#no fatws spoilers

[eggbreadboi]

Loss.

bonus sketch >:3

[emjayewrites]

Pastry Passions (Luca x black!femoc) (1/?)

PAIRING: Luca x Symone (black!original character)

SUMMARY: When Symone secures a coveted position as the social media manager at Noma, the renowned Michelin-starred restaurant, she is thrilled to be part of a team that pushes boundaries and captures gastronomic excellence. As Symone immerses herself in the vibrant atmosphere of Noma, she catches the eye of Luca, a talented and career-focused pastry chef within the same establishment. Luca is captivated by her presence, however, with his desire to maintain a clear boundary between work and personal life, he resists the growing attraction he feels towards her. Despite their shared passion for the culinary world, Symone and Luca find themselves entangled in a delicate dance between friendship, ambition, and unspoken desires. As the duo collaborates on various projects, from showcasing exquisite pastries to capturing behind-the-scenes glimpses of the culinary artistry, they face numerous challenges that test their resolve. Amidst the intense pressures of Noma's demanding environment and the weight of their individual aspirations, Symone and Luca must navigate their relationship in a career-driven world, where the line between personal and professional blurs, and decisions made can shape not only one's heart but also their future in the industry.  

WARNINGS: slow burn romance, drama, angst, grueling work conditions/not-so-glamorous life of the culinary world, cursing, slight age gap, sexual content. RATED M (18+)

TAGLIST: @cinewhore @stargirlfics @mauvecherie-writes @kdoxkeic @wakandamama @afro-hispwriter @nolita-fairytale @lovebittenbyevans​ @blowmymbackout​​ @superhoeva​ @celestianstars

AUTHOR’S NOTE: So this is my first fic for FX’s The Bear. This contains spoilers from Season 2, so please don’t read if you haven’t watched. In “Honeydew”, Luca mentions that he’s been working as a pastry chef/chef for 14 years, so he has to be in his early/mid-30s (32-34-ish?) and there will be a small age gap between him and Symone. Also, Chapters 1-3 is set a month and a half before Marcus’ stage trip in January. Please send me a DM if you want to be added to the taglist. Enjoy reading! ;)

CHAPTER I: Emulsion

EMULSION: The process of combining two ingredients that are normally unmixable. 

It’s not every day you have a beautiful woman squatting in between your legs while you emulsify a cream sauce, yet somehow this was Luca’s life. 

Luca found himself in an unusual position, both literally and figuratively, as he stood in Noma’s kitchen. Symone was squatting in front of him, holding her Canon EOS M50 Mark II′s lens close as possible to the glass to capture every moment. 

As Luca vigorously whisked ingredients in a clear bowl, he couldn't help but wonder about the unconventional setup. Symone had suggested this idea to capture an intriguing perspective for the pastry team’s social media campaign. While he didn't fully comprehend the concept of having her squat beneath a glass table while he worked, he understood the need to push boundaries and capture the attention of their audience.

The cream sauce emulsified under his skilled hand, the rhythmic motion of the whisk punctuating the air. Symone's focused gaze met his, her enthusiasm for the project evident in her eyes. Luca couldn't deny the chemistry that crackled between them, even in this peculiar situation.

He suppressed a smirk, realizing the lengths he was willing to go to support the campaign. Whatever it took to create captivating content and elevate Noma's online presence, he was prepared to play his part. If that meant having Symone in such close proximity, he would oblige, regardless of the strange dynamics it introduced.

“You better smirk,” she coaxed beneath him, earning her a lopsided grin that tugged at the corners of Luca’s mouth. “Yes...just like that.” 

Luca’s mind swirled with lewd thoughts as Symone's words, dripping with praise and seductive vibrato, ignited a fire within him that he struggled to contain. The unspoken tension between them permeated the kitchen, electrifying the air with an intoxicating energy. A shiver ran down his spine at her tonality; it held so much sexual undertone and he wondered if she was like this all the time, especially in the bedroom. He couldn't help but envision Symone as a dominant force, dishing out instructions with confidence and prowess. The image of her taking charge, unapologetically owning her desires, entranced him. 

The tantalizing notion of discovering if her dominant nature extended beyond the professional realm enticed him, igniting a curiosity that consumed his thoughts.

Symone's unwavering confidence and refusal to tolerate anyone's nonsense were qualities that both intimidated and intrigued Luca. Crazy as it seemed, Luca found himself drawn to the idea of unraveling the enigma that was Symone. He yearned to discover if the sexual undertones he sensed were more than mere imagination. 

He abruptly cleared his throat, snapping out of his reverie and consciously ordering his dick to cease its stirring inside the secure restraints of his black jeans. As the whisking came to a halt and the sauce achieved the desired consistency, Luca slowed his pace and his eyes briefly connected with Symone’s. 

"Nice," she said as she gracefully emerged from beneath the table, her movements deliberate and poised. “Good job.”

Fuck me sideways; her voice!

He liked it a bit too much for his liking, so much so that he wouldn’t — no, stop, don’t you dare go there. Not now, not ever. 

He somehow willed himself to regain control, to push aside the fantasies that threatened to consume him. Luca forced himself to redirect his thoughts, to recommit to the boundaries he had set for himself. 

With a nod of his head, Luca set the whisk aside, his gaze meeting Symone's once again. A comforting silence settled between them, the air thick with unspoken desires and lingering tension. As Luca meticulously cleaned his workstation, his eyes couldn't help but steal subtle glances at Symone, catching glimpses of her through his peripheral vision, as she watched the footage. 

“It looks good, Luca,” she says from over her shoulder. “People are gonna become feral for that lil’ smirk of yours.” 

A faint blush tinged Luca's cheeks as he absorbed her words, his ego momentarily stroked by her praise. 

"Thanks, Symone," he replied, his voice laced with a mix of appreciation and a hint of restraint. "I'm glad you like it."

"I'll put this together and send you a copy once I'm finished," Symone declared.

"Sounds good to me," Luca replied quickly, his hands instinctively reaching for the towel hanging from his apron to wipe off his hands. However, the aggravated look that crossed Symone's face caught his attention, causing him to raise an eyebrow. "Everything good?"

Symone's response was swift and direct, her arms crossing over her chest in a defensive stance. "I don't like your attitude," she proclaimed, her tone filled with frustration. "I mean, it's been two weeks since James told you about Japan and us working more closely together, but you've been an asshole more than usual."

Luca's eyes widened at her blunt honesty, and he took a moment to process her words. He had been aware of his change in demeanor, but he had hoped that he had managed to keep it under control. It seemed that Symone had seen through his facade, and the realization left him momentarily speechless. “Just trying to help as much as I can,” he says in a mock apologetic tone. 

“Bullshit,” she adds sotto voce, moving closer to him. “You were supposed to talk to me about doing this behind-the-scenes series and I have yet to hear from you.” 

“I’m busy, Symone,” he scoffs, rolling his blue eyes in annoyance as his anger heightened. “Besides, you can film me while I’m prepping and cooking. I don’t see why having another meeting for this series is necessary. I have a lot of shit to work on, Symone, and I don’t want to hear you complaining about some fuckin’ social media campaign.” 

Symone's exasperated growl caused goosebumps to rise on Luca’s arms. For the second time that day, he found himself captivated by this newly revealed side of Symone, the fierce determination and raw authenticity that radiated from her.

"Fuck you. Hopefully, your attitude is better tomorrow," Symone retorted.

Luca's regret washed over him like a wave. He opened his mouth, ready to apologize and offer an explanation, but before he could utter a single word, Symone stormed out of the kitchen with a fiery intensity, leaving Luca standing there, momentarily stunned. Luca felt a pang of remorse for his part in their exchange. He had let his guard down, allowing his emotions and fears to cloud his judgment. He knew he needed to make amends, to set things right with Symone.

With a sigh, Luca gathered his thoughts and made a mental note to address the situation first thing in the morning. He vowed to himself that he would approach Symone with a genuine apology and a willingness to bridge the divide that had formed between them. 

As he resumed his other work in the kitchen, Luca's mind remained fixed on Symone's departure. He couldn't deny the mix of emotions stirring within him — the regret for his words, the longing to find common ground, and the undeniable attraction that continued to pull him towards her. He was in a continuous battle within himself, constantly contradicting between being a professional and delving into his personal desires.

He had been harboring a crush on Symone for quite some time, however, he was acutely aware of the complications that could arise from mixing his personal desires with his professional life at Noma. He couldn't bear the thought of being an asshole to Symone, yet he feared that acknowledging his feelings would only complicate matters further. 

Lost in his thoughts, Luca's concentration faltered, leading to a momentary lapse in focus. The knife in his hand slipped, resulting in an unintentional cut on his finger. A sharp pain jolted through him, causing his team members to notice his distress.

"Chef, are you okay?" Maria, ever attentive and caring, approached him with concern etched on her face.

Grimacing, Luca grunted out a curt, "Yes, I'm fine," though the pain lingered and matched the turmoil in his heart.

Maria, not one to be easily fooled, sensed his inner struggle and gently urged him toward the employee lounge. "Come on, Chef, let's get that cut cleaned and bandaged properly."

Reluctantly, Luca followed Maria's lead, allowing her to guide him away from the kitchen. In the privacy of the lounge, Maria attended to his wound, her touch both gentle and firm. 

"Luca," Maria stated matter-of-factly, her voice tinged with concern, as she carefully tended to his wound. "You need to get your shit together." 

The truth of her statement resonated within him, leaving him pondering just how transparent his internal struggle had become. Undeniably aware of his infatuation with Symone, Luca couldn't help but wonder if others had also noticed the subtle shifts in his demeanor. Had his attempts to keep his feelings hidden fallen short? Did his actions betray the turmoil he experienced within?

Maria's straightforwardness served as a wake-up call, forcing him to confront the reality he had been evading, yet despite this, ever the stubborn mule, Luca immediately dismissed it. 

Luca let out a frustrated sigh, feeling the weight of Maria's words bearing down on him. "I'd rather cut myself again," he muttered under his breath, a mixture of self-pity and defiance in his voice.

Maria shook her head in disappointment and shrugged, understanding the complexity of his emotions. After wrapping the bandage, she left the lounge, leaving Luca alone to his own devices. As he sank into the couch, exhaustion and frustration intertwined within him.

His heart heavy with indecision, Luca knew he needed to confront his feelings and find a way to navigate this treacherous terrain. 

With a deep breath, Luca closed his eyes, allowing himself a moment of rest before he decided to do something foolish and jeopardize his entire career. The conflicting desires within him battled for dominance, leaving him weary and drained. 

His phone suddenly buzzed, spurring him out of his contemplation. With a sigh, he reached for it and saw the name "Carmen Berzatto" flashing on the screen. Carmen, a former colleague and friend, was calling him.

"Hey, mate," Luca answered, wearingly. "What's up?"

Carmen's voice emanated from the other end of the line. "Hey, Luca! How's everything going over there at Noma? Listen, I wanted to ask if it's cool if I send my pastry chef, Marcus, to stage with you guys in Copenhagen in January. It'll be a great opportunity for him to learn from your team."

Luca's brow furrowed, his mind still preoccupied with his own personal dilemma. He exhaled deeply before muttering, "Sure, Carm. That's fine."

Sensing Luca's somber tone, Carmen asked, "Hey, man, is everything okay? You sound a bit off."

Luca let out a halfhearted chuckle. "Just the usual shit, you know. Work and personal stuff."

Carmen's voice took on a mischievous tone. "Ah, I see. Well, you know what they say — sometimes all that tension disappears if you get laid."

Luca couldn't help but roll his eyes, despite the flicker of amusement that danced within him. "Maybe you should take your own advice, Carmy."

Both men erupted into laughter, a shared understanding passing between them. They were well aware of their intense and hyperfocused nature when it came to their careers. The accumulation of pent-up energy often found its release in the realm of physical intimacy. However, Luca couldn't help but reflect on the last conversation he had with Carmen, where he was grappling with the heartbreaking aftermath of his brother's suicide. It was clear that Carmen had been preoccupied with more important matters at the time, leaving little room for such indulgences. As for Luca, he reluctantly acknowledged that he had been foolishly neglecting his own needs and desires, all in the name of upholding a veil of professionalism. 

He needed to get a grip and figure this shit out.

            _______________________________________________

In the crispness of the wintry morning, Luca took a momentary break from his prepping and other kitchen duties. Leaning against the outside wall of the kitchen door, he found solace in the stillness of the early hours, his fingers tapping on his phone as he attempted to compose an apology email. The tendrils of smoke from his cigarette swirled gracefully in the air, intertwining with the cool breeze that brushed against his face. The soft rays of the morning sun cast a gentle glow on his features, highlighting the contemplative expression in his eyes. Time was slipping away, and the beginning rush of lunch service would commence in a few hours, but for now, Luca sought the tranquility of the moment.

For the entire night, Luca tossed and turned in his bed; he couldn't escape the relentless thoughts of Symone that consumed his every waking moment. In the depths of his slumber, his dreams became a vivid tapestry of possibilities, where he replayed scenarios of their encounter from apology to rejection, and even to the forbidden intimacy they shared in the confines of the kitchen.

How could he navigate this attraction to her while maintaining their professional relationship? He knew that an apology was necessary, a first step toward rectifying the tension between them, but he needed a plan to ensure that his feelings wouldn't interfere with their work.

Suddenly, his gaze lifted from his phone and fixed on a figure emerging from the direction of the farm. It was Symone, camera in hand and tote perched on her shoulder, bundled up in a parka and heeled boots. The sight of her stirred a mix of emotions within him. He watched as she noticed his presence and muttered a curse under her breath, quickly changing her course to avoid him by taking a detour to a side entrance.

"Really, Symone? You have to go out of your way to avoid me?" Luca's voice sliced through the wintry air, causing her footsteps to falter. She pivoted on her heels, facing him with guarded eyes.

"Are you still being a dick?" Symone shot back, her tone tinged with resistance and a flicker of amusement dancing in her gaze.

Luca chuckled, unable to resist the subtle humor in her words. Symone tried to ignore the way his laughter sent a pleasant shiver down her spine, mentally cursing his attractiveness, tall stature, deep accented voice, muscular build, and the tattoos adorning his forearms. It took every ounce of her willpower to resist the temptation of jumping his bones right then and there.

With a genuine tone, Luca looked directly into Symone's eyes and offered his heartfelt apology. "Symone, I'm truly sorry for my behavior. I understand that I've made things difficult for both of us, but I want to make amends."

Symone's expression softened slightly, and she nodded in acknowledgment. "Apology accepted," she replied cautiously, her voice holding a trace of relief. "But, I need your commitment. If we're going to work closely together on this campaign, I need you fully invested. I need your active participation in the behind-the-scenes series, and I need you to provide everything I need."

Luca's response was immediate, his determination shining through. "You have my word, Symone."

A glimmer of satisfaction appeared in Symone's eyes as she nodded in approval. "Good," she replied, her voice more relaxed now. "Glad you found some sense.”

"Thank goodness," Luca replied a mischievous glint in his eyes, causing Symone to burst into laughter. The tension between them seemed to dissipate, replaced by a lighthearted banter that felt refreshing and familiar. With a final pull from his cigarette, he stubbed it out against the concrete ground with the sole of his work boot, dispersing the smoke into the wintry air.

"I'll try my best not to be a dick," he continued, a playful smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. "But no promises. It seems to be ingrained in my nature, you know, being a chef and all."

Symone raised an eyebrow, a mock look of astonishment appearing on her face. "Oh, how wonderful. Using your choice of career as a built-in personality trait. Not toxic at all."

Luca chuckled, nudging her shoulder gently. "Hey, I can't help it if the heat of the kitchen rubs off on me. But don't worry, I've got layers. More than just spices and sauces, you know? Did you eat breakfast yet?"

"Fucker," Symone playfully retorted. "Alright, Chef Layers, let's get inside before I turn into a human popsicle. And to answer your question, no, I haven't had breakfast yet."

"Well, we can't have that, can we?" Luca said, feigning concern. "I'll whip something up for you. Consider it my first step in the redemption process."

Symone smiled, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Fine, but don't get too carried away. I know your idea of 'whipping something up' involves a dozen ingredients and three hours of preparation."

Luca grinned, his playful nature shining through. "You know me too well. But I'll keep it simple this time. Just for you."

Luca held the door open for Symone, his gaze momentarily fixated on her ass as she gracefully entered the warmth of the restaurant. He couldn't help but appreciate her curves and the silent reminder of the underlying desires that simmered between them. 

“I’ll be right back, I’m going to set this stuff down in my office.” 

"Sure thing," Luca replied, his voice tinged with a hint of longing. "Take your time. I'll be right here."

Symone nodded appreciatively and made her way toward her office, located on the other side of the restaurant. As she disappeared from his sight, he released a breath he didn't realize he was holding.

Moments later, she returned, her eyes drawn to Luca as he stood by the kitchen counter, sharpening his knives.

"Hey," Symone greeted, leaning against the counter. "I’m ready for that breakfast.” 

Luca looked up, a smile playing on his lips as he laid his freshly sharpened knife down. His curiosity got the best of him and he couldn't resist learning more about Symone, about the little details that made her who she was. Leaning against the counter, he casually asked, "By the way, are you allergic to anything?"

Symone shook her head, a small smile forming. "No allergies here. I can eat pretty much anything."

"Good to know," Luca replied, his eyes sparkling with intrigue. He continued, "And what's your favorite breakfast meal?"

Without hesitation, Symone responded, "Chicken and waffles."

Luca nodded, taking in the information. "Chicken and waffles, huh? I can definitely whip up some waffles for you. As for the chicken, we might have to save that for another time, but I'll make sure the waffles are the best you've ever tasted."

Symone chuckled at his antics. "I'll hold you to that, Luca. Looking forward to it."

Luca skillfully mixed the batter for the blueberry bacon waffles and Symone stood by the counter, her gaze fixed on his every move. The aroma of sizzling bacon filled the air, mingling with the sweet scent of blueberries.

Symone couldn't help but be drawn to Luca's culinary prowess, and a playful smile danced on her lips. "Impressive, Chef. I didn't know you had waffle skills up your sleeve."

Luca flashed a grin, pouring the batter onto the hot waffle iron. "Oh, you haven't seen anything yet. Just wait until you taste them."

Curiosity getting the better of her, Symone leaned in closer. "So, what made you decide on blueberry bacon waffles?"

Luca chuckled, flipping the sizzling bacon strips with precision. "Well, I thought, why not combine the sweet and the savory? Plus, blueberries and bacon are a match made in breakfast heaven and they’re my favorite."

As the waffles cooked to golden perfection, they continued their light banter, learning more about each other in the process. Luca couldn't help but be intrigued by Symone's family dynamics.

"So, you have a brother?" Luca asked, his attention briefly shifting from the sizzling bacon to Symone.

"I do. His name is Ishmael, and he's a military chef stationed in Germany."

"That's impressive. Must be quite the experience, working as a chef in the military,” Luca added as he took the bacon off the griddle to chop them into tiny pieces.

"It is, but it also means he's fiercely protective of me. He's been pushing me to find a job in Berlin so he can keep an eye on me."

Luca chuckled, understanding the sentiment all too well. "Ah, the overprotective older sibling. I can relate. But I'm sure he just wants the best for you."

Symone nodded, a soft smile gracing her lips. "He does. I appreciate his concern, even if it can be a bit overwhelming at times."

As the aroma of the freshly cooked waffles filled the kitchen, Luca carefully arranged them on a plate, garnishing them with a sprinkle of powdered sugar and bacon.

He handed the plate to Symone, their fingers briefly brushing. The fleeting touch sent a shiver down Luca's spine, igniting a warmth that spread through his entire being. It was a simple gesture, but it held a world of unspoken possibilities.

Symone's eyes met Luca's, a subtle spark of something more lingering between them. At that moment, they both felt the undeniable connection growing stronger, a magnetic pull that neither of them could ignore.

"Thank you, Luca," Symone said softly with a hint of something deeper than gratitude.

Luca nodded, his gaze fixed on her, their eyes locked into each other. "You're welcome, Symone. It's my pleasure."

As Symone took her first bite, her eyes widened in delight. "Oh wow, Luca, these are amazing!"

Luca's face lit up with satisfaction, his heart swelling with pride. "I'm glad you like them. I aim to please."

The restaurant manager, James, sighed in relief as he entered the kitchen, his eyes scanning the room until they landed on Luca. He patted his back with a grateful smile. "There you are, Luca. Thank goodness you're here."

Curiosity flickered in Luca's eyes as he turned to face James. "What's up, James?"

James took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts. "I have an unexpected situation. My in-laws just informed me that they're coming over for dinner this weekend, and I won't be able to attend the opening of Rosio Sanchez's restaurant in Oslo. I was wondering if you could go in my place."

Luca’s eyebrows furrowed slightly. He had plans to enjoy his weekend off, but a free getaway to his former boss’ restaurant sounded tempting. He shrugged, realizing it wouldn't hurt to change his plans. "Sure, why not? I can go in your place," Luca replied as he shrugged nonchalantly. 

James's eyes shifted between Luca and Symone, lingering on the plate of waffles in front of her. "Oh, and bring Symone too. It'll be a great opportunity for her to take pictures for the Instagram and whatnot and to experience Rosio's culinary talents," James suggested.

Luca's eyebrows shot up in surprise, his gaze shifting to Symone, who stood there with a stunned expression, her half-eaten plate of waffles in hand. 

James gave them a mischievous smile before making his exit. "Enjoy your breakfast, you two. And have a fantastic time in Oslo."

As James left them with puzzled expressions, Luca and Symone exchanged a bewildered glance. 

What. The. Fuckin’. Hell. 

[giveamadeuschohisownmovie]

I forgot who it was but I remember someone replying to me about how MCU Valentina Allegra de Fontaine isn’t a bad person and that I was being too quick to judge her based on her interactions with John Walker and Yelena Belova. You know, as if recruiting an unstable war vet who committed war crimes into her shady team and ordering an assassination on an original Avenger wasn’t that bad.

After what Val said about dreaming about the day that America acquires vibranium weapons, even at the cost of what happens to nations like Wakanda, I stand by my early assessment of the character lol. That line was just pure evil.

As a side note, one of my favorite reactions to the character that I’ve seen on this site is that Val is the MCU’s Lauren Boebert. Maybe part of the reason why I thought it was hilarious was because my first thought was that she’s the MCU Sarah Palin.

[applepiewinchesters]

Don’t Blame Me (Helmut Zemo x Reader)

A/N: Hellooo friends. This is a fic I started a month or so ago and just now finished so I hope you like it!! This is based around the song “Don’t Blame Me” by Taylor Swift 

Word Count: 4,200

Don’t blame me, love made me crazy. If it doesn’t you ain’t doin’ it right.

 When you agreed to help Sam and Bucky investigate who was to blame for the recent string of super soldiers running around, you didn’t really think it would entail breaking a terrorist out of prison.

Helmut Zemo was crafty, dangerous, and overall, at least in your mind, a shit person. So, when he emerged from the dark in what apparently was his parking garage, you had to hold back from knocking his teeth in.

It wasn’t long after you were aboard a private jet flying to Madripoor to try and get to the bottom of everything. Bucky and Sam were bickering constantly, and the Baron wasn’t exactly welcome company, but he was quiet as he sat across from you, reading in his seat. 

A question was nagging at you, one that was insensitive in some respects, but you were curious regardless.

“Did you really try to kill us all because a sentient robot decided to try and take over the world?” you’d asked suddenly.

Zemo’s eyes lifted from his book to you, raising an eyebrow as he did. He sighed slightly, marking his page before setting the book on the small tray beside him.

“To be truthful, you and your friends were easiest to blame,” Zemo told you casually.

You eyed him, waiting for some cruel comment, but none came.

“We saved everyone we could find in time, you do know that right?” you replied, crossing your arms.

“Yes, and I do applaud you and the others for that, but my family…” Zemo began but trailed off, a pained look in his eye.

You were both silent for a moment before he continued, “Love will make you crazy, perhaps you’ll find that out some day.”

A nasty remark caught in your throat, and you sat back, because he was right.

 My name is whatever you decide, and I’m just gonna call you mine.

 Of course, your job was being the arm candy. And not even the arm candy of whoever the hell Sam was pretending to be while you four slunk around Madripoor, Zemo’s arm candy.

The dress you had managed to find on such short notice glittered in every light you passed, the gold color of it apparently matching the gold in the Sokovian flag, according to Zemo. The high heels you wore were almost impossible to walk in, and you could hope you wouldn’t be doing any running.

Your hair was curled and pinned back, your makeup accentuating the best parts of your face.

When the car stopped on the bridge, Sam helped you out of the car, and Zemo appeared beside you, offering his arm, his gentleman ways stirring something up inside you.

The man was a murderer, but a classy murderer at that.

You took his arm, and he began leading you towards the city along with Bucky and Sam, who were ready to kill the man if he touched you the wrong way. Despite knowing the fact you wore a knife in the thigh holster barely hidden by your dress, they’d kill Zemo for you at your request.

By the time you finally got to the club, your feet were on fire, and you were ready to just get whatever information you needed and get the hell out of there.

Zemo led you all towards the bar, and once you all reached it his arm let go of yours, moving down to your waist and securing you to his side. Sam looked ready to punch him, and looks could kill, the glare he was getting from Bucky would have made him drop dead.

You tried your best to look happy, even leaning into Zemo to give everyone a show.

“Hello gentlemen, and lady, wasn’t expecting you Smiling Tiger,” the bartender greeted you all.

“His plans changed, we have business to do with Selby,” Zemo lied smoothly, easily and almost absentmindedly, pulling you closer to him when a drunk girl bumped into you.

So close you had to put a hand on his chest as to not look awkward and uncomfortable.

“The usual?” the bartender asked, making Sam only nod, trying to look intimidating.

You could feel Zemo’s heartbeat fast beneath your hand, it seemed his calm exterior may have been just an act.

The bartender set to work, making two normal shots of what you assumed was probably rum or tequila, before setting to work on Sam’s drink.

It was made with at least three different liquors, and you nearly jumped when the bartender pulled a cobra from a glass jar, tossing it on the counter and cutting it open from head to tail, easily pulling out its heart and plopping it in the drink.

You almost snorted, there was no way Sam was going to do it.

The bartender set the two normal shots in front of you and Zemo, and slid the more intricate drink in front of Sam.

“Ah, Smiling Tiger, your favorite!” Zemo exclaimed as Sam reluctantly picked up the glass, inspecting it.

Zemo handed you one of the other shots, taking the other in his hand not on your hip.

“Cheers Comrad,” Zemo told Sam, clinking his glass against the other man’s before turning to you, leaning down so his lips were by your ear, “and you, dorogoy.”

You had no idea what that meant as you weren’t exactly fluent in Russian, one of the main spoken languages of the Sokovians, but nonetheless gave your fake date a dazzling smile before tossing back the alcohol.

It burned your throat as it went down, almost making you feel dizzy, it seemed to be stronger than the average alcohol.

Sam was hyping himself up it seemed, the bartender was obviously getting suspicious. You managed to shoot a look that said “hurry the fuck up” to him and he finally tossed it back, obviously disgusted as he did so.

But at least the bartender seemed satisfied.

“I got word from on high, you ain’t welcome here,” the bartender said pointedly to Zemo, who had Bucky standing close behind him, rather good at keeping up the Winter Soldier persona.

“I have no business with the Power Broker,” Zemo began, “but if he insists, he can either came and talk to me, or bring Selby for a chat.”

“New haircut?” the bartender asked Bucky suddenly, who only gave him a deadpan look.

When the bartender looked away, Bucky leaned over to Zemo, “A power broker, really?”.

“Every kingdom needs its king,” Zemo replied, smiling a bit. “Let’s just pray we stay under his radar.”

“Do you know him?” Sam asked.

“Only by reputation. In Madripoor he is judge, jury, and executioner,” Zemo told him.

Suddenly a man saddled up beside Bucky, telling him something you didn’t understand in Russian.

That was all it took for Bucky to grab him, shoving you and Zemo out of the way as he slammed the man into the bar, bending his arm back and making the man groan in pain.

The sound of guns cocking around you filled the air, and Zemo moved in front of you as he leaned towards Bucky and whispered, “Stay in character or the whole bar turns on us.”

“Selby will see you now,” a man said as he appeared beside Bucky, who let the man go.

“Thank you,” Zemo said, wrapping an arm around your waist again as he led you away, Bucky and Sam trailing behind you both.

You were all led to a back room where the club’s music was quieter, making you wonder if the others inside would be able to hear if you all got shot.

The room looked to be an office of some sort, couches and a desk were the main staples of the room, along with the bodyguards stationed around the room.

Zemo sat down on one of the couches, easily pulling you down onto his lap so you sat sideways, legs hanging off one side and one arm going to rest behind him, the fur of his coat tickling you a bit.

You did your best to look like the bimbo arm candy you were playing, even going as far as leaning into Zemo’s chest, and placing a kiss on his cheek.

His arm wrapped tighter around you, hand gripping your waist.

“Don’t get any ideas,” you whispered to him as a woman with short white hair entered the room. This must be Selby.

“You should know Baron,” Selby began, taking her place on a couch across from you and Zemo, “people don’t just come into my bar and make demands.”

“Not a demand, an offer,” Zemo spoke as you fiddled with the fur on the back of his coat nervously.

"A lot has changed since you were last here,” Selby replied, “by the way, I thought you were rotting away in a German prison. How did you escape?”.

“People like us always find a way, don’t we?” Zemo answered, voice unwavering. “I’m sure you have already heard what I’m here for.”

“You’re taller than I’ve heard, Smiling Tiger,” Selby commented, half ignoring Zemo.

Sam gave Selby a convincing smile, so she turned back to Zemo, “What’s the offer?”.

Zemo smirked, “Tell us what you know about the super soldier serum and I give you him, along with the code words to control him of course,” Zemo spoke, nodding in Bucky’s direction, “he’ll do anything you want.”

Selby smiled, leaning back on the couch, “What about her?” she asked, motioning to you perched on the Baron’s lap, “She’s a pretty one Helmut.”

While your heart pounded in your chest, Zemo only gave you a small smile, his hand moving to cup your cheek, gloved thumb rubbing against the warm skin, “Isn’t she? But I’m afraid this little bird is mine.”

Your face got hot, but you managed a ditzy giggle, grabbing Zemo’s hand from your cheek and holding it in your lap, giving it a squeeze. Maybe a bit too hard.

“Too bad, I could think of plenty of people who would gladly take her to bed,” Selby commented, shrugging off the fact she essentially wanted to pimp you out.

Zemo must have felt you tense up because he gave your hand a light squeeze, leaning over to whisper to you as Selby moved to ‘inspect’ Bucky.

“I won’t let anything happen,” he reassured quietly, making you nod.

While you really tried to hate this man still, it was hard not too when he’d just promised to protect you from the psychopath you were doing business with.

“I’m glad I didn’t kill you immediately, you were right to come to me,” Selby suddenly spoke up, seemingly satisfied with the deal offered to her. “Arrogant, but right.”

Zemo nodded, motioning for her to go on.

“The serum is here in Madripoor, Dr. Wilfred Nagel is the man you want to thank…or condemn, depending on what side you’re on,” Selby explained. “The Power Broker had him working on the serum, but things didn’t go as planned.”

“Is Nagel still here in Madripoor?” Zemo asked.

“Oh,” Selby answered, almost mockingly, “the bread crumbs you can have for free, but the bakery is gonna cost you Baron. And before you get all cute, don’t think you can find Nagel without me.”

Zemo opened his mouth to reply but the vibration of a phone broke the silence, all eyes fell on Sam, who looked like he wanted the Earth to open up and swallow him whole.

Selby frowned, “Answer it, on speaker.”

Sam pulled his phone from his pocket, doing as told, “Hello?”.

“Hey, we need to talk about the situation, it’s been driving me nuts,” came the voice of Sam’s sister, Sarah.

“What situation are we talking about exactly?” Sam asked, trying to keep up the tough guy exterior.

“Are you high?” Sarah exclaimed on the other end, “You know exactly what situation, it’s the only situation you and I have!”.

“What situation Sarah? Say it!” Sam commanded, raising his voice.

You could feel yourself beginning to sweat, this was going downhill fast.

“The damn boat! And watch your tone okay? I let you slide at the bank.”

Sam scoffed, “The bank, yeah. Laundered so much…they’ll come around.”

“If that was the case, why did they dog you out, Big Time?” Sarah asked, obviously annoyed.

“Yeah, you damn right I’m big time, you’ll see when I have that banker killed,” Sam answered, trying to sound cocky.

“Cass! What’d I tell you about the Cheerios? I don’t have time for this! Sam, listen, I’ll have to call you back,” Sarah spoke, and with that, hung up.

Your heels were kicked off and you were ready to run.

“Sam? Who’s Sam?” Selby asked, your heart dropped, “Kill them!”.

You jumped, Zemo joining you shortly after, but before any of you could pull a gun, the sound of glass shattering filled the room, along with a sickening crack as a bullet pierced Selby’s skull from an unseen shooter, killing her instantly.

All of you ran, Zemo grabbing your hand and pulling you from the club, weaving you through sweaty bodies and out into the cool night air.

“They’re gonna pin this on us!” Sam spoke hurriedly as you all began power walking down the street, you stumble a bit as Zemo pulled you along.

“We have a real problem now, so leave your weapons and follow my lead,” Zemo reassured, continuing back the way you’d came.

Phones began pinging around you and it wasn’t long before the sound of gun shots filled the air, some whizzing right past you.

“Shit!” Sam yelled as you all scrambled, Bucky and Sam continued running forwards, while Zemo pulled you down an alleyway, both of you sprinting, breathing hard, his hand never leaving yours.

Your path was blocked suddenly by a rather larger man, and before he could react you ripped your hand away from Zemo’s, reaching for the knife in its holster on your thigh and tossing it, the blade sinking into the man’s chest.

“Come on!” you shouted, grabbing Zemo’s hand once again, as it was your turn to pull him away from danger.

You felt relieved when you spotted Bucky and Sam at the end of the alley you’d turned into, both staring in confusion at a dead man laying on the ground.

“Seems you have a guardian angel,” Sam was saying as you and Zemo stopped, catching your breath.

“You okay?” Bucky asked you, and you nodded, still trying to breathe normally.

“Well, isn’t this just perfect,” came a voice behind you.

You whipped around to find the last person you expected to be there. Sharon Carter.

 For you, I would cross the line.

 Music shook Sharon’s large home, you were almost afraid some of the priceless art would fall due to the loud bass.

People danced, sweaty bodies moving to the beat of the music, or they stood around talking about the art surrounding you.

You sat at a small table, sipping the drink you’d gotten from the bar. Bucky and Sam were “patrolling” at a party of all places, and you could see Zemo on the dancefloor. He danced like the whitest dad at the neighborhood block party, but either the alcohol, or the fact it was sort of cute, made you giggle.

Zemo happened to look over as you were laughing, and you quickly tried to hide it by taking a sip of your drink, but it was obvious he saw you.

In minutes he was sitting across from you at the table, drink in hand, a bemused look at his face.

“Did I catch you smiling at me?” he asked, taking a sip of the amber liquid in his glass.

“Laughing, actually,” you retorted, leaning back and crossing your arms.

Zemo smirked, “You expect me to believe that, dorogoy?”.

“You dance like an old man,” you replied, looking away from him and to the dancefloor.

Surprisingly, Zemo laughed, a genuine one, making you smile a bit.

“Ah,” Zemo pointed to you, “there it is again.”

“Oh, shut up,” you told him, taking a drink from your own glass.

Zemo obliged, but still smiled as he leaned back in his chair.

It was silent between you both, before you spoke again,

“Would you really have protected me from Selby?” you asked, eyeing the man across from you.

“Of course, you had no business with her,” Zemo replied without hesitation.

“Even with my…background?” you asked, referring to your alliance with the Avengers.

The man chuckled, “Like I said, of course, you’ve proven you are much more than what I believed you to be.”

“And that would be?” you questioned, raising an eyebrow.

“I thought you’d be much like your friends, loyal to a fault, but you…you are much more. You know what you want, you know what you’re worth, I admire that,” Zemo told you, and you couldn’t help the blush that crept across your cheeks.

“Um…thank you,” you told him awkwardly.

“You are welcome,” Zemo told you, throwing back the rest of his drink, “now, you owe me a dance.”

You must have looked unsure, because Zemo smiled, standing and offering his hand to you, “I promise to not dance like an old man, as you put it. We must blend in, correct?”.

Sighing, you took his hand, and he led you to the dancefloor, more towards the edge, away from others. He took your hands, moving them so that they rested on his shoulders, and his moved to your waist, pulling you a bit closer.

While the song was fast and loud, you two moved slow, still to the beat, but nothing like the others jumping around you.

“Is this so bad?” Zemo asked, looking down at you.

“I suppose not, but you better be careful, one wrong move and Bucky will make you swallow your teeth,” you joked, making the Baron wince slightly.

“It will be hard not to cross that line with you, I must admit,” Zemo told you casually.

“You can’t fall for the first girl you meet out of prison,” you laughed, but the man in front of you looked serious.

He leaned down so that his face was closer to yours, his lips beside your ear, “How can I not when she is so beautiful?”.

A shiver went down your spine as one of his arms snaked around your waist, pulling you against him, his other hand sliding into yours.

You managed to get out a small laugh, “You’re smooth, I’ll give you that.”

 I would fall from grace, just to touch your face.

 After some help from Sharon in Madripoor and the imminent death of Dr. Nagel, who was shot by none other than Zemo himself, you were all hiding out in one of Zemo’s houses, this one located in Latvia, where the super soldiers were thought to be.

The sheets beneath you were cool and soft despite the heat radiating from your bare skin. You were laying on your side, watching the rise and fall of the Baron’s chest. He looked peaceful when sleeping, the seemingly permanent frown lines gone from his face.

If someone had told you a few days ago you would have slept with none other than Helmut Zemo, you probably would have punched them in the throat. But laying here beside him, the morning sun streaming through the window, you couldn’t help but smile.

Sam and Bucky had left you to “babysit” Zemo last night and hadn’t come back. If they found you like this, they’d surely kill Zemo, and then you, for “sleeping with the enemy”.

This would be your fall from grace for sure.

The Baron’s eyelids fluttered suddenly, slowly opening, blinking in the morning light. He sighed, blinking a few times before his eyes met yours.

A small smile broke across his face and he reached for you, easily pulling you on top of him, despite your slight protests.

“Shhh, just lay with me printsessa,” Zemo spoke, voice gravely from sleep.

You huffed, resting your head in the crook of his neck, his fingers trailed up and down your spine. He turned his head to plant a kiss on your forehead, making you giggle.

Zemo smiled in turn, resting his head back against the pillows.

It was silent besides the sound of you both breathing, both content to lay there forever, although you both knew it wouldn’t last. None of this would, but that wouldn’t stop you from pretending it would.

“They’re going to come for you, aren’t they?” you asked softly, tracing a scar on Zemo’s chest, more than likely from his years as a Colonel in the Sokovian army.

The Dora Milaje warned Bucky just yesterday they would come for Zemo, and that you would all have no choice but to hand him over.

Zemo sighed, arms wrapping around you, “I suppose…but that does not mean I will be gone forever.”

“You’re going to escape The Raft?” you scoffed, making Zemo chuckle.

“Did Sam not do so?” he asked you, “Do you not believe in me?”.

You smiled and shook your head, “Of course I do…it’s just, they’ll find you, again and again.”

Zemo kissed the top of your head, “I’ll find you lyubov’, every time.”

 If you walked away, I’d beg you on my knees to stay.

 You gripped onto Zemo’s coat tightly, sobbing.

“Y-You can’t, you can’t go,” you whimpered, tears streaming down your face.

Everyone knew this would happen, you, Zemo, Bucky. You knew the Dora Milaje would come for him, but it was too soon.

You’d ran with him when Bucky and Sam were distracted by John Walker and the Dora Milaje when they’d all arrived at Zemo’s home in Latvia. You two spent an amazing night at another one of his safe houses.

When he brought you to the Sokovia memorial, you knew he was saying goodbye before Bucky even showed.

“I have to,” Zemo told you calmly, gently prying your hands off his coat. You only wrapped your arms around his waist, wishing that if you held him tight enough, he wouldn’t leave.

“Please,” you choked out, “you don’t have to take him.”

You moved to look at the members of the Dora Milaje standing behind Zemo, but you were only met with a cold glare, “He will pay for his crimes,” one of them told you.

Turning your attention back to Zemo, you were met with a man who accepted his fate. You wanted him to fight, to run, but he wouldn’t, you knew that.

Zemo took your face in his hands, pressing a kiss to your lips, when he pulled away he kissed your forehead as well.

“Let me go, Moya lyubov’, I’ll find you,” Zemo told you softly.

You shook your head as Bucky grabbed you from behind, forcing you away from Zemo, holding you tightly against him as you thrashed, hitting his arms, kicking him.

Given he was at least 50 times stronger than yourself, it really wasn’t much of a fight on his end.

You watched helplessly as Zemo nodded to Bucky in thanks, giving you one last look before following the female warriors to their ship and boarding without a fight.

He only let you go when the ship disappeared from sight and you collapsed, the hard ground beneath you hurting your knees as you fell but you didn’t care.

You cried into your hands, your whole body shaking. The one good thing in your life in years and it was gone in seconds, he was gone in seconds.

“Come back,” you rasped out, “please.”

Bucky let you cry until your sobs had died and you’d stopped shaking. He carefully helped you up and away from the memorial.

“It’s better this way,” Bucky tried to reassure you, but you weren’t listening, you could only think of the phone number Zemo had put into your phone the night before. The number that with one call, could maybe get him back.

 Oh lord save me, my drug is my baby, I’ll be using for the rest of my life.

 Red lights flashed and sirens blared throughout the Raft, signaling a security breach. The lights inside went out and the emergency lights flashed on, illuminating everything in red.

Helmut Zemo sat up on his bed, raising an eyebrow.

Guards ran past the Baron’s cell, armed and ready for whatever, or whoever, had just breached one of the most top security prisons in the world.

The door of Helmut’s cell slid up moments later. Helmut stood, walking hesitantly towards to escape.

A shadow moved in the blinking red lights, walking towards him. Helmut had no weapons, but he’d go down fighting whatever the hell was coming towards him.

But the lights flashed again, illuminating a familiar face. Your hair was tied back, a gun in your grip.

“Dorogoy?” the Baron spoke.

When the lights flashed again you were smiling, running towards him now and when you slammed into him, wrapping your arms around him, Helmut felt his heart skip a beat.

Helmut’s fingers tangled into your hair as he held you tightly, afraid you’d disappear if he let go, still unsure if this was even real.

You buried your face into his shoulder, hugging him even tighter.

“I know what you mean now,” you told him, your voice muffled.

Helmut’s brow furrowed, pulling away from you.

“What?” he asked, making you smile.

“Love, it really does make you crazy,” you replied.

Helmut smiled, shaking his head slightly and pressing a kiss to your lips.

 Don’t blame me, love made me crazy. If it doesn’t you ain’t doin’ it right.

[in-a-continuous-daydream]

Yesterday I remembered the FatWS era, it was so good, and seeing bucky and sam having a personality was the best part

[buckypascal]

Someone please make an analysis of Bucky’s Infinity War arm and his FATWS arm because I need to know how they're different

[radioactivedadbod]

But now that this reveal is out in the open, there are still bigger issues at hand including just how long Rhodey has been a Skrull?! That revelation will have to wait, as viewers come to “understand exactly how long he’s been a Skrull,” Feige adds. “We like the idea of fans going back and watching some of the other appearances of Rhodey and realizing that that wasn't him.”

I dare Feige to come out and say 'Rhodey during Tony's death scene? A Skrull actually.'

He doesn't have the bOSTON BALLS--

[that-sokovian-bastard]

My very quick she hulk review:

I did in fact stay up until 2:40 am watching all of she hulk. I enjoyed it! Definitely a little different. I understand the cgi complaints but it wasn’t bad enough for me to bitch. I also 110% understand why the incels hate it, but I think that’s kinda the point.

totally on board with matt and jen. I hope she’ll get a lil cameo in the daredevil show :D also I LOVE Renee Elise Goldsberry and I am so happy with how much she was in this. Her hair and outfits were killer.

my favorite line was “we’re hulks, we smash things. Bruce smashes buildings, I smash fourth walls and bad endings. And sometimes Matt Murdock 🤙🏻”

[butternuggets-blog]

Zemo's team come to rescue him in Latvia; they've got inside jokes and special incidents and they call Zemo "Colonel Candy" behind his back because of his sweet tooth and Sam and Bucky end up really bonding with them in spite of themselves

[falllpoutboy]

still trying to figure out who exactly julia louis dreyfuss’ val is and what her significance is

[thecutestlittlebunbunfairy]

John Walker is part of the reason why the Sokovia Accords were repealed

[not-a-fever-dream]

It still doesn't make sense to me that Sharon became a villain in FATWS. Like why is this the thing? Why???

[justinewt]

One World, One People - MARVEL REWRITE Chapter Nineteen

 [MARVEL REWRITE-MASTERLIST] - [THE MULTIVERSE SAGA]

Previous Chapter / Next Chapter (??/??)

Summary: TBA

Words: 5.7k

Warnings: TFAWS spoilers (episode 6 specifically), Marvel phase 4 spoilers, angst, some violence, fighting, injuries, deaths, inspirational speech, FLUFF

“I’m almost there.” Sam told them over the radio as Bucky and Frainn walked towards the building, all geared up with their suits on.

“What’s the plan?” Bucky inquired, looking around them as if he was scanning the area and the people there. Frainn was really just staring ahead with a straight face, glancing over at Bucky every now and then.

“Karli’s gotta be close. Keep your eyes open.”

“Well, it could be anybody.” He retorted.

“Sergeant Barnes. Staff sergeant Lokadottir.” Soldiers positioned at a checkpoint in front of the building greeted the two former soldiers as they let them through. She almost never used her military title, so she wasn’t very used to it still, but she didn’t react at all, showing no emotions on her porcelain face while Bucky didn’t reply or say anything either, frowning as he kept observing their surroundings.

“And by the way, I called in some backups.” Sam added. Frainn felt movement behind them and looked from the corner of her eyes, not turning around until the person spoke up and she stopped in her tracks suddenly, leading to the man almost running into her.

“Excuse me, sir, ma’am—"

“You can address me as sir too.” She gave a tight smile, feeling something was off with the guy. The man held up his hand to his face and kind of tapped on his temple before taking off his beanie and pulling something from his face, revealing Sharon underneath.

“Relax. It’s just me.”

“Sharon, what the hell are you doing here?” Bucky asked, surprised to see her away from Madripoor.

“No one’s looking for me here.” She reassured, even though Frainn wasn’t really thinking of the agent’s safety. The goddess didn’t care much. Sharon led the two towards the building, so they wouldn’t just stand there.

“Is that Sharon?” Sam wondered.

“Unfortunately.” Frainn replied keeping a light tone of voice so as not to make it awkward if she came off as suddenly bitter and hateful towards Sharon. She just didn’t like the blonde woman, for some reason.

“Hey, Sal. I thought I’d get the band back together.”

“Thank you. You’re risking a lot coming here.” He said, expressing his gratitude to her over the radio.

“I hear pardons aren’t all they’re cracked up to be.”

“Depends on the therapist.” Bucky retorted with a straight face, looking around as Sam continued talking.

“They’ll move on the building soon. Be ready.” Frainn nodded, listening to their friend’s words, crossing her arms over her chest in a sigh. It was going to be a long night and she didn’t exactly look forward to it, but neither did Bucky, Sam, or even Sharon for that matter. Bucky and Sharon eventually entered the building and Frainn followed suit, sticking with her long-time partner while the former SHIELD agent went another way, to cover more grounds in finding where Karli was at the moment. “Sharon, Bucky, Frainn, what’s going on on your end?”

“Nothing. All quiet.” Bucky informed him.

“No one’s moving towards the building.” Sharon added.

“Karli’s not coming in. She’s trying to force everyone out.” Sam said and Frainn frowned a bit, watching their surroundings as they marched. “You guys are gonna have to do something. Don’t let ‘em out of the building.” They walked through a metal detector upon entering the building and Bucky and Frainn stopped in surprise when the latter beeped at Sharon’s passage. Bucky’s arm was made of vibranium, which wasn’t a metal that could be detected by those machines and Frainn’s spear was something that wasn’t even of this earth, so of course it was Sharon and the possible gun she had on her that made the machine go off.

“Oops.” She muttered. Bucky and Frainn were quick to change their focus and brush off this minor incident, as they had something more preoccupating and urgent to think about.

“Here’s one of them.” Bucky noted. “I’ll get the evac.”

“I can take them out.”

“I know. But be careful.” He sighed, seemingly not wanting to argue with her about engaging with the enemy right now. She was a bit surprised that he was willing to let her go after them without trying to make her change her mind and just stay with him as he tried to locate Karli but maybe he felt that she needed some action right now and in any case, she was clever and cunning, she wouldn’t cause a mess if there was no need and even if she did, she could cover it up with her magic and no one would notice until she lifted the trickery. Frainn nodded at Bucky, and they parted ways. She disguised herself as the man Bucky pointed at a second ago and walked to the area where they had seen him, because it meant there would be more nearby. She eventually found the man and came up to him from behind before before landing a powerful kick to his back, knocking him into a beam of the building. He hit his head hard and fell to the ground heavily as a crack appeared in the concrete or whatever the building was made off and she shrugged, recovering her original appearance. It was fun playing around with her powers, but it was even more entertaining to use her surhuman strength on mundane people.

She wasn’t pleased to inflict pain, suffering or humiliation on anyone she went after, she was only satisfied to see her power and maybe it was because of her father, but she sometimes liked to show off a little. Not necessarily to impress anyone because she didn’t care about people’s praises, not random people’s at least, and really just wanted to challenge herself whenever she had the opportunity to fight. Frainn sighed and in the blink of an eye, a green sparkling light passed over her tall body and she was wearing an outfit similar to her father’s, which she often favored over her own suit, to commemorate him and his memory she would say and it was partially true. But it was mainly because it made her feel greatly closer to him, since it was his signature clothes, and she liked his style a lot so it was with pleasure that she was doing so. It made her think of what Sam told her and Bucky, a few days ago when they left his home in Louisiana. She had to face her demons if she wanted things to get better for her and facing her demons surely meant working on her grief and the tragic and unfair death of her father and entire people. She couldn’t continue to hallucinate her father anytime she would be in front of a mirror and on her own, it was just not viable on the long term and she started to see that. She remembered her uncle, Thor, after he lost Loki and then her in the snap. He was in bad shape, burying himself in his self-loathing and drinking. She didn’t want to do that. For her own sake, but also for Bucky, and Sam.

She advanced in a hallway. The red lights all over the place gave a strange vibe to the building as she walked, which she didn’t like very much. She looked to her side as she passed a corner and a man jumped towards her. It wasn’t like fighting Thanos. She didn’t need the entirety of the Avengers and heroes from all over the galaxy to defeat one man, whether or not he was a supersoldier. She was stronger and more powerful, and those bad guys were no match for her godly self. She grunted as he kicked her chest and she went through a window, breaking the glass and falling on the floor. She stood up like nothing happened, frowning angrily and just tensed her fingers and used her power of telekinesis, throwing him away with force, letting out a growl. She heard the man’s spine crack as it broke while she shook her hair to take the pieces of glass out, annoyed. The glass cracked under her boots as she resumed her walk through the building, thinking of joining Bucky if she couldn't find anything here except uninteresting Flag Smashers jumping from behind the corners. They were maybe super soldiers but in front of her, they were as fragile as any human.

Frainn walked by a fully glazed wall and saw Bucky in the center of the building, a phone to his ear, speaking to someone. She figured it was Karli and teleported herself to him, obviously taking him by surprise as the conversation ended. He looked down at the phone in his hand and gritted his teeth.

“Damn it!” He groaned before he started running and without a question, Frainn followed him. She would ask him later about the call. They rushed down to the parking lot of the building and immediately got on motorbikes parked there.

“Seriously guys, you had one job.” Sharon sneered as she stood nearby, hidden behind a beam.

“You worry about your guy.” Bucky retorted, the two-wheeled engines whirring, and they drove off, exiting the scene. Gradually accelerating their course, the two drove through an alley and passed a guarded barricade, ignoring the calls of the people there. They had to be quick and catch up with wherever the senators were being evacuated to.

“Bucky! Frainn!” Sam called in, grunting loudly.

“We don’t fly, man. That’s your thing.” He replied, taking a turn and stopping the bike for a second, reving the engine before driving off again. Frainn could many things, among which was the ability to teleport herself but without knowing where to, this was a bit useless.  This wasn’t a power she had really worked on in her life so she couldn’t use it to its full potential. She had prioritized powers like her godly ones and telekinesis rather than this one. After a minute, they reached another barricaded zone but this time they couldn’t pass through. Bucky leaned forward on his bike, throwing himself off of it and rolled on the ground while Frainn crouched on the seat of her bike and jumped, landing on her feet when Bucky dragged someone in his fall. It was a Flag Smasher. Around them were the two police trucks in which were trapped all the senators. Bucky and the Flag Smasher started throwing punches and kicks at each other and the goddess analized the surroundings at gods’ speed, figuring out what to do first in that moment. She tensed her fingers, slightly stretching her arms to her sides, bending and cracking the metal of the trucks’ doors so the senators could get out until a fire suddenly blew in her face and she fell and rolled on her side, gasping for air. This was her only weakness and somehow, the Flag Smasher figured that out. The senators screamed inside the vehicules while Frainn was leaning on the palm of her hand, she was suddenly helped up by Bucky who apparently managed to put an end to the fight he was in. When he turned her to face him, he widened his eyes and she didn’t understand but she pushed him away, urging him to help these people. She wasn’t feeling her best, and quite uncomfortable at that but it wasn’t time to worry about her. She would get over whatever seemed to worry the former soldier.

Bucky approached one vehicle and pulled on the damaged doors, forcing them open. Frainn swallowed harshly as a warm sensation starting rose around her face, but she ignored it and helped Bucky as he pulled on the door’s handle. A couple of seconds later, the door gave way and hti the concrete in a metal sound. Frainn generated a clone of herself and took a step back when she saw the fresh burn that ate half her porcelain face. She never saw an injury like this on herself because usually, it would be gone in a matter of seconds, but this was different. It was like a lick from Surtr himself, a burning stain to a Jotun.

“Thank you for saving us.” Frainn looked to Bucky and a man that was inside the truck shook his hand feverishly, thanking him as the others nodded at Frainn, running through the illusion of herself she casted and causing it to fade away and disappear. She was still a little set aback by this sight but regained her composure and let her body take the appearance of her ancestors, her skin going blue and eyes as red as blood, hoping that the burn would go away faster in this form.

“You’re welcome.” Bucky mumbled as the politicians fled the scene and he turned to Frainn, the same worry she saw on his face returning as he looked at her.  

“I’ll be fine. Let’s go.” She declared and turning around, running down the road along with him. She was done playing now, and the Flag Smashers would wish they had never done this, but she saw it as somehow of a punishment for maybe going soft and not going full force against them, as they deserved. She wouldn’t let her guard down again. Bucky rushed at a Flag Smasher pulling a pole from the ground over Walker who was on the ground, holding up a shield and Frainn frowned and narrowed her eyes. The shield was a really shitty makeshift version of Steve’s, and she shook her head and watched the old soldier throw a punch at the Flag Smasher, sending him against a wire netting wall behind him. The man fell to the ground on his side and while Bucky walked towards him as he got back on his feet, Frainn approached, judging that he was fine, so she stayed put until she saw Karli join in on the fight with the pole her peer had pulled from the concrete. Karli repeatly tried to hit Bucky with the pole but the goddess made it fly from her hands, making lose her balance and Bucky grabbed some chains lying on a low wall nearby and hit her in the face. She grunts as she fell. The other Flag Smasher went to kick Bucky and sent him off the construction building. She ran after him as he jumped off in turn, holding a beam in his hands.

She pinned him down, holding the beam against his throat as he struggled against her. He hit her in the jaw with the beam and she groaned, spitting the blood that filled her mouth onto his mask. She cooled down her body, her skin turning blue and her eyes red as it they were completely bloodshot, right up to her pupil, her jaw clenched and frowned eyebrows. She tensed up her hands and got rid of the beam, sending it crashing into a wall, in a thud, raising a cloud of dust. She brought her hand to his neck and held him up in front of her as she got on her feet. His screams piercing through the night. She didn’t have to squeeze much to inflict such pain and when she saw his head tilt to the side, his eyes closed, she just threw him away like he was garbage. She sighed as her body came back to normal when suddenly they heard metal beams creak over them and looked up, only to see a vehicle dangerously hanging over the edge. They exchanged a look and Frainn channeled her telekinesis and wind control and kept the car from falling over until they saw it being very lightly pulled away from the edge for a few seconds so she let go but when Walker fell along with some Flag Smasher, she saw the car gradually plunge into the void when she let out a chuckle of relied upon seeing Sam arriving and helping the car not go down. With her powers, she brought him a little assistance to bring the car back to the top.

She only realized there were people watching when she heard cheering afterwards and she looked around and saw people gathered on the street, some of them holding up their phones and filming the moments, smile stretching their lips. The goddess finally took a second to look at Sam and who she saw wasn’t just their dear friend, it was Captain America. But the relief was quick to fade away when she turned around suddenly after Bucky caught something in his vibranium hand and the two looked at Karli. The moment the girl thought of making another move, the shield came flying around, knocking out the Flag Smasher, all in the blink of an eye. Karli faced Sam, taking off her mask to a disappointed face.

“You of all people bought into that bullshit.”

“I’m trying something different. Maybe you should do the same.” He retorted. Suddenly, a series of sounds of explosions echoed around them, releasing a thick cloud of grey smoke obstructing their vision. People started screaming as a gun was being fired from an upper floor of the worksite. Frainn looked around, unsettled until she, Bucky and Walker heard Sam voice. “This way.” With a clanking sound, Sam put the shield on his back, and the four of them ran in the said direction.

“Hey, Sharon. We’re underground.” Bucky told her over the comms. “We entered the tunnel on William. Heading South.”

“Looks like they’ve split up. Here.” Sam pointed to an adjacent corridor and Walker didn’t even stop in his tracks and just went that way.

“We got it.” Bucky said as he and Frainn followed the jerk with the blonde hair and the hero syndrome. They ran outside and found a few Flag Smashers, masks off, trying to sneak away.

“Mercy bears richer fruit than strict justice.” Walker declared as they walked in front of them. Frainn glanced at him, frowning in confusion. She had no clue if he was quoting someone, in which case she had no idea who it was, or if he had been cooking that one up just waiting to say it to look wise or something.

“It’s a great app.” Bucky added, showing them the phone screen in his hand, hinting as to how the three soldiers got to them. There was a second of silence before police officers arrived from the side and behind them, surrounding them. “Thank you.” He then said, leaving them in the hands of the police before walking away. For some reason, Walker thought it be a good idea to give a friendly pat in Frainn’s back and she just shot him a pissed gaze, pushing his arm away. “Lincoln, really?”

“Great man. Great quote.”

“Not when you say it.”

“Who the fuck is Lincoln?” Frainn asked, out of the blue. Only Walker seemed surprised to hear her ask such a question.

“How can you not know who Lincoln is?”

“I’m not from your realm, dumbass. I didn’t study Midgard’s history, all right?” She groaned.

“Midgard?”

“Ugh, Midgard is how my people named this fucking planet.”

“Lincoln was our 16th President.” Bucky informed her.

“Thank you.” She said in relief, shoting up her eyebrows.

The lights of ambulances and police cars flashed around them with a crowd gathering behind barriers, holding their phones in front of them, filming as Sam descended from the sky, carrying Karli's body in his arms. The rescued Senators watched as well, in silence. It was like no one dared to make a sound until their new Captain America landed softly on the ground and walked forward as a couple of firefighters in dark uniforms brought a stretcher on which he lied the late leader of the Flag Smasher. Bucky, Frainn and Walker took a few steps and Sam walked, ignoring the reporters suddenly trying to get his attention, asking questions after questions in hope of an answer. Bucky leaned against an ambulance and Frainn crossed her arms over her chest, watching Sam talk with a few Senators.

“Sam, thank you so much, from all of us.”

“Sincerely.” One of the senators added. “You did your part in dealing with those terrorists, now we’ll do ours.”

“Are you still going forward with resetting borders?” Sam inquired.

“Our peacekeeping troops will begin relocating people soon. The terrorists only set us back a bit."

"You have to stop calling them terrorists." He said, shaking his head.

“What else would we call them?”

“Your peacekeeping troops carrying weapons are forcing millions into settlements around the world, right?” The man nodded and Sam continued. “What do you think those people are gonna call you? These labels, “terrorists”, “refugee”, “thug”, they’re often used to get around the question, why?”

“Those settlements that happened five years ago, do you think it is fair for governments to have to support them?”

“Yes.”

“And the people who reappeared only to find someone else living in their family home, they just end up homeless?” The senator wondered. “Look, I get it. But you have no idea how complicated this situation is.”

“You know what? You’re right. And that’s a good thing.” He turned to the politician as the latter walked past him. “We finally have a common struggle now. Think about that. For once, all the people who’ve been begging, and I mean, literally begging for you to feel how hard any given day is… now you know. How did it feel to be helpless? Now if you could remember what it was like to be helpless and face a force so powerful it could erase half the planet, you would know that you’re about to have the exact same impact. This isn’t about easy decisions, Senator.”

“You just don’t understand.” He insisted, dismissing the whole speech Sam was giving. He only scoffed and smirked at his reply.

“I’m a Black man carrying the stars and stripes. What don’t I understand? Every time I pick this thing up, I know there are millions of people who are gonna hate me for it. Even now, here… I feel it. The stares, the judgment.” He looked at the people standing around him. “And there’s nothin’ I can do to change it. Yet, I’m still here. No super serum, no blond hari, or blue eyes. The only power I have is that I believe we can do better. We can’t demand that people step up if we don’t meed them halfway. Look, you control the banks. Shit, you can move borders! You can knock down a forest with an email, you can feed a million people with a phone call. But the question is, who’s in the room when you’re making those decisions? Hmm? Is it the people you’re gonna impact? Or is it just more people like you?” There was a heavy silence, as the senators had no answer to give to this. Frainn let out a silent sigh, squeezing her arms slightly. “I mean, this girl died trying to stop you, and no one has stopped for one second to ask why.” He rose his voice a bit and pointed at the senator to his side; just a bald old man that really needed to be knocked some sense into to get it, and Sam was brilliantly doing so. “You’ve gotta do better, Senator. You’ve gotta step up. Because if you don’t, the next Karli will. And you don’t wanna see 2.0. People believed in her cause so much that they helped her defy the strongest governments in the world. Why do you think that is? Look, you people have just as much power as an insane god,” Frainn felt some people glance over at her, but she knew better. She wasn’t targeted by Sam’s words. “or a misguided teenager. The question you have to ask yourself is, “How are you going to use it?” On these words, Sam walked past the Senators, giving a formal nod at Walker on his way and he came to meet with his two pals. Bucky straightened up.

“Sorry, I was, uh, I was texting and so, all I heard was, um, “a Black guy in stars and stripes”.” He shrugged and the three of them chuckled as they walked away from the crowd behind them. “Nice job, Cap.” He then added softly.

“Thanks.” Frainn let her arms hanging to her side, a smile stretching her lips as they approached Sharon, leaning against a car, pressing gauze against her wound.

“Blocking my light.”

“We gotta get you to a hospital.” Sam exclaimed.

“She’s not gonna listen.” Bucky figured. Sharon glanced at him, panting, before looking down at her stomach.

“It’s not the worst thing that’s happened to me all week.”

“Told you.”

“Uh, Cap?” A man called.

“I think he’s talking to you.” Sharon said, breathing heavily and Sam silently chortled. “Look, I’m sorry for how things ended down there. For what it’s worth, suit looks good on you.”

“Thanks.” He chuckled at the compliment.

“All right, look, can we get out of here, please?” Bucky asked, giving looks to Frainn and Sharon. Frainn put a hand on Bucky’s shoulder, and they nodded at Sam as they walked away with Sharon, living the new Captain America to do Captain America’s things.

“I didn’t forget my promise.” Sam reminded Sharon before they got too far.

“I really need to do this.” Bucky said heavily, as he put on his coat, standing near the door of their apartment. Frainn was slumped on the couch, her head resting on the back, face turned to the old super soldier.

“I know.” She nodded and he stared at her with an anxious and concerned gaze and he bent over to press a soft kiss on her lips and walked out of the apartment. She swallowed harshly, staring at the ceiling as she heard the lock clicks and his steps becoming more faded and muffled as he stepped away. She eventually stood up and picked up a golden rod sticking out of a bag lying on the floor. In the blink of an eye, it stretched to its full size, hitting the floor suddenly and she froze in silence, thinking the noise must have echoed in the apartment below. She put her spear against the wall and sighed. “Sucks you can’t summon the Bifrost. I wonder how Thor’s doing.”

She pursed her lips, thinking for a second and walked to the bedroom to take her phone lying on the nightstand. She sat on the mattress, facing the window and unlocked it. She looked up “Thor” and “New Asgard” on the search bar and read dozens of articles about this Midgardian Asgard where her people sought refuge after Asgard was no more than a memory. She learned that this New Asgard had become quite the sensation, with lots of tourists going there. She was a bit taken aback, not really knowing what to make of that, having trouble to think that this place was anything like Asgard. She would have to see it for herself someday but it would probably not feel like home. Yes, Asgard isn’t a place, it’s a people, thank you Heimdall, but she found her real home and it’s not among Asgardians or Jotuns. Her home was wherever Bucky was. Her longtime love. Frainn scrolled down the results when she typed “Thor” in the search bar and she found things talking about Jane Foster, and her death. She had been suffering from a cancer and found help in Mjolnir’s power and Frainn’s first thought was literally that it’s power should be too draining for a mortal to channel it and use it, and it was exactly what had happened. It accelerated her condition and she died, sooner than she would have. She looked at the dates of the articles and they all had been written in late 2023, less than 6 months ago.

She felt guilty, like she had let her uncle down, never even checking on him after the last battle against Thanos. She stood up, letting her phone fall and jump on the mattress and opened the windows. The buzzing sound of the cars passing by, honking and their tires screeching on the asphalt and the loud and indistinct chatter of the people walking down the street; it all came flooding in the apartment the moment she opened the window. New York was definitely a restless city and she had seen places more beautiful than this but this place, Brooklyn, was so meaningful to Bucky and her. It was the first sight she ever had of Midgard, where she met Steve and Bucky in the early 40s and where so much had happened. She had more memories of this city on Midgard than of the realm she spent hundreds of years in. She stepped away from the window and stared at her phone, resting on his screen, and bit the inside of her cheek. If Asgard had become such an attractive tourist destination, there must be a number to contact.

She had heard Valkyrie had become king of this place, but Frainn shook her head and walked out of the bedroom, deciding not to try and call anyone, at least for now. She was worried they despised her for ghosting them for so long, after everything that happened but she honestly had so much here already, she was with her family. She sighed at this thought. Thor was her family. He was her uncle, adoptive but her uncle in any case and she didn’t think of trying to reach out to him. She went to the kitchen and opened a drawer to get a bottle opened and she bent over to get a beer in the fridge. She must have been the worst family member to have, and she felt awful for it, but she knew her uncle, and how much he loved Loki, and her. He was probably sad and surely thinking of calling her or going where she was to see her but never did so, for whatever reasons -which were probably the same reasons why she never did so either. It was as if, as long as he wasn’t dead, she didn’t think much about it. It wasn’t that she didn’t care, she was just not worried about him, not like she was worried for Bucky’s wellbeing… or even hers. The ghost of her father still wouldn’t leave her alone and she was running out of ideas as to what to do about it. Maybe a little stay in New Asgard would help her slay her demons.

The warmth and friendliness of the people in Lousiana, was second to none. Sam's home had a beauty that was very different to anything Frainn had ever encountered. She had seen many palaces, covered in gold or made out of ice but nothing so welcoming and genuine. And the colorful and appetizing smells of barbecued sea food where something she had never experienced either; it was an absolute first. In this place, with these people, there was this feeling that she couldn’t do anything but fully enjoy the experience and it was somewhat of a relief after all this tension build-up of the past weeks. Frainn laughed as she watched Bucky try to dodge the blows thrown in the air by Sarah’s kids as he held the cake, they brought with them.

He took off his sunglasses and put the cake on a table he came across when Sam came to meet them. He gave a friendly hug to each of them before going back to taking pictures with his fellow neighbours. Frainn and Sarah chatted, amused by Bucky effortlessly lifting up kids with his metal arm while talking, standing one foot on the table and another on the bench along it in some heroic pose. As the day passed, the energy didn’t seem to tarnish and was just as lively and dashing as when Bucky and Frainn got there but now, they were watching the sun set over the ocean that stretched as far as the eye could see, in Sam’s company and Frainn’s smile couldn’t fade and she wondered what it was about this place but she figured that it was just this way, and it felt really nice. She shot a smile at Bucky and Sam as they went to see some people back at the party.

Frainn couldn’t take her eyes off the pretty colors of the sunset and looked up to the sky. She closed her eyes, breathing in softly and deeply, as she wished she had Heimdall’s vision, just to see the colors of the universe again, and to see how Thor was doing right now. She was so lost in her thoughts that she didn’t realize Bucky had returned. She glanced to her side when she felt movement nearby and when she turned around, she found him, one knee to the ground.

“Why are you kneeling?” She asked, chuckling as she was genuinely confused and not understanding what he was doing, even when he held up a little box in his hand. Bucky was apparently having a lot of fun in this. It was when she saw the ring that it started hitting her, but she didn’t realize until he spoke.

“Will you marry me, darling?” His soft blue eyes twinkled as they looked up at her face, now very much surprised and speechless.

“Y-yes.” The moment this small and seemingly unsignificant word crossed her lips, everyone on the docks starting cheering, cheered, applauding them as Bucky stook back up and slipped the ring on her left hand. It was only then that her attention focused a little more on the ring; a golden ring with a flower shaped assortments of fine old mine cut diamonds shining to her eyes.

“It was my mother’s. I had a hard time getting my hands on it.” He confessed and she looked up at him.

“It’s absolutely beautiful. I love you, Bucky.” She then went in for a passionate kiss, Bucky wrapping his arms around the love of his life and everyone around them, cheering louder and louder to the bride and groom to be. Frainn had never felt so happy then in the moments she spent with Bucky throughout her life, and she never actually expected this to happen, but she welcomed it with an open heart and a huge smile. He made her full and she was over the moon, and he made it clear to her that he felt the same way. Now, next time she would see Thor, she would have some good news to bring to him, and not just apologies.

[To be continued…]  

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Published (07/27/2022) by Andrea

Taglist: @cathrin2405​ @kika64

[enigmatist17]

So my little sister has finally begun getting me to watch all the MCU stuff that's come out since Endgame. I was always there at every release before, but this never ending Panini sapped a lot of my strength and desire :(

Now not all is lost, I've finally begun my journey (technically started on the 4th) and have watched all listed:

Wandavision: I kinda liked it, even though I'm not one for sitcoms I absolutely l o v e d how they used it to help tell Wanda's story. I'm still not the biggest fan of their pairing, but it's a tale of grief that was done extremely well and it's a good 8/10

The Falcon and the Winter Solider: I unfortunately didn't find this one as good as Wandavision :(

I liked it don't get me wrong, and I absolutely loved how they showed Bucky and his now freedom from the next fight/brainwashing over the last 70 years. Sam was absolutely crushing it, and his outfit at the end???

Fucking 👏 awesome 👏

It kind of lost steam in the middle, and the climax kind of felt a little overachieving for me, if that makes sense. Did love the dialogue between the two and Artem, absolutely hilarious and I like that even he gets a sort of arc/is able to explain his side of what he did to them. 7.5/10, will definitely watch it again without fireworks interrupting me lol.

Loki: 👀🤌👀🤌👀🤌

Definitely my favorite one so far 😍

If you know me that is 0% surprising, but I've missed my little shit of a Norse god so much and to see him again??? 🤌

The chewing of the scenery, the smarmy attitude, the way he grows after finding out what would have happened to him, and how he finally admits he wants to help people, I l o v e it so much.

I cannot wait to see season 2, I was 100% invested and that ending had me practically screaming at the screen AAAAAAAAAA

I will say, my only issue is the whole Sylvie thing, I am.....not sure what to think <:/

Overall 9.5/10, bring me more Gator!Loki 👏

Black Widow: Oh my girl needs a hug :(

This movie really needed to be shown before Endgame, the fact you see her find one family and go to fix her other one is just 🤌

I dont have much to really say, I liked it and the comedy is kind of what I want in MCU movies, there but not way the hell overwhelming like Ragnorok

Overall 9/10 🫂

What If?: I liked it :D

Not much to say, I liked most of the episodes despite some being dark as hell, and I laughed at Frat boy Thor more than I probably should have 🤣

Can't wait to see, or at least I think I will, see Strange Supreme, and Peggy was 🤌

9/10 :)

I'll go more in detail with each once I watch them a few times over, but so far I'm liking them all and can't wait to see Shang-Chi (?) next time :)

[delicatebarness]

i cant read your mind | chapter two

Summary: After hearing the news, you go to confront Sam. However, you end up on your first mission since the return of Thanos.

Warnings: MCU Spoilers. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier spoilers throughout.

Word Count: 1584

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A/N: Two chapters in one night. I did plan for this chapter to cover the whole of episode two of FATWS however, I also don't like the chapters being too long so here's the first half.

Tags: @blackhawkfanatic | @cjand10 | @wintrsoldrluvr | @missvelvetsstuff | @buckys-metal-arm | @matchat3a | @shadowzena43 | @torntaltos |

Your heart pounded in your chest as you scrambled for the remote, turning up the volume. On the screen, a man clad in red, white, and blue filled the screen as he stood tall, winking at the camera. The new Captain America. 

Racing with questions, your mind couldn’t stop. How could they replace Steve like that? And who the fuck even was this new Captain America? Was he even worthy of carrying the shield?

Frustration and anger boiled your blood, mixing with the hurt from Bucky’s appearance the day before. The world felt like it was spinning out of control, and tears began to trickle down your cheeks. 

Taking a deep breath, you wiped away the tears and forced yourself to focus. With determination, you got up and made your way to find Sam.

~

“You had no right to give up the shield, Sam.” you listened to Bucky and Sam talk about the situation as they made their way closer to you. Not yet noticing your presence. 

“Hey. This is what you’re not gonna do.” an amused smile tugged at the corners of your lips as Sam began to tell Bucky straight, “You’re not gonna come here in your overextended life and tell me about my rights. It’s over Bucky.”  

Applause echoed through the room, drawing the attention of Sam and Bucky. Bucky’s gaze locked with yours, while Sam’s eyes rolled.

“You too?” Sam’s voice filled with annoyance as he addressed you. Your smile remained as you stepped forward. 

“How could I resist this party?” you quipped, voice laced with amusement. “Sam, you know I respect your decision,” you sent him a sincere smile as his expression softened at your words. He was grateful for your support, now and back in Washington. “But, we need to fix this.” 

“I have bigger things to deal with now,” Sam exclaimed, taking both you and Bucky by surprise. “What could be bigger than this?” Bucky asked, his disbelief was evident. 

You listened to Sam and Bucky go back and forth about the group called the Flag Smashers and The Big Three. You were on Bucky’s side about the wizards, but you knew agreeing with Sam would rile him up.

As the conversation carried on, you felt a sense of urgency. Without a second thought, you began walking toward the waiting jet. “Where do you think you’re going?” Bucky called out to you, his tone mixed with frustration and concern.

As you reach the jet, you turn to face Bucky, “I’m going with Sam,” you stated firmly, meeting his gaze. Bucky’s gaze hardened as both he and Sam walked towards you, you heard them bickering between each other but resulted in rolling your eyes as you boarded. 

~

The flight to Germany was quiet for the most part, there was an occasional interruption from the rumble of the jet’s engine. You found yourself consistently checking your phone for texts from your date, and stealing glances between Sam and Bucky. They had been engrossed in a silent staring contest for most of the flight. Their unspoken tension filled the cabin. 

“Is that your boyfriend?” Bucky’s snarky remark cut the tension, his annoyance evident as he observed your constant glances down to your phone.  

You raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on your lips. “Jealous, Barnes?” you teased. He rolled his eyes at your response. You tucked your phone away, ready to turn your attention to the mission. 

As the journey to Germany continued, Bucky and Sam returned to their staring contest, only breaking again when Sam got up to pick his comm up. Bucky followed his lead and you followed Bucky’s. And, within an instant, they returned to their arguing: This time about a plan. 

“Where’s the chute?” Bucky asked, resulting in finding out you were too low for them. He looked back at you with concern, he knew he could survive the jump, but you wouldn’t. You knew you couldn’t afford to waste time, it was too risky to attempt jumping with Bucky. 

“I’ll catch up with you from the ground,” you reassured the super soldier, his concern was palpable as he looked back at you. His eyes betrayed him as they filled with worry. 

He nodded, reaching his Vibranium hand to your cheek and running his fingers down your neck. A shiver was sent down your spine, you missed the cool feeling of his left hand. “Be careful, baby,” he whispered in your ear before turning to prepare for the jump. You watched him as you allowed yourself a moment to apprehend the feeling of being called ‘Baby’ by him again. 

~

Stepping out onto the solid ground, you felt the urge of determination course through you. You heard over the comms that Sam and Bucky wasted no time, they immediately sprung into action. Immediately, you began searching for a car you could use to catch up to them. Your mind focused solely on reaching them, you wasted nothing rushing towards a car you knew would be fast enough. Using your government identity to secure it, you thanked the salesman and wasted no time roaring the engine and speeding off in the direction of Sam and Bucky. 

As you sped toward their location, Sam updated you on the tracking information for Redwing over the comms. “Shit!” Bucky’s exclaim echoed through the small earpiece, you pressed down harder on the gas pedal, determined to reach them. 

Finally reaching their location, you witnessed Sam swiftly grabbing Bucky from under the truck, and soaring with him into a nearby field. Meanwhile, you continued to trail behind the truck, your eyes widening in surprise as you noticed the new Captain America engaged in a fight on top of it. 

“Those are Super Soldier, kid, get out of there.” Bucky’s voice was urgent as it crackled through the comms, his concern for you still evident as he warned you of the danger. 

Your voice was laced with determination as you responded, “Don’t call me ‘kid’.” You prepared to face the Super Soldier head-on. As you prepared mentally, you didn’t see the new Captain America about to collide with the car. The impact was catastrophic, causing you to lose control of the vehicle and tumble off the road and into the woodland area by the field. 

Before you could register what had happened, new Cap and his friend had vanished. Sam and Bucky were by your side in an instant. “I told you to be careful,” Bucky reminded you as he gently pulled you from the wreckage, steadying you.

~

As Sam and Bucky conversed between themselves, you found comfort in intertwining your fingers with Bucky’s, his silent gesture of support. A chill swept over you, causing your body to tremble. 

Coming to a halt, Bucky crouched down to meet your gaze as concern plastered over his face. “You okay?” he asked, noting the shallow and rapid rise and fall of your breathing. You nodded, feeling the chill of shock settling. 

Bucky swiftly removed his jacket and draped it over you. Despite the absence of his left sleeve, the jacket still provided warmth and comfort. 

After walking for a while longer, the sound of a horn honking beside you caught the attention of the three of you. You looked up, meeting the gaze of the new Captain America. John Walker, Sam had explained to you previously. Despite his efforts to engage in conversation, you followed Sam and Bucky’s lead, choosing to ignore them. 

However, it didn’t take long for Walker to provoke a reaction out of Bucky, unknowingly circling back to the topic of wizards. This led to Bucky defending the Captain America title, causing a rise now out of Walker. After realizing that Bucky was unfazed, Walker shifted his approach, acknowledging the state you were currently in. 

“Look, it’s 20 miles to the airport. You guys need a ride.” Walker offered, and he tried to convey a sense of goodwill despite the unlying tension. Your eyes pleaded with Bucky as he glanced down at you. Walker might not have been your choice of Captain America but the idea of sitting down sounded appealing. 

Bucky assisted you into the car with a sigh. You couldn’t but grimace inwardly as you locked glances with Walker the moment he shot you the same wink you had seen earlier on television. The one moment you wouldn’t have protested Bucky throwing a punch for someone looking at you, and he misses it. 

You nestled your head against Bucky’s shoulder as they discussed the issue of The Flag Smashers. With each glance from Walker toward you, Bucky's body tensed beneath you, prompting an episode of the infamous Bucky stare-off. 

“Does he always just stare like that?” Walker asked Sam, a smile tugged at your lips at the thought of Bucky’s intense stare making Walker so uncomfortable, he needed reassurance. “You get used to it,” Sam huffed in response. The conversation resumed as they spoke about the government and what they were trying to do to help after The Blip. 

“Battlestar?” Bucky exclaimed, a sense of annoyance mixed with amusement in his voice. “Stop the car!” He commanded the driver. The car came to a halt and Bucky wasted no time to exit leaving Walker shouting back toward him. “Come on, Y/N!” Bucky’s voice boomed a clear demand for you to follow him.

For a moment you debated if you should follow your ex-situationship or simply stay in the car and avoid walking the rest of the way to the airport.

---

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[slayerchick303]

*SECRET INVASION FINALE SPOILERS*

I just finished Home, and I have some thoughts:

Rhodey was in a hospital gown when he got out of the pod! I swear to all that is holy, if they have him been replaced by a skrull after his injury in Civil War, I will march on Disney headquarters! That would cheapen Tony's death, funeral, and Rhodey's amazing conversation with Sam in Falcon and the Winter Soldier. I said I'd freak out if they made the swap previous to FATWS, and I meant it!

Gravik's human face was a man he killed, so I'm assuming the same is true for G'iah. If she is indeed going to be Abigail Brand as leaks have suggested (meaning Abigail Brand is dead), I'm going to be mad! Like legitimately disappointed. Brand is one of my favorite parts of the Astonishing X-Men comics run. I ship her and Beast so hard.

When was Everett Ross swapped? It has to have been after Black Panther because he would've reverted to his skrull form after being shot and/or Shuri would've noticed while healing him. Has a skrull infiltrated Wakandan leadership?! How many? For how long? Because that's BAD. Imagine the havoc skrulls could wreak with Wakanda's resources.

The CGI in this was pretty good. Especially compared to other recent Disney+ titles. That being said, I hate a lot of how they used it. Giving G'iah a huge Drax arm?! Bad choices in multiple ways: A.) the big Drax arm looked so weird as did other things. B.) do they think Marvel fans are too stupid to get what they were doing if they didn't make her arm huge? They should've kept Emilia's arm the same size, only given her Drax's tattoos and skin color at most. We would've understood. C.) the clothing changed too! How does that make sense?

Is Gravik really dead, though? Is Raava? We don't know if Raava has super skrull powers, but Gravik had like EVERYTHING. That seems like it should make him pretty invincible.

How did people not clock how off Rhodey was? There was like an enormous change in his personality. Raava was a jerk!

So, Fury and Sonya only tranqed those secret service members at the hospital. That wouldn't automatically make them revert, right, or every skrull would be outed when they fell asleep. If all those guards were humans, they were legitimately the worst security detail ever. That one guy literally listened to SkrullRhodey pretty much out herself and did nothing. He didn't even warn the president Rhodey was acting uncharacteristically. Every member of White House personale will have to be tested somehow. Maybe check for purple blood?

I really thought Ritson would die at the end. I guess he's just awful (which is unsurprising). I'm glad he won't be president much longer, as Harrison Ford is taking over the role of President Thaddeus Ross in Captain America: Brave New World. That being said, part of me worries that President Ross might be even worse than Ritson.

I kind of loved Varra and Fury's ending. It redeemed the awful, "I guess we'll never know moment."

****EDIT:**** I didn't think about this at the time, but I saw someone else bring it up. G'iah has Captain Marvel powers now! Doesn't that mean she should be caught up in the entanglement mess Captain Marvel, Photon, and Miss Marvel are dealing with in The Marvels?! That's an ENORMOUS plot hole. Not to mention, G'iah is ridiculously overpowered now. People complain about how powerful Superman is, and G'iah is so much worse.

I enjoyed Secret Invasion, even if it wasn't the best Disney+ show. The comics are still WAY better. Regardless, I'm looking forward to The Marvels even more now.