#Steve: I gotta know what my daughter in law is up to

[morganbritton132]

Idk if you’ve mentioned it before but what is everyone in the Party’s jobs?? We already know Erica is a kickass politician and Lucas is the family embarrassment doctor but what does everyone else do besides bug Steve lol?

Also is Dustin still with Susie or did that ship sail away in the EMTTS?? <333

So, fun fact about me: I am not a big fan of future AUs. I don’t particularly like reading them and I’ve never written one prior to the Tiktok Saga. I think the problem I have with them is that it’s really hard to determine where a character should be thirty-odd years down the road. How or why a one-off post about Eddie being bad with technology turned into all this, I do not know.

I don’t have everybody’s job picked out because I don’t really think about it until it’s relevant to the story, but luckily, I do spend way too much time thinking about this AU so I have few that haven’t been mentioned.

The ones that have been mentioned: Steve is a teacher, Eddie’s a musician, Nancy’s a journalist, Jonathan’s a photographer, Lucas is a doctor, and Erica is a senator.

I think Argyle owns a very successful marijuana dispensary in California where him and Jonathan live and it gives him the freedom to travel with Jonathan when he goes out of town for business. Argyle just has the vibe that should not be working a nine-to-five. Also, I think that Argyle as an old man stoner with long completely gray hair is just so cool.

Robin is also a teacher, but she teaches at a university in the linguistics department. She spoke four languages when she joined the party, she now speaks nine. She’s written a book. She has a kickass rating on Rate My Professor. She’s likely the front runner to take over the department once the current dean retires next year.

I really like the idea of Max becoming a physical therapist. She had a long road to recovery after Venca and spent over a year in physical therapy just learning how to walk again. She knows what it’s like. She knows when and how hard to push her patients, and she’s good at the job. This also makes Max a doctor so Erica includes Max when she says that Lucas is the worst Sinclair.

I’m less defined on what kind of careers that Will, Mike, and El have. I just haven’t found a job that I’m like, yes, that makes perfect sense for that character. I do think that Will has a career where he can be creative and that he’s successful, I just haven’t narrowed it down to what exactly he does.

Mike and El, on the other hand, I have no idea. I mentioned before that Mike had a band that opened up for Eddie on CC’s first national tour and I imagine that he did one summer or during his gap year before college (if he went to college). El, I like to think, travels a lot and has got to see the world and be free of the responsibility of saving the world. But those two, I think, are tough to pin down to a specific career.

Now, for Dustin.

Dustin has had a very successful career as a researcher and his career has taken him all over the world. Now what exactly does he research? That’s up to you. This man is a scientist and that’s all Steve and Eddie can tell you about Dustin’s job because it’s just over of their heads. He loves it and that’s all they need to know.

Dustin and Suzie are currently not together. They have dated off and on since they’ve known each other and have always split on good terms. It has just always been the wrong time for them because when they’re together, they’re great. They hit it off and decide to start dating again, and then they just get busy. They’re both top of their field and work crazy long hours all over the world, and the cost of that is their relationship.

I think they both kinda know that one day, they’ll meet up at the right time, but for now, they’re good friends and they date other people. Steve thinks that they’re soulmates and he’ll randomly give Dustin an update that Suzie is single again. Dustin is always like, “How do you know that?”

“We’re friends on Facebook.”

[venusfalling]

Little Soldiers in the Trenches - Prologue

fic summary: In 1939, you leave Bucky for school in England. By 1942, with the war at its peak, Bucky thinks you’re dead, but the war brings you back together in the worst way possible.

prologue summary: You’re about to leave New York, so Bucky takes you dancing.

warnings: talk of war

notes: Fluff/Angst, Bucky says goodbye. This is just a short prologue to the rest of the fic. I hope you enjoy!

New York City, June 1939

      “How does it feel to be free, Doll?” Bucky asks, putting an arm around you. It’s the first day of summer, classes are over and Barnard College would be closing its dorms for the next few months. Steve and Bucky had been waiting for you outside the old, white brick building, falling in step next to you when you walk outside. Steve takes the short stack of textbooks from your arms while Bucky grabs your suitcase.       “Feels good.” You smile up at the sun, skin glowing in the warm light. Scandalized mothers look on with their daughters as you loop your arm through both Steve and Bucky’s elbows.       “Well, what do you want to do first?” Steve asks as he stuffs your books in his bag. “We’ve only got you until August, we’ve gotta make the most of it.” Bucky’s smile falters at the reminder that you’ll be leaving for a year before long.       “Don’t worry, Buck,” you say when you notice. “I’ll write you both so much, you’ll get tired of reading.”       “As long as you don’t come back with a British accent, we’ll survive,” Steve jokes, but you can see the worry behind his eyes, as well.       At the end of the summer, you would board a plane bound for England. A study abroad fellowship to finish your mathematics undergraduate degree, a rare opportunity for a woman, but you managed it. Bucky and Steve were proud when you told them, if worried. The geopolitics of Europe made for increasing tensions at the time, and the continent was still recovering from the Great War.       But the quickly fading time left no room for worry or sadness.       “Well, it’s a lovely day, and I’m wearing my favorite skirt, so I think we should head out to the pier for some ice cream after we drop my stuff off at my sister’s apartment.” So, the three of you board the train at the nearest stop, laughing easily with each other as was always the case when you were together.       Your sister was still at work when you arrive home. It was just the two of you since you had both moved to the city. When you received your acceptance letter in the mail, your sister decided you wouldn’t be moving to New York alone and found herself a job as a secretary at a law firm. When you weren’t living in the Barnard dorms, you stayed with her, so her tiny apartment would be home for now. Not that you would be spending too much time there. Between your job as a secretary at Stark Industries and Bucky’s promise to give you the best summer ever with evenings at the movies and Coney Island and your favorite dance halls, it would be a busy few months.       “Jesus, Sunshine, what do you have in here?” Bucky teases as he lifts your heavy suitcase onto your bed.       “Careful, Buck, that has my whole life in there,” you chastise as Steve helps you place your books on a small shelf. He crouches near the base and hands them up to you, pulling the books from his bag and making faces at the titles: Fundamentals of Statistical Analysis, Advanced Applied Calculus, Linear Algebra for the Mathematician, and a series of other books for your studies.       “Well damn, I thought we were your whole life,” he says, gesturing to himself and Steve. You mock a laugh at Bucky’s words, then you stop. They are your whole life.       “You alright?” Steve asks when he notices.       “Yeah,” you sigh, wiping away a stray tear. “I’m just gonna miss y’all when I’m away.”       “We know you will, Sunshine,” Bucky says and places a chaste kiss to the side of your head. He pulls Steve up from the floor, “Come on. Let’s go get that ice cream.” — August 1939, Richard’s Dance Hall

      “Come on, Steve,” you laugh, pulling him to the dance floor. “It’s my last night, you owe me a dance.”       “Fine, fine. Just don’t complain when I step on your toes,” Steve agrees and let’s you lead him to the center of the room. It’s a fast song, but you take it slow, for Steve’s sake. He spins you, your skirt flowing around you in a near perfect circle. You laugh and it brings a smile to his face.       The song is over too soon in your opinion, and is replaced by a slow couple’s song. The melody rings in so softly, it’s almost sad, but it’s one of your favorites — Again by Doris Day and The Mellowmen.       Steve takes your hand in his and puts the other on your waist, but before you can take more than a couple of steps, Bucky walks up.       “Can I cut in?” he asks, holding his hand out. You and Steve nod, but before he disappears you give him a quick peck on the cheek.       “Thanks for the dance, Steve.”       Then it’s Bucky who’s leading you around the dance floor — a simple slow dance, swaying to the music.       The two of you don’t have to say anything, or rather don’t know what to say. You have been dancing around the topic all summer, and, if you’re being honest, all the time you’ve known each other. You like him, might even love him, and you think he loves you too.       You are two glasses of wine in and feeling brave, so you lean up and kiss one of your oldest and best friends. He kisses back and you can feel him smiling against your lips.       “Wait for me?” you ask of Bucky when you pull away.       “I will.” —       The next day, you find yourself waving bye to Bucky, Steve, and your sister at the airport. Luggage in hand, you board the plane, but what was supposed to be a year abroad with letters and photos sent back home quickly becomes a nightmare for you and everyone you love.

[sokovianheadtilt]

Tug of War (10)

Steve Rogers x black!reader

Summary: Y/N caught the attention of her boss, who’s determined to win her over

A/N: I totally didn't not update since June...I'm so sorry y'all but here's part 10!!

Warning: Aint shit mothers, slut shaming language, protective Steve :)

SERIES MASTERLIST

Steve noticed a change in your mood. While you’d usually be smiling and giggling, displaying some sort of happiness, you haven’t been. When you smiled, it never reached your eyes, just a quick quirk of your lips but never the full thing, the real thing, the smile Steve fell in love with. Whenever he went to ask you about the mood change, you just brushed it off, reassuring him everything was fine, but he knew better. He wasn’t gonna push, if he did it’d make things worse, he knew that. He just had to wait until you were ready. 

       One night, he walked into the kitchen on quiet feet, watching as you scrambled around the kitchen, making dinner, scrambling around the kitchen with complete focus. He furrowed his eyebrows as he went over to you slowly, you not even picking your head up to notice. He watched as you chopped up some carrots, your hands shaking slightly. He came up behind you, gently taking your wrist and taking the knife from you and setting it down. 

“What are you doing?” You looked up at him “I gotta get this done please” you went to reach for the knife again, but he took your hand back before you could “Honey, you’re shaking like a leaf, what’s going on?” He asked you gently, not wanting to give you the impression he was angry with you.

       You looked up at him with sad eyes before letting out a soft sigh “The other day…my mom called. I’ve told you how we aren’t exactly close if anything I do everything in my power to avoid speaking to her. Apparently, she heard from someone that I was dating again, said she wanted to come for dinner. At first I said no because I don’t want to see her, then she went into how she’s always been there for me, given me a good life, blah blah blah, basically guilting me into saying yes, so she’s coming” you let out a shaky breath “And I’m nervous, and preparing myself for the hurl of insults ready to come my way” you ran your hands over your face. 

       He frowned before pulling you into a gentle hug “Oh flower…I’m so sorry” he kissed your forehead “When is she coming?” “…Today” you muttered into his shirt as his eyes widened a bit before he composed himself “Okay..okay a little short notice but we can do this hm? I’m not going to let her hurt your feelings. I don’t know why she would you’re the most beautiful, smartest, strongest, amazing person in the whole world” you smiled softly at them, leaning up to press a soft kiss to his lips “Thank you” you said gently as he smiled “Why don’t I finish dinner and you grab yourself a glass of wine and relax until she gets here. I don’t want you to be too stressed” you nodded and kissed his cheek, doing as he said, grabbing some wine and going to sit on the couch, watching a comforting show. 

       Steve went to finish dinner, peeking his head out every so often to check if you were okay. When he was setting plates on the table, the doorbell rang and he looked at the door as you flinched a bit, finishing your wine before going to the door before Steve took your hand “Go finish setting the table, I’ll get the door” you nodded before going to set the table. 

       Steve wiped his hands off before going to open the door. Standing behind it was a woman who you looked nearly identical too, the only differences being the hair and the dark sunken circles underneath her eyes. She looked at Steve, smiling at him, though he could tell it wasn’t genuine. “You must be Steve, the boyfriend my daughter didn’t tell me about” Really? That’s the first thing she says? Steve took a small breath before smiling “That’d be me, come in” he moved out of her way and let her walk inside, looking around the house “Nice place, what do you do?” She turned back to Steve “I run a few law firms, it’s where Y/N and I met” she nodded “Didn’t think she’d be the type to sleep with her boss, wow” Steve frowned and held back a scowl as you came over to her “Mother” she turned to face you “Y/N” you just stared at her, not wanting to show any weakness. “Well, this is certainly an upgrade. Snatched yourself a rich man and a mansion, good for you” you shrugged “Yeah well, I got lucky he fell in love with me. Not that you know anything about loving anyone other than yourself” you watched her smirk drop and her gaze harden “At least I didn’t whore myself out to my boss” your eyes widened, and you went to speak before Steve cut in 

“Hey! Why don’t we get some food? Come on the table is set and everything” he set a hand on the small of your back and led you to the table as you sat down, your mother sitting across from you. Steve went and put the food on all your plates, grabbing another bottle of wine and set it on the table before he sat beside you. 

       You immediately grabbed the bottle, popping it open before pouring some into your glass, setting it down. “None for me?” Your mother asked as you took a sip while staring her in the eye “No” you set the glass down before grabbing your fork and starting to eat. 

       Steve glanced between the both of you before clearing his throat “So! Um, what do you do?” He asked you mom “I used to be a nurse, retired a year ago. I have all this time and nothing to do with it, so why not visit my daughter?” She replied. You scoffed to yourself, knowing she just saw another opportunity to criticize everything in your life. “Oh, that’s great. I’m...glad to meet you” “You too” she looked back at Y/N “So what was the plan? Hide him from me? Pretend he doesn’t exist?” She asked you, hearing the venom in her voice “I am your mother, I can’t believe you keep treating me this way” you let out a laugh “Did you not just call me a whore like 5 minutes ago?  Why the hell would I tell you?!” “Don’t be so dramatic, it was a joke, and besides guys like him go for a certain type of girl, just surprised is all” 

Steve looked at her “What do you mean by that?” She shrugged “You’re gonna look me in the eye and tell me you don’t go for models and people in high places? That doesn’t exactly match with Y/N does it?” You looked at Steve, setting a hand on his leg as he took your hand in his, holding it under the table “You’re wrong, and I’m with Y/N because of what a wonderful person she is” you smiled softly at him, kissing his cheek as your mother just let out a sigh and kept eating her food. 

       It was silent and tense for about 10 minutes. You could hear a pin drop in the room, which you were honestly grateful for. You didn’t have to hear your mother speak. “Y/N you’re a lawyer, right?” She asked you as you shrugged 

“Technically yes, I just decided not to work anymore, and I take care of the house and stuff” you told her. “So, you’re basically a sugar baby is what I’m hearing” you clenched your jaw, squeezing onto Steve’s hand “No, I’m his girlfriend, we talked about it, I was tired of living my life in spite of you, and now I’m happier than ever. I don’t lay around spending Steve’s money all day” she shrugged and sipped her wine “Could’ve fooled me”

You stood up from your chair and was about to yell at her before Steve got up and took your wrist “Y/N I got to show you something in kitchen really quick” he said before dragging you to the kitchen. He honestly just didn’t want a fist fight to happen, and you end up getting hurt. You pulled away and turned to face him “Steve- I can’t- I can’t do this with her here” you whispered to him “I’m about this close to losing it” you pinch two of your fingers close together.

“Okay, okay, I understand, after dinner I’ll make sure she’s gone, okay?” he told you and rubbed your arm as you nodded “Okay, thank you” he pressed a kiss to your forehead and lips before taking your hand to bring you back to the table. 

You took a deep breath before sitting down, downing the rest of your wine before you started to eat again. Your mother looked between the two of you “Y/N are you pregnant? You seemed to have put on a few pounds” she said condescendingly. You immediately slam your fork down before reaching over to try and hit her as Steve got up to pull you away “Why do you always do this- you come into my life when I don’t want you in it and make it a living hell?! You’ve only been here for an hour, what the fuck is wrong with you?!” you yelled and watched as she stood up “I did my best and you’ve always been so unappreciative, you make it so hard to be your mother!” she yelled back at you.

You stared back at her with a stone-cold expression before moving out of Steve’s arms slowly, walking away and going upstairs to your room. 

Your mother scoffed and grabbed her bag “The nerve of her. I give her everything and this is how she repays me?!” 

Steve glared at her before going to open the front door “It’s time for you to go, my fiancé needs me”

She furrowed her eyebrows and went over to him “You’re engaged? Is that something else she’s kept from me?”

“Not yet, but I’m just practicing for when I ask. Don’t contact Y/N again, don’t come back here, you clearly have no respect for her and I’m not gonna allow you to hurt her, now go” 

She scoffed and left the house before Steve slammed the door behind her. He ran a hand over his beard before going upstairs to be with you. 

taglist: @ljstraightnochaser@pastelbabygirl19 @datsavageavenger

[gotnofucks]

Ball’s In Your Court

Paring: Steve Rogers x Reader, (platonic tony x reader)

Summary: Steve and Y/n have been playing games for years. But now that Rogers is acting like a little bitch, Y/n throws him a curve ball that will either make them or break them.

Words: 2.7k

Warning: None man. Its fluff and angst. Language (?)

A/N: I was experimenting with the third person P.O.V for reader. Hope it’s to your liking.

MASTERLIST

+++++

For as long as Steve could remember, their life together had been a game; bet after bet, challenge after challenge. He had met her when she was just entering her teens, a little girl with a lost wild look in her eyes. She was in all respects Tony’s daughter, rescued by him from the wreckage of his own weapons. He had almost done a double take when Tony had introduced her to the team.

“This is Y/n, she will stay with us from now”

The compound was not used to the pitter patter of little feet or their furniture appearing embellished overnight. She had lost everything, including it seemed herself. So, their first game ironically had been Hide and Seek. She was small and he lost count of how many times she had bested him by crawling under the cramped spaces of desks or vents (Thanks for teaching her that, Barton).

When Tony had complained about the hundredth time that she just wouldn’t eat, Steve would challenge her that whoever finished their breakfast first could choose the movie for tonight. When she refused to let them leave for missions, he would challenge her to a game of cards. She was too young to win against him but her stubborn streak never turned down a game.

Their every interaction had been a game. They could get each other to do anything by playing chess or softball or a game of Horse that drove everyone else up the wall. He got her to open up about school bullies by besting her at Pictionary and she had effectively gotten him to shut up about healthy food by kicking his ass at video games. They dealt with drama via games (Whoever tosses the least paper balls in the bin tells Bruce we fucked his experiment ), they dealt with humor via games (let’s see who can manage to steal Nat’s gun without getting caught), they dealt with grief via game (if you beat me at Heads Up I’ll let you choose the gravestone).

Growing up, she was Tony’s daughter and Steve’s best friend. While Tony raised her, Steve gossiped with her. They were pals and all was fun and games until she grew up from a little girl into a young woman. Steve didn’t know when things changed but the first he noticed it was when she had run into his arms bawling because some idiot boy broke her heart. It was when he found himself conflicted between anger at the boy and jealousy that this shit started.

He had tried, he had really tried to keep it in check. He had tried to keep up with their game’s night ritual, their silly bets and ridiculous challenges. He had tried his best to be a friend, but this was one challenge he lost. She was no more the 14-year-old girl asking him questions for her history project or the 16-year-old nightmare who would put cockroaches in his bed as revenge. This was a young woman in her 20s with curves for days and an attitude that raised hell. It was a classic falling for your best friend story (if only he weren’t old enough to be her dad or was her dad’s best friend).

He had of course been under the impression that he was being subtle about his change in feelings. He tried not to stare when they went out for a swim, he resisted the urge to lick her lips after a nacho eating contest. He was trying so fucking hard, but as anyone could have told him, “Steve, you don’t have a subtle bone in your body, you frisbee throwing maniac”. She was Tony Stark’s daughter; she was not raised to be stupid. She was smart and observant and almost as quick a study as her father. It was no surprise then that she figured out what had Steve so wound up around her.

Maybe it would have creeped her out had it been anyone else, but Steve was her person. He was her one constant, from kissing her boo-boos to getting her home after she drank herself silly, Steve was there. It shouldn’t have surprised Steve so much then when she cornered him one evening and planted a wet one smack on his mouth with a muttered, “This sexual tension it killing me, gotta do something about it because you won’t”.

He wished he could say he clutched her body to his and dragged her to his room for a wild night of passion. But in reality, he chickened out like a bitch and ran away. Not just from her, but he completely disappeared from the compound for two weeks. When he came back, it was with the intentions of telling her they couldn’t do it, it was wrong and a betrayal to Tony. But Steve needn’t have worried because he came back to the compound to find her introducing the team to her boyfriend.

As far as others know, Steve didn’t deliberately break those glasses that night or push the idiot boy in the pool. It was an accident, and if such accidents kept happening around men she dated then it was purely coincidental.

It was a new kind of game they played then, a more dangerous one and if one’s being honest, a very sensual game. She would date someone; he would scare them away. One of them will find the other, have a passionate make out session, probably end up straddling the other on a desk and then one of them will get up and leave with the same lie “This can’t happen again”. Repeat.

Gone were the days of challenges and competitions, in its place was a sexually charged game of Tag. A cat and mouse game where they always chased each other, touching fleetingly before retreating again. Neither would be the one to make a commitment, neither would concede to being the person who would put their hearts on the line. They were two bulls who were made to butt heads (who occasionally took time off to play a quick game of tonsil-hockey).

Steve had known there had to be an end to this. It had gone on for so long that he could bet other people suspected some shit. He had honestly expected for Tony to sucker punch him half a dozen times by now. Right now, he would have taken those punches to the news she had just given to the team.

“I am getting married!” She announced, offering her left hand so others can admire the gorgeous diamond ring that sat on her ring finger. She looked happy, absolutely radiant and it was all Steve could do to stop himself from dragging her out of here by her hair and throwing that offending ring into the garbage chute. What the fuck kind of game was she playing?

He waited until everyone was asleep before he broke into her room. Well, breaking into would suggest it was forced but truly only him and Tony had the authorization to enter. Their relationship may have changed from ‘you’re my best friend’ to ‘I want to be your best lay’, but they still knew each other the best and cared just as much as before, if not more.

She was under the covers in her bed, a small nightlamp on. It had been a while since Steve had been in her room and it was like taking a big gulp of nostalgia. Her room was her sanctuary, so it reflected her heart’s desires. Every surface of the room was littered with one of their memories together. Her pinboard was still holding the notes he would write to her in school, the birthday cards he made himself and the portraits he would sketch for her. On her desk stood the numerous gifts he had gotten her, each well taken care of despite the years between. Right beside her on the cabinet was a picture of them together, both of them holding hands and smiling at each other in what could only be called as “lovesick smitten idiots”.

He was cautious as he lowered himself next to her on the bed, her face so peaceful he felt like he would taint it by his touch and presence. He had looked at her for years, sketched her details hundreds of times and yet each time he beheld her, he felt his heart skip a beat. She was a memory that he tried to forget and yet it emerged every time he closed his eyes. She was in his skin, a part of him in a way that defied all laws of nature and social customs.

“Are you going to keep staring at me and be the creep from Twilight or do you plan on getting inside?”

Her voice made him jump because she hadn’t opened her eyes. She was smiling that lazy smile of hers when she would catch his bluff in poker. He chuckled and shifted the sheets, climbing under them and curling his body around her. It may as well have been cliché to say that they fit like a puzzle, but it was true. They were molded to fit against each other perfectly, like that lid you close over a box and the satisfying ‘tick’ sound it makes when it clicks into place. That’s what being with her felt like. Fitting in. Coming home.

“Why are you doing this Y/n?” Steve asked and she pushed her body into his so he could hug her tighter.

“Because you won’t do anything Steve. We’ve been running around in circles for so long now, and every time I think that finally we’ll be together, you abandon fort and run. I can’t do this anymore.”

Steve took her left hand and watched her ring twinkle in a taunt. It could have been him. It should be him.

“Don’t marry him. He will never give you what you want.”

“I know that Steve, no one can give me what they want because they aren’t you. But I can’t keep waiting for you in the sidelines hoping you’ll pull your head out of your ass. I want to be loved, preferably in this life.”

His arms were like tentacles around her, but she didn’t complain. Every embrace and moment between them was so fleeting, a stolen moment that she enjoyed what she could get. This was probably the longest in a few years that they had held each other without one running for the hills.

“I love you, you know that.” He whispered in her ear, longing evident in his voice.

“I know that, as much as I know that you won’t do shit about it. Loving someone is not always enough Steve. It’s just the beginning. I – I won’t keep my love a secret. I don’t want ten angry sensual minutes in the broom closet. I want walks in the park and two dogs and a cat. I want picnics with our family and pictures that are not restricted to my room. You can’t give me that. You won’t.”

She had run out of tears. Her fiancé may not be Steve Rogers but at least he was an honest man who tried his best to love her the way she deserved. She had met his family and they had met hers; they could post pictures on social media with cheesy captions and hold hands as they drank coffee from a cheap corner place.

“You can never love anyone like you love me” It was a sulky declaration by a hurt lover and she almost cooed to him like a mommy consoling her baby. Steve may have been older to her in years, but when it came to love he was an immature brat.

“That may be true, but I will try. I am not Penelope waiting in the balcony for Odysseus to return. I love you, and that love may never fade away. But my life will go on. It is your choice if you want to be a part of it.”

She faced him, her eyes open and clear. He didn’t know when the little girl who needed help to reach the jar on the shelf had grown up in this headstrong woman who could beat a sailor when it came to cursing. But he couldn’t bear the thought of her staying like this in someone else’s bed, looking at them the way she looked at him. Steve rarely coveted something in his life, but he didn’t realize until now how much he coveted her love. If he lost that, he feared he would lose himself.

“Your father is going to kill me” Steve groaned, and she laughed. Her head was on his chest and an arm around his torso.

“We can elope, you know. Run away and get married. It will be too late to do anything then. You’ll be stuck with me.”

“Did you just propose to me?” Steve questioned and she nodded, her eyes naughty.

“I’m always a step ahead of you Captain. I figured you would take another month at least to ask and I have wasted too much time already.” She whispered against his lips. He leaned up to kiss her deeply, unhurried for the first time. It was like their first kiss all over again, like two star-crossed lovers smashing through their final obstacle and uniting. Steve didn’t know how he had survived so long without having her like this, but as his hands found her soft curves, he swore he can’t go a day without it.

“Stop stop!” She said, pushing his chest and rolling away from him. “We’ve waited this long. You’re not getting your dick wet until you finally commit to me.”

Steve looked more dumbfounded than offended and responded by finally taking off the ring on her finger and throwing it away carelessly.

“I’ll steal the Quinjet, meet me in the hanger in half an hour. Don’t pack shit. We’ll make one stop for the rings and get the first officiant I can find to marry us. We’ll probably be back by breakfast. And then,” His arm wound around her waist “I will lay rest to the sexual tension of years by getting my dick wet. Repeatedly.”

+++++

It was to be expected that Tony’s daughter wouldn’t do anything halfway through. A flair for dramatics was her inheritance and she and Steve walked into the compound newly married in rumpled night clothes and shit eating grin. They found everyone eating in the kitchen, and greetings stopped halfway when the rest of the team noticed their clasped hands.

“What the fuck…” Bruce said, half eaten celery dangling from his open mouth.

Y/n flashed them her award-winning smile and showed the matching rings on her and Steve’s hand. It was a riot under a minute, chairs scraping as they crowded them, trying to see if it was a joke. Then just as suddenly everyone stopped and Tony stepped forward, a spatula in his hand that to Steve looked as threatening as a gun.

“You sick son of a bitch!” Tony shouted and Steve flinched. He looked at Y/n but all she did was wear a smug look on her face that should be illegal in about three continents. “You little bitch! You are supposed to be from the 90s! You were supposed to ask her hand from me like a gentleman you sick little fuck!”

Steve blinked in confusion while she laughed, hopping like a little girl to hug her father.

“Pay up, daddy! You owe me 500 bucks.” She said and Tony groaned, pulling out his wallet and handing her crisp five 100s.

“I – what? What happened?” Steve sputtered, still surprised he wasn’t being beaten by the Iron Legion.

“You weren’t supposed to elope you bastard. Always knew chivalry was dead!” Tony huffed then went back to cooking. “Congratulations by the way. Fucking finally. I’m not surprised my girl had to do everything anyway. She’s taken after me.”

This was a plot twist Steve never expected and he looked at his new wife with a look of horror on his face that could only be translated to as ‘what the fuck have I gotten myself into’.

“I told you baby, I’m always a step ahead of you.” She said, trying and failing to blush like a bride.

+++++

Taglist is open

[avengerscompound]

Moving On - Chapter 3

Moving On: A Falcon & Captain Marvel Fanfic

Masterlist PREVIOUS //

Buy me a ☕ Character Pairing:  Sam Wilson x F!Reader, Carol Danvers x F! Reader

Word Count:  2003

Rating:  E

Warnings:  just a little canon complaint drama this chapter

Synopsis:  You thought Sam Wilson was the love of your life.  You had planned to do it all with him - marriage, kids, see the world.  Even when you’re life gets turned upside down, and you both end up international fugitives, he’s there by your side.

Then Thanos comes.

When Sam is one of the many turned to dust, leaving you alone and pregnant, you don’t think you’ll ever stop grieving.  Yet, everyone tells you that Sam would want you to move on and live your life - that he’d want you to be happy. Gradually you open your heart up to another.  Carol Danvers has lost people too.  First her daughter, then her wife.  As the two of you lean on each other, feelings grow and you move on together.

So what happens when Sam is returned to you?

Chapter 3: The Accords

When Sam had left on his mission to Lagos, you had been worried but not in a major way.  You had thought maybe he might come home bruised up or with a cracked rib.  The last thing you had expected was for a lapse in attention would allow Rumlow to detonate a block leveling amount of C-4, and that when Wanda had tried to contain it and it had taken out a floor of a building instead, she’d get the blame.

Still, while that was bad, it wasn’t something that you had thought would directly affect you.  It might mean there was some argument with governments about Wanda being in the custody of the Avengers and how training should be done to prevent things like that from happening again.  You were fairly sure the insurance policy the Avengers held for such things was going to be hit hard.  But for you and Sam - life and love and wedding plans wouldn’t have been affected.

And then Tony Stark had shown up with General Thaddeus Ross.

Ross had dropped a bomb into the compound and run.  Not a literal bomb, but one that had the potential to be just as damaging.  The Sokovia accords had been dropped off - a document stating that any enhanced individual would have to register themselves with their country's government and the UN and provide them with biometrics as a way to keep tabs on them.  Along with that, anyone working for facilities such as SHIELD, SWORD, or the Avengers as operatives, and any of these enhanced individuals were unable to act on matters of security without the go-ahead from their countries government or the UN.

While that didn’t change too much for you, according to the document, Sam’s wings counted as enhancements.  Steve Rogers and Wanda Maximoff were also both enhanced and would need to provide DNA to the government.   Wanda would be registered as a weapon of mass destruction.

It meant you and Sam had to decide what you wanted to do.  You knew there was no way Sam would sign.  He had already left the airforce, he wasn’t going back to working for the government again so soon.  Especially not with the added condition of registering humans with them.  You also knew he was unlikely to stop fighting - it just wasn’t in his nature.

Unfortunately, you didn’t have a chance to even talk about it before Sam was out the door again.

“Look,” Sam said as he got his best suit out of the closet.  “This is a big deal.  It kinda changes everything for us.  So maybe decide what you really want to do and what you’re okay with?  I mean… worst case scenario I could end up an international war criminal.”

“How likely is that though?”  You asked as you watched him zip the suit into a suit bag.

“I doubt it’s very likely but you gotta consider it, babe,” he said.  “I love you.  I want a life with you, but I don’t want you to end up resenting me because we end up on the run from the law together or something.”

“Right,” you said with a nod.  “You wouldn’t consider… I dunno… retiring?”

“Of course,” Sam said, moving on to the underwear drawer.  “And if these things go through and they make me sign, that’s what I’m gonna say I’m doing.  But you know me, I’m never gonna take some back seat when a big bad goes down.”

“No, I know,” you said.  “Me too.  You sure you don’t want me to come to this?”

Sam shook his head.  “This is Steve’s thing,” he said.  “I didn’t even know Peggy.  I’m gonna be there for him.  I’ll be back in a couple of days.  You think while I’m gone.”

“You know I’m just going to do whatever you do,” you said.  “Right?  I mean, the whole premise sounds a little -” you paused and rocked your hand back and forth “- the whole ‘registering people for being different’ thing?  And then to muzzle them and treat them as dangerous weapons.  It’s fucked up.  And besides.  You’re my man.  Where you go, I go.”

He smiled and came over and kissed your forehead.  “I’m your man, huh?”

“Mm-hmm… my fine man,” you hummed.

He laughed and touched the tip of your nose with his finger.  “Stop trying to distract me, woman.  I’ve got a funeral to go to.”

“Alright, alright,” you said, zipping up his bag.  “You’ll call me when you get there?”

He kissed your forehead again.  “Of course.”

You grabbed his t-shirt before he could pull away and dragged him down into a deep kiss.  He hummed softly and caressed your jaw, before pulling back and grabbing his bag.  “You think on it.  Okay?  No rash decisions.”

You agreed you would and watched him leave, not realizing how this was the point where everything would change.

You had been watching the news in your room when the word about the attack on the UN at the Vienna International Centre.  It hadn’t taken you long to realize if the number one suspect was James Barnes that Steve would be quick to take after him.  Sam had been on the trail of the infamous Winter Soldier since the day you’d met him, there was no way that Steve would let anyone else bring him in.

You also knew that if Steve went, Sam would likely go too.  Not because Sam was Steve’s shadow, but because they both had their moral compasses so inline that they ended up having the same thoughts at the same time.

Which would mean they were breaking international law and that unlikely scenario where they would become fugitives was a little more likely than you thought.

You needed to contact him, but you knew it was dangerous.  You sent him a text.  The two of you had gotten into the habit of sending large groups of emojis with little messages hidden inside.  Most of the time they were for no reason.  There would be a string of eggplants and peaches and then a random egg and milk carton to let the other person know you needed eggs and milk.  It was a habit that was built out of the paranoia you had drilled into you as a spy.  If something happened and you need to message each other covertly, seeing a string of random emojis would at a passing glance just look like the cute-coupley thing you both always did.  It wouldn’t withstand any deep probing, but it would be enough to let each other know that one of you was in trouble or to go grab the burner phone and run.

You texted Sam a string of hearts in kiss emojis with an American flag, a bird, a jogging emoji, and a snowflake mixed in.

He texted back a similar string with a thumbs up in the mix.

You replied with the more sexual emojis, eggplants, peaches, the droplets, the tongue, and among them was the girl with the hand raised in the air.

Sam replied with the same only instead of the girl was a thumbs down.

Yes, they were going after James Barnes.  No, he didn’t want you to come.

You didn’t hear from Sam again for two days.  Two days that only seemed to make matters worse.

Steve had indeed tracked down Barnes, but so had just about everyone else.  It ended with a car chase through the streets of Romania where Steve, Sam, Barnes, and weirdly the new king of Wakanda had been arrested by Rhodey of all people.

Sam called you when they had been taken back to Germany.

“I know you’re antsy, baby,” Sam said.  “But you need to stay put.  Right now they’ve confiscated my wings and Cap’s shield, but we think we’ll be let go.  We went after Barnes.  He’s captured.  That’s it.  Slap on the wrist, don’t do it again, type of bullshit.  Worse comes to worst… well, it’s not the first time they’ve tried taking my wings off me, is it?”

“Sam!”  You yelped.  “This line…”

“I’m joking!  I’m joking!”  Sam said, holding his hands up in front of the screen.  You knew he wasn’t.

“Anyway…” Sam continued.  “I think Tony’s trying to talk Steve into signing the accords.  I dunno if he will or not.  Maybe just to keep the peace.  But there’s no way I’m going to.”

“I want to be there with you,” you pouted.  “I could help.”

“It’ll just make things messy,” Sam said.  “Trust me.  You’re better off there.  It’s not like I can get in any more trouble now Barnes is captured.”

He was wrong.

The next you heard Barnes had broken out and Sam and Steve had taken after him.  You received a text not long after the news broke with a series of hearts and a cellphone emoji.

You went to your closet, grabbed the burner phone, and went out for a run.  You were just leaving the perimeter of the compound when the burner rang.

“Sam?”  You said, pressing the phone to your ear.

“Yeah, baby,” Sam said.  “It’s me.  Did you hear?”

“They’re saying you’re on the run with Barnes,” you said. “Please tell me you were just recapturing him.”

Sam laughed.  “That was the idea,” he said.  “This shit is going deep and we need help.  There’s this guy - wanted to get to Barnes to find out about some other Super Soldiers and where they’re kept.  So now we might have a bunch of really psychotic super soldiers being released on the world by someone even more psychotic than they are.”

“Where are you?  What do you need me to do?”  You asked.

“I’m tempted to tell you to stay put,” Sam said.

“Sam, I’m not…”

“No, I know,” he said.  “But think about it.  You do this - you come after me and we’re fugitives.  We can’t go home.  All this talk of weddings and babies?  It’s not happening.  It’ll be you and me on the run from everywhere.  Best we can hope for is one day when we’re both too old to run we settle in some country that doesn’t extradite.”

“I heard Montenegro didn’t sign,” you half-joke.  “It looks pretty nice there.”

Sam laughed.  “See I was thinking Cape Verde.”

You let out a breath and smiled a little.  “Always thinking, you are.”

“You know it, baby,” Sam said.  “Now, Clint’s coming…”

“What?  But his family?”  You yelped.

“I know… but like you, you can’t tell him no,” Sam said.  “He’s going to grab Wanda.  When you get back, go to her, but say nothing.  Just a little girl’s bonding time.  Okay?  I’m sure Vizh will be hanging around her.  He always is.  Don’t leave her side even if they do make it clear that you’re third-wheeling.”

“Should I pack?”  You asked.

“No,” Sam said quickly.  “I’m even a little worried you grabbing the burner might be too much of a giveaway to what’s going on.”

“I did it while I changed into my jogging gear,” you said.  “Nabbed it with my heart rate monitor.”

“Good.  Well hopefully that covered that gorgeous ass of yours,” he said.  “But aside from deciding you want to hang with Wanda you’re not doing anything strange, okay?  Clint will get there and you go.  Tony’s an asshole, but not that big of an asshole, I don’t think he’d burn our things, so we’re gonna have to trust that the compound will act as our storage until this is sorted out.  If it ever is.”

“Okay,” you said with a sigh.

“I love you,” Sam said softly.  “You take care of yourself.”

“You too, Sammy,” you said.  “Don’t do anything dumber than you already have until I get there and can join in.”

Sam laughed.  “You got it.  I’ll see you soon.”

“Yeah.  See you.”

You disconnected the call and shoved it back behind your heart rate monitor and turned to run back to the compound.  You had a fight to prepare for.

//  NEXT

[wiypt-writes]

Stark Spangled Banner

Ch46: Just A Formality

Intro: Emmy gets into a spot of trouble at school, which leads the family to make a joint decision that will change their lives forever. And together with their friends they celebrate Jamie’s birthday, will a little surprise for Emmy too. 

Warnings: Bad Language words. Slight angst (teenagers) and Steve being a very overprotective dad…

Pairing: Steve Rogers x OFC Katie Stark

A/N: Yeah, I love this chapter. I hope you all do too. And thank @angrybirdcr​ for the edit...it mushed my insides!

Disclaimer: This is a pure work of fiction and classified as 18+. Please respect this and do not read if you are underage. I do not own any characters in this series bar Katie Stark and the other OCs. By reading beyond this point you understand and accept the terms of this disclaimer.

Chapter 45

Stark Spangled Banner Masterlist // Main Masterlist

 February 2021

“So what do you think?” Rhodey asked as he stood, arms folded, looking at the screen. Natasha was stood next to him, nervously chewing on her nail and Steve was looking at the rather gory photos that they had been sent through from the Mexican Authorities.

“Is it definitely him?” Steve sighed, looking at the screen again. In a million years he would never have expected Barton to be capable of such out and out gore and violence, but then again the man had lost his entire family- wife and three kids. Steve wasn’t sure how he would react should anything happen to Katie, Emmy or Jamie.

“Yeah.” Nat sighed, pressing another button. This time it flipped to some CCTV footage of the incident. They three of them watched as Clint took down six gang members, brutally, and with a final swipe of the samurai sword he was holding almost severed one man’s head completely from its shoulders. “Same MO, same fight pattern, and the facial recognition software caught him about five miles north of this town less than two hours before this happened.” “He’s getting more and more vicious.” Rhodey spoke. “I suppose we should be grateful in a way he’s taking down people that we should be stopping but how long till someone gets caught in the cross fire?” “Clint wouldn’t-” Natasha began but Steve cut her off.

“Once I would agree with you.” he sighed, looking at her “But now, well, Nat, he’s…” “Lost it.” Rhodey concluded

“So would you if you’d seen your wife and kids turn to dust.” Nat’s voice was fierce as she turned to look at him.

“I know.” Rhodey held his hands up “I can’t even imagine what he went through.”

Steve looked at Nat, recognising the pensive look on her face. “What you thinking?”

She took a deep breath. “I’m gonna fly out to Mexico. Rhodey, can you come with me? We’ll see if we can dig anything up?” Rhodey nodded. Steve was about to offer his services too, but then his phone started ringing.

“Hey beautiful.” He greeted Katie, but instead of the usual response of either hello handsome or soldier, he was met with an exasperated sigh.

“Emmy’s Principal has just called me.” She groaned “She’s been in a fight.”

Steve frowned. “Really? What for?” “No idea. He didn’t say much other than he’s excluding her for a week and wants us to go collect her as soon as we can. Thing is, I have a call in twenty with the Health Authorities, President Ellis has asked me to give them some guidance on how we regrouped at SI, and I can try and rearrange but if I can’t it means she’s gonna be sat outside the office for at least an hour and a half. Is there any chance you-”

“I got, course I’ll go. I’m done here anyway so you do what you need to do and we’ll see you at home.”

“Thank you.” She sighed “Between this and Jamie screaming blue murder when I dropped him in at the Day Care this morning It hasn’t really been the spectacular return to work I was hoping for.”

Steve wrinkled his nose. “He didn’t take it well then?” “No.” Her voice cracked “God, Steve, Leaving him there whilst he was screaming, fuck, it broke my heart.” Steve took a sigh and walked a little further away from Rhodey and Natasha, dropping his voice. “Honey, he’ll be fine. You know what he’s like. Ten minutes after you left he will have forgotten why he’s so upset and will have settled.”

“I know, I just, well Mom and Dad used to palm me and Tony off on our Nannies all the time and-”

“This is completely different.” Steve cut her off. “First off, you’re leaving him for what, five hours a day, maximum. Second off, he’s being watched at a crèche, twenty floors down from where you are, in the same building so you can see him whenever you want.”

“I was advised by the Staff not to do that today.” She sniffed. “It could unsettle him more.”

“I’m sure they know what they’re talking about.” Steve soothed her gently “Look, try not to worry. Jamie will be fine, I’ll go sort Emmy out and we’ll see you at home this evening okay?” “My hero.” she said and Steve smiled.

“Love you, see you later.”

Cutting the call he turned to Rhodey and Nat who were still looking at the screen. Walking back towards them he picked up his jacket where he had tossed it over the back of a chair, reaching for his keys at the same time.

“Guys, I gotta go.” He informed them and they looked up. “Emmy’s in trouble at school and I need to head in and see the Principal.”

“Trouble?” Nat frowned.

“Fighting.” Steve rolled his eyes as Nat and Rhodey exchanged a glance, Nat smirking slightly. Steve gave an exasperated sigh. “What?”

“Nothing.” Nat grinned. “Just don’t punch the Principal in the face…”

*****

It took Steve little over thirty minutes to reach the school. He may have broken a few speeding laws on the way, but Katie was right, it was too easy to do in the Camero. To be honest, it was pretty easy to do in the new Audi they had bought just before Christmas too, but Katie had that as it was easier to get Jamie’s seat and stroller in. The Camero was not child friendly, at all, but she had insisted on keeping it as a second car, despite Steve’s protests that they didn’t need it.

With an easy tug he pulled open the doors to the reception of the school and strode inside. The woman behind the desk handed him a visitor’s pass and led him down to the office as he brushed a piece of fluff off the front of his long sleeved blue top. Steve followed the white haired lady through the corridors in silence until he reached the office and spotted Emmy was sat outside it, slumped in a chair. At the sight of her father she jumped up and ran into his arms, crying.

“Hey,” He looked down as he smoothed her dark, ebony hair out of her face, cupping her face gently in one large hand. “What’s going on, Em?” “He started it.” She sniffed. “He was saying things, about you and mom and that my birth parents and that…that…”

She was starting to have a panic attack, Steve could see that instantly. She’d suffered from them a lot when she had first started to live with them and he knew that if he didn’t help her get it under control now it would escalate.

“Deep breaths.” He spoke gently, steering her back to a chair. She sat down and he tilted her head with his hand so that she was looking at him. “Count to ten, just like we practiced ok?”

She gripped onto his forearms, her eyes screwing shut as she took deep inhales and exhales, counting along as she did. By the time she got to seven she’d managed to ground herself again, and Steve encouraged her for the remaining three numbers, them just reaching ten as the door to the office at the end of the corridor opened.

“Mr Rogers.”

 Steve stood up to greet the Principal, John Stevenson, who he had met once before when they had enrolled Emmy into the school. He was a tall, lean man with round glasses and a kind face, but an air of authority perfect for that of a headmaster “Mr Stevenson.” Steve smiled, shaking his hand “I don’t mean to be rude, but could you give me a second with my daughter please? I want to hear her side of the story and then I’ll be right with you.”

“Of course,” the man nodded, giving him and Emmy a little smile. “Just come in when you’re ready.”

Once the door to his office was shut, Steve sat on the spare seat next to Emmy. “So you wanna tell me what happened. Who ya been fightin’ with?”

“A boy a grade above. And I wasn’t fighting. Not really, I mean I hit him but he fell over, he didn’t hit me back.” Steve bit his lip. “Seems the stuff your mom and Auntie Nat taught you came in handy, huh?”

Emmy shrugged.

“What did you hit him for?”

“Because he’s a jerk and a bully” Emmy’s hands were wringing together. “He was picking on a few of the kids who lost their parents all through last year and then last month when I told him to shut up, he decided to start on me”

Steve took a deep breath “What was he saying?”

“The usual, stuff like ‘you don’t have a real family’, said that you and mom only look after me because you feel guilty that the Avengers fucked, sorry, messed up.” She glanced up at Steve, but he merely arched an eyebrow, letting the curse word slide. “And he says that once I’m old enough you’ll throw me out, and then he called me a, and I quote ‘fucking orphan rat’.” She shrugged. “Sso I punched him.”

“Alright.” Steve took a deep breath, his jaw ticking as he supressed the feeling of annoyance and anger that had flooded his system at Emmy’s explanation. “We’ll unpack all that when we get home, with your mom.”

“Are you mad?” Emmy blinked up at him, her eyes wide.

“Well, punching him probably wasn’t the best way to deal with the situation.” Steve sighed, and instantly his wife’s voice popped into his head at how hypocritical he felt. 

“Hello Kettle, this is Steve Rogers, you’re black…”

“But if what you’re telling me is true-“   “It is Dad I swear!”

“Then no, I’m not mad. At you.” He gave her a small smile. “But I’m mad as hell he said those horrible things to you though.” He looked at Emmy as she smiled softly. “Now, I best go speak to your principal. I won’t be long, and then we’ll go home and talk properly okay?”

She nodded and Steve dropped a kiss to her head as he stood up and walked to the door. Rapping on it twice, he pulled it open and stepped inside the room, shutting it behind him. Principal Stevenson stood up, shook his hand before gesturing down at the chairs on the opposite side of his desk.

“So did she tell you what happened?” The man asked, leaning back slightly in his chair.

Steve nodded. “She said that a boy, I didn’t get his name…” “Josh Gemmil.” “Yes, well, she told me that this Josh had been picking on a few kids and when he started on her, she didn’t take kindly to it. And to be frank, I can’t say I blame her. The things he was saying to Emmy were disgusting.” “Yeah, and that may be the case.” Mr Stevenson sighed heavily, “but the issue is, Mr Rogers, we have a strict zero tolerance to violence policy, so, given Emmy did punch him in front of pretty much the entire school in the yard, I’ve no alternative but to suspend her for a week.” “Are you suspending him?” Steve asked.

“Sorry?” The man opposite Steve frowned. “I’m not…” “The boy who Emmy punched. Are you suspending him for what he said?”

“No-one has corroborated her story, well, other than Brooke and I know how close they are so she could be-” “Woah, hold up.” Steve interrupted, holding his hand up to cut that man off as a flash of anger surged through his chest. “Are you insinuating Emmy is lying?” “No, that’s not what I’m saying.” “So if she’s telling the truth, then surely the boy deserves punishment as well. Emmy isn’t the only person he’s been saying things to.”

“She’s the only person who has punched him.” “That may be, but either way-.”

“Mr Rogers,” the Principal sighed, cutting him off,  “for what it’s worth Josh’s parents will be coming in later and I will be consulting them about his behaviour, but unfortunately Emmy has broken his nose.” “Well, I’d like to say I’m sorry about that but I’m not.” Steve was too far gone now to be rational, his instinct to protect his daughter had well and truly kicked in and the guy in front of him was really pissing him off. “I don’t like bullies,” he continued, levelling the man with a look and he visibly recoiled back into his seat, “and I’m not gonna punish my daughter for standing up to one. If you deem it fit to suspend her then fine, that is your prerogative, and of course I will tell her that violence is not acceptable, but I would expect some level of punishment to be extended to the boy in question and not just her.”

The Principal nodded. “Mr Rogers, I can assure you, if it was up to me I wouldn’t be suspending her at all, but my hands are tied by the governors and policies. I make an exception here, I have to do it for others and before you know it…” he trailed off. Steve took a deep breath, he could understand that perfectly, didn’t make it any easier for him to swallow though. “But that’s why the suspension is only for a week and not the two.”

Steve nodded. “Okay, do I need to sign anything or…”

“No.” the Principal shook his head. “Emmy has her log on to Workspace, her class notes and homework will be detailed on there as usual so she doesn’t miss out. If there is anything she doesn’t understand or needs help with, she can catch up when she gets back. She’s a very, smart kid so I’m not too concerned about that aspect of things.” Steve nodded, and stood up. He took a deep breath and stepped back into the corridor to find Brooke was sat with Emmy now, her arm round her best friend.

“Shouldn’t you be in class?” Steve asked, shooting the red head a look.

“Hey Mr R, don’t sweat it. Told em I was going to the bathroom.” Brooke shrugged and Steve rolled his eys.

“Well scoot before you get into trouble too.” He gestured with his head to the doors that led back to the reception area.

“Can Brooke come over later?” Emmy asked, timidly, “Or am I grounded?”

Steve took a deep breath “Not tonight, we need to have a chat. But over the weekend then, sure.” “’kay.” Emmy nodded, standing up. She reached for her rucksack but Steve took it from her, carrying it in his right hand, his left gently between Emmy’s shoulder blades as he steered her towards the exit. As they walked into the reception, Emmy stopped dead and he heard Brooke who was walking along at his other side mutter an ‘uh-oh’.

“This her?” A short, squat woman with a very short hair cut was stood a few feet in front of him, a boy by her side, a few inches taller than her, dressed in a bloodied T-shirt glared at Emmy and nodded. Instantly Steve moved forward a step so he was level with his daughter, his hand dropping to her shoulder.

“Your daughter broke my son’s nose.” The woman glared up at him.

“So I understand.” Steve nodded. “She has been suspended and we’ll be dealing with it appropriately.”

“You know, kids like her, they shouldn’t be-”

“Kids like her?” Steve blinked at the woman, and shook his head. “Excuse me?”

“You know what I mean.”

“No, I don’t.” Steve’s voice was low. “So, please, explain.”

“I mean with violent and aggressive tendencies, they should be locked up not in a school with normal kids-” “Woah, now hang on.” Steve held his hand up as he looked at the woman. “Your son isn’t exactly innocent in all this.” “I don’t see your daughter with blood all over her shirt. He didn’t hit her…” “I would hope not, seeing as he’s a boy and half a foot taller than her.” He shot back and the woman’s mouth snapped shut. Steve turned to Emmy and handed her the backpack and his keys. “Go and get in the car, sweetheart, I’ll be with you in a minute.” Emmy glanced up at him, one look on his face told her he wasn’t to be argued with, and she nodded and took them from him, before leaving.

His attention then turned to the teenager and woman and he folded his arms across his chest, glaring at them both. The boy had a sharp face, slicked back blonde hair and for some reason he reminded Steve of a younger Gilmore Hodge. Which was never a good thing. He looked at the woman and spoke again, his voice level but full of that Captain Authority he could never help turning on in situations like this.

“Your son said some very nasty things to my daughter, and in normal circumstances he should be apologising. However, given what happened I suggest we leave it at that and they agree to stay away from one another in the future.” “Him apologise?” The woman practically shrieked. “She punched him, if anything she’s the one that should be saying sorry.” Steve gave a huff of a laugh “I can assure you that won’t be happening. Besides,” he turned to the boy, “do you really want an apology from a ‘fucking orphan rat’?”

He heard a snigger followed by a mumble of “mic drop…” to his right and turned to see Brooke was still there.

“What are-” he shot her a look, pointing towards the class rooms, “-scoot.” “Later Mr R.” Brooke shot him a salute and he raised an eyebrow as she headed off back to wherever she should have been in the first place.

“Did you say that?” The woman had rounded on her son.

“No…I swear.” “He said he didn’t.” Steve shook his head, his hands dropping to the buckle of his belt. “I’m not interested in whether he admits it or not. Fact of the matter is I believe my daughter and according to her and her friend, Emmy isn’t the first kid he’s picked on but I’m sure as hell hoping she’s gonna be the last, especially now he’s had a punch in the face to make him consider the consequences of his actions.” His lips quirked a little at the side as he delivered his final line. “I’d hate for him to get antoher.” “How dare you threaten him?” The woman was now talking in that high a pitch it was making Steve’s ears hurt.

“That isn’t a threat.” Steve shook his head “Merely an observation. Now if you’ll excuse me.” He turned to the door when the woman spluttered after him “You know, we do know where you live. That big, fancy house in Clinton Hill.” “Then by all means feel free to call round later.” Steve laughed as he turned to grin at the woman of her shoulder. “But I really don’t fancy your chances against my wife.” ****** “He said WHAT?” Katie spluttered once Steve had explained what had gone on. “The little fucking shit!” “His mother wasn’t much better either.” Steve shook his head as he raised Jamie up higher in the air above him, the tot screaming with laughter. “She threatened to come round later.” “I’ll kick her fucking ass!” Katie folded her arms across her chest and a wry smile crossed Steve’s face as he brought Jamie back down to his chest.

“Yeah I told her I didn’t fancy her chances.”

“Where’s Emmy now?” Katie asked.

“In her room, she said she wanted to be alone for a bit.”

Katie pondered for a moment, before she moved and walked out of the kitchen, calling up the stairs, “Emmy? Can you come down for a minute please?”

Katie came back into the kitchen and it wasn’t long before Emmy appeared, her eyes red. Katie sighed and pulled her into a hug.

“I’m sorry, I just, ” Emmy sniffed. “He was so rude and…” “Sweetie, we’re not mad.” Katie shook her head, steering the girl across the hall “We just want to talk to you, about what he said,” she gestured at one of the seats by the breakfast bar, “sit.”

Emmy did as she was told and Steve placed Jamie in the pack and play at the corner of the room. There was a minute or so silence before Katie slid a mug of hot chocolate, containing marshmallows and cream across the counter to Emmy, then passed Steve a coffee, picking up her own drink before she rounded the counter and sat on a stool next to Emmy, Steve staying where he was, the base of his back leaning against the worktop opposite them.

“So your dad told me what happened.” Katie began “And we want to talk to you about what that little jerk said to you.”

“I shouldn’t have let him get to me.” Emmy shrugged “I know what he was saying was crap but…” “If your dad had a dollar for every time he had reacted to something he shouldn’t have done he’d be richer than Tony.” Katie smiled and Steve gave a scoff.

“You’re a fine one to talk.” He raised an eyebrow at his wife and she grinned.

“And as for throwing you out once you’re old enough,” Katie shook her head, “you’re with us for as long as you wanna be. And then even when you don’t want to be, and you move out, we’ll be keeping tabs on you, annoying you, like Tony does to me.”

Emmy smiled and wiped at her eyes.

“You said he’s been picking on you for a while?” Steve asked “What made you snap today?” Emmy shrugged “I guess I was just fed up with it and when he was laughing about my name on my test paper, and he called me an orphan rat I saw red.” Katie took a deep breath, she was furious but before she could say anything Steve spoke, a frown creasing his brow.

“What do you mean he was laughing at your name?” “My surname.” Emmy shrugged “On stuff like the register and things at school its Rogers but on my official test papers for my grades it has to be McKellen, because Rogers isn’t my real name. And he was laughing saying that I didn’t belong anywhere.” Steve and Katie locked eyes and Steve was the first one to break away.

“Does it bother you, that your name isn’t Rogers?”

“Not normally.” She shrugged

“What if we made it so?” Katie asked.

“What, like change it legally?” “That’s one way of doing it.” Steve shrugged.  “The other is we adopt you.” Katie looked at her husband and smiled. This was something they’d mentioned in passing to one another a few times but never really talked about in any detail as, well, to them things were fine as they were. But now, well, it just felt right. The next step for them all. Making her status as their daughter official.

“Adopt me?” Emmy’s voice was a whisper.

“Yeah.” Katie nodded. “Look, Em, as far as we’re concerned you’re already our daughter, and not just a foster one either. It’s merely a formality. But it’s up to you.” “Do you want to think about it?” Steve asked.

“No.” Emmy shook her head as she looked up tears in her eyes. “No, I don’t want to think about it. I’d love it, I really would.” Katie smiled as the girl threw her arms round her shoulders and began to sob. Steve put his mug down on the counter next to him and strode round to wrap his large arms around both his girls until a loud screech form the corner of the room made them all look up. Jamie was stood gripping the side of his play pen, clearly disgruntled at being left out of the hug.

“Alright pal, point taken.” Steve picked him up and carried him back to where Emmy was now wiping her eyes. He handed the tot to his older sister and Katie grinned.

“Family hug?” She opened her arms and Emmy laughed, as the four of them snuggled together in a huddle.

*****

March 2021

Despite Steve’s best attempts to ignore it, there was something in what that little shit had said to Emmy that had really bothered him.  The Avengers fucked up. It wasn’t an alien thought, he often found himself thinking back to how they had failed but he normally shook himself out of it. They’d done the best they could, they simply hadn’t stood a chance.

The thing was, not all of the public saw that. On more than one occasion the remaining Avengers had all experienced some kind of vitriol from the public, Natasha still receiving hate mail for them all at the compound. Whilst people he met understood, it was always the ones that didn’t which stuck in Steve’s mind, but he’d never had anything more than the odd whispered insult or dirty look come his way, that was until a few day’s after Jamie’s first birthday.

He was in the store with Emmy, picking up a few bits and pieces for the family gathering they were having to celebrate Jamie turning one and he could feel someone’s eyes on him, which wasn’t unusual. What was unusual, however, was the tap on the shoulder her received as he tossed a few items from the list Katie had given him into the trolley.

“I thought it was you.”

Steve turned to see a dark haired man, the same height as him looking back.

“Can I help you?” Steve asked politely.

The man snorted “I thought at one point, yeah, but you didn’t, this…us…what the world is now, it’s all your fault.” Steve took a deep breath, and spotted Emmy returning to the aisle he was in with an armful of snacks he had sent her for.

“Sir-” Steve began, trying to placate the man but before he could do anything the guy had punched him straight in the face. It wasn’t a hard blow, but Steve hadn’t been expecting it. Or the subsequent blows for that matter.

He was vaguely aware Emmy was screaming, and out of the corner of his eye he saw a security guard hurrying towards him. Before he reached them, Emmy had kicked the man hard in the shin and was shouting at him, as he hopped on his good leg. Steve doubled over, the ringing in his ears subsiding as he pinched at his nose which was streaming blood.

“Oh my God.” A female voice said “Billy, what…” she looked up at Steve and paled “Captain, oh God, I’m so sorry…he’s…” Steve waved away another member of the public who had come to help, insisting he was fine. Taking a deep breath he looked up and saw the man was now crying, his head buried into his wife’s shoulders.

“We…we lost our son.” The lady continued, with a choked voice. “He hasn’t dealt with it so well.”

“I’m sorry.” Steve bowed his head, it was all he could think to say.

“It isn’t you fault” The lady shook her head. “And he doesn’t think that, not really, it’s just we never got a proper explanation, you know, bar official government statements. No real help to come to terms with anything.” “That doesn’t mean he can just punch the crap outta my dad!” Emmy blazed, indignantly and Steve lay a hand on her shoulder. “Emmy.” He shook his head gently before he turned to the woman. “I’m sorry that no one was there for you and I’m sorry that we couldn’t do more. But we tried.” The last three words were almost a plea to her, trying to make her understand they had tried, boy did they try. She cast him another sad look before she led her husband away.

“You ok?” Steve looked down at his daughter.

“Me?” She frowned “What about you?” “Had worse.” Steve mumbled, gently touching his nose “Let’s get out stuff and get home before it starts to set. I don’t fancy having to re-break it.”

**** Katie was sat smiling as Natasha was holding Jamie up, his hands curled round her fingers as she guided him round the living room.

“Won’t be long until he’s doing this himself.” The red head smiled, and Katie grinned.

“He’s growing so fast.” 

“Think you’ll have another?” Nat looked at her.

Katie shrugged. “I don’t know. I mean, Steve would have a football team full if I let him but, who knows.”

Nat smiled and Katie’s attention turned back to her son who was toddling in front of his Auntie. He was looking more and more like his father each day and was now a substantial little chunk who was pretty strong and robust too. Small bumps and knocks didn’t seem to phase him at all, and the other day he’d been playing with a tonka truck and had fallen onto it, flattening it completely. He’d screamed blue murder, more over the fact his toy was broken than he had been hurt, but it had made both his parents realise that he was definitely half Super Soldier and wasn’t inheriting any of Steve’s pre-serum ailments, much to Steve’s relief.

Their attention was taken as all three of them heard the car pull up the gravel drive and Jamie gave an excited giggle and started moving his legs even faster at the sound, understanding it to mean his father was back. Smiling to herself, Katie watched as he giggled and started trying to run to the door, and when it opened she looked up fully expecting Steve to grin and swoop his boy up into his arms, except what greeted her made her hand fly up to her mouth. His shirt was covered with blood and his nose was out of shape.

“Shit.” Katie stood up and headed straight to him, gently reaching up to slide a finger to his face, tilting it so she could see. “Are you ok?”

“I’m fine sweetheart” he said gently.

“What the hell happened?” Nat asked as she picked Jamie up, who was still squirming to get to his father, completely nonplussed by what was going on.

“Some guy in the store punched him.” Emmy explained, and Katie looked at her daughter, whose eyes were swollen, she’d been crying.

“What? Why?” she frowned. “Em, can you grab me an ice pack out the freezer?” Steve asked before she could answer, she was upset enough as it was and he didn’t want her seeing or hearing what was coming next. She nodded and headed off.

“Steve.” Katie watched as he sat down on the sofa, shaking his head.

“Just reset it before it starts to heal anymore.” He grumbled. “Quickly before she gets back.”

Katie sat next to him and reached out gently. He grit his teeth as she snapped his nose back into place. Across the room Nat flinched at the crunching noise it made.

“Fuck.” Steve cursed softly before laying his head back against the cushions of the couch steadying his breathing as his eyes began to water from the pain. He knew it would heal quickly but that didn’t stop it hurting like hell.

“You gonna tell us what happened?” Katie asked, looking at him.

“Some guy at the store recognised me and started screaming that it was all our fault, the Snap, and hit me.”

“Must have been a pretty hard swing.” Nat said gently, bouncing Jamie up and down, distracting him with the Cap teddy bear she had grabbed off the floor. Jamie grinned at the bear and grabbed it, sticking the ear of it into his mouth.

“He didn’t just hit you once, Dad.” Emmy said gently as she returned, passing him the ice pack.

“How many times was it?” Katie frowned.

“Four ,maybe.” he shrugged

“Try Six” Emmy muttered.

“Six?!” Katie’s voice grew loud

“And you just let him?” Nat’s snorted. “What else could I do Nat?” Steve sighed, “I couldn’t hit him back…” “Yes, you damned well could!” Katie seethed. “Fuck!”

“Language.” Steve chastised playfully. “Besides, wasn’t really going to hit him once Em had kicked him in the shin.”

“You kicked him?” Katie looked at Emmy who shrugged.

“He was screaming and punching so I kicked him, real hard, and then told him that he was an asshole, and everyone had lost, and that he should try fighting Thanos in a field in Wakanda himself if he could do any better…” “Then the guy’s wife appeared.” Steve sighed, pressing the ice pack to his face.

“Yeah, she was nice.” Emmy nodded. “Said they had lost their son and she was so sorry.” “But they’d never really had a chance to ask questions or had an explanation other than what the Government had said.” Steve’s voice was muffled slightly from the pack. “But it got me thinking in the car about how many other people out there like that.” “So we had an idea.” Emmy nodded “Support groups.” “Support groups?” Katie frowned.

“Yeah, we have them at school.” Emmy said “Somewhere for people to go and talk about their issues and feelings.” “That’s actually not a bad idea.” Nat mused and Steve nodded.

“I know. Surprised we didn’t think of it sooner.”

“Well we’ve had other things on our minds.” Katie popped a shoulder, gently.

“I’m gonna help.” Emmy smiled. “We’re gonna brainstorm ideas later after the party.”

“Yeah, on that, do me a favour and no one mention this to Tony when he gets here.” Steve groaned as he stood up, ice pack still on his nose. “I’m going to get cleaned up.”

Leaving Emmy to watch Jamie, Nat and Katie unloaded the car and took the supplies to the kitchen. Steve showered quickly and came back to help them, and it wasn’t long before the food was sorted, Katie’s ability to cook how easily she did never ceased to amaze Steve. Before long the gang arrived and Morgan toddled in, holding Tony’s hand before he let go and she bee-lined for Emmy who was sat on the living room floor where she had been sat looking at a book with Jamie.

“Hey Moo!” Emmy grinned at the younger girl who sat with a soft thud next to her, leaning into her older cousin for a hug.

Tony watched them for a short while before he asked if Emmy was okay and then headed into the kitchen to find Pepper already clutching a glass of champagne. Katie handed him a beer as she pulled him into a hug and he shook Steve’s hand.

“You’re in the same room as usual.” Katie looked at him. “I wasn’t sure if you wanted Moo in with you guys or not so there’s the travel cot in there or she can have the room over from you…” “She can stay with us.” Tony nodded, taking a pull from his beer.

“Where is she?”  Natasha asked.

“With Emmy. She adores that kid.”

“Have you told her the paperwork has been finalised?” Pepper asked looking at Katie and Steve who both shook their head.

“No, we’re gonna surprise her with that later.” Katie smiled.

“We got her a little something.” Tony swallowed his beer. “You know, just to welcome her officially to the mad house.” “What is it?” Steve asked suspiciously.

“Nothing Iron Man or Tony Stark related.” Pepper looked at Steve. “I promise.” Tony shrugged. “Spoil sport.” The five adults all headed into the large living room, Jamie grinned up at his uncle and crawled over to him. Tony swung him up in the air and smiled, that is until Jamie head-butted him by accident.

“Oww…shhhhhhhhugar!” The billionaire corrected his curse before wincing. “Man, Rogers, this kid has your knuckle head.” Steve smirked. “He’s still half Stark.”

“Mind you, you should be grateful he doesn’t take after his mom. She was a horror.” “Was not.” Katie shot back indignantly. “Kiddo, you were a pain in the ass.” Tony sniggered. “You stuck bread in the VCR. Dad hit the roof.” “I thought it was a toaster.” Katie shrugged as the room laughed. “Mind you, not like we have to worry about that now seeing as VCRs went out in the stone age.” “Was that an age joke?” Tony smirked. “Do I have to respond with one about your husband or…” Steve rolled his eyes “Go ahead, be original.” “You know you’re almost as sarcastic as she is now.” Nat but in, pointing at Katie who grinned before she looked at Tony.

“You remember what dad used to say?”

“Sarcasm is a measure of potential,” Tony imitated their father’s voice. “And if that’s true…” “You’ll be a great man someday.” Katie finished, the two of them laughing.

Despite the crappy start to the day, it was a nice afternoon surrounded by their family. They drank, ate and eventually it was time for the cake which Katie and Steve were excited about, for good reason. Katie placed it down on the coffee table in the middle of the lounge, complete with candles. For the first time the group got a look at it, and Steve heard Emmy gasp. Half the large cake was iced in blue, the other half was lilac and across the top the word ‘Happy’ spanned both halves, before the next line read birth on the blue side and adoption on the other, before the word day sat underneath.

Emmy glanced up at her parents, her eyes filling with tears. “You mean…” Steve grinned and handed her the envelope he’d retrieved from the kitchen, which she took in shaking hands. “Signed, sealed, done. You’re officially a Rogers, Em.”

“Poor thing.” Tony mumbled, earning himself a slap round the back of the head from Natasha.

Together the Rogers’ children blew out their candles (well, Katie blowing Jamie’s out on his behalf before the boy could grab one of them and burn himself) and then Emmy turned to look at Steve and Katie before throwing herself forwards, her arms round both their waists. Steve’s arm fell to her back and he pressed a kiss to Katie’s cheek before Tony stepped forward and handed Emmy a small gift bag.

“It’s just a little something.” He smiled. “Just to say welcome to the family, officially we mean, because you’re already part of the…” He rolled his eyes as Emmy blinked up at him. “Just take it, kid.”

Emmy took the bag and opened it, her eyes widening as she looked at the box, emblazoned with the word Pandora. Katie peered down as Emmy opened it and smiled at the charm bracelet which was inside. It held charms, the letters EJR for her initials, Emily Jayne Rogers.

“Thank you.” She whispered before she gave Tony a hug, then Pepper. She stepped back and turned around, her eyes brimming with tears. “This is the best day ever!”

And despite the shitty start to it in the store, Steve was inclined to agree it hadn’t been that bad at all.

Chapter 47

 **Original Posting**

[imagine-docx]

dresses.

Summary: Bucky is a cute single dad who needs to get a dress for his daughter because his ex wife’s wedding is in a few weeks. Insert you, the cute kids shop owner who has a ton of knowledge in this department. [ChubbyBucky!SingleDad!AU]

Warnings: swearing, and some insecurity mentions and some body shaming, suggestive content right at the end.

A/N: the amount of love i got on sneaky is astronomical! and i love and appreciate each and everyone of you who read it and enjoyed it! also, please remember to sign all the petitons, and donate if you can and attend protests if you can! black lives matter. - amanda

➽───────────────❥

Nope, nope, no, absolutely not, fuck this. Was the exact thought process Bucky went through his mind. The reminder just popped up that in two weeks was his ex wife’s marriage ceremony and reception.

Bucky and Natasha were once married, and had little Layla from the marriage. Layla was caught in the crossfire of a nasty divorce when Bucky and Nat ended things when she was only 3. When Bucky got the invitation for the wedding, he felt the same exact heartbreak when he realized Nat was cheating on him, and felt someone throw his heart into a fire when he realized the man she was currently engaged to was the exact man she cheated with.

He got up and realized that he should check if Layla had any clothes to wear to the wedding. He looked through her closet and realized Layla outgrew almost all of these or weren’t there for the wow factor.

He sighed, closing her closet. He ran his hands through his hair, he turned around and was greeted by the mirror that was there. 

The divorce was hard on Bucky and it was obvious. He put on a few extra pounds around the waist, his shoulders rounded out, and his thighs filled out his pants from all the late shifts at the security firm. Another sighed escaped his lips, he was seeing his ex in laws again and he didn’t look the greatest. 

He walked down the stairs and grabbed his keys, and was going to pick up Layla from Wanda’s house and take Layla dress shopping.

➽───────────────❥

“Wow you look like shit,” Wanda greeted him.

“Glad to know someone like you is caring for my kid,” Bucky sarcastically responded, allowing himself into her house. 

“You already knew what you were signing up for when you knew I was dating Sam,” Wanda said, guiding him to the kitchen.

Bucky met Wanda through Sam. Sam met Wanda through the security firm, when Wanda was working for her old company and they changed the codes without her knowing, she flipped out and somehow Sam and Wanda clicked, and here they were. 

“Where’s my kid?” He said, looking around for the little bundle of joy.

“Upstairs with Sam,” she responded. He eyed Wanda, “Listen, they’re bonding because I need to talk to you.”

“Shoot,” he said, grabbing a banana from the fruit basket.

“Nat’s getting married next week.”

“I know that.”

“You should get a date,” Wanda said bluntly.

“I would, if I could.” He stated, “Oh, I need a dress for the wedding.”

“Even better!” Wanda exclaimed, “That cute shop owner seems like she can help you out.”

“Wanda,” Bucky warned. Wanda was referring to you. You owned this little shop called Sew Lovely and were always helping him out with clothes for Layla. 

He learned about it through Wanda as she was friends with you, and god was he smittened by you. You always helped out with what she wore, and the majority of her closet came from your little shop. 

Everytime he came to see you, he felt like he was falling deeper and deeper, and it didn’t help that Layla would spend any given moment with you, and you were amazing to his kid.

“I’m trying to help,” she said defensively.

“Daddy!” He heard a little voice exclaim from around the corner. 

“Hi pumpkin, did you have fun with uncle Sam and aunty Wanda?”

“Uh-huh, we coloured, watched movies, so much fun.” Layla said.

“Tell me more while we’re in the car,” he said, getting up from his seat and walking to the door. Before leaving he leaned back to Wanda, “I’m going for the dress,” Wanda smirked, “Not for the girl, for the dress.”

Wanda kept that smirk on her face, “Of course Buckaroo.”

➽───────────────❥

He decided to take Layla out for smoothies before shooting you a text asking you if you were free to help find him a dress. He poked the straw into Layla’s drink before he felt the buzz from his phone in his pocket. He pulled it out and read the text message while poking his own straw into his drink. He let out a small smile “Come love,” he said grabbing her hand before making their way back to the car. 

Upon buckling her in, he brushed some hair out of her face, “We have to go shopping baby,” he cooed.

“I love shopping!” she exclaimed. 

“Glad to hear baby,” he said, before navigating to the shop. 

➽───────────────❥

He held Layla’s hand, while navigating to your shop. “Is aunty here?!” she asked, excitedly. 

“Of course,” he chuckled as Layla dragged him into the store.

He heard someone call out Layla’s name and it could have been confused with an angel. “I knew that was my favourite sugar puff!” you exclaimed, crouching to hug her. 

“Aunty! I’ve missed you!” Layla exclaimed, throwing her arms around you. 

“And would you look at that, it's my favourite client,” you said. 

Your hair was tossed into a messy ponytail, you were wearing an oversized white knit sweater, a pair of black jeans and some white sneakers. Even though the outfit was simple, you look like god himself spent ages creating you. “You know I would have no idea what to do with fashion,” he joked. 

“Of course I do,” you joked back. “So how can I help the two of you today?”

“I need a dress for a wedding,” he said, biting back the fact it was his ex wife’s wedding. “Say no more,” you said, before crouching back down to Layla, “Alright love, we need to get you a dress. What are you thinking?” 

“I want poofy! Colours! Flowers!” She exclaimed. 

“Oh she knows off the bat, let’s go sugar puff,” you said, getting up and grabbing her hand and taking her around the shop. 

➽───────────────❥

And that’s how Bucky spent the remainder of his day looking at dresses with you and Layla. He sat while the two of you looked around and tried things on. He admired how well you two bonded, as if you were mother and daughter, “I like this one the most sugar puff. What do you think?” 

“I love it!” She exclaimed, she threw her arms around you for the second time today, “Thank you Aunty!” 

Bucky looked over and saw that Layla was sporting a poofy white dress with red flowers and green leaves around it. “I love this one,” he said in awe at his daughter. 

“No problem baby, I guess we have to get you matching jewelry,” you said, engulfing her into another hug.  

Bucky let out a groan, “You guys have been shopping for so long.”

“Don’t rush a girl,” you joked. 

Another forty five minutes and almost two hundred dollars later. They were done. “Remind me to never go shopping,” he joked. 

“When you have a girl, you can never say no,” you smiled at him, making his heart melt. 

“Thank you so much,” he said, feeling insecure because he knew someone like you would never like him. 

“Not a problem sugar,” You said, and his heart skipped a beat. “See you next week?”

“You can count on it,” he said, giving you a small smile.

“Bye Aunty,” she said, hugging at your legs.

“Bye sugar puff, bye Buck,” you said, as they walked out the shop.

He should probably stop spending so much money at your shop, but seeing you made it all worth it.

➽───────────────❥

At this point, there was a week until Nat’s wedding and he was internally freaking out, he tried on his suit the previous night and it didn’t fit. The pants could barely make it past his midthigh, the dress shirt needed about three more inches before it could fit around his frame, and the jacket couldn’t even fit his arms.

Layla was asleep in her room, and he sat on the bed and tears started brewing in his eyes. Makes sense why Nat left, and why she wouldn’t like me, he thought referring to you.

He shut his eyes to prevent tears from slipping down his face. He steadied his breathing before shooting Wanda a text asking if she could watch Layla for a little longer than he anticipated. He tossed his phone on his bed, before dumping the suit in the trash can and going to shower.

➽───────────────❥

Bucky left work early, having asked Steve to cover for him while he went suit shopping. Once leaving work he somehow found himself on your street. He decided to see what you were up to before going suit shopping. 

He walked up to the shop and saw you were sitting on the bar stool, innocently chewing at the tip of your pen while looking at the notebook that sits in front of you. You were wearing a black romper with sunflowers all over them, an oversized black cardigan that was slipping off of your body, you had your hair tossed into a messy bun, glasses sat on your nose, and a pair of black sandal heels were on your feet. 

He found himself slowly walking up to the shop, opening the door, the bell went off from above him. You looked up and let out a huge smile, which made his heart melt and he returned a goofy grin. 

“Got worried for you Buck, haven’t seen you in a while,” you joked.

“Dad duties call, doll,” he said walking up to the counter, “You alone?”

“Jessica and Natalie are in the back,” you said pointing your pen off to the back, “It’s fairly early, aren’t you supposed to be at work?”

“Don’t want me here doll?” He said, raising an eyebrow at you.

“No, I just need to make sure you have the funds to keep my store running,” you joked.

“Gotta go suit shopping, was on my way, and thought I should stop in and let you know I’m fine,” he joked.

“You going by yourself?” You asked.

“I have no one else doll, Steve and Sam are at work,” he said running his hand through his hair.

“I can come,” you said, quickly adding, “If you want.”

“I don’t want to drag you away from work,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck.

“Hush hush, I’ll come.” You closed the notebook, got off the stool, “Let me tell them I’m leaving and grab my bag?” 

“I’ll wait here,” he said smiling at you.

“Don’t move,” you warned, before walking to the back.

He looked around at the new displays, he thought about how much time you probably put into it, “You moved, about an inch. Can’t trust you anymore, Barnes,” he heard you say from behind you.

“My apologies doll, how could I possibly make it up to you?” He asked.

You linked your arm around his, “I’ll come up with something,” you said, as the two of you exited the shop.

➽───────────────❥

The two of you found yourselves at this small suit shop at the edge of Brooklyn. Walking in, the two of you heard someone yell, “James.” And an elderly Italian man came and greeted him with a hug.

“Hi Bruno,” he said, returning the hug.

He pulled away and noticed you, “Who’s this beautiful dame?”

He introduced the two of you, before Bruno brought the two of you deeper into the store, “He’s provided suits since I was young.”

You nodded, “It’s cute.”

“How about have the pretty dame sit and I do the measurements,” Bruno said. You sat on the stool provided and sipped on the smoothie that you bought for the two of you. Bucky felt embarrassed as Bruno took his measurements in front of you, but you flashed him a reassuring smile, and he felt some of the insecurities fade away.

➽───────────────❥

An hour later and Bucky found himself getting frustrated. Nothing looked good on him. He tried navy blue suits, beige suits, grey suits, plaid suits, and to no avail he could find anything. Bruno went to look at other options, while Bucky looked in the mirror. It was obvious he was picking at his own body.

You got up and walked over to him, rubbing his back, “You look gorgeous Buck, don’t deflate yourself.”

“It’s just that,” he started, “It’s my ex wife's wedding, and I don’t look good. I want to impress the family, but I look like-”

You cut him off, “You look amazing, and she’s an idiot for letting you go. If her family doesn’t like it, that sucks, cause you’re no longer their family.”

“Thank you,” he said, pulling you into a hug.

“I got your back Buck,” you said, hugging him back, “But you should have told me we were dressed to kill, I would be on it.”

“Now that you’re in on it, what’s running through that mind of yours?” He said, pulling away.

“Black,” you said, “Can’t go wrong with that.”

He smiled before yelling out, “Bruno? You got a black suit?”

➽───────────────❥

He hated how right you were, but also simultaneously loved that you knew him that well. He smiled at you, “Doll you know me well.”

“Gotta look out for my two favourite Barnes, don’t I?” you asked.

“James, you look amazing, you just need a tie,” Bruno said, before going off to find a tie.

You got up and smoothed out the suit near his shoulders, “I owe you one,” he said, looking down at you.

“You owe me a lot sugar,” you said.

Bruno came back with a red tie, “I think this would look good on you James.” You moved away from him, and let Bruno tie the tie to complete the suit. 

“The colour brings out your eyes,” you commented. 

The tie was rich, vibrant, red, and contrasted nicely against the black suit and his blue eyes. “You look amazing James.”

“Thanks Brun, I’ll take it,” Bucky said, looking at himself in the mirror, smiling at how good he looked.

Bruno walked to the front and rung up the order, “You really know what’s good for me doll.”

“What can I say? I know my Barnes,” you joked.

“How about I go change, then I’ll treat you to dinner?” He asked.

“He’s living up to his word,” you joked.

“I always do doll,” he said, before walking back to the dressing room.

➽───────────────❥

Bucky was a man of his word and took you to the small dinner about three streets away, but still was on the outskirts of town. You finished up dinner and were driving back, “You know your way to a girls heart.”

“I always do,” he joked.

You two sat in comfortable silence the rest of the way back. Pulling up to your house, he walked you to your step. “Thank you for coming with me.”

“Anytime Buck,” you responded.

He scratched the back of his neck, “Are you free this Saturday?” He realized what it sounded like, “I mean, you can be my plus one with Layla,” he rushed out.

“Of course I would come Buck,” you unlocked the door, “Text me the details?”

“Of course. Good night doll,” he said.

You kissed him on the cheek, “Night Buck,” you said before scurrying inside, missing the blush that rose to his cheeks.

➽───────────────❥

Bucky didn’t see you at all that week. He was busy getting his haircut, buying other last minute things he needed before the wedding. He kept in contact with you through texts, telling you he’d pick you up at four.

It was three fifty and he was in his car, with Layla in the backseat singing loudly to the pop that played on the radio. He was nervous, he didn’t know what to expect. He unbuckled Layla, before making his way up the steps. He rang the doorbell and waited for you to answer.

Once you opened the door, he felt the wind get knocked out of his lungs. Before him you wore a red satin dress, with a low cut exposing your cleavage, the black heels accentuated the length of your legs, you had a necklace with your initial as the pendant, a small gold bracelet and some gold earrings. 

“Aunty! You look so good!” Layla said, breaking Bucky’s train of thought.

“Thank you sugar puff, you look beautiful,” you said stroking her hair. You pulled the door in behind you and locked it, and dropped the key into your back. 

“You look gorgeous doll,” he said, still in awe at you.

“You clean up well Barnes,” you said, “Let’s get to that wedding.”

➽───────────────❥

Bucky found himself looking at you with awe whenever you didn’t notice. A lot of the family Bucky once met at his wedding leaned into him saying that his current family was cute and received their blessings. 

He didn’t notice how much the three of you looked like a family until one of Nat’s cousins pointed out that his tie, matched your dress, which matched the flowers on Layla’s dress.

He looked over and saw you, Wanda, Carol, Nebula and Sharon sitting and sharing a drink. He smiled, before he heard someone call out his name, he turned around and saw Natasha, “Can we talk?” 

“What?”

“I wanted to apologize for everything, and I’m glad you found someone who treats you well and loves Lay,” Nat said, motioning to Layla sitting on your lap.

“Thanks Nat,” he responded, sipping on his soda.

“Truce?” She asked.

“Truce.”

➽───────────────❥

It was well after twelve, and Bucky was dropping you home. Layla was taken to Wanda’s earlier, and Layla was going to spend the night there. You and Bucky had a grand time, you two laughed, shared drinks, shared a few dances, and a few glances here and there. 

You were wrapped up in his suit jacket due to it being colder than you anticipated when you were leaving the hall. “I had fun tonight,” you said, as you walked up the stairs.

“Thank you for coming, I appreciate it,” he said.

“Anything for you,” you said looking at him, you felt the air shift and you didn’t mind.

Both of you leaned in, until your lips were touching and moving in harmony. Your arms found their way behind his neck, and his hands were wrapped around your waist, pulling you closer. You broke away when you needed air. You gave him a sheepish smile, before he pecked your lips again.

“Glad this dress did its job,” you joked.

“You bought this just for me?” He asked, running his fingers along the satin material that was along your waist..

“Of course, I needed to match your tie, for obvious reasons, and I hope it would lead to something like this. Needless to say, it did its job,” you said brushing hair out of his eyes.

“Well, if this dress is for me, I would like to see it on the floor,” he whispered seductively in your ear.

“You better get to work loverboy,” you said, before he picked you up and took you into your house.

[moonlit-imagines]

Headcanons for being a younger Avenger and mentoring Kamala

Kamala Khan x reader

warnings: avengers game spoilers, guns

a/n: so excited about this one; i made y/n just a bit older (and gn!) so that they’re in their mid-early teens during a-day! hope thats okie doke! reader has electrokinesis. this accidentally got really detailed

prompt: anonymous: “Hey there! Would you mind writing HCs for the Avengers Game about female reader being a young Avenger (around 17) and mentoring Kamala Khan?”

you were just a kid yourself when you joined the avengers

and you were an inspiration to kids around the world

“does SHIELD think nothing of child labor laws?” -bruce

the avengers became your family

and seeing what you could do...they knew you could handle yourself

and then a-day happened

the day started off so perfect

and the kids went ballistic over seeing you

“y/h/n! look, it’s y/h/n!”

“can i get a picture?”

“hi, guys! of course you can!”

but there was one kid who stuck out among the rest

kamala khan

“you’re the one who wrote about the sewers, right? i freaking loved it! may i just say your art is amazing?”

“r-really?”

“oh, yeah! and the part where you had thor spin mjölnir to push water towards the sewer lizards so i could shock them? genius!”

she could not wait to tell abu about what you had just said

you obviously took a selfie with her and handed her a little pin with your own “icon” on it

but your world got turned upside down that day

the battle was one you’d never forget

and the fighting with your own teammates afterwards would haunt you for years to come

“what do you know, y/n?! you’re just a kid!” -tony

“oh yeah? im one of the only functioning members of this team!”

“everybody calm down. y/n makes a good point, but—” -nat

“thank you”

“...but there’s some stuff you should leave up to us. you really shouldn’t have to take on so much responsibility” -nat

“she’s right, y/n. this was our fault” -bruce

“are you kidding me?! i’m just as guilty as the rest of you, i’m an equal member of this team! for years we’ve dealt with this together, taken the blame together! what’s changed?”

“y/n...you saw what we did out there. that changed everything...” -bruce

you technically were an inhuman, just not terrigen-based

didnt matter to AIM, they took dr. pym for god’s sake

so you had to run, you were on your own for a while

a long while

you laid low for five years, most boring five years of your life

at least you still had your life, though. it just wasn’t what it used to be

but you got a message one day

“‘tiny dancer,’ huh? my moneys on either nat or tony. nah, tony would have chosen ‘rocket man.’”

you couldn’t be sure, maybe it was just a random shield agent...maybe hank pym? god, this was crazy

the message brought you to, uh, cap’s memorial statue

and there was a young girl arguing with a couple of boys...an inhuman!

you hopped in and saved her, she seemed scared

“hey, kid, you alright?”

“y/h/n? is it really you?”

she seemed vaguely familiar

“are you tiny dancer?”

“no, i thought you might be? they sent you here, too?”

there wasn’t much time to chat, AIM was onto you

you two unfortunately got split up for a minute, but you were practically raised by the notorious clint barton and natasha romanoff, and various other spies

yes, you planted a tracker on her

and met her at the bus stop!

“you found me?”

“that i did, kamala. see, i do remember you”

“that is so cool! i mean—not almost getting killed, or the guy with the big head...”

“what guy? you need to tell me everything”

the whole busride was a bit overwhelming. kamala explained the resistance clues, her powers, her undying admiration for the avengers, you name it

but it made you feel good to know that there were people out there that didn’t hate you

“so what was it like? being the teenage avenger?”

“uh, it was...it was really cool. i felt like i was one-of-a-kind. but sometimes people didn’t take me seriously, it was kind of aggravating”

“yeah, no one takes me seriously either...”

“you know, depending on how this all goes, i might be able to give you a few pointers”

“really?! that’d be great!”

once you got to utah...you saw the chimera

it brought back some bad memories, kamala could tell

“you okay?”

“me? yeah, im good. just thinking...okay, well, do you have a plan on how to get yourself across all of this?”

“actually, i do!”

it was kind of creepy in there, but when you laid your eyes on caps shield, you kind of broke

“do you hear something, what it that?”

“...hulk. kamala, you need to get out of here, i’ll catch up to you, i swear”

she didn’t leave in time, so she got to see the greener side of bruce. you chased him back and tried to get bruce back

meanwhile, kamala found AIM troops...oops

bruce cooled off and man was he doing rough

“y/n, is that really you?”

“yeah, its me. surprise. how long have you been the big guy?”

“too long...a few years”

“jesus, im sorry. i’ll be right back, though. some kid brought me here, i gotta go get her. you kinda scared her off”

she was passed out when you got to her

but bruce is a doctor, he’d figure it out

“i could give her a little shock to wake her up, you know?”

“oh, i know. just let her rest for a minute. she needs it”

“right...well im gonna take a look around, maybe go see what i left behind. i could power the place up, but we’re missing some parts to actually get this thing running. best i can do is lights and doors”

you turned the little things on and turns out did leave a decent amount of stuff in here

your first pair of pistols that nat gave you, the gigantic stein that thor gifted you for your 13th birthday, gadgets tony needed an “extra boost” for *bzzt*, a note from cap that just said “good luck, y/n, you’re going to do great!” you cant even remember what it was he was referring to. you just missed him

kamala walked in while you were shuffling around and cleaning the place up

“hey, dr. banner wanted me to come get you. is this your room?”

“that it is, and it’s a huge mess. this is literally all my belongings ever”

bruce had his plan and you just went along, helping kamala out as you go

“baby steps, kam, don’t want you to pass out. but don’t worry, happens to the best of us” -you

“really? you pass out too?” -kamala

“oh yeah, for sure. tell her bruce, remember that time we had thor overcharge me to literally make me an EMP? and tony was busy listening to music so he wouldn’t get out of the blast radius and his armor shut down? so he was out of commission and i had just collapsed from it all? good times”

“y/n, we thought you died” -bruce

this hc is so long omg — anyways you guys ended up finding tony and it was sort of entertaining but he kinda punched bruce and then hugged you

“you got so big”

“shut up, tony”

you kinda harbored some bad feelings since none of the avengers did anything to help you once they started rounding up inhumans (but you still missed them)

getting attacked again

“okay, kamala, remember what i said about baby steps. dont overdo it. i trust you with this!”

“thank you, y/n! uh—oh my god!”

aaaanyways you went to the ant hill to see hank and pick up some supplies, boy was it great to see some familiar faces, then back the the chimera you went to fix it all up

“can you hold that right there for me, kamala? thanks. i think that just about does it. now i have a surprise for you...your own room!”

you helped kamala get it nice and tidy while talking about each other’s lives, she really did remind you of yourself when you became an avenger. excited, scared, underestimated, all of that. and she begged you to share some mission stories, so you obviously did

“you know, if you stick around for a while, you’re gonna have some cool stories, too. maybe even a kickass costume.”

“oh! a costume, ive got that sorta covered. check it out. a burkini, muslim women wear it for swimming and stuff. my mom got it for me”

“love it. soon we’ll find you a fitting name and update the suit, but seriously, this was the perfect way to go. you look great”

“you think so? i don’t know if i feel that cool. maybe i should try something else?”

“if that’s how you feel, you don’t have to stick to it. you can experiment all you want! but i really think you did awesome on this. come on, pose with me! and hey, i like your pins.”

at this point, you’d do anything for kamala, she reminded you so much of yourself. you would have killed for a mentor your age back in the day.

natasha was in fact tiny dancer...called it

“oh, god, y/n. you’re all grown up...im sorry we left you alone. but if it makes you feel better, i always kept an eye on you”

“well, i kind of took on a protégé...she’s like your grand-protégé. kam, c’mere”

after thor finally came back, everyone started fighting again and ditched, it felt so familiar. but you couldn’t leave kamala behind, you swore to yourself that you couldn’t do that.

she was so good for this team

MODOK was defeated (by kamala herself) but there was so much left to do, tons of threats to extinguish, training to accomplish

“y/n, tony won’t turn his dad rock off! he overrode the speakers in my room”

“oh, it’s on. get chastity’s fabric dye and bleach pens. we’re gonna start some trouble”

she gave you a high five one time and nearly broke your arm

sending each other tiny hand memes

“hey, ms. m, how’re your parents? doing okay without their favorite super-daughter?”

“my abu doesn’t stop texting me actually, says my family is super proud of me. it’s a nice change of pace”

you take her on covert missions for field training, it was Educational(tm)

*elevator music playing* “so...what do you want for dinner? i was thinking we could ask thor to barbecue”

sleepovers in her room that just turn into her showing you her superhero merch, listening to music, prank lists, sneaking off to the HARM room for hand-to-hand combat training and power experiments, thinking up new costume designs

“tip: you always need backup suits, you never know what you’re gonna run into out there. one time tony pushed me into a tower of paint cans and they spilled all over me. steve yelled at him for two hours afterwards. worst mission ever, except steve said ‘motherfucker’ and i have never recovered from the emotions of that day”

“wow, i wish i could have been there for that”

“don’t worry, kami, you’ll see some crazy ‘team bonding’ along the way”

she geeks out about captain marvel sometimes

“hey, i’ve got a book carol gave to me about ‘teens taking responsibility.’ you wanna read it?”

“is it any good?”

“i don’t know, i only read the first two pages”

you ended up having a true heart-to-heart with her after one mission when she made a mistake that nearly cost you guys the mission. you told her that not every mission is going to go perfect, each avenger had slipped up in the field, and she had just started, shes not going to be perfect

“i am literally always here if you need anything. i know what it feels like to be a teenager among legends, but trust me, you’ve made it this far and you’ve proven how much of a badass you are. i know you can take anything that gets thrown at you”

kamala said she makes vegan nachos and yeah she makes vegan nachos

you guys have to hide from the rest of the team when she makes them bc they eat ALL OF THEM

gaff (the SHEILD vendor) has you test his gear, you recommend gear to kamala

you were so excited to guide kamala on her journey of heroism

taglist: @ravenmoore14 // @purpleskiesstorm //

[captainjimothycarter]

Double Trouble

AN: Total crack fic thanks to the Steggy Discord and my love for Chesternut. Chester Phillips/Sarah Rogers just makes sense. The shipname, not so much.

-

Link to AO3

-

Peggy and Steve have an announcement at the same time that Sarah and Chester do. Chester just reacts differently, is all.

-

“Sarah, there’s something we need to tell you,” Peggy said, not long after she and Steve had sat down for breakfast.

“Funny, Chester and I have something we need to tell you, but you go first, love.” Sarah had their back to them, finishing flipping the last pancake onto a growing stack. “Too bad Mr. Grump didn’t get home until four in the morning last night.”

Steve cringed slightly, sharing a look with Peggy while his ma wasn’t looking. Sarah didn’t know right off that her son was Captain America - or at least Steve didn’t think so. He liked to keep it that way, not wanting to involve his mother in the dangerous and hectic lifestyle that was being a hero. Phillips had stayed late last night, finishing up paperwork and arguing with some politician or another on the phone while Steve had gotten in just as late to the office after another mission. Peggy had fallen asleep on the couch, one of Phillips’ jackets tucked around her like a blanket.

“She’s under my care, course I’m gonna make sure she doesn’t freeze to death in this office,” Phillips grumbled when Steve picked up the jacket to hand it back to him. It was the closest they’d get to Phillips saying he cared about them during work hours.

“I didn’t say anything,” Steve cheesed, both of them instantly hushing when Peggy groaned and started to wake up from Steve’s presence.

“I don’t know what you two do in that office that keeps him so late,” Sarah continued, finally turning back around to look at the pair sitting side by side. “Or should I say, I don’t know what the three of you do in that office to stay so late? You look exhausted, you shouldn’t have come over so early, then!”

Peggy laughed just to brush the concern off, rubbing Steve’s thigh under the table. “Well, we couldn’t wait any longer and I didn’t want to call so early to wake you two up. Not with Phill-Chester getting in so late.”

“Alright, then. What’s the big news?” Sarah mused, pushing the stack of pancakes on the table and walking around to sit down with her steaming cup of tea. Ginger tea, by what Steve could smell. Peggy drank the same kind, ever since…

“We’re pregnant!”

Peggy was beaming from ear to ear, her hand laying over her belly. They were just a handful of weeks in, but she was already starting to show. They had no idea how the serum would have any effect on her or their unborn children and it was just a guessing game.

Steve’s face fell as his Ma didn’t say a word, just looking between them. They were married and even if that wasn’t the case, Ma loved Peggy. “Ma? You alright? You heard Peggy right, we’re…”

“No, no I heard you,” Sarah mumbled, rubbing her fingertips over the handle of her mug. “It’s just... we’re pregnant too. Chester and I.”

“You’re kidding!” Steve breathed. “I’m gonna have a sibling? Ma, that’s wonderful!”

He knew growing up he always wanted a sibling, having some jealousy for Bucky and his always seeming to grow family. He knew his Ma had tried once or twice with a guy or two she was dating, but her pregnancy with him had been so hard on her.

“Sarah, that’s amazing. When are you due? The doctor thinks we’re due near the end of October,” Peggy explained, standing up to wrap Sarah in a hug.

“The same time! Little pumpkins!” Sarah hugged her daughter-in-law tight as she could, kissing her cheek. “Oh, I am so happy for the two of you!”

“We’re happy for you, Ma. Seriously. I’m so glad you two can have a child,” Steve assured his Ma, pulling both of them into a gentle hug. “Excuse me, but I need to use the bathroom.”

“He’s going to have a slight freak out, isn’t it?” Sarah asked when she heard the bathroom door upstairs close. “Always the same, my Stevie.”

“That much hasn’t changed. You should’ve seen him when I told him. I asked Mr. Jarvis to bake me a cinnamon bun and left it in the oven for Steve to find. He panicked for a good hour, between being too happy and-”

Peggy paused at the sound of feet hitting the floor, following shuffling noises. She watched her boss and father-in-law shuffle into the kitchen, wearing pajamas, and a grumpy look. He made a confirmation grump at them before leaving to grab the paper.

Phillips was only gone for two minutes before he returned, paper secured under his arm. He looked more alert, eyes straight on her. 

“Please tell me I misheard you, Carter. Please tell me that you are not pregnant.” At Peggy’s blank look, he groaned and scrubbed at his face. “I forbid it. You’re too young to be pregnant Carter!”

Peggy huffed and rolled her eyes. “Forbid it? I’m 27, sir. And married.”

Phillips threw the paper down on the table with more force than necessary. “So?! That’s still too young to be fucking pregnant, never the mind married! Please tell me it’s Rogers’”

“Chester!” Sarah chided, rolling her eyes too. “Calm down, love. I know you care about them, but they are adults.”

“Calm down? No, Sarah, love, these are-are two young adults in love! Pregnant! No, I forbid it!”

All Peggy could do was give him a look that stated are-you-kidding-me. “Who else would I be fucking? And forewarning, my hormones are always a mess. So be careful how you answer that.”

“Great, just great,” Phillips sighed, rubbing at his temples. “I get a child and a grandchild. I already have an aneurysm named after you two, why not add two more!”

Phillips’ eyes snapped to Steve the second the unfortunate man had come back downstairs. “Rogers!”

Steve’s eyes widened, not taking his Ma nor his wife’s frantic look of get out of here for granted and tailing it back upstairs.

“Oh hell no, boy, get back here!” Phillips half-shouted, storming up the steps after Steve.

“He’s just very overprotective of you guys,” Sarah tried to soothe, rubbing her hand up and down Peggy’s arm. “Add the fact he’s slept maybe three hours. He’ll calm down once the news settles in. I just hope he’s not too hard on Steve.”

“Steve can handle it,” Peggy sighed, too exhausted to chase after the pair. Phillips can have his overprotective, adopted dad syndrome moment. “He’s handled much worse.”

-

Steve grunted as Phillips pounded another fist into the door. “Will you stop? We’re married, Chester! It’s not like it was on accident and we have to have a shotgun wedding - if Peggy would even want that!”

“You listen here, boy! I walked her down the aisle, I married you too off. It doesn’t mean you two can-can go creating babies!” Phillips snapped, hitting the door again.

“Well, I ain’t complaining about you knocking my Ma up!” Steve countered. “You two are happy and married!”

“That’s different and you know it!”

“How?! How is that different?”

That seemed to stutter Phillips some, enough for him to stop hitting the door, enough for Steve to partway crack the door and look out to see him leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. Poor guy was really looking his age and showing the same panic Steve had been filtering on and off for the last few weeks.

“Because I didn’t know! About you two - I thought...I almost sent her on a possible dangerous assignment just last night, Steve!” Chester grumbled. “Plus, you two...you’re so young if you get hurt or-or Peggy. We’re older, we’re more settled, to a point. And I-”

“You’re terrified, huh?” Steve honestly asked. He nodded in agreement to Chester’s nod. “Yeah, I am too. Look, I know we’re young and things are a mess because of our...situation, who I am, and what naught but it’s not like we won’t have help. Hell, I’m terrified too. It’s not like I had a good pop to look up to. Bucky’s dad was the closest I’d get. You have...been amazing for my Ma, for us.”

“I guess we both just gotta figure this out, huh? How to be parents,” Chester sighed. “Thank god for our ladies, huh?”

“Yeah,” Steve agreed, hands shoved into his pockets. “Thank God for Ma and Peggy. We’d be lost without ‘em. The only thing we can do is do right by them, by our kids. We’re lucky to have the ladies in our lives that we do.”

[passivenovember]

If Snow Loves the Trees and Fields.

Billy's job at Willowbrook Elementary is the only reason he puts up with this weather at all.

His hatred for winter, a season which hardly existed when he taught in the Valley, morphs and becomes something violent on the first Monday after Christmas break.

He wakes up feeling like his toes have gone missing, frozen black and blue with the cold, and after his phone tells him it's below zero outside, with wind-chill, his heart stops beating.

Hawkins is -10 degrees, to be precise.

And it leaves him feeling like that's gotta be illegal, or. He could for sure call all the scientists on Earth and have a law passed that clarifies: those born and raised in a Southern climate get a free pass on days when Hell is actively freezing over.

But it's not snowing today. And all the ice on the street has been scraped into terrible, disgusting drifts that block his driveway, and Hopper would immediately call bullshit. All, gonna have to suck it up if you wanna live here, buttercup.

So Billy decides to be an adult, or whatever. He spends another five minutes on his phone definitely not stalking his ex Instagram before rolling out of bed to get dressed.

And, like.

Even his underwear drawer is stiff from the cold so Billy decides to bundle the fuck up--a trick he learned from Max last fall, during the coldest year Indiana had ever seen. He manages to stack five layers in total; one pretty pink thermal set just brushing his his skin and a button down shirt to stave off the goosebumps. A sweater and jeans for professionalism. One Grateful Dead hoodie, because it makes him feel like he's not a total sell out, and a thick winter coat, sent special from the snow capped mountains of California this Christmas.

It still smells like his mom's pikake lei perfume.

Billy tries not to think about that, of home, on a day when he'd give his left nut for a ray of sunshine.

Instead, he spends ten minutes filling his thermos with coffee. Boiling the rice milk more than once so it'll stay warm on the ride across town. He sticks his pinky under the lip after his third go, and fuck that shit is so hot it will burn his mouth tomorrow, before checking the weather app again for closures.

Hoping against hope that something has changed in the last five minutes.

Of course, nothing has.

The superintendent believes that everyone in Hawkins is somehow used to temperatures that makes their eyelids freeze shut in the thirty second walk to the car in the morning. Billy jams a knit cap on his head and seriously considers calling in.

A last ditch effort to quell the rising fury in his veins, that like.

He's gonna have to scrape his windows, and freeze his dick off, and deal with the neighbor.

The one who looks like he doesn't mind the cold so much because he carries the sun with him, fucking asshole.

People shouldn't be wandering the streets when their eyelids could freeze shut, right?

Billy checks his phone one more time, frowning at a text from Joyce to pick up some coffee on your way in, and tosses his bag over his shoulder before he can change his mind.

--

It's so much worse than expected.

Billy's lungs seize up on his second intake of fresh air because no one should be huffing sulfur or gaseous ice or whatever the fuck this shit is first thing in the morning. On a Monday. The first one after Christmas break, and.

"God damn, holy shit, holy shit,"  Billy bounces the whole way to the Camaro, breath coming in short, comical bursts of steam that make his nose run. He swipes dramatically at his face, struggling to get his keys into the lock while balancing his thermos on one arm and his messenger bag on the other.

Billy's in the middle of forcing the door open, its hinges are frozen solid with ice goddammit, when Steve fucking Harrington appears like a cloud on the wind.

"Howdy neighbor," Steve says. Like they're cowboys in a shitty film from the 1970s. The wind kicks a lock of brown hair into Harrington's face and he shivers. "Wow, it's really blowing out here, huh?"

Midwesterner's love doing that.

Pointing out the obvious.

Billy grumbles a response, flinging his car door open and jamming the keys into the ignition.

Steve's saying something.

Talking like always, about his cat or maybe the beer they keep saying they'll have together, and generally Billy puts up with it but not today. He isn't going to freeze to death for a pair of legs.

The Camaro roars to life, clearly pissed at having to work on such a disgusting day, and. Alright. Letting your car "warm up," is something so Midwestern Billy can't even talk about it.

It takes him all of two minutes to scrape his windows, electing to carve holes in each wall of ice rather than clear the whole thing. The metal handle of the scraper Max got him feels like the ninth circle of hell against the peachy skin of his fingers.

He should've bought some mittens.

Joyce is always saying he needs mittens, he should've asked for some--

Billy tosses the scraper into his back seat and climbs in, slamming the door shut behind him and cranking the heat up to high. Steve's watching from next to the fence in a fucking pea coat, and a scarf with care bears on it and.

Nothing else.

Fucking asshole.

Steve waves at him, like; hey I'm talking to you. Frantically, like the mouse Mr. Bane caught last week is important.

But Billy's too busy trying to back out of the driveway with five layers of shit restricting his movement. He cranks the music up and cautiously pulls onto the street. Nice and smooth like he's seen Steve do effortlessly, even with three inches of ice on the ground. Fucking asshole.

Billy makes it halfway before he hits something.

The wind kicks hair into his face as he assesses the damage.

"You should've scraped your driveway last night." Steve says helpfully.

He's got a cigarette hanging from his lips, stark in contrast to the weird home made scarf he's got folded around his neck. Billy tries not to think about Steve's lips as he makes his way to the back of the Camaro to see that, yup.

Of course.

His baby is stuck in the snow. Billy kicks the tire. Like that'll fix anything.

"That's not gonna fix anything." Steve says, leaning against the fence.

"Jesus, fuck. I know, Steve." Billy scrubs a hand across his face, gesturing to the Care Bear scarf. "Why the hell are you wearing that thing, you look like a fruit."

"I am a fruit."

"Well you look like the whole goddamn bowl, pretty boy." Billy digs around for a cigarette. "My kindergarteners don't even fuck with the Care Bears enough to own scarves." Billy squints, assessing Steve from head to toe, delighting in the awkward squirm of his limbs. He clicks his tongue, disappointed. "Couldn't look any fruiter if you tried."

Steve shrugs his shoulders, like. Don't yell at me, this isn't my fault.

And okay.

He's cute.

Billy gets struck by that every time he sees the guy, all over again, like. His profile is perfect. Sharp nose, pretty eyes. Thick lips.

Steve holds out a cigarette.

Billy takes it.

"One of my residents made it for me. He's learning how to flat pattern." Harrington says shyly. "Well, he made it for his grand daughter, but. It turned out worse than he expected so I offered to take it."

Billy squints. "The fuck does that mean?"

"Just means I was trying to be nice--"

"No, the." Billy grins in spite of himself. "The flat patterning, what's that?"

Steve shrugs again. "I'm not sure, I think it's like. A sewing term. Or something." A pretty blush the color of Steve's scarf spreads across the bridge of his nose. It looks like strawberry ice cream and Billy.

Has to look away.

"My mom sews," Billy says gruffy. "I've never heard her say that."

"Well, maybe she drapes?"

Billy squints again. "What?"

"Draping. That's another thing people do--"

Billy stamps the cigarette out and kicks his tire again. Steve jolts, like. Billy tried to kick him or something, which just makes the situation worse.

"God, they should've cancelled classes." Billy states. Well, screams, to no one in particular. "Who wants to go to work in the snow, who fucking. Likes this white bullshit?"

Steve leans against the fence and looks thoughtful. "I love the snow."

"You're not helping."

"You asked."

"No, I didn't." Billy shoots back. He digs his cellphone out and shakes his head. "Why are you still here, Harrington? Don't you have old people to take care of?"

Steve chuckles again. Light, like Christmas bells. "Don't you have screaming brats to teach?"

"My car's kinda stuck in the snow, you fucking dick." Billy's so focused on trying to order a lyft that he doesn't waste time on pleasantries. He expects that to be the end of it, when the wind picks up and he swears again, but. Steve just moves closer.

"Let me drive you." Steve says.

And.

The moment sort of hangs there.

In the two years that Billy's lived next to the guy, they've never hung out. Never house sat for each other, never spoken outside the occasional could you make sure your idiot friends don't block my driveway, and empty promises to grab a beer sometime.

So the offer catches him off guard.

Billy glances up from his phone, confused, to find Steve looking everywhere but at him. Harrington's shifting his weight, like. He's fucking nervous, or something.

Or maybe hoping Billy will say no because he's just being polite.

Billy glares.

Of course he's just being neighborly. Charitable. That's what Midwestern assholes do.

Billy waves his phone in the air, like, "I'm ordering a lyft." And it comes out sharper. More aggressive than he means it too, but Steve doesn't seem to notice.

"Just ride with me, it's on the way."

Billy points at the screen. "Jason will be here in ten minutes."

"What's Jason got that I don't have?" Harington quips, and.

Billy just wants shit to go back to normal. He shakes his head again, "Nah, 's okay, pretty boy. Thanks anyway." Before turning back to his phone like he's got important shit to worry about.

Steve stands.

Stares.

Waits, for longer than is necessary, before clearing his throat. "Okay, well. Happy first day back." He says.

And if Billy didn’t know any better he'd say Steve sounds almost.

Disappointed.

--

When Billy gets off of work that night the snow is gone from his driveway.

--

Billy still has bad days.

They always start before dawn. With the claws of his nightmare leaving scratches down the lining of his throat. It's like Billy's carrying an anchor around his neck, or his veins are filled with playdough the color of the sun on those afternoons. He feels lazy and sluggish and like if someone looks at him for too long he'll break. Snap and crackle, like an open flame against fresh skin.

Billy still has bad days but they don't come unless he's been slipping for a while. Like forgetting to take his medication, or not writing his letter every night before bed.

The one to Neil, that his therapist says will help him work through the last of the road blocks that stand in the way of, "ultimate healing."

Billy used to think it was horseshit.

But Neil. Everything that happened, everything that still happens--when Billy goes home for Christmas, or when Susan calls and he can hear the slur of hate on the other end of the line--is standing in the way of something.

There are so many letters.

So much he wants to say.

Written on anything Billy can find, like. Napkins and the backs of take out menus--old drawings that the kids send home with him after Art class on Fridays.

The pages are kept in a binder.

His therapist says it's important to decorate the binder with, like. Stuff that makes him feel good. Words and phrases, stickers, pictures of the people he loves and drawings of all his favorite things. The folder is supposed to act as a visual reminder of the blanket of love that surrounds him, or something.

Melvalds only had brown folders when he went to pick his up, so.

The folder is brown. Disgusting.

And so far the only decorations he's been able to stomach are one of those fancy stickers from Redbubble that depicts his favorite episode of Daria, and a picture of him and Maxine with underwear on their heads.

Billy thinks it could be sad to some people.

That a poor, little abused boy only has two things in life that protect him from the shadow which falls with the setting sun, but it's the truth. Life is hard and fucked up. Billy has trouble letting people close, letting people in, so he sticks with the basics. The tried and true.

Maxine and his gravity bong.

Billy Hargrove is a simple man.

--

So it's two weeks after Steve shovels his driveway and Billy tells his therapist, like. "This fucking guy just. Did something nice for me."

And she clearly wonders what's wrong with him. "Did you say thank you?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because," Billy tries not to get defensive about shit these days, because. It's only a hop-skip-and a jump from defensiveness to downright aggression and Megan, his well meaning shrink, doesn't deserve that even on her most annoying days.

His leg bounces under the table, thwacking against its mahogany edge loud enough that Megan can hear it over the fucking phone, so she says, "Billy. Stop."

Because they have a deal about nervous ticks.

Billy is supposed to say his safe word when he starts to feel anxious, but.

He fucking hates that shit. Hates being babied. Hates feeling like he's a goddamn basket case that needs to be rooted in reality when his trauma rears its ugly head. Billy smiles, the whole thing falling flat against his face. "I'm stopping."

Megan sighs. "Why haven't you thanked Steve for his act of kindness?"

"Because, like." Billy's shaking his leg again. Softer this time; it's a secret. "How do I know he isn't trying to, fucking. Get information out of me. Or out me to the community, or. Make fun of the way I'm a grown man who can't shovel his own driveway after a snowstorm--"

"I think you're internalizing your fears, Billy."

"Yeah, no shit." He snaps. Billy feels bad for half a second but then she's giggling, like she always does, which makes him feel less like the big bad wolf and more like one of the three little pigs. The guy with the straw, maybe?

Billy sighs, scrubbing at his face. "What does that even mean?"

Megan makes a noise on the other end of the line, like. In the six months that Billy's been in therapy he should've learned this by now.

Dude's got a short attention span, sue him.

And, sure enough. "Twice a week we meet over the phone and you don't know that internalizing your fears means you're trying to write the ending to a story you haven't even read yet?"

"Like, uh," Billy says intelligently. "What's that shit you're always saying? About seeing a book on the shelf and--"

"Guessing the ending. Yup, that's right." Megan sounds pleased. Billy ignores the bloom of happiness in his chest, because like. He doesn't really deserve it. She doesn't give him time to dwell, though. "Steve did something nice for you. Maybe he has suspicious intent--"

Billy sucks in a breath, like.

Dramatic. Loud enough that Megan snorts and says, "Hold on, you're jumping to conclusions again."

Billy really fucking.

Hates how perceptive she can be.

Megan keeps talking and Billy listens, because he pays her after all. "If you're really worried that his intentions are cloudy, do something nice for him in return."

"Something nice," Billy repeats. Like he's never heard of such a concept. "Something nice, like. Buy him flowers?"

Megan snorts. "Do you want to buy him flowers?"

"No, why would you think that?"

"Because you--" His therapist sighs. Billy embraces the feeling it gives him, yanking her chain a little bit. "Listen. I don't know this Steve person, and I've never heard you talk about him beyond this beer you're supposed to have together, like. Never. But has he ever given you a reason to think he's out to hurt you?"

Billy thinks back over two years and a million one-dimensional interactions.

Steve never loses his temper.

Not when Billy calls to have the cars that block his driveway towed, not when Billy bitches about the daisy bushes shedding into his yard in the fall, and Steve always picks up Mr. Bane's cat shit from Billy's front porch when the Gremlin actually goes outside.

Always with a smile and a sweet little, I think Mr. B likes you.

And, like.

It was pretty nice of Steve to offer Billy a ride that morning.

And shovel his driveway after work, just because he knew Billy probably wouldn't do it.

The whole thing, it. Fills Billy with something he can't quite express, a warmth he only ever feels when Max calls a dozen times to remind him to eat dinner when he sends a few intense messages.

Megan takes his silence, as always, like a breakthrough.

"So," She says, clearly satisfied. "Same time next week?"

--

Billy spends three days waiting for Steve to make it easy for him.

Because Harrington's a home owner, and there's always something, right? A problem he needs help with, like. A leaky pipe that needs fixed, a cup of sugar for a recipe that he didn't account for, ghosts in the attic. Typical HOA bullshit.

Billy stares out his window at the lovely split level next door and decides he'll take anything, do anything, to get this fucking anchor of guilt off his back for the whole driveway situation. The opportunity never presents itself.

The ducks never fall in a row.

Steve just leaves the house every morning, same time as Billy, same as always, with a gentle Howdy neighbor. And a smile tugging at his pretty pink lips, hair perfect and windswept because he's a fucking asshole and it only takes two days.

Forty-eight hours before Billy's hatching a plan to pay Harrington back and inventing problems to solve, like some sort of demonic Bob the Builder.

He calls Max on Thursday and comes up with a list. Something tangible, like breaking Steve's garage window with a ski ball. Or trapping Mr. Bane in a sweater and pretending like he's gone missing so Steve will have to round up a search party, but.

Billy knows Megan would call that instigating, antagonizing, and causing trouble, which Billy's trying not to do anymore.

So he brings up flowers again, because.

Fuck it--maybe he's wanted to see Steve behind a bouquet of Lilies of the Valley for months now.

And Max goes all soft.

And quiet, too, before whispering, "I'm really proud of you, you know? For getting better."

Then suddenly Billy can't breathe because there's a lump in his throat.

Because he is trying to get better. To live honestly, to lead with love--whatever hippie-dippie bullshit Megan is always spoon feeding him, so.

With Max's blessing, Billy's about to, like. Knock on Steve's door with a plate of pot brownies and a shitty thanks for being a decent human card when Mr. Bane leaves a dead bird on Billy's porch, the third one in a month, and Billy hatches an idea.

--

Steve's front door is yellow.

Like. Sunshine yellow. Valley girl yellow.

Which Billy used to think was charming but now thinks is kind of annoying, when coupled with Steve's perpetually sunny disposition. And okay. Maybe it sort of pokes and prods at that piece of him that's always missing home.

Maybe it makes him a little bit sad, like. He'll never really feel at peace anywhere else.

But before Billy can dwell on it, or raise his fist to knock on the door, Steve's opening it and preparing to step through. He's using his foot to stop Mr. Bane from running out into the yard so he doesn't see Billy right away, which.

Also means he's going somewhere.

Which inherently means Billy's caught him at a bad time. Billy holds the paper bag closer to his chest and feels the words bubbling up before he can practice his breathing, or. Stop them. Because this is his third biggest fear after arguments and spiders.

"I've caught you at a bad time, I'm sorry, I'll just come back la--"

Steve breaks out into a grin so big. So bright, that it rivals anything Billy's ever seen before.

"Howdy, neighbor!" Steve says.

And Billy shifts nervously from one foot to the other, like. "Is this a bad time?"

"No, it's not a--"

"Because I can come back later." Billy nods, already turning on his heel to escape, and like. Fly into the sun. "Or not at all. I can just mail it to you, that's. Yeah, I'll just stick it in the post or something."

Steve grabs his elbow.

Billy looks at the hand on his elbow, and down at Steve’s feet. There aren’t any shoes or anything, so.

Billy's overreacting.

Fuck. He swallows, raising his eyes with caution to see Steve smiling again. Even wider than before, if that's possible.

Harrington licks his lips. "Whatcha got there?" He says, nodding to the bag, and Steve.

He's wearing glasses today.

Billy feels like someone hit him on the back of the head with a ski ball. Steve looks so soft, in white stripped overalls and a green sweater, that Billy doesn't know whether to fluff him like a pillow or fucking.

Punch him in the face.

Billy holds out the paper bag. "It's for you."

Steve looks at him strangely but he's still smiling, which.

Is good.

Billy thinks it's good but then he knows its good when Steve giggles. "I gathered that. What is it?"

"It's a, uh. You know." Billy tries. "You know one of those things? Where it's, like, a thing but you aren't supposed to know what it is?"

Steve blinks at him, cheeks turning pink like they always do. "A surprise?"

"That's the one." Billy snaps his fingers, like. Ah-ha. Except it isn't a surprise, it's just. "It's a way to say thanks. For the whole," Billy concludes, gesturing vaguely to their front lawns, to. "The driveway."

Steve blushes even harder. "You didn't have to get me a present--"

"It's not a present."

"That was just me trying to be nice." Steve leans against the door jam, eyes searching. "It doesn't call for a--"

"It's not a present." Billy says again. Steve doesn't look like he believes him, so Billy, like. Shoves the paper bag to his chest. "Look, open it now or don't. Fucking, throw it away for all I care, it's fine."

Billy turns on his heel because fuck this.

Fuck trying to pay back nice with nice and fuck Steve for starting this whole debacle to begin with. Billy makes it down one step and then Steve is laughing so hard he can't stand up straight.

Which just makes Billy feel worse, because.

"You're laughing." Billy gapes. "I bring you a present to say thanks for not being an asshole, and you're laughing."

Steve doesn't answer, he just.

Keeps on laughing, and okay.

This is Billy's third greatest fear. After abandonment and fighting. Fists covered in blood--his or someone else's, it doesn't matter. He frowns, turning to leave again when Steve straightens and coughs once into the palm of his hand.

"Thought it wasn't a present," Steve quips, and he's looking at Billy with, like. Sparkly eyes. He shrugs. "I'm not sure what it means."

Billy doesn't get it. "It doesn't have to mean anything--"

"No, like." Steve peers into the bag again, clearly holding back tears. "Why did you get me a bag of dead mice?"

"You can get them at the pet store." Billy says, because. You can, alright? He fiddles with the sleeves of his winter coat. "They're for Mr. Bane."

Steve just stares at him, eyes twinkling like two polished diamonds in his head.

And he's not saying anything, or. Laughing anymore, he's just. Watching Billy fall to pieces on his walkway as he tries to defend himself.

Billy focuses on the clouds that inch across the sky. "Mr. Bane, he's. He's always catching shit, like. Dead shit and leaving it on my porch. I just thought if he wants to eat dead things I can just. Buy him a pack or whatever. Like a normal person."

Steve grins. "You know they do that because they think you can't feed yourself."

Billy wrinkles his nose. "Well I fucking appreciate it, but I don't want to eat dead mice and birds and shit."

Steve chuckles once before staring again.

Like he's memorizing Billy's face, or like. They're having a competition that Billy doesn't know about.

Billy gestures to the bag again. "Would you just accept it, Steve? Please?"

Harrington looks down at the mice in his hands and nods slowly, like the decision is really requiring some thought.

Billy feels stupid.

This was so fucking stupid--

"Sure, Billy." Harrington says. Soft, and. Sweet. "No one's ever given me such a thoughtful gift before, so. Thank you."

And Billy feels like the tin man getting oil on his joints after a year of rusting in the forest, when Steve accepts his weird ass gesture. He nods, mouth lapsing into a thin, unamused line. "Okay, then. See ya 'round," Billy says.

And then he's turning, and.

Leaving.

Before Steve can say anything else.

The clouds inch like caterpillars across the bright winter sky and Steve's walkway seems so much longer on the journey home.

[gotmilk5101520]

Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia Watch Episode 41 Arcadia’s Most Wanted

Arcadia’s most wanted is Rise of the Titans.

“Mm”

Live footage of me going through the garbage looking for content.

“What are you doing out and about this close to sunrise?”

“You expect me to stay put in this dirty old shack?”

“I’m a proper lady”

That is still up to debate for Steve. Also yes we proper ladies eat rats everyday.

“Not to worry, Master Jim”

“As long as she doesn’t stir up any trouble”

“we shall locate her before-”

“Trouble is brewing in Arcadia”

“A recent crime wave is terrorizing our city”

“Vandalism, break-ins, trespassers in the night, missing pets”

“As your re-elected councilwoman, i say no more!”

“I am hereby stepping up police presence across Arcadia. To those responsible for these crimes, the law is coming”

“We will hunt you down” Well, spoke too soon.

“What are you doing?”

“Seeing if this can find the secret alien treasure”

“Yeet!”

“Squidward! Where are you? Get back to work now!”

“Darci and i have a laser tag date tonight”

“and i’m hoping it’s the perfect place to share our first kiss”

“The lights are low”

“adrenaline is high”

“lasers are everywhere”

“Humans strange” Kissing is strange.

“What do you want?”

“Uh, we ain’t quite open yet” Wait Rot and Gut escaped and we still didn’t see them?

“FREEZE! HANDS IN THE AIR!” “The fuzz!”

“Busted” “Oh”

“I CAN SEE YOU!” Mission failed.

“I can make it. I can make it...”

No, you can’t.

“Stop! Hey, i remember you! You’re that kid who said he had no bone!”

“You seem to be running just fine now!” Wow you recognized Toby? Then again, this is like Miraculous Ladybug where there are only 30 people in town.

“No, you don’t understand!”

“This is all a big mistake!”

“You’re right about that”

“A great big mistake...”

“that’s dating my daughter!”

“Okay. Now, i’m lost”

“I’m Detective Scott”

“Oh, weird, that’s my girlfriend Darci’s last name”

“I’m her father!”

“Ohhh!”

“Ohhh”

“Ohhh”

“Oh” Not the best way to meet her father.

Those pics are the ones from episode 6

“Reports of breaking into a museum”

“joy-riding in a stolen truck”

Shit they got all their crimes.

“Hey, i know him!”

“He trashed one of my scooters a while back!”

That was a long ass time ago.

“Oh, no, you don’t!”

“Hey”

”open the door!”

“Hey!”

“I’m sorry, i’m sorry!”

“I’m an orphan!” Drive boy. Drive!

“Toby! Tobes! What is going on over there?”

“I stole a cop car! I’m in a high-speed chase!”

Yeah, high-speed.

“What? Toby, get out of the car!”

“Ugh! You’re right! They can track me!”

“Stupid Toby! Stupid, stupid!”

Good thing he got out.

“Let’s just find Toby. He couldn’t have gotten that far, right?”

“What was that?”

You’re right. He didn’t go far from you guys.

“How else could the Gumm-Gumms have gotten into the warehouse, huh?”

“For all we know, you ate the signs keeping em away!”

“I didn’t touch those things”

“Well, somebody stole those signs”

“What, they vanished into thin air?”

“Wait, let me grab my staff”

“Um...”

“How did...?”

“The signs. Where’d they all go?”

“What just happened?”

“Claire, come on! We gotta move!” There’s our answer.

“Claire, any signs of Glug?”

“What signs?”

“What would i know about signs?”

Claire, you’re acting sus.

“If you’re feeling that bad, i-i can search for Glug by myself”

“No, i’m fine”

“I totally got-”

We interrupt Trollhunters to bring you that one scene from that one episode of Total Drama Island... again.

“Glug!”

“Why you in Glug tub?”

“Oh, hey!”

“I thought you were gone-”

“I-I mean, lost”

“Glug not lost”

“But you were out on a wild rampage”

“Rampage?”

“No, just gathering ingredients for more glug, see?”

“Wait. So you didn’t do none of them crimes around town?”

“I gotta tell the Trollhunters”

“After some fresh batch of glug, of course” After a few shots.

“Wait, you-”

“The-The- The burglaries were done”

”by actual burglars?” Top 10 Anime Plot Twists.

“The Vespas, the jewelry...”

“But why take people’s cats?”

“What are you talking about?”

“We didn’t steal any cats” “Well, then who-?”

“Oh, that part was Glug” Rip those cats.

“What’s that you got there?”

“I found it on the kid”

“What is it? A toy? Like a laser sword or some-?”

And he’s out.

“Can you get him to safety? I’ll go after Tobes“

“Think so”

“How are you gonna catch em?”

Jim just knocked Remy off.

“I don’t know what you Renaissance fair freaks are”

“But we’re not goin back to San Quentin, you hear me?”

“Run!”

“It’s the perps!” “I don’t know! Ahh!”

“Hide us! Get us away from them!”

“There’s monsters in there!”

“Take us to San Quentin”

“NOW!” Jail is better than monsters.

“It gives me great pride to say the criminals have been caught”

”all thanks to Detective Scott, with the help of”

”brave, young”

“Toby Domzalski”

“Both heroes!”

“My little Toby Pie did something” Toby finally did something good for the town.

“Toby!”

“You’re amazing!”

“You did it!”

“Darci!”

“Okay, that’s enough”

“Well, uh”

“That’s happening”

“And...”

“they’re still going” They have to come up for air eventually, right?

“Call to me”

“And the key to Eternal Night...”

“It is yours”

“Money! Money! Money!”

This is why we don’t go into the sewers kids.

And this is why i don’t drink coffee.

[darkficsyouneveraskedfor]

tapestry 👑 VI

Warnings: eventual dark elements (tags to be added as fic continues)

This is dark!(king)Steve and explicit. 18+ only.

Summary: King Steven had a wandering eye but you never thought it would fall upon you.

This Chapter: Tension comes to a head.

Note: Chapter 6. Gotta go to work again so enjoy this while I suffer retail torment. It’s getting intense in here and the more I write the more I realize we’re just traversing deeper into messiness over her. But this is what you get.

I really hope you enjoy. 💋

<3 Let me know what you think with a like or reblog or reply! Love ya!

Your father appeared shortly after. You were thankful to be kept from the presence of the queen so soon, though you would have to trade it for that of the king. Your father informed you of the royal request of your presence. His demeanour gave you worry. He was as close to joyful as you had ever seen him. His happiness rarely meant yours.

“Now, I remind you daughter, to remember your manners. I paid far too much gold on your training to have it wasted.” He said as he walked with you down the corridor. “The king has pursued his fancy you, see that it does not end so suddenly as it began.”

“Yes, father.” You replied meekly.

“I mean it.” He stopped short and seized your arm. He turned you to face him. “You did not mind my first order, I know it. But you will not disobey me again and you certainly won’t defy the king.” He smiled and let go. “You will be mindful during this meeting. Do not slight me before him.”

“Yes, father.” You repeated.

He turned and carried on. It took a moment for you to catch your step. He strode along proudly and beamed as he came upon the king’s door. How long had your father dreamed of royal favour? So long he would trade anything for it.

The guards greeted him with a nod and the one at your left knocked with his elbow. Hugh opened the door as he had the last time you were there. He looked between you and your father. His eyes lingered on you. You lowered your head and kept quiet.

“The king has requested an audience. Lord Willis of Malford.” Your father announced.

The footman nodded and the door stayed open as he retreated. He appeared again and waved you within. You lifted your head and followed your father. Inside, the king sat a large oaken desk decorated with gold gilt. He stood as he saw you.

“Lord Willis,” The king greeted your father with a nod as he rounded the desk. “My lady.”

He took your hand and kissed it. Your father raised his brow sharply and you curtsied. The king stood and his eyes clung to you as his hand did. He turned and guided you toward his desk.

“You may sit, my lord,” He said as he led you to one of the cushioned chairs. “My lady, please.”

You sat and he released you wistfully. He did not resume his seat but instead leaned against the front of his desk. Your father sat in another chair with a grin.

“Your highness.” Your father relished the words on his tongue.

“My lord,” The king began. “I have called this audience with you to discuss a grievous plight.” He paused, a forlorn shadow upon him. “You see, I am taken by your daughter, so wholly and so deeply, and yet I understand you would protect her virtue, as she does so piously.”

He spoke with a feeling so overt it could only be farce. You shifted in the chair.

“And I would not tarnish her. Could not for I admire her too much, but it pains me. I cannot be without her, I cannot.”

Your father blinked and pretended at surprise. Your mouth was dry.

“Any lord brings his daughter to court in hopes of seeing her wed well. Seeing her off to a life of comfort and I would not take that from her. And again, I find esteem in her as she is so diligent, so loyal a daughter to you. So I would spare her reputation and your own and would propose a compromise.”

The king touched his chest as if he was in pain.

“And I realize this is unprecedented and not entirely proper but I have thought on it endlessly. I would offer you a fine betrothal for your daughter, to see her married, to see her protected. An arrangement so that we may keep our feelings secret; so that none would decry your name.”

“A betrothal?” You father sat up. “To who?”

“A duke.” The king looked to you. “Lord Barnes. He is a fair match for any lady in the kingdom and without.”

Your father feigned thought as he held his chin. “You believe this would serve my daughter as well as it would you?”

“If I could, I would find another way,” The king mourned. “If I were not already constrained, I would see to her a proper union. But alas…”

“Whosoever I shall marry will know me to be a loyal wife.” You declared evenly. “I would adhere to any vow I give, be it to Lord Barnes or another.”

The king turned to you slowly. “None would know. My lady, that is the purpose of the union. You will have title, land, and name. And while I cannot make you my queen, I will make you most happy. None will be given to any other; not Eleanor, not Rose, not any other but you. And you would be bound to Lord Barnes in law only.”

“It is wrong. Deceitful.” You protested. “A mistress all the same.”

The king’s nostrils flared and he sighed. He turned his broad shoulders to you and paced before your father. He spun and slammed his fist on the desk. “Enough, woman.” You flinched at his tone. He paused and gritted his teeth. “Lord Willis, Hugh, if you would… leave us for a moment.”

“Your highness, I must have a chaperone--”

“You must obey your king.” He growled and looked to the other men.

Your father rose with a mumble abeyance and Hugh followed him to the door. You peeked over your shoulder as they left. You gripped the arms of the chair as the door closed and left you alone.

“I...am sorry--” You began breathlessly.

“No, I am,” The king’s voice was softer. “I am sorry for my temper. I did not mean to frighten you. It is only, I am so enraptured by you that I cannot think of not having you. And yet you spurn me. You would spurn my offer of absolution. Can you not see how you have affected me and yet you sit here stoic and unfeeling?”

“I am not unfeeling, I only know that circumstance does not always allow the fulfillment of our desires. There can be no way around it, your highness. Fate would have it otherwise.”

“Desires?” He stood before you. “You...desire me?”

You stared up at him. You gulped. Your lip trembled but you could not speak.

“I understand you are afraid to admit it, I understand your caution, which is why I propose the union. So that you need not be afraid, my lady.”

“I…I could never betray the queen. You must understand, she will know.”

“The queen? Is that what she is? She shows her king no love and bears me no heirs. I wonder if she is truly that.” He bemoaned and slowly backed away. He sat heavily in the chair your father had formerly occupied. “She’s never loved me.”

“But she is your wife.” You insisted. “By law and by heaven’s grace.”

He was silent a moment. He looked to you and his blue eyes searched yours. He dropped his shoulders and his head.

“And yet I wonder if that is the truth. If our union was ever truly sanctified.” He pushed his hair back as he lifted his head. “She was bound to another before me. A betrothal to a prince in the east. He did protest our marriage but it was overruled.”

“An expired betrothal, your highness.” You assured. “Consecrated by the lord.”

“I don’t know if it is. I think on it often. Of how she neglects me. Of how she must think of her former eastern fiance. They were children together. They knew each other for years. I suspect...oh, but these are things I’ve never dared to say aloud.”

“But it was overruled. The former betrothal nullified and the new one blessed by the see.”

“It is a cursed union and now you would have it that I suffer more. That I am tortured by your denial.” He exhaled and slowly he sat up. He pushed himself to his feet and neared you again. “I swore to you I would find a way. I will have you.” He reached down and took your hand. He tugged until your were forced to stand. “If you will not marry Barnes, you will marry me. By my will, it shall be done.”

“You cannot--”

“Cannot!” He drew you close until his arm was around you. “I am a king, I can do as I choose.” He leaned in and spoke quietly. “If I wanted to tear that bodice off and bend you over this desk, I could, with your father at the door.” His lips grazed your ear as he held you to him. “But we will do it as you wish, my lady.”

👑

You were bent over the tapestry among the other women. Each focused on their rosettes as they added to the field of blooms. It was peculiarly silent. Even the queen was deeply enthralled by her work. It was as if everyone had tired of courtly intrigue. To sit and not think for a while was a true respite.

Since the harvest celebration, rumours flew anew, many with your name attached. You did your best to ignore them, along with the king’s gaze and his incessant letters. You hoped that you could deter him with distance. Keep aloof and he may just forget his ideas of annulment.

Every time you thought of your audience with him, your chest tightened. You looked at the queen, a scarlet hood over her pale hair. He was as trustworthy as she was. These royals were entirely conceited. They’d never known any different; had never been deprived of any want.

You lowered your head and wove your needle carefully around your finger. You mourned your former regard for her. The sense that she was a secret companion amid the chaos. She always watched over her ladies so closely, never begrudged them without reason. Or so you’d believed.

As you were about to secure your rosette, there was tug on the tapestry. You looked in the direction of the pull and met with a pair of vicious blue eyes. Rose sneered as she sat on the other side of Joan. There was no place among the ladies you could sit without an enemy upon your flank.

“My apologies,” She said with a smirk. “My needle was caught.”

“Not at all,” You said stiffly and pointed your needle once more at the middle of your rosette. Another yank. This one nearly had half the cloth upon the floor. You looked to her again along with several other women.

“Of course it wouldn’t bother you to take from another, would it? Hmm? To wrestle it away without a single thought?” She leaned in and hissed. “Then to act the innocent in all of it.”

You shook your head and freed your needle from the where it had poked into the fabric.

“A simple diversion, that’s all you are,” She kept her voice low. “He’ll come back to me, I know. A homely mouse like you cannot keep him.”

“I have no desire of him,” You spat under your breath. “So save yourself the shame and let me be.”

“I know your trick. You think you can snare him by acting coy. By acting as if you don’t want him. Every lady wants him.” She was almost upon Joan’s lap as she snarled. “Your father no doubt wants him as much, hmm? A daughter with royal preference; a blessing for any earl.”

“Lady Rose, would you kindly be quiet?” You snapped. “Perhaps you should focus on your work so that your hands may be as sharp as your tongue.”

“Ladies,” The queen’s voice cut through the rising tension. You glanced over at her guiltily though Rose showed little remorse. “Let us remind ourselves of decorum. This is a sewing circle, not a common tavern.”

You bowed your head repentantly and concentrated on your needle. Rose huffed and dropped her edge of the tapestry. She sat with her hands folded. “My fingers begin to cramp from this tedious work, your highness.”

“Then you may sit in silence or excuse yourself. You’ve disturbed this court enough.” The queen retorted. 

Rose scoffed and looked around the circle of women. “No wonder the king cannot stand you.”

“Pardon me, girl,” The queen growled.

“How could he ever lay with you long enough to beget a child? Or perhaps you are too frigid to for any life to grow.” Rose said as she stood. “For it surely is not the king who lacks.”

“Lady Rose, I will not warn you again. You gird your tongue.” Eleanor released the tapestry and got to her feet. “If you insist on causing a disturbance, you can leave this room and this court. I think we’re all quite done with you.”

“Are we?” Rose narrowed her eyes. Her hand slipped across her middle as she pressed her palm to her stomach. “I doubt the king would see his bastard out in the cold.”

Eleanor paled and the chamber grew stifling. It was as if the collective breath was stolen from each lady. You watched with the rest as the woman faced each other like wild felines.

“You really are pathetic. To lie of such a thing.” The queen accused.

Rose laughed. It was poisonous. It assured all of her honesty. “We shall see who is lying soon enough. When I begin to grow and you remain unchanged. Barren as the witch you are.”

“Go,” The queen’s tone was acidic. “Now.”

Rose lowered her lashes and slowly turned away. She neared the door and as she reached for the handle, a knock sounded. The sound broke through the silence and the women whispered in confusion. The timing of a visitor couldn’t have been worse.

Rose opened the door slowly. The man at the door seemed not to notice the mood. He greeted Lady Rose and then bowed to the queen. His blue eyes sparkled as he awaited an invitation.

“Lord Barnes,” Eleanor greeted. “It is a most unexpected visit.”

“It is, your highness,” He stepped inside as Rose held the door. She watched him in confusion as he barely seemed to notice her. “A brief one. I come,” He grinned as he looked around the room, “Simply bearing a message.”

“I shall receive it, my lord, but as you can see, I am occupied with my ladies.” The queen smiled graciously.

“I do not bear a message for you,” Barnes returned. His tone was even, unemotional. “But I promise, it will be brief.”

He caught your eye as he found you amid the circle. You frowned and clung to the tapestry, tempted to pull it over your head and hide. He crossed to you and got to one knee. For a moment, you recalled the king in a similar pose. You shook your head at him as he pulled forth a small box.

“For you, lady,” He held it out as you turned on the bench. “From King Steven.”

Gasps, whispers, hisses. All rose in a flurry of disgust. Rose let out a growl and her slippers stomped from the room. The door fell closed behind her, a frightful clatter in her stead.

“No. I--” You looked to the queen. She looked concerned. The king had never been so overt. So outright in his attentions as to intrude upon her ladies thus. “I cannot accept.”

“I have orders not to leave until you do.” Barnes insisted. “And I have ever been a faithful servant to my king.”

“Don’t do this,” You whispered. “Please.”

“Do not be ungrateful, lady,” Eleanor’s voice was brittle. “You are the most obedient subject.”

You looked between the queen and the lord knelt before you. A dozen pairs of eyes glared at you; judged you; assumed the worst in you. They had all heard Rose’s words and they believed them. For a woman who had committed the same sin must be the most adept to see it in another. 

You stared at Lord Barnes and your eyes felt as if they would water. You reached out shakily and he nodded. He did not smile, only waited patiently. He understood what his task was; not just to deliver a gift, but to send the queen a message too. The king would not hide anymore. Her ploy had failed for now she faced worse humiliation than before. And it did not matter that it was Rose or you, only that it was.

“You…” You swallowed and found your voice. “You may tell the king that I thank him. That I am most grateful for the kind gesture, my lord.”

“You must open it,” Barnes urged. “I am to...return to him your thoughts upon it.”

“Oh Lord, just be done with it,” Eleanor seethed and turned her back. “And the rest of you ladies can go. Follow that harlot back to your chambers.”

You lowered your head. You opened the box to reveal a polished opal on a golden chain. Your lips parted and you forced a smile as you stood. Lord Barnes returned to his feet as you cradled the box in your hands. The ladies tarried as they folded up the tapestry and began to shuffle to the door.

You looked into his eyes. He blinked. He knew you would say what was expected. 

“You may tell him it is very beautiful.” You closed the box. “That I like it very much.”

“I shall let him know,” Barnes bowed his head and made his retreat.

You didn’t dare look back as you followed the other ladies to the door. You passed through into the corridor and walked numbly along as the other kept as far from you as they could. The box felt heavy though it weighed almost nothing. You could have tossed it against the wall but you held your composure and squeezed it until it felt as if it would crumple.

👑

tags to be added in reblog

[youngbugandtonystank]

while I want to agree with what you said, you need to consider the fact that steve associates people getting locked up with concentration camps, he lived in a world where that's what he saw every day so maybe a little compassion for him next time

Ok, going by your logic, why did he have Clint call Wanda to the airport fight knowing the consequences that were going to follow her for the rest of her life then?

Clint: Cap needs our help. Come on.

-

Steve Rogers: You know I wouldn't have called If I had any other choice. (But he did have a choice, Tony gave him multiple ones)

Clint Barton: Hey man, you're doing me a favor. Besides, I owe a debt.

-

Steve Rogers: We're outside the law on this one. So, if you come with us, you're a wanted man.

Tony offered Steve very reasonable options, Steve refused all of them. Tony said he would take care of the PR fire that was going to follow not only him but Wanda and the entire team, promised to get the documents amended, sent Ross Zemo’s files, tried to get Ross to reroute the satellites and start facial scanning for Zemo to get him so Bucky could be off the hook, said he was wrong and was willing to make up for that, said he would file a motion to have Steve and Wanda reinstated after what happened. Even after everything, he lied to Ross and let the entire team escape.

Steve was aware of this. He was even aware that people were going to go after Sharon Carter and refers to Scott AND Wanda as ‘recruits’. He did this after calling Wanda a ‘kid’. 

Wanda herself recognized that it was probably for the best and wanted to stay:

Clint Barton: Okay, we gotta go. Wanda Maximoff: I've caused enough problems. Clint Barton: You gotta help me, Wanda. Look, you wanna mope, can go to high school. You wanna make amends, you get off your ass. 

Clint feels responsible for her because he feels guilty for what happened to Pietro. You see, this is where I don’t follow, Jeremy Renner said ‘He had to repay a debt to Scarlet Witch, and Cap called in need, so he came out of retirement.’ How is helping Cap repaying debt with Wanda? He’s basically using her to help Steve, and this is for her own benefit? He pays off this debt by helping Steve? Isn’t that debt supposed to be about Wanda? lmao

Clint even mocked her for wanting to feel responsible for the death of the people in Lagos. She was not going to feel responsible forever but at least let her take responsibility for that. At the end of the day, Wanda even said sorry to Vision because she saw the disaster that little fight created. 

Natasha Romanoff: Try not to break anything while we fix this.

Tony Stark: [still on the phone.] Consequences? You bet there'll be consequences. Obviously you can quote me on that 'cause I just said it. Anything else? Thank you, sir.

Steve Rogers: 'Consequences'?

Tony Stark: Secretary Ross wants you both prosecuted. Had to give him something.

-

Steve Rogers: I'm not getting that shield back, am I?

Natasha Romanoff: Technically, it's the government's property. Wings, too.

Sam Wilson: That's cold.

Tony Stark: Warmer than jail.

-

Tony Stark: GIVE ME A BREAK! I'm doing what has to be done . . . to stave off something worse.

-

Secretary Ross: I'm putting Special Ops on this.

Natasha Romanoff: What happens when the shooting starts? What, do you kill Steve Rogers?

Secretary Ross: If we're provoked. Barnes would've been eliminated in Romania if it wasn't for Rogers. There are dead people who would be alive now. Feel free to check my math.

Tony Stark: All due respect, you're not going to solve this with boys in bullets, Ross.

-

 Tony Stark: Or a squad of J-SOC guys . . . with no compunction about being impolite. 

-

Natasha Romanoff:  Is this, part of the plan?

Tony Stark: Well, my plan was to go easy on them. You wanna switch it up?

If Steve knew the consequences, then why would he prefer Wanda to be in a real prison over a place he himself calls ‘home’?

Gif not mine.

Consequences the rest of them suffered:

Natasha Romanoff: After the whole Accords situation, he and Scott took a deal. It was too tough on their families, they're on house arrest.

And this is Clint’s reaction: 

Tony Stark: Because you broke the law. Clint Barton: Yeah. Tony Stark: I didn't make you. Clint Barton: La, la, la, la, la . . .

And Tony is the man-child? lmao

And Tony even tells them they were aware of their decision. First, they don’t want Tony ‘controlling’ them and then they blame him for not doing enough for them? lmaooooooo

Tony Stark: Alright, you're all grown up, you got a wife and kids. I don't understand, why didn't you think about them before you chose the wrong side?

I do agree that maybe because Tony used the word ‘confined’ Steve immediately felt defensive. One thing the writers did wrong with him is trying to make him look like the honorable tough soldier all the time. And that’s not it, you can clearly see Steve lives in the past; has some big traumas under his sleeve. How about instead of making him look ‘badass’ why not deal with those things first? Why not make him learn some mistakes first and then help him heal? Perhaps giving him time with Bucky in the compound while they all work things through. Not a hard thing to do. Instead, they chose to make him a nomad bearded ‘badass’ fighting crime in the dark. This is where the Russo bros fail with Steve, while they can write him in an amazing setting and a perfect compelling storyline, they fail to understand Steve’s emotional side and the fact that men DO feel too. Especially someone like Steve. They think his submerged feelings over a failed past should be dealt with heroic acts of rebellion over what society tells Steve to be. Nobody tells Steve he’s wrong except for Tony, the rest of them actually drop everything to help him (Clint his family, Wanda, Sam, Natasha their freedoms, Scott is disappointing his daughter all over again after spending a previous movie talking about how he doesn’t want to do that anymore, etc).

Scott Lang: No, I’m serious, man. I’m not going back. I got a daughter to take care of.

-

Scott Lang: I’m trying, okay? I’ve changed, and I’m straight, I had a job, and… I want to provide. I had a lot of time to think about it, and I love her. So much. I’ve missed so much time and I want to be a part of her life. What do I do?

Maggie Lang: Get an apartment. Get a job, pay child support. And then we will talk about visitation, I promise. You’re her hero, Scott. Just, be the person that she already thinks you are.

I highly doubt becoming a war criminal involves that. They sacrificed a lot of characters’ development to fit into Steve’s predicament. They write him in a way where he’s always going to come out on top, where he’s always right, where he doesn’t deal with his consequences and the entire audience has to see everyone trust him no matter how matter mistakes he’s made. 

This Steve looks nothing like comics!Steve. MCU Steve is an entitled jackass. 

And let’s not forget, when given the time to spend time with Bucky, he left and went to the past to rob a woman’s whole life. That’s his happy ending? 

None of them are perfect. 

[temperancejones]

Some Kind of Curse- Chapter Four

But that all got thrown aside when he hears some movement coming from the house's garage as well as some muffled voices. Sighing, Danny quickly musters up the courage to head to the garage and arrest the possible intruders and give 'em hell, jersey style- maybe bust 'em up a little bit. He wasn't sure who would be stupid enough to trespass on a crime scene, let alone one that was investigated one of HPD's most respected and decorated officers. Danny tiptoes over to the garage door and lets out a puff of air before popping open the door and yelling at the intruders to put their hands up. Little did he know that he would be met with a man who would flip his life upside down. After a brief yelling match, mostly to see who has the most authority in the room, the intruder identifies himself as Lieutennant Commander Steve McGarrett. Once they look at eachother's ID's and lower their weapons, Danny sighs and looks at the man. "look, I'm so sorry for your loss, but you can be here, this is an active crime scene." Danny explains, sliding his gun back in his holster and slipping his ID back in his pocket. Steve does the same thing, but once he's done, he crosses his arms at the shorter Detective, looking a little amused. "doesn't look very active to me. Kris you can come out now." Steve says over his shoulder.

A woman slowly rises up from behind the car parked in the garage with her hands up. As a matter of fact, she only has her right hand up, as her left one is in a sling. Danny immediately assumes that the woman is Kris McGarrett, the daughter of John McGarrett. Her and Steve must be trying to investigate the murder of their father as well.

"Look guys, I can't share any information about your father's investigation. This is an HPD case, I'm sure you understand. But I'm going to have to ask you to leave." Danny tells the McGarretts, who only smile a little bit; Danny knows that they are definitely up to something now.

Kris walks around the car and stands next to Steve, who is now "Detective, were you aware that Hesse had an accomplice? He left behind a boot print and a mark from his laptop on our father's desk. We know this because our father hated technology." Kris says to Danny, which causes him to look at her fully for the first time. Despite her smart-ass/know it all manner of speech, most likely out of habit from her military background, Danny does have to admit that she is quite beautiful.

Kris is probably half a foot taller than him, and very lean; her muscular figure alone is enough to intimidate anyone who would approach her. It's easy to tell that she is definitely a soldier of some sort. Currently dressed in skinny tank cargo pants, a plain red v-neck and a pair of black runners, Kris looks like she is ready to ship out on another mission, or just switch into SEAL mode to get Danny out of hers and Steve's hair. Her brown hair is tucked neatly behind her ears, lining up perfectly with her jaw, all the way around her head. Not a single hair is out of place, which is something that is expected for someone as highly decorated in the Navy and Military as her. Danny is quick to admit that Kris is a beautiful woman, but he has a gut feeling that he will never truly get to know her. Just based off his first impression of her, Danny knows that Kris is Command material down to her bones. It almost makes him shiver when he thinks about what she would be like if she were ever crossed by someone- surely, you would be attending their funeral a few days later.

A loud clanking noise snaps Danny out of his thoughts, now drawing his attention to Steve, who is dressed almost identically to his sister, except he is in a pair of clunky cargo boots, and he is also wearing an open button up t-shirt, which still makes him look like a military man. Danny sighs once he notices what Steve is doing and puts a hand on his hip. "and you can leave the box. That is evidence!" Danny says in an annoyed tone, feeling really ticked off that someone could peg him as that stupid.

Steve scowls and picks up the box and turns to Danny. "we came with it." Steve says quickly, and then tries to walk by Danny. Trying not to roll his eyes, Danny puts up a hand to stop him. "No, you did not. I can see the dust void on the counter! What's in the box that's got you all hot and bothered, hey?" Danny grills Steve, which only makes him smirk in response.

Danny shuts his eyes and takes a deep breath, now knowing that these McGarretts are going to be a real pain in his ass throughout this case. He hopes that by some miracle, he can solve this case, but deep down, he knows it's going to be damn near impossible, especially if he has John McGarrett's children working against him trying to solve it as well.

"How long have you been with Honolulu PD, Detective?" Kris asks, hoping to deflect and change the subject so her and Steve can make it out of the house without getting arrested. At this rate, they're going to have to pull a lot of strings and get some favours paid back to them if they're going to get blocked on the investigation and its leads as much as Detective Williams is doing to them right now.

Danny looks taken aback that someone would ask that. Was it really that obvious that he was fresh out of Jersey? "that's none of your business. What are you, Barbara Walters?" Danny asks in annoyance now.

Steve switches the box in his hands and points at Danny. "Actually, it is when you're investigating our father's murder." He says matter-of-factly, which makes Danny roll his eyes.

"Right. That is what I'm doing. Now, the sooner you two leave, the sooner I can get back to it. so please," Danny says, directing his hands to the door. Steve and Kris smile and try to leave, but Steve still refuses to put the box down.

"Leave the box or get arrested." Danny states in a disappointed tone, hoping that the threat of incarceration will knock some sense into the siblings.

Steve hands off the toolbox to Kris, who tries not to look confused at what her brother is doing now. Steve puffs out his chest, suddenly super confident about something, which worries Danny- he knows that Steve is about to either do something really stupid, or something really smart, and either way, it's going to piss Danny off.

"alright. You gonna call for backup?" Steve asks, and pulls his phone out of his side pocket. Danny sighs and rolls his eyes. "an ambulance." He mutters, seriously debating on shooting the twins who won't give it up and leave.

Smirking, Steve takes out the governor's card from his pocket and dials the number, immediately asking for governor Jameson. When the Governor's voice is heard by both Kris and Danny, Danny's hands fly up in the air in disbelief; who the hell has the governor on speed dial? And, who the hell thinks that they can undermine him like this?

Steve turns and looks Danny in the eyes, smiling now. "governor, we'll take the job. We'll run your taskforce. We will transfer to the reserves right away and-" Steve says into the phone with a touch of cockiness in his voice.

Kris shakes her head at the theatrics of her brother. Detective Williams looks like he's about to run across the room and tackle Steve because he's so angry at him.

"Right here? Okay. I, Steven J. McGarrett, do solemnly declare upon my honor and conscience to act at all times to the best of my abilities and knowledge in a manner befitting an officer of the law... thank you, Governor... yes. We will be right there." Steve says, and then hangs up. He smiles at Danny and grabs the toolbox back from Kris. Now it's our crime scene, Governors orders." Steve says in a chipper tone and walks out of the Garage. Kris grabs the tiger from the bench and follows him out, still shaking her head a little bit, mostly because she's trying not to laugh.

Danny uses a lot of self-restraint to not just wring both of the McGarretts by the neck as he walks past them and out of the house. He makes sure to slam the doors on his Mustang, so they know how pissed off he is. As soon as he is on the street, he punches the steering wheel a few times to make sure he doesn't spontaneously combust, and then dials his captain to ask him what the hell he should do now.

Now alone in the house, Steve and Kris walk into the kitchen. They both put the toolbox and tiger on the island and stand across from each other. Kris leans against the counter and looks at Steve, who is still riding his adrenaline rush from the confrontation with Detective Williams in the garage.

"So, I guess were staying for a bit, huh?" Kris chuckles.

Steve nods. "Let's try and use all the resources we have on the island to catch Hesse. If we don't have him in six months, we will reactivate and hunt him down with Naval intelligence, yeah?" he suggests.

Kris shrugs. "sure, why not. We've probably burnt out most of our resources in the Navy and Military, so this will be a good thing, I think."

Steve walks over to his sister, grinning. He claps her on the (good) arm, and says to her "that's the spirit, sis. Now come on, we gotta go meet the governor at the supreme court building."

Kris chuckles and follows her brother out of the house and to the car. It looks like they're definitely staying around for a while now, Kris thinks to herself, feeling a little bit worried about what life will be like back on the island.