#love how I just scraped bi Steve

[straight4joekeery]

Teach Me How To Love In Your Own Lyrics

(Part five)

(TWS ⚠️: mentions homophobia and domestic violence; If you want to skip I’ll put blue dots before and after the scene. I’m sorry if there’s any other areas I missed that talk about this!)

Prev. Part one

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“So he dumped me! Get this! He said ‘is it that time of the month?’ Like he’s so wrong for that! I mean… he wasn’t literally wrong. But still. As a woman I feel attacked. Steve? Are you even listening?” See? Steve doesn’t lie. Very. Annoying.

“Yeah. That’s crazy.”

“What’s your problem today?”

“… nothing”

“Oh. My. God. Steve get over it. It’s been a month! Why would you even want to be friends with him? He killed Chrissy,” (OH NO SHE DIDN’T), “I think he should be behind bars,” (SHE DID), “he disappears for like a week and comes back with a brand new apartment. I don’t know Steve I think it’s kinda messed up-”

“JULIE,” The entire diner went silent. He waved and apologized to the workers before continuing a little quieter, “genuine question. Do you ever shut up?”

“I-“

“Let me finish,” she actually closed her mouth for once what a shock! “It’s not against the law for me to have a friend that I actually care for. You act like I can’t know people besides you. Plus to be honest, I’ve never even liked you. For one, you over share EVERYTHING. Yeah, sorry, news flash I could not care less about your dear dear Bradley boy and wether or not he loves you. And also I’m allowed to have opinions that differ from yours. You don’t have to argue about EVERYTHING. If I said ‘oh hey Julie look at the pretty blue sky’ you’d come up with a six page essay on how the sky isn’t BLUE.”

“You done?”

“Oh I could say more if you’d like,” he grinned. When she said nothing he went to continue his beautifully presented speech.

“Pass,” she interrupted, “I’m sorry Steve. I really am. But it’s not my fault you cannot form a sentence where the subject isn’t Eddie. You’d think you’re in love with him,” (OH REALLY??) the last words rang in his ears. He scoffed as he took the last sip of his shake. He aggressively stood up and thanked the waiter.

“Oh and thank you for paying Julie!” He smiled as he ran out the door. He jumped in the car and laughed. Laughed until he couldn’t breathe. He wondered where all this rage came from. Then he remembered that he promised himself to never yell at anyone…

• Suddenly he’s ten again. His dad had told him something stupid that Steve quite frankly didn’t agree with. He didn’t even yell at him he just said softly that he has a different opinion. But oh no. Richard wasn’t too happy about it. He yelled at Steve until he lost his voice. When he did he had to use the only other form of punishment he knew. He hit Steve. Once. Twice. Seven times. But no. That wasn’t enough. He grabbed Steve by the hair and slammed him into the wall. That’s how he got concussion number 1 (and 2,4, and 5). If you ask anyone else he knew at the time he fell of his bike (Which was believable considering that’s how he got the third one). He remembered going to school the next day and Tommy laughing at him because oh Steve, you’re so stupid. Oh. Tommy.

Now he’s back to age 14. There were two kids in his grade named Cory and Danny. They were both super nice kids. Got good grades, never did anything wrong. But one day Tommy wasn’t to fond of how close they were sitting at lunch. So as usual, he said something. Called them… the word. Now I mean sure, Steve wasn’t the nicest and called Johnathan a queer once. But that? He’d never do that. That’s way too far. He told Tommy to stop. He just pushed him away and said, “or what? Are you a little fairy too?” •

Thinking back on it so what? So what if he was gay? There’s nothing wrong with that. And yeah Julie, so what if he is in love with Eddie…Wait. Pause. What? He had to think for a hot second about that one. He thinks about Nancy and what it felt like to be in love with her. And yeah it’s a lot different actually, but not in the way he thinks. He thought about how he actually felt about Nance he loved her but no… the longer he thought about it the more he realized. He thought about Robin, and how yeah he obviously loves her too. In the same way he loved Nance.

But that’s like saying their whole relationship was a lie so no. He loved her. But… He was hyperventilating at this point. Okay well he’s obviously not gay because he hooked up with like 10 girls a month a while back. He did it in hopes for just the right girl. He hoped it ‘feel different’ with her. Different. Oh.

But he guessed that it doesn’t matter anyways, because Eddie doesn’t like Steve back. Right?

He had to stop thinking about it because he’s been sitting in the car for a while now and he can see Julie inside standing up finally. He pulls out of the parking lot and cranks down the window. Just breathing in the summer air. He makes it about half way home before he realizes that he drove Julie to the diner. Oops.

He turns on the radio. He still hasn’t changed the tape since the airport. He has to admit. This kind of music is growing on him. It’s loud he’ll give it that, but the more he listens the more he actually hears the lyrics. And they’re actually good. Like really good. He pulls up to his house and sits in the car for a bit longer. Just listening.

Once the tape is over he gets out. He unlocks the door and jumps onto the couch. He sees the copy of The Lord of the Rings that Dustin had gotten him after forcing him to watch the movies. He almost cried (but then he thought about his dads stupid words) when he got it. Mostly because it’s probably the best gift he’s ever gotten. But partly because he couldn’t read. After concussion number 13 (12? 14? He didn’t know. I wonder why he couldn’t remember!) he was never able to. The words blend together and make no sense anymore. Every time he picks up a book he gets an instant migraine. (Oh yeah because he gets those too now.) He picks it up anyway. He opens it and… yeah. “Pointless,” He sighed.

It’s the weekend for gods sake, and he just discovered the that his life was a lie (he honestly wasn’t even mad about it. He was happy. It felt like a 50 pound brick just got taken off his shoulder). He should be doing something fun. So he gets up and looks around. He could put on a movie. But then again he’s seen them all about 20 times since Eddie left. Yep he’s got nothing. He could… yeah nope absolutely nothing. He glanced towards the phone and shrugs. He dials the only number he has memorized.

“Hello?”

“Hey Vick!”

“Steve! How are you?”

“I’m good! Really good actually. Uh random question.”

“Hm?”

“Are you and Robin working today? Or just over the weekend in general?”

“I mean we are supposed to be but we can always just close up the shop. Why what’s up.”

“You guys want to go out for a drink? I’ll drive up there.”

Steve could practically here her smiling over the phone. She sighed, “I’ll go inform the wife,” she giggled.

“Thanks Vick, you’re the best.”

“Tell me something I don’t know. When will you head up here?”

“…now?”

She laughed, “yeah okay. See you in a bit!”

“Bye,” he put the phone back on the wall. He walked to his room to find a good outfit.

He put on his skinny jeans because in Eddie’s exact words, “they are very…Flattering?” He searched for a good shirt. Thankfully he expanded from his polo collection. He accidentally pushed a shirt off of its hanger and he couldn’t just leave it on the ground like a normal person because that would ruin “the image”. He picks it up and looks at it. It was a Nirvana shirt Eddie had bought him saying that, “this band will slowly ease you into metal. Grungey but surprisingly good.” He didn’t think they were to bad. He threw on the shirt for fun. It looked alright so he decided to stick with it. Plus it was actually very comfy. He went to walk out of his room when he saw it. Why did he still have it? It’s been seven years. But there it is in the corner of his room. The stupid battle vest. He thought he gave it back to Eddie. He picked it up and went to hang it up when he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror. I mean. He might as well. He threw on the jacket and… he looked good. Really good. He wondered why he never wore it before. He definitely pulled it off. He ran to the bathroom and grabbed the makeup bag he kept for when Robin came over (he swears it’s for Robin and Robin only). Go big or go home right? He pulled out three things: lipgloss (WHICH HE HAS NEVER USED AND IS ROBINS AND NOT HIS), mascara (WHICH HE HAS ALSO NEVER USED), and eyeliner. (Which he actually hadn’t ever used) He started with the lipgloss. Yep looks good like normal Wow Steve! He should have done this sooner. He put on the eyeliner. He had done this so many times on Robin it was practically muscle memory and… woah. It was… different to say the least. Then he put on the slightest bit of mascara on and checked himself out… for 5 minutes. He actually liked what he saw. He decided it was definitely time to go so he jumped in the car and drove up to his second home. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Next

EEEEEE. YOU GO STEVE. Baddie era fr (I’ll never say that again I swear. Dw it pained me too). I feel kinda bad just giving him piles of trauma. This one’s gooooodddd tho. Sorry if it’s short, it was originally supposed to be combined with the next one but I’m hoping that one will be kinda long. Am I projecting Nirvana onto him? Yes. Ofc. Nirvana is great and deserves more attention in fics. I am stressing a lot over this. I have a post up on my page that like gives updates and spoilers and stuff. So I was saying how I stopped reading my English book for this. Oops. I also don’t even have another chapter written after this so it’s gonna be a fun little weekend project! Also crazy to think I’m most likely half way done. Anyways now the stuff no one cares about. Comment or reblog if you want to be tagged. (I am not being aggressive when I capitalize this I just need people to see it.) MAKE SURE YOU HAVE YOUR TAGS ON GUYS!! Here’s the tag list!: @asbealthgn , @queerbeansworld , @bird-with-pencils , @vecnuthy , @artiststarme , @captain-winter-wolf-aehs , @piningapple @rowendyss @steve-themom-harrington @lfaewrites @azreadytodie @thequeenrainacorn @pastel-dreamscape @importanttimemachinenerd @jehneeg @swagaliciousmarie @mightbeasleep @krazyperson @milkshakeflower @fando-random @bumblebeecuttlefishes @swimmingbirdrunningrock @gregre369

I am going to cry I just found a much easier way to tag people. ⬇️⬇️

[jellyfishloveletterghosts]

Fake dating

:)

Thanks for playing <3

No one has specified ships so hopefully you don’t mind me making this one Harringroveson.

You know I don’t really like the fake dating trope all that much, I read it from time to time but I’ll probably never write it, too much work lol but here are some thoughts on one.

- Steve, Billy, and Eddie are all roommates. Collage au maybe or maybe Billy is the only one doing the collage thing, Steve works like two jobs after his parent’s cut him off, is trying to save to get some certificates so he can get into something that pays more than minim wage. Eddie works but mostly does gigs with his band so he is always just barely scraping rent together.

- Eddie and Billy are both helplessly in love with Steve and he definitely feels the same for both of them but they are all oblivious to the others feeling.

- They think Steve is straight when he is bi. Eddie may be openly gay but Steve is pretty sure he is too preppy for him. Neither of them are sure what Billy’s deal is post Starcourt since he never shows an interest in anyone as far they can tell.

- Eddie and Billy both think Steve is onto them, that he is getting suspicious of how much time they spend at home with him so being the idiots they are they decide to throw him off their scent by fake dating each other.

- There is a lot of privately butting heads but they are already friends and it is surprisingly comfortable cozying up to one another. Holding hands and kisses, sharing a bed. If one night they end up messing around and likening it well that is their business if their fake dating is maybe turning into real dating.

- Poor heartbroken Steve trying to be happy for them when they are around but it is harder and harder the more comfortable they get around each other. He starts crashing on Carol’s couch to avoid them, ruining date night by being a weepy mess. Pissing Carol off because she had plans and him crying on Tommy’s shoulder every night for week is killing the mood but it is not like he is going to let her kick him out he is a big softy for Steve.

- Billy and Eddie are pretty happy together but then Steve is not around and he has been balancing them out since they all moved in together. Doesn’t care enough about most of their petty fights to let them just hash it out, instead distracting them with one thing or another until they have moved on from it. It is their third fight this week that they realize what is wrong, why things are suddenly falling apart. Their date nights always involved Steve and so did almost everything else they did outside of work or school and they fucking miss him.

- They finally reaches out looking for Steve. Billy’s the one who finds out where he is because Tommy is a snippy bitch about it all “What do you want with Steve cheater?” and Billy’s just like what the fuck dude?

- Carol is the one that spills the beans on Steve’s crush and how the two of them dating in front of him has broken his heart and pleased come get your blubbering crush of my couch because of course she is aware of Eddie and Billy and all the heart eyes they send his way.

- It gets cleared up Steve comes home. Carol gets to Tommy the way she wants after a week of him ignoring her to keep Steve company. He has some making up to do.

- Billy and Eddie explain their fake dating plan and then they make it up to Steve with so many kisses among other things.

Ask Me 5+ Au Head canons

[blushingbucky]

being rivals to lovers with bucky barnes

pairing: bucky barnes x bi!f!reader

word count: 872

author’s note: first headcanon!! I hope you enjoy!!

It was no secret that you and Bucky were rivals

Always having to be the fastest

Always having to be the best

Everything always a competition

“I bet you can’t catch me!”

“Race you there!”

It doesn’t matter that you almost always draw

It’s the challenge, the competition

It’s the thrill of the chase

...

Honestly, you both really should be better behaved

You’re well-respected, kind to others, a badass reputation of your own

He’s the Winter Soldier for goodness’ sake

But when he’s smirking at you

Or you’re being an absolute tease

You turn into little children

Squabbling, cat-fighting

Him calling you names

HE’S SO DAMN PATRONISING

“Nice, try, sweetheart. I’m better, though.”

You sticking out your tongue at him

“Expected better from the Winter Soldier.”

Which drags you into another fight

All your fights are over nothing

He ate the last plum

You drank the last of the coffee

He stole your phone charger

You switched his shampoo

“Guys, can we please not do this again?”

But Sam and Nat are delighted

They egg you on, always keen to watch Bucky lose

“Come on y/n, stick it to him! PUNCH KICK FIGHT MAKE HIM HURT—”

Tony honestly could not care less

Peter just wanted to know what’s going on

“Hey, um, Mr Winter Soldier? Why are you and Miss y/n always fighting?”

Bucky ignores the kid

Terrified of him

But you were nice to him, and so Peter becomes your biggest supporter

...

Steve is exhausted

But after a while, things start to change

The pet names get a little too comfortable, a little too easy

Your screaming matches become flirty banter and play fights

But it’s a competition, and you have to win

Of course, you’re in love with each other

Will you admit it?

no

Does everyone know?

yes

You both profusely deny this any time you’re asked

You blush and he avoids the question

Nat and Tony and Steve and Sam are all getting tired

And any time you try to get close… you end up fighting

Look, you’re not complete idiots

Both of you can tell something’s up

You’ll defend him to anyone who will listen

Because “he is more than just the Winter Soldier”

He’ll start fights

Because “that guy was disrespecting you and I won’t stand for it”

You clean up his cuts and scrapes and bruises from fights and missions

With heavy sarcasm, of course

“Seems even the Winter Soldier himself gets hurt sometimes.”

“I can take damn well care of myself. I don’t need you protecting me.”

Bucky knows this, knows you can fight your own battles

But he wants to fight them anyway

Fighting to be the better Avenger becomes… well

It becomes a fight to get the other to confess

And neither one of you want to back down, give in

...

You try to make him jealous

HE’S INFURIATED BECAUSE HE KNOWS WHAT YOU’RE DOING

AND BECAUSE IT’S WORKING

You slide your hand up someone’s arm, bat your eyelashes

They fall over themselves to try and get you but you always pull away

Bucky wants to touch you, wants to be the one buying you drinks

But he’s just not ready yet

And he’s not about to let you win

So he either sulks in the corner with his whiskey, and lets it burn

Or he cuts in between you and your latest suitor

“Back off, buddy. That’s my girl.”

You’re not his girl but does he care?

of course not

He gets to see that frustrated look on your face

And it’s worth it, worth you punching his arm once the guy leaves or the girl gives up

“Screw you, Barnes.”

It’s worth it every time

He deliberately gets into arguments and fights to defend you

Just because he knows you’ll be the one patching him up

And you get so close, so damn close every time

...

So everyone is tired of this

And Tony, insufferable Tony

He decides to do the one thing he knows will work

And that is to lock you both in a room until one of you confesses

You don’t know how he managed it, really

But Tony’s stubborn and tells FRIDAY to let you out once you’re done

You and Bucky get into another argument

“This is your fault, l/n.”

“MY fault? Look who’s talking, Barnes. This is on you.”

You’re arguing and arguing and don’t notice you’re getting closer

Until he’s inches away from your lips

He whispers, “Shut up.”

But he keeps getting closer and closer

You can feel his breath on your lips

You barely reply, “Make me” before he’s kissing you

All of that pent-up frustration and competition and infuriating feelings

His lips are on yours and it’s hot, it’s unbelievably hot

How are his lips so soft?

It’s incredible and you’re panting

And he smirks into the kiss, but do you care?

Do you honestly care?

It’s all over too soon

“Bucky…”

“Yes?”

“I… I think we can stop arguing now.”

“So you forfeit?”

He’s an absolute tease and makes you want to tear your hair out

But somehow you’ve fallen in love with him

“I absolutely do not forfeit, Barnes—”

And somehow he’s kissing you again

[morbid-bugz]

My personal ST sexuality headcanons :) IK it’s long stfu I needed to get this out

Nancy: I’d say she’s a lesbian just strong wlw vibes all around, she was into dudes but platonically and mistakes the desire for affection and friendship as romantic feelings and just thought her attraction to women was bestie vibes only :)

Robin: Fuhkin gay. so gay. Figured out she was gay from a kitschy erotica novel that she stole from a yard sale when she was 12 (the ones with huge half-breed musclemen and fainting women in ripped bodices on the cover)

Steve: Oh homie, get some dick. Watched Grease when he was 11 and had a boner he had to hide throughout the whole thing because he was sweating from John Travolta and Olivia Newman.

Eddie: way too gender to not be nonbinary (he/they king) also BISEXUALLL so bisexual like he radiates bisexual slut (affectionate) Maybe pansexual? He also gives pansexual vibes in a total “*shrug* ass is ass, man” kinda way.  Was that one kid who was kissing boys in secret when he was 6 and putting on lipstick before having a crisis at 14 and sadly became a total shithead before going back to being a nerd at 16. Blows men at truck stops without shame.

Billy: Fakes being straight but is the biggest fag in history like stone butch has had affairs with 13 different men. Makes women want to leave their husbands but even more so makes men leave their wives. He does drag and is intense enough that if anyone tries to make fun of them he’ll beat their asses until they’d have to be scraped off the floor with a spatula.

Eleven: Ok so like, really heteromantic but experimental with girls. Asexual but doesn’t really understand her asexuality so developed a pretty shitty mindset of thinking something was wrong with her. Max being educated on this helped her understand herself better probably.

Max: B I S E X U A L all the way omg. Fucking definition of hot bi girl. I’d say also poly?? She’s the girl that Joan Jett is singing about in AC/DC. 

Lucas: Just told people he was a spicy straight after he was caught making out with a guy. Actually bisexual but has a shit ton of internalized biphobia. Which leads to shit getting rocky with max sometimes.

Mike: Oh god he needs to get dicked down even harder than Steve he has so much internalized homophobia. I’m not even going to call him bi he just feels so gay it ain’t even funny.

Dustin: panromantic asexual. I dunno how to elaborate but his mom bought him a barbie when he asked for one. He’s just chill about his sexuality doesn’t get the big whoop about why it’s so important. He doesn’t really like pride but went to a parade wearing a pan flag with Suzie who’s pan as well and he’s super supportive of her .

Will: Toned down gay, similar to Dustin where he really doesn’t give a shit about sexuality like has a very “gay isn’t different to straight so let’s all just be treated as equal it should just be considered normal” mentality. Tho I reckon he’s the sort that would throw a brick through a window if he had to. More punk scene activist less Yas Queen 

Jonathan: Aroace, depressed and felt desperate to feel something so convinced himself he was in love with Nancy. Still unaware of what he is :(

Joyce: Bisexual. No elaboration. 

Chrissy: Pansexual. She looks like a walking pansexual flag.

I probably missed some people out lol i’m just tired <3

[darkficsyouneveraskedfor]

Omertà👄17

Warnings: noncon sexual acts and rape.

This is dark!Bucky and dark! Loki and explicit (with sides of dark!Steve and dark!Thor). Your media consumption is your own responsibility. Warnings have been given. DO NOT PROCEED if these matters upset you.

Summary: Your father was a bookie and taught you everything you know about numbers. After his death, you were taken on as a bookkeeper for Loki Laufeyson, resident crime boss in Manhattan. But can you keep your place in the background when a man from Brooklyn threatens to drag you to the forefront?

Note: uh, yeah, here’s an update!

Thank you. Love you guys!

As always, if you can, please leave some feedback, like and reblog <3

masterlist

You were surprised and relieved that both men heeded your warning and left you alone. Even so, you slept with the club-like lamp close at hand and woke early as you went over the ideas brewing in your head. If you saw this casino through, you wouldn’t survive much longer. You doubted you’d even make it to the opening at this point.

You wore a tight black wrap dress that bared your thigh when you sat. You checked your reflection and preened before you grabbed your purse and headed for Loki’s room. You had to make this convincing. You had to work with Loki, not against him. Just for a time.

You knocked and tapped your heel on the hotel carpet. The door opened and Loki greeted you in a half-button shirt, untucked, and uncombed hair. His jaw twitched and he backed up a step as he let out a long breath.

“You’re early,” he nodded you inside. As you entered, he swung the door closed and finished buttoning his shirt. He strode around the room, tidied from the night before though still smelling of wine, and took his tie from the end table. He looped it as you lingered by the door.

“I think we should talk,” you said.

“We should?” he scoffed as he straightened his tie.

“About business,” you offered, “that’s why we’re here and we’ll get nothing done if we keep on like this.”

“All would be in order if you did not insist on being a stubborn bi--”

“Loki,” you curtailed his insult, “I mean it. Send me back to New York, just for a day.”

“I need you here.”

“I’ll stay until the morning but… Bucky told me some things about Diablo.”

“Diablo?” Loki squinted as he took a sleek black comb and looked into the mirror hung from the wall.

“You want me to show my loyalty to you, that’s what I’m doing.” You watched him comb his dark hair. “You own my bounty so what good is it to betray you? I owe you.”

He slapped the comb against his palm and turned to you. He set it aside and winced. He rolled his shoulder where you’d hit him and rubbed it.

“You’ve a far way to go to trust,” he warned.

“Look, you know how men like Bucky are. You think he doesn’t talk after… well, you know? He likes to boast. This whole casino business, that’s proof alone that Diablo is working behind your back. You might not trust me but you should trust him even less.”

“What are you proposing, pet?” he pulled on his jacket and yawned.

“Send me back to New York with Thor. I’ll need protection. You stay here. You can tell Bucky you sent me to keep me away from him or whatever makes your ego feel better.”

“Pet--” he began and you waved away his caution.

“Whatever,” you pressed, “you send me there and I will not return without answers. Diablo thinks he owns the city, that he owns me. He got on over on you with this seaside sty and I don’t think he should get away with that.”

“Why would you do any of this?”

“Because it’s my head as much as yours, because, as much as I hate to admit it, I’d rather be owned by you then Diablo.”

“And how will you get these answers?” Loki came near and looked down his nose at you.

“Hmm,” you smiled coyly, “all you men think my father left me alone with nothing. I know everyone he knew, I’m the sweet little girl who used to carry colouring books around to all the meetings. And as little as I knew her, I learned from my mother. Women have a way of snaking their way through the desert of bad men and we find sisterhood in our tolerance of their bad deeds. Diablo has girls coming and going, he tosses them away and do you think they appreciate him for that?”

Loki considered you and his lips threatened to curve. He ran his fingertips along his lapel and tilted his head.

“You are clever, aren’t you?” he asked.

“I make do,” you shrugged, “you keep me here and Bucky’s gonna keep playing this game. Don’t you think that’s a little too convenient for Diablo? He’s distracting both of you, he’s got you both of New York… why is that?”

Loki poked his tongue through his teeth and tsked. He turned away and swirled his finger through the air as he thought.

“I have been distracted, by you most of all,” he mulled, “I suppose it would be wise to figure out Diablo’s game and to get you away from that pitbull hounding my business.”

You were quiet, you had to let Loki think it was all in his hands. He went to the window and looked out, he let out a low snicker.

“See out the day, darling, and return to me tonight. I should like a proper goodbye before you go,” he checked his watch as he turned on his heel, “I will allow you a day in the city and you will return with the information you’ve promised me. I do not appreciate those who waste my time, you know that.”

“I do,” you confirmed, “and I’m done wasting my own.”

“Well then,” he crossed the room and his hand skirted up your side, “let us go on and face the day.”

You turned and reached for the door handle. He stopped your hand before you could twist it.

“I did not forget last night. It will not happen again or that little asterisk should disappear from my ledger, understood?”

You looked him in the face and held his eye. You nodded, “understood.”

“Very well,” he brushed his hand across your ass and gave a light slap, “go on.”

👄

You arrived at the casino before the other men. Loki saw you to your office and huffed about his brother’s usual lateness. Bucky and his men appeared shortly after and the builders continued their work in a storm of hammers and drills. 

You sat with your ledger as Thor winked at you before following his brother from the office. He was anything but subtle but you could use his lechery to your advantage. You bent over the columns but did not see the numbers. Instead, you went over your plot.

Men, you realised a little too late, were easy. You just had to appeal to their most basic instincts. Feed their egos and you could feed yourself. You bit your lip as you shoved down your anxiety. There were many ways this could go wrong.

You were surprised to look up and find Bucky in your doorway. His arms were crossed as he watched you. He bit his thumb as he came closer and dropped his hands to hook his thumbs in his pocket.

“You’re going away tomorrow,” he said as he pulled up a chair and sat. “Your boss is a coward. Sending you away. I know he just can’t stand the idea of you and me, sweetheart.”

You looked at him and nodded. He leaned back and cracked his neck.

“That’s quite a swing you got. Hell of an arm.” He chuckled, “can’t say it didn’t hurt.”

You swallowed and set down your pencil. “I shouldn’t have done that.”

“Oh, you should’ve hit us harder,” he bent his arm against the chair and rubbed his index with his thumb. “I’m sorry you had to see that.”

You looked down and batted your lashes. Your thoughts whirred and you fought to still them.

“Ah, sweetheart, this is messy, isn’t it?”

“He’ll never let me go,” you said softly, “he won’t.”

Bucky was quiet. You heard his sole scrape the floor and the chair creaked. “But you want away from him?”

“Of course I do,” you looked up tearily, “but I know how he is. It’s why--” you sniffed, “well, you don’t care about all that. You only want one thing.”

He frowned and lowered his hand as he leaned forward. “Now sweetheart, you know I like you for more than that. I wouldn’t still be chasin’ you around if I didn’t.”

You scoffed and shook your head. “Don’t lie to me.”

He raised a brow and sighed. “I know I haven’t been… gentle but I didn’t lie when I said I’d give you better.”

“You can’t--”

“He’s sending you with his brother, right?”

You furrowed your brow and nodded. “He doesn’t trust me,” you said, “and he’s mad. He wants to punish me.”

Bucky poked his cheek with his tongue and thought. “You really knocked some sense into me, sweetheart, and I hate to see what he made you do last night. I’d never make you walk around like that in front of other men. You’d be mine, only mine.”

“You shouldn’t be saying all this.”

“He shouldn’t be sending you away.”

“Well,” you threw your hands up, “what can I do?”

“You do nothing,” he said, “all you gotta do is what I tell you.”

“I don’t--”

“I’ll take care of Loki and I got men who can deal with his dumb brother,” Bucky intoned, “you just gotta say the word.”

Your heart hammered. This wasn’t what you expected but it could still work. You searched Bucky’s face and leaned forward and lowered your voice. “Why?”

“I didn’t buy a casino to work with Loki, only to get close enough to him,” he growled, “this peace was never gonna last.”

“What--”

“You go with Thor as planned. Act like normal, like nothing’s changed. Get him to that antique shop and my men will take care of the rest. You’ll be safe, you got my word.”

“You want me to go against Loki?”

“I want you to jump ship before it sinks,” he said coolly, “I’d hate to see you drown, sweetheart.”

“Why would I do that? Trade him for you? How is that any different for me?”

Bucky inhaled deeply and smirked, “you haven’t given me a chance, sweetheart, but your other choice isn’t so good. This is still business, if I gotta put you down with him, I will.”

You folded your hands on the desk and scrunched your lips. You fought not to show your own grin that threatened to burst through. These men were so focused on each other and their war, they didn’t realise the big picture could be skewed by the finer details.

👄

Loki was waiting for you. You knocked on his door but it was unlocked. You entered and found him in a black robe with a glass of wine. He didn’t acknowledge you as you turned the lock or even as you neared him. He tossed back the last of the cabernet and set the glass aside.

His green eyes met yours at last and he stretched his arms over the back of the couch. He was slightly drunk, you could tell by the colour in his cheeks. His gaze fell down your figure and he beckoned you forth with two fingers.

“I hate to admit it but I think I will miss you,” he slid one hand along the front of his robe and unknotted the belt. He pulled it open and exposed his erection, “you will depart with my brother in the morning and he will see you to the city.”

You wriggled out of your dress and let it pile at your feet. You unhooked your bra as he began to play with himself and shimmied out of your panties. You stepped in front of him and bent to brace his shoulders as you climbed up to straddle you.

“Do you think I’ll be back or is this goodbye?” you asked.

“What do you mean?” he rasped.

“You don’t think I’ll be caught?”

He narrowed his eyes and touched your hips. He pulled you down until his tip slid along your folds.

“Do you?” he challenged.

“I don’t know what I’m doing,” you confessed.

“You have my brother, his men and mine,” he pushed you further and slid inside of you with a gasp. “When we are rid of Diablo and his deception, we will deal with Barnes. You will be mine, pet, only mine.”

“Would you want me when he is gone?” you ran your nails down his chest and he shivered.

“You would be thankful to only be my accountant again,” he gripped your hips as he moved your body, “but I don’t think I could let you be just that.”

“You’re drunk, Loki,” you taunted, put off by his unusual candour.

“I’m horny,” he admitted, “and you feel good.”

You purred and kept rocking in his lap. Despite your loathing, your helplessness, you were soothed by his body. For once, it wasn’t rough, it wasn’t angry, it wasn’t punishing. With what could be disaster facing you, you wanted to bask in this last moment of peace. Fuck away the stress and the fear.

“You never fucked me like this, pet,” he reached to cup your tit, “you’re afraid?”

You lowered your head tellingly and sped up. You didn’t want to talk, you just wanted to get off. Even if you despised him, even if it was wrong. He groaned and hung his head back against the couch as he teased your nipples with his thumbs.

“Perhaps it is that I am merely preferable to that animal, Barnes. The lesser of two evils? I do not mind that.”

He clenched his teeth as he watched the way you glided up and down his length. Your thighs burned as you rode him eagerly, wishing he would just shut up. He snarled as you leaned into him and he took your nipple between his lips and nibbled.

You dug your nails into his shoulders and gasped for breath as you neared your climax. You closed your eyes and the hotel room slaked away. You weren’t there, you weren’t with him, you were only reaching for your bliss. You were so close; so close to being free, even if it wasn’t forever.

“Oh, darling,” he grunted and his hips bucked as you reached down to play with your clit. 

He came inside of you as your walls clenched him and you guided yourself to your own orgasm with your fingers and the fullness. You stopped and sat back as you wiped away the sweat from your brow. You exhaled and he tilted his hips so that you tensed around him.

“I will have a surprise for you on your return,” he swore as his green irises flamed, “oh, I think you should like it very much.”

You watched him as he closed his eyes and caught his breath. You blinked as your head spun and you caught his implication. Just as Bucky planned to strike his foe, Loki plotted much the same. You hid your delight and latched onto the back of the couch as you began to move again. You should have realised earlier how easy these men were.

[overclocksaa]

anon / Do you think marvel will ever make Stony canon .. it’s like the perfect ship 

i think we’re gonna have to keep scraping our crumbs off the floor while marvel ignores the obvious because the dudebro readers would flip the fuck out and start whining about pushing some agenda because they have the emotional register of a plastic butter knife and can’t read the obvious tension in the room.  like marvel is so careful to no homo everything about steve they can when they can, despite the literal overwhelming corners they’ve written themselves into with steve’s ~ambiguous~ sexuality (i mean ffs they called him an ally in the marvel pride issue and only gave tony a cameo in the group shot at the end when folks we been done knew) because of it that if they actually, seriously acted on any of it i’d fall the fuck out of my chair.

which is sad, i still say stevetony could be one of the more compelling romances in marvel comics - especially now, after everything they’ve been through, now that they’re finding their equilibrium together again and learning to talk to each other again and moving past old hurts and slipping back into something that’s easy, but stronger for the strife.  not just because it’s a mlm ship between two long time characters, which is also important, idk why marvel is so afraid to pull the trigger on naming obviously bisexual characters - tony’s been obviously bi since the 70s, folks - but it’s more.  on a literary front it’s a super interesting combination of chemistry and depth that colors literally every single one of their interactions whether marvel likes it or not.  that makes sense right.  it makes sense in my head.  like...you can’t give us something like man out of time, which is literally one smooch away from a set up for date #2, or the confession, which is a love confession without ever using the actual three word phrase, or redzone, where it is literally framed in a romantic fashion in silhouette with pink backlighting and everything, or have a literal list of panels where, outside of everyone they’re next to they mirror the couples in the group’s poses, not the friends, or the myriad of other things that literally screams they are stupidly in love with each other (because it doesn’t go one way, there’s a list to be made on steve’s end, too), and then no homo the hell out of it.  which is basically what they’re doing.

this is also ignoring the parallels tony and steve have with both wanda and vision and billy and teddy.  i said what i said.  one day i’ll put together that post and talk about it because there’s actually a lot, that has nothing to do with billy and teddy actually physically resembling them, i s2g the way they talk has such steve and tony vibes it hurts.

like marvel likes to mash characters together that don’t make any sense and like some characters (janet) only have value in a relationship (which is bullshit) while ignoring dynamics that literally lend themselves to it naturally, so here we are.  they’ll keep teasing it and we’ll keep eating it up, and they’ll keep giving it to us in side universes (1872, earth-3490 - this one especially like genderswapping isn’t gross, one, and two, like it doesn’t say a hell of a lot about how steve feels about tony and steve’s overall sexuality to begin with) with nothing but a run of less than ten issues or a blurb in some other title.  it’s frustrating, tbh.  marvel literally never learns, never grows, never changes, and we’re just here accepting it ig.

[yikesharringrove]

hello, love your writing :) would you do 7 & 34 for the prompt thing please?

Thank you so much! I seriously have such a great time writing for harringrove, so nice comments really mean the world to me :’)

7: “You’re a fucking idiot if you think I don’t love you.”

34: Monster hunting

If anyone else is interested in sending in a request, I’ve got the prompt list right here! Honestly, my requests are always open and anyone is welcome to slide into my inbox with headcanons, prompts, or to say hey!

Post-season 2 because that’s the monster-hunting energy we live for. (Although, this is like the aftermath of monster hunting).

There is some description of gore, so be gentle if that kinda thing is yikes for you.

Read on AO3

Billy is absolutely terrified.

He had to carry a nearly unconscious and delirious Steve Harrington all the way from their spot in the woods to his huge and empty house.

The demodog had come out of fucking nowhere, attaching itself to Steve’s left shoulder before anyone could even process what was happening. Billy had seen red, taking his ax to the ‘dog again and again until it was a heap on the forest floor.

Steve was bleeding. Billy had tried to fashion some kind of tourniquet, using his own shirt and belt to keep firm pressure on Steve’s shoulder while Billy held him to his chest and ran as fast as he fucking could in a pure, blind panic.

They had forged an uneasy friendship in the tunnels under Hawkins, clinging to one another in the swarm of ‘dogs when they thought the end was imminent. The tension soon drained from their friendship, nights getting drunk and getting to know the other’s deepest fears and pain chased it away.

He busted into Steve’s house, the back door left open like always, because Steve never locked his doors, because it’s a small town, people don’t really break in and something else about if a demogogron shows up, a lock’s not gonna stop it.

So he carried Steve inside, up the stairs to the bathroom to the left of the landing, the big immaculate one Steve always lead Billy to when his dad went too far. There was a big first aid kit under the sink, fully stocked and replenished every month.

He propped up Steve as best as he could on the closed lid of the toilet, getting the kit and returning to Steve, crouching between his legs to survey the damage.

Steve’s head was lolling about, his eyes glazed over, the pain of the injury causing his brain to go fuzzy.

“Billy,” he whined when the wound was unwrapped, the air stinging the bite.

Billy was going to be sick. He didn’t know how Steve is able to do this, stuff down his own fear and pain to clean and heal. He was choked by fear, afraid to lose his closest friend, afraid to cause any more harm to the boy he absolutely loves.

He had to cut the rest of Steve’s shirt off, not wanting to deal with shifting Steve around any more than he already had.

“Okay, Stevie, I need you to hold on for me okay? Keep talking to me, Baby. Tell me about-what was the last book you read?” He was wetting a washcloth, wiping the blood steadily oozing from the bite marks.

“I don’t, Bill you know I don’t like,” he hissed at the scrape of the cloth against tender flesh. “I don’t like reading.”

“I know, Honey. But just think. You read The Outsiders in class last semester, didn’t you? I know you liked it, you kept telling me about it.” He rang out the cloth, the water tinged pink. He soaked a new cloth with disinfectant. “C’mon Sweet Thing, this is gonna hurt. Keep on talkin’ to me. Who was your favorite character?”

“Dall-Dallas Winston, ah fuck Bill.” The burn was ridiculous, causing Steve’s vision to go fuzzy-black at the edges.

“I know, I know I’m sorry, Pretty Boy. Why do you like him?” Steve was white as a sheet, his eyes clouded over.

“I like, he cares. He helps Johnny and, and Ponyboy. He loves them, they’re his family. He’s, he’s rough around the edges, but-but he cares. He protects.” Billy was wrapping a clean bandage around Steve’s shoulder, bringing it around his chest and under his other arm to secure it to the odd placement of where the thing’s jaws clamped onto Steve. “He’s like- I mean, he makes me think of you.”

Billy’s hands twitched as he secured the bandaging. “I don’t think you know what you’re saying. Let’s get you to bed.” He gripped Steve again, pulling him up gently and tucking him to his chest again.

Once Steve was safely in bed, a bag of peas usually reserved for Billy placed against his inflamed shoulder, a few Vicodin pilfered from his mother’s stash running sweetly through his system.

“Bi-lly, Billy Billy Bill,” Steve was high as a fucking kite. Luxuriating in his bed, making grabby hands (hand) at Billy. “Come lay with me. I wanna, like, hold you and-and squish you.” His big eyes boring through Billy, pleading with him.

“Stevie, do you even know what you’re saying?” Steve gave a giggle. Billy was turning to mush.

“Yes, yes I know what I’m saying. I’m saying come here. I wanna love on you some.” Steve was the clingiest fucker Billy’s ever met, constantly snuggling up to Billy, telling him, you’re so warm, man it’s like you’re made ‘a California.

Billy tried not to move Steve as he joined him on the bed, allowing Steve to tangle their legs together and take his hand. Billy reveled in these little touches. He knew Steve only meant them between friends, comfort for his own self, but sometimes, Billy would close his eyes and imagine they were shared between lovers.

“Bill, I gotta, there’s something I needta tell you.” Steve’s eyes were nearly closed, unfocused as he looked at Billy. “And you may hate me for it, but I just gotta, say it or else, or else I’m gonna explode.”

He took a breath, glazed eyes meeting Billy’s.

“I love you, Bill. I’m in love with you. Have been since we almost fucking died in those fucking tunnels.” Billy’s heart dropped to his ass. He so wanted to believe him, those honey-sweet words everything he’s ever wanted to hear whispered in that silky voice.

“Pretty Boy, you are absolutely soaring right now. There’s no way you know what you’re saying. Maybe you should try to sleep.”

“NO.” Steve was indignant, trying to shift to look at Billy, being impeded again and again by his injured shoulder, pain shouting through the drugs. “ I know what I’m saying dammit! You’re a fucking idiot if you think I don’t love you. And I’m sorry if that makes you uncomfortable or whatever, and it’s-it’s okay if you don’t wanna be my friend anymore, but I just, you had to know. You’re so good, so good, Bill. And, and I know you don’t think it, but you’re nice. And you care about me. And that makes me love you.”

Billy was stunned. Completely speechless in the wake of Steve’s confession, he just took in Steve’s face. He was chewing at his lip, doe eyes bright with unshed tears of uncertainty in the face of possible rejection.

“Jesus fuck, Pretty Boy, that’s all I ever wanted to hear from those sugar lips of yours.” Steve beamed, his smile big and lazy.

“You need to kiss me then. Don’t believe you ‘til you plant a big fat one on me.” He giggled, clearly pleased with himself.

“Oh yeah, you gettin’ all bossy on me now?” Billy sat up, leaning over Steve, minding his shoulder. He pressed one of his palms to Steve’s cheek, leaning into his space, close enough to see those big brown eyes cross in an effort to maintain eye contact.

Billy gently connected their lips, keeping it short and chaste.

“For the record, I love you too Stevie.”

Steve had never been happier.

[hardlyharringrove]

he used to wear blue (before I knew you) Part 2/ WHO KNOWS ANYMORE

There is a whole lot of harringrove coming next part I promise, now that we got the story really rolling, there’s a little bit here but it’s mostly explaining my boy Steve.Sorry it took so long, I dont even have an excuse frfr. If you Haven’t read part one please find it HERE. If you have read part one then please enjoy part two to my madness my lovely freaking penguins. Until next time ya tiger kings and queens

When Steve woke up, he once again expected to be cold. 

He was warm again though, proving himself wrong.

Steve opened his eyes, groaning he looked around through hazy eyes, trying to focus himself. He could see himself in a mirror, blinking at his reflection. The bandage over his eyebrow really hurt, and he had a pounding headache.  When he sat up, shrugging the blanket that was covering him off he sighed. Was he even still at the school? The surrounding didn’t look familiar to him, he looked around once more before his eyes landed on someone else in the room.

Oh.

He wasn’t alone. 

Before he could fully freak out though, he could tell it wasn’t Hargrove again, it also wasn’t Nancy or Jonathan. Steve did have a guess though, looking at the pixie brown hair cut and too big glasses for her face.

“Barb?” He asked quietly, reaching up to rub at the back of his head, trying to soothe his headache.

“Hey Steve.” She replied, finally looking up at him. 

Barbra Holland, she’d die Steve’s Junior year in his backyard. She’d disappeared from his backyard,and it had haunted him for ions. They had never really been friends, she was only ever around when he was trying to talk to Nancy. Even then, she gave off vibes of disapproval towards Steve. So why was she here now?

Steve had wanted to ask her, wanted to ask her if she had found her piece in this weird afterlife they were both in. The words wouldn’t come out though, he could only sit there in shock, staring back at her as she stared at him. His life had a lot of explaining to do, but he had nobody to ask, nobody to understand him.

“Billy had to go to class, if that’s who you're looking for.” She said, smirking at him.

He had in fact NOT been looking for Billy.

“He asked me to stop by during my free period to make sure you were okay. You gave everybody a heart attack you dingus.” Barb said, closing the book that was in her lap, and leaning back in her chair. 

“I did?” 

“Um yeah, you don’t remember anything do you?” She asked, raising an eyebrow at him.

“No, I can't remember anything if I’m being honest with you” Steve replied, giving an exhausted sigh. He genuinely felt as if he could sleep for years with how tired he was right now.

“Well, you passed out in the boys bathroom and hit your head pretty hard,Billy carried your ass to the nurse. Then you woke up and started freaking out apparently talking about everything being a dream. So the nurse gave you some prescribed meds and knocked you out for a few hours.” She said, reaching down to pull a satchel from between her legs and around her shoulders. “It's fourth period now, and my free period is almost over. So, I’ll text B and let him know you’re okay.” She stood then, walking past Steve and towards the door.

“Barb, I can’t remember anything. None of what you said makes sense!” He exclaimed, standing on wobbly legs and reaching for her. He grabbed her arm, stopping her. “ I just want someone to actually listen to me on this.”

“Steve we are all here to listen to you, that’s what friends are for.” Barb whispered, turning and placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. “It was just a little fall, you’ll be okay by lunch and in time for the basketball game tonight, okay?” She asked, turning to leave again.

“I don’t even know why I’m asking you for help.” Steve muttered to her back, making her stop and turn to him again.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” She sounded hurt.

Steve glanced at her, shit, he didn’t mean it like that.

“I didn’t mean it like that.” He sighed, shaking his head.

“Well how else am I supposed to take it? I thought we were like best friends Steve?” She asked, again the hurt tone in her voice, making Steve wince at her words.

“We are.. Well we’re not but I don’t know okay?” He stuttered, trying not to explode with emotion. His head was reeling at this point and his face felt hot. He felt just like he did early trying to explain his current situation to deaf ears. Why was nobody listening to him? 

“Did I do something that I don’t know about? Or is this just your regularly scheduled crisis of the day?” She asked, taking a step back from him.

Barb stopped them, really looking at Steve, watching the nervousness in his eyes and the unease in his stature. And then, as if a light bulb had just been turned on,she looked around quickly, noticing the nurse on a phone call out in the hallway before she rushed and closed the door.Barb locked the door, turning to look at Steve slowly. “Steve what year did you fall asleep in?” She asked, approaching him carefully.

“What? What year? Is that some trick question?” Steve asked, running a hand through his hair, pacing in circles now.

“Steve,” Barb tried.

“If you don’t want to listen to me then you don’t have to but to make fun of me Barb, that's low.”

“Steve,” She tried again.

“I mean at least everyone else was a little genuine with their concern but I’m not crazy okay. And i don't even think this is a dream anymore. Not with-”

“Steve!” Barb tried again, waving her hands to get his attention to no avail.

“But this has to be a dream because how else would we be talking right now? You’re literally dead. So none of thi- HEY!” Steve finally stopped talking after he felt a sharp slap to his face. “That’s really NOT cool, especially since this is the kind of dream you get hurt in.” Steve muttered, looking up to see an annoyed looking Barb.

“Did you say I’m dead?” She whispered, grabbing both sides of his face and making him turn to look her in the eyes.

Steve nodded slowly. 

“Steve,” She paused, taking a deep breath, “What year did you fall asleep in?” She asked again.

“1982.” He whispered back, looking at her intently.

Barbra let go of his face taking a shocked step back.

“Steve, you’re not in a dream.” She started, raising her arms to calm him.

“What are you talking about? Of course this is a dream?” Steve asked bewildered by her strange behavior all of a sudden.

She reached forward then, grabbing both of Steve’s hands in hers, and looking at his very confused face.

“Hey, Open this door! Children do not make me call the principal!” The nurses voice came through the locked door. 

Both teens ignored the demand, attention staying on the other instead.

“Barb, what do you mean this isn’t a dream?” Steve asked again.

Barb looked down, taking another deep breath before looking up at Steve.

“Steve I did this.” She said, waiting for a response. She was met with silence so she continued. “I brought you to an alternate dimension with me.”

And with that, Steve may have fainted again.

_________________

“Are you sure we shouldn’t call his parents?” A female voice whispered harshly.

“Yeah right, remember the last time Steve tried out for sports?” That was Billy talking now. Steve could recognize that much

“Yeah like two years ago man so what?” A different female voice spoke up, maybe Nancy?

“He got a scrape on his knee and his parents almost had a heart attack.” 

“I still think we should call someone” That was a different voice, a younger male voice, he knew that voice too though.

Steve sat up slowly from where he was lying down. His head was cold, he thought, raising his hand to remove a wet white cloth that was on his forehead.He looked around, eyes still a little fuzzy from being closed for too long. He was in the back of someone's car, that much was clear. Whose car, was a different question. He could still hear the voices outside of the car arguing back and forth over him. Steve took a deep breath, looking down at the car floor, seeing a bunch of open soda cans and scattered magazines. He took another deep breath, the car smelled of burned cinnamon sticks and ash.

Deciding he couldn’t take the arguing outside anymore, Steve opened the door. Spotting Billy first as he was closest to the car. He looked around at everyone else surrounding him. He saw Nancy and Jonathan which was a relief. What really threw him for a loop was seeing Barbra and Mike Wheeler standing in front of him as well, with concerned looks on their faces.

“B-Barb?” He asked quietly, standing to his feet a little wobbly. Billy reached out to grab his arm, helping to steady the boy. “You did this?” He asked, pointing an accusing finger at her.

Barb took a step back from the rest of the group, her eyes facing downwards.

“Baby take it easy.” Billy whispered in his ear.Pushing him back onto the car seat behind him.”All Barb did was call us all, she carried you from the nurses office, after convincing her not to snitch to your parents that you’ve fainted twice in a day.”

What? Had he imagined that whole conversation in the nurse's office.

“Are you sure nothing happened last night? This is weird even for Steve.” Nancy asked, her question directed towards her brother. 

Mike shrugged, raising his hands in defense of whatever accusation he was being accused of.

“We all hung out just like we usually would. Steve picked us all up and took us to see the new Avengers movie, then we played arcade games all night, got some pizza and then he took us all home. That’s all. I don’t know what he did after that.”

He had been with the kids last night? That sounds like a typical Friday night for him. Still none of this dream made any sense, and Steve had no idea what was going on anymore.

“Avengers?” Steve asked, looking around at everyone as their attention turned to him once more. “What’s that?” 

Nancy turned to her brother arms crossed again.

“See? This makes it seem like maybe you had something to do with this.” She said angrily.

“You also said that he didn’t even remember dating Billy. Did I have something to do with that too? He just asked your best friend if she was alive.” Mike exclaimed, pointing his finger at Barbra, “What would we have done to him for all of that?”

Billy turned to Steve, standing in front of him and placing one hand on his shoulder and using his other hand to tilt Steve’s head up to look at him.

“Baby,” he whispered “Did you take something after dropping the kids off?” he asked, a look of concern in his eyes.

Steve scoffed, pushing Billy away from him.

“I don’t do drugs, Hargrove, so don't accuse me of it. Also stop calling me baby.”Steve said huffing. “ It’s weird.” 

He had to look away from the hurt look in Billy’s eyes, for some reason it really made his heart hurt to see the other boy look so heartbroken over his words. Steve sighed, crossing his arms and shaking his head.

“This is a really bad dream, this is a really bad dream, this is a really bad dream.” He muttered to himself on and on.

“What’d he just say? We’re all in a dream?” Mike asked, taken aback.

“Maybe we should just take Steve home?” Barb suggested from the background.

“We could do that, his moms always out doing stuff with clients until at least 5 pm” Billy said, turning to the group. “I think he’s just tired honestly.”

“I can’t skip today guys, I have a math exam to pass.” Jonathan said suddenly, wrapping an arm over Nancy's shoulders.

“Yeah, I’ve got a Student Council Meeting after lunch today, and you kinda need the president there for that.” Nancy said next. “Let us know how everything goes okay?” She asked, before turning to Steve, a concerned look gracing her face. “Feel better Stevie, we’ll stop by after school.” The couple said their goodbyes before walking back into the school.

“Shit, I have practice after school today too, we have the basketball game today and Coach wants us to run a couple of plays.” Billy cursed under his breath. “I’ll just skip, no way am I letting you out of my sight.” Billy said, turning to Steve and caressing the boy's soft face with his closed fist. 

“No way are you coming to my house Hargrove.” Steve scoffed, turning away from the other boy.

“Listen here princess, fix your attitude now.” Billy demanded, grabbing Steve's chin to force the boy to look at him. “I don’t care if you’re being a brat right now, or even if you’re mad at me for whatever, I’m taking you home. You don’t need to be alone.”

Steve struggled to get out of Billy’s firm grip, feeling slightly embarrassed to have this happening in front of Barb and Mike Wheeler who were both adverting their eyes from the two in front of them. Before Steve could come up with a response that would’ve no doubt angered Billy even more, Barb cut in.

“Actually, I’m done for the day, I don’t mind making sure Steve gets home alright.” She said, shrugging her shoulders.

Billy sighed, and looked as if he was thinking it over before he let go of Steve’s chin and nodded. 

“Fine, but please take care of him.” He grumbled, turning to Mike next “and you go back to class.”

“Gladly,” Mike smirked before waving to Steve “See you later Steve, game night at ours tomorrow, you bring the snacks this time!” He shouted jogging off back towards the school.

Barbra nodded her head, reaching out to take Steve’s keys from Billy who had them in his pocket.

“I’ll bring his car around, I rode with Nancy today anyways.” She said walking off.

Steve turned to watch her walk away and shook his head, had he really imagined all of that conversation? Was this really just some weird dream he couldn’t seem to wake up from? Before he could delve deeper into his own thoughts, he turned to look at a hurt Billy Hargrove.

“Listen man, I don’t know why you’re so obsessed with me in this dream, but thanks I guess.” Steve said, trying to ease the tension.

Billy looked at him then, a strange look in his eyes as he looked Steve up and down.

“Baby, I don’t know whats going on in that pretty little head of yours today.” He said, shaking his head. “But if there’s anything you ever wanna talk about just tell me.” Billy sighed turning back towards the school. “I love you Steve Harrington, and whatever I did I’m sorry okay.” he turned back towards Steve, biting his lip worriedly waiting for a response.

Steve coughed awkwardly.

“Um I forgive you?” 

He must have said the right thing because Billy smiled then, and took three large steps towards him until they were face to face.

“Don’t ever scare me like that again.” Billy laughed, “I thought you were trying to figure out a nice way to break up with me or something.” He said putting hands in his pocket and giving a small shrug.

“Well I-”

Steve was cut off then by a surge of lips pressed against his. He wanted to push Billy off of him and punch him in the face, but something was holding him back. Billy was really warm, pulling Steve closer to his chest. It wasn’t a rough kiss where their lips were mashed together as if they were fighting one another, but it wasn’t a soft peck to the lips either. Steve could feel his whole body on fire,before Billy finally pulled back, a giant grin on his face.

Steve was in shock, too much of a shock to do anything else. Did he really just let Billy Hargove lay one on him as if he was some girl? 

“Text me when you get home babe,” Billy said before turning and walking towards the school. Making Steve jump, when he heard the car lock itself. So, that was Billy’s car, interesting.

“Hey Steve!” Barb shouted at him, she was pulled up in the car he had driven to school this morning just a few spots down from where he was. 

He made her way over to her quickly getting in and closing the door as she drove off.

Steve sighed, taking a second to actually collect himself and relax in the passenger seat. This day keeps getting weirder, he thought to himself. Nothing was making any sense to him.

“Sorry I kinda exploded at you Barb, I guess I’m not feeling well” Steve said, trying to play it cool in front of her.

“Cut the bs Steve.” She muttered, turning out of the school's parking lot and onto the road. “You’re just fine, you’re not crazy and you’re not in a dream.” She exclaimed seriously. She looked over at his surprised look and sighed. “Look I wasn’t kidding earlier when I said I brought you here, I did do this okay?”

“You.. you what? You’re seriously telling me this is an alternate universe?” Steve asked skeptically. 

“Yes Steve, and I’m the only other person who knows, so maybe stop blabbing about it too literally everyone. They don’t know what you’re talking about and they’ll think you’re crazy, trust me I know.”

Steve sat staring at her in silence, his mouth hanging open as he tried to form words.

“Listen okay, I woke up here four years ago with a completely different life. I wasn’t even in Hawkins, when I got here. I woke up in Columbus, Ohio. I tried to explain to everybody that I had just died but everyone thought I was crazy too, I thought it was a dream or at least Heaven. It took me awhile to figure it out, but when I was dying I dreamed of a happier place with no problems like the one I was in, and when I opened my eyes that’s exactly where I was. I didn’t get to pick my reality or anything like that I was just here and I was happy.” She paused again, pulling the car off to the side of the road and turning to look at Steve who had the same confused look on his face. 

“You still with me dingus for brains?” She asked, tilting her head annoyed.

Steve nodded slowly.

“My parents moved to Hawkins to be closer to my grandma three years ago, and I had to become friends with everybody all over again, Nancy, Jonathan, Billy and even you. Along with a few other people. Everything was fine and I was finally happy, nothing weird happens here, okay?” She asked, waiting for Steve’s head nod to continue.

“Okay, but how’d you bring me here?” Steve asked pointing to himself, making Barb sigh and scratch the back of her neck.

“Well, last night I had a dream, well more of a nightmare really. I was watching everybody fight these weird demon-like creatures and run to safety, everybody I knew and loved.Everyone else got away except you, Nancy kept saying she was gonna go back for you and to stay put on a walkie talkie, but she didn’t come back, so I just sat with you. And well,” She stopped trying to collect herself.

“And what Barb?”

“And you were dying Steve” She said sadly” So I just kinda wished for you to come to where I was, a happier place. And that’s what brought you here. After I wished it, you closed your eyes and everything went white. Next thing I know I’m waking up and going to school. I didn’t think it was real until you started talking to me in the nurse's office.” Barb finally finished.

Steve sat for a minute, turning to look forward rather than at Barb who was looking at him intently. He didn’t feel light headed anymore all of a sudden. Everything was starting to make a lot of sense actually. This wasn’t a dream if what Barb was saying was true and if he believed her. Did he believe her? 

“It wasn’t Nancy.” He said suddenly, turning back to glance at Barb “It was you.” He said, shocked.

“What was me?” Barb asked, now confused on what they were talking about.

“I remember right before I closed my eyes in the, well the other universe, a voice was calling out my name. I thought it was Nancy calling me but it wasn’t.” He said.

“I didn’t think you could actually hear me.”She said quietly in disbelief.

The two stared at each other for a long time not saying anything.

“Barb, can you take me home?” Steve asked, “ I think we have a lot to figure out, and you have a lot to catch me up on.”

taglist bc im special

@morganhoran1671

@bisexual-cupcake

@harringrovetrashh

@bitterslytherinpeach

@lemonypink

@goldenweatherharringrove

[scphialillis]

byeler prompt- all the boys are at mike’s for a sleepover and dustin and lucas are suspecting that will and mike have crushes on each other and they over analyze every move they make. do whatever you’re inspired to do to make that into an actual story with an ending

ok. 1) i really liked this prompt and i wish i could have done it the justice it deserves, but instead i got this, ughhhh. 2) i’m sorry it took so long at that it sucks, but something came up and i’m pretty stressed!! so i hope u enjoyed this at least a lil bit :)

words: 1986

warnings: none, i think? swearing i guess. 

characters are 16!

Lucas and Dustin usually hummed theme songs from cartoons and quizzed each other on movie (or video game) knowledge when they were on their way to Mike’s place to keep things from getting too quiet, but today they didn’t. Today an odd silence fell between the two boys, the only sounds coming from Dustin’s bike chain and their shoes scraping against the road. Dustin pushed his bike and walked next to Lucas, since Lucas had a flat tire. At first he offered to give Lucas a ride on his bike, but it didn’t really work out, so they just walked.

Dustin’s mind was focused on one particular topic that afternoon, and he’d finally had enough of keeping it in.

“Lucas?” He asked, kicking a small pebble from in front of his foot.

“Yeah?”

“I think… I think Will likes Mike. And that Mike likes Will.”

“What?” Lucas stopped, and put his arm out to stop Dustin too. Dustin did so, and looked at him. “Where did that idea even come from?”

Dustin moved Lucas’ arm and started walking again, Lucas following.

“You don’t see it? Of all people, Will is the only one Mike never gets frustrated with, the only one he’s never shouted at, ever-”

“Yeah, but that doesn’t mean he has a crush, Dustin,”

“Uh, I’m not finished.” Dustin scoffed, Lucas rolling his eyes in return. “As I was saying. Mike has never yelled at Will, he never gets mad at him.. and he’s really, especially, uh gentle? And nice with him, you know.. I don’t know how to explain it..” But to be fair, he didn’t think he would have to. Lucas spends just as much time with Mike, he should’ve been able to tell as well.

“He’s got heart eyes for Will, real bad. The way he looks at Will.. that’s not the way I look at you. Or how Mike looks at me, or how you look at El. You’re telling me you’ve never noticed it? Not to mention, they’ve been spending a lot of time together, alone. More than usual. Making random excuses to have places to be? Sometime I think they forget we go to the same school, and I know damn well they don’t have that many projects. And when we are with them, it’s like they’re off in their own world.”

“But.. Mike’s not gay. He likes girls, he’s had lots of crushes on them. He literally kissed El and went to the snowball with her.” Lucas said.

“You’re right,” Dustin shrugged. “But have you ever heard of the term bisexual?” Lucas shook his head. “Steve told me about it, his roommate in college is bisexual—bi for short. It’s where you like boys and girls.”

“You can like boys and girls?” Lucas was definitely intrigued now. “Like, for real?”

“Totally,” Dustin nodded. “I think Mike is.. and I really think he likes Will.”

“But what about Will?” Lucas asked, but he knew the answer. Will never had a crush on a girl (or at least never told the party), he never even talked about the girls in movies like Lucas and Dustin did sometimes. Lucas supposed that maybe that had been the reason boys at school called Will homophobic slurs and not the other boys. Had it been obvious? If so, what about Will made people think he was gay? Lucas never even thought about it until now.

“I don’t know.. he’s not really into girls. He doesn’t even talk about them.. like, ever,” Dustin shrugged. “But I think he likes Mike. I think he’s liked Mike for a while.” Dustin was the one to stop now. And Lucas did the same. “He trusts Mike the most, obviously. And he’s closest to Mike… How haven’t you noticed yet? The way he smiles at Mike is all “Mike! Mike, I love you! Marry me, Mike!”. You know? And Mike looks at him all like, “Will are you okay? Is there something wrong? I’ll hurt whoever hurt you, Will! I’ll risk it all for you, Will!” Yeah?“

It didn’t take much convincing to get Lucas’ mind twirling around the topic.

He thought about it for a minute. He thought about how Will only ever called out for Mike when he was having episodes, how Mike got to see Will’s drawings before anyone. How Mike was the only one who had a sleeping bag just for him at Will’s house, tucked neatly under his bed. How when Will got scared or was in trouble, Mike was the first one there. Holding Will in his arms, telling him it was okay, that they were okay. How Will would stare at Mike for no reason. How they would brush hands occasionally and let them linger for much longer than Dustin and his own hands ever did. And now he was thinking about the heart eyes, like Dustin had mentioned previously. And it made sense. Mike looked at Will the same way he looked at El, if not with something…more.

"Shit,” Lucas mumbled under his breath. “I think you could be right.”

Dustin grinned and nodded, “Hell yeah, I am.” The boys started walking again.

“So, what are we gonna do? Should we say something?” Dustin asked.

“Absolutely not, are you crazy? We don’t even know for sure…” They were now approaching the Wheeler house, and lowered their voices.

“Then we do some investigating,” Dustin said.

Lucas only nodded, and Dustin dropped his bike on the lawn before the two entered the house.

“Hi, Mrs. Wheeler,” Lucas said as they passed her in the kitchen.

“Hi, boys! Mike and Will are-”

“Downstairs, got it,” Dustin finished and they went down to the basement. When they arrived, Mike and Will were sitting on their knees looking through movies silently. Dustin nudged Lucas with his elbow eagerly and nodded his head at the other two boys.

“Yeah, I see it,” Lucas rolled his eyes and Will turned his head at the voice, before waving.

“Hey,”

Dustin stood up straight, “Hey. What’s up?” Lucas sighed at his weird behavior and sat on the couch, Dustin followed him.

“What about the shining?” Mike asked, looking at Will. Dustin looked at Lucas expectantly and Lucas raised his eyebrows as if saying “I see.”

“Yeah, sounds good.” Will said. He put the other movies back on the shelf while Mike put the VHS in. Mike grabbed four cans of soda and a bag of chips from the table where the played D&D before passing them around to the other boys. Will and Mike would be sleeping on a pallet made of blankets on the floor; Dustin and Lucas taking the couch like usual. It wasn’t the most comfortable, but it was tradition.

When Mike and Will sat on the floor, Dustin and Lucas watched the two of them, trying to see how they’d position themselves. Mike grabbed a pillow and put it against the couch, pressing his back against it. Will laid flat on the ground, propping his head on a pillow. Probably not the best idea, because he couldn’t see very well.

“Can you see, Will?” Mike asked softly. Lucas and Dustin leaned in to hear them better.

“Not really, I should sit up-”

“No, look,” Mike placed a pillow on his lap, “here. It’s the perfect height and you can still lay down.” He smiled gently and Will’s cheeks turned a light shade of pink as he rested his head in Mike’s lap.

Dustin started slapping Lucas’ arm in excitement, and Lucas smacked his hands away.

The boys made eye contact and Lucas mouthed, “Will is blushing,”

“He’s rushing? No he’s not-” Dustin whispered.

“I said blushing, you dumbass.”

At first Mike didn’t know where to put his hands but at some point one ended up near Will’s head, his fingers gently twisting the ends. Lucas did this with Max. Was Mike doing that on accident? Maybe. But he didn’t accidentally offer to let Will rest his head on his lap, that was for sure.

Dustin and Lucas started analyzing everything the other did even closer now. When something scary would happen in the movie, Will would flinch and Mike would use his free hand to rub his arm or chest soothingly. Once Mike grabbed his hand and Dustin almost pissed himself.

Lucas wondered if Mike and Will had always been like this, in a friendly way, and if he and Dustin were just looking too deep into it. That idea went out the window when he saw Mike looking down at Will, a small smile on his face and his eyes holding the softest look Lucas had ever seen. Yeah, maybe that have always been like this, but not in a friend way. It’s the heart eyes, Lucas thought. Dustin was right.

When the movie ended, neither Mike or Will moved for a bit because Will was almost asleep. Dustin got up to turn the light on, but Mike stopped him. “No. Will’s asleep.. or he’s about to be. Leave it off.”

Will sat up and Mike grabbed the pillow from his lap, laying it on the ground where Will’s head would be, before laying his own pillow down and getting comfortable. He pulled the blanket up over him and tossed it over Will, before mumbling a quick goodnight to everyone. “Night, Mike,” the other three said in unison. Lucas and Dustin stayed up a little later, trying to see if Mike or Will did anything else. When Mike faced Will in his sleep, Dustin slapped Lucas’ awake, and they watched Mike’s hands barely reach out, one lazily landing on Will’s forearm and latching on to it.

That was the last thing they noted before knocking out.

Lucas woke up before anyone, and his eyes practically fell out his head at the sight on the floor in front of him. Will had his head resting on Mike’s shoulder, arms across his chest, and their legs were barely tangled together. Mike’s arms were wrapped around Will protectively. Lucas shook Dustin awake and they stood infront of the two boys, Dustin having a smug grin on his face.

“I told you, they’re totally into each other,” Dustin said. “I can’t believe this. I hate to admit this, but you’re right. Look at Mike, holding onto Will like he’ll lose him.. he’s got it bad.”

Dustin’s grin only grew and they walked upstairs for breakfast.

Will opened his eyes. Their voices woke him up; he was a light sleeper. He tried to wiggle out of Mike’s arms, but he only got pulled in closer. Mike was awake now, but he didn’t open his eyes. “No…” Mike mumbled. “Good morning,” Will said and got no response. “Mike? You awake?” “I wanna sleep longer…” “Just stay up for a second, alright? I need you to or else I’ll leave-” Mike squeezed Will harder and tightened his grip. Will smiled.

“I’m up.. just don’t go yet.”“Lucas and Dustin know.” “Know what?” Mike asked, voice slightly muffled because he tucked his face into Will’s neck.

“They know about us. Well, kind of. I think they had a bet over if we liked each other or not, I heard them talking about it just now.”

“Well they’ll really lose their shit when I tell them you’re my boyfriend, won’t they?” Mike hummed absentmindedly.

“Boyfriend?” Mike froze, eyes shooting open, his hands that had been gently tracing random shapes on Will’s skin had now stopped. Will pulled away to look at him, raising his eyebrows. “Who said I was your boyfriend?” Will teased, doing his very best not to smile.

Mike saw the humor in Will’s eyes and his stomach dipped in relief. He smiled a bit before pressing his lips against Will’s gently and quickly, because he knew Will wasn’t into morning breath kisses and honestly he wasn’t either. He tucked his head back into Will’s neck, his eyes fluttering shut. “I did.”

so like i said. i didn’t do this prompt justice. sigh. i’m sorryyy :( it deserves better

[tisfan]

But Not to Me

Chapter One and Two

Chapter Three

Ahch-to - midnight

Tony Stark, the last of the Jedi order, shook himself awake. Even now, decades from his long-ago and wasted youth, the habit remained. He rose every day, across the galaxy, when the first of Tattooine’s binary suns would rise, shedding crimson light over the sands of the desert wastes.

I do not like Tatooine, but I do like saying Tatooine.

Oh, Rhodey, old friend, how I do miss you, Tony thought. He opened the door to the small village hut that he’d chosen for himself. Rocks and stone, the door built from timber the likes of which his limited childhood imagination would never have believed.

He stepped over the boy -- well, man, really, but as guileless as a boy -- who was sleeping, curled up, near the sheltered side of the door. He was shivering, even in his sleep, and Tony viciously suppressed a twinge of sympathy. Hadn’t he, too, been cold, when he first left the sands of home.

And what was it, he wondered, about desert wastelands that they seemed to produce Jedi? Was it a lack of living things, so far between them that the natural habits of man to reach out, to connect, led to firmer, and stronger connections. So used to a lack of water, a lack of life, that once in the larger universe where such things were plentiful, they were powerful?

Bah. Power was useless.

Power was worse than useless. It was dangerous.

He pressed one hand against his arc-reactor.

He’s more machine now than man, twisted and evil.

“Yeah, and what does that make me?” Tony demanded of the empty air around him. Only the loth-cats were interested in the question, but they didn’t know the answer.

He trudged all the way down the stairs to the Falcon. Couldn’t Rogers from Nowhere have found a better place to land?

The ship was beautiful, lithe and streamlined and filthy and falling apart, the way it always was. Tony wondered if it had ever been new. He boarded. Nothing, seemingly, had changed. It had fallen into greater disrepair. Even the old Dejarik board was broken. The little monsters that had once had their reign of the concentric circles that made up the gameplay space, were gone.

Tony sat at the bench, feeling the old memories seeped in the duriplas and carbosteel. Little snippets of conversation.

How he had loved this ship.

How he had lived for this ship.

Once. Before he’d come to Ahch-to to die.

There was a faint scrape, wheel against metal.

DUM-E clattered into the lounge, a very old blender in his claw, the fire extinguisher resting against the base of his arm-platform. He made an inquisitive noise and sat the blender down in front of Tony.

“Old friend,” Tony said, running one hand down DUM-E’s support strut. “You’re holding up well.”

DUM-E clawed for the extinguisher.

“Aaaah, uh-uh-uh, yeah, no, buddy,” Tony said. “Nothing’s on fire, here.” There was no fire. There was no spark left in Tony. Nothing remained of that boy, the one who thought hope could fix anything.

DUM-E nudged the blender at him.

“Wish I could make you understand,” Tony said. “It’s all worthless. Good, evil, light, dark. Eventually, entropy takes over, and nothing orderly and good comes out of it. It’s over. The Jedi Order, the Republic, the Rebellion, it’s all just--”

DUM-E knocked the smoothie over into Tony’s lap.

“Cheap move, buddy,” Tony sighed. “It doesn’t matter what you do, or say. I’m staying here. There’s no hope left in the galaxy. There’s no point.” He knew that he was actively trying not to care, that he was forcing everything down in him that wanted to rise up, to help the galaxy. Innocent people would die by the billions with Pierce’s Hydra in charge.

But it was hard to know who to trust, it was hard to extend that hope again, just to watch it all crumble to ash.

DUM-E nudged him again. In his claw -- and the Force only knew where he’d gotten it from -- was the old arc-reactor. The one that Pepper had sealed in clear duriplas. Proof that Tony Stark has a heart.

Steve woke with a start. He was cold, he was damp, and the ground was hard as stone under him. The ground was stone, under him. He really should have gone back down to the Falcon to sleep.

“Get up. At dawn, you’ll get the first of three lessons and I’ll tell you why the Jedi Order should end. You deserve that much. Fury deserves that much.”

Tony stalked away, his robes swirling around him.

Steve scrambled to his feet, looking this way and that in the pre-light, silver grey and merciless. What had changed his mind?

“What… what about breakfast?”

“Do you cook?”

Steve shrugged. “A little,” he admitted. “I can make coffee.”

“You brought coffee with you?”

Steve nodded. “It’s back on the Falcon,” he said. “Do you--”

“Yes.” Tony slammed the door again, leaving Steve talking to the ancient wood. The loth-cat nearby made a purring, inquisitive noise, and yow’ed a few times, like it was laughing at Steve.

“Oh, shut up,” Steve told it. It didn’t listen. It also didn’t go away. The cat followed Steve all the way down the stairs (dear suns and moons, why why why were there so many stairs?) and into the Falcon, where Steve rummaged through the pods he’d brought.

DUM-E was cleaning the floor, a mop in his claw.

“Are you doing something useful?” Steve asked him. “Did you see him? Did Master Stark come down in the middle of the night to talk to you?”

DUM-E turned, whapped Steve over the head with the broom. Beeped.

Stop asking stupid questions and get what you came for.

“Sacred island, bot,” Steve told him, rubbing his head. That stung. “Watch the language.”

If a bot could look condescending, DUM-E had managed it.

Steve packed the bag and headed back up the stairs. His asthma seemed to leap out of the mist and grass to see how he’d been doing without it, and he had to stop to dig through the bag for the medication the FX-7 had given him before he’d left the fleet. It worked, but like everything, left him dizzy and floaty feeling. And with the inevitable dread that this would not be the last time.

Climb finished, fire started, coffee made. Tony sipped from the mug with no evident delight, but the way his hands curled around the ceramics made Steve smile. Bucky had been like that, too. Hostile to daylight, until the rich liquid worked its way into his system. The smile faded as he remembered that there might be a reason for that. Bucky had been Tony’s student, once.

Before Pierce. Before Hydra.

“Tell me, Steve Rogers from nowhere,” Tony said, when his cup was empty. “What is it you know about the force?”

“Um,” Steve scrambled to get to his feet, to look competent, and eager. A worthy student. “It’s a power the Jedi have that… they can use to control people. And… make rocks float.”

“Wow,” Tony said, eyes widening as if he was impressed. “Every word you just said was wrong.”

Steve scowled. The sarcasm really wasn’t necessary.

“Okay, up here, sit down, close your eyes,” Tony said, patting an old and crumbling stone, covered with moss and bits of broken rock.

Steve obeyed with alacrity. At last! Someone to teach him… something. Anything. He hated being so confused and lost all the time, with everyone looking at him like they expected great things. He was just a kid from Brooklyn.

“Reach out--”

There was nothing, but Steve pushed his hand out into the air. Something tickled against the edge of his fingers. “Do you feel it?”

“Yes, yes, I feel--”

“That’s the Force, right there--”

“Really--”

Something sharp and thin slapped the back of his hand, like an angry teacher at school, scolding him for holding his pencil wrong. “No. Idiot.” There was Tony, hold a green reed and Steve, like the greenest of fools, had…

“Oh,” Steve said, embarrassed. “You mean reach other the other way.”

“With your feelings,” Tony said, eyes rolling.

“I’ll try again,” Steve said. Tony grabbed the hand that was still outstretched, pushed it onto the rock, fingers tented out.

“With your feelings, reach out. What do you see?”

Steve strained. It was the hardest thing he’d ever done, right up until it wasn’t.

“The island.”

“And beyond the island?”

“The planet, the galaxy. Green and growing things. Life. Below it, death and decay. That in turn gives way for new life. Me. Bucky… light. Darkness.”

“And between those things?”

“A… balance. An energy. A… a force.” Steve reached. The blackness that was Bucky, standing proud and tall, his hand outstretched to take everything-- “Darkness.”

“Fight it, Steve.”

“It’s calling me,” Steve protested. “Bucky’s calling me. He needs help--”

“The Winter Soldier is beyond help,” Tony said, bitterness cracking his tone. “He’s--”

“He needs me,” Steve insisted. He reached for Bucky, reached--

Darkness grabbed him with cold hands, pulling him down in the planet, promising him answers, ease to his pain, comfort. Home.

“STEVE!”

Steve opened his eyes with a gasp. The ground under him cracked with the strain, a sharp report like a blaster going off.

“The darkness in you,” Tony said, “calls to him. And you don’t even try to fight it.” Disgusted. “The Force isn’t a power the Jedi have. It’s arrogance to think the end of the Jedi would do anything to the Force. It’s just… there. Like gravity and light and inertia and entropy. It no more lifts the rock than a lever does. It’s a tool. And you’re a fool.”

Tony stormed off again and Steve didn’t even have the strength to chase after him.

Chapter Four

Ahch-to - mid-afternoon

Steve wasn’t sure what he was supposed to do, now. Master Stark wasn’t speaking to him again, and he was bored and restless.

He took up his weapon and did some practice. If nothing else, he needed to be better. He’d barely beaten back the Winter Soldier last time they’d squared off. While Master Stark might be unwilling to teach him the ways of the Force, Steve knew enough, felt it in his bones, that he would face the Winter Soldier again.

There were many places on the island that seemed designed for Force practice. Each was seeped with lore, deep in the soil and the rocks. Steve placed his feet just so, and seemed to hear voices telling him to move, just a bit, swing from the hips. A flash of children, learning there. The shape of the rock spoke of blows landed on the target.

The lightsaber called to him, and Steve didn’t bother to resist that call either. If Master Stark wanted him to learn control, he’d control the things around him.

He swung, listening to the high pitched buzz, the deep and deadly thrum of the weapon in his hand.

Steve loved it.

He wasn’t sure why, or how. The thing that had frightened him so much the first time he’d ever seen it seemed to become one with the end of his arm, seemed to be his. He practiced as the sun set over the water.

Finally, sweaty and exhausted, he turned to see Master Stark walking away. Had the Jedi been there the whole time? Steve couldn’t feel him with the Force, not the way he could feel everything else. Somehow, Master Stark had cut himself off from the Force, had sealed himself away.

Steve sighed and followed Master Stark up the hill.  (Honestly, what Steve wouldn’t give for a damn hoverbike around here?)

“Lesson two,” Master Stark said, as Steve approached, without even looking around. Stark’s cutting himself off from the Force hadn’t seemed to affect his ability to use it. “Now that they’re almost extinct, they’re romanticized, deified. If you strip away the legend, the few good deeds, and a really good catch-phrase, the legacy of the Jedi is failure, hubris. Hypocrisy.”

“That’s ridiculous, it’s not true,” Steve protested, but he was already doubting. What did he know of the Jedi? What did anyone know of the Jedi.

“It’s absolutely true,” Master Stark said. “At the height of their power, the Jedi allowed the Red Skull to rise, allowed Hydra to be formed, and everything resulted in the extreme sanction of the Jedi and most of their allies. They failed.”

“And you turned the tide,” Steve burst out. “Rebuilding, the futurist. Learning from our mistakes and moving on. Isn’t that the whole point?”

“Maybe,” Master Stark admitted. “The Avengers initiative, a handful of extraordinary people, to fight the battles that the rest of the galaxy never could. A grand idea, and like all grand ideas, doomed to failure as soon as real people got involved. As soon as the Winter Soldier got involved.”

“What happened?”

“Oh, my mistakes, I could count them for a decade and still never run out,” Master Stark said. “The Winter Soldier… he was… well, in those days, he was just Bucky Barnes. Earnest and strong, good arm, good eye. Good heart. I made the worst mistake. I fell in love.”

“What?” Steve’s voice went high and tight on him.

“Legendary Force Master,” Master Stark sneered, but it seemed he was sneering at himself more than Steve. “Too old to begin the training. The Jedi aren’t supposed to love, not individually. Not… not like I loved Bucky. He was beautiful, he was talented. He was funny, and sweet, and dedicated. I didn’t see the harm in it. We were in love. And because we were in love, I couldn’t kill him. And because I couldn’t do that… all of this. This happened. Because I was a fool. Because I didn’t know what I was doing and I thought I did. Because… because I didn’t try hard enough to be what the galaxy needed. Tony Stark, billionaire, genius, Jedi, playboy. Idiot. The whole galaxy is suffering because I had to play god.”

“What happened?”

Master Stark shook his head. “Pierce got to him, somehow. I don’t know. Tempted him. I sensed darkness in him, sometimes, while we were training. Anger. I thought it could be tempered. I was wrong. I went to confront him, had a vision. Terrible things, terrible things that he would do. By the time I said something, it was too late. He was already the Winter Soldier. My Bucky, my love, my life, he was gone. I didn’t know how to save him. He turned on me. Pulled the Temple down around my head. I guess he thought I was dead. Took a handful of my students, slaughtered the rest. Went to join Hydra.”

Stark sighed, sat down on the meditation platform. “I blamed Pierce, at first. Hydra. Everyone, except the one person who was at fault. Me. I failed him. I failed to protect him. I didn’t do enough, and he was vulnerable, and I let it go, because I loved him, and in the end, all I did was drive him away, let someone else turn him into a nightmare. The last time I saw him, he hated me. Hated everything that I was, everything I stood for. Everything we’d been together. The galaxy is where it is because I couldn’t do enough. I couldn’t love him enough to give him a reason to hold on.”

“He failed you,” Steve said, very gently. “But it’s not over. I can feel conflict in him. He wants to come home. He’s drawn to me, to you, to the Light.”

“That’s dangerously arrogant,” Master Stark said. “You think you can bring him back and all he’s doing is pulling you toward him. You see the closeness, how you’re standing near each other, and you fail to realize -- he’s the one with the knife.”

The Winter Soldier stepped out of the bath and wrapped a towel around his hips. “Is privacy not a thing for you?”

The boy, Steve, was there. “Believe me, I’d rather do this at another time.”

The Winter Soldier rolled his eyes and went on with his routine. He had wounds to think of, care to take. His arm vented a few times, letting water drain out onto the floor. The servos whined and twitched as the systems came back online.

“You’re not doing this,” the Winter Soldier said. “You’re not trained well enough, the effort would kill you. It would stop your heart to try to reach halfway across the galaxy, to what? Spy on me when I’m in the bath?” His mouth twitched, a little. Vaguely, he remembered. Gentle hands that cradled his skull, that sifted through his hair. There you are, snowflake. A fond voice. The Winter Soldier thrust it away, he wasn’t that man anymore. If he’d ever been that man to start with.

“I thought you were doing it,” Steve said. He held out one hand. “Why won’t you just come home and let us help you?”

“Us? Who is us?” the Winter Soldier demanded, gnashing his teeth together. Jealousy filled him; Steve was there, with Tony. They were us? “Did he tell you what happened? What he tried to do-- he tried to kill me. He doesn’t care about you, Steve. You should… you should go, before something happens to you.”

“No, no, Bucky. We’re trying to help you, we just--”

“Did he tell you what happened, that night?”

“Yes.”

The Winter Soldier reached, pulled at the connection between them. “No, he didn’t,” he said, finally. “He lied. Trying to protect himself, even now. The truth… depends on our point of view? Is that what he said? That we cling to ideas, reframed and represented… from a certain point of view?”

“He told me enough, he told me you tried to kill him, that you slaughtered your fellows at the Temple. He had a vision, he told me. Of what you would do.”

The Winter Soldier shook his head, let himself laugh. It wasn’t funny, it had never been funny.

“Of what he would drive me to do!” The Winter Soldier burst out. “He didn’t trust me! He came to me, full of rage, full of anger, full of fear! He saw that I would kill his parents, and he tried to stop it. He came to me, his lover, his friend, his beloved… with a weapon in hand, intent on murdering me in my sleep? What was I supposed to do? I fought back, because that’s what you do. You don’t ask why, when someone comes to kill you. You fight back.”

“You’re a liar.”

“And you’re clinging to ideals from the past,” the Winter Soldier said. “Let the past die. It’s over, it’s done. Kill it and put it out of its misery.”

Steve was weeping, and the Winter Soldier wanted to reach for him, to curl himself around that warm body, to find solace in love. He’d missed that, so much. Missed holding another person, caring about them. Having someone else who loved him.

“Let it go,” the Winter Soldier said, “and become what you are meant to be.”

Mine.    

[rohkeutta]

bucky hates moose and loves cycling 2K17

Okay so long story short: today at the cycling competition I was directing the traffic for, a moose tackled one of the cyclists into a ditch (justfinnishthings.jpg). Because grav is a filthy enabler, I now have 500+ words of a road cycling fic in the works, because the magic words Bucky in spandex were uttered. It’s gonna be posted when I eventually get it finished, but here’s a terrible, terrible example of what I use my perfectly good Sunday evenings for:

Sam and Steve stare a little. 107 pulls off his scuffed, slightly cracked helmet and throws it towards the moose, making it hoof it back to the forest. He has an incredibly good aim. Steve is a little impressed.

107 is also insanely pretty under that helmet: sweaty dark hair on a French braid, wild and furious grey eyes, a straight nose and an angry, wide mouth. Steve takes it in, his gaze sliding slowly down at the very, very clingy spandex suit and the lean body under it, and suddenly not getting hard in his bike shorts is really damn difficult.

107 screeches as he notices the road rash on his arm: a mess of bloody scrapes, mangling the tattoos on his forearm. “What the fucking fuck,” 107 screams in baffled fury, ripping his gloves off and throwing them to the direction the moose went, too. “Come back you fucking glorified forest cow, I will turn you into a fucking fur coat! Do you know how much this tattoo cost, you motherfucking flea nest!”

Sam makes a weird, winded noise, like he’s choking on something. Steve can’t stop staring at the furious, injured man spewing profanities at forest animals while wearing the colors of the bisexual flag on his torso, and a huge logo of Barton’s Bi&Cycle across his chest.

Steve’s pretty sure he’s a little in love.

“Steve!” Sam hisses as he scuttles to Steve’s side, stuffing his camera into the bag swinging on his shoulder. “The dude just collided with a goddamn moose, don’t just stand there making gooey eyes at him but take him to the medic, damn it.”

“Yeah,” Steve says, blinking, still slightly stunned by the moose of love Amor just launched his way.

[anditjustmadeherkind]

https://archiveofourown.org/works/4170336

The Daily Rogers by Nonymos

Summary: College AU. May contain exchange students, a Starbucks addiction, daddy issues, anger issues, closets and how to get out of them, the ever-ominous influence of social networks, various levels of betrayal, awfully poor life choices, but also, ultimately, real chunks of love.

-

Favorite passage:

“You tryna tell me I’m too good for your skinny ass?” Bucky said, incredulous. “Because I’m pretty sure it’s the other way around.”

Steve scowled. “Stop saying I’m good. And I wasn’t even sure you didn’t actively hate me.”

“I wasn’t even sure you were gay,” Bucky countered.

Steve bristled again. “I’m not gay. I’m bi.”

Bucky blinked and Steve drew himself a little straighter on the washing machine. “That gonna be a problem?”

Bucky laughed. Steve didn’t. “What?” he said.

“Oh, nothing,” Bucky grinned, “just wonderin’ if the whole anger thing’s linked to your refractory period.”

“God, you’re a jerk,” Steve said, but Bucky was beginning to make out the different shades of his anger, and this one wasn’t to worry about.

He was still tense, though, so Bucky rolled his eyes and interlaced their fingers. “Of course I don’t care you’re bi, you stupid punk,” he said. He brought Steve’s hand up to his lips. “What fucker would have a problem with that.”

“You’d be surprised,” Steve said, a little weakly because Bucky was tonguing his scraped knuckles.

-

I love when authors touch on real life topics in their fanfics, even if its only briefly. Bisexuals are sometimes condemned by their own romantic partners or even lgbt communities for not “committing” to being gay or straight. So, Steve’s wariness at identifying himself as bisexual is valid. Bucky’s wonderful for not taking issue with it and going more into more depth to ease Steve’s concern at Bucky’s easy acceptance.