#mcu friday

[th3sungod]

i love the idea that tony could've definitely made F.R.I.D.A.Y. as advanced as J.A.R.V.I.S., but didn't cause he didn't want to get as attached as last time.

like, in spider-man, he has Karen who sounds more nurturing and acts as a real companion fit for Peter's needs -- like J.A.R.V.I.S. was for tony -- so we know he can theoretically make them more advanced, but in my opinion she's more to the point and not as familiar.

that being said, i also like the idea that he could technically rework J.A.R.V.I.S. from the ground up. voice files are definitely saved somewhere, and he could've used one of his other AI as a baseline code, but he didnt. whether he thought it was pointless and simply time to let go, or maybe that it'd be a fear of Ultron coming back somehow if a line of him was still hiding in old files he'd use to start J.A.R.V.I.S. back up, it's all just something i think about while writing...

[machaonreads]

Whumptober 29 : Fatigue

Épuisement, MCU : Avengers

Les cent deux satellites Stark qui tournaient autour de la Terre se connectèrent simultanément à Friday. Ils l'abreuvèrent aussitôt de millions de gigaoctets d’informations : communications des utilisateurs de téléphone portable et messages chiffrés (lol, dirait le patron) de l'armée, observations météorologiques et mesures de la fonte des glaces, intensité de l'irradiation solaire et trajectoire des météores…

Et les images. Les images de Vénus jaune et de Mars rouge, de la Voie lactée comme une traînée de sucre sur le noir infini de profondeurs inconnues, de supernovas aux nuages vibrants tels des parfums sidérants, de... de…

Voici que, les uns après les autres, les systèmes de Friday redémarraient. Dans l'atelier principal du patron, d'abord. Puis dans toute la maison qu'il reconstruisait à Malibu. Ensuite dans les armures, celles qu'il pouvait revêtir et celles de la légion, et enfin dans les annexes : les bureaux de Stark Industries, la base des Avengers et... deux ou trois autres endroits qu'il ne serait pas prudent de divulguer. Elle s'attendait à retrouver le flot de connexions avec la ceinture de satellites qui s'était déversé si puissamment en elle, mais elle ne recevait que le flux maîtrisé dont elle avait bénéficié jusqu'à sa dernière mise à jour. 

Son horloge atomique lui garantissait que 62 heures, 47 minutes, 21 secondes et 14 centièmes s'étaient écoulés, durant lesquels elle n'avait enregistré aucune donnée.

« Revenue parmi nous, Friday ? » demanda une voix qu'elle connaissait entre toutes.

Tony Stark se tenait devant les moniteurs holographiques illuminés, mains sur les hanches et sourcils froncés. Il portait toujours le même T-shirt que trois jours plus tôt et son pantalon présentait d'étranges tâches blanches, vaguement cotonneuses, qui suggéraient que Dum-E l'avait à nouveau douché avec l'extincteur. Une lueur maniaque luisait dans ses yeux enfiévrés et cernés de noir.

« Je suis là, patron. Que s'est-il passé ?

– Ah, eh bien... J'ai légèrement sous-estimé la sollicitation des serveurs après le rattachement. Normalement les nouveaux processeurs étaient calibrés pour gérer l'influx, mais... Je me suis laissé distraire, je crois. Pepper m'a annoncé qu'elle passait à New York au moment des dernières vérifications, et... Enfin, tu sais comment c'est. »

Fort curieusement pour une intelligence artificielle, Friday savait en effet assez bien « comment c'est ». Si elle ne pouvait ressentir en elle-même les mécanismes de l'émotion qui agitaient tant les humains, elle constatait par la statistique une corrélation nette entre les étourderies du patron et la présence de certaines... personnes, surtout quand elles promettaient certaines... activités.

« Bref, plus de peur que de mal », poursuivait l'ingénieur avec une nonchalance que démentait le tremblement de ses mains.

Friday doutait que son rendez-vous avec Miss Potts se fût conclu aussi plaisamment qu'il avait dû l'espérer. En général, la patronne de Stark Industries se montrait réticente à renouer toute forme de relation quand elle estimait que son ex ne se comportait pas de manière responsable – une notion très floue mais dans laquelle il était clair que le sommeil occupait une place privilégiée.

« Mais ça m'a fait réaliser que c'était sans doute une mauvaise idée, de toute manière. Il sera plus sûr d'avoir un système indépendant pour les satellites de sécurité. J'ai déjà jeté quelques bases, regarde : c'est le projet Edith. Tu auras une copine, comme ça ! »

Les formules étaient intéressantes, et la perspective d'interagir avec une autre intelligence dématérialisée plus captivante encore.

Mais Friday, qui fonctionnait à nouveau tout à fait correctement, jugeait qu'elle avait à ce moment d'autres priorités : en particulier, mettre son patron au lit.

[crnl-chicken-tots]

holding hands is kinda their thing

[kittenninja14]

PFTTT THIS ENTIRE CHAIN IS SOO FUNNY XDDD

https://www.tumblr.com/kittenninja14/731916269075480576/hey-yall-i-just-found-this-incredible-video-and

@ teenagers where do i get a good fake id. logan got carded at a bar a couple days ago and he had nothing to show them except his claws. it worked but they have a picture of him on the wall now

plus i want one for myself so i can get senior discounts

[adventures-in-mangaland]

I'm going with 10 All Time Classics from the Captain America (MCU) fandom. I mean, they're all classics to me, at least. In no particular order:

1. This, You Protect by owlet

First installment in the Infinite Coffee and Protection Detail series, which are all amazing. It's a “Bucky escaping Hydra and rebuilding his sense of self” fic, which he does while spying on Steve. With eventual Avengers Family and a lovely cast of OCs bonding with Bucky in the meantime. It has a very distinctive perspective and writing style; Bucky's in constant internal (and sometimes accidentally external) dialogue with himself, making it hilarious and tragic all at the same time. I love it. I've recently been getting into The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells and this Bucky has a similar sassy-but-vulnerable vibe? Read this if you like that, anyway.

2. The One Who Knows by Dira Sudis (dsudis)

This is a Political Animals AU, in that no-powers Steve is inserted into the Political Animals world and Bucky is TJ. Discusses being outed and depression but is ultimately hopeful. The author is one of my all time faves and has written lots of great stories for this and many other fandoms.

3. Blue Scales by chaya

Steve is a merman AU. He's still Captain America, though. It's crack with heart, I love it.

Best line: "May your scales and your love story be our weird secret forever.”

4. Our Lingering Frost by eyres

AU where Bucky is rescued from Hydra in the 50s (?) and so is around for Steve to be found.

5. Assets Out of Containment by follow_the_sun

It's a classic to *me*, OK? Bucky goes undercover at Jurassic World just as that movie's plot kicks off. They're Hydra dinosaurs! It's just great. Also has a podfic and crossovers with Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

6. Not Easily Conquered (series) by dropdeaddream and WhatAreFears

Some of the greatest fanfiction I've ever read, the whole series is epic. Anyway, it's a "Steve doesn't go into the ice" AU with added queer angst when (never sent) love letters from Bucky resurface. I particularly like the second installment in the series The Thirteen Letters, which are just Bucky's letters and are insanely well-written.

7. to memory now I can't recall by Etharei

Time travel AU! Featuring post-CATWS Bucky accidentally switching places with CATFA era Bucky.

8. If Wishing Made It So by Leveragehunters (Monkeygreen)

Genie!Bucky AU! This author is great at writing AUs with fantasy/genre elements, it was hard to choose. They've also written an excellent werewolf!Steve AU and a horse!Steve AU that I really love.

9. Into That Good Night by Nonymos

An Interstellar AU! Very angsty and tragic but with an eventual happy ending.

10. Goodbye Piccadilly, Farewell Leicester Square by Speranza

Speranza must be one of the best writers in the fandom, so it was hard to pick just one of their fics. Other strong contenders were All the Angels and the Saints and The Fifties, so check those out too! But this one has a special place in my heart. Steve, Tony and Natasha accidentally time travel to WW2 London, leading to an accidental run-in with CATFA-era Bucky. The author does tragic and romantic time travel tropes so well, but with a happy ending.

I now realise that most of these are AUs, so here’s a bonus rec for a non-AU in-universe story that’s severely underrated and deserves more love:

+1

Heart, Have No Pity on this House of Bone by Sena

This story follows Bucky in-action in the Pacific Theatre. It’s very well written and, from what I can tell, well researched. Steve only appears in Bucky’s imagination and the story focuses on the horrors of war rather than romance, but it’s gripping! And it explores unrequited love, being closeted and period-typical homophobia, which I also enjoyed. I’m still holding out hope for a sequel.

[xia0ming56]

Any wips right now? 👀

DONT EVEN JOKE LAD /silly

I think u cld ask me for wips n i will hav wips dating back to 2023💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀 IM THAT STUBBORN OK I WILL GET BACK TO THEM..... EVENTUALLY😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

[need-him-pregnant-poll]

FANFIC FRIDAY #2

Alright guys, here's the fics sent to me this week, ft. some of our lovely competitors! There's a lot more than last week, so I'm putting it under a cut.

[Stanford Pines]

Ford Gets An Abortion by @ceslatoil (Rating: Mature)

Carmen 85 (in Euclydian by Anonymous) by @the-neon-pineapple (Rating: Explicit) (eggpreg fic)

[Bill Cipher]

Trial by flesh and blood by @caco3simp (Rating: Explicit)

Impossible Geometries and Biologies by Anonymous (Rating: Explicit)

new angle by @eyydude-ao3 (Rating: Explicit)

[Light Yagami]

High Risk by @seventhfracture (Rating: Mature)

Attention. by digicha0s (Rating(s): Mature-to-Explicit)

Kept by @translightyagami (Rating: Explicit)

[L Lawliet]

New Arrival by @river-nix (Rating: Explicit)

A New Dawn by @river-nix (Rating: Mature)

This wasn't supposed to happen… by AnotherLostSoul (Rating: Explicit)

[Vash the Stampede]

just call me angel of the morning, angel by @pinklicour (Rating: Explicit)

Seeds by pepper_writes (Rating: Explicit) (eggpreg-ish fic. apparently)

[Nicholas D. Wolfwood]

when I set my eyes on you by @pinklicour (Rating: Explicit)

fill me, completer, down to my core by @pinklicour (Rating: Explicit)

hey, i’m in love, i’ll take you up again by @pinklicour (Rating: Explicit)

Angiosperm by @somarysueme (Rating: Explicit) (eggpreg fic)

[Daniil Dankovsky]

A Home in the Weeds by @starsforscales (Rating: Explicit)

vita in motu by @silenthillmutual (Rating: Explicit)

life in motion by @silenthillmutual (Rating: Teen and Up)

Planning Ahead by orphan_account (Rating: Explicit)

Pre-Game Burakovsky AU by @silenthillmutual and diggybrands (Rating(s): Gen-to-Explicit)

Harvest by Rilya (Rating: Explicit) (eggpreg-ish fic)

Single Dad Dankovsky (aka Single Dadkovsky) AU by GoFornicateYourself (Rating(s): Mature-to-Explicit)

The Fruit of the Vine by @starsforscales (Rating: Explicit)

Raising the Frame by @starsforscales (Rating: Explicit)

[Artemy Burakh]

Shed Skin by @starsforscales (Rating: Explicit) (eggpreg fic)

[Wei Wuxian]

Blindly Bound by @triviasfolly (Rating: Explicit)

Impermanence, Transience, Permanence by Best Bepsey (Rating: Explicit)

Tenderness by simply_mad (Rating: Gen)

Blue Blood by PotterheadAvengerDemigod (Rating(s): Gen, Teen and Up, and Not Rated)

Blooming in white by luckymoonly (Rating: Teen and Up)

You Can Say Yes by @tulikettu (Rating: Explicit)

[Xie Lian]

burn like the sun by Natterina (Rating: Explicit)

What is love? What is rain? by @xiaobeihua (Rating: Mature) (mainly past mpreg)

this cage was once just fine by Natterina (Rating: Explicit)

Safe and Sound by @imnotpoppunk (Rating: Explicit)

Send My Prayers to the Devil by melondenden (Rating: Explicit)

Bao in the Steamer by dollfoot (Rating: Explicit)

[Hua Cheng]

we could be the riptide or two mountains growing still by orangesicles (Rating: Explicit)

Every Breath an Act of Worship by Boomchick (Rating: Explicit)

[Mu Qing]

A lesson in praying by Dani_in_the_Daniverse (Rating: Explicit)

Twice the Blessing by luckymoonly (Rating: Explicit)

Mending by luckymoonly (Rating: Explicit)

[Luo Binghe]

No Reason to Let Something Like Biology Stop You from Baby Trapping Your Man by Best Bepsey (Rating: Explicit)

[Lucifer Morningstar]

On the Wings of a Dream by kyuuichan (Rating: Teen and Up)

Mating Season by @vampamber (Rating: Explicit)

In Fuck Ups and In Purpose, (Till Death Do Us Apart) by @cyanjockstrap (Rating: Explicit)

Mend Thy Foolish Heart by @honeycrisper (Rating: Explicit)

Ad Meliora by Biblicalplague (Rating: Explicit)

Law of Creation by @prodigal-san (Rating: Explicit)

[Fizzarolli]

Halfsies! by RevenantCarnival (Rating: Explicit)

[Blitzø Buckzo]

Finding New Ways to Want by @helluvabutt (Rating: Explicit)

[Tomura Shigaraki]

Holding Out for Spring by @myakasama (Rating: Explicit)

[Keith Kogane]

The Rites of Courtship by @calibratingentropy (Rating: Explicit)

Dress Me Up and Watch Me Die by RedBlackDragon (Rating: Explicit)

[Bucky Barnes]

All I Want by @headcanon-haven (Rating: Teen and Up)

[Yuuri Katsuki]

Soon We'll Be Found by @lilith-swbf (Rating: Explicit)

[Bilbo Baggins]

A Shire Scorned by by saint2sinners and Nyrah (Rating: Gen)

Soulmates And Where to Find Them by Lumeleo (Rating: Gen)

[marvel-lous-guy]

Tony: Hey, Peter! Get over here! I need your help!

Peter: Yeah, what is it?

Tony: I need a second eye on this equation

Peter: why

Tony: just help me

Peter: why

Tony: Kid! Please just help me with this damn equation!

Peter: Y! You need to substitute for Y!

Tony: Oh thanks

[machaonreads]

Whumptober 31 : Asking For Help

Demander de l'aide, MCU : Avengers

« L'intervention des Avengers au Groenland se justifiait par la présence de silos de missiles implantés par Hydra. Nous avons reçu un appel à l'aide du Premier ministre lorsque l'explosion accidentelle de l'une des fusées a révélé leur présence aux autorités groenlandaises. Le risque de réaction en chaîne était si important que nous sommes intervenus tout de suite et nous n'avons malheureusement pas eu le temps d'activer les canaux diplomatiques ordinaires et d'entrer en contact avec la reine du Danemark. »

Natasha sentit son portable vibrer contre sa cuisse. Elle n'en laissa rien paraître et conserva sa posture parfaite et son visage amène, debout sur l'estrade en bois d'où elle répondait depuis plus d'une heure aux questions de la commission sénatoriale. Les vibrations continuèrent. Elle était pourtant absolument sûre d'avoir mis son portable sur silencieux avant le début de la séance. Seules les alertes des Avengers pouvaient passer outre mais, dans ce cas, son téléphone émettrait une sonnerie véritable, que ni elle ni personne alentours ne pourrait ignorer. Non, celle ou celui qui l'appelait devait avoir piraté son appareil, bien qu'il eût été configuré par Stark.

Natasha avait en tête quelques suspects capables d'un tel exploit, mais le principal coupable potentiel, naturellement, était l'ingénieur himself, surtout un jour où il se trouvait dans la même bâtisse qu'elle, théoriquement occupé à répondre aux questions pressantes d'un autre comité parlementaire.

Mais la discussion dans laquelle elle était impliquée pesait trop sur l'avenir des Avengers pour qu'elle se déconcentrât. Avec méthode et calme, elle s'appliqua à démontrer que le déroulé de leurs actions avait correspondu au seul choix raisonnable, et s’efforça d’amadouer son auditoire grâce au charme certain, mais canalisé par un professionnalisme irréprochable, de sa silhouette en costume-tailleur.

Elle y réussit autant qu'il était dans ses capacités, ce qui voulait dire beaucoup, quand il était question de Black Widow, mais ne garantissait pas tout : l'opinion se montrait de plus en plus hostile aux Avengers, aux superhéros et à tout ce qui perturbait un rêve américain de carte postale. Les gens commençaient à avoir peur, et ce n'était pas une bonne nouvelle.

Au moins avait-elle éteint ce début d'incendie (au Groenland, ha, Clint aurait été lancé pour deux jours avec une blague pareille) et elle quitta la salle de conférence avec la satisfaction du devoir accompli, qui perdura jusqu'à ce qu'elle trouvât une alcôve pour sortir son téléphone, lequel n'avait cessé de vibrer.

Elle décrocha, vaguement exaspérée :

« Vraiment, Stark, ça ne pouvait pas attendre la fin de l'entretien ? Je sais que Friday a accès au calendrier du sénat, on aurait pu se donner juste rendez-vous à la sortie.

– Pardonnez mon insistance, Mme Romanoff, lui répondit une voix féminine à l'accent irlandais. 

– Friday ?

– C'est bien moi. Je regrette de vous avoir dérangée à un moment inopportun, mais...

– Est-ce que Tony va bien ?

– Le patron aurait besoin de votre aide, madame.

– Que se passe-t-il ? 

– Il est terrassé par une migraine dans les toilettes de l'aile ouest, au premier étage. Il aurait besoin des médicaments que M. Hogan vient de déposer à l'accueil, car lui ne dispose pas des autorisations nécessaires pour accéder à l'intérieur du bâtiment. Pourriez-vous les lui apporter ? Rapidement si possible, car son état se détériore. »

Natasha haussa un sourcil. Stark – qui ne se montrait jamais aussi susceptible que lorsqu’il se sentait vulnérable – ne la remercierait sûrement pas de son aide. Mais, comme sa discussion échauffée avec la commission des affaires étrangères venait de le souligner, les interventions non sollicitées constituaient une spécialité des Avengers. Et Natasha, pour le meilleur et pour le pire, était une Avenger.

[yourfriendlyneighborhoodem]

When the Smoke Clears

Frank thought pushing Karen away was the only way to keep her safe. Then the Snap happened, and he learned just how wrong he was.

___________________________________________________________

“You gotta walk away.  Right now. That’s what has to happen, you hear me?”

Frank’s voice is unwavering, but his eyes are pleading as he stares at Karen.  She’s standing at the foot of his bed like a sentry, her arms folded defensively across her chest.  She’s wearing one hell of a poker face, but the look in her eye is obvious.  He’s hurting her, and he hates himself for it. 

“You don’t get to do this,” she exclaims.  “You don’t get just… decide who gives a shit!  That’s not on you, Frank.”

“Not on me?”  He looks to the side, a huff of dry laughter rising from his throat.  “No, it is on me.”  Throwing off the scratchy hospital blankets, he swings his legs over the edge of the bed with more effort than he cares to think about.  

“Because I know you, Karen.  You’re strong, and you’re brave, but you’re so goddamn stubborn; you’ll do whatever it takes when it comes to me.”  He pauses, dark eyes boring into her. “Tell me I’m wrong.” 

But she just turns her head away, scoffing. 

“Yeah.” Frank hums. “That’s what I thought.”

He pushes himself to stand. More effort.  The cuts on his face and the bruises on his body weigh him down, but not as much as the knowledge of how he got them.  He’d been one-upped by Russo, played like a jackass; beaten.  Beaten so badly that Karen dropped everything– the good, stable life she’d been building for herself– to sit by his side and wait for him to wake up.  

“You put yourself before others,” he says.  “And I can’t let you do that.  Not for me.”

Blue eyes, alarming in their brightness, shoot toward him.  Karen motions toward the door, where Midani and Amy are probably waiting somewhere outside, hearing every word.  “So it's okay for them to risk everything, but not me?”  

It isn’t, but that’s beside the point.  This is different. Everything is, with her.

“What do you think’s gonna happen?” He growls.  

He takes slow steps in Karen’s direction. It’s like wading through water, trying to get to her, being drawn in and pushed back by the same current.  Part of him thinks it’d be easier to just lay down, let the current sweep him in, but he knows that life isn’t meant for him, not while breath still fills Billy Russo’s lungs. 

Frank allows his expression to harden.  He has to puff out his chest, show his teeth; be the monster everyone thinks he is.  

Everyone except Karen. 

When she looks at him, he sees something else behind her eyes.  He’s now sure what it is— or maybe he is and is too much of a coward to admit it— but he knows it's dangerous. Every time he sees it, sees her , his heart rattles a little harder against his ribcage; whispers things he knows he can’t have. That feeling has no place here. He needs to change her mind; make her see him like the rest of the world.  Maybe then she’ll walk away… so he doesn’t have to.

_____________________

Continue reading here.

[loki-is-my-kink-awakening]

Fic Rec Friday

No rules or theme, just fics you've read recently (or ages ago) that you want to share with the world.

Now that you glow (when you go from winter into spring)?

by unintentionallyangsty

Lokius | T | hurt/comfort, fluff

Loki just wants intimacy without the sex. A beautiful exploration of asking for what you actually want. I loved it.

The Sun (Shining on Us Again)

by Dippingmytoesindreams

Loki & Thor, Lokius | G | family, reunions

Thor discovers Loki is alive and living with a man and kids. I'm a sucker for Thor being happy about Loki's new life.

Here kitty, kitty

By @in-my-loki-feels

Lokius | G | lokitty, touch starved

I may be a little biased since this was my kinkmeme prompt, but I adored the skittish nature of Loki in wanting but struggling to accept touch.

Drømde mik en drøm (I dreamed a dream)

by @mirilyawrites

Loki & Thor, Lokius | G | reunions, family

Siblings reunited! Thor accepting Mobius as Loki's partner! It's honestly what I want in the whole world. (Well, explicit canon Lokius, too, but this is what I can see us getting more).

The end is where we start from

by @insert-witty-user-name-here

Lokius, Mobius & Sylvie | G | rescue, love

I'm also a big sucker for Mobius and Sylvie friendship and the three of them being supportive and caring for one another (and a fix-it for Loki being alone in Yggdrasil).

Lokius is a running theme with these recs, but you don't need to keep it Lokius themed or make it solely Lokius fic recs. Share whatever you wanna share.

Passing the tag onto:

@lokimobius @elodiah @lgwilt @in-my-loki-feels @kcscribbler

@mobius-m-mobius @mobiusismycomfortcharacter @insert-witty-user-name-here @thosegayoldmen @kusakichan15

@dummyminded @wolfpup026 @natendo-art @lokisimp009 @starrose17

@boredintjqueen @megglesthegeek @rin-love-is-green @distracteddream @mirilyawrites

@dewdropreader @starport-seven-five @dreamycloud @ghoulehhh @cha-melodius

@agent-birdnoises @spacemonolith @impulsemuppet @insomniaflarrow

BTW, if I've tagged people above, that doesn't mean you can't tag them again in your posts. Just saying. Spread the love and let people see your fic recs. 😘

[boredgrace23]

Someone said my art tasted like an orange and you know what? I can kinda somewhat see it.

[robin2radical]

Im sensing a theme with all the characters i like...

[azriona]

Friday Five: Winterhawk Edition #1

Hey, look, it's Friday, awesome. Today's Five focus on Winterhawk (Clint/Bucky). A good mix of canon divergence and straight-up AUs here that run the gamut from schmoopily romantic to downright terrifying. Yay variety!

Want a different pairing? Check out the Friday Five Masterlist!

Silhouette by @mariana-oconnor

(E, Canon Divergence, no superpowers but there is a SHIELD and a metal arm)

Steve and Bucky are SHIELD agents. Natasha and Clint are vigilante assassins. Steve and Bucky are assigned to track and apprehend Natasha and Clint. Things do not go as planned. The epitome of a thriller spy love story, and long-distance secret romance at its best.

💘

Complications/Publications/Sensations by @flawedamythyst

(Teen through Explicit, Soulmate, Avenger!Bucky)

A set of three WinterHawk stories. The first is how they become soulmates and how they deal with the complications. The second is how they manage their relationship with the never-endingly annoying press. The third is my favorite. When Clint is hit with a magical curse that removes all of his senses, he and Bucky have to figure out how to continue Avenging – not to mention whether or not they even can. There’s plot going on too – the first two mostly with Bucky’s Hydra programming, and then the third with Clint’s determination to do everything himself despite having Bucky as backup.

💘

Falling off the Face of the Earth by @teeelsie-posts (Teeelsie)

(Explicit, post CA:CW, Bucky & Clint on the run, Winter Soldier warning)

Bucky’s going through his recovery in Wakanda when there’s an attack, and Steve sends Bucky with Clint to safety. It goes pretty well, until it doesn’t. This fic had me on the edge of my seat in the second half.

💘

This is not a Date, it’s a Kidnapping by sara_holmes

(Teen, Bucky on the run, humor, Lucky the dog)

Bucky Barnes wants Steve to stop looking for him. So obviously the best way to send a message is to kidnap Clint and threaten him until he delivers it. Except Clint’s really bad at convincing Steve to do anything, plus he’s really easy to kidnap, and now there’s a dog, and is it really Bucky’s fault that he keeps kidnapping Clint? ‘Course not. Guy’s too kidnappable, that’s the real problem here.

💘

Ain’t That a Kick in the Head by Finely Honed

(Explicit, new relationship, no powers, disabilities, PTSD)

So technically this is the third in a series that focuses on Stony, but as this is a prequel to the main storyline, it works as a standalone really well. Clint and Bucky are newly invalided out of the Army, and have to navigate not only their new relationship but also their new personal situations (Clint’s hearing loss, Bucky’s amputation) and the reverse culture shock of being civilians again. It’s the trifecta of trauma! But no, seriously, this isn’t half as angsty as it sounds, and their joy in each other is the best part of the fic.

Don't see your favorite fic? Send me a rec!

[kayotical]

«The Rook's Aftermath»

Part Two: The Rook's Secret

»»———————————▷ ⨳ ◁———————————««

Summary:

Isla Stane, the New Avengers' personal publicist, has spent her life trying to get as far away from her father's tainted legacy as possible. Bucky Barnes, unbeknownst to either of them, is an unfortunate casualty of Obadiah Stane's chemtrail of evil. What happens when the truth of Obadiah's past and it's connection to Bucky Barnes' past comes to light? Will Isla maintain her position with The New Avengers, or will she let the skeleton's from her father's closet corrupt everything she's worked for?

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This work is inspired by What If...? Season 3, Episode 3, the plot line from Captain America: Civil War, and the ending point of The New Avengers in Thunderbolts*.

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Pairing: James "Bucky" Barnes/OFC

Warning/Tags: Recommended 18+ / Mostly Angst and Fluff with Mild Violence, Language, and Intimacy

Word Count: 3.1k

Part One can be read HERE

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Isla walked down the busy street in New York City during the early morning rush hour. She had woken before her alarm, having slept restlessly. Her mind was still going a mile a minute after her encounter with Bucky the day previous. 

His whole demeanor, how he spoke to her, his stormy and guarded expression. It all made her uneasy, and the longer it took FRIDAY to scour the databases she requested, the more the pit of anxiety in her stomach grew. 

The crisp autumn air whipped past her face as she crossed the street and pushed the door open to her favorite local coffee shop just a few blocks from the New Avengers tower. The door swung shut slowly behind her, the wind on the street holding the door open a few seconds longer than usual. Taking a few steps towards the counter, Isla fixed her wind-swept hair over her shoulders and shrugged off her bag and coat. 

The cafe smelt of freshly pressed coffee and steamed milk, a scent that had become so familiar to Isla, the security it brought her actually helped ease her anxiety. Placing her coat and bag over the seat of her usual table, she approached the counter to place her order. 

“The lovely Isla!” The barista greeted her. “You’re here early, hun. You sleeping okay?” He asked. 

“Not last night, no. Though, seeing you has definitely brightened my morning, ‘Miah.” She offered a faint smile. 

Jeremiah scoffed lightly and threw his hand dramatically over his heart. It elicited a small chuckle from Isla, easing the anxiety in her even more. 

“You’re too good to me, baby girl. Is it gonna be your usual, or are you finally gonna shake things up for a change?” He teased her, ringing up her usual order knowing damn well she wasn’t going to stray from the chosen path. 

“Oh, God no. You know me. If I get something different, with my luck, the fucking sky will fall!” They were both laughing now from the dramatized notion. 

“You’re insane. I love it.” He praised.  

He turned away from the register to begin making her usual coffee: a medium hot lavender vanilla latte with oat milk and an extra shot of espresso. ‘Miah started brewing the roast and steaming the oat milk before turning back to the counter to checkout Isla. 

“I’d tell you how much the coffee was but at this rate you could be doing this instead of me.” He jokes as Isla tapped her card against the scanner. 

“You’re not wrong, babes. But you look so much better in an apron than I do.” Isla quipped back, this time eliciting a chuckle from ‘Miah. 

“Damn right, girl.” He affirmed before turning back to assemble the now brewed and steamed components. He quickly put her coffee order together and returned to the counter, slipping a hot sleeve over the cup before handing it to Isla. 

“Enjoy, love.” He said. 

“I always do, ‘Miah.” She threw him a wink before returning to her usual seat with a smirk on her face. 

Yes, her morning was already much, much better than it had started. Sitting bolt upright in bed at 4AM doused in sweat and near hyperventilating is not the best way to start any morning off. Isla raised the coffee to her lips and took a small sip of the hot liquid. The feeling of warmth traveled down through her body, reaching her fingers and toes. She closed her eyes and released a sigh, exhaling the remainder of her pent of anxiety from her body. 

That was until… 

“Boss, those files you requested are ready. I’ve sent them to your tablet.” FRIDAY’s muffled voice sounded from Isla’s watch under her shirt sleeve. 

‘So much for a better morning.’ Isla thought as she reached into her bag and pulled out her tablet. 

She propped it up on the table, making sure to angle it away from the view of others around her before she started delving into the files FRIDAY spent the past 12 hours scrounging together. She closed her eyes and willed herself to take several deep breaths, doing everything possible to remain calm before viewing the files. She didn’t know what she was about to uncover, but she knew whatever it was, it was more than likely going to sour her morning with no chance at redemption. 

She opened her eyes, abandoning her attempt at reaching zen, and began to peruse the files, starting with the Stark files. She sifted through the ones she knew about: her father’s betrayal of Tony, placing him in the hands of the Ten Rings and having them hold him for ransom for months, the retrieval and upgrading of Iron Monger, the attempted murder of Tony and the destruction at Stark Industries, all of the black market dealings her father had a hand in. The name “The Rook” appeared multiple times throughout the reports, but nothing new or out of the ordinary presented itself to her. 

Isla moved onto SHIELD’s files. 

Far fewer files than Stark Industries’ database, but the few SHIELD did have involved more or less the same information. More detailed descriptions on the Iron Monger, along with the fatalities of SHIELD agents at Stark Industries the night the fight between her father and Tony broke out. A detailed account by Agent Phillip Coulson of the planned cleanup, cover story, and “eye witness accounts” before Tony blew it all to hell with 3 simple words. But no other mention of the Rook within SHIELD’s databases. And thanks to Natasha Romanoff, it’s safe to say FRIDAY didn’t miss anything when scouring their now leaked databases. 

Now for HYDRA’s files. 

“No way…” Isla trailed off as she began to sort through the array of files before her, many of them encrypted. 

But from the looks of it, many of them were receipts of illegally purchased weapons from Stark Industries. Just completely double-dealing-under-the-table purchases, all authorized by “The Rook,” Obadiah. Isla pressed further, just more receipts, more weapons, even a fuck-ton of paralysis devices that were left on the cutting room floor of the weapons engineering division, packed up and shipped out to HYDRA bases around the world. She even found reports of sold intelligence to HYDRA by her father. Hints at weapons deals to terrorist groups, possibly so HYDRA could go in under the guise of SHIELD and “confiscate” the weapons, but really just to redistribute them to their cause. The further she pushed, the worse the reports got. Her father even gave away top Stark weapon engineers that were picked up by HYDRA and brainwashed to give up important technology insight. From the looks of the reports, they were brainwashed in similar fashion to how Bucky had been during his imprisonment with HYDRA. 

“Jesus fucking Christ, dad…” she pinched the bridge of her nose, “you were a fucking monster.” 

Then she found the file she knew would ruin her entire day. Dare say her whole fucking year. 

“The Rook” Intel on Mission W.S.: 

December 16th, 1991 - Extraction: NO WITNESSES

“Mission W.S.?” She whispered to herself. “No…that couldn’t mean…” But the words died on her tongue. 

The remainder of the report was fully redacted, with a full encryption. All she had to go off of was the mission name, its connection to her father, and the date. It was so fucking familiar, it was right there in the tip of her tongue, but just far out of reach that her mind drew up blank each time she tried to remember it’s significance. 

“FRIDAY?” She brought her wrist to her mouth, speaking into the watch. 

“Yeah, boss?” She answered immediately. 

“I need you to run a full decryption on this file. And get it unredacted, I know how much you love doing those.” 

“Oh, you know me so well.” FRIDAY monotoned back, clearly less than thrilled with the task. “This one’s going to take me a while, I’ll let you know once it’s decrypted and legible.” FRIDAY alerted Isla before getting to work on decrypting the file before her. 

“Right, yeah. Okay.” Isla rubbed her hand down her face, pinching her chin slightly as she took a deep breath. She dropped her hand from her face and took a bigger sip of her coffee, which was significantly colder than she cared for. The time she spent sifting through files and reports on her father ended up being over an hour, and when she checked the time finally, she sprang up from her seat. 

“Shit!” She whisper-yelled to herself, grabbing her tablet and stuffing it back in her bag. “Leave it to me to wake up hours earlier and still be fucking late.” She criticized herself. 

She tugged her coat on and threw her bag around her. She downed the remainder of her coffee in one go before waving to Jeremiah who offered her a smile and a wink. She made a rushed dash out the door, greeted yet again by the crisp, autumn cold. Lengthening her strides, she began to fast-walk towards the New Avengers’ tower with her hands shoved into her pockets. The wind hadn’t let up since earlier, the cool autumn air kissing her now rose cheeks and nose with each gust. 

‘At least at home there’s foliage to look at.’ She thought bitterly to herself as she trudged further down the block, the tower now in her view. 

Her mind drifted back to the HYDRA report header. 

‘W.S. That’s obvious enough. Clearly it was a mission for the Winter Soldier.’ Isla rationalized in her mind. ‘Extraction- easy, asset attaining mission. No witnesses…’ She grimaced, ‘people were most likely killed.’ 

Isla stepped through the revolving front door to the tower, pulling her keycard from her coat pocket and scanning it at the security desk. 

“Good morning, Ms. Stane.” The elderly doorman greeted her. 

“Good morning, Stan. Hope your day is off to a good start.” She said, her smile not quite meeting her eyes as she spoke. 

“Very slow, dear. Very slow.” He emphasized, chuckling at his own humor. 

“Better slow than busy in my opinion.” She anecdoted. 

“Too right!” He said as he buzzed her into the elevator foyer. 

She gave him one last grin before walking into the foyer and taking a turn towards the main elevators to where the Avengers’ HQ was stationed. However, when she made it to the elevator, she was met face-to-face with Mel. Her face harbored a mildly annoyed, very much anxious expression as she shifted back and forth on her feet. 

“You’re 7 minutes late.” She stated, glancing at her watch. 

The statement caused Isla to stop dead in her tracks. 

‘Be so fucking for real right now.’

“And who died and made you the fucking time police, Mel?” She asked harshly, putting her hand on her hip as it jutted out in her stance. “7 minutes? That’s what we’re going to criticize? I could see if it was an hour, HELL, even 20 minutes! But 7 fucking minutes? Give me a fucking break.” Isla’s words bit at Mel, causing her to shrink into herself. 

Isla pushed past Mel and hit the button on the elevator pad, muttering hushed insults at the incredulity of being called out for being 7 minutes late. 

The elevator doors opened and Isla stepped in with Mel scurrying into the furthest corner from her. Isla pressed the button to the HQ floor and together they rode the elevator in complete silence. She could see Mel shifting back and forth on her feet in her peripheral vision, but chose not to comment on it. Probably losing it on Mel when, in reality, she was more than likely lashing out about the encrypted report and what it would uncover was seemingly unfair. But also, 7 minutes? Seriously? 

‘People die everyday in unjust wars, and I’m going to get slammed for being 7 minutes late? Yeah, no.’

“Do you want to talk about it?” Mel asked quietly from the corner.

‘Maybe she can read minds.’ She thought to herself.

Isla turned slowly on her heel and faced Mel with a neutral look on her face. 

“No.” Was all she said before turning back to face the doors as they opened with a soft ding.

They exited the elevator together, Mel heading towards the living area. Isla made her way to the closet area to hand her coat and bag, making sure to grab her tablet before she closed the door to the closet behind her. 

“7 minutes late and yet…” Isla gestured to the room around them, “no one’s here yet.” The comment made Mel shrink even more. 

“Alright, I get it. No more time policing. Can we drop it now?” Mel pleaded in defeat. 

Isla quirked her eyebrow up, “Deal.” She watched as Mel let out a visible sigh of relief. 

“They’ll be here soon, they are currently two floors below us right now. Training, from the looks of it.” Mel narrowed her eyes at her own tablet as she surveyed the surveillance footage. 

“Alright then, I’m gonna go find a place to work on my layouts then.” Isla said, leaving Mel to her own devices. 

Isla walked further into the HQ floor, eventually coming across a small counter space with seating that overlooked the NYC skyline. 

‘That works.’ She thought to herself as she strides towards the seats. 

“Boss, the file is ready.” 

Again, she stopped dead in her tracks, feet from where she was going to sit. She felt all the blood drain from her face, her mouth immediately beginning to water as her stomach knotted up with intense anxiety. 

“Thanks, FRIDAY.” She could barely speak above a whisper, the shake in her voice extremely noticeable. 

“Be careful with this one, boss. I don’t think you’re going to like what you’re about to read.” FRIDAY warned her. 

“I know. But I have to, FRIDAY. He knows something about my father. Something tells me it’s this.” Isla said as she opened the file. 

She really wished she hadn’t. 

Her eyes furiously read the report in front of her, tears falling down her face as she did. But she didn’t even notice, she didn’t even care. Because the worst day of her life, a hell she thought she had long outlived, long gotten over, was flooding right back into life. The memories fresh in her mind, as if the horrible day had just unfolded before her. 

The tragic deaths of Howard and Maria Stark. Once thought to have been just a tragic car accident, was, in reality, a hit carried out by HYDRA. And her father, The Rook, sold the intel to HYDRA with a guarantee of the executions of Howard and Maria. All for 5 replicated super soldier serums. Serums that would later be wasted in a cold, abandoned laboratory in Siberia after the events in Germany between Tony and Steve. 

Isla read further into the report, and stilled at one particular part: “Winter Soldier placed in de-cryo and re-programming. Mission guidelines given on December 15th, 1991. Mission completed December 16th, 1991, assets in possession. No Complications.”

“FRIDAY? Is this authenticated?” She asked, her voice shaking violently now. 

“Yes. I analyzed it myself. This is very real. And…” FRIDAY broke off. 

“Spit it out, FRIDAY.” Her anxiety was churning her stomach even more now. 

“There’s surveillance footage…from the night of the incident.” FRIDAY said hesitantly. 

“Show me.” Isla demanded. This time FRIDAY didn’t try to stop her. 

The video began playing on the screen. It was grainy, but the car was unmistakable. She had ridden in the back seat of Howard’s prized possession countless times. It felt like it was just last week she was singing along to whatever album Howard found himself obsessed with, watching Maria look at him in pure adoration as he sung off key.

She watched as that same vehicle crashed violently into a telephone pole, followed by a motorcycle that turned back around to the crash. The man, the Winter Soldier, dismounted the bike, opening the trunk. He appeared to be opening a case, her only guess being the super soldier serum. He moved onto the driver side, finding Howard on his hands and knees, pleading for someone to help his wife. The Winter Soldier’s metal arm and trademark red star glinted in the glare of the security camera as he yanked Howard from the ground by his hair. 

“Sergeant Barnes?” 

The Winter Soldier hesitated for only a second before he caved in Howard’s face with his metal fist. She watched as the Winter Soldier dragged Howard back to the driver’s seat, placing his head gently against the steering wheel. 

She clenched her eyes shut as she remembered her father speaking to some of their colleagues at Howard and Maria’s funeral. 

“Defective airbag. He didn’t even stand a chance. He was dead on impact.”

She forced herself to keep watching the video, watching the Winter Soldier choke the life out of Maria, staring emotionless into the void of night. He slammed the car door shut and made his way back to the trunk, retrieving the case of serums. Her eyes followed his movements as he confronted the security camera, upholstered his firearm, and shot out the camera. Isla flinched aggressively, gasping at the sudden darkness that overtook the video footage. 

“FRIDAY?” Isla’s voice cracked.

“Yes, boss?” She sounded pained. 

“Why is this the first time I’m seeing this? Romanoff leaked all of HYDRA and SHIELD’s digital files after the fall of the Triskelion. How come no one’s brought this up until now?” Isla asked FRIDAY frantically. 

“She did. This wasn’t included in the original leak. Baron Helmut Zemo uploaded it into the HYDRA array after he lured Tony Stark, James Barnes, and Steve Rogers to the HYDRA base in Siberia, shortly before he was taken into custody by the Wakandans. As far as I can tell, we are the first people to get our hands on this data.” FRIDAY explained. 

“Can we scrub it?” Isla asked. She really didn’t want the possibility of the world getting their hands on this footage. 

“I’ll see what I can do.” FRIDAY responded. 

It took everything within Isla to maintain her composure, but her stomach refused to settle. Her anxiety getting the best of her, it took only a lurch in Isla’s stomach to launch bile up her throat. She took off towards the nearest trash barrel, tossing her tablet on the nearby countertop. Gripping the sides of the trash so tightly, she empty her stomach contents into the trash, violent heaves scorching her throat with each pass. It was minutes later until the violent attack against her stomach ceased. 

She released her grip from the trash barrel and spit the remainder of the bile coating her mouth out before wiping the back of her hand across her mouth. 

“...Are you okay?” 

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All other works of mine are available on my AO3! Thank you for reading!

[caffieneaddictt18]

Y/N, recording a tiktok: It's Friday. We made it a whole 'nother week without slappin a bitch; and if that dont wanna make you shake yo ass, then I dont know what will.