#maria hill really does get some moments in this i promise

[ellestra]

Better without action scenes

I waited a week to write down my thoughts about the Secret Invasion and I'm still not sure what they are. There were moments when I almost liked the show but then they were instantly squandered by some baffling and incomprehensible decisions.

It's one of those shows so hellbent on keeping its viewers guessing it becomes impossible to either track or care what is happening.

Peple concentrate on the things like bad CGI or boring fights but the truth is bad special effects never really stop people from engaging with a story (see Doctor Who or puppet shows). You will suspend disbelief if you want as long as the story is engaging enough. As long as you follow emotional journeys and plotlines. When they become all scrambled by trying to shock the viewer it all falls apart.

MCU uses to be really good at remembering that but recently they are slacking. It becomes an exercises of going from one cool idea to another cool idea but the connection between them seems to drawn by crayons.

Like everything between Fury and his wife was great. The history between them, the love, the hurt, the distrust and the longing was played beautifully and it was easy to believe it was always there throughout MCU even if we saw her the first time in second episode of this series.

Same with Talos when you can feel both the decade long friendship and all the times it failed. And generally a lot of word battles work great Fury with Rhodey and with Grvik and with Sonia (even if the final one is undermined by it not being Fury there).

But then you have everything that fails and most of it is plot. The need to keep us guessing leads to lack of proper set up of many of the plot points and then half of them is just dropped or leads to nothing. Like Skrull Council was pointless, so was New Skrullos, and so were the deaths in the end. The show introduces characters that seem important but they get couple of scenes that were so underwhelming you ask why even waste time on them - Pagan, Beto, Sonya's boss (what a waste of Tony Curran - again) etc.

What was the point of the rebellion against Gravik beside death of all those Skrulls he recruited? I'm sure the idea was something about him also selling false promises and then disposing of people he used just like he says Fury does but the show did absolutely nothing to sell it. Also the whole plan of killing 8 billion people so 1 (one!) million Skrulls have somewhere to live is ridiculous. Just like there being no other place in universe for them. One million is so little. With Superskrulls they could've just find themselves their own Knowhere.

It's worst with G'iah who is so enigmatic a character and the show tries to keep so many things about her in the is she or isn't she limbo there is no real sense of why she does anything. She seems to be close to Gravik but also not. She switches side to work for her father again but doesn't believe in him (she's right - his plan is one a teenager would thought out not a gown man who saw how humanity reacts to refugees for decades). She dies, she lives, she gets superpowers and the most reaction we get to all of it is when she is with Priscilla. Both her parents are dead. Everyone she believed in failed her and you can barely tell what she thinks about it. Or what she wants. She's just there. And I'm not blaming Emilia Clarke for it. I blame the show for trying to hide so much about her she ends up with no character at all.

They try to shock us with death of important characters like 4-5 times (Rhodey doesn't really count I suppose) with like half of those being fake out but instead of being shocked I ended up being just angry. Neither loss of Maria Hill nor Talos really did that much to make the story more poignant. It didn't even do that much for Fury's character development (his talks to Varra were much better at this). It all just left bad taste in my mouth. And the constant so who is really dead dead didn't help either. And the show doesn't properly emotionally engage with those deaths so neither do ewe as viewers.

For me the most ridiculous isn't the big battle but when Fury changes clothes in the mausoleum. It supposed to be this badass moment of him regaining his mojo or something but it just underwhelming. Like the whole show.

The less said about Ritson the better.

In the end my favourite parts where the ones with Olivia Coleman. This show justified its existence by introducing Sonya Falsworth and I'm actually looking forward to her and G'iah working together in the future.

[brightnote]

Secret Invasion Episode 5 Spoilers: Special Guest Star Cobie Smulders does it again... IYKYK!

LOL DO NOT READ ANYTHING INTO THAT TITLE, I PROMISE IT’S NOT ANY KIND OF GOOD NEWS. 

I know they didn’t intend for this to be so hilarious now since all she is doing is dying over and over again for two seconds from different angles. But, it kind of is hilarious at this point? Just imagine how good it would have been if she was doing anything else? I hope Cobie gets paid for all of those credits! Cobie did always say she had the best gig in all of the MCU and I think she was probably right. Probably also why Marvel decided to kill her off, she’s too expensive for a role they treated like a nobody. 

Most importantly about this episode: OMG SONYA DID SOMETHING USEFUL AND COOL!! FUCKING FINALLY!!! AND SHE HAD PROBABLY THE BEST LINE IN THE WHOLE SERIES SO FAR. Seriously right before she killed that dude that line was was so funny it was my favorite moment in the whole series (besides Special Guest Star Cobie Smulders and her gay hair cut).

Overall this episode had some better moments than the others, but  the cuts of these episodes are bad. Fury just shows up with no explanation of how he gets anywhere and he is in places that generally make no sense about how he would get there. Most of the writing is pretty bad too, it just seems off.

The Maria Pawn Theory is coming full circle for me but it still doesn’t explain everything. If Skrull Ross was going to show Maria the plans in order to get her to contact Fury so he could come back to earth and get ‘the harvest’ for Gravik this makes more sense. But Talos and Maria did it anyway without the Skrull Ross prompting.. But it still kind of doesn’t make sense if that was the plan all along, having Talos enter the scene and then having Rhodey tell the President Maria contacted Nick it just seems not fleshed out and I do hope we get some more explanation on what is going on here. 

I’m actually glad that Skrull Rhodey released the Maria video because her death has really been a nothing burger in the series that has failed to move the plot of the show along or impact Fury in any way. It’s hard to believe Marvel would kill Talos and Maria in this little poorly written and executed show. Also, it’s rude as fuck that they didn’t even call Hill the former Deputy Director of Shield but just an agent??? But why would the writers google this…. and we still don’t know where Hill worked before she died or what she was doing in Moscow or how she was connected to Skrull Ross!?? At least Talos got legit screen time in the show, but I still think they could have just killed off Talos OR Maria as killing everyone off is just kinda weak writing. 

I think they should have had movie deaths. I bet their appearances in the Marvels will be flashbacks to these death sequences. If they are in it at all. The Marvels was filmed a long time ago and Cobie said she “didn’t know anything” about being in it, could be a required denial but my guess is, if she is in it she actually has no idea because sometimes they shoot things that end up in other projects. Additionally, not to be a downer because I am on TEAM I WANT MARIA IN THE MARVELS BUT NOT JUST HER DEATH SCENE why would Maria be in The Marvels if Nick is just ignoring her up until the start of Secret Invasion?  I’m still holding out hope that there is some other NON DEATH SCENE OF MARIA content coming in episode six, but let’s not hold our breath. 

At first I didn’t understand why Gravik wouldn’t want Skrull Rhodey to arrest Nick and I wrote a whole thing about it but then I guess if Gravik wants “the harvest” from Nick so then why put out the Interpol red notice at all? If he can’t get to  “the harvest” if he’s arrested… wouldn’t this be counter productive, but now how will they explain away the murder of Maria they just made super public? But I guess that’s really Nick’s problem.

Personally, I don’t find it believable that Nick Fury has been married for all this time. But I guess it’s great he had all this free time to be married and in love while Maria and Natasha did all his leg work and died on the cold ground. Also Varra is kind of a bad wife to just switch sides when you are gonna be killed by your rebel leader you disobeyed? I don’t know, I don’t get this storyline it’s pretty weak overall and the side swapping is so vague between G’iah and Varra.  This show is trying to have Breaking Bad style moments but a show like Breaking Bad had 7 seasons to develop its twists and development AND it didn’t just pack in the action nonstop? What’s the point of doing this show if that’s all it’s gonna be? FILL IN THE BACK STORY!!!! 

For a man who has a bunch of secret grave stones and has pretended a die a bunch he sure seems shook that he could just die like everyone else? It seems like he would have accepted his mortality long ago but ok.. sure... the man is literally surrounded by mass casualties all the time but ok, sure. sure. the snap is what got him. 

I do think it’s amazing that Nick Fury has a private jet on retainer and a a billion dollar gadget to hide his face which I assume the pilot of the private jet gave him but do we know this for sure? Did he have this the whole time is that how he got off the train to Warsaw without getting caught? If he had this the whole time then why wasn’t he using it when he was out in public with Maria? Why does he have all this tech available for himself and not any of his allies? All this show is proving is that Nick relies on women and Skrulls and he’s a selfish thankless jerk? Yes. 

WHO WAS FURY CALLING ON HIS EAR PEICE? I PRAY IT IS MARIA SINCE THAT’S WHO HE IS USUALLY CONNECTED TO. Other guesses: Carol? Monica? DAISY????????? Cobie did say that Secret Invasion was a cross over event at comiccon and we have yet to see a crossover with what unless that meant crossover with Armor Wars... my guess is it has to be AOS!! The ear piece is probably only connected to someone on earth which Carol probably is not... but also it’s probably not Maria because lmfao what would she even do to fight the skrulls...forget a bullet proof vest but remember her infrared glasses? Probably it was Varra and that’s for real my best bet that Fury called Varra. 

Also, c’mon let’s assume this vile is actually some kind of super power removing antidote and not actually what Gravik wants, haha checkmate Gravik, he got you! Gravik takes the antidote serum or whatever loses his super skrull powers and then Fury kills him, surprise motherfucker moment and is like that’s for Maria and Talos and trying to kill my wife who was on your side for some reason and I am totally fine with that I guess! And that’s how this dumb thing is definitely going to end. 

[val-made-a-mistake]

❝NEED OVER WANT.❞

(not my gif)

summary: natasha really does drive wanda crazy. it’s a shame she loves her.

warnings: smut, oral sex f receiving, bondage, face sitting, use of a gag, slapping, spanking, use of a toy, slight humiliation, slight edging, top!wanda, bottom!nat, implied sadomasochism, i promise this fic isn’t as bad as it sounds, they love each other and it’s completely consensual!! i tried to sneak in fluff throughout the whole thing.

word count: 1.7k

a/n: i have nothing to say myself, i wasn’t even aware i could write something like this. the fact i had one (1) alcoholic slurpee and almost immediately got inspo to write this makes it even funnier. i know all my wlw fics have been fluffy, so have some filthy ass smut!!! i’ll get back to my requested fics now.

(ps— like in my zemo fics, wanda’s terms of endearment are in german, even though realistically they would be in russian or something, i’ve always written sokovians speaking german for some reason. natasha speaks russian tho!)

//////

Natasha had been testing Wanda’s limits all morning long, and Wanda was almost definitely sure she was doing it on purpose.

The board meeting had gone relatively well. Stark had some California Congressmen sit in and for once, they’d actually shut up, let the more knowing people speak. It would’ve been a relatively interesting meeting— they were discussing what to do with the Ultron remains— had Natasha not been sitting opposite her, looking like that, with two extra buttons undone on her otherwise professional blouse. Fuck, she was asking for it. Wanda had caught Steve looking, and she didn’t like the glint in his eye one bit.

But of course she had to remain perfectly fucking civil until the meeting was adjourned. As soon as it had been, she’d gotten up from her seat a little too quickly and rounded the corner, and in the same moment, Natasha stood up to hand Ross a mundane file. In doing so, she leaned over the table, and because she’d orchestrated this just so she could drive Wanda crazy, her skirt rode up. The tiniest bit, sure, hardly noticeable to anyone else, but it was more than enough to warm the back of Wanda’s neck. She’s asking for it, she’s definitely asking for it.

Maria Hill may have tried to say something to her, she didn’t know as she’d already stalked out of the room. Mostly everyone was absorbed in the after-meeting small talk, and it wasn’t like the Avengers paid much attention to her anyway, so her absence went unnoticed.

Of course, Natasha had to follow her.

“Angry?” she quipped.

“My room,” Wanda hissed, whipping around, “Be there in ten. Undress. I’ll tell Stark you’re not feeling well.”

“Of course,” Natasha replied flirtatiously, extending her toes for a kiss, but Wanda pushed her away.

She had the audacity to look annoyed, but obediently pivoted and started off for Wanda’s bedroom, which was, by her estimate, three floors, an escalator ride, two keypads, and an elevator ride away. Enough time for Wanda to gather herself. When she last let herself get caught up in her emotions, Natasha couldn’t sit for a week.

//////

God, Natasha looked fucking perfect tied up.

The rise and fall of her chest told Wanda she was barely scared, too, and she didn’t know how she felt about that. Her entire body was glistening— fuck, Natasha Romanoff, feared assassin, founding member of the Avengers, was sweating for her— and she hardly fidgeted, her arms and legs were near-perfectly still. Wanda, despite the circumstances, was feeling particularly generous, so she’d only tied her by her wrists and ankles.

“Schatz,” Wanda sighed, making Natasha look up a bit too eagerly, “What the hell were you thinking?”

Natasha smirked at her. “I think that’s perfectly clear.”

That earned her a hard slap in the face, and she melodramatically winced. “Ow.”

“You know, I can’t believe you sometimes,” Wanda hissed. “You never learn.”

She climbed onto the bed, being careful not to let her body touch Natasha’s, and she didn’t stop advancing until they were face-to-face.

“You forced my hand,” she whispered, the Sokovian accent coming out in full force. “I will make you learn.”

Natasha was motionless, her pupils were completely blown black.

“Touch me,” she offered.

This had Wanda laughing, and shamelessly. “No, schatz. You get to lie back and take what I give you.”

With that, she pulled away from the bed to start stripping. First she pulled off the red jacket (Natasha’s, ironically, she’d borrowed it before they’d even begun their relationship and had never bothered to give it back) before moving onto her shirt, a simple long-sleeved shirt she wore nearly everyday at the compound. She could hear Natasha whimpering as she unclasped her bra, but she ignored it.

Wanda shimmed out of her pants and pulled off her underwear in a flourish, barely making an effort to be teasing this time. She wanted to, she really wanted to, but what mattered was her high, not Natasha’s.

Suddenly, a gorgeous little pussy was dangling in front of Natasha’s face.

“You ready, Nat?” Wanda cooed, but it wouldn’t have mattered anyway because she’d already sunk down, and the knot that had been tightening in her stomach ever since the meeting dramatically loosened. “Oh, fuck.”

She wasn’t even fully conscious of it, but as Nat’s tongue obediently delved through her folds, Wanda raised and twisted her hand, and in a scarlet flurry, the ropes around Natasha’s wrists tightened.

“Fuck,” Wanda cried out as she started moving against Natasha’s mouth, “Fuck, you’re being such a good little toy…”

Maybe she was doing this all wrong, maybe this wasn’t punishment at all, maybe this was a reward in Natasha’s mind, maybe she’d specifically pushed her buttons just for this. Whatever it was, Wanda still pushed earnestly against Natasha’s tongue, feeding off her whimpers and moans. So hopeless already, and Wanda had just begun. It was barely ten o’clock in the morning, and she’d just begun.

“Not so cocky now, huh?” she gasped, pulling off for just a second, “Yeah, that’s what I thought.”

She only allowed herself to come once, although she could’ve spent all day like that. She needed to preserve her sexual stamina for Natasha’s sake, which was, admittedly, unusually soft for her.

Wanda was climbing off soon enough, and she tried not to appear pleased with herself as Natasha automatically gulped for air.

“How did that feel?” she asked absentmindedly as she searched the cabinets for the toy she wanted. She knew exactly the one, it was pink, on the longer side instead of the thicker side, where was it?

“So fucking good,” Natasha gasped back, her chest rising and falling at a faster pace now, “God, непередаваемое чувство-”

“What’s your colour?” Wanda asked, opening up another cabinet: found it.

“Green,” she replied breathlessly, “The brightest fucking green you’ve ever seen.”

“Right,” she responded, “That’s enough talking for you.”

She lifted a finger and a drawer fell open on the opposite side of the room: a piece of dark cloth rose out of it, flew over to the bound figure on the bed, and wrapped it around Natasha’s mouth, effectively silencing her whining.

“Now,” Wanda purred, leaning over the bed, “I was going to give you lube, but Jesus Christ…”

She finally dared to run her palm along the inside of Natasha’s thigh. Not her pussy, but dangerously close. She didn’t need to touch her to know how wet she was.

Wanda hesitated, as though contemplating, then pushed the tip of the toy inside.

The effect was immediate: Natasha bucked against her binds and mumbled something made incoherent by the gag, and Wanda kept a firm hold on the toy so it wouldn’t go deeper.

“Just this makes you struggle?” Wanda’s eyes widened. “Oh, schatz…”

She pushed the toy half an inch deeper, and Natasha’s eyes snapped shut.

“I’m not even moving it yet,” she taunted. “You know…”

A small trickle of scarlet magic kept the toy where it was even though she’d taken her hand off of it. “I didn’t have breakfast this morning. Would it matter to you if I just left you here? I wonder how you’d react if Rogers came and saw your dripping pussy on display for him…”

She grinned from ear to ear. “He’d know you’re nothing but my dumb little fucktoy then. I bet he’d tell Stark.”

Natasha was blushing bright red; Wanda decided to move the toy even deeper, but slowly.

“But you won’t come. You won’t even fucking move.”

More than half the toy had disappeared inside her pussy now. “You’re loving this, aren’t you? Such a whore.”

Wanda aimed a spank at her inner thigh.

“You’re not going to come when I move my dick in you.”

Natasha nodded frantically, her expression screamed more, more, more.

Wanda pulled it out a fraction of an inch before forcing it even deeper than it had been: Natasha’s legs shook, but she didn’t come. It was the bare fucking minimum, of course she didn’t.

She moved the toy without an exact rhythm, she couldn’t quite decide if she wanted it fast or slow, but she moved it anyway, until Natasha’s legs were positively quivering and a sheen layer of sweat covered her tits. Fuck, her gorgeous tits.

Wanda let her magic do the work this time: she let go of the toy, which kept on evenly pistoning without her holding it, and lowered her mouth to one of Natasha’s nipples, hard as stone. She tried to cry out, but got stopped by the gag for the millionth time.

Before Wanda could really enjoy Natasha’s body, there was a soft knock on the door, causing them both to jolt.

“Not a sound,” she ordered, then conjured a thick curtain out of nowhere: it completely covered Natasha, her binds, and the toy. As long as no one questioned why her bed had suddenly become four-poster, everything would be fine, right?

She wrapped a bathrobe around her naked body, and got up to answer the door, only cracking it open the tiniest bit.

It was Vision.

“Miss Maximoff, I came to inquire-”

“It’s Wanda,” she corrected him sweetly, already praying he would go away.

“Oh, alright then. Wanda, I came to inquire about the whereabouts of Miss Romanoff and I know it scares you to have me appear suddenly through the walls, so I - why are you in your bathrobe?”

“I took a shower, I felt like I had to, and I don’t know where Natasha is,” she replied quickly, the lie rising easily to her lips. This is the part where he goes away.

“Oh, it’s just that Dr Cho heard she wasn’t feeling well, so she was wondering if Miss Romanoff required medical assistance,” Vision responded.

“It was a just a headache, to my understanding,” she said, cocking her head to the side in fake curiosity. “You know how it is with the board meetings.”

He grimaced. “Er - no, actually, my brain is entirely synthetic. That, and I don’t have blood vessels.”

Wanda cast a glance at the curtain, a horrible, horrible idea coming to her.

“Let me get dressed and we can find Cho together.”

[tuiccim]

Terrigenisis (Part 17)

Pairing: Steve Rogers X Bucky Barnes X Inhuman!Reader

Words: 1700

Summary: After undergoing terrigenisis unwillingly your life is turned upside down when you are deemed too dangerous to return to life as a civilian. You are put with the Avengers team to train and rebuild. As you hone your powers and skills, you must also decide if you can find home and love again. Or is your curse to be a lonely wanderer forever?

Warnings: a god of Mischief (He’s a warning, okay?)

Terrigenisis Series Masterlist       Divider by @firefly-graphics

You lounged on the lawn furniture in the back of the compound watching Dizzy run in joyful circles as Redtail made loops overhead. You had brought a tennis ball out and Dizzy was adorable as she ran around with it in her mouth. Occasionally, she’d drop it in your laugh and you’d throw it out into the expanse of lawn. You laughed as she leapt into action each time the ball was thrown. Redtail would swoop down every now and then to tease the dog. 

The rest of the team was out on missions or meetings. Sam, Steve, and Bucky had been sent on a mission yesterday afternoon and you were enjoying some down time. It felt like it had been some time since it had happened. You stretched lazily, basking in the feel of the sun on your skin and the feeling of contentment. 

You hear footsteps approaching and turn to see Loki walking towards you. He had been in a meeting with Thor, Tony, and Maria Hill when you had checked earlier. 

“Hi. How’d the meeting go?” You greet the god. 

“It went well. Nothing of grave importance,” Loki takes the chair next to you, “What are you up to?”

“Relaxing in this glorious weather,” you see his eyes take in your tank top, jean shorts, and sandals. “You know, I’ve never seen you in anything except the leather. Is there casual wear on Asgard?”

“Simple tunics and robes but, as prince and warrior, I do not wear them often.” Loki raises an eyebrow at you. 

“I see. What about for Tony’s party this weekend? Will you wear this?” you motion to his attire.

“I plan to wear a suit.” Loki chuckles. 

“I look forward to seeing that. Isn’t the leather hot though? It’s 80 today.” 

“I could strip for you if you’d like.” Loki smirks playfully. 

“That’s okay,” you hold your hands up in defeat. 

“Is this better?” Loki’s form shimmers for a moment before revealing him in bermuda shorts and hawaiin shirt. 

You grin, “I like it! You look ready for a beach vacation.” You stare at Loki for a moment, wondering about his personal life. He knew a lot about you but rarely revealed much about himself. “Can I ask you something?”

“Of course, darling. Anything.”

“Do you have… someone? Here or on Asgard or… somewhere?” you stammer through the question. 

“Your two lovers are not enough for you?” Loki chuckles. 

“They’re plenty for me. You don’t talk about yourself much, Lok. I mean, you don’t have to tell me anything you don’t want to but I’m curious about you. We’re friends and so I wonder, is there someone? Are you a player? Are you a monk? You know my story. You haven’t given me much of yours. Have you ever been in love?”

Loki studies you for a moment and then nods as if deciding something to himself, “I suppose I would be what you Midgardians refer to as a player.”

“Love ‘em and leave ‘em?” you giggle. 

“I suppose. There’s only ever been one person who…” Loki trails off. 

“Who what?” 

“Who I thought I could fall for.”

“What happened?” You question. 

“She belongs to another.” Loki says as he looks away. 

“She belongs only to herself.” You counter. 

“Of course. She’s engaged to another.” 

“I’m sorry.” You tell him. 

“Thank you.” Loki pauses to contemplate before asking, “Are you happy? You’ve been through a lot in your short life.”

You smile at the statement, “I’m not that young, Loki.”

“I’m over 1000 years old.” Loki deadpans. 

“True,” you laugh, amazed at the lifespan of Asgardians, “Yes. I am happy. This isn’t what I imagined my life to be. Terrigenisis tore my world apart but you make the best of what you have. I have a family in the team, lovers in Steve and Bucky, friends, a purpose. This is… home.”

“And I’m your friend?” Loki asks. 

“Of course you are.”

“Aren’t you afraid I’ll betray you at some point? I mean, I am notorious.” 

“I trust you, Loki. I think I know your heart, but understand that I live by the statement, ‘Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.’ I may let someone make a fool of me once but I won’t let them a second time. Once you lose my trust, it’s gone and would take a great deal to earn it back,” you explain. 

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“I have to trust you. I’m letting you play with my brain.”

“Thank you.”

“For what?”

“Giving me a chance. Trusting me. Seeing me as something other than the villain that I was.”

“You’re more than your past. Oh!” you exclaim when a slobber covered ball is dropped in your lap. “Hi Dizz.” you laugh and throw the ball for her. 

“She has you well trained.” Loki smirks. 

“That she does. Speaking of training, are you up for another session?” you ask. 

“Same time as always, darling. I’ll see you then.” Loki gets up. 

“See ya later, friend,” you watch as Loki walks back to the building, dropping the glamour to reveal his normal outfit as he walks. He sends you a brief wave before walking into the building. Your attention is pulled away when Dizzy drops the ball in your lap again. Time to play. 

--

You get to the training room early to do some climbing and ended up in the rafters as you were known to do. You were just about to climb down when Loki entered with Thor trailing behind him. 

“Drop it, brother,” Loki grouses at him. 

“Just tell me you aren’t playing at anything with her and I will,” Thor demands. 

“Mortals are your weakness,” Loki rolls his eyes at his brother. 

“Love is not weakness, Loki.”

“I do not feel that way about her. She is a friend. Much like Sif is to you.” Loki says pointedly.

“That’s all I wanted, brother,” Thor smiles. 

You clear your throat loudly, “Good afternoon, gentlemen.”

Loki looks up at you in amusement, “How long have you been there?”

“Well before you came in,” you wink at him. 

Thor looks at you sheepishly, “I’ll let you two get to your training.”

“Okay. See ya later,” you are holding in your giggle as you make your way to the climbing rope and jump to it. When you slide to the floor, you look into Loki’s mischievous eyes and you both burst into laughter. When it’s spent you say dramatically, “Loki! I can no longer control myself. I must swoon into your arms!” You pretend to faint against him and he catches you. 

“You’re ridiculous.” Loki narrows his eyes at you. 

“Yup! And you, my friend, are stuck with me!” You stand back up.

“You know that won’t be the last time someone will make the insinuation.” Loki says quietly.

“People have a hard time believing a man and woman can be just friends,” you shrug.

“That is true. Can I ask you something?” Loki asks. 

“Of course.”

“Hypothetically, would you have been able to fall in love with me if…” Loki trails off. 

“I don’t think I would let myself fall in love with any Asgardian,” you admit.

“Why?”

“How old are you, Loki?” 

“A little over a thousand years.”

“Exactly. Asgardians live for around 5,000 years, right?”

“Yes.”

“That’s why. Humans live maybe 80 years. That’s a blink in comparison. I’ve lost a lot of people who are important to me in my life. I don’t think I could purposely put someone through that. Falling for an Asgardian, letting them fall for you, would mean making them watch you die while they live on for millenia. I don’t think I could do that to someone, ever. It’s difficult enough being friends and knowing that. Being lovers, it would be unbearable.”

Loki nods, “I couldn’t have said it better myself.” 

You smile at him, glad he understands. “How about we get to work?”

“Let’s go, darling.”

Over the past week, you had worked up to slipping into Loki’s mind without the unbearable pain. It still caused a headache but you were able to see through his eyes and communicate in a similar fashion to how you did with animals. Today, you were attempting to take control of Loki’s movement. It wasn’t easy. Just lifting his hand took a toll. You drop the warg after a moment. 

“What’s wrong?” Loki looks concerned. 

“It’s difficult. The pain is worse,” you explain.

“Why don’t you warg and I’ll do some magic? Just play around a bit.” 

“Okay. Sounds fun,” you warg back into Loki. He begins doing some simple tricks and you watch in delight. You try to concentrate on the motions he makes, the feel of the magic flowing through him, and his thought process as he works. A picture flashes in Loki’s mind and you catch a glimpse of a beautiful face before he forces it away. 

“Does she know?” You ask in his head.

“What?” Loki hedges. 

“Does she know?” you drop the warg.

“No.” Loki says. 

“Then she’s not.”

“Not what?”

“She’s not lost to you. How do you know she doesn’t feel the same way?” you push. 

“She… I… I don’t… She couldn’t-”

“Oh, I’m gonna stop you right there. She could. She really could, but if you never told her how you feel, what’s she supposed to do?”

“She’s engaged.” Loki insists.

“She’s not married, Loki. You should tell her. Wouldn’t it be better to know?”

“What?”

“At least then you’d know. Either she doesn’t and you have closure to move on. Or she does and you two can figure it out. ‘Better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all’, right? Better to say it and know than to spend the next few millennia wondering,” you needle. 

“I…” Loki falters with a far away look in his eyes. 

“Just promise me you’ll think about it.” 

“I will.” Loki nods.

“Good,” you see Loki’s concentration is completely gone, “Why don’t we leave it for today?”

“Oh. Yes, good. I’ll see you later.” Loki walks away lost in thought. 

“Later, loverboy,” you whisper with a chuckle to yourself.

Part 18

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[alwaysmarveling]

Sticks and Stones

Pairing: Natasha Romanoff x fem!Reader

Warnings: death (it gets pretty depressing)

Word Count: 3.5k

A/N: I do recommend reading Chapter 1 before this one, which you can find here.

Fair warning, I normally don’t read angst, let alone write it, so this could all be a failed attempt at a depressing storyline. But hey, I tried :) And thank you so much @vancityfire13 for helping me out with this chapter!

“Mama, I don’t want to go to school. I think I’m sick,” Igor trudged into the kitchen, his steps heavy and his brows knit together.

“You don’t feel warm, Igoryok. Why don’t you sit down and have some breakfast and then we’ll see how things go, yeah?” Igor nodded reluctantly as Natasha carded her fingers through his hair, trying to tame the bee’s nest that had formed on his head while he was asleep. When you entered the kitchen, you quickly adopted a look to match the frown on Igor’s face.

“What’s wrong, Iggy?”

“I don’t feel good.” You copied Natasha, feeling his forehead but finding it perfectly normal.

“What doesn’t feel good, Igoryok?” Your frowns only deepened when he shrugged.

“If you don’t tell us, we can’t help you.”

“I just don’t feel good, okay?” Both of you flinched slightly at his anger. Although he could get rambunctious and excited at times, Igor was generally sweet, always offering to share his toys with other kids and giving you and Nat random hugs “just because I love you.” Plus, he was four, and you weren’t expecting the attitude for another couple of years at least. After sharing a concerned glance with your wife, you knelt down and held Igor’s hand in yours, noticing his bottom lip wobbling and his eyes beginning to shine.

“Igor, sweetheart, what’s the matter? Why don’t you want to go to school?”

“It’s okay, Igoryok, you can tell us anything,” Nat reassured him when he started to cry, gently rubbing his back in an effort to soothe him.

“I don’t want to see Jackson.” You squeezed his hand, urging him to continue. You knew Jackson and his family; Jackson had even come over to play a couple of weeks ago. While you tried to keep the conversation going, you saw Natasha tense up the second Igor finished the sentence.

“Why don’t you want to see Jackson, honey? Did something happen?”

“Jackson said I’m stupid because my letters don’t look right, and he said I was a baby for having light-up sneakers. And he pulled me down when we were playing tag.”

“And your teachers didn’t say anything?” Natasha gritted out. It was obvious she was trying to stay calm for Igor’s sake, but any second now and Mount Vesuvius was about to explode, bringing all of Pompeii with it. Igor shook his head, his whole body trembling as he cried.

“They didn’t see it. He waited until recess and we were in the back of the playground behind the slides.”

“Igor, sweetie, why didn’t you tell them?” You tried wiping the tears off of his face as they fell, but they were quickly replaced by new ones.

“He said if I did he’d tell the whole class I was a weirdo because I wet the bed.” You butted in before Nat could start yelling, placing a hand on top of hers to try to remind her of the situation.

“I see. Igor, do you think any of the things he said were true?”

“No.” The muttered answer was hard to hear, but it was there.

“That’s right, they’re not. So don’t let that boy get in your head for one second, okay? For every bad thing that he says to you, I want you to remind yourself of at least one good thing about yourself, okay?”

“Okay, Mom.”

“Why don’t you start right now? Tell me three things you like about yourself.”

“Um, I draw good dinos.”

“That’s right,” you smiled. “Mama and I love when you give us dino pictures.”

“Maybe I can draw you one today in school.”

“We’d love that, Igoryok. Two more, buddy.” The redhead had relaxed slightly, her fingers beginning to comb through his hair once again.

“I’m good at soccer. And I have cool cleats.” You nodded at him, rubbing small circles over the back of his hand to encourage him to continue. By this point, his crying stopped, and he only paused every so often to let out a hiccup.

“I can read some of the big kid books in the library. Mr. Goldman says that it’s very impressive for a four-year-old.” Natasha chuckled as Igor puffed out his chest, Jackson’s insults long forgotten.

“It is very impressive. So-”

“Wait, Mama, I have one more!”

“And what would that be?” the redhead smiled.

“I have the two best mamas in the entire world. And they love me so much, and I love them so much too.” It took everything in you not to cry at that moment, and one look at Natasha’s face told you she was struggling as well.

“That’s right, Ig. Mama and I love you more than anything or anyone in the entire world, more than you could ever imagine. You never forget that, promise?”

“I promise, Mom, but don’t cry! It’s happy!”

“I’m very happy,” you whispered, giving him the tightest hug you could without crushing him.

“Igoryok, I need you to listen to me.” The four-year-old nodded as he turned to give your wife his full attention. “When Jackson says mean things to you, you tell him to stop, okay? Don’t be mean, but tell him firmly.”

“Firmly,” he repeated.

“And if he doesn’t stop, you tell your teacher. Okay?”

“Okay, Mama.”

“Miss Olivia is going to pick you up from school today, but Mom and I are going to talk to your teachers about Jackson as soon as we can, we promise.”

“Okay, Mama. Does that mean you and Mom are going to fight the bad guys again?”

“Yes, but just for a little bit. We’ll be back in time for dinner. Which means you have to be good for Miss Olivia or you can’t have any dessert,” Nat winked.

“Now, group hug and then it’s time to go to school,” you ordered, wrapping your arms around the two of them.

-

Igor remained mostly quiet on the car ride to school, which wasn’t unusual for him, but you and Nat found yourselves checking on him regardless.

“Mom, in school, Miss Taylor told us ‘sticks and stones can break my bones but words will never hurt me.’ Is that what she means, with Jackson?”

“Well, yes. Basically, it means that when people say mean things about us, like the things that Jackson said to you, we shouldn’t let it hurt us.”

“How do you do that?”

“You do what we did at breakfast. You know in your heart that what he says isn’t true, so you ignore it. And then you remind yourself of all the good things about yourself.”

“Okay, Mom.”

“We love you, buddy,” Natasha reminded him as she brought the car to a stop. “If anything else happens, you tell us and we’ll help you, okay?”

“Yes, Mama. I love you too.”

“Alright. Then you have the best, most amazing day at school, okay, lovebug?”

“I will, Mom. Bye bye!” With a kiss on each of your cheeks, Igor put on the Avengers backpack that was half his size and jumped out of the car to meet his teacher and friends at the front of the school. With Igor out of the car, Natasha’s anger returned ten-fold.

“‘Sticks and stones can break my bones but words will never hurt me,’ huh? That’s the best they can teach?”

“Nat-”

“You know it’s outdated, and it’s totally not true at all! Of course words can hurt, you know that, Y/N!”

“I know,” you murmured, thinking back to all the pain and chaos a bunch of reporters had caused over some rumors about the Avengers.

“And who does that kid think he is talking about Igor like that?”

“Natty, he’s four.”

“Being four doesn’t give you an excuse to be a bully!”

“You’re right, it doesn’t,” you sighed, “but being four means he has time to change. You know that at this age they usually get it from seeing other people do it.” Two minutes of driving in silence passed before Natasha spoke up again.

“You’re right,” she sighed, her shoulders slowly dropping. “It just makes me so angry that he’d do that to him. And Igor didn’t do anything about it. What if something else happens in the future and he doesn’t protect himself? Igor doesn’t even wet the bed anymore. He knows that and he still let that kid scare him. Or what if Igor doesn’t want to tell us when bad things happen?” The longer she spoke, the softer her voice became as anger dissolved into sadness and concern.

“Well,” you placed your hand over hers that rested on your thigh, “the good thing is Igor is also four. It’s good that something like this happened now rather than later because we have time to talk to him and teach him that we’ll always be there for him. Today was one step towards that. It’ll be okay, Nat. We’ll make sure it is. Especially if we’re going to have another little one on the way.” Your wife smiled at that.

“Igor’s going to be an amazing brother.”

“He really is,” you laughed as you picked up her hand and linked her fingers in yours.

“I will admit, though,” your eyes returned to your wife’s face in time to notice her quirk an eyebrow, “I thought we’d have some more time before we had to deal with the ‘sick to get out of school’ trick.”

“You and me both,” you giggled. “That kid is too smart for his own good.”

“How much do you want to bet he learned it from Tony?”

“Well, he definitely didn’t learn it from Steve.” All the remaining tension in the car dissolved as you two chuckled at the thought. 

When the car became quiet once more, you brought her hand up to your lips. “I. Love. You,” you murmured, each word punctuated with a kiss to her knuckles.

“I love you more. And everything’s going to be okay,” she repeated, more so reassuring herself than you.

“It is. Now, let’s go over that mission plan one last time. We have some butts to kick.”

---

“Okay, Steve’ll meet you guys at the rendezvous point. Get in, and get out. And don’t let yourselves get caught. It’s just an info grab, but it’s an important one.”

“Got it, Hill. See you later.” After ending the call with Maria, you turned to Natasha. “You ready, hon?”

“Yeah, I just can’t help but shake this feeling. I know the mission’s short, but…” You tilted your head slightly to meet her eyes, which was a bit difficult since she’d lowered her gaze to the floor.

“No, I get it. I think it’s just the events of this morning, yeah? And it definitely doesn’t help that we can’t have outside communication.” After a recent mission gone wrong, Fury had temporarily prohibited all outside communication on missions unless absolutely necessary, meaning you and Nat would only be able to communicate with each other until Steve picked you guys up. “Let’s just finish this mission and get back to Igor. Things’ll be better after that.”

“You’re right,” the redhead agreed, giving you an uneasy smile. You rolled your neck once before giving your wife a quick peck on the cheek.

“Alright, let’s do this.”

---

“Where have you guys been? I’ve been waiting for two hours!” His check and money was lying on the table, his meal eaten long ago.

“Sorry, Rogers, a minor complication meant we had to be a bit more careful. But we got all the info, and there’s no trouble.” Natasha slid a small flash drive across the booth. He simply nodded, pocketing the device and standing up.

“Let’s go.”

“Everything okay, Steve?”

“Um, yeah. Fury asked that you guys stop by the tower first though.” You frowned, prompting Nat to slip her hand into yours.

“Is it important? We wanted to get back and see Igor. We told him we’d be back for dinner, and we’re already late.” Before Steve could respond, a waitress walked up to the table.

“Oh, hey! I see your friends are here. Do you guys want to place an order?”

“Um, actually, I’m so sorry. Something came up and we have to go. Thank you so much, though.”

“Of course, have a nice night, guys.” You flashed the waiter a smile and handed her two twenty dollar bills as an apology before following Steve out of the restaurant.

“Steve, what’s going on?”

“Nothing,” he responded, his voice void of emotion.

“C’mon, you know neither of us is buying that. Is everyone okay?”

“Just hurry up,” he muttered. He was walking so quickly that you and Nat were practically jogging to keep up. You shared a worried glance with Natasha, but neither of you spoke up again.

-

After a thirty-minute drive, you’d reached the tower, and Steve sent the two of you up to Fury’s office without another word.

“Do you think we did something wrong, Natty?”

“I don’t see what we could’ve done wrong. We’ll find out soon enough, though,” she sighed. She sent you a small smile in an effort to calm you, as she could tell you were becoming quite anxious, but she was rather nervous herself.

Fury was waiting for you guys when the elevator doors opened, which only served to make the two of you even more on edge than you were before.

“Romanoff, L/N, follow me please.” He led you to his office, his demeanor stoic and unreadable as per usual, but something was off. As you placed a hand on Nat’s lower back, you found her spine to be stiff. She must’ve sensed it too. “Sit.” The three of you sat in silence for about thirty seconds, during which you realized what was wrong. The twinkle he always had in his eyes, whether from playfulness, determination, or something in between, was missing. That realization was enough to make you crack.

“Fury. Why’d you call us in here? I hate to rush you but we’ve got a kid to go home to.” You and your wife noticed when he flinched at your last sentence.

“Right.” Both of you stared at him expectantly but quickly became agitated when he didn’t seem to make any move to continue.

“Fury. What is it.” You placed a hand on Nat’s arm before she could jump out of the chair, but if he didn’t speak in about two seconds you’d be right there with her.

“We received a call about three hours ago about a car crash. A massive pileup caused by a drunk driver during the school rush hour. Two people were seriously injured.” 

“I- I don’t understand. You want us to help with a car crash?” you asked, your voice shaky but light. “Fury, with all due respect, this is ridiculous. This isn’t our area of-” 

“Why are you telling us about this?” Natasha cut into your rambling.

“Romanoff… this was three hours ago. Just outside of the elementary school.”

Three hours ago. What was three hours ago? Three hours ago would’ve been when Olivia was bringing Igor back home from school. But that couldn’t be what Fury was talking about. It was a different kid, a different family, maybe even a different school; Fury hadn’t been specific. No, you and Nat would go back home and they’d both be there. They had to be there. 

“By the time the ambulance got there, paramedics suspected that they were both gone. They called time of death at the hospital. I’m so sorry.” You couldn’t tell when exactly your heart stopped beating, when all the blood left your face. He couldn’t be talking about what you thought he was. He wasn’t even looking you in the eye, dammit.

“Gone? What do you mean by gone? Who’s ‘they’?” You spoke in a whisper, not able to speak any louder. With each second that passed, you could feel Nat’s forearm getting tighter as she clenched her fists harder and harder.

“Fury,” Natasha finally spoke, her voice gravelly, “If you’re telling me what I think you’re telling me, you’re going to have to be very clear with me. So what. Are. You. Saying.”

“Igor is dead. Your son is dead. I’m so-”

“Stop saying you’re sorry!” This time it was Nat’s turn to hold you back, grabbing onto your waist when you slammed your hands on Fury’s desk. “You have no reason to be sorry, he’s not- No, you’re wrong. That doesn’t make any sense. How in the hell would there be a drunk driver at 3 in the afternoon? No, you’re wrong! Nat, he’s wrong, right?” You looked at your wife, eyes shining, but her expression was unreadable. Her arms were crossed against her chest as she stood in the center of the room, and you couldn’t help but remember the last time she looked that alone—at the SHIELD party all those years ago.

---

She was standing in the corner with her back to everyone in the room. You didn’t believe it was her at first—sure, redheads weren’t that common, but how could it be her? You hadn’t seen her in months, although it wasn’t from lack of trying. Besides, this woman looked so unbelievably… small. And sad. And alone. This was a party, for heavens’ sake, and she looked like she was stuck in solitary confinement. None of those sounded anything like the woman you’d met.

But with a shake of your head, you turned back to the bar, taking a sip from your drink with the intent of clearing her from your mind. You got over her months ago, Y/N. It was literally just one date. Stop thinking about her. Besides, what are the chances she works for SHIELD anyway?

Yet, ten minutes later, the woman remained in her place and looked just as pitiful as she did when you first saw her. Your mind couldn’t stop your legs from swinging off of the chair and walking over to her.

“Um, excuse me?” Your heart stopped when you saw her face. It was her. She was glammed up for the party, but it was Nat, and she looked just as beautiful as the first time you’d seen her. 

“Y/N?” Your heart caught in your throat for a second as if you hadn’t thought that it could be her, not allowing you to respond until after you’d taken another sip from your drink.

“Nat.” You didn’t know what else to say. You hadn’t really planned it out, to be honest. Your body just kind of… brought you here. The two of you just stared at each other, neither of you too sure of what to say. Suddenly, all the anger you’d had towards her over the past few months pushed its way to the surface. “Did you lose my number or something? Get a new phone?”

“Y/N, I- what are you doing here?”

“Really? We had an amazing first date, you told me you can’t wait for the next one, and then you didn’t talk to me for months? And then, when I do find you, that’s all you have to say? I mean, obviously I was the fool for believing yo-”

“Are you stalking me?” Her eyes narrowed.

“Are you serious right now? No, I’m not stalking you! I work for SHIELD now, which you would know if you didn’t freaking ghost me!”

“You- you work for SHIELD?”

“Yes, I’ve been working for SHIELD for six months.”

“Y/N, I’m sorry, I… I have to go.” You watched her, your eyes blazing and nostrils flaring, as she walked out of the room. She never came back that night.

---

“I have to go,” Nat interrupted the silence.

“Natasha, wait. You really shouldn’t be going anywhere like this.” Fury stood from his chair but remained behind his desk.

“I’m going home.”

“Natasha, please, just hold on a seco-” Unlike that night, you followed Nat out of the room. The two of you were out the door before Fury could stop you.

-

When you got home, the house was dark and Olivia’s car wasn’t there. That didn’t deter either of you, though.

“Igor! Igor! Mom’s home!”

“Igoryok, it’s Mama!” When neither of you heard a response, the two of you frantically began running through the house. You searched room after room, checking each one and the hallway closet at least three times. When your legs turned to lead and you couldn’t breathe any longer, you dropped to your knees, completely unaware of what part of the house you were in.

That’s how Natasha found you—in Igor’s room, sobbing, your knees digging deep into the hardwood floors and your head resting on his pillow right next to his stuffed pig and the green baby blanket he refused to sleep without.

“Y/N,” she murmured, her voice broken and tears trailing down her flushed cheeks. Your wife stumbled her way over to you and collapsed by your side. Wrapping an arm around your shoulder, she pulled you as close as she could, and you let her.

-

The two of you cried for what felt like a million lifetimes, not stopping until you physically ran out of tears, your eyes so dry that it hurt to open them. Your head leaned against Nat’s shoulder. Both of you stared at the wall ahead of you with an empty gaze, the only sound heard in the room being your shallow breaths.

“You were right,” you whispered, your throat dry.

“About what?” Nat’s voice was as quiet and hollow as yours.

“Sticks and stones can break my bones but words will never hurt me.” Miss Taylor had told your son that words could never hurt him, but she was wrong. Hearing the words that Igor was dead; that your son was gone; that you would never get to see him earn his high school diploma, or get a job that he was passionate about, or grow up to be a happy adult, or even hug him one last time; that you would never get to see him become an amazing warrior like you’d predicted just five years ago—those words caused you the most pain you’d ever felt in your entire life.

-----

Tagging: @xxxtwilightaxelxxx

[itsdrippingred]

Hide and Seek

_________________________________________

No Angst! I know its a first for me but I promise this one is a cute and funny one shot with a bit of SPICE. And best of all... its a clintasha fic with a romanhill friendship! I really, really hope you guys like this one. I had so much fun writing it.

_________________________________________

After what had been probably the longest mission and the most tedious debriefing of their lives Natasha Romanoff and Maria Hill were finally free of their Shield duties for the night... that was unless things changed and they were called back in.

Maria’s chocolate brown hues passed to the redhead sat next to her on the bench in the empty locker room. “Got any plans tonight?”

Natasha’s hues lifted from the boot laces she had been untying but only for a moment. “Not really.” She admitted. “I’ll probably stop and get a pizza before going back to Avenger tower.. have dinner with Clint.”

“Well I was thinking we could go out, get a drink, meet a few guys... break a few hearts...”

“It was a long day.” Natasha protests.

“It will get your mind off the mission..” The darker haired woman shrugged. “Are you in?”

“I’m not interested in meeting anymore guys, I have to babysit enough of them as it is. Besides we’re on call tonight.” She states before tugging her boots off and setting them in the bottom of her locker.

“It’s not like you have to date any of them, just dance with them, and point the attractive ones my direction. We deserve a night off. Besides, what are the odds we even get called in tonight?” Quiet contemplation filled the air as Natasha considered their options for a brief moment.

“I’ll buy the first round.” Maria bribes with a sweet smile that makes the other woman groan out. Even though a smile of her own wasn’t hidden as her green hues passed to a black mini dress that hung just above her boots. “Fine, but only because I have a dress on hand.” Natasha agreed before pulling it out of her locker and Maria did the same and pulled out a glittery navy blue dress from her own locker.

They both slipped out of their uniforms and got redressed, Maria helped Natasha do her hair and Natasha gave Maria some of her most alluring makeup tips. They laughed and joked and rubbed shoulders up until they had finished getting ready. By the end of the hour both women looked flawless.

They ended up taking a cab to one of the classier clubs in New York City and enjoyed mingling with the younger generation of the elites. They danced, they drank, and they laughed. Maria seemed to enjoy basking in the males attention, Natasha however seemed to avoid it unless she could squeeze a free drink out of a willing donor and maybe even a dance.

Eventually the girls met up at the bar top to order another round. Both women were a little tipsy, and laughing at a story Maria was telling about her last wanna be suitor when her phone rang. She held up a hand and quieted the conversation before answering. Meanwhile Natasha waved over the bartender to order two more shots.

“Hello?” Maria asked with a giggly tone.

“I need you to come in.” The man on the other line addressed and Maria giggled again.

“Can’t. I’m drunk.” She stated simply.

There was a sigh and then a click before Fury dropped the line and Natasha’s phone range. She picked up imminently, “I am also drunk.” Natasha greets her boss on the only to hear a sigh come from the other end of her phone as well. “You both realize you’re on call right.” He reprimands though it hardly holds a note of disapproval.

“Not tonight we’re not!” Maria calls over Natasha’s shoulder and into the phone. Natasha shouldn’t snicker but she does and she coughs to cover it up. “We took the night off Nick.” She concludes in a more diplomatic fashion.

“Well do me a favor and let me know next time.” He snarks back, she’s pretty sure she could hear Fury rolling his eyes, correction eye. “Is Clint with you?” He suddenly asks.

“Um.. nope.” Nat lips pop at the end of the word and there’s another sigh from her boss, maybe a sigh of relief. Either way Fury sounds like an exhausted father by this point.

“Good. Get home safe, Natasha. Take a taxi home.” He instructs before abruptly hanging up. “Yes, s- he hung up.” Natasha pouts to the other agent who’s grinning from ear to ear. “You realize you just threw Clint under the bus right? Fury is going to call him next.” She asked and Natasha shrugged.

“What are partners for?” She uttered ruthlessly with a grin before taking the shot she had ordered and Maria laughed. “Careful, Natasha. Your Russian is showing.”

“Pish, and your American was showing on the dance floor but I didn’t say anything.” She notes in return only for Hill to slap her arm playfully. “As far as Clint goes, I know that Nick has trackers in our work phones. He wouldn’t have taken him long to figure out Clint’s location even if I had lied.”

“That’s true.” Maria nodded before picking up a shot that had been delivered and downing it. “Come on. We’re going back out on the dance floor.” She says before grabbing Natasha’s wrist and leading her back out onto the floor. There would be no protest from the Russian as Maria twirled her and they started to dance.

For the first one in a long time they both were laughing and goofing off. They took turns dancing with random men and even each other. They looked like any pair of best friends in the club that night. Not an agent, not an assassin, not well trained soldiers. Just normal women and it was nice. Or it was until the bartender so kindly cut the women off a few hours later. The women piled back into a cab and were driven back to avenger tower where they stumbled through the doors laughing and joking as they made it to the main floor.

The other avengers seemed to have been gathered around enjoying their own kind of evening when the women entered the room. Maria found a seat next to Steve and Natasha stubbles to the bar to grab them both another drink.

Tony, of course, was the first to point out the obvious as she set a knee on the counter in order to reach a desirable bottle of vodka.

“Woah, is Romanoff drunk?” He spouts from behind his whiskey glass. Natasha turned to make a face at her fellow avenger but she caught Clint’s eyes first.

“Hey.” Clint said from across the room while holding eye contact with the red head. “Mhm, mhm.” He hummed out with disapproval as he shook his head. His steely grey hues demanded that she listen to what he wasn’t saying. He expected her to listen. He expected wrong. She was feeling exceptionally sassy tonight and that warning wasn’t about to deter her. The bottle was yanked from the shelf as she lifted a brow in a resting manner as if to say; What are you going to do about it? Before she proceeded to unscrew the cap and flicked the top in her partner's direction. “Don’t.” He warned and she raised the bottle as if to drink from it, but before she did she flashed her middle finger, flipping him off. “Bite me, Barton.” She jabbed back only to watch his grey hues grow stormy and his jaw define as the muscles pulled tight. She almost giggled as a grin crept across her lips. He was cute when he was flustered. She was about to lift the bottle to her lips entirely but out of the corner of her eye she caught Clint taking a stride towards her.

“Shit.” She muttered before slipping her thumb over the mouth bottle and stubbing around the corner. She retreated down a hall to the elevators in an attempt to escape but the sound of heavy footsteps echoed behind her and so did the laughter of several of her fellow avengers.

She got to the elevator and pressed the button as many times as needed for the doors to finally slide open. By that time she had Clint had already rounded the corner and was starting down the hallway. “Natasha.” He called and she pressed the button that would close the doors and then she pressed the button for Clint’s floor. She had a few sips straight from the bottle before it eventually stopped on his floor and she walked to his door and let herself in. She knew it would take Clint a few minutes to realize that she hadn’t gone to her apartment but it was just long enough to enjoy whatever junk food he had left within reach.

By the time he had gotten back to his apartment Natasha was standing over the sink eating a slice of cold pizza from the refrigerator. This didn’t exactly bother Clint but his arms splayed out in the doorway. “Seriously?” He asked before closing the door behind him and Natasha shrugged with a smug smile that relayed just how pleased she was with how long it had taken to find her.

He couldn’t exactly stay mad at her, not when she looked at him like that. Instead he rolled his eyes half heartedly before he met her in the kitchen. He slid behind her, hands on her hips, as he placed a kiss in her hair. He couldn't help but pick up the subtle scent of her perfume. Tonight she smelled like amber and spice, he couldn't help but like it on her. “You know I hate playing hide and seek with you when you’re intoxicated.” He uttered gruffly, more seriously as he watched Natasha lay what was left of the slice of pizza back down in the box.

“Well, you never seem to mind finding me.” She answered innocently before leaning back against his chest and then pressing her hips against his in a teasing fashion. She felt his breath hitch as his fingertips dug into her hips. His jaw flexed again before he used a hand to pull her crimson hair behind her ear and over her shoulder. “You’re a pain in my ass, Agent Romanoff.” He uttered against her ear in a growl before his lips brushed against her neck. He’d get the response he wanted when he left a gentle kiss against her flesh and she tilted her head to the side hoping for more. Instead he let her go and took a step back and then a few to the side so that she couldn't close the space again. Her face screwed in disappointment as she looked over her shoulder at him.

“Go to bed, Tasha. It's late. If you don’t, you’ll hate yourself in the morning.” He said with a smile and nodded to the bedroom. His arms crossing over his chest to indicate that their little game was now over.

“Joke’s on you, I’m going to hate myself in the morning regardless.” She scoffed but only before doing as he said and heading to the bedroom. She closed the door behind her, and Clint cocked a brow. A long second passed before the door opened again and Natasha reappeared. She looked puzzled.

“Everything okay, Nat?” He asked with an amused smile while stuffing his hands into his pockets. Natasha couldn’t keep up the act as a sheepish smile took hold of her lips.

“I just forgot something.”

Before he knew it, her small hand had taken hold of the front of his shirt and he was being pulled into the bedroom after her.

[just-dreaming-marvel]

Love and Medicine ~ 12

MASTERLIST

< previous chapter

Word Count: 2,815ish

Summary: You are still trying to cope with the fact that Steve’s married. (Read note at the end of the chapter.)

I do not own Grey’s Anatomy or Marvel.

You and Natasha eventually found your way back to your house and into your bedroom’s adjoining bathroom. Natasha was in the bathtub as you laid on the floor.

“It's not us. It's them,” you said. “Them and their stupid boy penises. They didn't tell me they had a wife. They gave absolutely no warning that they were going to break up with you.”

“It's not that Banner broke up with me,” Natasha began. “It's how he broke up with me. Like it was business. Like it was a business transition like he's the boss of me!”

“He is the boss of you.”

“And what's worse is that I care.”

"I'm gonna throw up again.” You moved so that you were leaned over the toilet bowl. "No. Wait. False alarm.”

“Look, the problem is estrogen.”

“No, the problem is tequila.”

“I used to be all business, and then he goes and gets me pregnant.”

“With the stupid boy penis.”

“Now, I'm having hormone surges. He ruined me. I'm ruined. He turned me into this fat, stupid, pregnant girl. Who cares! Estrogen!”

Having heard the commotion from your bathroom, Val, Scott, and Clint found themselves standing in the doorway.

“Penises,” you stated. “Penises Val.”

“Estrogen, Scott. Estrogen,” Nat added.

“Okay…” Scott said, looking around. “What did I miss?”

“I came home to full on vomit drama,” Val explained. “Apparently she dumped Derek and her—“ Val pointed Nat’s way. “She’s been sleeping with Banner!”

“What?”

“So you really broke up with Rogers?” Clint asked.

“I feel empty,” you responded.

“Two hours of vomiting will do that to you,” Val said with a shrug.

“You’re lucky,” Nat added. “I feel pissed off.”

~~~

Arriving in the parking garage, you could clearly see Steve waiting for you. Getting out of your car, you slammed the door as he came closer.

“Stop,” you growled at him.

“What?” Steve questioned, pretending to be all innocent.

“You're stalking me. Stop it.” You continued into the building with Steve following you.

“Did we not communicate last night?”

“Yes.”

“Did you hear what I was saying?”

“Your wife screwed your best friend.”

“And then from that point on she no longer existed to me anymore.”

“You had marital amnesia?”

“No.” Steve reached out and grabbed your arm, successfully stopping you. “Come on I bared my soul to you last night.”

“It's not enough.”

“How can that be not enough?”

“When you waited 2 months to tell me and I had to find out by her showing up, all leggy and fabulous and telling me herself, you pulled the plug. I'm a sink with an open drain. Anything that you say runs right out. There is no enough.” You pulled away hurrying inside with your friends after you.

“She probably could've picked a better metaphor,” Clint commented.

“Give her a break,” Scott said. “She’s got a hangover.”

With a huff, Steve followed. Tony, who was also coming in, quickly caught up to him.

“Dr. Rogers!” He called.

“Dr. Stark,” Steve replied.

“We have an organ donor coming in this afternoon. We're doing a harvest.”

“Commendable, but—“

“In OR one at four.”

“I’m in OR one at four.”

“Your surgery is non-critical.”

“You can’t bump me!”

“As Chief, I can. You’ll be first up tomorrow.”

“Interim Chief. Bump somebody else!”

“You’re in the OR we need.”

“Why can’t the harvest be done somewhere else?”

“Cause the donor’s coming in from a small facility. We have the location, the airport nearby and the staff. Your surgery is rescheduled.” Then Tony turned, heading away.

“I’m not done talking about this, Stark!”

“Well, I am! See ya around Rogers!”

~~~

Rounds weren’t too bad, especially because you successfully ignored both Peggy and Steve. It even became slightly better when Gamora called you in for a bowel obstruction. Except the guy wouldn’t tell you what he ingested.

“You know, Mr. Sanders, it would be easier if you just told us what you ingested,” you pried, taking him to radiology. “We’ll know anyone, once we see the films.”

“You’re beautiful, you know that?” Mr. Sanders responded.

“Mr. Sanders, whatever you’ve ingested could kill you. Are you sure you don’t just want to tell me?”

“It might offend you.”

“It might? Is it drugs?”

“No.”

“Mr. Sanders.”

“It’s not drugs, I promise.”

“Well, good, I’m glad.”

“I… Nope, not going to tell you.”

“Fine by me. We just reached radiology, so I’m going to find out anyway.”

It wasn’t long before Mr. Sanders was back in his room and the radiologist had found you with the scans.

“It’s drugs,” the radiologist stated handing the scans over to you. “Looks like at least 13 small balloons in the bowel. My guess, cocaine.”

“Hmm,” you hummed, holding up the scans up to the light. 

They didn’t totally look like balloons, so you weren’t completely convinced. Before you made any judgement calls, you found Gamora.

“It’s drugs,” you told her, handing her the scans. 

“Stupid, stupid, stupid,” she muttered, placing the scans onto a screen. “One burst and he’s dead in minutes. Okay, what do we do?”

“Run his bowel.”

“And what does that mean?”

“Running the bowel entails removing all 36 feet of the intestine from the body cavity, hand searching for the balloons and then cutting them out.”

“Good. Book an OR and get two other interns on board, need all the hands we can get.”

“Dr. Gamora,” Y/N called as Gamora tired to leave. 

“Yes?”

“Are you sure they’re balloons?”

“You have reason to believe they’re not?”

“Well, the more I look the more I realize that this one,” you pointed to the scans, “has a face.” Gamora looked closer. “And this one… they all do.”

“I’ll be damned. They’re Barbies. He swallowed 13 Barbie doll heads.”

~~~

“Barbie heads?” Scott repeated after you told him, Natasha, and Peter what happened.

“Yeah,” you responded. “And Gamora wants two of you to join us in surgery.”

“I’m already booked.”

“I can do it,” Natasha said.

“Me too,” Peter said.

“My foster mothers used to buy me Barbie dolls. All sorts of them.”

“I also wanted one,” you added. “My parents never let me.”

“I dissected them. Cut off their arms, shaved their heads.”

“You’re a little scary,” Scott stated. “You know that?”

“I try.”

“Sounds like there’s a sick and twisted story behind this,” Peter said.

“No, they’re sexist, distorted devil toys that create unrealistic expectations carrying to the porn driven minds of men,” Natasha expressed.

“You swallow a bitter pill this morning, Romanoff?” Gamora questioned, coming up to you interns. “They’re just dolls. Quill, call for a psych consult. Then see if he has family.”

“Should I still book the OR?” You wondered.

“Blocked bowels become necrotic bowels. Check with Dr. Stark, see if we can bump someone. Those Barbies gotta come out today.”

~~~

Gamora had given Clint the impossible assignment to revive a patient. And, unfortunately for him, he was stuck with Laura.

“Any family members waiting?” He asked as he stapled up the man’s chest.

“Still trying to reach them,” Laura responded.

“Good. Well, I mean, not good that we haven’t reached anyone. Good that I don’t have to, uh…”

“It’s always hard.”

“Yeah.”

“I’m sorry about Peter.”

“It’s fine. It’s good. No need to talk about it.”

“You do understand that I had sex with him before you, not during, right? Because when you and I were together—“

“I understand.”

“I just wanted to clear the air.”

“Oh, it’s clear. Perfectly clear… okay.”

“Okay.”

“Okay.”

“And about the syphilis—“

“We really on’t have to talk about it.”

“Which is, I mean, I didn’t know I had it. I definitely should have, I’m a nurse. Like, there was a sore and I was all itchy.”

“Okay!” He backed away almost knocked the tray beside him over. “You know I, uh, got it. You know things happen.” He moved to the door, away from Laura.

“They really do. Things you wish you could change.”

Clint’s pager rang and he looked down. “It’s the Chief, I gotta take this.”

“Sure… Clint.”

“Yes?”

“You have to call it.”

“Call it?”

“Him.”

“Oh, yeah.” He looked at his watch. “Time of death 1:37.” He turned to leave again.

“And, Clint,” he paused, not turning around this time, “if we could, I wouldn’t mind trying again.”

“Maybe… some day…”

~~~

Tony was walking down the hall with Maria, going over the donor surgery.

“When is the donor getting here?” He asked.

“Should be here at 3. Harvest team’s not heir way in.”

“I also need to touch base with the transplant center about a patient here getting his son’s liver.”

You walked up. “Dr. Stark,” you called. “Dr. Gamora needs an OR and they’re all booked.”

“For?”

“An emergent bowel obstruction.” She handed him the scans.

“Drugs?”

“Barbie heads. 13 of them.”

“Seriously?”

“Yes.”

Maria looked at the films. “I can see their little faces,” she commented. “That patient must have serious issues.”

“Hill, can your hernia in 1 be bumped?” Tony asked.

“Most likely.”

“Do it.”

“On it.” Maria left.

“Thank you, Dr. Stark,” you said, moving to go.

Tony grabbed your wrist and stopped you. “Y/N, are you okay?”

“I’m fine.”

“Don’t lie.”

“I’m not. I’m really fine.” And you pulled away.

~~~

You, Gamora, and a doctor from psych were currently discussing the psych evaluation on Mr. Sanders.

“He’s not talking. It could be pica,” the psych doctor stated. “Doubtful for a man his age. Maybe an oedipal complex or an idolization of the doll as his partners. Or it could be that he simply enjoys it.”

“Now I've seen a lot of strange things in strange places but how does he enjoy this?” Gamora questioned.

“He’d enjoy it when they came out.”

“I didn’t need to hear that.”

“Dr. L/N,” Peggy called as she walked back. “May I speak with you for a moment?” You looked at Gamora for help.

“Don’t look at me. I’m not gonna help you.”

With a sigh, you went to Peggy and the two of you began walking away.

“I assume he told you why he left me,” she said.

Annoyed, you stopped in front of her. “Look, Dr. Rogers, will all do respect, this has nothing to do with me,” you said.

“Really? So you didn’t take him back. Good girl.”

“And int he future, I’d appreciate it if we could keep our relationship strictly professional.” You walked away.

“Y/N!” You stopped and turned back slightly to give Peggy your attention. “Sometimes people do desperate things to get someone’s attention.” You shook your head and started walking again. “There are two sides to every story!”

~~~

You, Peter, and Scott arrived at lunch first. The three of you picked a large table farthest away from the others.

“Look what I went out and got,” Peter said, putting a grocery bag on the table.  Opening the bag, he revealed 13 headless Barbie dolls.

“Really, Quill?” You wondered.

“That’s gross,” Scott cringed.

“I think it’s funny,” Peter said, smiling, as he laid them out on the table.

“Of course you do,” you muttered.

“Oh! That is sick!” Clint commented as him, Natasha, and Val walked up.

“Who would do that?” Val asked. They looked to see Peter smiling.

“Oh, look!” Natasha said, picking up a doll. “See Barbie fly.” She throw it at Peter, who ducked.

“Hey, Clint,” Laura greeted, walking by.

“Hey,” he replied, sitting down at not looking at you. The interns all gave him a look. “What?”

“She was trying to make up with you, Clint,” you told him. “You should go eat with her.”

“No, I shouldn’t…. No.”

“She’s cute and she likes you,” Scott said.

“You shouldn’t let a little syph get in the way of that,” Val added.

“It’s not the syph,” Clint insisted.

“It’s so the syph,” Natasha said.

“It’s not the syph!”

“Then what is it?” Val asked. Clint didn’t answer, looking down. “Oh.”

“What?” You wondered. Clint simply shrugged. “What is it?”

“There’s this other girl,” Val responded.

“Val!” Clint exclaimed.

“Other girl?” Natasha questioned. “You have another girl?!”

“He hasn’t told her that he likes her yet,” Val said.

“Val!” Clint exclaimed again. “This isn’t high school.”

“Clint has a little crush.”

“I do not… It’s a thing, a very personal thing. One day I would like to build on this thing with this other girl—woman. She’s all woman.”

“What are you doing, Clint?” You asked, slightly harsh.

“I-I don’t—“

“With Laura. What are you doing with her?”

“Oh. Nothing.”

“You’re letting her think you’re emotionally available. You’re letting her think she has a chance. And there is nothing worse in the world than think you have a chance when you really don’t!”

“Y/N is right,” Natasha said. “Tell her that there’s someone else. And tell her why, Clint. I mean— I mean at least give her the chance to have some feelings about it!”

“Why are you both yelling at me?” Clint asked.

“Because of the estrogen Clint! Because of all the estrogen!”

~~~

“Was it an act of desperation?” You asked Mr. Sanders as you headed into his surgery.

“Not at all,” he replied.

“Something to attract attention?”

“No.”

“I’m just trying to understand here. Why 13 doll heads?”

“Well because 14 would’ve been too much.”

You cringed and helped the nurses get Mr. Sanders on the operating table before going to scrub. It was Gamora, you, Peter, Val, and Natasha in the surgery.

“I think it has something to do with his mother,” Val suggested. “Maybe she always wanted a girl and gave him Barbie dolls because of it.”

“Ah, ah, I’ve got another one,” Peter said, showing the head in the intestine.

“Uh!” You groaned.

“Doyen clamps to Romanoff,” Gamora ordered. “L/N, push the head up to the incision.” You began to squeeze the doll head up through the intestine.

“Maybe his mother looked like a Barbie doll and he’s into voodoo,” Peter suggested. “Instead of sticking pins in… well…”

Dr. Stark entered the OR. “You good here?” He asked Gamora, observing you though.

“Couple more heads to go,” Gamora responded.

“Then L/N stay here. All you other interns I need you on other cases.”

You met Tony’s eyes before he walked out of the OR.

~~~

Clint was put on a case with Steve. They were about to go separate ways so that Clint could run labs, when Steve stopped. He looked back at Clint.

“Is she okay?” Steve asked.

“Who?” Clint questioned. He looked up at Steve and knew. “Y/N? She’s… hanging in there.”

“Look out for her.”

“I will.”

Then Steve walked away. Before Clint could get really far, Laura found him.

“The family of the guy we worked on this morning is here,” she told him.

“Thanks for letting me know,” Clint responded.

“Clint, I just want an answers, so that I can get on with my life if I need to.”

“Look, maybe I’m not over the Peter thing yet or the syph thing… And I really want to be, but there’s also another girl. And, to me, it doesn’t matter there’s this other guy and frankly I wouldn’t care if she gave me the Ebola virus… I like you, Laura, I really do. Just… I—“

“You’re going to need some time.”

“Yeah.” He kissed her forehead. “Thank you for understanding.”

~~~

Steve was standing alone in the elevator when Peggy walked in, both dressed to leave.

“Just when the day was improving,” he murmured.

“You told Y/N what happened?” Peggy asked.

“I did. Why? What did you tell her?”

“That sometimes people do desperate things to attract attention.”

“What? Wow. That's your side of this? That I didn't pay you enough attention. Is that you were thinking when you got naked with my best friend?”

Peggy reached over and stopped the elevator. "No, by that point I wasn't thinking at all Steve. By that point I was just scratching an itch. We got successful you and me. We got busy and we got lazy. We didn't even bother to fight any more Steve. And Bucky was there and I missed you. And now I'm sorry.” Steve restarted the elevator. “I’m more sorry than you can possibly imagine. But at least I'm talking to you about it.” The doors opened and Steve walked out. “Steve.”

“I’m a sink with an open drain, honey.”

~~~

“Did you get them all?” Mr. Sanders asked. You were checking on him, post-surgery.

“Yes,” you replied. “It wasn’t easy or very pleasant. How do you feel?”

“Empty… I feel empty now.”

“Yeah. I've been feeling a little bit of that myself lately.”

“I can tell.”

“Mr. Sanders, why does eating doll heads fill you up? What’s the satisfaction?”

“Do you really want to know?”

“Would it be too much information?”

“Might.”

“Maybe I’m better left in the dark.”

next chapter >

I leave for Disney World in a week. It is the last big family vacation that I will be on for a while. Because of that, I will not be on tumblr March 19th through March 24th. I will actually be deleting the app so that it’s not a distraction.

Most likely, nothing will be posted during that time. If something is, it will have been queued up. Things that are posted while I’m out of town will not have tag lists attached. I will put this note in all the fic posts until then.

So do not come at me for spending time with my family instead of including the tag list. (I say that knowing that people won’t care and still come at me.... be respectful and get over yourself.)

If you want to be added to the tag list, please dm me or send in an ask.

[red1culous]

Sweat part 1

Chapter: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.

One of the things you hated about working with the Avengers was how insanely fit everyone was. You wouldn’t exactly call yourself a shapeless potato but you were nowhere as sculpted or as svelte as your other team members.

You had just joined the band of heroes two months ago and were working under Maria Hill as a Shield agent. She had taken the time to show you around the place because you were one of the few applicants Fury himself recommended. Being new to the team you were eager to impress.

Maria herself was of slight build but you knew she was tough having one day crashed into her after turning a blind corner. Her elbow caught the side of your face as you both collided and it left you with a nasty shiner that lasted a week.

So you made it a point to become fitter and stronger. That meant visits to the gym. Your anxiety however got the better of you and visiting the gym when everyone else was there was certainly out of the question. So you purposely set your alarm for 2 hours earlier so you could get a full workout before anyone else was even awake.

The first time you entered the gym was daunting. All those big machines seemingly mocking your puny existence. You pushed past the fear and soon you were brave enough to play your music loud from your phone speakers and you started to relax a little and enjoy your early morning sessions more.

Then something you never could have dreamed of happened turning your world upside down.

After a 10 minute cardio warm up you headed to the chest press machine. You were feeling good this morning. Stretching and limbering up a little your playlist started on a new song, one that you particularly liked. It had all the right beats in all the right places. You soon got lost in the music and started to do a little dance on the spot as you stretched your arms and legs out . You were so caught up in the music you almost screamed when you felt a gentle tap tap tap on your shoulder. Turning around so fast you almost gave yourself whiplash you were stunned by the sight in front of you.

Natasha Romanoff.

WTF.

“Hi. I’m Natasha. You ok?” she cocks her head concerned at your dazed expression.

“Hi! Sorry I just didn’t think there’d be anyone here. I’m Y/N” you hoped she hadn’t heard the enormous swallow you just did with how dry your throat suddenly became.

“Yea I know. Fury has said some impressive things about you. And that man says nothing about anyone so that’s a huge compliment” she smiled tying up her hair into a neat ponytail. Your eyes were inexplicably drawn to her biceps as they flexed and bunched up at the simple action.

“Uh ok” was all you could muster shaking your head trying to clear your mind.

“Sorry, do you mind if we share the gym? I promise to stay on that side” she points to the other end of the gym and you instantly felt like a monster.

“What no! No don’t do that. Sorry I just wasn’t expecting anyone here so early. Plus I’m not used to doing this whole gym thing” you ducked your head feeling a blush blooming across your chest and rising to your face.

“Oh you really don’t look like you even need the gym” she counters.

Wait. Was that a compliment?

She continues, “how about we spot for each other? I haven’t trained with another girl in ages. It’ll be nice since this place is usually a playground for the boys and their dick measuring contests”

And that’s how you found yourself working out with Natasha Romanoff, or Nat as she insisted you call her. This was insane. What was even more insane was the outfit she had on. She was wearing a black tank top that ended just under her breasts exposing her abs. All the abs. The way it twitched with every movement she made was even more distracting than her leg and calve muscles that were clearly visible under the ridiculously tight spandex pants she wore. If you knew you would be partnering with her you would’ve probably not worn your moth eaten college t-shirt and 100 year old track pants.

Right this moment she was stood in front of the chest press machine counting your sets. She was making light conversation and whenever you struggled she would assist slightly. Her words of encouragement did help a little. You were actually having fun.

“I like that you’re always smiling when you’re working out” she says in between counting you to 10.

“Nat, this isn’t me smiling” you pant out, “this is me gritting my teeth holding back my swear words” this got her laughing which caused you to laugh and drop the weights unable to hold them up yourself.

“Ok 10 more smartass let’s go” she straightens up wagging a finger at you.

If working out with the Black Widow was stressful, not knowing where to look with her standing right in front of you was worse.

Should you stare at her abs? No that’s awkward.

Stare at her face? Nope, worse idea ever.

Stare at the floor at her feet. Yes that might work.

“Up up! Keep your head and eyes up so your posture is straight” she tuts reaching for your chin and pushing it up.

Well that idea went to hell fast. Next up was the bench press machine.

She excitedly says she wants to go first and of course you’re not going to argue. Your arms were still burning from the 50 reps she had you do. So now you’re stood to her right looking everywhere except where she has lay down. Suddenly you don’t know what you’re supposed to do with your arms.

These appendages are they meant to hang loosely by your side?

Should I hug myself?

“Earth to Y/N. Hey quit dreaming and help me out here partner” she breaks you out of your reverie.

Did you think this was not going to get any more awkward? Seemed like the world was adamant on proving you wrong today.

Natasha has you standing with one leg on either side of her torso as she effortlessly lifts and lowers the bar. You’re assisting but you think she could do this without you and probably just as well with one arm. Still you can’t complain. When else would you ever find yourself in this position with Natasha Romanoff.

“Your turn” she cheerily says and she starts to get up. Sensing your hesitation she gently pushes you onto the machine taking the position you occupied only minutes ago.

“You didn’t even break a sweat, Nat” you pout.

“You’ll be fine I’ll help” she says more confident of your abilities than you are.

“I’ll break my neck more like. You better not let this…oooof” you grunt as you feel the full weight of the bar unable to finish your sentence.

“Ok trust me I’ll hold it too” she shimmies further up your torso and bends slightly so she can support more of the bar with you. This has her close to your face and somehow the bar feels heavier than before.

She went easy on you and let you off at 30 reps instead of 50 because towards the end of the count she was lifting more than you were. Your arms truly felt like jelly. Working out with Natasha would be the death of you no doubt.

“What do you want to do next rookie?” she says still looking the way she did when she walked into the gym that morning. You were pretty sure you looked like you had just walked to the moon and back.

“Is dying an option?” you say as you lay on the floor with a towel over your face having just completed a set of leg raises, push ups, crunches and Russian twists.

“How about some stretches? It’ll help with the aches” she lifts a corner of the towel covering your face and peeks at you as she smiles.

So now you are prone on the floor and the Black Widow is practically on top of you stretching out your hamstrings, quads and glutes.

“HOW IS THIS RELAXING!?” you’re practically writhing under her hands, “I FEEL LIKE SOMETHING IS GOING TO SNAP”

“It is relaxing! You’ll thank me tomorrow” she’s smirking at your childish antics. Honestly your idea of stretching was incense, low lighting and soft music. This felt worse than working out.

“Ok let’s swap you big baby” she coos.

“Urgh thank god I was about to pass out already” you jump to your feet and give her space to lie down.

“Uh you’re going to have to help me I don’t know what to do” suddenly feel the awkwardness return as you watch her laying on the floor.

“Ok squat here and put one hand here” she pulls you down in between her legs and places one of your hands on her upper left thigh, “now hold this down and press this leg up” she guides you so her right leg is resting on your shoulder.

“Uh…like this?” you asked blushing again. Why does this feel so intimate?

“Yea but push harder” she says as she lays back down on the mat, “harder Y/N I’m not going to break” it sounded like a command now.

“This is a weird angle are you sure …” she interrupts you by tugging roughly on your round collar so that now your face is inches from hers, “I did ballet I’m flexible don’t worry I like the deep stretch” she’s smirking again still holding onto your collar.

“R-right I’ll be sure to remember that” you whisper stutter your response. You’re starting to think she’s doing this on purpose.

You’re thinking back to all the touches. A hand on your upper arm. Her squeezing your shoulders a few times when you said they were sore. Her standing behind you with her hands on your waist to show you how to properly execute a squat without causing injury to your back. Or her taking your hand and placing it on her stomach to better illustrate “which muscles will be activated when you’re doing core exercises properly”.

Sure it could be her genuinely trying to help….but what if it was something more.

After a few more positions where you find yourself either laying across her or straddling her, Steve walks into the gym and coughs awkwardly behind the both of you. You jump off of Natasha and stand ramrod straight fidgeting with your fingers.

“Hi Y/N you’re here early. Are you done already?” he asks sweetly.

“Yeah Y/N and I are done here Steve” Natasha answers for you picking up her stuff.

“See you tomorrow morning same time Y/N” she says as she saunters away towards the shower rooms.

“Right yeah tomorrow” is all you manage to get out as she makes her way out of the gym.

“What was that about?” Steve asks you as he starts unpacking his gym bag and grabbing his water bottle and towel.

“I guess I have a new workout buddy” you say smiling ear to ear.

“Hmm…”

“Hmm? Steve don’t leave me with a ‘hmm’”

“No it’s just that Nat hates working out with anyone. I guess she likes you” he says hiding a knowing smile as he fake wipes non-existent sweat off his face.

“Hmm” you say picking up your phone and towel, slinging it over your shoulder and making your way towards the exit.

“Hey, now what’s that supposed to mean Y/N?” Steve calls to you.

“Nothing Steve” you continue with a bounce in your step and a smile on your face, “means nothing at all”.

Tagging: @natasharomanoffismywife​

[swan-of-sunrise]

The Winter Soldier (Chapter Eight)

Summary: The gang plans to take down both Hydra and S.H.I.E.L.D. and (Y/N) begins to feel nervous about their impending mission, not only for herself but for the super-soldier she’d grown a soft spot for.

Pairing: Steve Rogers X Reader

Word Count: 1.9k

Warnings/Disclaimers: Brief mention of a panic attack

A/N: Hope you all enjoy!

Chapter Eight (Previous Chapter)

After cutting through the floor of the S.T.R.I.K.E. van with what (Y/N) excitedly thought was some sort of mini lightsaber, hurrying into a windowless van at the next stoplight and speeding along for what felt like an eternity, they stopped and the door finally opened to reveal a large stone structure similar to a water facility or dam. This certainly looks like a top secret hideout, (Y/N) thought as she watched Steve jump out of the van and turn to help Natasha out next, like something straight out of my novel.

Once they all clambered out of the van, the woman who’d introduced herself as Maria Hill led them into the stone building, where they were immediately met by a short man with curly-grey hair. “GSW, she’s lost at least a pint.”

“Maybe two!” Sam added, helping Steve support the weakening spy.

The man hurried up to them. “Let me take her.”

“She’ll want to see him first.” Maria led them down a darkened hallway to a lit room and pulled back a hanging plastic sheet to reveal a man with an eyepatch lying in a hospital bed. (Y/N) exchanged a confused look with Sam while Steve and Natasha gasped in recognition.

The man in the hospital bed smiled tiredly. “About damn time.”

“Nick?” Natasha breathed, her eyes struggling to remain open.

“Doc, you should take care of Romanoff. And Captain,” The man’s eye moved from Natasha and the doctor to (Y/N) and Sam, causing (Y/N) to feel slightly unnerved under his critical gaze. “Care to introduce me to your new friends?”

After their brief introductions, Director Fury had suggested that she and Sam go clean themselves up but (Y/N) sensed that the two of them didn’t have much of an option; they’re probably discussing whether or not to trust us, she thought as she washed her grimy face clean in a small bathroom, not that I blame them for being skeptical. It seemed that there were very few people that they could trust at the moment, so she wasn’t offended that they were possibly a little wary of her and Sam.

“How’re you holding up?”

(Y/N) turned to see Sam standing in the doorway of the bathroom, with his arms crossed over his chest and a concerned look on his face. “I’m doing okay. I think I pulled a muscle kicking that one Hydra thug, though, and my other leg hurts from when that other Hydra asshat kicked me, but-”

“That’s not what I meant.” She glanced away from him but he continued anyway. “(Y/N), you had a panic attack back there when you found out you’re an Insight target. There’s no way you’re just doing ‘okay’ after that.”

Turning back to him, she met his worried expression and gave him a smile. “I’m fine now, Sam, I promise. I’m still a little shaken up about all this, of course, but I’m okay. Steve and I had a good conversation on the roof earlier, and I-” She stopped talking and raised her brow when she caught sight of Sam’s signature smirk. “What?”

“Nothing, it’s just nice to see you getting along so well with the guy. So, you two had a, ah, conversation, huh?” Sam hid his grin behind his hand before continuing with a muffled voice. “And it was a good one, you said?”

(Y/N) crossed her arms over her chest and gave him the dirtiest look she could muster as she tried and failed to cool her blushing cheeks. “Samuel Thomas Wilson, you’re damn lucky we’re in the middle of stopping a seventy-five-year-old terrorist organization from taking over the world or else I’d ram my foot right up your-”

“Hey, guys.” They turned around to see Steve standing in the doorway, a bemused smile playing on his lips while he glanced between the pair of them. “Nat’s shoulder’s patched up and Fury’s ready for us all to regroup now.”

“I’m guessing that’s really code for, ‘Congratulations, Fury decided that he could trust you.’” Sam quipped and gave (Y/N)’s shoulder a pat as he headed out of the room. “C’mon, Booksmart, no lagging behind for another ‘good conversation.’”

Steve walked alongside her as they followed Sam through the halls. “You sure you two weren’t separated at birth?”

“You know what’s funny? My actual brother and I get along perfectly fine, we always have. It’s almost like the universe is punishing me for growing up with a nice sibling by giving me Birdbrain over there. But Que Sera, Sera, whatever will be will be and all that.” Steve gave her a confused look. “Sorry, I forgot; that’s a Doris Day song from the ’50’s, and it was even in an Alfred Hitchcock film.” They walked in silence for a few moments before she summoned the courage to ask, “Are you okay, Steve?”

“I will be once we stop that launch.” Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed him give her a fleeting glance. “What about you?

“Um, ditto.” Swallowing nervously, she opened her mouth to ask about the Winter Soldier but lost her nerve at the last second, so they walked together in silence until they came to a meeting room.

Director Fury sat beside Maria Hill, his arm in a sling and his gaze focused on the open file before him. Maria was resting her arm on a large black case and across from her sat Natasha, her shoulder freshly bandaged and her face stony. Once in the room, (Y/N) opted to stand beside Sam and watched with observant eyes as the director picked up a picture of a younger-looking Alexander Pierce from the file.

“This man declined the Nobel Peace Prize. He said, ‘Peace wasn’t an achievement, it was a responsibility.’” He tossed the photograph back down into the table with more force than necessary. “See, it’s stuff like this that gives me trust issues.”

Natasha spoke up, her face looking grim. “We have to stop the launch.”

At her words, the director shook his head. “I don’t think the Council’s accepting my calls anymore.” He pulled the black case closer to him and opened the lid, revealing three electronic chips.

“What’s that?”

Maria’s eyes glanced around the group as she explained, “Once the helicarriers reach three thousand feet, they’ll triangulate with Insight satellites, becoming fully weaponized.”

“We need to breach those carriers and replace their targeting blades with our own.”

“One or two won’t cut it. We need to link all three carriers for this to work, because if even one of those ships remains operational…a whole lot of people are gonna die.”

Director Fury nodded. “We have to assume everyone aboard those carriers is Hydra. We need to get past them, insert the server blades and maybe, just maybe, we can salvage what’s left-”

“We’re not salvaging anything.” (Y/N) looked over at Steve, who had the determined look of a soldier on his face. In that moment, (Y/N) saw the skinny young man from Brooklyn within his burning gaze as he addressed the director. “We’re not just taking down the carriers, Nick, we’re taking down S.H.I.E.L.D.”

“S.H.I.E.L.D. had nothing to do with it.”

Steve clenched his jaw as he spoke, “You gave me this mission, this is how it ends. S.H.I.E.L.D.’s been compromised, you said so yourself. Hydra grew right under your nose and nobody noticed.”

The director frowned. “Why do you think we’re meeting in this cave? I noticed.”

“And how many paid the price before you did?”

Signing wearily, Director Fury leaned back in his chair. “Look, I didn’t know about Barnes…”

“Even if you had, would you have told me? Or would you have compartmentalized that too? S.H.I.E.L.D., Hydra…? It all goes.”

Maria looked at Director Fury and nodded. “He’s right.”

The director turned to Natasha, who only nodded in agreement, then he focused his gaze on (Y/N). Feeling the eyes of everyone around the table on her, she stood straight and met the director’s questioning gaze. “I know that I’m new to all this stuff, but…” She looked beside her at Steve. “I’m with Cap on this one.” The corner of Steve’s mouth twitched upwards.

“Don’t look at me.” Sam crossed his arms over his chest as he glanced over at (Y/N) and Steve. “I do what he does, just slower.”

Director Fury’s expression was hesitant, but he gave a nod to the super-soldier and heaved a sigh. “Well…looks like you’re giving the orders now, Captain.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After going over their plan to stop Pierce and the helicarriers, Steve left to retrieve his old uniform from the Smithsonian and Natasha made her way to Reagen National Airport to intercept Councilwoman Hawley’s transport to the Triskellion, while everyone else was busy gearing up at Fury’s secret base of operations. Before hurrying off to prepare their communication devices for the mission, Maria had pulled (Y/N) aside and pressed a hastily-wrapped bundle into her hands.

“If you’re gonna go on this mission with us, (Y/L/N), then you’d better look the part.” She’d given her a curt nod before walking away.

Now, (Y/N) stood in the women’s bathroom and looked at her reflection in the smudged mirror. She was dressed in a dark blue form-fitting uniform similar to Maria’s, with the S.H.I.E.L.D. logo embossed on the shoulder and sturdy combat boots laced tight.

“Never thought I’d be a part of something this crazy,” She smoothed out the wrinkles on the fabric and gave her reflection a tiny reassuring smile. On the inside, though, she was frightened of failure and what that failure would mean for the rest of the world. “But it’ll be interesting while it lasts…”

On her way to their rendezvous point outside the base, (Y/N) spotted Steve, dressed in his classic World War II Captain America uniform and with his shield strapped to his back. She debated with herself for a moment before jogging to catch up with the super-soldier, calling out, “Hey, wait up!”

Steve stopped and turned, waiting patiently with his hands resting in his belt buckle as she made her way over to him; he gave her an approving nod when she finally reached him, his azure eyes taking in her new outfit before meeting her gaze. “Nice uniform, it suits you.”

“And you pull off the vintage look very well…listen, Steve, um, about Bucky…” He opened his mouth to protest but she quickly cut him off. “I think you’re right to try and save him from Hydra. That’s why you stole your old uniform to wear on this mission, isn’t it? To try and jog his memory of you, of his old life.” He slowly nodded and she looked down, her eyes level with the star on his chest, before continuing. “If Hydra had taken Sam and done the same things to him, I don’t think I’d be able to stop myself from trying everything I could to save him. Just…” Her eyes flicked back up to meet his. “I saw what he did on that causeway, what he’s fully capable of. Promise you’ll be careful?”

Steve nodded again, and she could see the concerned look he was giving her under his helmet. “You be careful, too, (Y/N). Sam and I can take care of the Insight crew, but you’re our eyes and ears. Stick with Hill, remember the plan and with a whole lot of luck, we just might be able to pull this off.”

(Y/N) gave him a small salute and joking grin. “Sir, yes, sir. Now, in the immortal and iconic words of Freddie Mercury, ‘On with the show’!”

“...Who’s Freddie Mercury?”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A/N: Thank you so much for reading! I’ve created a Spotify playlist inspired by this series, and I’ll be updating it every time I upload a new chapter. Enjoy! 

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4BenknAqQQnOWY8NmSa23V

Tagging: @mrs-obrien​ @lahoete​ @awkward117​ @cminr​ @momc95​ @awkwardnesshabitat​ @marinettepotterandplagg​ @khuang3​ @supersouthy​ @benakenalove​ @brooke0297​ @hufflepeople​ @becausewelie​​ @outoftheregular @supreme-tantrum​

Chapter Nine

“The Winter Soldier” Masterlist

[abbacchiosbelt]

Upon The Shore | Mer!Joseph Joestar x F!Reader

A commissioned piece for @lovelystand!

3.7k words, not sfw. CW for a description of drowning - however, the reader character ends up safe.

In his mind, he sees it — though it’s only been described to him, he has no trouble picturing the rolling green hills and the bright blue sky, humans bustling about on two legs as they go about their daily business. The buildings that had been described to him are harder to picture in his mind’s eye, their architecture complex, and their outsides less colorful than the environment he had grown up in. He yearned to explore their insides, eager to see what sort of things the surface held.

If someone else were in his place, someone who had lived on the land their whole life instead of in the sea, they might be thinking of something similar - venturing beyond their regular life to experience something new that they’d only heard stories of. For most regular humans, a life under the sea was unthinkable.

Joseph Joestar was no regular human, however.

- Joseph’s long, green tail flitters impatiently in the calm water as he listens to another one of his Grandma Erina’s lectures about how dangerous the surface was, though his mind is far away as he daydreams about the surface.

Joseph had heard her spiel hundreds of times over each time he was caught close to the surface, but it never stuck. Joseph’s curiosity about what lay above the sea was endless. He knew his Granny Erina was just worried about him – all of her family save for his Uncle Speedwagon were gone.

Still, the call to go beyond the ocean pulled at Joseph’s body every day.

He snaps back to attention when he hears his Granny huff in annoyance, having caught him daydreaming instead of listening to her.

“Joseph,” Erina sighs, resigned to the fact that her grandson was unlikely to listen to her no matter how many times she warned him. “If you’re going to disobey myself and your Uncle Speedwagon, at least do us the favor of telling us where you’re at. We don’t want you to get hurt.”

Her voice softens as she stares past her grandson, the bittersweet look in her eyes familiar to Joseph – it’s the same way she looked when she’d reminisce about her late husband and his grandfather, Jonathan. “I suppose you are a Joestar. This kind of thing is in your blood. Your grandfather had the same heart for adventuring as you do.” Erina smiles and meets Joseph’s eyes again. “Just promise me you’ll be safe. Don’t stay up for longer than a day.”

Joseph’s eyes go wide, and his mouth falls open in excitement — it wasn’t exactly approval, but she was no longer outright forbidding him from taking a trip to the surface. He glides forward in the water and swoops his Granny Erina into a hug, spinning around in the water.

“Thank you, Granny!” Joseph practically shouts. Erina slips out of Joseph’s hug and shakes her head, unable to resist the smile pulling at her lips. He really was so much like Jonathan.

“Just remember what I said, JoJo.” Joseph nods eagerly at his Granny’s words, his body thrumming with nervous energy and excitement.

Tomorrow, he’d finally get to experience the most exciting adventure he’d go on yet.

-

Joseph, normally a late sleeper, rises with the sun the next morning. He’d barely slept through the night but still found himself buzzing with anticipation. It only takes a few minutes for him to gather his supplies for the day – the clothing he’d need was stored in a shallow cove he’d found and snuck into to store items he’d pilfer from the shore.

When Joseph emerges from his home, he sees his Granny Erina and Uncle Speedwagon waiting for him. For one second, he balks, thinking they’ll tell him to turn back – but his Uncle puts a firm arm on Joseph’s shoulder, his once brilliant black and white tail swaying slowly beneath him.

“Your Granny told me about your plans, JoJo. We know you’re capable of protecting yourself, but please, don’t do anything rash.” His Uncle squeezes his shoulder before he drops his arm. “You know, your grandfather and I got into quite a bit of trouble up on the surface… I’ll have to tell you about it once you’ve seen it for yourself.”

Erina shakes her head at Speedwagon, though the twinkle in her eye makes Joseph wonder what his Granny was thinking about. Before he can ask, she gives him a stern look. “Remember, Joseph. No longer than a day.”

“I get it, I get it…” Joseph says. “Don’t go too far. Don’t stay up longer than a day. I got this, Granny!”

The rest of their goodbye is quick – it’s not long until Joseph emerges at the cove, he’d stashed the clothing he’d stolen in, perfectly dry as it hung over the rocks.

He has no second thoughts as he hauls himself out of the water and feels the effects of land on his body, his tail giving way to strong legs that had unnatural, green scales running up and down the length of them.

The process has Joseph grunting as his body is pushed to its human form for the first time. It was a power that few merpeople held. The Joestar line was one of them, the power having been taught to them by a mysterious benefactor and passed down between generations.  

When it’s complete, Joseph tries to stand, his legs shaky. It takes a few tries for him to get his bearings, but when he does, he finds himself standing tall as he looks down at his body. He knew he was large for a merman, but somehow, he hadn’t expected it to affect his human form.

Joseph yells a loud ‘Nice!’ to himself before he turns to grab the clothes he’d stashed away. The shirt, a plain olive tank top, goes on easy enough, but dark blue jeans are another story. He struggles to pull them up his thighs and falls a few times before he finally feels them slide over his behind and over his hips.

Anyone else would hesitate in a moment like this, but Joseph wastes no time testing out his new legs by running out of the cove and onto the beach, feeling sand between his toes for the very first time. It’s such a strange feeling that Joseph pauses, looking down to wiggle his toes before he kicks his foot and sends the sand flying with a laugh.

Joseph continues down the beach, looking around in wonderment as he experiences the land above the sea for the first time. The sea breeze on his skin is cool and refreshing, the smell reminding him of his home despite the fact he’d only just left. He’d experienced the sun on his skin while sunning on large rocks before, but to feel it now felt like a whole new experience. Joseph puts his hands over his eyes and squints as he looks to the horizon, a small town looming ahead.

Joseph grins – this is exactly the type of thing he’d been looking for. He didn’t just want to experience places… No, Joseph wanted to experience new people. He takes off down the beach, his long legs growing steadier with every step. It’s only a few minutes before the town is right in front of him.

His Uncle Speedwagon’s descriptions gave Joseph an idea of what he would be seeing upon the surface, but it still took him by surprise to see humans walking upon two feet on the sidewalk and cars driving down the road. Joseph stands to marvel at the sights for a second, unusually quiet.

He’s unsure of where to start until he spots a girl – a very cute girl, if someone was asking Joseph. Brown hair, a cute and thick body, and some glasses. He watches as she heads into a small, two-story store with pictures of books on the sign. Though he had no need for books (they were far and few between under the sea, of course), he couldn’t resist a cute girl.

—

You breathe a sigh of relief when you walk into the bookshop, content to see that the only person present was the kind elderly owner, Maria, who also doubled as your landlord. It’s not that you didn’t want to see the shop succeed – you just weren’t feeling up to the small talk the local townsfolk usually wanted to engage you in.

“Hello, dear.” Calls Maria, raising her hand in a tired wave. “I’m feeling a bit worn out, so do you mind taking over for the last hour?”

You shake your head, happy to help the woman that gave you dirt cheap rent in turn for some extra help throughout the week. Besides, it’s not like there would be any more customers today, right? Maria bids you a goodbye as you take over for her behind the small front counter, leaving you only with the sound of the ocean outside.

A few minutes pass before you decide to crack open the book you’d been reading – but the second you open up the book, the chime above the door rings out. You look up, locking eyes with the most handsome man you’d ever seen. He definitely wasn’t a local. He grins when he sees you looking at him, marching up to the counter with confidence. You assume he’s just a lost tourist.

“Hello.” You say, quiet. The brunette grins, bright green eyes staying locked onto your own. “How can I help you?”

“Oh, I can think of several ways.” The stranger replies. You feel your cheeks burn with embarrassment. His grin grows even wider. “How about your name?”

You balk for a second – was a customer really trying to flirt with you on the job? On the other hand, you doubted you’d see this guy again if he was a tourist. Though your nerves are on fire, you manage to murmur out your name to the stranger in front of you.

“Oh! That’s a pretty name. I’m Joseph Joestar, but you can just call me JoJo.” He pauses, putting his elbows on the front desk as he leans down. You notice that he has no shoes on and can’t help but to stifle a laugh. Who was this guy?

He scrunches his nose up. “Are you laughing at me?”

“N-not exactly,” You manage to say between giggles, both shy and embarrassed by just how different Joseph was from any other man you’d met. “You… You forgot your shoes.”

His eyes go wide, and his eyebrows shoot up as he looks down at his feet. “Oh no!” He exclaims loudly. He looks at you with a sheepish grin and puts his hand on the back of his head. “I knew I was forgetting something. I’m, uh… New in town. I lost… the box they came in. Yeah. The box.” Joseph says, sounding unsure. You decide not to question it, though it has you raising an eyebrow in confusion. Joseph simply shrugs, and you drop the subject for now.

The two of you manage to chat for the next hour, with Joseph mostly leading the conversation. He’s so charismatic that despite your shyness, you feel comfortable around him. When you notice the hour on the clock, you sigh.

“Sorry, Joseph, but I’ve got to close the shop.” You pout to yourself before you remember what he said. “Wait, you’re not a tourist, right? You said you moved here?”

“Yeah!” Joseph shouts in reply, startling you. He gives you the same sheepish grin from earlier. “Uh, sorry. Is it okay if I stop by tomorrow?”

You were the kind of person that never expected this sort of thing to happen to yourself – you thought you were plain and boring. Too shy, not pretty enough… And yet here you were, talking to a handsome stranger who was giving you genuine attention without being creepy. No longer did you want to deny yourself of experiences like this due to shyness – with a small smile, you nod.

“Sure. You can stop by before we close.”

-

Joseph comes the next day, and the next, until you realize he’s visited you almost every day for a month. You didn’t think it was possible to fall for someone so fast, yet every little thing Joseph did had you falling more in love with him every single day.

The first day he doesn’t visit in a while is a stormy day – you’re not upset. You wouldn’t expect anyone to go out in this kind of weather. Not only was there a torrential downpour outside, but the sea and wind were raging. The sidewalks in the town you lived in weren’t built to withstand heavy rains despite the location, so it was best not to go outside during bad storms.

Unfortunately, you’d found yourself on the opposite side of town from the shop after a short grocery trip for yourself and Maria. Though it’s against your better judgement, you decide to step out from the walls of the warm grocery store into the chilly and turbulent storm. Each step seems to be more dangerous than the last, and you consider running back to the store when you reach the hill that leads down to the shop.

With a hesitant step, you begin to walk down the hill. Suddenly, you feel your world turn upside down as you slip on the wet earth, your body tumbling down the hill straight towards the raging ocean. The bags you were carrying are flung out of your hands as your body roughly smacks against the ground and you’re propelled down the hill – the only thing you can do is brace yourself for impact into the water, the fear coursing through your body making your heart pound a million miles a minute.

You’re tossed underwater and find yourself being drug under by the strong waves in an instant, your body nearly freezing in shock before you start to thrash wildly. Even though there’s a voice in your head screaming at you to try and calm down, your body continues to panic no matter what you do. You push against the water as your lungs burn, helplessly trying to force your head above the water.

You don’t know how much time has passed before you feel your body give up without your consent, your limbs falling limp by your sides in the water as the last bits of air escape from your lungs. The sky above isn’t even visible above the choppy waters – and then you’re being pushed through the waves at a blinding speed before your head emerges above the water as you gasp for air, lungs expanding painfully as you gulp in fresh breaths.

“You scared me,” You hear a voice say, though it sounds distant. Weakly, you turn your head and come face to face with Joseph – or at least you think it’s Joseph. There are bright green, iridescent fins sticking out of the side of his head where his human ears normally were. Before you can think about it too much, you find yourself sinking into darkness as your body starts to pass out from all the stress you’d just put it through.

The last thing you remember is Joseph calling out your name before you close your eyes.

-

When you wake up, you’re back in your own bed… except there’s a large, warm presence next to you that has never been there before. You blink wearily until the form turns over, revealing Joseph’s snoring face to you. Even though you’re still weak with sleep, the events of the past day come rushing back at you.

If it weren’t for Joseph, you wouldn’t be here right now. Though you want to wake him up to thank him, to tell him how much you love him, you know it’s better to settle back down and let sleep take you once more.

When you wake up again, Joseph is still next you, though he’s no longer asleep. Instead, he’s sitting against your headboard and flipping through a book with his brows knit. You stare at for a moment before he notices you, his mouth dropping open in surprise.

“You’re up!” He shouts, practically throwing the book down to gather you up in his arms. “I was so worried…”

The two of you remain like that for a moment, Joseph’s strangely cool arms wrapping around your body with ease. Despite how grateful you are and how happy you are to have Joseph next to you… You have some questions. You pull back and put your hand against Joseph’s cheek, meeting his gaze.

“So…” You say. Joseph echoes the sentiment, looking sheepish. “A merman, huh?” Joseph eyes you for a moment, nodding. “There’s record of merpeople, but they were thought to be extinct. At the very least, merpeople that were able to walk on land have been unheard of for years.”

“Yeah, well…” Joseph says, rubbing the back of his neck. “Surprise?”

He looks nervous. You roll your eyes and smile – typical Joseph. “We can talk about this later. For now… Let me thank you?”

“T-thank me?” Joseph says, his suave persona falling away. He was finally able to be vulnerable in front of you, the bravado he usually carried fading as Joseph felt more and more comforted by your presence. “Babe… If you’re sure.” He pulls you onto his lap so that your legs are on either side of his body but makes no further moves. “I think you already know this, but I love you.”

Even though you knew you would hear it from him someday, you still blush. “JoJo,” You sigh, happy. “I love you too.”

Joseph leans forward and presses his lips to yours, leading you into a tender kiss that quickly turns passionate as his tongue swipes at your bottom lip. He tangles his hands in your brown hair to pull you even closer until you’re pressed flush against his chest, his movements careful as so not to pull too hard. Joseph was gentle, despite all his enthusiasm and strength.

Joseph slides his hands from your hair and down your sides as he continues kissing you, until he’s pressing you down into the bed, finally pulling back to smile at you. He puts a hesitant hand at the hem of your shirt. “Can I?” Joseph says, sounding breathless.

“Please,” You murmur. Joseph lifts your shirt up over your head easily – and though you feel like covering your body with your arms for a moment, the reverent and loving look on Joseph’s face makes you change your mind.

“Wow,” Joseph breathes out. “You’re beautiful.” You feel your face flush even redder at the sound of Joseph’s compliment and he takes it as a cue to continue on, pressing his lips to your body until he’s kissed his way up to your neck. You squirm beneath him, core aching already for Joseph’s touch.

Your own hands come up to press against Joseph’s prominent pectorals and he gasps in surprise before he looks up from your neck and grins. “Like what you’re feeling? I can take this off for you.” He leans back and practically rips his olive-green tank top off, exposing his muscled and tanned body. You’re speechless – Joseph is beautiful. The confident grin on his face grows at your expression. “I don’t need any words from you, babe. That look is enough.”

The next few minutes feel endless in their pleasure as you and Joseph explore each other’s bodies, hands gliding up and down and lips pressing against the most sensitive spots either of you can find. Both of you end up with your clothes on the floor as you stare at each other longingly, finally ready to connect your two bodies as one.

Joseph is laid back against the bed as you hover over his straining member, his fingers digging into your plush hips. You can barely believe you’re here with him now – but you are, and he loves you. You sink down onto his cock and Joseph groans headily as your soft walls squeeze him, your own moans falling out of your lips as you adjust to the stretch.

“JoJo,” you moan, squirming as he bottoms out inside of you. It’s like nothing you’ve felt before, but you feel so full and so good. “You feel so good.”

Joseph stops himself from bucking his hips at your words and digs his fingers into your hips tighter. “I’m ready for you, baby.”

An experimental roll of your hips, and then another has you and Joseph moving in tandem in only a few moments – it was like the two of you were perfect for each other in mind and body. The emotions from the day have both of you running on high and you feel your climax coming sooner than usual. By the look on Joseph’s face and the grunts he was making, you know he’s not far behind.

“I’m close,” You hiss – Joseph doesn’t hesitate to bring one of his rough finger pads to your clit as you ride him, circling it with sloppy motions but with enough pressure that it has you crying out for him and clamping down around him as your orgasm washes over your body. Joseph cries out your name only a moment later and you feel his cock twitch as he releases himself inside of you. You collapse onto his warm chest and wrap your arms around him as both of you breathe heavily and come down from the moment.

Later, after the two of you have gotten cleaned up and shared a long conversation over several cups of tea and coffee, you find yourself in pleasant shock as Joseph presents a beautiful pearl ring to you and says, “Will you marry me?”

-

12 months later, you’re sat on the shore while your husband shows off for you in the ocean. Marrying a merman wasn’t something that came with a guide, but the two of you had more or less figured it out. Joseph’s family, though surprised and confused, were delighted once they too had come to the shore to meet you on the day after Joseph’s proposal.

You startle when you feel movement in your stomach and you place one of your hands on the round dome, feeling little feet kicking at you. Joseph notices you’ve stopped clapping for him and swims over, eyes alight in wonderment as he sees you cupping your belly.

He swims close to the edge of the sea and you inch closer until he can rest one hand opposite of yours on your bump, smiling.

“You know, I think I’ve thought of a couple names.” He says.

“How about Holly for the girl and Josuke for the boy?”

[chrisdiels-babygirl]

Chapter three: I will always keep you safe

Amora found herself wide awake on Friday morning she couldn't sleep, she briefly thought about her date with the man she'd met in Maria's café on Tuesday, she had to admit the thought of going out with him tonight made her feel a little queezy and a little unnerved, the only reason she had said yes was because her best friend Carol had been going on and on about how Amora needed to put herself out their more and date some guys, Amora remembered how Carol joked one time and said "you never know you might meet Mr right", but if Amora was being completely honest with herself she was also disappointed about how Christopher hadn't asked her on a date, she would much rather go out with him than the guy from the café, she then allowed her thoughts to wander to Christopher and how she'd grown so fond of their interactions in the mornings, she now knew how he liked his coffee, that the intimidating man who was always with him was called zabdiel, that he and Chris had been best friends basically their whole lives along with their three other best friends and how he was not actually that intimidating once you got to know him, rather he was more like a gigantic teddy bear, but zabdiel told her never to tell anyone else that because he had a reputation to up hold, which Amora remembered made her laugh in the moment.

Amora was just peacefully laying on her back facing up at the ceiling when suddenly she heard loud rapid knocking on her front door, she got out of bed and padded across the floor wondering who the hell it could be at this time in the morning.

Amora opened the door to two men with caramel like skin, both had black hair but one of them also had a beard and a pair of black sun glasses on, Amora gave them a questioning look, she had no idea who they were and thought to herself they must have the wrong apartment. The man without the sun glasses spoke first "are you Amora" he asked her, Amora wanted to know how the hell he knew her name and where she lived, she cautiously nodded her head yes. The man with the sun glasses on then stepped forward and forcefully grabbed Amora's wrist and said "you need to come with us", she panicked, where they trying to kidnap her, she tried to yank her wrist back "I'm not going anywhere with you" her voice raising and becoming more panicked, when suddenly in walked through her door zabdiel, "zabdiel" Amora yelled with relief as she ran to hug him, he carefully tucked her in his arms, she gazed up at him as she pointed a finger back at the other two men "their trying to kidnap me" she frantically told him, zabdiel looked up from her face and the gentle look he had been looking at Amora with vanished and was replaced by the mean glare she knew all to well, "what does she mean you tried to kidnap her" he asked coldly, the guy who had previously grabbed Amora stood forward and said "we told her she had to come with us" "thats it" zabdiel snapped, he was loosing his patience, the two men stood back with their heads hung low. Zabdiel turned to Amora "I'm sorry about these two idiots they appear to have left their manor's at home" zabdiel said staring at them with a look that could have killed them, he then turned to Amora and his gentle gaze was back "Christopher sent me to get you, he needs to talk to you" Amora looked at zabdiel with an apologetic look on her face and said "I'm sorry zabdi, but I've work, can it not wait till later", the two men behind her raising their heads with shocked looks on their faces at the mention of the nickname, as they both knew very well he hated that nickname and they were even more surprised when zabdiel didnt give out to her for it, "No it can't wait, Amora please its important" he said it so softly she almost mistook it for a whisper, she nervously bit her lip and pondered the idea, Amora strolled over to her nightstand to pick up her phone, she dialed her work number and told them she was sick and she wouldn't be in today, zabdiel smiled at her, grateful that he had managed to persuade her, "why don't you get dressed we'll wait outside the door for you.

Amora stepped outside her apartment door and zabdiel was right there just like he told her he would be, to tell the truth the other two men made her uneasy and she didnt really want to be left alone with them. Amora sat next to zabdiel in the car, the whole time her eyes never left her lap, she felt intimidated under the other two men's gaze.

Finally the car pulled up to a house that appeared to be more like a mansion. Amora stepped out of the car and zabdiel led her into the house, the other two men walked ahead of them into what she presumed to be the living room. As soon as Amora stepped foot into the living room her eyes wandered around the room, she first noticed Christopher, which made her feel a little more at ease, she didnt know why but she just felt safe around him, she noticed another man he was short with beautiful dark skin that was covered in tattoos and he had blonde hair, he didnt look as intimidating as the two who'd shown up at her door with zabdiel, there was also a girl, who Amora noticed had beautiful caramel coloured skin, short black hair and her arms were also covered in colourful tattoos, she sat on the sofa with a bored expression on her face. Amora's eyes flickered back to Christopher, he walked closer to her and looked at zabdiel "was everything alright" he asked while his gaze flickered between zabdiel and her, zabdiel looked over at the two men they'd arrived with and then back to Chris "Joel and Erick scared the shit out of her, but apart from that yeah everything is fine", Amora thought to herself so thats their names, Christopher sharply turned his head towards them with a mean and cold stare on his face, the two men instantly hung their heads low knowing they were in for it later. Christopher turned to Amora and with a soft look in his eyes he said to her "we need to talk, I have to tell you some important things", the girl on the sofa snickered under her breath but Christopher still heard her and he was not remotely impressed. Christopher stuck his hand out for Amora to grab onto, she quickly looked up at zabdiel as if asking if she should go with him, zabdiel gently nodded his head yes, Amora softly placed her hand in Chris' as he was leading her off she heard the man with the sun glasses say "$5 says she runs for the hills when he tells her", she then heard zabdiel smack him over the back of the head and say "Cállate pendejo".

*Amora's POV*

As I sat on a leather chair in what appeared to be Christopher's office, I nervously played with the hem of my sun dress waiting on him to talk. He looked nervous, like he didnt know how to start or if he even wanted to. Christopher looked up with a solemn look on his face and I suddenly knew that whatever Chris was about to say was serious. "Amora I have to tell you something important, but you have to promise to stay calmb and not freak out ok?" I nodded my head yes, he took a deep breath and with a stone cold expression he said "Amora I'm in a gang", I laughed "yeah right, and I'm secretly related to the queen of England", "Amora I'm not joking I'm the leader of a very well known gang", he then went on to explain how the rest of the guys outside are also apart of his gang, his most important members, but he then also went on to explain how he had many enemies but his main rival was an american gang and that the man who I was supposed to go out with tonight was apart of that gang and he was really trying to kidnap me and he then explained how I'd have to go away with him at least until he could eliminate the threat against my life. I suddenly felt sick to my stomach and like I was gonna pass out, Christopher quickly noticed how pale I'd gotten all of a sudden "Amora why don't you lay down on the sofa, I know this is a lot of information to process" he helped me to the sofa in the corner of his office, I layed down "I can't believe this someone's trying to kill me" I gasped out, Chris looked me in the eyes "I will always protect you Amora, I'll never let anything happen to you" was the last thing I heard before passing out.

*Narrator's POV*

Amora woke up to the faint sound of talking in the distance, she sat up, the office was now empty, the door left slightly ajar. She tip toed out of the office so as to not draw any attention to herself, she peeked around the corner of the living room to see Christopher telling everyone to start packing as they would be leaving early tomorrow morning, Christopher caught Amora out of the corner of his eye, he instantly turned his attention to her "you're awake, are you ok bonita?" he rushed to her side to check her like a worried mother, Amora shyly smiled at his concern, "we're leaving, where are we going?", Christopher gave her a sorrowful look "yes we have to leave to keep you safe cariño". The girl Amora recognized from earlier scoffed "this is bullshit" Chris snapped his head in her direction so sharply Amora thought he'd break his neck "Cállate Natalie" Amora had never heard Chris sound so mean, "oh come on Chris this is fucking bullshit and you know it, we're all just supposed to pack up and move to protect little miss princess there huh, tell me why we shouldn't just give that little bitch to jonah right now, better her dead than us", Christopher was seething with anger and Amora felt the tears pricking at the corners of her eyes, she turned and ran back to Christopher's office where she had previously been, as she closed the door she could hear Chris screaming at Natalie, before now Amora would have never been able to picture Chris so angry, then again she'd only known him a week, but she couldn't believe it, her Chris who was so gentle and sweet with her was actually a well known gang leader, this sounded like something straight out of a book. Amora sat on the sofa crying, she didnt want to die, she heard a gentle knock on the door and Chris poked his head in, he quickly scanned her face and seen the tears streaming down her pink cheeks, her eyes were puffy and looked sore from her rubbing them, he quickly sat down and cradled Amora on his lap, running his fingers through her hair while he rubbed her back with his other hand, making soothing shushing noises "Amora don't listen to her, she's just a bitter, selfish bitch and besides didnt I tell you I'd always protect you and I'd never let anything happen to you" he softly spoke looking into her tear filled eyes, Amora wiped her eyes one last time, sniffling as she nodded her head yes, "well I always keep my promises cariño".

Later that night Amora found herself struggling to fall asleep in the big dark room Christopher had previously shown her to after her little break down, she felt restless and a little scared she was in a strange house. Amora sighed she couldn't take it anymore, she yanked the sheets off her body her bare legs cold as she was only wearing one of Christopher's t shirts as a nightdress, she tip toed out of her room and down to the door at the end of the hallway, she gently opened the door, it squeaking in the process, Christopher lay asleep in the bed his mouth wide open with soft snores leaving his perfect lips, Amora had to stop herself from giggling at how cute he looked, she carefully tip toed across the floor but one of the floor boards creaked Christopher being startled sat upright on the bed his eyes quickly focused on Amora standing in front of him wearing his t shirt, her curls messy and a tired look on her face, concern flashed across his face "Lo que está mal cariño" he watched as she shifted from one foot to the other with a shy look on her face "I couldn't sleep and I was wondering if I could stay in here with you" she timidly replied while figiting with the hem of his t shirt she was wearing, a sleepy smile made its way onto Chris' face "Por supuesto que puedes bebé" he softly whispered while pulling the blanket back for her, she climbed into the bed, Christopher pulled the covers over them and then enveloped her in his embrace "¿Es este bebé bien", she nodded her head against his chest inhaling his scent. Amora drifted off to sleep wondering what tomorrow would bring.

Hey guys this is chapter three of The Gang Leader I hope you liked it😊

[lovelyirony]

No Shelf-Awareness

I’m just trying to work out these cards I’ve been dealt -Rumour, Chloe Howl

Bucky doesn’t necessarily like meetings. He views them as a waste of time, and they could just as easily give him a paper with all the information. Clint says it’s so if they have questions they ask them there instead of making a mistake on the field.

“They allow mistakes?” Bucky asks, as blandly as can be.

“You make me so sad on so many levels,” Clint says, clapping his shoulder. “Yes, you’re allowed to make mistakes. Why the hell do you think Steve is allowed on-field?”

Bucky laughs at that one.

The meeting in question is about Iron Man. The red and gold suit with a man inside of it, apparently. SHIELD wants his identity but more importantly, the technology.

“If you haven’t found anything else like it, what makes you think that he wants to share it?” Bucky asks. “Just let it happen.”

“We can’t just ‘let’ this happen, Barnes,” Fury says, voice steady and eye trained on him.

“Why not?” Bucky asks. “He’s taking care of criminals on a corporate level. We can’t touch that without bringing more attention to agents.”

“Which is why we’re integrating,” Fury says.

“Not fast enough,” Bucky says. “He doesn’t need to gain trust. With integrating, there’s possibility of a double agent. They get paid off and it’s more than what you promise for a salary.”

“I assure you our agents aren’t that low.”

“Oh and you kept them all from Hydra?” Bucky snaps. “Because as I recall, Rumlow was pretty damn happy to be one of Pierce’s lapdogs, so—”

“Enough,” Fury snaps. “Enough from you, Barnes.”

“We could be dealing more directly with the people we have that actually need to be stopped instead of a damned robot who happens to like taking down illegal corporations that were on our to-do list anyway,” Bucky snipes back. “I’m leaving.”

“Don’t bother expecting yourself on the next mission,” Fury calls after him.

He gets a nice and shiny metal finger in response.

Bucky then decides to treat himself to a trip to the bookstore. He’s already read the last book twice, and he needs a new one.

It’s a Friday, and kids are getting out of school. He pays them little mind as he walks with purpose, taking note of possible threats, a new donut shop

The bookstore smells nice, like coffee and sugar. Bucky wanders through it, keeping an eye out for the owner.

He finds him huddled at a table with a group of teenagers, explaining some sort of math problem, laughing at one’s joke. He has glasses perched on the end of his nose, giving him quite an amusing and cute appearance. Bucky smiles to himself a little as he disappears into the stacks, looking through the new arrivals. He finds two particularly interesting ones.

“That one is really good,” comes a voice from behind him. Bucky turns, seeing Tony. He looks nice today. He’s wearing bright yellow shoes. “I like it.”

Bucky takes another look at the cover.

“What else can you recommend? I’m kind of a fast reader.”

(He is not a fast reader. Well, not really. But if you stay up all night only reading because you have too many nightmares, then it counts. Technically.)

Tony puts about four or five books into his arms before he realizes that he hasn’t checked prices or anything.

“Trust me, this is fine,” Bucky says, grinning. “Thanks, Tony.”

“No problem…huh. I just realized I don’t actually know your name.”

Tony does, in fact, know James Buchanan Barnes’ name. Quite well, in fact. He’s the one who Hydra trained to kill people and attempt to kill Howard and Maria Stark, who are still living. They moved to Italy, by the way. No, Tony doesn’t care. Just makes it easier to break into the New York home on occasion, fix up the old workshop.

(He can’t use his own apartment as a base for Iron Man. That would be utterly ridiculous.)

But for this purpose, he does actually need to learn Bucky’s name.

“I’m Bucky,” he says.

“Parents hated you, did they?” Tony teases.

“Only slightly less than my idiot friend who gave it to me,” Bucky says, grinning.

“Idiot friends are like that,” Tony says, smiling. “Well, do you want to sit down and read for a bit? Chairs are open, if you’d like.”

“Sure. Mind if I order a coffee?”

“Of course,” Tony says. “What do you want?”

Bucky did not know that there was more coffee. Well…correction. He knew that there was more to coffee than black. There had to be, obviously. He just wasn’t expecting the menu to be so extensive. He looked at it for a few moments while Tony waited expectantly.

“Um, wow. I don’t drink a lot of coffee, but um, what would you recommend?”

“I personally love the lavender latte we’ve been trying out,” Tony says. “I’ll make you one and if you don’t like it, I’ll replace it free of charge.”

Bucky not drinking a lot of coffee is a lie. Steve joked that he needed a tank of coffee a day to even function. Bucky just usually took it with a bit of sugar and pronounced it good.

Now this was amazing. Bucky loved the drink, loved how different the flavor was. He could drink about twelve more of these if he really wanted to.

“Tony, this is amazing,” Bucky says, expressing pure delight over it. “How do you make coffee this good?”

“You act as if you’ve never had a latte,” Tony says, laughing. (It’s not acting.) “But here, let me explain…”

Bucky could hear Tony Jarvis explain things for ages. He’s really good at it, like he’s used to explaining how things go all the time. Bucky finds it relaxing.

It is at this point that a kid in a t-shirt comes up.

“Hey, Mr. Jarvis—”

“Call me Tony, Pete,” Tony responds. “What’s next on the homework agenda?”

“We have to write a persuasive essay and since you told us you took marketing, we figured you could help.”

“Not sure how much help I’ll be, but sure,” Tony says. “Bucky, I’ll talk to you later. Enjoy the books. If you finish any while you’re here, just put them back on the re-shelving cart by the door, okay?”

“Yes, Sir!” Bucky says, throwing a mock salute. Tony snorts, saluting lazily back.

Bucky gets sucked into the first book. He relates to how out-of-place the main character feels. He doesn’t notice the sky getting dark until he sips his coffee and it’s cold that he looks up.

Tony has been staring at him for the better part of an hour. Not that he knows that. He just knows that Tony has perhaps been gazing for a minute or two.

“Oh god, please tell me I’m not staying past close,” Bucky says.

“You’re not, don’t worry,” Tony says, laughing. “You would’ve known if you were. No, there’s thirty minutes more left, if you want to keep reading. No rush, sweetheart.”

Bucky goes back to his book with a nod, hoping that Tony doesn’t catch his cheeks going bright red. He remembers being called sweetheart before, but this is drastically different from 1934 for all the right and wrong reasons. (Right because finally he can tell a guy he’s cute without getting mauled or having to whisper it near-six-feet-under. Wrong because Tony is running a business and Bucky met him a day ago.)

Tony shifts nervously around the shop. He had planned on closing early, getting into the suit with Rhodey and doing some recon.

Judging from the texts from Rhodey, so was he:

Bitch where tf are you. Stoopid.

Well excuse me honeypie, but I got held up. A customer is still here!

Kick them out tf????? r u on crack?

No you stupid-ass—listen. I just can’t make it

Ohhhh this is your bucky-boy. This is hilarious. Yeah leave the store open until he leaves. Idk why he isn’t on the roster with the rest of the Avengers this week. Should be. Damned good guy. lmk if he’s a booty call 

I won’t talk to you for a week.

Thank god!

Tony huffs, clicking his phone off and returning to wiping down the counters and rearranging the records. Bucky walks up, putting the books at the register.

“I didn’t realize people still played records,” Bucky says, looking at the room adjacent.

“I’ll make sure that you get to play some next time you’re here,” Tony says. “But let me ring you up, okay?”

Bucky hands out the amount owed and sticks three dollars in the tip jar. Tony thanks him and smiles, and Bucky thinks he’ll have to start separating his bills more so that he can see that smile more often.

-

And then, of course, he gets a call from his phone.

“You’re needed,” Natasha says. “Come over. Now.”

“What happened to me being banned?”

“You’re a sharpshooter and a good weapons analyst. Fury would be stupid to reject that. Get here. Now.”

She hangs up. Always keeps it short and sweet, that Romanov. Bucky sighs, figuring out if he has enough time to go to his apartment and stash the books, or if he’ll have to leave them at headquarters.

He has to leave them at headquarters. He gets a look from Steve and Clint.

“Find a new hobby?” Steve asks.

“Of a sort,” Bucky says. “Got interrupted. What’s the plan?”

“Both War Machine and Iron Man are attacking Hammer Industries. Again.” Clint says, rolling his eyes. “You know, just when you thought they would switch it up. This is the third time in a row. Third time’s the charm and all that…”

Bucky doesn’t trust this for a wide variety of reasons. 1.) Iron Man is smarter than all of them, as is War Machine. 2.) Three times? In a row? Something has to be going down.

“What has Hammer Industries been doing?”

“Other than building weapons and government contracts? Nothing out of the ordinary,” Natasha says.

“Government contract is a big deal ever since Stark Industries lost out,” Bruce adds. “CEO—Pepper Potts—decreed no more weapons. Not a very popular move on her part.” Yeah, Bucky could see that. His best is from Stark Industries, but he understands. Iron Man had released evidence about SI’s involvement in shady under-the-table deals, all at the direction of Obadiah Stane.

“So, why go after a government contract?” Bucky muses. “They know something we don’t.”

“That doesn’t matter right now, we’re getting both of them under custody,” Hill says from the cockpit.

It does matter, his conscious whispers, or else you’d still be staring at Tony from the bookstore. His focus returns to the books at his side. He didn’t notice it before, but the bookstore has its own stamp that it gives the inside covers. It’s cute. He must have stared too long, because Steve nudges his arm.

“I’m glad you found a place you like,” he says. “Where is it?”

For some unknown reason, Bucky doesn’t want to tell anybody.

“Just a bookshop,” he says, closing the cover. “Checked it out before coming here. Around the neighborhood.”

That’s all he says before the mission is engaged and he’s strapped with enough gear to kill a pack of bears. He would much rather be reading, but that’s not what he gets.

-

“Took you long enough,” Rhodey says over the mic. “You and Bucky have fun between the stacks?”

“Nothing of the sort,” Tony responds. “I cannot believe you would accuse me of impropriety, honey. Honestly.”

“I have literally seen you strip on a Tuesday morning because you had too many mimosas and Pepper wanted to see if you actually would.”

“Details darling, let’s focus on the now. What has our dear friend Justin been up to?”

“For one, his online security and the regular security absolutely suck. I already am printing out the evidence where I’m at. I think all we need is to destroy some stuff and then—”

Rhodey gets knocked aside by red, white, and blue.

Tony groans. Figures that they would catch onto the pattern. Tony knew he should’ve waited, but he didn’t want to get Hammer spooked and up and running again. They needed him out of the way, maybe introduce a better CEO or hell, a better company—

“Iron Man, stand down,” comes the loudspeaker of the jet.

“Fat chance,” he mutters, zooming away from one of Hawkeye’s projectile arrows. Seriously, they could have so much better range if he built them. Unfortunately for him, SHIELD apparently wants him on a silver platter, so that won’t be a nice future with the company.

War Machine is already leading the heavy hitters away. The hardest one to deal with is usually Thor, who doesn’t always have the most accurate shot but definitely doesn’t entirely miss. Especially with the hammer having some sort of recall, it’s difficult to avoid. Tony’s just happy that Winter Soldier is off the roster and away from—

Son of a bitch, no he’s not. He can see the arm from here, and curses.

“Platypus, we have a gleaming problem.”

“I thought he was off the roster!”

“Apparently Fury signed his permission slip for this field trip,” he replies. “What do we need to destroy? I have an idea.”

“A shipment of guns. I don’t recommend going anywhere near it, but of course you will not heed my advice.”

“Be a dear and lead the Widow in closer? I think I can do something.”

Winter Soldier is having a fun time. Usually the missions are a one-hit-wonder, so to speak. Iron Man and War Machine move and actually anticipate the shots, which is all sorts of fun. He just hopes that Steve can’t see his grin, or he’ll be in hot water for it. (Fun sucker.)

“Barnes do you have the shot!” Nat yells.

“I’ve had the damn shot, what the fuck do you want me to do against iron?” he yells back.

“It’s titanium-alloy, but I understand,” Iron Man says smoothly, touching down as lightly as a ballerina. “SHIELD not do the intelligence testing anymore? I understand. If they knew Hawkeye was on the team without it…”

Bucky wants to laugh. He really, really does. But he doesn’t. “Why are you at Hammer? What’s your game?”

“I’m surprised you ask,” Tony says, blinking. His helmet tilts to one side. Usually, no one at SHIELD asks any sort of question. This is…new. “Hammer’s selling under the table. War Machine and I are handling it.”

“You didn’t tell SHIELD about this, did you?”

“There’s a reason SHIELD wants me in handcuffs but the suit left to their own devices,” he says. “They’re not as trustworthy as you think, hot-shot.”

And then Iron Man dodges a blast, and the debris lands on the containers.

The company’s own fault. Clever. Bucky has to hand it to whoever is behind the mask, he’s smart.

Iron Man does a mock salute.

“Until next time, losers!” War Machine calls out.

“Do you think they know that War Machine has a tracking device?” Natasha asks. Clint shakes his head.

“Not sure. Probably not since we’ve been focusing on Iron Man. We’ll have to wait and see.”

Bucky turns, thinking. Iron Man had said that they’re not as trustworthy as they seem. What did he mean by that? How so?

-

Rhodey isn’t a fucking clown. Of course he knows they put a tracker somewhere on his suit. It’s recording audio, which Jarvis knows. Rhodey puts a finger to his lips as they touch down. Tony gets the hint immediately, taps out a message for Jarvis to scan and debug.

“Pest Control Initiative working now…” comes the smooth, lilting accent of Jarvis.

Once they’re out of harm’s way, Rhodey cracks a grin.

“Think they’ll like that?”

“Should fry the system for them for a little bit,” Tony says. “Which leads into me getting in. Thanks for putting up with that whole mess.”

“You owe me a century-old bottle of whiskey for Black Widow.”

“Get in line behind Pepper,” Tony says. “She’ll be at the cabinet on your left.” Rhodey snorts as they touch down at Stark Industries. Pepper is there with a raised eyebrow.

“Evening gentlemen,” she says. “Drinks are on the counter. Fruit juice, no alcohol. It’s a Thursday.”

“Thursday is Friday is Saturday,” Rhodey snarks, taking the glass anyway. “How was work today, Pep?”

“Horrible,” she groans, leaning back on her barstool. “Asshats keep trying to tell me what to do when it’s my company, technically speaking. Tony, how is your bookshop?”

“We’re getting more and more people in,” Tony says. “Record sales are nice, coffee is good too. I need to come up with a new idea for an iced coffee flavor. I’m coming up with nothing.”

“Hazelnut usually works well if you need something in a pinch,” she returns. “Did you manage to get into their system?”

“Success,” Jarvis cuts in smoothly. “I am well-integrated into their system; they have no idea I am there. Of course.”

Jarvis is a bit proud of that particular thing. Then again, he gets a big head when he’s successful.

“Good for you,” Rhodey says. “What can you tell us?”

“Employees have a shocking amount of free time and have made a donut tower.”

“The business, J,” Tony says.

“I am sorry, I was following your ever-amazing guidance for protocol,” Jarvis remarks. “SHIELD has an unprecedented number of holes in security. Files have gone missing. There are a few members that go on trips and check in at the ill-advised times.”

“What does that mean?” Pepper asks.

“When Peggy was running the show everyone had to check in at her time,” Tony says. “She also talked personally about it with everyone or assigned people to supervise if she couldn’t. It was more reliant on people and what you saw. With Fury, times became more technological. Not a bad thing, but not a fantastic thing either. With technology you could claim there was an issue checking in, or the computer lagged. It happens, and you can say that every once in a while unless if you’re me.”

“Because you built most of the systems,” Rhodey says. “So we know you’re at least decently smart.” Tony pokes his tongue out.

“Point is, a lot of the older members of SHIELD either say they didn’t get it, or get tech support to fix it later. Using their inability as an ability, most likely. Clever. I’m just wondering how far it goes.”

“We’ll find out in time,” Rhodey says. “Maybe when you take Bucky out for drinks, you can seduce him into giving you information.”

Pepper stills.

“Tony, you did what?!”

“Um…” Tony glares at Rhodey. “He kind of lives by my bookstore and doesn’t know I’m there? If that makes it better? I should go, I have inventory—”

“Stay,” Pepper says. “We are working on this and I am making sure that you don’t give away your secret because you fall in love.”

“I won’t fall in love!”

“Tall, dark, mysterious, and reads books? Please, I’m surprised I don’t see drool coming out of your mouth,” Pepper says. “Rhodey, did you know about this?”

“Yes. I didn’t tell you because it was funny.”

Pepper huffs. Tony sinks into a comfy lounge chair. It’s gonna be a long night.

[wayward-mikaelson]

In an AU scenario, where Baron Zemo's family survived the Sokovia disaster somehow, how could Captain America: Civil War play out if he and his family just took priority on taking care of each other rather than seek revenge towards anyone?

Also could you tag my message, the first and the next, I sent so I can see them on the happyhoganon tag?

Before we get into Civil War, let’s talk about Zemo for a minute because he did play a big part in Civil War and could still play a part in Civil War if his family didn’t die. Now a quick background on MCU Zemo.

We all know that Zemo was in EKO Scorpion-the Sokovian kill squad. Meaning, for those who don’t know, he’s just as good at killing people as any assassins are. Falcon and the Winter Soldier showed that to us in Episode Three Power Broker with the fight scene we were given. Since Zemo was a part of a kill squad we can assume that he had missions/deployments occasionally. Very common, his wife and son are used to it because he always came home in one piece. We also know he loved his wife and son very dearly. He was a good husband and a good father—He knew his son's favorite candy and knew that his son wanted an Xbox. He would literally do just about anything for them. Including death as we see in Civil War.

Now, let’s start with Zemo in Sokovia before we touch up on anything Civil War related.

Zemo and his EKO team are sent to defend the Battle of Sokovia. Instead of sending them outside of Novi Grad, he sends them to Riga where they would be safe from all the fighting if it were to make it out that far. Before being sent off to Riga, Zemo promises his family he will catch up to them as soon as he is able. During the evacuation, Zemo and his squad are told to evacuate as well. Zemo get’s whatever car he could get his hands on, hot wires it and speeds his way towards his family. In the rearview mirror, he can see part of his county begin to rise and part of him wants to pull over and watch. But something deep in his gut told him not to.

By the time he arrived in Riga, the devastation of Sokovia had spread worldwide. An entire country was blown to bits and wiped off the face of the Earth. Nothing remained except for the hundreds of lives that were lost.

Zemo volunteered to help with the search and rescue and when he arrived at what was left of Sokovia, he knew he made the right choice to get his family out of the entire country. Their home was nothing more than firewood now. Only a small handful of survivors were found under the rubble in the two days that it took to uncover all the bodies.

A year later, Zemo and a group of survivors go to New York to talk to Tony and Steve about what they could have done differently the moment the battle was over. “Many lives could have still been saved,” Zemo told the two men in front of him. So, Tony, Steve and Zemo talked about what they could do in the future.

But that didn’t stop other countries from drawing up the Sokovia Accords and presenting them to the Avengers after what happened in Lagos. Tony felt like he didn’t have a choice to sign. Natasha as well. Steve doesn’t sign at all because of the same reasons in Civil War.

Instead of a bomb killing T’Chaka, he has a heart attack and dies. Making T’Challa more eagared to get the Accords signed and finalized. T’Challa does what it takes.

Now, Steve finds out Tony let Ross take Wanda. Steve is mad that it happened. He enlists the help of Maria Hill and pulls Clint out of retirement. They track the transport bus down and Clint pops one the tires, making the bus swerve around. As they are getting Wanda off the buss and out of the straight jacket and shock collar, T’Challa comes to try and stop it but is bested by Clint and one of his shocking arrows.

Everyone meets up at the airport like they do in the movie, including Zemo. Steve felt that he would be a great asset to their cause and once he explained everything, Zemo was on his side.

Steve convinces Tony to let them go and before they go, it’s Natasha who reveals that Bucky is Tony’s parents' killer. She explained that after SHIELD/Hydra fell, she combed every single file that Hydra had and she discovered that it was Bucky who killed Howard and Maria Stark.

A fight breaks out because Tony couldn’t keep a level head and not only wants Wanda back, he wants Bucky to pay for the murder of his parents. As the fighting gets more intense, it’s Zemo and Clint that tell Steve that he and Bucky need to get Wanda out of there and leave the rest of them.

As the three of them run to the hanger, they are cornered by Tony. Tony at this point doesn’t care about Wanda. He’s willing to let Wanda go with Steve. He wants Bucky at this point. He wants Bucky to pay for what he did. He wants Bucky to feel what he felt when he lost his parents. But really, Tony can’t do that. Bucky already knows he lost too much.

Steve, of course, says no. Tony is ready to fight Steve until Wanda gets in the way. At this point, Tony’s brain is clouded and he can’t think straight. Tony’s ready to blast Wanda until Vision comes and puts his hand through Tony using the Mind Stone. Giving The trio enough time to leave.

The trio ends up in some random country in a nearby village. The villagers are welcoming and allow the three of them to stay for as long as they like. For the next few months, Wanda helps Bucky erase everything that Hydra did to him after telling Steve about his code words. Soon, Vision shows up with Sam and Natasha, who he broke free from prison.

Steve asked why he did what he did, Vision only answered “It was the right thing to do.”

Vision and Wanda go their separate ways. Sam goes his separate way. Natasha mentions something about a family and leaves. Steve and Bucky are left by themselves until it’s time to rescue Wanda and Vision from Thanos’s children. And it’s Rhodey who suggest they go to Wakanda to see if they can save Vision.

***

A/N: I'll be honest, I wrote this and rewrote this several times before I was happy with it. I do believe that if Zemo didn't break up the Avengers that it would be Natasha to break the news that it was Bucky who killed Howard and Maria Stark. I also believe that Vision would have some sort of "change of heart" after protecting Wanda and running with her. Bucky of course had to play a part cause Civil War isn't Civil War without Bucky so Steve just ended up finding him. Zemo does his part for family and to try and prevent something like Sokovia from happening again.

[beyoncesdragon]

Sokovian Bastard Pt.2 (Pietro Maximoff)

Requested: No

Warnings: swearing, cocky Pietro and jealous reader, swearing and uhm..yeah, swearing. 

Summary: Being an avenger has never been easy, and after a certain Sokovian joins the team, it really just does not help your concentration. At all. Especially because the two of you just wouldn’t get along.

a/n: SORRY I had to make 2 Parts, Tumblr was bitching around  somehow not working, I hope its not a bother, sorry sorry sorry...

My Masterlist 

Part I

He just laughed and gave a side eye. “And you could’ve also finished that soldier on your own, I bet?” I huffed again. “I had it under control.” That made him laugh even louder. “Just shut up.” And I did, trying to ignore how good it actually felt to have his arm wrapped around me.

“Still in bed, princess?” I looked up from my book as the familiar accent ripped me out my imagination. “What does that mean, speedster. I had a five centimeter deep, burned-in bit to cure, I don’t know how fast you expect me to get up and fight again.” He said nothing, just leaned against the doorframe of the medical complex. “Besides, it’s been a day.” I continued, eyes wandering over his face. “And I heard that they had wonderful doctors here…you’re just being lazy.” I closed my book and pushed myself up. “That too, but that is not your business to mingle in. Sod off Mr. Speedy Gonzales.” He snorted and shook his head. “I came because Stark was asking if you would still attend to the party tonight?” I shrugged. “Probably yes. Why wouldn’t he just send FRIDAY?” he now shrugged, clicking with his tongue impatiently. “How would I know. See you tonight then.” And with that he was gone. I frowned confusedly. “Whatever that has been again…” I mumbled under my breath, pushing the covers back. Pietro was right…I was just being lazy. 

Miss Cho was alright with me leaving, she knew that I was healed again. On my question if she would come too tonight, she shrugged reluctantly, before slyly asking if not Thor would attend too. That made me giggle as I promised her that I would ask for her before I left. After I took a shower, I inspected my hip. The injury was almost completely gone already, the special cell-manipulating technique they had seemed to work fantastically. I was positive that I could attend the party tonight. But first, I had to ask Tony about Thor. “FRIDAY, where can I find Tony?” I asked loudly, pulling a pair of jeans and a white sweater over my shivering body before heading out again. “In the kitchen track, accompanied by Miss Romanoff, Mr. Barton and the Maximoff twins.” Was the immediate answer and I nodded. “Thank you FRIDAY.” “Nothing to thank for Miss.”

“Look who came back from the dead!” Clint cheered as I entered the wide kitchen. Wanda hugged me immediately, a hug I returned with pleasure. “Yeah, death might be a bit exaggerated but…I’m back.” I grinned over Wanda’s shoulder and Nat laughed. “Hungry?” I nodded quickly. “A little bit…ah Tony.” I called out, and he lifted his head. 

“Yes darling? I too am obviously ecstatic that you’re back, I was just a little occupied with Pepper…how can I help.” I grinned at him before taking a seat at the bar. “I just wanted to ask if a certain god of thunder would attend too tonight?” Tony (as well as the others) shot me a surprised glance. “Asking for a friend, obviously.” I added with a chuckle, taking a sip of a smoothie Nat had handed me. 

“You do know that he has a girlfriend right?” I rose my eyebrow. “Lovely Pietro, I do. However, that doesn’t change the fact that he is nice to look at, right? And also, as I already mentioned, I am not asking for myself. Maybe you should get your “wandering mind” under control.” I gave him a taste of his own medicine now and he clearly remembered. “Sure I do. I can also get you one or two magnifying glasses so you and your “friend” can intensify your ogling.” He snapped, getting up from the chair he’d sat on. My eyebrow wandered up even higher. “Look at you Maximoff, are you jealous you don’t get my unshared attention?” I slid off my chair and crossed my arms over my chest, just like he tended to do it. With a few steps he had planted himself in front of me, staring down with an irritated glare. “Are we a bit needy today, speedster?” I taunted softly, my lips curling up amused. His eyes burned like two blue suns, irritated but then again, I meant to catch a hint of amusement in between the whirl of upset. “Look who’s cocky now…” he pushed out before speeding out of the door in a second. “Coward!” I mocked laughing, turning back to Nat, Clint, Tony and Wanda.

 “Sorry…now, is Thor coming?” Tony just nodded. “I uhm, think so.” He said slowly, clearing his voice. “The two of you should really just…make out or something. The tension…” he exclaimed dramatically, setting my cheeks on fire. “Not gonna happen Tony.” I mumbled embarrassed, leaving the kitchen now as well, Nat’s drink in my hand.

Just hours later, the healthy smoothie had been replaced with a pink cocktail, again, by Natasha. She had her arm linked with mine, a similar drink in her hand as well and we walked towards the couch. “Look at the ladies tonight!” Someone suddenly roared and we snapped around, finding Thor himself standing behind us with opened arms. “Well, look at you Odinson. In a suit and all!” I laughed, pressing a kiss on his cheek. Natasha simply nodded politely, a warm smile on her face. “Yeah, that cape is sometimes a’lil in the way.” He mumbled, brushing over the jacket. In this moment, Wanda joined us. “How’s Jane doing?” I asked, giving Wanda a smile and immediately after whistled quietly. She looked amazing. “Lass’s doing well. Travelin’ around in those planes and what not. But she’s doing great, I suppose!” Thor smiled happily, giving my back a friends tap. Though it was so powerful, that I almost tripped over. “Sorry lass.” He mumbled immediately, grabbing my arm to stabilize me again. 

In the corner of my eyes I saw Pietro looking over to us, giving me a harsh glare before downing his drink. I rose my eyebrows at him before I waving it off. “That’s alright Thor, don’t worry.” He let go of my arm. “I’ll go over to Banner…see ya in a bit!” he excused himself with a smile. “I’ll join! If you don’t mind?” Nat piped in, squeezing my arm softly before making her way with Thor over to the balcony. I relinked my arm with Wanda’s turning her around towards the bar. 

“You don’t even have a drink…what can I get you?” She grinned surprised. “Whatever there is…but make it strong. I don’t think I can survive your and my brothers bickering else any longer.” I giggled softly, preparing her glass. “Sorry we don’t get along. Him and I…that’s just not working out.” I explained, searching for a bottle of vodka. “Or you should just make out already.” Wanda repeated Tony’s words and I snorted. “I bet he’d rather jump out of the window than that.” “And you? You wouldn’t?” I stopped preparing her drink for a second. Would I really mind? How fucked up that actually was…I wouldn’t. “Of course I would.” I stuttered a bit too late, feeling my face grow warm. Wanda just hummed. “You know…he came and checked up on you when you were in medical treatment.” She then said and I snapped up. “What?” my eyes darted over to him, confused about what I was supposed to say now. “Yeah he was quite worried.” My eyes trailed over his face and upper body as I watched him chat with Maria. She tilted her head back as she laughed at something he said and a smug smirk formed on his face. “Well however, I’m clearly not his type though.” I said with wink, handed her the drink and walked over to the couch where Tony, Steve, Rhodey and Clint sat around, along with a few other people. 

“…and then suddenly this big dude jumped out of nowhere…a mutant probably.” Rhodey just said, taking a sip from his beer. “What is he talking about?” I whispered into Clint’s ear as I sat down. “About our mission, two days ago. Looks like you weren’t the only one who crossed path with a mutant.“ he whispered back before listening to Rhodey again. He had a funny way of telling stories and it was great listening to something you experienced told by someone else. 

“And let’s not forget our two lovebirds teaming up!” Steve suddenly mentioned and I snapped up. “Excuse me Captain, I was in a quite tricky situation there and had literally no other choice than let him help me.” I defended myself and Tony grinned. “Well, Pietro over there had an eye on you the whole time, so I knew I wouldn’t have to help.” My eyebrows shot up at that. “He had?”  Tony nodded smugly. “Maybe. But you should go and ask him yourself.” Steve nodded quickly. “You really should, because it also looks like agent Hill is stealing your man.” I emptied my drink with a huff and got up. “Hill’s not doing anything.” I mumbled, and those idiots cheered immediately. “So he is your man though?” Tony yelled and I flinched, scoffing at him as I walked towards Pietro and Hill. Pietro’s eyes immediately fell on me as I approached and just seconds after he leaned just a bit closer to Hill than it would’ve been necessary. 

I slowed down and bit my lip…why should I even bother them. 

It was clear that he had an interest in her, and also he wanted to annoy me, but if it worked that well…probably I should approach him. His satisfied grin however made me rethink and I continued to walk towards him. 

“Maximoff.” 

“Princess.” 

“I heard you had had an eye on me back in the field…wanted to thank for that.” His eyebrows shot up slightly. “Also, cute of you that you checked up on me while I was in treatment.” I added, seeing him grow slightly nervous. “And the one who told you that was…?” “Wanda, Steve, Tony…” I started, feeling my lips twitch slightly. He was embarrassed and that was wonderful. “Well, you’re welcome I guess.” He said, clearing his throat. “Maria and I were about to grab some drinks and then excuse ourselves. She wanted to show me something in the lab…you would be so kind and tell the others, right princess?” he suddenly asked sweetly, a coy look in his eyes. Well, well, well…how the tables have turned. 

“Why don’t you tell them yourself?” I replied, honeyed voice layered with venom. Show him something in the lab my ass. His eyes light up as he probably caught on to my sudden and uncomfortable jealousy and his lips turned up. “How mean.” I shrugged before turning around, not looking at Maria once and walking towards the balcony. I wanted to find Banner and Thor and Nat, maybe down some shots with her. “Just a second Maria…” I heard the Sokovian mumble before he suddenly appeared next to me. “Now…who was green-eyed now, princess?” I snorted, keeping my steady walk towards the balcony. “If this is what this was about, then that was very unfair towards Maria. Go and apologize, then go and fuck yourself.” He just chuckled. “Cute. So you were jealous.” The cold air hit me as I stepped outside, no sign of Thor, Banner or Nat to be seen. Shit. 

“I don’t know if you can remember but haven’t I said something about your ego before…” I snapped, turning around to him. “You always get snappy when I’m right, have you noticed? And also, I heard them calling me your man….is that how you refer to me now?” I could feel my blood shooting to my face. “I wasn’t calling you that. They did.” He hummed amused, suddenly leaning forwards to trap me between his arms and the glass balustrade. “And you said…?” I gulped. I said nothing because…why haven’t I? 

“I said nothing.” I just replied, feeling intimidated by his sudden closeness. “What is this Pietro? I though we don’t like each other?” he tilted his head. “I don’t like you.” ouch, a bit rough now, huh. “You’re annoying, loud, snappy, sassy, cocky and a know it all. You are an insufferable tease and hold grudges forever because if you wouldn’t, you would’ve forgiven me for pushing you off that balcony because I apologized…” I wanted to reply something but he pressed his finger against my lip, “then again you wish me luck, blush easily when others comment about us, are annoyingly funny and witty and apparently a good friend to everyone but to me and, to make matters worse, despite your dislike you seem to have against me, you get jealous so ridiculously easy. I don’t even know what I should think about you.” he rambled and I could only stare. 

Everything he said was how I felt about him, his idiotic jokes, his smile, his teasing, his witty and sassy comebacks, his know it all attitude I hated so much, his mean comments and self-esteem shattering remarks, his nicknames he had for me and how beautiful he looked right in that moment as he had me trapped now not only mentally but physically. And I was whipped as well as angry, because…because I held a grudge? Because we took such a long time to talk? Because I still couldn’t help but wish I wouldn’t have to hide that I’d found him attractive and intriguing and all of that? I didn’t even know. But what I did know was, that him making me jealous on purpose was cocky. So cocky that it seemed to be the only thing my overwhelmed brain could muster to mumble. 

“Well then don’t flirt with Hill, you sokovian bastard.” He stopped for a second, eyes flickering over my face. “Well then don’t look.” I frowned. 

“Cool speedster, then stop smirking the way you do, looking the way you do, cut your hair and dye it yellow and purple and look ugly, stop wearing those skin-tight shirts and tops around the building, stop working out and stop getting buff, stop making doe eyes whenever you want something, stop chewing on your lips when you think, stop annoying me twenty-four seven, stop calling me princess, go get a face lift and grow old and fat and stop making me look!” I bubbled out, outraged about his arrogant comment. Ignorant bastard. “Look at you princess.” He coed suddenly, his voice dripping of self-satisfaction. “You pay attention to details hm?” I gulped angrily, not saying anything. “’Suppose you spent enough time staring then.” 

He pushed himself off the balustrade, crossing his hands behind his back. “Now, I am pretty sure I left Hill waiting for too long already and the others are missing you…see you tomorrow I suppose?” and with that he turned and walked away. 

That was the last straw. I basically exploded, I was so angry. “Oh you are not doing that.” I hissed, walking up on him angrily. “You are not walking off like that, after everything you just heard!” he stopped, turning around to me. Again, this cocky twinkle in his eyes. 

“Then what would you have me do instead, princess?” he asked soft, mockingly, knowing. I was aware that practically every avenger including Maria who had her focus on him anyways, was watching right now. But I count quite get myself to care. “I don’t know Maximoff, but walking off like a goddamn…chaperone is not what I let you get away with, believe me!” I spat out, feeling how hurt now bubbled up in between the anger. “That was what I meant…so ridiculously easy jealous.” He whispered amused before suddenly dipping down and pressing a feathery kiss to my lips. I froze, my brain simply gave up and wasn't even trying to grasp what just happened. 

“I will be right back princess, she is just transmitting my data onto FRIDAY’s database so I too, can access the liquor cabinet with the beloved booze.” He grinned softly, dipping down for another kiss and I made wide eyes. “You are kidding me right?” he shook his head slowly. “Not at all. But taking that you kissed me back and all…you are now free to call me your man, if that is what you’re into, alright?” he winked, cocky as ever but with a soft blush on his cheek. 

“You are the worst. Literally, the worst Pietro. And I will never stop calling you names, just because you did that.” He laughed softly before carefully wrapping his arm around my waist. “I can live with that…now let me just go and get some booze yeah? We luckily live here, so we don’t have to take a taxi back to my place…” I blinked surprised. “So confident already.” He just laughed. 

“As if you would say no...princess.”  

[mermaidxatxheart]

Stockings Over the Fireplace

This is my last submission for @panicfob​‘s #25DaysofChristmas 

Prompt: Stockings over the fireplace

Pairing: Bucky X Reader

Word Count: 4k

Summary: Bucky has to leave on a mission in the middle of decoration shopping with you. He doesn’t make it home until Christmas Eve, but you have an even better present for him.

“Oh! I love this.” You gasp, rushing over to the shelf. It’s an old decoration, big and heavy. It depicts multiple Christmas carolers standing in the crisp white snow under an old fashioned gas lamp. “Are you sure?” Bucky picks it up and it’s heavy, even for him. “It’s kind of old.” He starts and you look at him with those damn eyes and tempting smirk. “I like old things. My mom has one like this.” Your fingers curl into his jacket and he knows he’s screwed.

“Yeah, alright.” He sighs and you grin, kissing him sweetly. “How come I can never say no to you?” He frowns, resting his chin on your shoulder, and his arms around your waist. “Because I’m cute? And you love me too much.” You reply, reverently picking up the decoration and setting it in the cart. Your hands drift back to a small decoration, a musical round base with figures ice skating on top. You twist the knob underneath and pull the stopper out. The song starts to play and the little people move across the surface, twisting and spinning. You lean back into his arms with a contented sigh. “There’s no such thing as loving you too much, baby.” He whispers, placing the music box in the cart. But you’re right, you’re cute and he adores the way your face lights up when he gives in to you. You twist in his arms, resting your head on his chest. “Is it super lame that I’m really excited for our first Christmas together?” You ask, twisting your foot nervously. “Well, if it is, we can be lame together.” He smiles. “Oh, thank god.” You sigh. “We need stockings for the fireplace.” You say, twisting your face into his coat and inhaling deep. “For just the two of us? Isn’t that a little silly?” He asks. “No, Steve and Sam and Tony and the others are coming over. Except for Clint. He’s gonna be with his family. And Nat is going over there for dinner, but she’s coming over to our place in the morning.” You say, your face breaking into a wide smile, hand wandering to his butt. “Our place.” “Whoa.” He jumps at the playful squeeze. “Alright. We can get them stockings.” He agrees, grabbing your wrist. “Yay!” You squeal, pulling away and pushing the cart. His phone rings in his pocket and he sees you freeze, looking over at him, your beautiful smile fading. He digs his phone out and internally groans at Steve’s picture. “Hey, Steve.” He answers and you huff in annoyance. “Hey, man. I know I promised you the weekend, but there’s a complication in Norway.” His best friend says and he wants to slap him. “How long?” He asks, keeping his eye trained on your back. Your shoulders are visibly tense and he can only pray that it’s a short trip this time. “Undetermined. Wheels up in 30. Maria’s coming to pick you up.” He pauses on the line. “Tell Y/N I’m sorry.” He adds. “You’ll have to tell her that yourself, punk.” He sighs. He hangs up and slowly makes his way towards you. He’s about to say something, but your sniffle stops him dead and he winces as if you slapped him. “How long?” You mumble. “I don’t know.” He admits as he watches your hands ball into fists on the handle of the shopping cart. “Baby,” He starts and your shoulders hunch, you brush at your eyes. This hurts him worse than any slap or shouting match. It’s only a few seconds before you turn around and wrap your arms around his neck, squeezing him to death.

“You better come back to me. Uninjured, sir.” You mutter, fingers curling into his hair desperately. “Yes, ma’am.” He mumbles, squeezing you tight. “I love you so much.” He backs away slowly, knowing Maria will be here in a moment. You pull him back to you, kissing him with all your might. “You better take care of my heart, since you’re taking it with you.” Your cheeks are wet, you’re so upset that your chest is quivering as you try to fight your tears. He brushes your cheeks gently, ignoring the phone ringing in my pocket. “I promise.” He pulls his gold card out of his wallet and presses it into your palm. “Buy anything you want. I’ll help you decorate when I get home.” He says, tipping your head down, pressing his lips to your forehead. “I love you.” He makes sure that it’s the last thing he says to you. Before every mission, he makes sure that you always know how he feels. He heads for the front of the store, shouldering the door open. Maria is parked out front in a big black SUV, waiting for him. He heaves himself in and slams the door. She takes off, heading for the private runway. “Packed you a bag. Nice boxers.” She smirks. “You know I keep a go bag ready in my closet.” He rolls his eyes. She does this every time. “Yeah, but I like to snoop. You can tell a lot about a man by his underwear.” She says mildly and he can’t tell if she’s joking. “Here.” She pulls a ziplock bag out of the middle of the seats and drops it onto his thigh. “Tell Y/N thanks for the cookies.” She says as he tucks the bag into his pocket for later. “You’ll have to tell her yourself. You have her number.” He reminds her. “I know.” “Find anything else you liked in my house?” He continues dryly. “Oh, absolutely.” Her phone dings and she checks it quickly before rearranging her expression “I have to find out where Y/N gets all her lingerie.” She waggles her eyebrows at him. “I’m sure that will be a fun conversation.” He grins. “Who was the text from?” “Y/N. Told me to watch your back.” She looks at him with a smirk as she pulls onto the highway. *** T W O W E E K S L A T E R The hotel gym was empty; the way Bucky prefers it. He jumps on the elliptical, deciding that today can be leg day. They’re two weeks into this mission, currently waiting on some intel before they can move. You’ve been sending him pictures of the decorations, asking what he likes or doesn’t like. It makes him feel a little better, almost as if he’s there with you. Almost. Sam and Steve join him a few minutes later. He ignores them as long as he can, but their eyes are like ants crawling over his skin. “What?” He snaps, turning to glare at them each in turn. “How’s it going?” Sam asks casually. “We’re in fucking Norway. Two weeks from Christmas.” He rolls his eyes, picking up the pace. “How d’ya think I’m doing, Wilson?” “I think you’re a sour wolf.” He grins. He stares at him. Coming to a stop, he climbs off and walks over to his bag, pulling out the last cookie. His eyes widen as he stares at Bucky in panic. “Hey, Buck, come on, man. I was only joking.” He tries to backtrack quickly. He breaks the cookie in half and walk over to the other side of Steve, handing him half while glaring at Sam. “Thanks, pal,” Steve says happily, shoving the whole thing into his mouth. Sam all but squeaks in shock and horror as it disappears. His eyes dart to his hand and Sam bolts off the machine as he crams the cookie in his mouth, fending Bird Brain off with his metal arm. He kicks his legs out from under him and they both topple to the ground. He chews while pushing his face away. “Sam, do you really want it now?” Steve chuckles and Sam rolls away with a groan. Bucky clambers back up and gets back on his machine. “Jerk.” He sighs. “How’s Y/N holding up?” Steve asks, glancing at Bucky. “Says she’s okay. Wants us to come back now. Apparently, you guys are coming over on Christmas Day.” He tells them. “Oh yeah. We were invited before you were, Tin Man.” Sam grins and he wants to trip him, just a little. “She went to the movies today, dunno what she saw, though.” He says, ignoring Wilson. “When will she be home?” His best friend asks. “Not for another hour or two,” Bucky replies. A voice in the hallway draws his attention, Steve’s a split second later. “No, I know. I can’t believe I’ve managed this long. I’m about to-” Maria Hill walks into the gym on her phone and stops dead when she sees the three of them. “No, I’m still here.” She mutters and Sam grins. “Who are you talking to, Maria?” He asks. “Your mom, Wilson. She says, what was that? Oh yeah, mind your own business.” She snaps. “I swear, getting any privacy in this place is impossible.” “The roof is good if you need to be alone,” Bucky tells her. “Just prop the cinderblock in front of the door.” “Thanks, Barnes.” She turns and leaves. He frowns, looking at Steve. “She’s been acting so weird, ever since we got here,” Bucky says and Steve nods. “She’s always on the phone. Two days ago, she answered a call in the middle of taking out those two guys.” Steve says. “Nearly bit my head off when I asked about it.” Sam agrees. “We should find out what she’s up to,” Steve says, hopping off the machine. Sam readily agrees, following him. “Just so you know, this is a terrible idea,” Bucky warns, following them. But he has at least an hour until you’re out of your movie, so to kill some time, he’ll do some snooping. They head up the stairs to the top floor, not really sneaking. Once they reach the top, he leads his idiot friends over to the roof door. He stops dead when he realizes that it’s closed. Did she forget the cinderblock? He motions for them to wait as he opens the door. Bucky digs out his phone as he props the door open. If she’s out here, he can just say that he wanted some privacy to call his wife. He walks around the outside, but there’s no sign of her. He makes his way back to the idiots and shrugs. “Spies.” Sam snorts and they head back for their rooms so he can shower and call you. *** T W O W E E K S L A T E R CHRISTMAS EVE “Good job, everyone,” Stark says as they leave the jet. “Barnes, get home in one piece so I don’t have to sleep with one eye open, yeah?” He grins. “Your girl terrifies me.” He rolls his eyes and climbs into the company car. “She should.” He mutters, gesturing for the driver to go, ignoring his nervousness. It’s late, long after dinner, but you know he’s on his way and you promised you’d stay up. Christ, he misses you so much. He’s sore all over and he can’t wait to shower and just fall into your bed. He jerks awake as the car comes to a sudden stop and he looks around, rubbing his eyes. “Sorry, sir. The car ahead of us-” The driver starts timidly, gesturing to the brake lights in front of us. He glances around, recognizing his surroundings. “It’s alright. I’ll walk from here. It’s not far.” He yawns, grabbing his bag. “But, sir.” “Go home. Merry Christmas. Go be with your family. I’m just around the corner.” He says, swinging the door shut and giving a wave. He hikes his bag over his shoulder and makes his way home. His legs ache, his back is pinching and pulling with every step. He reaches the front walk and smiles to himself. The house looks perfect, lights line the front porch, changing the puffy snow to bright colors. The front living room light is on, casting an orange glow over the front yard. Your carolers' ornament is front and center in the bay window and he can’t help but smile. He heads up the walkway and opens the front door. You’re standing at the end of the front hall, eyes bright. You’re gonna cry, he can already tell. Despite how anxious you are to have him home, you’re giving him space, holding yourself back. The front hall is decorated simply, Christmas cards from your family and friends. The glass of the stained-glass window is frosted with some sort of washable spray. A round ball of mistletoe is hanging from the dome light fixture halfway between you. He drops his bag and stares at you. He shrugs out of his jacket with a loud sigh before kicking off his boots. “How is it that I leave you and you get more beautiful?” He groans. You laugh while rolling your eyes as he turns to face you, holding out his arms. “Okay, let me have it.” He says and you step forward, slipping gently into his arms. You kiss him softly, your hands cupping his face. “Mmm. I was expecting you to be a little more... enthusiastic.” He murmurs, burying his face in your hair. “I know you hurt. I’ll jump on you later.” You reply, resting your head on his chest. “What did I ever do to deserve you?” He sighs, holding you close. “Why don’t you go upstairs and take a nice, relaxing shower? When you’re ready, I’ll give you a nice back massage in front of the fireplace.” You suggest, pulling back and picking up a glass of whiskey. You place it gently in his hand, kissing his lips. “I’m glad you’re home safe and sound.” You lead him through the house and he pauses, looking at the tree. “You decorated everything?” He asks and you tilt your head. “Not entirely. I left the star for you. It didn’t feel right. I waited as long as I could.” You bite your lip and he pulls you against his side, kissing the top of your head. “It’s okay, sweetheart. Next year, I’m telling Steve no more missions for the holidays.” He sighs. “Wanna shower with me?” He asks and you smile. “Not tonight. Go relax. I’ll be here when you come back down.” You promise. He kisses you deeply again, pulling you flush against him. Your hands start to creep up his neck, tugging at his hair before you pull back. “Nice try, mister.” You say breathlessly and he grins, not even bothering to feign innocence. “Can’t blame a guy for trying.” He heads up the stairs to get ready for his shower. The hot water beats down on his shoulders, working out the knots as best it can. Finally, he decides he’s soaked long enough and climbs out. He dries off and cleans up the bathroom before pulling on a pair of low riding pajama pants. He downs his drink before going back downstairs. You’ve started a fire in the brick fireplace, a massive number of stockings crowding the mantle. You must have heard him behind you, because you turn, eyes widening slightly. “Oh.” You murmur and he raises an eyebrow. “Oh?” He questions. “Is it too late to take you up on that joint shower?” You ask and he laughs. “Little bit, doll. Sorry.” You grin and gesture to the makeshift ‘bed’ you’ve made on the floor. He lowers himself down and looks up at you. “How do you want me, gorgeous?” He asks. “On your stomach. Anything else and you won’t get much of a massage.” You admit and he grins. “I’m fine with that.” “Stomach, Sarge.” You order and he groans as he shifts onto his stomach, laying down. You straddle his hips and he’s fairly certain one of you is facing the wrong way. Your hands are like fucking magic as you start at his neck, working out all the stiffness. He sighs contentedly as you work down his back, paying special attention to his shoulders, the scars that mark him. You’ve never shied away from any part of him. Jesus, he loves you. He lets his eyes drift closed, relishing in the feel of being home with the woman he loves, having your hands on him. It’s been too long. The longer you work, the more his muscles turn to actual puddles under your expert fingers. A moan escapes and you chuckle, laying down on his back, cheek resting against his shoulder. “Feel better?” “Mmm, much.” He sighs and you tilt your head, pressing kisses along his skin, across his back to his metal shoulder. “I love you so much.” You mumble. “I love you, too.” He smiles. Your lips trail over his scars for a few more minutes before you push yourself up. He misses the feel of you. “I have to pee. You should put on a shirt before you catch a cold.” You say, disappearing into the kitchen. “You know I don’t get sick.” He calls, pushing himself up. You gasp loudly. “Quick, knock on wood before a super big gets you!” He laughs, knocking on the door frame as he jogs up the stairs to grab a shirt. “Do you want some cocoa?” You call up the stairs. “Absolutely!” He calls back, about to slide his drawer closed when he realizes that your wedding picture is missing off the dresser. He frowns, looking around until he realizes it’s laying on his pillow. He smiles to himself and places it back in the center of his dresser. “Sweet girl.” He mutters, pulling his shirt on and heading back downstairs. “Baby?” He calls. “Living room.” You reply and he walks in, finding you in front of the fireplace. He wraps his arms around you from behind, nuzzling into your neck. “Were you missing me?” “Yeah. You found the wedding photo, I assume?” “Yeah. I put it back.” “Now that I have the real thing.” You sigh, leaning back against him. “Do we really need so many stockings?” He asks and you nod. “Yes. I’ve labeled them already.” You say with a gesture. He takes a step forward to read the names decorating the stockings. “Uncle Steve, Aunty Natasha, Uncle Sa-am,” He stutters. “Keep going.” You urge, holding onto his wrists. “Uncle Tony, Aunty Maria, Uncle Thor, Aunty Laura, Uncle Clint, Mommy, Dad-dy,” his voice breaks and he knows he’s squeezing you too hard, harder than he should be. “Last one.” You prompt. “Baby Barnes 7•12•20.” He looks down at you, his vision going blurry. You cover your mouth, hiding a smile so wide your cheeks just might crack. “Are you serious? I’m not being pranked?” “Not the kind of prank I would pull.” You roll your eyes and his gaze drops to your stomach. “When did you find out?” “About a week before you left. I was going to tell you but then you had to leave and I didn’t want to distract you. I made Maria promise she wouldn’t say anything.” “Maria?” His eyes snap back to yours. “She always gets your bag. I knew she would have found the test; she’s always snooping. I made her promise to let me be the one to tell you.” “Have you been talking to her this whole time?” “Yeah. She was helping me, got me into Stark’s medical lab for checkups and prenatal care. The stockings were her idea.” You say, starting to look nervous. “I knew she was acting weird.” He mutters. “I can’t believe you’re really pregnant.” He rests his hands on your abdomen reverently and you search his face. “You’re happy?” You ask apprehensively. “Happy? Baby, I’m fucking thrilled!” He picks you up and kisses your face all over. You laugh, wrapping your arms around his neck. “Oh, thank god.” “I can’t believe you. You shouldn’t have been waiting on me like that, sweetheart.” He frowns, setting you back down. “I’m alright. I wanted to. I knew you’d be tired and sore. I wanted to make you feel good. You do so much for me, Bucky. This was the least I could do, make our home feel like an actual home, like when we were kids. I know we grew up in different times, but it’s not so different.” “How did I get so lucky?” He mumbles, pulling you close again. “I dunno.” You shrug and he laughs. “Can we go to bed? I really missed you.” He sighs. “Let’s go. We have a big day tomorrow.” You take his hand and lead him up to your bed. *** Bucky groans as his alarm goes off. He slaps at his phone and you shift against him with a whine. “Make it stop.” You complain. “We have to get up.” He mutters, finally finding the off button. “People are coming over. Steve’s gonna want coffee.” You groan, burying your face in his chest. “Round three was a mistake.” “It was your idea.” He laughs. You push yourself up and straddle his hips with a grin. “I know. You should know better than to give me what I want.” He grips your thighs, already willing to give you round four as soon as you say the words. But then you swing your leg over, climbing off the bed. “Tease.” He sighs. “You start the coffee? I’ll start the breakfast pizza.” You kiss his forehead before grabbing some clothes and heading down the hall to the bathroom. He gets up, straightening the blankets on the bed before pulling on a fresh pair of pajama pants and a plain white shirt. The kitchen tiles are cold on his bare feet as he makes his way to the coffee pot. A round of nerves spikes through him as he thinks about the day ahead. He turns the coffee on and gets out a bunch of mugs. There’s a knock on the door and you come down the stairs. “I’ve got it.” You call. You open the front door and it sounds like everyone showed up at once. “Bucky’s in the kitchen with the coffee. Yes, Steven, there will be enough coffee for everyone.” You sigh and he just has to laugh. Bucky’s friends come through to greet him and he realizes your ploy to keep them out of the living room for a few minutes. You join them a few seconds later, arm snaking around his waist. “So, I was thinking, once everyone has their coffee, we can do presents and then eat? Clint and Laura asked us all to join them for dinner later.” You say, catching Maria’s eye. “Sounds good to me.” Steve agrees happily. Once everyone is settled in the living room, you sit on his lap in his arm chair, hand squeezing his in a death grip. “Okay, everyone has stockings, your names are on them.” You say and he can feel your pulse thumping erratically in your hand. Maria skips up first, finding hers easily. Steve and Sam find theirs next. Steve’s blue eyes widen as he reads the name on his stocking. He grabs Sam’s, checking the name on that one. Sam swats his hand away, before seeing his name. His gaze shoots over to you and Bucky puts a finger to his lips, gesturing to everyone else. One by one, their reactions are the same as they realize the importance. “First of all.” Tony starts, holding his up, pointing to the name. “Shouldn’t nine say ‘godfather’?” He asks and Buck rolls his eyes. “It can be changed later if that’s the decision we come to.” You reply with a pleasant smile. “Fair. Second of all, congratulations. How long have you known? Did Barnes know the whole time we were gone?” “No, but Maria did.” He says, narrowing his eyes at the dark-haired woman. Steve pulls you to your feet, crushing you in a hug. “I’m definitely The Godfather, right?” He whispers and you just chuckle, returning the hug. “I love you, too, Stevie.” You grin. You settle back into his lap, pulling his arm around you as you watch your family start to open their presents.

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[marvels-writings]

Hi! Love you're writing ☺ Could you please do a Maria Hill x reader where the reader is an avenger and has some sort of powers and accidentally hurts Maria. Reader runs away, Maria does everything she can to find reader and get her to come back. Angst and fluff please. Thank you ☺

A/N: Thanks anon, appreciate it, anyway so quick background, y/n and Maria are already in a relationship, y/n came back from a mission, you now have fire powers, you can heat up your skin and shoot fireballs but you aren’t invincible, you can be hurt. So have fun with this, hope you like it! And the single quotes will be like flashbacks of what the person said. And another thing, i changed it so y/n goes in her room, thinks of running away and decides not to. I’m really sorry if that’s not what you wanted. 

‘You are just a weapon, nothing more’

These words rang in your head with every punch to the punching bag. You’d just returned after a mission to infiltrate an arms dealer who worked with HYDRA. It had been a simple mission, in and out with intel. 

No one knew about your past with HYDRA except for Fury, Hill and the Avengers. 

No one knew how you got your powers, at least you thought so until now. 

Someone random just talked to you about your past, you’d been experimented on and trained to just kill. Kind of like the Winter Soldier, but you’d ran away from it when you still had a conscience. 

You’d run to SHIELD, they had given you jobs to use your skills for a better purpose, you loved your job now. Until this last mission. 

‘A weapon can’t be loved’

The punching bag flew towards the wall of the gym, a prominent burn mark from where you’d just burnt it. 

You brought out another punching bag from the back, to find Maria standing next to the burnt one. She wore a tight navy blue workout top and high waisted black leggings with her hair tied up into a high ponytail. Somehow no strands coming out from the sides.  

“That bad?” she asked, sitting down on the bench beside the bag and leaning forwards on her elbows. You grumbled in response, setting up the punching bag and punching it over and over again.

Maria sighed in response and got up, holding the punching bag so you won’t have to wait for it to keep coming back. You stopped and blinked. 

“Stop,” You stated, almost angrily. 

“Talk to me, and continue punching.” Maria replied, still standing behind the bag and holding it forwards a bit. 

“I’ll hurt you, and I don’t want to talk about it.” You said, backing away from the bag. 

“I read the mission reports anyway,” Maria started conversationally, your eyes widened slightly. “Something about someone knowing about your past and calling you a weapon.”

“Those reports were classified.” You seethed, your skin starting to burn a little from the anger. Your powers always tended to get a bit out of control when you were angry, but you and Maria were ignoring the signs. 

“I’m the deputy director?” She joked, then backed off when she saw your expression. “Why didn’t you tell me?” She asked, you looked down, your hands burning up even more when you remembered what he said. 

“Because you’d tell me he was wrong, when I think he’s right.” You muttered, knowing she could hear. 

“The report didn’t tell me what he said,” Maria confessed. “I was hoping you’d fill in the gaps.”“I’d rather not.” You sneered, then got back to the punching bag, uncaring if Maria got hurt. You needed to get this out of your system so badly, you didn’t notice the surprise on Maria’s face when she started skidding backwards. 

“Try to.” Maria suggested, trying to regain her footing before your next punch. 

“NO!” You shouted, punching harder, you didn’t notice your powers getting out of hand, you noticed Maria’s panicked expression. “He called me a weapon, and he’s right.” You stated, punching harder, each thud pronouncing your words. 

Maria regained her footing, using her body weight and some extra force to repel your punches on the bag. “We both know he’s wrong.”“Did you miss the part where I was created to murder and kill? Did you miss the part where I ALREADY FUCKING DID?” You asked angrily, backing off from the bag. 

“Y/n,” she started softly. 

“DON’T, DON’T TALK TO ME AS A PERSON IN NEED OF SYMPATHY!” You yelled, punching the bag as hard as you could, big mistake. 

The blow sent the back flying off the hook again, burnt completely through. The burn went into Maria’s shirt and partially into her skin. The bag smashed into the wall on top of Maria, her head hit the wall first, knocking her out completely. 

You stood still for a few seconds, unable to comprehend what just happened, once you did, tears started welling up with anger. Clenching your jaw, you walked over to the bag, got on your knees and took it off Maria. 

The burn wasn’t too bad, it would need medical attention, but Maria might have a concussion and maybe a broken wrist from where she was holding the bag. You took a deep breath, picked her up once your hands had cooled down. 

Your heart broke at how limp she was, her head fell back as a bruise started to form. The tears started to break as you walked her into the medical bay. Her shirt was quickly wet with the tears from your eyes. 

Once you got in, everyone was asking you questions, you didn’t really care. You dropped her on the main bed, her body sliding out of your hands as you walked out, shutting yourself in your room. 

~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-

Maria woke up groggily, a throbbing pain in the back of her head and basically her entire body, a sharp stinging pain on her stomach. She groaned, getting off the bed, finding herself in the medical bay. 

She remembered what had happened, you’d managed to make the bag burn and fly off the hook at the same time, sending her into the opposite wall. After you’d talked about yourself being a weapon. She didn’t recall who had carried her here though. 

Maria rubbed her neck, lightly feeling the bruise as she got up, ignoring the ache everywhere. She needed to find you, she needed to find you so you wouldn’t blame yourself. Glancing at the clock, she saw it had been just over 2 hours. 

“Ms. Hill, you aren’t supposed to be ou-” Dr. Cho instructed, Maria cut her off. 

“Where is y/n?” She demanded, ignoring the medical jabber. 

“In her room, she hasn’t been out after bringing you here.” she said, walking off after. 

So you’d carried her in here. Maria looked down to find the shoulder of her shirt slightly soaked. Maria sighed, rolled her neck despite the pain and headed over to your room. 

~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-

“Y/n, it’s me,” Maria said outside the door, you didn’t need to second guess the voice. “Let me in.”

“Are you okay?” You sniffled, backing up into the opposite wall from the bed, right against the window of your room. Your entire room was a mess, the covers thrown everywhere from when you’d tried to sleep but failed, clothes from when you’d thought of running away. After crying, thinking, and panicking, you’d ended up putting on one of Maria’s hoodies and disassociating for an hour. 

“I’m fine, open up.” Maria said, knocking again. 

You curled into yourself further, currently, you were in a ball in the corner of your room, staring at the door. Burying your head in your knees and refusing to talk to anyone, like you had been for the past half hour. 

There was some hushed arguing, it sounded like the voices of Tony, Friday and Maria, then the door opened. Tony gave you a sympathetic look then walked away. Maria looked at you, her heart breaking at the sight. 

There were mascara streaks running down your face, your hair was disheveled from when you’d been grabbing at it in stress earlier and you were curled up in a tight ball against the window. Maria started walking towards you, her palms facing you. 

“Don’t, don’t come closer.” You stuttered softly, practically gasping at this point. Your sobs still hadn’t completely subsided, and you couldn’t stop shaking. “I’ll just hurt you.”

“You won’t,” Maria said, you opened your mouth to say something but she cut you off. “I promise this time.”Before you could protest, she sat down beside you, you scooted away, still terrified of hurting her. In turn, she scooted closer to you. After a few moments of uneasy silence, you leaned your head softly on her shoulder. 

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt you.” You whispered, tears threatening to break out again. To be honest, you were terrified she wasn’t going to forgive you. “I just got so mad, and my powers got out of hand again, I know I promised you I’d try to keep them under control but, I’m so so sorry, I didn’t want to hurt you, please, just, please forgive me.” Your voice wavering, then finally breaking at the last word. 

“Hey, hey, shhh, you’re okay.” Maria comforted, turning around and pulling you into her arms. You buried your face in her shoulder, still crying. She started rubbing your back in an attempt to comfort you. 

“Please, I’m sorry, please forgive me.” You continued sobbing, still terrified she wouldn’t forgive you. Maria felt so guilty you thought she wouldn’t forgive you. 

“Y/n, it wasn’t your fault in the first place.” She stated, pulling away to look you in the eyes. You hesitantly looked up to be met by her icy blue eyes, filled with sadness. “But my powers,” You began, breaking eye contact. Maria reached out to cup your cheek, forcing you to look at her. 

“You have no idea how many times Bruce, Steve and even Thor have let their powers get out of hand and hurt people, you’re fine.” She joked, you chuckled slightly, burying your face back in her shoulder as she continued rubbing your back. 

“You know, for a person with heating powers, you’re really cold.” She joked, pulling you up on the bed and lying under the covers with you. You chuckled at the joke, and snuggled back into her side.

You smiled slightly as Maria continued to comfort and cuddle you, you'd been scared for no reason. Maria would love you and care for you no matter what. And what she said was true, Thor broke your headphones before, you were still pissed. 

A/N: This is kinda unedited, so if there are grammar mistakes or not enough detail is because of that. I changed the storyline a bit, im really sorry if that’s not okay. But i have my history exam tomorrow so this is the only writing I’ll be posting today. SO feedback in comments and reblogs is amazing, i love likes too but it’s so much better seeing what people thought about this. THanks!