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timewillpasssoon · 2 months ago

Text

ETERNAMENTE !

PAIRING — bob reynolds x gen neutral!thunderbolt!reader , + family!thunderbolts

SUMMARY — ten months have passed since the thunderbolts/new avengers grouped up. a few days ago you got badly injured during one of the group missions, making you have to stay in the compound with bob- who also is staying at the tower, practicing gaining control of his powers.

WARNINGS — you/your, spoilers for thunderbolts*, mentions of abuse, child abuse, reader and bob’s poor mental health, alcohol, fighting and stabbing, knife and guns, injuries, blood, mutual pinging, suggestive, kissing/making out, hair pulling (bob receiving), no full on smut though (soon dw,,,), swearing, reader has no superpowers but has enhanced senses, lmk if i missed any !

WORDS — 9.0k

NOTE — inspired by eternamente by gal costa !!! sorry if there is spelling errors,,, also happy one year to this account ! i have like two other large Bob fics and one Bucky fic in the works, hopefully i don't lose motivation </3 anyways enjoy

this was honestly bullshit. at least that’s what you thought. you’ve haven’t been able to participate in missions for the past week since this damn injury. during a mission, your task was to make sure all civilians in and near the crumbling building were safe and sound. when entering the very large establishment, you managed to get lost while looking for more innocents lingering. then you saw someone in your peripherals, hiding, trying to attack you when you were oblivious to their presence.

having extremely enchanted reaction time, you were able to defend yourself when they tried to strike you. your arm shot up just as the pipe was about to strike your skull. pain shot through your upper arm, but with the adrenaline now pumping throughout your entire body, that pain only felt like a medium sensation. you twisted their wrist making them drop the pipe that was once held in their hand. you were quite busy kicking the metal away from them that you didn’t notice the knife they pulled out of their pocket.

with a very swift motion, the unknown person stabs your right shoulder with all their might. you scrum out a piercing roar, the pain being too much to handle. you ducked down, your right knee making contact with the dusty floor while your other leg was still bottom shoe–floor contact. your sudden movement made them dig the knife deeper into your skin. with all the panic and momentum stored inside, you grabbed their arm mid swing and twisted until their shoulder popped. their grab on the knife was none as they screamed out for help, yet that gave you more courage to continue the fight.

with them crying like a little baby you were able to sweep them off their feet (in a literal sense) and have them over your shoulder. with all the strength you had, the action of throwing their body on a nearby desk was accomplished. the wooden structure broke in half due to impact. with a knife still stuck on your shoulder you pulled out a gun on them, “you done?” was all you handled to say.

the next couple of seconds were a blur. you were going to comm Yelena and Bucky about the person who was obviously in the gang you were catching, but they quickly kicked the gun off your hands. you stammered in pain as they tried to reach for the gun now on the ground and succeed. without a second thought, they aimed it towards your head. with only half a second of reaction time, you moved to the right so the bullet wouldn’t go through your chin. yet, this movement only made the small life ending copper go through your shoulder.

immediately once the mission was complete, you were rushed to the med bay. you don’t remember much due to you automatically spacing out when the doctors and nurses were trying to stop the bleeding. once the stitching and bandaging was down, you were ordered to rest for at least a week and a half. despite all your protests, the full week and a half agenda was pushed. the guilt of having an unplanned and unprompted rest was starting to get in your head. you swore to the rest of the team that the stabbing and bullet wound didn’t affect you anymore, but Bucky wasn’t having any of that. “just a couple more days.” he would constantly say to shut down your attempts of persuasion.

although, you couldn’t really complain about your free little vacation. you got to finally relax- even if you thought it was undeserved- and Bob was there to keep you company. after the whole press announcement about the group being the “new avengers” Bob was put on hold. he decided to train so he could figure out how to control his powers and intrusive thoughts. so, that meant being stuck in the compound. whenever you asked how he thought about it, he would never complain about it. he was too perfect. quiet, shy, observant, but had those few little moments where he would shine during group hangouts. and whenever those tiny scenes played out, you couldn’t help but smile.

you distinctly this one time that pulled your heart strings.

this happened three months after the Void incident and it was finally game night. it was one of those rare days where there was no training, missions, and chores to do. so of course with all of you bored out of your minds. Alexei sat everyone down in the living room for ‘family bonding’. everyone protested in their own ways. Yelena said she was too tired to stay up, Ava saying straight up no, John being slightly intrigued despite saying “I don’t do games”.

Alexei still tries to lift their spirits up! “bah! you all complain now but soon you will laugh! bond, cry maybe.” Bucky and you are the first ones to give up the tough guy acts and just get the board games over with. Bob is soon to join the two of you, placing his half read book down and getting up from his comfortable chair, now sitting right beside you on the floor in a swift motion. your hands were placed behind your view, letting yourself lean back against your palms.

while Bob was about to sit down, he placed a hand on the ground to give himself more balance. doing that he was obviously reckless with his hand placement and next thing you know his fingers glazed on top of yours. you didn’t retreat your hand though. no, instead you darted your head at the now more nervous man beside you. finally completing his motion of sitting down, he quickly apologized in his usual scrambled manner. the way he backed away made you somewhat frown at his action. “it’s alright, don’t worry.”

the reassurance was needed to be honest. yet, you weren’t sure if he was afraid about the possibility of making you face your past or if he was genuinely appalled by the touch of you.

it had taken what felt like hours (it was really like four minutes), multiple threats to Walker, a shit load of Alexei’s persistence, and snacks for the rest of the thunderbolts to join. they either sat on the couch or floor. Alexei cheers in excitement, “that’s what i’m talking about! family!” Ava picked out the Monopoly, which should’ve been the first sign of a chaotic night, to be the game of the night.

with the group being knee deep into the game, everyone was either gaining headaches from screaming at each other, or laughing their asses off. first it was property wars. Yelena scoffed at Walker, “you bought boardwalk? so predictable.” and temu Captain America clapping back with a “it’s called strategy, Yelena. you should try it sometime.” then it was Ava being on everyone’s ass whenever they landed on her property, saying the amount they owned her with too much glee. “you know you could say it with less joy.” Bucky mumbled at her as he gave her $750 of his play money.

the next phase was getting the rules confused. well, it was mainly Walker but that was only because he was trying to cheat. occasionally Alexei would mix rules together so he could justify why he was giving himself money (he fought for the banker position). Bob with his hefty debt to you and Ava. “you owe me $750!” Ava deadpanned at Bob, which made him widen his eyes. he stammered on his words “uh- i um… i’m retired!!!” he played off a cute little smile.

you looked at him because of his change of voice tone. but his toothy smile made you continue your staring. with him being somewhat close, the distance made you really look at him.

his posture was slightly hunched forward, eyes darting between you and Ava as he gave out his excuse on why he couldn’t pay either of you. there was a softness to his features despite the obvious anxious expression. his hair was messy, mainly due to his fingers running through his own locks. the dorky smile he had plastered on his face grew slightly as he peeked at you, catching your goggling. the sudden eye contact made your chest feel weirdly warm. as half a second went by, your eyes widened, trying to respond to his response. Ava interfered with the very uncomfortable eye contact (it was only uncomfortable to the rest of the group), “you’re not retired-“

“could be,” he shrugged, his smile shrieking but it was still visible. “early retirement… because of um- emotional distress!” you squint your eyes at him, disregarding his answer once again and demanding he payed you and Ava back- mainly you. he nodded aggressively, mumbling the words “got it” under his breath and looking back at the board. yet his eyes still lingered on you for a short period of time that everyone saw. Walker makes a face and calls the two of you out, “are we playing the game or flirting?” which resulted in more arguments.

you will never forget that moment because that was the day you realized how Bob was your exact type. he was always there, yeah sure, but you never really gave it a second thought until that night. ever since then, you would steal glances his way. you liked the way he would blabber about a topic he knew too much about. or when small pieces of hair would fall on his face when he did the dishes. what you didn’t know was Bob felt your pair of eyes on him twenty-four-seven. he didn’t mind at all though. yes, it made him nervous but a good type of nervous, you know?

throughout the entirety of your small break you managed to get mildly closer with Bob. you were already close to him already, but there was still this barrier between the two of you. though, the other thunderbolts could tell there was a small lingering feeling. they noticed way before the two of you did. so, at the start of your break, the both of you were too shy to make a move. you guys would pass by in the kitchen and have that awkward moment where the two of you are facing each other and stepping on the same side thinking the other would move the other way. whenever you entered the living room and Bob was already there, he would stammer to himself before existing the large room.

it was so frustrating that you didn’t have the courage to talk to him. you could do a one versus three but you couldn’t ask a man to go get coffee with you? it made you feel pathetic. this weird feeling you were experiencing was sickening- no, straight up cruel. and it was all because of Bob.

on day four you managed to gather up the courage and go up to Bob. he was in the living room space reading a book peacefully. his eyebrows furrowed as he got more invested into the book. the way he would mouth out the words he was reading was somehow cute to you. shaking your head mentally, you cleared your throat loud enough for him to shoot his attention at you. “uh. are you hungry? do you want to go get something- anything with me?” you asked in a mild tone, pointing at the door behind yourself so your hand doesn’t awkwardly sit at your side. he takes a moment to himself before remembering to answer.

Bob’s mouth is left slightly gaped, “you should be restin-“ without a thought you interrupt his shirt sentence, stumbling on your own words now. the words ‘i’m okay now’ or something along those lines leaving your quivering lips. despite the cold stoic expression on your face, mentally you were freaking out. you face palmed yourself for the unnecessary hesitation laced in your words.

“i mean it. a walk outside won’t break my shoulders, would it?” Bob nodded at your statement. he didn’t like the thought of you being hurt- or any of the other thunderbolts! the determination on your face that seeped out made him feel that you were telling the truth. i mean, you were right. no harm in a simple snack run!

”yeah. okay...” his soft smile that you could stare at for hours appears on his face. he jolts up and follows you outside the building and the two of you head to the nearest coffee shop after a few moments of thinking what to get.

the two of you began walking in silence. although the quiet was comforting to Bob, it wasn’t to you since you were trying to start a conversation. with a topic idea finally coming to you, you ask him what he was reading. he plays it off, the tone of his voice soft and quiet. he gives you the book title, and with you obviously wanting the conversation to move forward, ask what it’s about. he hadn’t expected that follow-up question.

he thought you only wanted to make small talk, but the way you gazed at him, that assumption was out the window. his shoulders relaxed a bit, explaining the book in the best way possible. his arms flopping around as he made little features that completed his words. “honestly it’s… kind of beautiful. sad, yeah- but not in a hopeless way!” you hummed quietly, still enchanted by his wittiness. the way he explained the book piqued your curiosity, making you ask questions here and there. he, obviously, answered them in the most gentle way.

Bob gave a small soft smile your way. once his eyes met yours, he was stunned that you were actually listening and engaged in this conversation. there was a familiar flicker in his eyes. the same emotion that you had.

“you can have it- the book- i already read it two times!” you smiled at the gesture, and without realizing you nodded at his request. “i’m down.” your guys’ steps synchronized with one another’s. the silence washed over you guys once more, but this time the silence was comfortable- easier to sit on.

the small bakery’s door was in front of you. being a person with basic manners, you open the door for the nervous tall man that accompanied you on this journey. he muttered a thankful “thank you”. once the both of you entered the cozy room establishment, the two of you looked at the menu on top of the cashier. the worker welcomed the two of you, letting the both of you have a moment to yourselves.

“do you know what you want?” your head tilted towards his body, your sight still fixated on the options ahead of you. Bob let out a muffled whimper, “mmh- i think so…” you nodded at his answer and headed towards the worker. Bob quickly followed you like a lost puppy. placing your own order, you step to the side so Bob can choose for himself. after paying and waiting, the two of you decide to eat at the tower- there being more known to the both of you.

the empty living room was expected. Bucky, Ava, and Walker were on a mission while Alexei and Yelena were on another. you speed walk to the couch, placing the bag or pastries on the coffee table as well as your drink right beside it. today felt too peaceful. the low ruckus of the city outside, the warm orangey-yellow glow of the lamps, and Bob’s quiet footsteps behind you.

he hovered awkwardly near the arm of the couch, unsure whether to sit or wait for permission to do so.

you plopped down and leaned back with a soft sigh. “wanna watch a movie?” you glanced up at him, a spark of boldness slipping past your usual self. Bob blinked, surprised. he shifted from foot to foot, the hesitation practically oozing off him. “uh… yeah. i mean, if you want. i’d-… yeah.” you cracked a smile at his yes, also because of his nervous structure. patting the empty spot beside you, the remote was now in your hand after a quick search for it. The smile remained on your face as he shattered on the couch, “you get to pick.” Bob’s mouth slightly opened yet no sound came out, then lowered himself onto the other end of the couch as if it might crumble beneath him. he reached for the remote, your fingertips grazing each other. quietly scrolling through the options while you stole little glances at his profile. the soft slope of his nose and the way his brows furrowed as he read the movie titles. there was something so careful about the way he moved, like he was always afraid of taking up too much space. you found it cute.

you shifted slightly, not enough to startle him, just enough to nudge your leg a little closer to his. he noticed. of course he did. you caught the way his eyes flicked down, the subtle inhale through his nose, the quick return of his gaze to the screen. He picked out a random movie. the both of you had no idea of its existence.

the once empty screen was now broadcasting the opening scene of this unknown movie. you leaned forward, offering Bob another bite of your pastry, out of habit. he gave you a sheepish smile, shaking his head. “i’m good. uh- thanks, though.” trying to mirror his smile you accepted his rejection. with the gentlest lean, under the idea of getting more comfortable, your shoulder now brushing just slightly against the edge of his. yes, it did slightly sting, but it was going to be worth it. the silence stretched.

still, Bob said nothing.

you let the warmth of the moment settle around you like a blanket, your fingers inching a little closer to his on the cushion between you. and Bob… didn’t move his hand away. just as you were about to make a move on Bob, by trying to interlock your fingers with his, Alexei and Yelena burst through. it was mostly Alexei who rushed in. he let out a loud “WOOH!” alongside a bunch of small laughing fits. a concerned Yelena was behind him, “you need to go to the med bay.” her tone was harsh, but genuinely uneasy about his physical state. Bob, who gets started whenever Walker smacks the fridge door shut a little too hard, obviously got freaked out by this sudden nuisance.

his hand that was once on the couch cushion is now interlocked with his other hand… great! Alexei stumbled a little but held his arms up in victory. he made eye contact with you and Bob, ignoring Yelena’s concerns entirely. “you should’ve seen it! i threw a guy into a dumpster. headfirst!” his iconic dad laugh piercing everyone’s ears. Yelena, unimpressed and exasperated, pressed a hand to his side. “you are bleeding, you idiot.”

Alexei waved her off like she was being dramatic. a somewhat hurt expression on his face. “that's no way to talk to your father!” he pointed at himself while the last word left his mouth. then, noticing the way you and Bob practically split apart like guilty teenagers, Alexei paused. his eyes narrowed. interrupting Yelena’s pestering, he loudy asked “-wait a second… did i interrupt something?” everyone but his own eyes were on the giant bloody gash on his right arm.

you and Bob immediately shot up in sync, voices overlapping in awkward unison. “no!”

you glanced at Bob, who looked just as horrified to have blurted it as you felt. clearing your throat to recover your composure, you motioned vaguely toward the TV. “we were about to watch a movie,” you muttered, tone overly casual. Yelena, hands on her hips, arched a brow and gave Alexei a knowing look. Alexei grinned, practically glowing with glee. “ohhh, were you now?” he teased, eyes twinkling with mischief. “young love is in the air, eh Yelena?”

Yelena sighed, but her smirk betrayed her amusement. “mmhmm.” she said, voice deadpan as she gave you both one last glance, then turned Alexei around by the shoulders. “let’s go. before you bleed on the nice furniture.”

as Alexei stumbled forward with Yelena guiding him, he turned over his shoulder to shout, “don’t let us stop you! just pretend we were never here!” the door finally closed behind them, but the silence that followed was no longer soft and inviting. it was fragile… like glass was between the two of you. glass that was easily breakable, yet the both of you didn’t dare to break it- even touch it.

you both now stared at the screen. the movie played on, the main character now on screen doing god knows what. you shifted, slightly, settling back into the cushions with a hush exhale. Bob didn’t say anything. he kept his eyes on the screen, hands folded in his lap like he was in a business meeting. the space between you wasn’t that wide, but it felt like miles. the warmth from before was extremely cooled from that little show Alexei and Yelena preformed. no shoulder brushing. no hands creeping closer.. just two people, trying to pretend like they hadn’t just almost held hands like squeaky teenagers.

day five was alright. it was the morning after your little movie night. remember? the one where you and Bob sat too close? yet you didn’t touch nor speak about it. pretended the movie was the highlight of the night when, really it was the almost-moment you shared before it crashed and burned. do you remember?

existing your barely refurbished room. the smell of sweet breakfast croissants and warm syrup drifted throughout your hallway. you rubbed the sleep from your eyes, feet dragging on the floor. as you walk towards the kitchen, plastic bags could be seen on the kitchen island. you automatically assumed that someone ordered breakfast.

your tired gaze landed on Yelena, who leaned against the counter, a smug smirk plastered on her face, while Bob stood awkwardly across from the cocky woman. his hands were stuffed in the pockets of his hoodie. he had an embarrassed look on his face anyone could decode. Bob’s head turned when he heard your rushed footsteps. his shoulders perked up.

“good morning!” he said with that soft smile of his. the same one that makes you melt inside. your heart skipped- of course it did. “ mornin’.” you replied, trying to sound chill, but it came out a little breathless… real smooth. Yelena snorted into her iced coffee like she’d just read both your minds. “i was just asking Bob,” she said, pointing a finger at the man in front of her, “that i am heading to those pet stores to buy stuff for my baby. want to join us?” her baby obviously being the guinea pig she found before we knew Bob. Yelena had a look of ‘go with my lie’ that was daggered onto Bob. his confused face now turned into an obvious cover up. He mumbled a ‘yeah’. the finger once pointing at Bob, now pointing to one of the plastic bags on the counter, her eyes had a look saying ‘help yourself’.

you covered your mouth, yawning right after, nodding as you did so. “sure, i don't have a mission to go on, so...” making your way to the plastic bags to grab one of the boxes. as your fingers brushed one of the styrofoam covers, Bob leaned forward instinctively to help, but your hands met halfway. a light touch. nothing major. barely a second. you both froze. just like the night before, there was that moment. unspoken, electric, warm. Bob gave you a soft look. one that said he wasn’t sure if this was allowed, but hoped it was.

you pulled your hand back gently, not too fast.

Yelena squinted at the both of you, then grinned so smugly. “i’m just gonna… take this food to my room. far from whatever this weird thing is,” she muttered, “were leaving at two.” and walked off, sipping loudly from her straw.

that left just you and Bob.

you stared at the box in your hands like it was going to offer advice.

“so…” you said, glancing up at him.

“so,” he echoed, already fidgeting with the string on his hoodie.

the silence stretched, but not in an awkward way.

you both just… stood there for a beat, clutching your respective food containers. neither of you spoke, but you weren’t exactly avoiding each other’s eyes either.

Bob’s lashes were longer than they had any right to be. his hair was still a little messy from sleep. floppy, kind of soft looking, like he’d just rolled out of bed. there was a faint flush on his cheeks. the yellow and orange tones radiating from the morning sun casted onto his tall figure. he looked good in the morning light.

Bob’s eyes flicked over your features too. they were lingering a bit too long on the corner of your mouth. he was mentally bookmarking everything about you. he opened his mouth once. a brief moment of courage sparked in his face-

“ayy! what’d i miss?”

-Bob’s spark dimmed almost immediately. the loud, screechy voice of Walker barreled through the hallway as he marched into the room. behind him came Ava, tying her hair up in a messy ponytail, looking more awake than either of the three. she nodded in your direction, then squinted at the two of you seated side by side.

Bob blinked like he’d just been caught doing something illegal. his once gaped mouth was completely shut now. Walker made his way to the plastic bags in front of the two flushed humans. he furrowed his eyes, pointing his head up so he could face Bob and you while his hands grabbed a styrofoam box filled with breakfast. “why does this feel weird in here?” he asked, looking between you two. “you guys fight or something?”

“no?” you said too quickly.

“no!” Bob added, way too in sync with you.

Ava gave you both a long, slow look, then leaned on the island, clearly amused. “oh. i get it,” she said, “you sat too close during your little movie night, didn’t you? almost kissed or some dumb crap like that?” her voice was light but teasing, the kind that made your stomach flip for all the wrong reasons. Yelena definitely told her what happened when she and Alexei barged in. you’ll have to remember to get back at her. Bob nearly choked on his own breath. “wha- no, that’s not-”

you accidentally cut Bob off, “excuse me?” Ava just laughed in both of your faces. “you so did..”

Walker squinted, chewing on a piece of croissant, his mouth too full to make a comment. Bob looked like he wanted to disappear into his hoodie. he was trying to keep his cool, but the tips of his ears were visibly red now. “we were just... watching a movie.”

“sure,” Ava said, dragging out the word. she held her box in one hand, a drink in the other, and gave you both a mock salute. “well. we’re taking this to the training room. the silence here is giving me second hand tension.”

Walker was already halfway to the door. “you guys figure your stuff out or whatever.”

you opened your mouth to protest, but Ava held up a hand without turning around. “don’t care. bye, lovebirds.”

the door shut behind them. leaving you and Bob alone, with nothing but a comfortable- yet anxious- conversation about to arise.

the rest of the day was a breeze. Yelena picking and choosing what her little baby needed- more like what she wanted, but you weren’t going to tell her that- while you and Bob were just yes men when she needed two second opinions.

oh but day six. oh lord day six was heavenly for your eyes.

the training room was fairly quiet despite a breathless Bob training in there. you hadn’t really planned to go in. honestly, you were just passing because you had to go to the med bay so you could re-wrap your shoulder wounds. strolling through the hall, you see the door wide open, a wooden door wedding stopping it from closing. once your body was directly blocking the door, you saw Bob inside. he was already mid-workout, a focused expression etched on his face. he hadn’t noticed you at first. his back was towards you, muscles flexing with every movement as he practiced strikes on one of the padded dummies. you stepped in silently, leaning on the edge of the door frame, eyes glued to the way he moved.

he soon stopped his punching, his breath out of control. in a swift motion, he faced his whole body towards the door- where you were at-, tugging the bottom of his shirt up to wipe his forehead. that damn shirt. it lifted enough to show the cut of his abs, the glisten of sweat trailing down his toned torso. your gaze lingered maybe a second too long and Bob finally noticed you once the cloth was out of his clutch. his smile twitched, a little embarrassed expression could be seen on his face.

he paused, chest rising and falling with deep breaths you were too familiar with. the faint smile on his lips is still visible. “oh! i didn’t notice you! ” he spoke out, voice a little breathless.

you rolled your eyes, but your cheeks betrayed you. “i was... passing by. sorry.”

he nodded, clearly not believing you. “right.” neither of you said anything after that. he went back to punching the dummy. you didn’t leave.

day seven and eight were just as special to the both of you. the warmth and comfortable silence between you guys was impeccable. you talked about anything that came to your minds. and the other would engage in said conversation.

something had shifted, softly, naturally. the tension that once sat heavy between you and Bob, awkward and skittish, had melted into something quieter. something safer. eight months ago, every accidental touch was followed by a quick retreat, with Bob frantically saying sorry, being scared that he may send you back to cursed memories. but now… now it is different. now, when your hands brushed when the both of you tried to grab a cup, or walking side by side with your knuckles brushing against the other’s, it didn’t feel like a mistake.

there was a moment, on day seven, in the hallway outside the armory. you had both reached for the same door handle while being too carried away in the conversation. your fingers met, overlapped. but this time, neither of you moved away. his thumb grazed your knuckle, slow and warm, and you didn’t flinch. you didn’t even look away. Bob gave you a soft, almost sheepish smile, like he was still surprised he was allowed to linger. but you moved through the door together. the conversation did not stop one bit. this felt normal. you liked when he stood a little closer now, like it was natural to take up space next to you. the way his laugh softened when it was just the two of you. something was building- something good.

day nine.

it was another regular fun day. the morning was utter chaos because Alexei decided to cook breakfast for everybody. flour was everywhere, Yelena trying to read the instructions of the pancake mix box, Ava bumping her head on the kitchen counter when trying to pick up the falling eggs, and Walker yelling, “i swear to god if someone throws another spatula-” just before someone did throw another spatula. everybody was laughing. this was a family. the family you never got to have- the one you deserved.

the pancakes ended up looking like abstract art and tasting a bit too salty- for some odd reason, but everyone still ate them. you were sitting on the counter, legs swinging slightly as you watched the group argue over whether or not the pancakes were edible. Bob stood beside you, plate in hand, picking at a lumpy one.

“these taste like salt water…” he said, chewing slowly. you tried not to laugh but failed, covering your mouth with your hand. “you’re being dramatic.” Bob looked at you with that soft, amused expression you were starting to know too well. “he’s being honest! who put salt in this!?” Walker busted out as he tried his best to swallow the big piece in his mouth. Yelena whipped around from the stove with a wooden spoon in hand, wiggling it as she spoke. “you try making pancakes while Alexei’s screaming about protein and Ava’s throwing eggs at the wall!”

“it was one egg!” Ava shouted from the floor, still rubbing her forehead. “and my hand slipped!” no one believed her, obviously. Alexei puffed his chest proudly. “in Soviet Russia, pancakes eat you!” Bucky scoffed, not daring to touch another salty pancake.

“yeah ‘cause no one in their right mind would eat these.”

the afternoon was filled to the brim with training. you had to beg Bucky to let you join the rest of the group. “my shoulders are FINE!” and after pestering him for a decent amount of time, he budged. although you knew everyone would go easy on you, that didn’t matter.

the sky outside had dimmed to that deep navy blue, the compound settled into a calm, tired hum. everyone had broken off after training to shower, change, and unwind. Walker had declared himself starving three times before the group finally agreed on takeout. a debate about which place to order from led to a chaotic argument before they all shuffled out the door. Ava making a snide comment with a pointed glance at you and Bob, Yelena grinning knowingly. Alexei offered a dramatic thumbs-up. and just like that, the door shut behind them.

you and Bob were left behind. not a purpose, definitely. the poor excuse Yelena made was that someone needed to take care of her baby- and that someone was you and Bob.

you both migrated to the living room, collapsing onto the couch with soft sighs. the air between you wasn’t heavy or awkward. it was warm. the TV played something neither of you were really watching, and conversation picked up like it always did. something dumb, lighthearted. “that was back when i was getting used to this whole ‘being in the spotlight’ thing.” you said, smirking as you leaned back on the couch. “but now that i look back on it… it’s very cringy.” Bob laughed, the sound being very genuine.

you were mid-laugh when the sharp sting flared through your shoulder. your body tensed, face twisting as you accidentally pressed too much weight against the injury. the laughter died on your lips, and you winced. you drew in a slow breath through your nose as you tried to be nonchalant.

Bob immediately became alerted, an alarm flickering across his face. “hey- hey, are you okay?” you nodded quickly, biting down the discomfort. “yeah. yeah, just leaned on it too hard. It’s not much of a stresser, i've been through worse.” trying to lighten up the mood once again. the comfortable air immediately dimmed once the small whimper left your mouth.

he blinked, frowning. “worse? like what?” the word echoed softly, almost unsure. his brows furrowed, curious about your past. he never knew about, didn’t cross his mind since he was so scared of triggering a horrible memory lane when touching you. and then he seemed to catch himself. “i mean- i shouldn’t have asked that. sorry. i didn’t mean to,”

“it’s okay,” you cut in gently, your voice softer now. you said a little more confident, hand pressed against the sore spot. you didn’t look at him right away. “you can ask.” Bob didn’t speak, but he stayed close. he didn’t want to push your boundaries. after a beat of silence, you started to talk. at first, it was just vague words. the kind that circled around the truth without landing on it. you mentioned the pain that started all of this. you mentioned places you would never forget. with a tone Bob understood too well. his eyes never left yours. they were soft and sad. not with pity, but with that kind of deep, quiet empathy that comes from knowing.

you already knew Bob’s story. the Void rooms made sure of that. you knew the weight he carried, the things that broke him. you knew more unfortunate details than the rest of the group.

three months ago.

it had been one of those rare nights where everyone let their guard down. the mission was successful so everyone was relieved. the mood was unusually good. someone, probably Yelena, suggested drinks in the common room, and no one fought her on it. bottles were passed around, music played low from someone's phone speaker, and everyone fell into soft laughter and slurred confessions. Ava and Walker were in the middle of a heated debate about what counted as a sandwich. Alexei was passed out on a bean bag with a half-empty beer still loosely in hand. the night was soaked in the kind of hazy comfort that made even the haunted feel a little human again.

you and Bob had drifted toward a quieter corner of the room, the lights dimmer there, shadows softer. you sat cross-legged on the floor, your back to the wall, with your third drink still untouched beside you. Bob sat across from you, knees bent, arms resting on them casually. he looked more relaxed than you’d seen him in a while. maybe it was just the moment.

he was the one who broke the silence first.

“i used to sit like this under my porch when i was a kid,” he said quietly, looking down at the floor like it was somewhere far away. you rose your head once sounds came out his mouth. he continued, “i’d sneak out at night and just… sit. pretend i was somewhere else.”

you tilted your head. the alcohol consuming your voice, “why under the porch?”

he shrugged, his expression faintly amused, faintly sad. “it was the only place nobody bothered me. ’m dad didn’t care enough to come looking. house was small. loud. angry.”

you stayed quiet, letting him keep going if he wanted. and he did.

“sometimes i’d just lay there, listening to the world and pretending i wasn’t in mine… until my dad would come and force me back inside. dragin’ me inside..”

your fingers fidgeted slightly, heart softening with every word. he was drunk. already on his fourth drink and the consumption was making him speak his mind. you thought that he wouldn’t want to share this in a sober state, but you were wrong. he wanted to be… open. honest.

Bob’s shoulders dropped slightly, not with defeat but with a strange kind of relief. he kept going, the toxic liquid making it easier to swallow the words he’s been dying to tell someone else. the sad details whenever his father would abuse him or his mother. it caused him pain, so you listened. all your attention on him and his story.

he stopped speaking after his background got to the part where he moved to Malaysia. his shoulder stiffened, “i didn’t talk about it for a long time. thought if i buried it deep enough, it wouldn’t matter. then the Void rooms…” he trailed off, eyes flicking up to meet yours. he had that tiny smile he would always do whenever he was at a loss for words. “you saw it too.”

you gave a slow nod. “i did.”

“you didn’t look at me any different afterward… did you?” you still gave him those smiley eyes you gave him back at the vault Valentina sent you in.

“i never would.”

he paused for a moment, remembering all the pain his father caused him. all the built up anger he had because of the man who hit him every chance he got. yet, he released the tension in his shoulders. his eyes filled with terrible nostalgia. “…’m sorry.” you shook your head at his apology. “you don’t have to be.”

you reached out his hand, which was on the floor to make sure he didn’t tumble down. he was too indulged in his mind to notice. or to care.

and that was it. he didn’t say thank you. he didn’t need to. the air between you was already filled with understanding. two people, each with their share of dark stories, sitting quietly in the middle of the night while the rest of the world carried on in laughter and debate.

you won’t forget the look he gave you… so gentle, like you were something precious he didn’t know how to hold yet. that stayed with you for days.

that’s why it was easy to speak now. because he wouldn’t try to fix you. he would just listen, like how you listened to him. his torso angled towards you, his hand resting between you two on the couch, close but not touching. when you finally stopped talking, the silence wasn’t empty. it was full of things neither of you needed to say. Bob’s face had contorted somewhere in the middle of your explanation. his brows were furrowed, lips pressed tight, something raw in his eyes. as if he wanted to take every wound from your past and carry it himself.

you gave him a small, tired smile. “you don’t have to say anything,” you said. “just… being here’s enough. sorry.”

Bob moved slowly, like he didn’t want to scare the moment away. his hand finally reached for yours, the backs of his fingers brushing gently against your skin, testing the waters. when you didn’t pull away, he threaded his fingers through yours properly, his positioning more comfortable. secure but gentle. there was something so patient about him, like he’d wait forever if you needed him to. the silence between you two wasn’t awkward… it was full of understanding. full of everything that didn’t need words.

you shifted closer without really thinking. something in you just wanted to be near him, physically, emotionally, in every way you’d been too scared to admit. Bob noticed, opening his arms slightly, an unspoken offer. and you went in, resting your head against his right shoulder, your good arm draped across his chest as his arms circled you in return. you both just held on, unmoving, like that stillness was the only thing holding you both together. you felt the weight in his breathing. two people broken into half, trying to hold each other together.

“we’ll get through it,” you murmured, your voice small but sure. “all of it. you, me… the others too.” you smiled against the fabric of his shirt. “even if the therapy bill’s gonna be astronomical.” that made him laugh, really laugh. sincere and something in you bloomed. you laughed too, maybe because he did, but it didn’t matter- that warmth was real.

after a moment, the laughter faded into a soft, quiet moment. he pulled back from the hug. not fully, just enough so your faces hovered inches apart. so close you could see the pure blue in his eyes, the way his expression softened just for you. his hand cupped your cheek like he wasn’t sure he could. your breath caught, not because you were nervous, but because you wanted this. you’d wanted this for so long it hurt.

his voice was just above a whisper. “can… uh- can i kiss you?”

you didn’t speak. you looked at him, memorizing his soft lips. the way his gaze traveled from your eyes to your lips. the tracking was slow, he was giving you every second to pull away. but you didn’t, couldn’t. all you could do was slightly nod at his questions.

Bob gulped, barely audible, but visible in the tight movement of his throat. his breath hitched just enough for you to notice. his eyes searched your face once more. it was as if he wasn’t sure this moment was real or if he would wake up from a dream. his thumb brushed your cheek so gently it made you ache. you could feel the hesitation in him, the way his body wanted to close the distance but his mind was still asking if this is okay. if he deserves this.

then, slowly… so slowly, you watched the uncertainty in his eyes flicker into something else. not confidence exactly, but a quiet uplight. his head tilted just slightly, and his lips brushed yours with the kind of softness that made your chest squeeze. a light touch, almost like he didn’t believe he was allowed it, but the moment your lips met, something in him exhaled. Bob’s hand curled a little firmer against your cheek. the kiss deepened, not in intensity, but in presence. there was a growing certainty in the way he leaned into you. like he was realizing that yes, this was real. and you weren’t going anywhere.

it wasn’t a quick kiss. it wasn’t frantic or uncertain. it was deep, slow, and emotional. as if he meant it to tell you something words never could. his lips were warm against yours, the contact tender but solid, like he was grounding you both in that exact moment. yet when he leaned in, and your lips met… something in you hesitated. you didn’t lunge in right away.

your lips stayed just barely there, your body still as your thoughts caught up to you all at once. not because you didn’t want this. fuck, you wanted it. had wanted it for longer than you were ever brave enough to admit. but suddenly, panic whispered in the back of your mind. what if this ruins things? what if this kiss turns all the warmth between you into something awkward? you and Bob had become something so rare… so safe. comforting. real. what if one kiss cracked it apart? you felt like you weren’t ready for a relationship. your state of mind being in shamble, you couldn’t bear hurting Bob.

and underneath that fear was another, heavier truth: you weren’t okay. not completely… your mind was still a mess of cracked mirrors and half-healed wounds. you were still walking through the smoke of everything you’d survived, still trying to convince yourself it wasn’t your fault, that healing didn’t make you weak. and Bob. he wasn’t okay either. you could see it in his eyes every time someone brought up the past. you were both survivors of different hells, still bleeding in ways no one could see. and the idea of starting something that required vulnerability, balance, effort. it terrified you. so yeah. it was not because you didn’t want him, but because you did.

Bob noticed your absence. his lips stilled against yours, then slowly pulled back, just an inch. his eyes opened, searching your face with a flicker of concern, maybe even regret. the worry in his expression wasn’t about himself, but you. it was written all over him, in the slight tension of his jaw, the retreat of his touch. he thought you’d changed your mind. that he crossed a line.

but the moment you saw that flicker in his expression, saw him start to fold in on himself, you snapped out of it. you surged forward before he could retreat any further, placing a hand on each side of his face, cradling him with a kind of urgency that felt like it had been building in your chest for months.

you kissed him back just as carefully, your fingers tightening around his. the ache in your shoulder dulled beneath the rush of warmth curling in your chest. your lips moved against his with more weight, more heat, more emotion. Bob let out the softest exhale, like he’d been holding his breath. and this time, there was no hesitation in him. it was intimate in a way that made your heart clench.

this wasn’t just a kiss. it was everything you’d both buried beneath late-night conversations, shared glances, unspoken understanding. there was longing in it. not just for each other, but for connection. for a future that didn’t feel so lonely. Bob’s hands came up to your waist, grounding you as he deepened the kiss, pulling you just a little closer until your foreheads nearly touched. his lips slowed again, dragging gently against yours like he didn’t want to let go.

you shifted again, getting almost unbearably close to him now. Bob didn’t move as you nudged closer.

his hand splayed out on your back, twitching against the fabric that covered it as you parted your lips, allowing his tongue to enter your mouth. you angled your head to the side, deepening the kiss. your eagerness encourages him, syncing with the way you moved against him. the kiss broke apart, that being your choice. his hair was splattered around even more than before this mess happened.

when your hand slid further into his hair, and tugging the strands, he let out the smallest, softest moan. it was so quiet and desperate it sounded like it had been buried within him for centuries. it only made you shift yourself towards him even more. the sound settled low in your stomach, warm and aching, and without thinking, you shifted closer. your knees brushed his thighs, and you climbed into his lap, straddling him slowly, carefully, like testing the weight of a choice you couldn’t take back. his hands found your waist instinctively, holding you there like he’d been waiting for this, for you, and wasn’t sure he was allowed to ask. the space between the both of you vanished entirely now, breaths mingling, your forehead brushing his. being this close, feeling the solidness of him beneath you, was grounding, safe.

his eyes never left yours, he kept every ounce of attention on you, waiting for your next action, hanging on every moment. his breath hitched when you finally closed the gap once more.

Bob’s hand slid beneath the bottom of your shirt, his fingers traced small shapes on your skin that managed to send shivers through your body. you felt the muscles in his arm shift as he pulled you even closer than you already were. the gap can't even be called a gap. now, you two were chest-to-chest. to the point that you felt his literal heartbeat pulse through your own chest. his hand tensed against your soft skin.

without thinking, you moved your hips to test the friction. Bob noticed this sudden reaction and leaned towards it. he spoke, a worried and questionable tone noticeable, “is this right?” you nodded, not pulling away from this crime scene. “yes-”

his lips returned to yours with new urgency, not rough or greedy, just deeper. like he was pouring something sacred into the space between you. his tongue brushed yours and you moaned into his mouth this time, your hands tugging again at his hair. you felt like your whole body was humming, pulsing with something electric and raw.

you could taste his breath, warm and a little shaky, could feel the slight tremble in his hands where they gripped your waist. when he sucked your bottom lip, your fingers continued to tug his hair, and the groan that left his throat was sinful. soft but devastating. you felt dizzy, drunk on the heat building between you, the tension that had stretched for months finally snapping, unraveling like it never wanted to end.

then. footsteps. loud ones.

a group of voices followed. Yelena’s unmistakable laugh carried through the corridor, loud and chaotic and startlingly close. you both froze, lips still pressed together but unmoving, breath lodged somewhere between your lungs and your throat. another voice followed. someone else from the group, joking, teasing, unaware of what they were about to stumble into if they came any closer.

you pulled back with a sharp inhale, Bob’s lips were swollen and wet with your saliva, his pupils blown wide with want. he was breathless, like he’d just come up from deep underwater, and you mirrored the same sentiment: gasping, flushed, chest rising and falling in uneven patterns. your hands remained on either side of his face, and he blinked at you like he couldn’t process how the world was still spinning outside of this.

“shit-” you breathed, your voice a mix of panic and disbelief.

you scrambled off of Bob’s lap, nearly tripping over yourself as you grabbed a pillow and sat beside him instead, trying to act casual while your heart was still sprinting inside your chest. Bob ran a hand through his hair, making it worse, and shifted on the couch to sit up straighter, trying to regulate his breathing. your hair was tousled, cheeks flushed, and you didn’t need a mirror to know exactly how wrecked you looked.

the door flung open a second later, and the group filed into the room. Yelena first, still laughing from something John had said. but the second they laid eyes on the two of you, everything slowed. their eyes did a quick sweep.

Bob’s ruffled hair, your flushed face, the heat still radiating between you both like static. no one said anything at first. the room filled with a charged silence, and then…

“oooh,” Yelena sang, narrowing her eyes with an enormous smirk. “what did we interr-”

Bob turned bright red, stammering as he leaned forward, elbows on knees like he was trying to act normal. “nothing. we were just… talking.”

“talking?” John echoed with a snort. “man, if that’s what talking looks like, i need to have more conversations.”

you tried to hide behind the pillow you’d grabbed earlier, biting back a mortified grunt. your lips still tingled, and your heart refused to slow. Bob peeked at you from the corner of his eye, and even with the embarrassment thick in the air, there was something incredibly warm beneath it all. like whatever just happened between you didn’t feel like a mistake, no matter how messy the timing had been.

but the teasing that was about to happen would be a death sentence to you both.