You follow the exchange in silence, biting back a smile of your own. 

“This kid, I swear,” Joaquín says in your direction with a chuckle. “I know he can be a little rowdy sometimes, but I hope he’s not been too difficult?”

“Not at all,” you assure him. “He’s a good kid.” 

“I’m only rowdy because I come after you,” Carlos interjects with an offended huff. 

Both you and Joaquín look down at the kid with brows raised in surprise.

“That’s what mom said,” Carlos is quick to add when he feels both your looks on him. 

“The audacity of this kid,” Joaquín scoffs playfully. “Ya voy a contarle a tu madre lo que dijiste, así que pórtate bien.” (I’ll tell your mother what you said, so you better behave.)

“Noooo, no le digas! Prometo portarme bien,” Carlos cries out. “Can we go now?” (No, don’t tell her! I promise I’ll be good.)

“Yeah, let’s go,” Joaquín says, about to turn to leave, but he stops to face you one more time. “Sorry about that. And that I was late. Thanks for waiting, I’ll be on time next time, I promise.” 

“No worries,” you say, giving Carlos a little wave, which he mirrors. “Get home safe!” 

“It was nice meeting you,” Joaquín calls over his shoulder as they leave, but you’re not quick enough to say it back before they’re gone.

You stand by the entrance door for a moment longer, your brain still reeling to try and remember where you know him from. 

“Next time, huh,” your coworker, one of the other teachers, appears out of nowhere and playfully pokes her elbow into your side. 

You startle a bit at her sudden appearance, but shove her right back with a chuckle. 

“Don’t even start,” you say with a slight roll of your eyes.

“I didn’t say anything,” she retorts, raising her hands in defeat, but the mischievous glint in her eyes betrays her. 

The next time Joaquín comes to pick up his nephew, he does arrive on time. You two engage in pleasant small talk as Carlos plays with his friend, whose parents haven’t arrived yet. Your coworker keeps sending you knowing looks from the other side of the hall, and it takes a lot of willpower to ignore her and keep listening to what Joaquín is saying. 

By the time all kids are gone, you’re still replaying the conversation in your mind, remembering every little gesture and quirk Joaquín has when talking about something that interests him. Turns out, you actually have a lot in common. 

It takes a little more encouragement from your coworker, but the third time Joaquín comes for pick-up, you ask for his number. There’s no denying now that you’ve developed a bit of a crush on the man. You fumbled the delivery a bit, stuttering as you assured him that you usually don’t ask for any parent’s number. To your pleasant surprise, Joaquín gently interrupted your rambling to reassure you that he’s been wanting to do the same but wasn’t sure if he was crossing a line. So with slightly flushed faces, you ended up exchanging contact information.

Over the next couple of days, you text back and forth, and finally he asks you out for dinner. You’re over the moon, and giddily accept. He’s told you he’s in the Army, so your schedules are very different, but you finally settle on meeting on the weekend for dinner.

On the Friday before the date, Joaquín comes to pick up his nephew once more. You’re both a bit flustered since you haven’t seen each other in person since exchanging numbers.

As Carlos is packing up some things he forgot in the classroom, Joaquín walks closer to you.

“So, how’s your day been?” he asks.

“It’s been good,” you say, taking a quick look around to make sure no other parent or guardian can overhear you as you give him a knowing look. “But it’s certainly better now.” 

Joaquín looks away with a silly smile on his face, the slightest shade of pink on his cheeks.

“Yeah, well, same,” he says. He’s about to add something when Carlos comes back, a drawing in his hand.

“Tío, look, look!” he says as he holds up his masterpiece. Joaquín takes the paper in his hands to inspect it, recognising the two figures to be Captain America midair with his shield held high, and the Falcon, wings splayed out on each side. 

“You drew this? This looks great, kiddo!” Joaquín compliments his nephew with a loving ruffle to his hair. The kid soaks it in and you see him stand a little straighter, chest puffed out. 

“Isn’t my uncle cool!” Carlos exclaims, huge grin on his face. 

You tilt your head ever so slightly, confused. 

“I mean, he is,” you start, looking up at Joaquín, who looks slightly mortified, and then back at the kid. “But I thought we were talking about the drawing?” 

“Yeah, I drew him! That’s my uncle!,” Carlos leans over the drawing to point at the figure coloured in green. 

It takes a second for the information to click in your brain, but when it does, your head whips to Joaquín’s, who averts his gaze like he’s a boy who just got caught getting into the cookie jar in the middle of the night. 

“So that’s why you looked so familiar,” you finally say with a chuckle. Seeing that your reaction isn’t negative like he thought it’d be, Joaquín breathes in relief. Carlos takes his drawing and rushes back to finish packing up upon his uncle’s instruction.

“I can’t believe I’m going on a date with the Falcon,” you say in a low voice, more to yourself than anything else. Joaquín looks around to see if anyone else caught that, but all other parents are focused on their own conversations. 

“It’s not like I was trying to keep it a secret,” he says, and when his gaze finally finds yours again, your heart does a leap in your chest. “This isn’t how I meant for you to find out, though. I hope this doesn’t change anything…?” 

“Of course not,” you reassure him. “I hope you’re ready for a lot of questions, though. The moment the other kids get wind that I’m friends with the Falcon, they’ll want to interview you for sure.” 

“That’s fine by me,” he says with a chuckle. His phone pings and he takes it out of his pocket, looking at the message. “Well, time to go. My sister wants us to pick up some groceries on the way home.” 

“Right, Carlos should be done packing,” you say, turning around to check on the kid, but he’s out of sight from where you stand. When you turn your head back to Joaquín, you let out a low gasp as he’s suddenly standing very close to you, and he very quickly places a kiss on your cheek. 

“See you tomorrow, then?” he asks in a low voice, a slight fear in his eyes that you’ll say no after his bold move. 

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” you reply just as softly, and your hands come up to fix the collar of his shirt, brushing your fingers over his jaw. 

“Are you two about to kiss?” a voice startles you both, and you quickly take a step back to put some distance between yourself and the man. Looking down to the side, you find Carlos looking up at you with slight disgust. 

“Okay, let’s go,” Joaquín is quick to say with a nervous chuckle to drown out Carlos’ onslaught of questions, among which you think you hear ‘Are you going to marry my teacher?’ and ‘Does that mean I don’t have to come to school anymore?’. 

A wave of heat erupts on your cheeks as they leave, and when you turn around to go back to the classroom, you find your coworker standing there, giving you an ‘I told you so’ look, a smug grin plastered on her face.

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

🐥 taglist: [link to join in my pinned post!] @f1-tennisgirlie, @magikdarkholme, @tsunchani, @Chuchu8293, @bitchy-bi-trash, @guynamedaurel, @crumbledcastle28, @sarahskywalker-amidala, @crazy4lyricb, @hiireadstuff

[bingingcontentrn]

begging for more yelena content literally anything 🤲

you sit on the edge of the bed between yelena’s spread legs as she twists your hair into an intricate braid. at the beginning of your relationship, you would always ask her to style your hair and she would roll her eyes and begrudgingly agree, but now it’s become part of your routine.

she hums quietly to herself as she works, and you focus on the gentle pulling at your scalp that feels wonderful. you always let her choose the style, partly because you feel bad about ordering her to do your hair, but also because you want to look nice for her.

yelena is wonderful at braiding, having done it both on herself, her sister, and the other girls in the red room since she was a child. they didn’t have much to do for entertainment, but their hair was one thing their captors hadn’t taken from them. now, yelena has replaced those memories of escaping through mindless braiding with something intimate with you.

when she’s finished, like always, she pull your head back with the tail of the braid and kisses your lips deeply. she then mutters “go look” and walks you to the bathroom to look at your hair in the mirror. without fail, it’s beautiful.

[bingingcontentrn]

Caretakers Confession

Pairing: Joaquin Torres x Reader

Blurb: After Joaquin gets injured you take it on yourself to look after him.

Warnings: Love confession, terrible flirting

You met Joaquin a few years back, courtesy of Sam Wilson. You were both young, sharp, and still figuring out how to live with the weight of responsibility that came with the superhero gig. Maybe that’s why you clicked so quickly. Same age. Same edge. Same experience.

You and Joaquin became partners in the field more often than not—your skill sets matched almost too well. You looked out for each other’s blind spots. knew how to read each other with a glance. While off mission, you began to hangout as well. Takeout containers on the couch and some awful movie playing in the background.

Then came the mission. Nothing out of the ordinary, to be done just as you’ve done before. That’s how it always goes. It’s routine, until it wasn’t.

The ambush came fast. Gunfire splits the air, and the smoke is thick. You didn’t even see the grenade at first but he did. You turned to him but it happened too quickly, his body collided with yours. The blast tore through the air and he took the brunt of it.

You got him out. Somehow. You don’t remember all of it. Just the weight of him slung over your shoulder, blood seeping into your shirt, your lungs burning as you dragged him and the sound of his breathing going too shallow. 

He spent three days in the hospital unconscious before he woke up. You didn’t leave, not once, even past visiting hours you refused to go.

You’re sitting in the large chair by his bed replaying the memory wondering what you could've done differently. A few tears prick at your eyes and roll down your cheeks. You hold his hand with a soft grip, tracing random patterns onto his skin.

"You crying over me, cariño?" he rasped, voice barely there but still wearing that familiar crooked grin. Tears sat heavy in your eyes and before you could stop yourself, you were up and burying your face against his shoulder; gentle, careful not to jostle the wires or put pressure on the bruises or stitches. 

“You scared the hell out of me, idiot,” you muttered. “You shouldn’t have done that.”

"What? And let you get blown up? Yeah, no thanks.”

The next week is spent in the hospital. Joaquin complains about everything except your presence, grumbling about the food, and the scratchy blankets. He makes sure you take care of yourself, urging you to go home, shower, eat a proper meal, and get some real rest. 

When the doctors clear him for discharge, he jokes about finally escaping, but you see the wince he tries to hide just from standing.

Now he’s home. His stitches are still fresh, bandages wrapped tight, and bruises that are deep purple. And because you know him–know that stubborn streak–you don’t trust him not to test the limits of his recovery. Not even a little. So you temporarily move in. Just until he's better. 

You get him set up on the couch, shoving a pillow behind his back. He hisses a little, then sighs as the relief kicks in. You tell him to call out if he needs anything while you grab him a drink and medicine before unpacking his hospital bag. Once you've finished with that you move quietly through his apartment, cleaning. It's not necessarily messy but it doesn't hurt and you don't mind, it keeps you busy.

You walk into the lounge room and pause, just looking at him. He's lying on the couch, one arm tucked under his head, the other resting across his bare torso. The blanket you had thrown over him earlier was now on the floor. You let out a breath that you didn't realise you were holding and walk across the room, picking up the blanket, draping it on his lap. You sit on the edge of the coffee table, in front of him. Without thinking, you reach for his hand, brushing your thumb across his knuckles. 

“You’re such an idiot,” you whisper, not unkindly. “Could’ve died playing hero.” You look down to where your hands connect. “But you matter to me. More than maybe I’ve ever said out loud. I know you were trying to protect me. But you almost didn’t come back. And I don’t think I could’ve—” Your voice falters and you blink to relieve the slight burn in your eyes. 

“Hey” You flinch at the sound of his voice, your eyes darting up to his. “Didn’t mean to eavesdrop,” he rasps. “But if this is your version of a love confession, you might wanna work on the delivery.” You softly scoff at him while shaking your head. You start to pull your hand away, embarrassed, but his grip tightens just slightly. 

“I heard what you said,” he murmurs. “And I don’t think you’re wrong. I can be reckless” You glance back at him. “But I’d do it again,” he adds. “If it meant you’d walk away okay.” A lump forms in your throat, but you push it down. 

“Yeah, Alright hero” You clear your throat, breaking the moment that felt too intimate for two friends. What do you want first; food, or a sponge bath?”

“Sponge bath?” His brows rise. 

“I figured you might be too sore for a real shower. But if you want to try sitting in there, I'll set that up.”

“Tempting” He says flatly before he starts to smirk. “But now that you’ve said ‘sponge bath’ out loud, I feel like it’d be rude not to take you up on it.” You shake your head, trying not to smile. 

“Okay, don’t get too excited” You get up and gather the supplies you need. When you return, he’s removed the blanket from his lap. You place the bowl of warm water onto the table and the towel over the back of the couch. You wring the cloth out then sit on the arm of the couch, body turned to face him.

You press it to the crook of his neck, wiping it across to his shoulder and down his arm, his muscles tense slightly and he closes his eyes. You repeat it on the other side before going over his chest, moving with gentleness, not wanting to cause him a single moment of pain, softly over the bruises and carefully around the stitches.

When you finish that you cross your arm over his torso, leaning him forward to wash his back. One of his hands wraps around your forearm firmly to ease some of the pain. You lean him back against the pillow and stand up.

“Alright,” You wring out the cloth again. “I’ll do your legs, but anything under those boxers is strictly a solo mission.”

“What, no full-service treatment?” He jokes. You roll your eyes, kneeling beside the couch. 

“Don’t push your luck” Your hands move carefully as you start to ease down the waistband of his sweats. He watches you as your hand moves steadily down one of his legs then the other. Silence had covered the moment and you didn't look up at him, not when you could feel him watching you.  It's not uncomfortable, there's just no need for words. When you finish, you place the cloth back into the bowl and stand.

“You could stay,” he says, the corner of his mouth twitching with the hint of a grin. “You know… for moral support. While I handle the rest.” You arch a brow at him, amused. 

“I’m not falling for that.”

“Didn’t think so,” he murmurs.

You lean down and press a kiss to his cheek. It's soft, but lingers just enough. When you stand up he has that charming confused smile on his face. 

“Do you kiss all your injured friends?”

“Only the ones who talk too much” He lets out a breath with a laugh, shaking his head slowly.

“Guess I’ll keep running my mouth, then."

“That’s one way to guarantee I stop taking care of you.”

He chuckles, resting his head back against the couch. “You’d miss me.”

You pause in the doorway, glancing over your shoulder. “Keep talking and we’ll find out.”

"You say that like you wouldn't drop everything the moment I so much as wince." Hes says, confidently, knowing he’s right

“Maybe next time I won’t, ya know, just to prove a point” You narrow your eyes at him playfully.

“Admit it! You like taking care of me.”

“I liked it better when you were unconscious.” You turn and walk into the kitchen.

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

The next day you’re kneeling in front of him, fingers grazing lightly over the edge of his bandages and checking his stitches. Joaquin watches you, lips slightly parted. His shirt is off, in fact he hasn’t had one on since the moment you two entered his apartment yesterday.

Your brows knit in concentration as you lean closer, your breath is warm against his skin.

“You’re hovering.”

“I’m inspecting,” you reply flatly.

“Just for medical reasons?” he teases, one eyebrow arching.

“Yes.” You glance up. “Unlike you, I take your recovery seriously.” You had caught him earlier leant against the wall, wincing, after trying to get to the kitchen.

“Just checking,” he says, voice low. “Didn’t want to assume you were using this as an excuse to get your hands on me.”

You don’t even blink. “You’re not that irresistible.” He chuckles, clearly enjoying himself.

“You sure? You’ve been on your knees in front of me for a while now. You’re not enjoying this even a little?” You tape down the final edge of the bandage and sit back on your heels, looking up at him. “Cause I really don’t mind you being between my legs like this.” 

“Careful. One more comment and I’ll push your pain meds back an hour” He laughs at your threat.

“I mean it though,” he says, a little quieter now. “I like this. You. Here. With me”

Your heart jumps slightly. You glance away and close the first aid kit, the soft click of the latch is the only sound.

“Well, I don’t usually take care of people like this,” you say, talking about all of it, everything you're doing for him.

“But you’re doing it for me.” He tilts his head. You finally look back up at him.

“Yeah” You nod slowly. “Guess you’re my exception.” You get up, putting the kit on the table. 

“Does that mean I'm special?” You glance over at him. He doesn't have that cocky smile, he's genuinely asking.

“Don't let it go to your head”

“Hmm, Too late.” You try to hold back a laugh and shake your head. You don't reply,  you just pick up the rubbish and equipment you used, placing them on the table. “Do you like me?” You freeze. You look at him in silence before turning back to what you were doing, hoping that that is enough for him to drop it. 

“I'm recovering from a traumatic injury. Don't I deserve an answer?” he sighs dramatically. You look down at him. 

“Yes. I like you.” He smiles, and his eyes light up before he squints. 

“Wait! Like ‘You're fun to be around’ like me or-”

“God, Joaquin!” you cut him off. 

“I need clarity” He defends himself. You take a step forward, back in between his legs and lean down. You cup his chin, making him look up at you.

“I like you” You say slowly, enunciating each word. “In a way that involves butterflies and my heart rate spiking and wondering if I'm being too obvious when I check in on you every ten minutes.”

His face goes blank for a second before he blinks a few times in rapid succession. 

“Oh. Wow. Okay. That’s- okay, just for the record, I had a theory, a tiny one, microscopic even, right? Like a ‘maybe she likes me’ theory, but then I figured there’s no way, because you’re you and I’m a bit of an idiot sometimes.”

You can't help the giggle that escapes as he rambles. When he stops he just looks up at you, a small moment of silence sits between you.

“You like me.” He grins, full and boyish now, like he can’t stop it.

“Yeah, We've established that.”

“Can you say it again?” You softly push him away.

“I like you” You stand up straight. “I'm gonna get your meds” You walk off towards the kitchen. 

“Wait” You turn back. “Can we watch a movie or something? I just wouldn't mind you being close for a little bit.”

“Yeah, I'd like that. You can pick.” He grabs the remote and you grab his meds. You come back with them and some water handing them to him. 

“This caretaker thing’s kinda hot on you.”

"You’re the worst patient I’ve ever had." You say while getting comfy. Halfway through Joaquin falls asleep with his head on your shoulder and you don't move until well after the movie is done and he wakes up himself. 

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

The next day you're in the kitchen, doing some cleaning while Joaquin was resting then you hear him behind you, at the entry of the kitchen. He breathes deeply, trying to fight back the pain.

“What did I say about getting up without me?”

“I got bored,” he says with a shrug. "Wanted to see you"

“You’re not supposed to be on your feet.” Your voice is a higher pitch from him stressing you out. He disregards what you say, his eyes drifting down.

“You look good in my shirt” You look down. His shirt hanging loosely over you. His gaze lingers for a moment too long before he looks you in the eyes again. 

“Can I do something reckless?”

“Well you’re already breaking one rule, moving around without help, so what’s next? Push ups? Trying to fly?” You say that sarcastically, hoping you weren’t giving him any ideas. He huffs a laugh but doesn’t say anything right away. 

“Kissing you.” You stare at him and the confidence he had evaporates. When you don’t answer right away, he starts to ramble. “That was stupid,” he says quickly, waving a hand like he can wipe it from the air. “Forget I said that. I didn’t mean it like that. I mean- I did, but I didn’t mean to say it. Painkillers. Probably still concussed. I’m just… talking. Ignore me.”

“Yeah, okay” You say with false belief, voice soft. Then, without giving him a chance to backtrack or talk himself out of it again, you kiss him.

It’s slow. A soft press against his lips, which are a little hesitant at first. Then he softens into it, his hand instinctively finding your waist. Your lips mold together perfectly, like you'd done this plenty of times.

When you pull back, his lips are parted and his eyes search yours like he’s trying to figure out if that really just happened.

“I didn't just imagine that, right?” he asks, voice rough around the edges.

“No” I giggle. “That was real.”

“You’re gonna regret giving me the green light,” he says, a dazed smile still on his face. “Because now I want to do that again.”

[bingingcontentrn]

Soulmates Aren't Always Just Two ~ Joaquín Torres and Sam Wilson

synopsis: you've waited years to meet your other soulmate

tw: fem!reader, poly!Sam x poly!reader x poly!Joaquín, age gap (Sam is older than reader and Joaquín by 11 years after the Blip), angst, reader and Sam feel horrible about not having Joaquín from the beginning, barely edited.

fic, ficlet, drabble, request

Another soulmate AU, hehe. I just love them, your honor.

I got WAY too carried away with the whole Sam thing in the beginning, so I had to make it a both Sam and Joaquín fic.

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You've known Sam since forever, he was your older brother's best friend. You've known he's your soulmate since your mark first appeared, he was there at the announcement party on your 18th birthday. The party of your closest family and friends to let them know if you were one of the few who didn't have one or if you had multiple.

You remember coming out of the bathroom, your mother in tow, and looking at Sam. Your eyes brimmed with tears, you would lie and say they were happy tears. You don't remember if you felt the jolt of the soul tie snap into place when you grabbed Sam's hand. Everyone was so busy congratulating you two for find your soulmate so young to properly remember. You struggled the whole night, wanting to tell Sam about the other and the fact that he was 16 years older than you.

You felt paralyzed having to tell Sam that you had another soulmate, you were sure he would hate you. But, he just hugged you and told him he had another two. You compared them and easily found out that whoever it was, was the same person for both of you.

You two felt broken, you loved Sam and Sam loved you, but you weren't in love. As time went on, it got easier for you two. You got used to the casual intimacy, the hand holding and small kisses pressed to cheeks, foreheads, and heads. The sitting with each other and being pressed against each other and the sharing things when there wasn't enough. You spent your joined family vacations in your own room, curled into each other while you stared blankly across his chest while he stared blankly ahead at the TV. You would talk about how you both felt ungrateful, that the only person who could understand what you were feeling was each other. You felt empty, like there was a missing piece because there was.

Then Sam left for the Air Force, you were told by their family coordinators that feeling lonely and empty while he was gone was common. And they weren't wrong, you did feel lonely, just not empty (or at least anymore empty than normal.) You feared that he would be hurt and you wouldn't see him again, but you weren't stuck in bed like they said you would be. You wrote letters back and forth when he couldn't talk over the phone, then he was home. His wingman, Riley, had died and Sam wanted to be sent home. You met him at the airport and he collapsed into your arms, allowing himself to cry in your hold.

✧°˖ . ݁˖︵‿❀‿︵˖ . ݁˖°✧

Your dynamic changed from that day, Sam was scared of losing you too. You moved from Delacroix to DC with Sam, he said he wanted to help at the VA there. He wanted to help with soldiers who came back after war specifically, and you wanted to help Sam. The line was crossed, you went from platonic to romantic. Sam facing the fact that he could lose you before you found your third, paralyzed him.

Your families celebrated when you moved in together, they had been trying to get you married since you turned 18. It was a topic you and Sam discussed, and he bought you a ring. A trip down to Delacroix and one meticulously planned event from Sam and you two were engaged. You genuinely didn't see it coming, you thought he was just going to buy a ring and give it to you. But Sam wanted to propose, he loved you and wanted you to have the best he could give you.

You kept pushing the wedding back, at first you weren't ready, you wanted to enjoy your engagement. Then, it was you lost the venue (you didn't, you and Sam canceled it because it didn't feel right to get married without your third). Next, you two didn't want a summer wedding in the Louisiana heat. After that, Sam was helping Captain America and you two didn't have time. Finally, Sam was on the run and you had no contact with him. Or at least, everyone thought you had no contact with him.

But you did, a card showed up from Tony Stark at your door one day. A note in the envelope that read "If you want to know how Sam is, use this card at this address" and you did. Every time you wanted to know how Sam was, you would go to the small mom and pop convenience store and within the next week, a letter from Sam was safely tucked into the potted plant by the door.

✧°˖ . ݁˖︵‿❀‿︵˖ . ݁˖°✧

When Sam returned, a car from Tony Stark was at your door. You packed a bag and jumped in, you were just told that it was important. You showed up at the airport where a jet was waiting for you. A flight later, you were in the Avengers headquarters in upstate New York.

"Y/n," you heard Sam before you saw him, but when you did, you dropped your bag and went running.

"Holy shit, you're alive," you breathed out, squeezing him tighter. You hesitated to believe it was real, you had one too many dreams of this.

"Yeah, I'm alive, I'm alive, baby," Sam hugged you just as tight, the fear and anxiety from being away from you melting away.

"This is real? I'm not dreaming again?" You pulled away a little to look him in the eyes.

"This is real," Sam laughed and you smiled, you missed his laugh.

✧°˖ . ݁˖︵‿❀‿︵˖ . ݁˖°✧

You sobbed and cried and screamed and threw things when you got the news. Sam was dusted because of the purple alien and you were left alone, alone to possibly find your other soulmate if they hadn't been dusted. You finally understood when the family coordinator told you when Sam joined the Air Force, the intense loneliness and emptiness. Steve and Natasha kept you company, told you stories about how Sam would tell them all about you when they had downtime.

You told them stories about Sam in return, how you two would spend a lot of time in the hotels depending on what was planned. Your families not concerned in the slightest about what you two got up to since you were soulmates. Your favorite stories were accompanied by wild hand gestures and colorful speech while your more solemn ones were accompanied by you spinning your engagement ring on your finger and you staring at a wall as you spoke.

✧°˖ . ݁˖︵‿❀‿︵˖ . ݁˖°✧

You were back in DC when you got the call, Nat was dead, Steve was old, Tony was dead, and so many more things happened. Yet all you cared about was the fact that Sam told you he was on his way home.

You cleaned the house and fixed your hair and makeup, you barely had time to change out of your messy pajamas before Sam was at the door. He still had his goggles on, making it obvious that he flew from the airport here.

"You need to stop doing this to me," you mumbled into the base of his, his arms securely wrapped around you.

"I don't plan on ever doing this to you again," he told you, his hold tightening when your first sob broke out.

"I almost gave up, I almost called Nat and told her I wanted to move," you admitted. "It's been 5 years, Sam," you had to face the fact that you were no longer 16 year younger than him, you were only 11 years younger.

"I know, baby, I know," he was reeling from the fact that you went five years without him and it only felt like a blink of an eye to him.

✧°˖ . ݁˖︵‿❀‿︵˖ . ݁˖°✧

Sam met Joaquín before you did and the two got awkward, Sam told Joaquín about you and Joaquín was relieved that Sam knew. Sam took Joaquín back to the apartment where Bucky and Zemo where, he wanted to keep Joaquín close.

"Sam? Is that you?" Your voice sounded from the small kitchen where you were finishing dinner, and Sam rushed over to pull you into his arms.

"You two remind me of me and my wife," Zemo mused and offered a Turkish Delight to Joaquín, Joaquín politely turned it down.

"What are you doing here?" Sam ignored Zemo but you offered him a smile at his words.

"Bucky told me what's happening, thought you could use a touch of home," you informed him and your eyes strayed to Joaquín, you knew right away without having to touch him. "Are you? Is he?" You looked between Joaquín and Sam, both nodding at you. You were pulling away from Sam with a quick kiss in an instant. "I'm y/n," you offered him your hand and he shook it, the soul tie snapping into place. You could finally say that your's and Sam's tie definitely did snap after your soul marks appeared.

"Joaquín," he told you and you were hugging him, your face buried into his neck and your tears falling hot on his skin. Joaquín didn't hesitate to pull you closer to him and Sam joined the hug as soon as he was around the island.

"Ah, there's three of you. How nice," Zemo awkwardly shuffled into the bathroom yet none of you cared.

✧°˖ . ݁˖︵‿❀‿︵˖ . ݁˖°✧

You rushed to the hospital after Sam called, you could tell just from his voice that he blamed himself.

"Sam?" You walked into the observation room to find Sam watching them work on Joaquín.

"I saw Riley," he admitted and you hugged him.

"He's strong, love. Joaquín will make it through this," you comforted him.

✧°˖ . ݁˖︵‿❀‿︵˖ . ݁˖°✧

"I heard about your talk with Sam, welcome back," you smiled at Joaquín as he awoke and you saw him look guilty. "How did I end up with you two? Sam blames himself and you're about to blame yourself. God, can we just all agree to blame Ross?"

"I'm sorry," Joaquín muttered and you just softly shook your head.

"You have nothing to be sorry for, love. You want to be like Sam and that's admirable," you reassured him before giving him a small kiss, one that was meant to calm him a bit more. It had the opposite effect and you heard the heart monitor pick up, you pulled away with a laugh.

"Is everything ok?" Sam came rushing in.

"Yeah, everything is fine. Joaquín's heart just started racing when I kissed him," you told Sam, both of you smiling and laughing as Joaquín grumbled about how he couldn't help how in love with you he was.

➽──────────────❥

Masterlist | Requests

[bingingcontentrn]

One Night

Summary: Joaquin Torres x fe!Reader -> One Night is never just one night.

Disclaimer: 16+ with sexual themes, FwB/enemies to lovers, swearing, platonic!Kate Bishop. Not Proof Read.

One Night. 

They say it just takes One Night for everything to change. You just didn’t expect it to be that night. 

When Kate walked into the compound kitchen and living area that morning, she had been expecting no-one. Not a single person. 

Clint was at home with Laura and the kids, Natasha had wrangled Steve and Sam to help her plan Yelena’s birthday party, Bucky had been sent to talk to the cake shop since the owner seemed to always take a shine to him and practically melted any time he walked through the door. She was in her late eighties, but was quite possibly the most terrifying woman Natasha had ever met. So, Bucky it was. 

Kate figured Joaquin would still be in bed since he’d finished up his work pretty late last night. He was still in his office when Kate walked by, having worked two hours of overtime herself. 

As for Tony and everyone else, they were taking their long awaited vacations. 

And as for you. Well, Kate had never woken up before you. In fact, nobody had. Not even Steve who’d wake up at four-thirty every morning to go for a run. Everyone was pretty sure you didn’t even own pajamas. They’d never seen you in them, for starters. And Kate was 97.6% sure you were a vampire, or some kind of supernatural creature that never seemed to sleep. 

But that morning…

That morning she walked into the kitchen and living space to see you, stood by the kitchen island, stirring some creamer into your coffee, dressed in pajamas. 

Kate had to take a mental image. Maybe more than one. You were human?!

Your hair was down from the usual braid-into-bun. You were wearing a short length, earthy green robe. With, from what Kate could gather, was a matching set underneath. 

You hadn’t spotted her yet, which was also unusual. You’d usually say the person’s name before they even walked into the room, already knowing who they were. It made trying to get the jump on you all that more frustrating. 

But Kate couldn’t even take any satisfaction out of scaring you when you jumped after spotting her, because you were in pajamas. 

“Jesus, Kate. You nearly gave me a heart attack.”

Why were you in pajamas? 

Was it your birthday? 

No. Natasha had found out your birthday after hacking Shield’s computer system. It wasn’t your birthday. 

Had you finally taken time off?

Were they a present? Maybe a Secret Santa gift for last year?

“Kate?”

“You’re in pajamas.” 

Those were the only words she could form as she tried to figure out why. 

You chuckled and looked down. “Yeah. Because it’s the morning and I just woke up.”

Kate’s eyes almost bugged out of her head. “You slept in?”

You looked at her, a little dumbfounded. “Yeah. I had a late night last night.”

“Doing what? You usually clock off at six like the rest of us.”

You shrugged. “I had some paperwork to catch up on. Are you okay?”

Kate had to physically shake her head in order to restart her entire body. Once she had done that, she moved closer into the kitchen like a normal person. 

“Yeah. Yeah. Just surprised to find out you own pajamas. I thought you just kinda woke up ready for the day.”

“I wish, but no.” You smiled before lifting your coffee mug to your lips. And you were glad you had something to cover your face with because what happened next was not a situation you had fully prepared for. 

“So, now that I know you own more than just tactical gear. I was thinking we could-”

“Morning.”

Kate looked behind her after hearing Joaquin’s voice as he walked inside, also in his pajamas. 

“Morning,” you replied. 

Kate’s head whipped around to look at you as Joaquin passed her. “Coffee?”

“In the pot,” you told him. 

Kate was starting to give herself whiplash as she looked between yourself and Joaquin. The cogs started turning and the longer she watched both of you, the faster they started turning until they all finally clicked into place. 

“What were you saying, Kate?”

Kate’s mind was screaming. 

“Kate?”

The chair she had been sitting on practically fell over. “I need to speak to you. Now. Right now.��� Kate rounded the kitchen island before taking you by your elbow. 

“Hey, watch my coffee.”

Keeping a hold of your mug, you tried your hardest not to spill any as Kate dragged you from the room, down the hallway and around the corner and through the double doors that led out to a different section of the balcony. 

“Kate, that the hell is wrong-”

“You slept with Joaquin?!” 

Your shoulders somehow both relaxed and tensed. “Oh. That.”

“That?!” Kate spat in shock. “That?! Y/n!”

“It’s not as bad as it seems.”

“It’s not as bad as it seems? It’s not as bad as it seems?”

You looked at her, “Are you just gonna keep repeating what I say?”

“Y/n! It’s not like you two are known for frollacing on a beach together. Quite the opposite.”

Kate had you there. It wasn’t exactly a secret to people that you and Joaquin weren’t the best of friends. Or even co-workers. You didn’t know what it was, you just never got along. You spent more time fighting with each other that it would be more believable to be known for doing as much on a beach together, rather than frollocking. 

“Kate-”

“How-How did this even happen? How long has this been going on? Oh, my god. Was it an act? Just to throw us off the scent?”

“No, no, no. Kate.” You put your coffee down on a table before taking her by the shoulders. “It’s nothing like that. It was just one night.”

Kate just sighed, “It’s never just one night.”

“Yes, it is.”

Kate became a little calmer, or rather, was starting to internalise her freak out. But it didn’t last long because the minute you let go of her, she threw her arms in the air. “God, I can’t believe this. God, what are the others gonna think?”

“They’re not gonna think anything because they’re not gonna find out. It was a one night thing. It didn’t mean anything.”

“You’re in pajamas. How long ago did-” Then Kate shook her head. “Nevermind, I don’t wanna know. Actually, yes I do. Hm, no. No, I don’t. Hm. Yes. No. Yes. Okay. No wait. Don’t tell me. Tell me.”

“Kate?”

She just nodded. “Tell me.”

“Are you sure?” You asked, suppressing the smile on your face. 

“Yes.”

You waited for her to stop you again, but when she didn’t, you finally told her. 

“It was late last night, and yes, he’s good. Whoever he ends up with will be a lucky woman.”

Kate looked up at you, a little shocked. She was pretty sure that was the very first compliment you’d ever given Joaquin. Like, ever. 

“Wow.”

Kate finally sat down. After a morning training session and finding out about you and Joaquin…she was exhausted. 

You sat opposite to her at the coffee table. 

“Do you wanna talk about it?”

You raised an eyebrow with a chuckle escaping you. “Do you wanna talk about it?”

Kate looked at you. She did. She was more curious than scared. “How about I go and get dressed and we can head into the city? Go and check out that new boutique?”

“How do you do that?” That was what Kate had been planning to ask you before Joaquin walked inside. 

“Give me twenty minutes.”

Over the next five hours, Kate asked you every question she could think of twice. 

What the hell happened?

Did he kiss you first? Or was it you? 

Did you enjoy it?

Did he enjoy it?

What the hell happened?

And you’d explained everything. At the makeup counter, at the deli, inside the curtain set up for two dressing rooms in the new boutique, at the coffee shop and on the drive both in and out of the city. 

“I just…I can’t even imagine you two having a conversation. I mean, that’s what gave it away this morning. You never tell him where the coffee is, even when he asks. And you never say good morning to him.”

You chuckled. “Kate, it’s not a big deal. It was just one night.”

“That’s what they all say. And before you know it…it’s not just one night anymore.”

You had just rolled your eyes and brushed it off. You and Joaquin had both agreed before and after that it would be a one time thing. 

You’d kissed him by accident. And after pulling away, he’d pulled you back. It had only gotten more heated from there until eventually you collapsed beside him in his bed. You’d both fallen asleep shortly afterwards and as much as part of you wanted to stay laying beside him when you woke up, you knew you couldn’t. 

Though, maybe you should have. It would have saved you watching Kate have an aneurysm at realising exactly why you were in your pyjamas, why you had slept in, and why you were talking to Joaquin like you actually considered him a friend of some kind. 

And you were both adamant it was to be a One Night thing. But apparently neither of you had factored into the conversation how good it truly was. Not just the sex, but not fighting each other all the time. 

“I need you.”

You’d been walking down the hallway, minding your own business, when Bucky suddenly nearly pulled your arms out of its socket as he dragged you inside the training room. “Sam’s stuck me with the elementary kids.”

“What do you want me to do about it?” You asked, sounding a little mad. 

“Just demonstrate something to the kids.”

“Like what?”

“I dunno. You and Joaquin figure something out.”

“Joaquin?” You practically threw up his name before Bucky answered, “Yes,” and threw you towards the training mat where you were met with Joaquin. 

“Okay, kids, these two very helpful volunteers are gonna show you what sparring is.”

“We are?” You and Joaquin asked. 

Apparently you were. 

Which was how you found yourself and Joaquin explaining small moves that the kids could copy, safely. However, Joaquin had been enjoying himself far too much, so taking the opportunity to explain a small self-defence method, you sent him flying to the floor. 

All the kids took in a breath, some laughed, some gasped. 

But once Joaquin laughed, letting the kids know he was okay, they all relaxed. 

“Okay, rugrats. You’ve got fifteen minutes to use the climbing frame!” Bucky announced before letting the kids run free. Meanwhile, you remained on top of Joaquin. 

“That was fun.”

“Really got the drop on me, didn’t you?”

“Those kids were boosting your ego far too much.”

“My god,” Joaquin breathed. “Are you jealous?”

“Hell no,” you laughed. “Just don’t think your ego needs inflating anymore than it already has.”

“Well,” Joaquin suddenly flipped you and had you pinned under him. “I could say the same about you. You forget I know what I’m doing, Angel.” 

For that last part, he leaned down and whispered it low so only you could hear. A slight whimper threatened to escape you but when you were met with Joaquin’s eyes once again, one of the kids had dropped an end of a bench, reminding both of you where you were and who you were around. 

Carefully, Joaquin climbed off you before lowering his hand down to you to help you up. Without thinking, you accepted. You were greeted with the same kind of electricity you’d experienced that night when he’d intertwined his fingers with yours, pinning them above your head before tantalisingly moving down your body…

“If you don’t need me?” You called out to Bucky. He brought his forgotten attention back to you both. 

“Yeah. Thanks!”

You just nodded, before nodding at Joaquin. His hand waited as long as it could to let you go as you walked away, his gaze trailing after you and you left the training room and hurried back the way you came before Bucky had pulled you inside. 

Later that night, long after the training room and a short while after dinner where you and Joaquin had tried to avoid contact; seemingly making more than either of you had done in three years. He knocked on your door. 

All he wanted to do was check in on you. Maybe apologise for what happened in the training room. Maybe ask why you hadn’t scoffed at his choice of food combos at dinner like you usually did. But instead, once he opened the door, the wind was knocked from him completely. 

“I just wanted to-” Joaquin was trying to find his words again after seeing you, but he was struggling. 

But that didn’t matter. Because your lips were on his almost instantly. Pulling him inside, his hands pulled you closer to him. You shut the door and he pushed you against it. 

Hours later, sweating and gasping for breath yet again, you both told each other it was just a One Time thing. Well, a two-time thing. 

Yet, just as Kate had predicted, it wasn’t. 

“It happened again.”

Those were the first words out of your mouth as she opened her apartment door. “I told you.”

“What happened?” Yelena yelled from the living room, a pint of ice cream in her lap. 

“It’s Y/n!”

That was all Kate had to say as she invited you inside for Yelena to reply, “Did she and the Bird Boy sleep together again?”

“Did you tell her?”

Kate shook her head as she locked the door. “She already knew. Don’t ask me how.”

“Did she bring drinks? This conversation is gonna need drinks!” Yelena called out. 

Over the next three hours, you sat on Kate and Yelena’s couch, mortified at what had happened. 

“I told you it wouldn’t be a one time thing.”

“It doesn’t have to be a one time thing. If you both enjoy it, and I can tell you do-”

“Yelena!”

“What?” Yelena asked. “You’ve been less pissy since the first time. I’m just saying…if you both enjoy it, enjoy it.”

“But it’s more than that.”

“What is?”

When you didn’t answer, both Yelena and Kate looked at each other, already knowing. 

“Y/n…”

Kate pushed your hands from your face. “Do you like Joaquin?”

“No! No, of course not!”

Yelena dug her spoon into her pint of ice cream. “Methinks the lady doth protest too much.”

You just groaned. “I can’t. What? Why are you smiling?”

“No reason.” Kate said, shaking her head. 

“She thinks you and Joaquin are gonna get married.” 

“Yelena!” It was Kate’s turn to yell at her roommate. 

“What?”

You looked at Kate. “You really think that? Really?”

Kate had been the one person to see everything. Every reason you gave as to why you didn’t like Joaquin. And clearly this marriage concept to her wasn’t new. 

“Look, I just think, sometimes, the lines between love and hate can be a little…fuzzy. Yelena?”

She just shrugged. “If you want to fuck him, fuck him. But if you love him…”

You barked out a laugh. “Whoa, hey, hey, okay. No. No. We’re not- no. I don’t love Joaquin.”

Yelena hummed to herself, holding up her spoon, “The lady-”

“Hey,” Kate raised her voice and Yelena kept hers silent, but still acted out what she was going to say. 

“Kate?”

“Look,” Kate took your hands in hers. “Maybe this was it. But, Yelena’s right. If you like Joaquin, maybe you should tell him. Before someone gets hurt.”

It was sound advice. And you gave yourself some time to figure it out. Maybe it was just the sex. Maybe he’d just muddled your brain. Time away would be good. 

But time didn’t fix feelings as you came to find out. 

After the third One Night, you’d accepted a three month placement from Hill. Maybe time away would do you good. And it worked, for the first six weeks. Joaquin didn’t cross your mind once. 

Until the day he walked inside your tent with some of his tech gear, “Where can I set up?”

“What are you doing here?”

“Don’t sound too happy to see me.”

You would come to learn Joaquin had been sent in place of Yelena. A woman you sent a very, very long text to: who only replied with a kissy face and a good luck symbol. 

“I’m gonna kill her.”

“What?”

You looked up at Joaquin, “Nothing.”

It took three weeks and thirty different fights, including mini spats, for something to break between both yourself and Joaquin. 

“Do you do this by accident, or do you just enjoy being a pain in my ass?” 

“Says the guy who can’t leave me alone to do the work I’ve been trained for!”

“Well excuse me for giving a crap about my team-mate?”

You barked a laugh. “That’s rich, coming from you. I’m pretty sure you’d rather fly me to the top of the Empire State and drop me.”

“Believe me, that hasn’t not crossed my mind once or twice.”

You were just standing opposite each other, your chests heaving for breath when all of a sudden his hands were in your hair, your hands were pulling his overshirt from him and his lips were crashing against yours. 

With his tongue dipping inside your mouth, tasting you, he moaned. “I’ve missed this.”

Shaking your shirt from your arms, your hand slipped into his curls and pulled his kiss closer to you. As you ass bumped against the table set up, Joaquin moved his kisses from your lips to across your jaw and down your neck. 

It was the first time neither of you talked about it being a One Night thing. Because, between the kissing and the breathy moans, a silent agreement had been made. This could never have been a One Night thing. 

You couldn’t keep lying to yourself. You’d missed it, too. You’d missed him. 

And part of that conversation came to a head the next night when Joaquin found you in your tent since you’d been avoiding him all day. 

“Why have you been avoiding me?”

“Joaquin-”

“No, I don’t wanna fight. Not tonight. I just want an answer.”

“I haven’t been avoiding you.”

“Yes, you have. Despite our history, I know you, Y/n. You’ve been avoiding me. Why?”

You stopped folding your clothes and looked at him. For the first time in forever, you too didn’t want to fight him. Not with him standing there looking all…Joaquin-like. A kind, yet worried face. A comfortable presence. 

You moved closer, pulling him in to kiss you. This kiss was different. Rather than raw and needy for sex, it was a little more delicate. But there was still a force behind it. 

“Because I’ve missed this, too. I’ve missed you, Joaquin.”

Joaquin looked you in your eyes as you stood, inches from his face. You weren’t lying. Even when you’d been fighting him, and he’d been fighting you, one thing he’d known since the beginning was when you were lying. 

He was apparently the only person you knew with that skill, which just added another thing to the list of why you hated him so much.

You weren’t lying. 

Joaquin didn’t say anything. He just kissed you. And kissed you. And kissed you. 

And for the first time, you both took it slow. Well, slower. 

“I think this is gonna be more than a one time thing.”

You laughed as Joaquin broke the silence with his sentence, and his laughter joined yours until you kissed him, crawling to straddle him under your bed covers.

By the time you both got back, it was like nothing had ever happened. You and Joaquin seemed to fall right back into your old ways with each other. 

But none of it was real. 

The truth was in how he kissed you late at night, and in how he would brush his hand across your hip as he passed you in the kitchen. It was in the way you’d pull him around the corner in an empty hallway and kiss him. It was in the way he’d lean against your body and it was in the way a quiet moan, only he could hear, would leave you as his leg pushed between both of yours. 

The truth was in the way he’d watch you as you sat up in bed, reading over different mission material. It was in the way you’d look at him when he was training in the training room, early in the morning, the sun kissing the sheen of his skin as he ran his third mile on the treadmill. 

The truth was in the way he followed behind you, no matter who was around either of you. It was in the way you both fought less with your superiors about being placed together for different training exercises and missions. 

The truth was in the way you had both been slowly falling for each other, despite wishing for the opposite. 

“I’m gonna ask Y/n on a date.” 

That had been the statement Joaquin had blurted out to Kate one afternoon when everyone else was at training. 

“W-w-what? Oh, yeah. No, that’s cool.”

Joaquin just looked at her, “You’re a terrible actor.”

“I am not!”

“I already know you know.”

Kate relaxed. “Oh, okay then. So, you’re gonna ask her out? Finally!” Kate smiled. 

“I just can’t decide where. I want this to be perfect. But I don’t want to set us up for failure.”

Kate watched as Joaquin sat beside her on the sofa and pulled out his phone, scrolling through the different options he had written down in his notes app. Any of the options he had would be good. 

But that wasn’t what made her smile. 

It was the fact that Joaquin was putting so much thought into it. He always put a lot of thought into things, but knowing it was for you. For both of you. It made her want to say “HA!” to Yelena. 

But if Joaquin was being completely honest with himself, from knocking on your door and hearing you walking to open it, he’d never been so nervous in his entire life. 

“Joaquin,” you seemed surprised. Probably because he had knocked in a way that might throw you off in thinking it wasn’t him, giving him a few more seconds to psych himself up. 

“I want to take you on a date.” Well, there went the speech he’d prepared. “And I’m hoping you’ll say yes because this isn’t just-”

“Yes.”

“What?”

“Yes,” you repeated. “I’ll go on a date with you.”

“You will?”

You smiled and nodded. “Yeah, of course.”

Joaquin smiled before stepping inside and kissing you before you closed the door. 

You didn’t quite know when or why, but you and Joaquin had gone from being at each other’s throats aggressively to it being affectionate. And for some reason - one that Kate would probably explain to you one day - you wouldn’t trade it for the world. 

And neither would Joaquin.

[bingingcontentrn]

Puppy love||Joaquin Torres x reader

Summary — Joaquin surprises you with a puppy and you really that after years of never having anything soft to love you could get used to this.

Word count 616

Joaquin had never felt more nervous walking into a pet shelter.

Not when he met Sam Wilson. Not even during his first mission solo. But the second he stepped through those doors and saw rows of eager little faces — wagging tails, perked ears, big eyes — he felt a twist in his stomach that screamed don’t screw this up.

He wanted this to be perfect for you.

The volunteer gave him a knowing smile as he walked past the pens.

“Looking for anything in particular?” she asked.

“Something small-ish,” he said. “Good with people. Especially with someone who’s… never really had something soft in her life.”

The volunteer raised an eyebrow. “You looking for a dog or a therapy session?”

Joaquin laughed. “Both, honestly.”

She nodded and motioned him over. “We just had a little lab mix come in yesterday. Quiet, real gentle. She’s been sleeping in a blanket like she owns the place.”

And there she was.

Tiny, pale gold, with the softest ears he’d ever seen and eyes that somehow looked just a little sad — like she was waiting on someone to come home. The moment she saw Joaquin, she wagged her tail once, cautiously, and padded over to the bars.

The second their eyes met, he was toast.

You were out for a few hours — recon brief, lunch with Natasha, the usual. Joaquin had told you he’d be home doing “chores.” You assumed that meant catching up on sleep or finally fixing the leaky faucet.

What you didn’t expect was to walk in and find chaos.

Well quiet chaos. Toys scattered across the living room, a small puddle of water by the empty bowl near the couch, a new blanket thrown over one end like a makeshift fort. And in the middle of it all: Joaquin, passed out on the rug with a puppy tucked against him like a teddy bear.

Your heart skipped.

You set your bag down quietly and approached. Joaquin was on his side, legs slightly curled, and the puppy — her tiny belly rising and falling — was snuggled right up to him, one paw resting on his chest. There was something so tender about it, like she already trusted him completely.

You sank to your knees beside them and stroked a hand down the puppy’s back. Her fur was impossibly soft.

Joaquin stirred, blinking awake slowly. When he saw you, his smile was slow and sheepish.

“Hey.”

“Hi,” you whispered back, lips twitching. “So, uh… this the faucet you were fixing?”

He chuckled, voice low and warm. “I might’ve gotten distracted.”

“She’s beautiful,” you murmured. “When did this happen?”

“This morning,” he said, shifting carefully so he wouldn’t disturb the pup. “Shelter just got her in. I saw her and… I dunno, it just felt right.”

You looked down at her. “She already loves you.”

“Guess I’m charming,” he teased. “Or maybe she just knows I’m a sucker.”

“What’s her name?”

“Luna,” he said softly. “She’s quiet, and she follows me around like a little moon shadow.”

You exhaled, full of something warm and unfamiliar. “You got us a dog.”

“I got you a dog,” Joaquin said, reaching out to take your hand. “Because you deserve something that loves you just for being you. No missions. No orders. Just love.”

You leaned down and kissed him. “I love her. And I love you.”

He pulled you into the blanket nest, arm wrapping around your waist as Luna sighed and shifted closer, nose twitching in her sleep.

And just like that, the three of you stayed there — tangled in warmth, in soft breaths and soft fur, in the quiet safety of being chosen.

[bingingcontentrn]

Sweet tea and dog tags|| Joaquin Torres x southern!fem reader 

Summary Joaquin Torres, fresh off a mission, finds himself on leave in the small southern town of Bluff Creek, where he meets Y/N, a sweet and sassy local who owns a café.

Word count —615

A/N—please send me marvel requests to @faithschaoschronicles PLEASE

It’s the soft creak of the café’s screen door that grabs your attention—rusty hinges singing their usual greeting as the mid-morning sun spills in behind the silhouette of a stranger.

Tall, olive-skinned, and a little wide-eyed, the man’s definitely not from around here. Too clean-cut, too… polished. You clock the military posture, the short-cropped curls, and the soft trace of exhaustion behind his honey-brown eyes.

He glances around the sleepy café like he’s walked onto the set of an old movie, lips quirking slightly at the mason jars and hand-written chalk menu. When he reaches the counter, he offers a small smile.

“Uh… iced coffee?”

You blink. “Honey, this is the South. We don’t serve iced coffee ‘less it’s got a gallon of cream and sugar and comes in a mason jar.” You lean forward, eyes twinkling. “But I can fix you up a sweet tea that’ll change your life.”

He huffs a laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. “Guess I’m in your hands then, ma’am.”

Ma’am. Lord, he says it like he’s trying to kill you gently.

You pour the tea with a practiced hand, sliding it across the counter. “Name’s Y/N, by the way. You passing through?”

“Joaquin,” he says. “I’m on leave. Supposed to be relaxing, so my commanding officer dropped me off in the middle of nowhere.”

You raise a brow. “Sugar, this ain’t nowhere. This is Bluff Creek. We’ve got the best peach pie in the state and a Friday night dance that’ll knock your socks off.”

He grins, eyes lighting up. “Then I guess I’m in the right place after all.”

You don’t mean to fall for him. Honest.

But there’s something about Joaquin Torres that just feels good. He’s kind. Gentle. A little awkward in the way city boys are when they try to navigate old porch steps and livestock traffic.

You find him watching you sometimes—when you’re wiping down the counter, humming to yourself, or setting out pie slices for the lunch rush. And when you catch him, he doesn’t look away. Just smiles, a little sheepish, like he can’t help it.

You take him to the Friday dance, of course. He shows up in jeans and a button-down, looking every bit the boy your mama warned you about. But when he offers you his arm and says, “May I have this dance?” you know you’re doomed.

The way he holds you—like you’re breakable, like you’re precious—it damn near undoes you.

“You’re a good dancer,” you whisper, cheek pressed to his chest.

He chuckles. “Only with the right partner.”

You’re sitting on your porch, bare feet on the rail, sharing a bowl of fresh peaches and whipped cream. The cicadas are humming, the stars just starting to blink awake.

Joaquin leans against the post, arms crossed, watching you with soft eyes.

“Have you ever thought about leaving this town?” he asks.

You glance over at him. “Sometimes. But it’s home. And I got everything I need here.”

His smile falters just a little. “What if I asked you to come with me?”

“Where?”

“Anywhere.”

You pause. Then smile. “You asking me to run off into the sunset with a man I barely know?”

He chuckles. “I’m asking if I can come back. For real. Stay longer. Get to know you the way I want to.”

You reach for him, fingers brushing the dog tags around his neck. “I’d like that.”

He pulls the chain off gently and presses it into your hand. “Then hold on to these for me, darlin’. I’ll be back. And next time—” he smiles, brushing a kiss to your forehead, “—I ain’t leaving without you.”