#I just really love the idea of Peach being helplessly head over heels for him too

[nitewrighter]

Pre-Fall fic idea for a slow day: Echo asks McCree to go on a date. Liao thinks it'll be a good learning experience for her.

“...I dunno about this...” McCree straightened the collar on his shirt. Why did he dress up for this? Why did Liao feverishly take notes on her tablet when she saw he dressed up for this?

“I think it’s a great opportunity,” said Liao, poking at her tablet.

“See the way you’re gettin’ all excited about it makes me feel like a guinea pig.”

“Echo likes you. She trusts you. This is a chance for her to rapidly expand her social interaction repertoire.”

“It’s still weird.”

“How is it weird?”

“Well... how does it work with the age thing?”

Liao snorted. “What?”

“I mean she just got the body! Don't that make it... y'know...”

“The frame is new, yes, but the bare bones of her coding are only a couple years younger than you,” Liao said breezily, “Her processing levels were miles beyond yours well before she even had a body.”

“Ouch.”

“It’s computer science, Jesse, it’s nothing personal.”

“Why’d you give her hips?”

“Well, controlling said body actually has massive processing demands on its own, so you could say what could be recognized as her pelvic region hosts an 'auxiliary AI core'--"

"There's a brain in her ass?"

"Arguably, humans have a secondary brain in their colonic region--"

"There's a brain in my ass?!"

"We're getting off topic. There's a secondary AI core focused on mechanical coordination that is housed in her pelvic region, it was large enough to warrant certain design shifts to suit her center of gravity, and I wanted a friendly and appealing silhouette so --” Liao perked up, “So you noticed the hips?”

McCree’s face burned and he glanced off.

Liao rolled her eyes and smiled. “Jesse... if this goes really badly, I can just erase it from her memory.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence.”

“I’m only saying, the stakes aren’t that high,” said Liao, "I think it's cute that you're getting nervous."

"Nervous, hell! I just don't know what to make of it!"

"You've had plenty of perfectly pleasant conversations with her--"

"They weren't dates!"

"Did you just say yes because you didn't want to hurt her feelings?" the brightness and absolute lack of accusation in Liao's voice only unsettled McCree further.

"N-no..." McCree rubbed the back of his neck, "I--I wasn't really thinking. I guess... I assumed you'd think I'd wreck it or... or wreck her and you'd... write it out of her code..."

"Interesting..." Liao tapped her tablet stylus on her chin.

"I ain't that good with sciencey shit! Reyes brought me on to shoot things!" McCree shrugged a little helplessly, "And the way you talk about her, I don't know if she's a--a work in progress, or-or your kid so..."

"A little bit of both. This is where AI gets messy," said Liao with a smile, "You don't know if you're making something human... but you get to make something new."

McCree just stared at Liao for a few seconds, opened his mouth to say something, realized he had no idea what to say to that, and then closed his mouth.

"It's going to be wonderful," said Liao, gently putting a hand on the back of McCree's shoulder.

"Wait--Is there anything I should---?" McCree started but the door slid open and Liao more or less shoved him out into Zurich Headquarters' courtyard gardens. It was twilight, Friday night, and strings of fairy lights had been strung around the sycamores, magnolias, and plum trees that decorated the garden. A couple of brightly colored paper lanterns were strung along the lines of electric lights, giving the usual contemplative and monumental air of the garden a more warm and festive feeling. McCree scanned the garden, seeing a table set with candles and a small basket of bread about 15 feet ahead of him.

"Jesse?" McCree heard a familiar voice and swiveled on his heel to see... a glowing blue-white Dolly Parton circa 1974 in a daisy-patterned peach sundress.

"Whuh..." McCree's face scrunched up in confusion.

"Is this okay?" Dolly Parton spoke with Echo's voice and McCree visibly flinched again. "Oh you don't like it--" The glowing Dolly Parton pressed her fingers to her forehead. "Give me a moment! I can fix it!"

"Echo--?" McCree started, but holographic pixels spiraled around the not-Dolly Parton and reshaped her into.... Olivia Rai, her usual afro styled into the more-textured Gibson Girl hairstyle she sported in Six Gun Killer. 

"What about this?" said Echo, "Is this all right?"

"I mean I like the movie but--" McCree started but the pixels whirled around Echo.

"Lee Byung-Hun, 2016, Magnificent Seven," said Echo. “My scans of your hormone levels showed an overwhelming positive reaction to him.” Again, this hologram form was still in the sundress.

Okay we really need to talk about the scanning thing, thought McCree, but he just stammered out, "They're all really nice, Echo, but you don't have to--" McCree rubbed the back of his neck, "I mean, I think we'll both be more comfortable if you're... you, y'know?"

"Me? But it's so..." 2016 Lee Byung-hun Echo twiddled her fingers nervously, "It's so..."

"It's the you I know," said McCree, shrugging, "I like it, Echo, really."

The hologram fell away from Echo in a shower of cubic pixels, revealing a partially holographic head on a heavily modified omnic frame. She was a patchwork between a handful of standard omnic parts and sleek parts whipped up on-site at this point. No wings. The sundress sagged a little off her metal frame.

"There you are," said McCree.

Echo smiled a little. "Sorry... the hologram capabilities were for optimal interfacing... so I thought..."

"I get it," said McCree with a smile, "I was a little nervous too."

"You were?!" said Echo, "But you're so... charming! And my scans of your antibodies revealed that it was very statistically likely you have had higher than average amounts of--"

"Hoookay! Moving on!" McCree said quickly.

"Moving on," said Echo, processing this.

There was the sound of a cybernetic throat being cleared and both McCree and Echo turned their heads to see Genji in a long-sleeved collared shirt, black vest, bow tie, and apron.

"Genji?" said McCree, suppressing a laugh in his voice.

"...not a word," said Genji.

"I know I got stuck as the waiter back in Venice but this is--"

"I said not a word!" said Genji, furiously. He drew in a steadying inhale. "Ma'am and sir. If I may direct you to your table."

"...oh this is rich--" McCree started.

"McCree, I know 37 ways of killing you in under 11 seconds, do not test me," said Genji.

"Uh huh," said McCree, "Show us the way, Garçon."

Genji muttered something under his breath in Japanese as he lead them to the table. McCree hurried over to Echo's side and pulled out her chair for her.

"Oh--Thank you!" said Echo, sitting down.

Genji rolled his eyes as McCree took his own seat. "Liao was able to negotiate with the headquarters chefs,” he said, setting glasses of water on the table, “You're getting chicken scallopini and asparagus."

"So there's not a menu--?" McCree started.

"You're getting chicken scallopini and asparagus," said Genji, with about as much murder as anyone could inject into the words 'Chicken scallopini and asparagus.'

"Okay," said McCree meekly as Genji walked off briskly.

"Er--don't mind him," said McCree as Genji walked off, "Blackwatch suspended... getting antsy, y'know."

"I don't," said Echo, equally pleasantly and blankly.

McCree cleared his throat and grabbed some bread from the basket between them, buttering it. "Well... You heard about the Venice incident, right?"

"I did not," said Echo, "I'm quarantined from most networked systems."

"Mm," McCree took a bite of his buttered bread, "Well... the long and short of it is, we fucked up."

"Not you!" said Echo on reflex.

"Well, not me, at first--but we had to follow through on the fuck-up if we were going to get out of it alive," said McCree with a shrug.

"I'm sure you did your best," said Echo, picking up a piece of bread. They both knew she couldn't eat, so instead, she seemed to be using it as something to do with her hands, breaking it off into bits.

"Eh, I don't think any of us were at our best," said McCree, "But... you do what you can, right?"

""Mm-hmm," Echo nodded, "Doctor Liao's been able to convince a handful of operatives to bring my AI processor on the orca with certain missions to observe, but my speech is disabled. Apparently it 'freaks people out.'" Echo glanced off resentfully.

"Not you?" said McCree.

Echo nodded. "And I know Morrison doesn't like me learning combat tactics."

"Echo, I can't think of anyone who loves humanity more than you," said McCree.

"Thank you, Jesse," said Echo. She was silent for a few beats. "And.... thank you for doing this. I--I don't know how you see me..."

"I'm still figuring that out too," said McCree, smiling a little, "But... I like to think I'm a good judge of character. And I'm proud to know you. And I'm proud that I mean enough to you to be here."

Echo's hologram face brightened, and she glanced off, a bit bashfully. "I--I can't even eat bread," she said quietly, smiling as she glanced down at the small pile of shredded bread bits on her plate.

"Psh. Bread. You can turn into whoever you want. Why worry about bread?" said McCree.

Echo snickered a little.

"...who's your favorite to turn into?" asked McCree, "I know you were turnin' into all that stuff earlier for me because of all the stuff we talked about and those dumb movies we watched--”

“I don’t think they’re dumb--”

 “But... what about you? Is there a person you like turning into?"

Echo thought for a few seconds. "I would say...Figure skaters," she said thoughtfully.

"Figure skaters?" McCree repeated.

"Not any individual one, but I’ve been putting together a composite hologram of several of them," said Echo, "Skaters, they--they aren't ruled by the same physics as other humans. All that power, all that grace, all on a plane that does not have the same rules of speed or friction."

"Bet you'd be a hell of a dancer," said McCree, smiling.

"I like to think I'm learning," said Echo, with a slightly smug shrug.

"Chicken scallopini," a plate clanked unceremoniously in front of McCree and McCree flinched to attention to see Genji next to him.

"Jesus, man! A little warning next time!" said McCree.

"Ninja," said Genji flatly.

"What about her?" said McCree, pointing at Echo.

Genji looked at him like he was an idiot.

"Jesse, it's fine," said Echo. She waved her hands and a hologram of what appeared to be lobster thermidor glowed into existence in front of her.

"...she can take care of herself," said Genji, walking off, "Let me know if you need a refill on water."

"Don't mind him," McCree said again.

"I don't," said Echo, materializing a holographic fork into existence and taking a holographic bite of her holographic food.

McCree sectioned off bites of his own meal and took tentative bites and chews, but it was good. A faint 'Mm' fell out of him and he opened his eyes to see Echo closely observing him. He took another bite, not taking his eyes off of Echo this time. Echo seemed to do the same, imitating him. But it wasn't quite the same, he observed. There was a lot of Liao in her, the way she'd stuff food off to one cheek and slowly parse it out as long as she needed while she multitasked. He saw it in all the nights Liao had brought takeout to the lab. In this case, Echo perfectly adapted Liao's eating habits to McCree's.

McCree swallowed hard. "Do you ever uh... make food... make you happy?"

"What do you mean?" said Echo.

"Well, if you eat really good food, you go, like, 'mm' and stuff--if all the food is only stuff you come up with... how does that work?"

Echo thought for a few seconds. "I... never thought of food as stimulating the pleasure response. Mostly it just seemed necessary for interfacing. Does it stimulate a pleasure response?"

McCree tried not to focus too hard on the words 'Pleasure response.' "Well, it depends on the food," said McCree.

"Does your food stimulate a pleasure response?"

"I mean compared to the rest of the shit I've had this month? Definitely," said McCree with a shrug.

"I see," said Echo. She looked at her food for a few seconds. She took a bit of her own holographic meal and a deep, sensual "Mmnh," bloomed out of her, her shoulders bunching up and her head tilting back with the sensation.

McCree sharply inhaled, realized his mouth was full of chicken scallopini, and coughed and choked for nearly a minute.

"Did I do it wrong?!" Echo asked with alarm.

"N--" McCree coughed, "No--" He coughed again, "You're-- You're doin' fine--"

Echo giggled. “I--I’m sorry, I’m still deciphering the appropriate forms of human pleasure.”

McCree found his face burning again and just gulped down some of his water.

“...that was an odd thing to say,” said Echo, glancing off.

“Nah, I’ve been told I’m old-fashioned a lot,” said McCree with a dismissive hand wave.

“Well, that’s why I like you,” said Echo, shyly.

McCree’s chews slowed.

“You... feel solid. I know I can trust you to... to tell me what you think... but.. also to be kind. I don’t know what other people want from me, but I know you just want another person. And... you’re very open in terms of what that person can be.” 

“Well I can tell you you don’t need to be Dolly Parton to win me over,” said McCree with a shrug and another bite of his food.

Echo giggled again and McCree swallowed.

“I’m still not sure if I’m doing this right,” said Echo, smiling down at her own hologram food. 

“Eh, you don’t really think of it in terms of ‘doing it right’--it’s mostly just about both of you having a good time. And trust me, you’re a better date than a lot that I’ve had,” said McCree with a snicker, “I just hope I’m doing it right too, y’know? It’s a lot of pressure, being anyone’s first date.”

“Oh!” Echo perked up, “I never thought of it that way....”

“Am I doing it right?” said McCree with a slight lopsided smile.

“Hmm...” Echo seemed to genuinely and very seriously ponder this.

“Oh come on, you’re making me nervous!” said McCree.

“Current assessments are... positive,” said Echo, “More data may be necessary to confirm any findings I’ve drawn thus far. We may have to do this again. An experiment is useless unless you can replicate its results”

“So... second date then?” said McCree, “That’s generally considered a good sign.”

“Oh! So I’m good at this!” said Echo.

“Sure are,” said McCree with a snicker.

Echo beamed. 

“Think we might have to do something other than dinner next time, though. I think if we try to get Genji in a waiter outfit again, he may actually kill me.”

“I estimate by his hormone levels and body temperature that there is an 89% likelihood of that occurring, yes,” said Echo. They both laughed for a little bit, and as the giggles died down Echo tilted her head. “So... you’ve been on bad dates?”

“Oh, terrible dates--but I don’t want to bore you---”

“It could be very useful data!” said Echo with that same brightness Liao had shown when she saw McCree being nervous.

McCree rubbed his chin. “Well... there’s a couple funny stories....”

-----

McCree was humming when he arrived in the Blackwatch sector later that night, bobbing his head and shoulders a bit with his humming as he loosened his bolo tie and took off his hat.

“Sounds like someone had a good time,” Reyes was seated in front of Blackwatch’s main monitor, mindlessly leafing through some paperwork.

McCree barely interrupted his own humming with an “Mm-hmm” as he kept walking past. 

“Reyes, you really must find a way to end Blackwatch’s suspension, or I fear he’ll romance one of the custodian’s vacuuming bots, next,” said Moira, leaning against the desk next to Reyes.

“Eh, if it means getting Genji in a bowtie again...” Reyes shrugged.

“You will never get me in a bowtie again,” Genji seethed from a shadowed corner.

“You asked for a mission--” Reyes started, but cut himself off as the three of them watched McCree continue to walk and hum down to his own quarters.

“...by god, I think he actually had a good time,” Reyes said quietly.

“Madness is setting in,” Moira mused.

“We need to get out in the field again,” Genji said, his voice tense.

“Or maybe you just need a date,” said Reyes shrugging. Reyes heard the audible click of the shuriken plate on Genji’s arm as Genji’s shoulders tensed up. “...or not.”

[writemarvelousthings]

Operation Babysitters

Name of piece: Operation Babysitters

Square filled: Bed-sharing

Rating: (General) 

Warnings: A lot of fluff and slight pining. 

Summary: You’ve been asked to babysit Steve and Peggy's daughter with Bucky, how will you cope with your feelings for Bucky when you have to look after a mischievous three-year-old with a stubborn streak? 

Created for: @buckybarnesbingo

A/N: Listen I LOVE the bed-sharing troupe but I wanted to put my own spin on this. Slightly AU as this is set after CATFA and everyone survived and lived on happily. I love 40s!Bucky and I’ve wanted to write something for him for the longest time! I hope you all enjoy! Big, big thank you to @bucky-plums-barnes for helping me brainstorm this idea!! 

Gif not mine made by the amazing Gen! Thank you, darling!

You smiled at the tiny blonde head of curls running around her ‘uncles’ feet.

“Sarah honey you gotta slow down, Uncle Bucky isn’t as young as he used to be” under normal circumstances Bucky would have told Steve exactly where to go. But with ‘delicate’ ears around Bucky's response was more guarded. A warning stare and a soft grunt as the tiny toddler slammed into his legs.

“Darling please be careful” in all the years you had known Peggy she still managed to look glamorous. Even caked in mud on the front line in France not even her lipstick smudged. Feeling a wave of self-consciousness you wiped your sweaty palms down the front of your navy slacks, the peach blouse was new and probably not the most ideal item to wear chasing a three-year-old around for the next few hours.

“Ah come on Peg, we'll be fine” you grin at the brunette who gives you a questionable look.

“Yeah, we’ve taken down secret Hydra bases with Captain America we got this” Bucky slapped his right hand on Steve’s shoulder. The action drew your attention to the lack of limb on his left, you had all pleaded with him to talk to Stark. Amazing advances have been made since his fall,  but his answer was always the same.

“But it would clash with my rugged good looks. Plus I could still take your punk ass with one arm any day of the week Stevie”

Every time his response would ignite the same reaction inside you.

“You’re perfect to me, I don’t care if you had three arms or no arms. I love you regardless”

Steve rolls his eyes, shoving Bucky’s arm off his shoulder, a small scuffle ensues as you scoop Sarah up in your arms. Brushing her blonde curls away from her big brown eyes you still marvel at how much she was a perfect blend of her parents.

“You be good for your Aunt and Uncle my darling” Sarah giggled as her Mother pressed her red lips to her pudgy cheeks. Not a trace of lipstick transfer insight, Steve presses two kisses to his daughter's nose and cheek.

“Behave Pumpkin, I want a good report when we get back okay?” Sarah grinned give a tiny mock salute that melts your heart.

“Bye Mama, bye Pa” you hitch Sarah higher on your hip, waving as Steve pulls out of the driveway and peels out into the slowly setting sun.

“Now how do you girls feel about spaghetti for dinner?” You give Bucky a grin as Sarah squeals at the prospect wiggling out of your arms and padding towards the kitchen.

“Spaghetti?” You arch a brow at him, closing the door with a soft thud following the never-ending energy that was Sarah Rogers.

“What? It’s the only thing I can cook. Plus I know you’re good with your hands 24” your stomach flips, pausing in the hallway.

“(Y/N)?” Bucky’s voice is soft, the lamp lighting bathing him in a warm glow. Hair free of gel, falling in soft curls around his forehead.

“Sorry, it’s just... no one has called me that in a long time” Agent 24 was your code name during the War, once the SSR disbanded there was no need to keep it during your new role at Shield. Taking the title Special Agent or simply Blackbird. The name Agent 24 brought back a flood of memories, not all of them good. The day Bucky was found half-frozen caked in blood springing to the forefront of your mind.

“Hey it’s okay, I get it” the warm hand on your hip brought you back to present day so fast it almost gave you whiplash. Your lips form a tight smile as you gently pat your hand on top of Bucky’s, he squeezes his fingers into the fabric of your trousers and for a moment. Just a moment, you allow yourself to fall deeper into the security of his sky blue eyes.

“I’ve been meaning to ask you..” your eyes fell to Bucky’s lips, the pink tip of his tongue poking out for a brief moment as he swallowed thickly.

“Auntie (Y/N) I can’t find my colours” the high trill of Sarah’s voice snapped you both out of the warm fog clouding your minds.

“Coming sweetie” giving Bucky once last smile you reluctantly come to the three-year-olds rescue plucking her box of crayons off the bookshelf.

                                                          ~~~

For the rest of the night, you couldn’t help your mind wander back to the moment you shared with Bucky in the hallway, brushing Sarah’s hair back gently you smiled watching the young girl face the battle all children face every day. Trying to stay awake. You nudge Bucky slightly making him tear his eyes away from his place of The Princess and the Pea. Sarah Rogers had a stubborn streak to her (Bucky swears it’s because she’s a Rogers and Rogers have universally known thick skulls)

“Peanut I think it’s time for bed” Bucky gently snapped the book closed with his hand. Gently passing it across to you to place on her bedside table. The small bed was a squeeze normally with you and Sarah on it. Adding Bucky’s broad frame it was almost ridiculous. Both you and Bucky had a leg placed on the ground to anchor yourselves.

“One more.. pwless Unkle Buck”

“Your Pa will have my other arm if he finds your still awake when they get home” you chuckle as Sarah turns her big brown eyes up to her Uncle.

“Will you stay wif me?” You slowly start to detangle yourself from the two of them. The wireless calling your name as you knew Sarah favoured Bucky staying with her while she fell asleep.

“Both of you” the sound of the tiny pleading voice rooted you to the spot, throwing a slightly panicked look to Bucky who shrugged helplessly.

“Of course honey” it took a few tries but both you and Bucky found yourself looking face into each other. The small body wedged firmly against you. Sarah’s face presses up against Bucky’s chest and suddenly you felt very jealous of the three-year-old.

“Would you have guessed during those years in Europe we’d end up here?” You almost didn’t catch Bucky’s soft low voice, finding yourself too lost in his eyes.

“What, all of us safe and alive living the lives we deserve?” You chuckle, shifting slightly to lay your head on the pillow.

“Yeah, kinda scary if you think about it” you smile knowingly, glancing down watching Sarah’s breathing evening out.

“So what did you..”

“Before when I said..” biting your lip you watch as a slight flush crosses Bucky’s cheek.

“James Buchanan Barnes, are you blushing?”

“Don’t tell anyone, I got a reputation to maintain”

“Your secret is safe with me” something in Bucky’s eyes changes, a softness you’d only seen reserved for Sarah. It makes your throat dry up and your palms sweat, subconsciously you wipe a hand against your pants. The moment goes unnoticed by Bucky who gently takes your hand in his, your fingers naturally lacing together.

“I wanted to ask you something, but the moment never felt right. Watching you take on those five Hydra guards, I just knew you were something else. A woman that could hold her own but had this other side to her, the side you show Sarah” you could feel your throat constricting as you squeeze Bucky’s hand.

“Oh James..”

“Just let me get this out darlin, cause if I don’t I never will. I know we’ve known each other for a long time. You’ve.. you’ve been there for me through my worst and I just.. I’d really like to take you out one and maybe I can call you my girl one day…” you try and open your mouth but you realise Bucky is on a roll.

“And if you don’t want that. If you want to call me a stupid one arm idiot you can because I’d rather be your friend than loose.... Ommpf” Bucky’s rant was cut short but the press of your lips to his, eyes comically widen before slowly closing leaning into you slightly. You could feel your heart explode in pure joy, years of longing and yearning for the man you were completely and utterly head over heels for had finally come to a beautiful crescendo.

“Mmm,” the soft high pitched hum was like a bucket of cold ice being poured over you as Sarah shifted in her sleep. Quickly you both pulled away, horrified at the thought of Sarah waking up.

“Let’s not tell Steve about that one” You presses your face in the pillow, muffling your laughter as Bucky chuckled softly. Once you had calmed your heart down to a normal beating rhythm you turn to look at Bucky, his warm smile greeting you.

“I’d love to be your girl one day Bucky” the warm smile turned blinding.

“I’d really like that Darlin”

                                                           ~~~

“I’m sorry Steve but I’m the Director I can’t not talk to him”

“But he’s infuriating Peg, I’ve seen filing cabinets with more charisma!”

“You’re always so dramatic” Peggy can’t help shaking her head at her husband.

“Yeah but you married me didn’t you,” the brown eyebrow arching says all Steve needs to know as he wraps an arm around his wife’s waist.

“A decision I still debate was a good one or not”

“Careful Mrs Rogers” Peggy pushes Steve in the middle of his chest, still mindful of there house guests. Not wanting them to walk into their compromises position.

“Where are Bucky and (Y/N)?” the quiet of the house alerting the two of them.

“They’ll be around, I’ll check on Sarah” Steve leans down, capturing Peggy in a kiss laced with a promise of later. Silently opening his daughter's bedroom door Steve shakes his head affectionately, there on his daughter's bed, with no sign of said daughter he noticed. Was his best friend and the woman he had been pining for since ‘43. Bucky’s right arm thrown over (Y/N)’s waist, his face pressed against the back of her neck as the sleep soundly.

“Steve” Peggy’s voice draws Steve’s attention to their shared room, moving across the hall Steve smirks as his daughter curls up against his pillow. Waving Peggy’s confused expression as she investigates Sarah’s room Steve gently rouses his sleeping daughter, his heart-melting as those big brown eyes blink up at him.

“Hey Pumpkin, I take it the mission went well?” Sarah nods, scooting onto Steve’s lap pressing her face into his chest.

“Mmhm, did just what you said Pa”

“Do you mean to tell me you used our daughter as a pawn in getting our friends together?” Steve at least had the decency to look sheepishly towards his wife.

“Some people need a little push Mommy” Peggy gave a fake sign of annoyance. Her daughter was more like her father every day.

“Guess we’re all sharing the bed tonight then” Steve pouted slightly as Sarah gave a small cry of joy, making herself comfortable in the middle of the large bed.

“Don’t look so offended Captain, consider this your punishment for meddling”

[bigskydreaming]

LOL, any time I try and make plans or estimates, the universe is like hahahaha, surprise, fuck-o! so, you think I’d stop doing that but I never learn, OH WELL.

Anyway, obvsly didn’t update LC like I thought I was going to last week, but my previous intentions laid out in that post still hold, just....slower. Got yet another CT scan to get done today, so off to that in a few, but let’s call this Lightning Crashes, Chapter 6A for now, with the actual fic actually updated once all three parts of Chapter 6 are ready.

CHAPTER 6A

Two more anticlimactic weeks into the most exciting thing to ever happen to her, Kira was forced to come to one of two conclusions:

1) She was completely paranoid, delusional and a bit of a narcissist, convinced everyone and their mother was out to get her or at least drive her nuts

or

2) She really was the focus of some secret, shadowy government agency that employed adorable five foot tall freshmen with scraggly peach fuzz in place of the facial hair they were in a clear hurry to grow because who knows, masculinity merit badges or whatever. Boys are weird.

Anyway. It was definitely one of those two things. Problem was, she had no idea which.

She didn’t feel like she was in a super big hurry to get confirmation one way or the other though, no matter how crazy it was making her. So she made an abrupt heel turn and noped her way in the opposite direction when she saw Scott Vasquez waiting anxiously outside her English classroom.

Lurking, she meant. That was definite lurking behavior, no matter if said lurker was shuffling his feet, biting his lip and looking all sorts of nervous and cute while running a hand through his hair. The movement made the bicep beneath his long-sleeved shirt go all taut and…muscle-y. And…oh my god what was she doing, what was wrong with her, do not crush on your stalker Kira, he is not cute, what is your brain damage even. Maybe she had Stockholm Syndrome. Did that still count if he was just stalking her and hadn’t actually kidnapped her yet?

Yet? YET? Oh good god, where was an intervention when she needed one? She needed better friends, clearly, there would be no kidnapping, PERIOD, what the hell self, that is not relationship goals!

UGH WHY WAS SHE THINKING ABOUT A RELATIONSHIP IN THE CONTEXT OF WEIRDO CUTE BOY WHO WAS STALKING HER???

“Kira, wait up!” She heard Scott call out behind her and her skin did that weird tingling thing that made her blood start to buzz like liquid lightning crackling through her veins. Rude, even his voice was hot, it was all deep but soft and how dare evil government agencies employ not just cute boys but cute boys with hot, throaty voices, that was just genius and downright…insidious.

“Sorry, I’m late to class!” Kira yelled over her shoulder and quickened her steps. She could hear him jogging to keep up, not even breathing hard, because of course he was athletic too.

“Umm, I know, we’re in the same English class. It’s back that way?”

“No habla ingles!”

…she clearly was not qualified for like, any of this.

Scott pulled ahead of her and turned around so he was walking backwards. He held his hands out in front of him in an obvious effort to come off as safe and non-threatening, making no move to come any closer even when she skidded to a stop. He looked…concerned. And maybe even a little amused?

“What?” She snapped when seconds continued to tick by without another word from him. He blinked and then shook his head like coming out of a daze.

“Sorry, I just, that was kinda funny because we’re also in the same Spanish class, y’know?”

Her face burned. Right. That.

“Well, its not like I could pretend to speak anything else. Just because I’m Korean and Japanese doesn’t mean I actually speak either of those things, okay?”

His brow furrowed. “I didn’t assume you did?”

She deflated. Everyone always said the best defense was a good offense but nobody ever mentioned that staying on the offensive was really hard when the other person refused to get offended.

“Well. Good.”

He nodded then and took a deep breath, visibly steeling himself. Which was all kinds of weird, because what did HE have to be nervous about? He was the one stalking HER!

“Okay, so. Look. I’m really sorry for like, all of this. We went about this all wrong and I don’t blame you for being freaked out and I’d like to start over and just…can we go somewhere and talk? And I can try and explain? Anywhere you want, just not…here here.”

That was not remotely something she was prepared for. Not that she was prepared for any of this. Whatever the hell this was. She took a step back, trying to gauge his sincerity even as she became aware for the first time that they were still in the middle of the hall and it was in between classes. While other students were giving them a wide berth, there was no shortage of curious glances being thrown their way. Her skin tingled again. She was not at all used to being the center of attention and this did not feel anywhere near as rewarding as it seemed in her occasional (well, rare, really rare) daydreams about being super popular.

After a few moments of consideration, she huffed an aggravated breath that blew stray hair out of her face and stomped over to an out of the way alcove where a little-used exit led to a small outdoor study area. She did not exude grace. Scott gave her a few seconds head start, and then when she stopped in the alcove and made no attempt to go outside, he hesitantly joined her in the out of the way doorway. Still in clear view of everyone in the hall but no longer right in the midst of everything.

He made an effort to still leave a few feet of separation between them, out of arms’ reach. Which she did not appreciate exactly, because she did not appreciate any of this and wanted that on record. But she did note it. Unfortunately, Kira also noted that the less threatening he became, the more aware of his obnoxious cuteness she became. And she was not a fan.

Its not like she’d ever spent a ton of time contemplating what her priorities would be should she ever star in some government conspiracy young adult dystopian adventure. But she’d always kinda assumed that at the very least she’d be able to go five seconds without concentrating on the way the mysterious secrecy boy in said adventure had soft brown eyes that managed to sparkle even though that was not an adjective normally associated with that particular eye color. Seriously, how was he doing that. Stop it.

Oh thank god, her ire was back.

“Look, I may not know what’s going on here, but let’s make one thing clear,” Kira hissed in a low voice. She was the one to close the distance between them, which…why, as she stepped forward and jabbed a finger at his chest. He didn’t flinch. She did though, kinda, because his pecs were like rock solid, what the hell, this was so unfair. “I don’t care who you are, but I, mister, am no Bella Swan.”

Scott blinked. His mouth fell open a little as he tilted his head, his eyes going distant and a little glazed as she could almost see his thoughts racing behind them, trying to figure something out. Then they focused again and he looked down at her with a frown.

“I don’t know who that is,” he admitted. “Is she in one of our classes?”

She stared. “What? No. Twilight?”

His frown deepened. He looked around the hall for a second, landing on a patch of sunlight on the floor beneath a window. Then he looked back at her, his eyes crinkling with something that vaguely registered as concern.

“Kira, it’s ten in the morning.”

What? “Yeah, I know. How do you not know what Twilight is? By Stephanie Meyer? Bella Swan, Edward Cullen, you seriously have no idea what I’m talking about?”

Scott’s face cleared, eyes widening and cheeks darkening slightly. The top of his ears reddened. “Oh right, sorry,” he said, obviously embarrassed. Ew, now she felt bad and also he was back to being cute. Why was she even bothering at this point. “The book. Got it. Sorry, I haven’t read it. Is it good?”

Her brain had broken like, at least ten minutes ago, so she decided to let her mouth just do whatever. It’s not like an actual filter had contributed anything useful to this conversation.

“I mean, its not bad, but I wouldn’t call it good exactly. I was talking more about the movie anyway, but…oh my god this is not the point. I’m just…look, so there’s a girl in it and she gets involved in all this weird stuff because of the hot vampire boy in her class and it felt like there were parallels to this whatever that all this is. So I’m just saying, I am no Bella Swan because I think she gets a lot of criticism that’s not totally fair but at the same time she definitely makes choices that I think are dumb and that’s all. I was just clarifying that do not expect that I am someone who will make dumb choices just because. Ugh you know what, just forget it.”

She wanted to melt into a puddle five seconds after her brain did catch up and realized she’d basically told him she’d categorized him as her hot YA love interest. But in the one bit of good fortune bestowed on her and her dignity today, that was not the part he’d fixated on. If anything, he looked weirdly insulted.

“Wait, do you think I’m a vampire?”

She stared at him helplessly.

“You know what, I don’t even care if you’re gonna axe murder me or abduct me to take part in some weird government experiments. Fine, let’s have your freaking conversation. Come on.”