#nonbinary!Bucky

[chromietriestowrite]

I don't know how to be me anymore

Pairing : platonic!Buckyxgn!reader

Summary : Bucky's always felt different. When he finally starts being ready to figure out what it means, he turns to you to try and find out where to go from here.

Warnings : Nb!Buckyxnb!reader, tiny bit of angst, comfort, fluff, dragcreature!reader, Buck trying to figure out who he is

Word count : 2,494

A/N : Hi guys, I finally decided to post my second fic! I tried to write something as wholesome as possible. Hopefully some of you will find some comfort reading this.

English is not my first language. Don't hesitate to tell me if something is incorrect.

Bucky opened the door abruptly. His hair was a mess, as if he had been running his hands through them for a while. You could see he was nervous.

He had been cryptic in his text asking you to come over. You weren't sure what it was about but seeing his trembling hands, you knew it had to be important. You looked at him with a smile, trying to ease his nerves.

'Can I come in?'

He then registered the fact that you had been standing in his doorway waiting for him to move his body out of the way. He look at you sheepishly.

'Sorry. Please do come in. I'll get you some water. Are you hungry? I should have made us something to eat. I can heat up some leftov-'

'A glass of water is perfect. And I just ate before coming, thank you though'. You stopped his rambling, a reassuring look on your face. 

He went to the kitchen to fill up two glasses with water.

'So, what did you want to talk to me about?'

He looked at you surprised. 'How do you know I wanted to talk to you about something?'

You smiled. 'Well I guess I know you that well. Or maybe I'm clairvoyant. Also, you might have sent me a text saying are you free, I need to talk to you about something.

'Oh, right' He chuckled a bit, his hand finding its way behing his neck, a slight blush colouring his cheeks.

You could see how hard this was for him, his hands fiddling with the hem of his shirt, he eyes looking everywhere and nowhere all at once. 

'Hey, whatever it is, it's me you're talking to. I understand you're nervous but I’m here to listen. I'm not here to judge or give you unsollicited advice. I'm your friend, and I here, always. You can count on me.'

A small smile found its way on his face. He figured he might as well dive into it, no point in delaying it.

He had known he needed someone to talk to about this. Not just someone, you. And he felt ready. No matter how hard it was to actually say the words out loud, he wanted to. 

He sat down on the sofa gesturing for you to do the same. He took a big breath, and started talking.

'Do you remember when you dressed me up and did my makeup for your show?'

A few weeks back, during one of your shows as a dragcreature, the public had to come wearing at least one item a drag queen/king/person/creature. Bucky had wanted to go all out. He always loved coming to your shows and was hell bent on being the fiercest in the audience. 

You nodded. He had been praised by all your fellow drag performers, having shown up looking like a dark priestess, slaying makeup, hair, outfit and demeanor.

'I felt something as you were doing my makeup. I felt powerful and amazing when I looked at myelf in the mirror'

'I know. I saw how you face lit up. And I noticed how you kept staring at your makeup in the rear view mirror.'

Bucky blushed looking down. 

'Don't be embarassed, I do it too.'

Bucky took a breath, you could see he had started to relax a bit. What he said next showed you he felt safe enough to open up. 

'Back in the army, with the howling commandos, we went out for a drink one night.

We were exhausted, both physically and emotionally and it felt good to take a break. To not be soldiers but a group of people, having a drink, not thinking about the war raging around us. 

Steve was having a hard time relaxing. He didn't know how to put the shield down, not even for one night. So the guys and I, we decided to go do a little private show for him.

We went to the dancers' tent and tried their USO costumes on. The amosphere was light, we were having fun being silly together.'

He took a pause. Looked down, his hands trembling harder. 

'When I put on the costume, I felt that thing. The same thing I felt when you dressed me up. I felt b... I felt beautiful. It felt right. 

And I had the biggest smile on my face. I twirled, I danced, I laughed. I felt like there was nothing that could take that feeling away. 

Steve noticed. Of course he did. He knew me better than anyone. He didn't say anything though. Well, not with words anyway.'

A small, nostalgic smile crept up on his face. 

'He stole one of the USO uniforms, the one I had on that night and gifted it to me. He said it was to remember that night by, but we both knew there was actually a way deeper meaning to it.'

Bucky looked at you, for the first time since he started talking.

'Did you know they kept it? It was in the museum along with the howling commandos' stuff from the war.'

You knew his question was rhetorical so you just nodded, urging him to keep going. 

'While I was recovering in Wakanda, Steve visited me often. Well, he said he came for me but we all knew it was the goats really.' he joked.

The atmosphere felt lighter. Like the more he talked about this, the less scary it became. 

You knew the weight of what he was telling you and it moved you to know you were the one he felt safe to talk about that with. 

He kept going.

'After Okoye helped get rid of he trigger words, he came to celebrate. We spent the night drinking, laughing, remeniscing about our childhood. 

He told me of his life since he'd been in this time. What he had learned, how he tried to build a life for himself here without really ever succeding. How he missed our world. 

He felt that Captain America was all he was anymore. Steve Rogers had died that night on the plane and he never managed to get past that. He never really tried to give himself a new life here. 

He was stuck in this time. I'm so happy that he got his chance to go back. To live the life he was always supposed to live.'

You could see how much he missed his best friend. He had talked to you about that before. The first time the two of you had talked was actually after Steve had gone. You were both overtook with emotion, sad to see a friend go and happy that he finally had a chance at happiness. 

'We both knew I wouldn't want to but he did ask me if I wanted to go back with him. But I knew I didn't belong there anymore. 

I don’t belong anywhere anymore... But I could and I want to. 

'The night before he left, he came to me with a gift. It was that very same costume from all those decades ago. He had stolen it from the museum a few years back. 

He told me that night when we dressed up was one of his fondest memories. One he held close to his heart. Because he understood that I had found a part of myself that night.' 

A tear made its way down his cheek. His voice starting to get uneven. 

'We never really talked about what I felt, what it meant, what I wanted. I think we didn't know how to. But he did tell me something that stuck with me.'

'He said that now, it was my responsibility to bring back the Bucky I was. Or to discover the Bucky I am. Maybe a bit of both. 

This time suited me better than it ever did him. And here, I could actually have a chance to figure out who I wanted to be. Who I had been all this time without knowing, without having the luxury to be. 

'I'm so grateful for that night. And I'm so grateful I got to meet the Steve you knew, even for a little bit.'

You looked at each other and smiled. Steve was the reason you two had met. Even gone, he had found a way to make both your lives less lonely. 

More confidently now, he kept going. 

'I made him a promise that night. To learn to never let anybody define or decide who I am. To learn that only I had the power to do that.'

A tear escaped you. 

'That's beautiful Bucky. And really brave too. 

I'm glad you had those moments. Even if they were few and far between.'

Bucky smiled. He took a moment to think back. He was grateful to have been able to experience those tiny little moments where he felt whole. But he wanted more. 

He looked at you expectedly.

'I asked you here because I need your help. I'm trying to figure out who I am. How to be the person I want to be now. How to be a person now. I know what I want to learn but I don't know where to start or what to ask.

Or who to talk to, exept you. I trust you, I have since the moment I met you. And you have taught me so much already. I'm asking you to teach me more. To support me and guide me through this journey.’

You smiled and took his hands in yours. 

'You are so brave. And you should be so so proud of yourself. I know I am. 

This is a potentially difficult and terrifying journey but oh how beautiful a journey it is. It won't always be easy, but no matter what you find out about yourself, it is worth it. Believe me. 

We've talked about what the gender spectrum is and how it can express itself. How it's vast and both very simple and quite overwhelming. And how you don't have to know where you find yourself in it. 

And the way you're feeling today, how you would define yourself today doesn't have to be the same as the way you feel tomorrow. 

That's part of the beauty of gender.'

'Was it hard for you? Did you always know?'

'It was hard. Very hard at times. But it was also so easy. I didn't know, not for the longest time. 

It came slowly at first.  When I would read about transgender people, non-binary or otherwise, sharing their story, I would understand. I would relate even. 

After a while, I allowed myself to realise that if I felt like I understood, like I knew where they came from then maybe it was where I belonged. 

The more I thought about freeing myself from the binary, the lighter I felt. The closer to myself I felt. 

I was lucky enough to have very supportive friends who were by my side as I naviguated all the questions and changes that came.

They never rushed me or asked me to know exactly who I was or to have any sort of answer. They understood that I was trying to figure out my identity. That I felt as lost as much as I felt found. 

I can't tell you it will go well with everyone because unfortunately it won't. But I hope you know you can find that kind of support with me. I think you can find it with Sam too, if you want.’ 

He nodded. He might not be ready to talk about that with Sam yet, but he did know he could. 

'The world has evolved, but there are still some people who don't want to accept it or who don't want to see it. And they can be so violent in their need for us not to exist. 

And then there are people who will love you and accept without ever really understanding. Not because they don't want to. They just can't seem to, i guess? 

My family is that way. When I came out to them, they asked questions. Tried to understand what it meant, how it felt like. And no matter how much they tried, they never really did understand. 

You looked down.

'They are the only people who still use my deadname you know.

Some of them because they are having a hard time wrapping their heads around the idea that I'm not the person they saw me as. Some of them refusing to accept that I'm not actually the person they saw me as.'

'I'm sorry y/n. I know how much it hurts you.'

'Yes, it does hurt. When they use my deadname, when they don't use the right pronouns. When they invalidate me feeling bad when they do that. 

But they still love me. Me being me has never changed the way they love me. 

Of course I wish they would respect who I am. And I know my situation would not be acceptable for some people. And I get that I really do.

Having your parents still love you after you come out shouldn't be something to be grateful about. But for now, I guess having their love has to be enough for me.'

You took time to reflect. Thinking about how your family is handling your transition hurts, and it's hard to navigate not wanting to lose them while asking for them to respect who you are.

You tried to find the right words. 

'My family is the one I made. The one I'm making, the one I'm choosing everyday. Composed of both relatives and the amazing people whom I love and want to share my life with. 

And you are one of them you know. One of the people who sees me for who I am and loves me unconditionally. 

And I love you and I see you.'

You were both crying. Not sad tears, maybe not happy tears either. But the tears you get from beeing seen. Truly seen. The tears you get from feeling the love someone has for you. The tears that make you feel like maybe you can learn to love yourself that way too. 

He smiled. 

'I love you and I see you.'

'I'll by your side, Buck. Through this journey and any other, always. I'll support you, I'll be there when you need a hug, a book, a sickening makeup, a person to cry with, a person to laugh with. When you need my wonderful vegan banana bread.'

He laughed. You loved hearing him laugh.

'I mean it. I'm here, for it all. I love you.'

He came closer and took you in his arms. Held you so tight. You stayed like that for a while, neither one of you ready to let go. He was crying. You could feel a wet spot growing on your shoulder. You didn't mind. He put his head in the crook of your neck and whispered

'I love you.'

Thank you for reading and remember you are loved ❤️

You can always come to me if you need someone to talk to. We have to be there for each other 🥰

[softspace-fics]

Icky feelings

Honestly hope you guys like this. I'm sorry for my absence, my life has somehow spiraled since Christmas!

Smaller story!

Masterlist - all my work!

Warnings ⚠️: Icky feelings, fluff CG!Stucky x Gn!Little reader

______

The small patter of your feet is heard from the hallway as you make your way to the living room, a small frown on your face. Today has gone relatively well, but everything just felt.. wrong. The icky feeling washed over your body and nothing was solving it.

Toys, videos, favorite songs, dancing, puzzles, nothing could spark that feeling of being safe and okay. So to your babas you went. The urge to just crawl in one of their arms and just rest, to try and remind your brain that you were safe and sound.

You turn the corner into your living room and see your two caregivers laying on the couch together, Papa bucky resting his head on Dada Steve's shoulder, and Dada running his hand through Papas hair. The urge to turn back and run away takes over your body as you feel like this feeling is not worth bothering the two peaceful men in front of you.

Just as you were about to turn away, your Papas eyes drift over to you and he smiles softly, looking at you softly.

"Hey darling, you need anything?"

Dada looks over to you, subtly turning his head to the side in curiosity. You mess with your fingers before softly and quietly walking over to them and just put your head on Dadas chest. They both look at eachother with a bit of worry before the help you onto their laps.

Easy questions are given as you explain to the best of your ability how you were feeling. The two super soldiers softly rub your back and kiss your cheeks as you explain, and remind you it's always okay to come tell them and how proud of you they were.

Sometimes feelings are just to overbearing to take on your own, but lucky for you, you have two babas ready to take action and help you.

[suprsaturatd]

YOU DON’T HAVE TO CHOOSE

Reject the binary! You don’t fit into a box and you don’t have to try. As a nonbinary person and artist myself, it means a lot to me to celebrate that I’m neither a man nor a woman. Did a friend have to remind me to make a nonbinary print to accompany my other trans prints? Yes! Does that make it any less cool? No! Shout-out to all of my peers in ambiguity, and especially to Mx. Nyx, THE Stevie Nicks of Colorado and very cool nonbinary person for reminding me we are worth celebrating.

shop | more of my art | tip me

[description in alt ID]

[hey-pax]

I need more x NB!Reader fanfics.

Ok, I like F!Reader, and M!Reader too, but where's the NB!Readers??? I am Gender Fluid, so I would like to see more of those... I would make a fanfic myself, but my brain is just: "They met. They kissed. They fucked. They lived happily ever after."

If you're reading this and you know how to do good fanfics and you wouldn't mind doing a NB!Reader... please try do it 🥲

[saoirseserenade]

transfem nonbinary he it bucky barnes my beloved tbh

[voiceoffenrisulfr]

Near Misses and Nearly Missed - Chapter Two Lost and Found.

𝐏𝐀𝐈𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒 -> James "Bucky" Barnes x Original Nonbinary Character (Soldierbug)

𝐒𝐔𝐌𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐘 -> The next day. And the start of every next day.

𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐃𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐓 -> 2129

𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒 -> (E) Smut, snowed in (but fine about it).

𝐀/𝐍 -> Even more smut, and the end of my entirely pointless but kind of adorable two-parter. Enjoy!

Check it out below, or on AO3 here! Divider by us!

<- Chapter One

Prompts used (boards at the end);

- “Do You Know What’s Out There in the World?” – @anyfandomfluffbingo; - ‘Ugly Crying’, ‘Sleepy Sex’, “I Don’t Have Anything Left to Lose.”, “Turn the Light Out.”– @fandom-free-bingo (Flight); - ‘Free Use’, “Who Was That?”, ‘Frostbite’– Fandom-Free Bingo(Frosty); - ‘Semi Conscious’ – @hurtcomfort-bingo (CO42); - “Are You Okay With This?” – @julybreakbingo (Kofi Exclusive); - ‘One Day Together or One Good Memory’– July Break Bingo (Summer); - “Does That Hurt?”, ‘Sex in the Morning or Sex in the Kitchen’ – July Break Bingo (4x4); - ‘Snowed-in’ – @multifandom-flash Bingo (New Year - Gen);

When I woke to sunlight spilling through curtains I’d forgotten to close, I groaned, muscles aching with exhaustion and face hot from the light reflected in my metal arm. I went to roll, eyes still squeezed shut, but the shift in position drew my attention to the weight pressing down on my bicep.

Raising my free hand to block the dazzling morning light, the futuristic compound scattering opalescent sundrops across the room, I looked down at the body curled against my chest, breathing steadily in sleep, two-tone hair standing out in a gravity-defying display that made me grin.

I didn’t imagine it.

My mind flashed through the events of the previous day – our accident, borne of my irritation and distraction; their own annoyance and ill-preparedness for the climate of upstate New York; the way their skin glowed when I finally touched them.

Oh, the touching…

The space between my thighs ached at the thought, recalling the feeling of their wetness rutting against mine with wanton desire, and they moaned softly, squirming in the sleep and curling nearer. “Mm, James…” they murmured, fingers curling against me as I trembled at the sound, holding them a little tighter. Mars’ eyelashes fluttered and flickered open, fixing me in a hazy, sleepy gaze. “Hey, horny,” they mumbled, smirking, and I tipped their chin up to kiss them softly.

“Can’t help it… Woke up beside my soulmate,” I whispered, and they beamed.

“Pretty sure you have a relevant fantasy here, too…” they offered, one leg coming up over my hip to press nearer. I quivered and nodded, hips twitching unconsciously, and their eyes closed once more, head falling back as they hummed softly. “God… Please…”

That was all the encouragement I needed. Within a heartbeat, I was reaching to scrabble blindly in my toy drawer once more, sliding into a harness with the speed that came with studious practice in anticipation of this day. They smirked knowingly without opening their eyes – but at the first probe of my cock gently against their already slick folds, their gaze found mine, lips parting in anticipation.

My eyes were locked on theirs as I pressed inside them slowly, light and dark fixed intently in one another’s sights, even as their pupils blew wide and their skin glowed under my hands. “Does that hurt?” I breathed, patiently sinking half an inch further as they shook their head insistently.

“So good… So big…” they whimpered, head falling back, and I groaned, hand finding the small of their back to pull them closer, to take them deeper, lips falling ravenously on the throat offered so willingly to my mercy.

“You know so many of my fantasies,” I noted breathlessly as my hips met theirs, the fingertips of my free hand holding their thigh tightly as they trembled around my sheathed length. “Tell me one of yours.”

They blushed shyly, shifting to press their forehead to mine. “I-I don’t…” The redness of their cheeks increased as they stammered, and I raised an eyebrow, beginning to move painfully slowly inside them.

“Tell me how to make you feel good, acushla,” I purred, one hand moving between their legs to caress their clit lightly, letting out a quiet groan at the brush of my cock as it moved inside their soaked hole, their pitiful, pleasured whimpers making the ache between my own legs intensify. “Tell me what you used to think about in the darkness, legs spread, crying out for me…”

My hips snapped forward, eliciting a deafening moan and hands grasping at my shoulders in desperation. “I-I thought about you degrading me,” they admitted, bright-eyed and breathless, moving against me as best they could as their nails curled against my skin. “I th- mm! – I thought about you calling me a whore and a fucktoy, and tying me down with my legs spread, free for you to use as and when you wanted…”

I growled with desire, shifting to pin them beneath me, pressing myself deeper as their legs wrapped around my hips instinctively. “That sounds so good, sweetheart… I love the thought of you being at my disposal, so needy and eager…”

They whined hungrily, pussy growing ever wetter beneath my tender caresses. “Please, James- please, I-I want- I need- Please-”

I crooned my sympathetic understanding, lengthening my thrusts until every inch of silicone was utilised and they were gasping and writhing, hips moving time with my own, back arching in a desperate attempt to take me further inside them. “That’s it, baby,” I purred as their muscles grew tight with impending release, slamming into them harder, their body jerking under the force. “That’s it - give me everything, my love… Come for me.”

They cried out at my command, every atom of their body convulsing and spasming frantically as they came undone beneath me, sobbing their pleasure as they impaled themselves desperately on my length.

I kept my pace steady until their wire-tight frame release, slowing gradually, trembling with the effort and drawing to a halt, resting my sweat-damp forehead against their collarbone gently.

They lay in my arms for over an hour, tears drying from their face-crumpling, bone-trembling sobbing, overwhelming and overstimulated and overtired. It was surreal, watching them doze against my chest, blazes of light following my fingertips as I traced patterns on the exposed skin of their spine. I found myself quite unable to lapse back into sleep, lost in the mesmerising display of their flesh and the feeling of their soft, sleep-warm body pressed close against me.

When they stirred at last, they seemed startled to find me sliding back between the sheets, a fresh cup of tea releasing curling whisps of steam into the cool morning air from where it rested on the bedside table. Once their wide eyes had relaxed again, I gently guided their body back to me, sighing happily when they proved only too happy to resume their position curled against my side.

“We’re a little snowed in,” I murmured, lovingly smoothing stray tendrils of hair from their forehead. They simply smiled, purred, and curled closer, leaving me to chuckle in surprise. “I thought my little city mouse would be more afraid. You astound me.”

“I can think of worse things than being trapped here with you. This is exactly where I want to be,” they breathed back, cheek rubbing gently against my chest.

My gaze shifted to the gap in the curtains, revelling in the specific contentment that comes from being encased in comfort and warmth while watching a snowstorm. “I can’t think of anything better,” I whispered, pressing a gentle kiss to their hair.

We were startled from our contented slumbering by an obtrusive ringing, and I snorted.

“Is that the theme song from Jurassic Park?”

“Yes,” they replied stubbornly, one eyebrow raising as they reached for their cell. “Do you have a problem with Jurassic Park?”

“No, it’s one of my favourite movies,” I replied, chuckling and kissing their temple fondly as they nestled back against me to answer the call.

“Hello? … Yes… No, I don’t know… No… No… No, I don’t think so, sorry… I guess so? …A few weeks, maybe? I’m not sure yet… I’ll let her know… I know, but… Yeah, I guess. Okay… Okay. I’ll see you then. I love you too.”

They dropped their cell to the bed with a sigh, curling closer into my side, and I cocked my head curiously. “Who was that? Not that you have to tell me,” I added quickly, flushing. They let out a quiet, musical laugh, and pressed a kiss to my chest.

“My mum,” they answered readily, earning a grin at the cute English inflection. “She calls every week or so, just to check in. She wanted to know if I’ll be coming home for my sister’s birthday.” They chewed on their lip nervously, and I felt my forehead crease minutely in concern.

“Are you okay?”

With a soft shrug, they shook their head. “I know she wants me to come back, but… I can’t leave. Not now. Not when we’ve only just met…”

I smiled gently, holding them closer. “When’s the birthday?”

They scowled, unable to meet my gaze. “Next week…” Fingers curling against my skin, they shimmied ever impossibly closer. “I don’t know how we’re going to… Arrange this, but… I don’t want to go. All I know is that I don’t want to go… I mean, I have no problem with seeing my sister for her birthday, I just… I don’t want to leave you.”

“Then don’t,” I whispered softly, pressing a tender kiss to their forehead. “If you want to go, I’ll come with you, if you want. If you’d rather stay here, we can do that, too. You can stay here as long as you like, sweetheart. Forever, if you’re so inclined. And I’ll go anywhere you ask of me.”

Their eyes filled with tears as they found mine once more, shining and joyous. “You will?”

“Of course I will,” I chuckled, tipping their chin up to kiss them softly. “I waited long enough for you. I’m not letting you go that easy.”

They grinned broadly, arms raising to snake around my neck. No sooner had their lips brushed mine than they bolted upright, looking surprisingly alert and excited. “Oh, hey – you still haven’t shown me your studio!”

I laughed, shaking my head fondly, and sat up with a groan of effort. “Alright. Come on, then.”

They circled the top floor with fascination, fingers grazing lightly over paint and canvas, eyes wide. “You made all these?” they clarified softly, blinking owlishly when I offered a sheepish nod in response. “You’re amazing.”

I grinned shyly, leaning against the railing above the stairs to watch as they moved through my space. They paused at each photograph blown large, each smear of graphite and paint, gazing with unrestrained adoration. “It pays the bills,” I replied, shrugging lightly. “I worked retail when I was a teen; it’s definitely nicer to be doing something I love.”

They smiled, glancing back at me only briefly before returning to my work. “I know the feeling,” they hummed, nodding. “I had this office job, which… Well, let’s just say that it wasn’t good for my mental health.” With a visible shudder, they paused, eyes shifting to the snow still blurring the world beyond the window. “It’s really coming down out there, huh?”

I nodded, taking a long sip of my coffee and letting the heat radiate through me with a comfortable shiver. “Yeah – it can get pretty bad up here. You’d likely have gotten frostbite if I hadn’t found you,” I added with a worried frown. “… It was pretty reckless, what you did.”

They shrugged one shoulder noncommittally, watching the storm in silence for a few minutes. “I’d have been fine. I had a blanket…”

“It’s not just the cold,” I replied, voice soft and gentle as I moved closer, wrapping my warm arm around their waist to hold them against my chest, the metal limb carefully positioned away from their body. “Do you know what’s our there in the world?”

Another shrug, and they leant back, head finding my shoulder peacefully. “I didn’t have anything left to lose. I had to try, you know?”

“And now?” I countered quietly, cheek meeting their hair. “Are you okay with this? With…” I gestured about us – at the cabin, the storm, and the life I’d already begun to lovingly carve out for them. “Everything?” They glanced back at me, brow furrowed in confusion, and I smiled softly. “Y’know. We don’t have to live here – in this house, in this countr-”

“Are you crazy?”

I blinked in surprise, and they laughed. “This… Everything you’ve made here… It’s perfect. All of it. I couldn’t be happier, Buck. I can’t believe how lucky I am.”

Purring, I reached past them to place my coffee on the low table, wrapping my arms around them more securely. “I can’t stop thinking the same.” I turned them to face me, fingers tracing along their spine gently. They trembled under my touch, stretching up on their toes to kiss me softly, hand tangling in my hair. Immediately, I found myself helpless, hands sliding beneath their ass to lift them, their legs wrapping around my waist. I groaned softly against their lips, all thoughts of my studio and conversation and anything except them fading from my mind. My feet began moving without forethought, carrying them instinctively, their hands on my neck making goosebumps rise.

Their back met the door as I kicked it close behind us, fingers curling in their waistband with a hungry groan. “Turn the light out,” I breathed, warmth spreading through my extremities at their soft, happy laugh as they reached for the switch.

[a-strange-echo]

Flufftober day 7: "Porch swing"

Pairing: Steve Rogers x reader

Summary: Just a nice evening with your husband Steve Rogers and his best friend.

Word count: 612

Warning: Bucky's cooking skills (he was distracted by the sight of his best friend ('s romantic moment)), none just fluff

Author's note: This one is very late I am sorry, i really haven't been feeling like writing for a while but it's coming back so i will post every day I missed soon. Also, day 6 migt come very late, I can't find the motivation to write this one, I don't know why. English is not my first langage and it's still not beta read, sorry for any mistake, please notify me if there is any.

Author's feelings: I really like this one, I hope you do too.

Everything was fine now. The war against Thanos ended. Steve volunteered to bring the stones back in their timelines and although you and Bucky were a little scared Steve would stay with Peggy in 1939, he came back. With Natasha. Everything was nice, Tony is alive (thanks to a last utilization of the stones), Natasha came back when Steve brought the Soul Stone back on Vormir, and Steve had his dance with Peggy, like they promised each other back in the days. And the first thing he did after bequeathing his shield to Sam was to finally marry you and buy this house on the countryside he had always wanted. It was a pretty big house, a cottage not far away from the city but far enough he didn’t feel as if he would have to jump into battle at any given moment. The stone walls of the house were perfect to isolate from the cold of the winter but kept the inside fresh in summer. It also had a big backyard to plant some flowers and other plants. But what Steve preferred about the house was its wooden front porch with the swing he hung there. He liked to sit here during cool evenings, watching the stars or just enjoying the calm of his new life.

Tonight was especially perfect. Bucky was visiting and you were more than happy to have him over for a few days. He was helping you cook dinner in the kitchen when you saw Steve sitting on the porch swing. You asked Bucky if he would be alright finishing to cut the vegetables on his own. At first he was confused by the sudden question, cooking together had always been your thing, but when he saw you glance at Steve outside, he smiled and shooed you away. You took a plaid that was laying on the couch after washing your hands of the remaining tomato juice and smell and joined Steve outside.

You tried to sneak up on him even if you knew he had heard you as soon as you opened the door. You were only a few feet away from him when you saw his tender smiled and soft eyes. You decided against your original plan to dump the blanket on his head and instead walked around the swing and sat beside him, draping the plaid over your legs. Steve smiled and took you hand in his. Even after years of being together, it still made your heart flutter when this big, strong man was being so soft with you.

“-You look like an old man, sitting on the porch swing and watching the sunset.” You teased softly, bumping his shoulder with yours.

“-That’s because I am an old man.” he laughed.

“-True.”

You both giggled at that, stuck in your bubble, your own little world. After calming down, you leaned closer to him and put your head on his shoulder, squeezing his hand that was still holding yours. You watched as the sky shifted from blue to orange and from orange to pink. It was so pretty but if you asked Steve, he would respond that nothing was more beautiful than you. And you would disagree, and he would insist that it’s true and you would have a small, funny argument over it. But that didn’t happen today, he just placed a soft kiss to your temple and you knew what it meant: a silent ‘I love you’.

Everything was fine on the porch swing, just two lovers sharing a tender, romantic moment and the husband’s best friend behind them, not daring to interrupt their moment to tell them he burned the food.

[the-chimeras-claws]

Bucky: So what's your plan?

Juniper: I thought we could Steve Rogers it.

Bucky: at no point as any good ever come from using 'Steve Rogers' as a verb.

[dervampireprince]

ASMR | Marvel - Bucky Barnes x Listener SFW Bucky Had A Nightmare, You Comfort Him

[M4A] [Left ambiguous enough to be x listener or x Steve or any other canon character] [Reverse comfort] [Nightmares] [Discussion of PTSD, trauma, brainwashing]

It's been a very long time since Bucky was last here and I've been getting requests for more reverse comfort's lately. Maybe you can give Bucky the hug he needs.

.

Custom audio commissions are open! Full public spicy audios on sound gasm (link in pinned post). 2 Exclusive spicy audios on Patreon every month. I also stream on Twitch every week @ dervampireprince . [minors + ageless blogs dni. this blog is for 18+ only.] [do not repost/reupload/edit any of my content]

[aliteralgarbageheap]

Written by @sexysmeagolshitposting

Fandom: Marvel

Rating: Mature

Relationships: James "Bucky" Barnes/Clint Barton

Length ~45 minutes

Additional Tags: past Bucky/Original Nonbinary Character, Nonbinary Bucky Barnes, Nonbinary Character, POV Bucky Barnes, Period-Typical Homophobia, Internalized Transphobia, Found Family, Past Bucky Barnes/Steve Rogers, Unrequited Crush, Self-Discovery, Genderqueer Bucky Barnes, Gay Bucky Barnes, Trans Clint Barton, Pansexual Clint Barton, Platonic Soulmates, Neopronouns, Gender-Neutral Pronouns, Gender Identity, Gender Exploration, Coming Out, Getting Together, First Time

Series: Part 1 of [Podfic] there'll be days like this Summary:

Author's summary;

Steve just takes his hand, squeezing gently, and says, “I’m not into boys, Buck.”

Bucky opens his mouth to say, “But I’m not a boy,” and bites back the words, because admitting that would be the worst mistake of his life.

Plus, he may have come to that understanding, slowly and then all at once, that he’s not a boy. But he’s not a girl either, so what does that make him?

“Right,” he says instead. “Sorry.”

[bilightningwhumper]

Updated the SoaS timeline and character list on both Tumblr and Ao3 finally. Ended up also changing Mare's summary slightly.

Mare is a little bit of an enigma to me, at least for right now. She's the only one separated from everyone, intentionally on her part. I have some of her story sorted out, but it'll definitely be more of an original story for the beginning of hers specifically until I get her with everyone.

I also decided it was best she has no one-on-one relationships, romantically or queer-platonically, that is. Even the thought of her with MJ was a little forced when I came up with it. Part of it was just an excuse to write a QPR, but I now plan on doing that with a few of the TNEI fics. So she's going to be, in my opinion, my first real challenge of getting out of my comfort zone and having a character being happy just being among friends and family, no significant other of an kind needed, thank you very much.

Also, a tiny, maybe a lot, genderqueer as well. Her current path is mirroring part of my own exploration, so that's something to look forward to.

[suprsaturatd]

Wielder of the blade.

[kirnet]

Funniest thing about the catws anniversary is that I have been longing to watch it all week and I didn’t even realize when I had come out. I don’t think about marvel movies ever anymore. I just love that highway fight scene

[fanonsupremecy]

I don't care WHAT you say Bucky Barnes drinks Iced Coffee (and it's the Fruity stuff) AND they hold it at the top with the straw between their index and middle finger like a PROPER Gay.

And sam drinks his coffee black and hot like a psychopath. Bucky hates it and thinks he's crazy. Too bad they decided to be in love with him...

[42donotpanic]

Home

Summary: Bucky comes home from a fight.

Pairing: WinterHawk (Clint Barton x Bucky Barnes)

Word Count: 1012

Rating: Teen and Up Audiences

Tags: Slice of Life, Domestic Fluff, Cold, Pain, Cuddling

Written for:

@endlesstwanted

@winterhawkbingo : Nonbinary!Bucky

@flufftober : Candles, Lanterns, Fairly Lights (Prompt Extras)

[voiceoffenrisulfr]

When the Wolf Howls - Chapter Three

"To live is to suffer, to survive is to find some meaning in the suffering."

𝐏𝐀𝐈𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒 -> James "Bucky" Barnes/Original Nonbinary Character(s). Secondary Pairings; James "Bucky" Barnes/Clint Barton, James "Bucky" Barnes/Steve Rogers, James "Bucky" Barnes/Natasha Romanov, James "Bucky" Barnes/Clint Barton/Steve Rogers/Natasha Romanov

𝐒𝐔𝐌𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐘 -> Steps are taken, and Asgard does what it does best.

𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐃𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐓 -> 3584

𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒 -> (M) Percieved risk to life, guilt, choking.

𝐀/𝐍 -> Check it out below, or on AO3 here!

<- Chapter Two Chapter Four ->

Dividers by us! <3

- ‘Human Prey’ – @darkacademiabingo; - ‘Not Allowed to Die’, ‘Protective Hug’ – @eclipsingbingo; - ‘Sweet Treats’, ‘Training’ – Eclipsing Bingo; - ‘Eaten By the Wolf’ – @fairytalebingo; - ‘Growing Dark’ – @fandombingo (The Magnus Archives); - ‘Shadows in the Forest’ – Fandom Bingo (The Magnus Archives); - ‘Human Shield’ – @fandom-free-bingo (Frosty Edition);

- ‘Choking’ – @hurtcomfort-bingo (CO42); - ‘Weakness’ – Hurt and Comfort Bingo (Pick Your Poison Bingo- C027); - ‘Meadow’ – @julybreakbingo (4x4); - ‘Bird Watching or Stargazing’ – July Break Bingo (5x5); - ‘Vulnerable’ – July Break Bingo (6x6); - ‘Sun’ – July Break Bingo (Summer); - ‘Ghost Story’, ‘Stunned Silence’, ‘Stupid Sacrifice’ – @multifandom-flash (Round 2 – 2029); - ‘Tender Kisses’ – @seasonaldelightsbingo (Dark Academia); - ‘Stargazing’ – Seasonal Delights Bingo (Under the Sea); - ‘Forced to Revisit Past Trauma’ – Seasonal Delights Bingo (Under the Sea).

Before we took another step, we needed a plan.

I asked Mars what they’d intended – and they sheepishly produced a map squirrelled from the library, with the location of Fenris’ prison marked and a dotted line cutting through the realms Thor had mentioned in as direct a route as possible. We spread it on the floor between the three of us, and he scowled minutely.

“Here,” he murmured, shaking his head as he pointed at the eastern point of Nornheim, “is the Domain of the Dark Man.” We both blinked blankly, and he offered us a weak grin. “Not somewhere you want to go. We should enter Varinheim further west to avoid him, unless you have a desire to test your mettle.”

Mars and I shook our heads in unison, and he nodded, leaning closer to the map. “This forest here,” he continued, gesturing at a patch that cut most of the way across the centre of Alfheim, “is home to the Wolf-People. We would do well to go around. It’ll add time to our journey, but…”

I nodded my agreement, even as my partner looked worried beside me. “A few more days won’t make much difference, my love. Not after millennia,” I murmured, earning a reluctant sound of acceptance.

The God of Thunder’s large finger skimmed around the forest, pausing at the next splash of green. “Norn forest, and Nornheim. Home to the Norns. They should prove no trouble. Jötunn of descent, but peaceful. They draw water to nourish Yggdrasill.”

“Varinheim,” he finished, pausing at the cross that indicated our destination. “Distant and desolate, it was to be Fenris’ domain. The lake we seek lies in the centre.”

“That doesn’t sound so bad,” I offered, forcing optimism into my tone and glancing at the god warily. “… Right?”

“The Asgardian continent can be unpredictable,” he replied, his tone uncharacteristically soft. “Allies can turn enemy without a moment’s hesitation. We move with as little notice as possible, and we run, or hide, before we fight.” He looked to my partner pointedly, and I understood – it wasn’t worth the risk to my painfully human love. A hero though they may be, this was a domain of gods and monsters, and they were not as indestructible as the two of us. “And then we have to face the wolf himself.”

“Did you have a plan?” I asked, gaze shifting to my partner sitting quietly beside me, staring at the parts of their path that had been too dangerous to keep, pale at the thought that they would have entered these areas without knowing any better. Sheepishly, silently, they delved into their backpack one-handedly, eyes lowering as they drew out a clear container I saw frequently. “… Is that the tub you keep dog treats in?”

“I made sure it was full of chicken, at least!” they objected weakly, a blush rising in their face. “This is what I do for work – I’m sure I can…”

They faltered at the silence that had fallen over the room, every set of eyes trained on them in disbelief. “You- Wh- Th-…” My stammers trailed off into stunned, scared sounds, fighting the urge to throw up.

“You were going to attempt to tame the Fenris Wolf with scraps of… Chicken?” Thor clarified incredulously, scoffing when they nodded shyly.

“I bet I could…” they protested under their breath, and I wrapped an arm around them, pulling them closer into my side.

“I… Am glad I caught up with you,” I murmured eventually, closing my eyes against the mental images of them offering a scrap of meat and losing an arm for their troubles. “We’ll establish a more… Plausible – and safer – plan as we travel. No arguments,” I added as I felt them stiffen, quick to shut down any protest. “I already nearly lost you once.”

Grumbling reluctantly, they nodded, nestling under my jaw. “Fine,” they agreed eventually, the word coming as a breathless sigh. “I guess.”

More music sent us on our way, relaxed and content until we left the village and my anxiety rose once more.

“I hope they treated you well,” I murmured, glancing at my partner, and they smiled.

“Sidarius was an excellent host,” they replied, and I chuckled quietly, leaning over to squeeze their hand. The steel steed beneath them considered me warily, the whites of his eyes showing as he analysed the level of threat I posed, apparently deciding I was low risk and relaxing his posture once more. “And Sleipnir was excellent, too,” they added pointedly, patting the horse’s neck fondly. “I didn’t need to do anything when the giants started after us – he held his ground until he realised I was afraid, and then he took off. He got me out of there safe.”

“Then I owe him a debt of gratitude,” I replied solemnly, gaze tracing the arch of the horse’s neck as he held his head higher under the attention.

I feel like he understands every word.

“He’ll hold you to that,” Thor chuckled from his place a few paces ahead of us, glancing back over his shoulder. “Though fortunately, he’ll accept payment in the form of apples.”

The legendary steed snorted, tossing his head and earning a laugh from my partner. “I think he doesn’t appreciate your opinion, Thor,” they teased, grinning, eliciting a chuckle from the god.

Thor pointed out interesting features of the terrain as we rode on, from the glimmer of Sea of Marmora in the distance – a sight that brought a shiver down my spine, even now, knowing that Loki’s castle sat abandoned on the other side – to the dense forest we were following a crest to avoid, the gigantic trees reflecting sunlight in a captivating manner that threatened to draw me in. He told us stories of Sigurd and his wife, of Idunn, of the golden apples that keep the gods young. He spoke of the Ulfheðinn that resided in deep in the forest, wearing wolfskin and attacking with a furious frenzy. It made the time pass faster, but our journey was brought to an unexpected halt when we became aware of the darkness beginning to settle around us.

“We should find somewhere to camp for the night,” Thor murmured, casting an eye about himself shrewdly. “We’d be best staying in Alfheim for the time being; while Nornheim and Norn forest are unlikely to pose many threats, there’s far more visibility out here.”

And more room for the horses to get up to speed if we’re attacked, I added silently, wincing.

It was a hellish night, every atom of my body listening out frantically for anything stirring in the darkness. Mars was tucked up against me, resting easily with their head on my chest, comforted by my presence. They trusted me to keep them safe.

And for that reason, I found myself unable to sleep, far too concerned with keeping them safe than slumber.

Thor woke intermittently, stoking the low fire, and it was as dawn was beginning to break that he cleared his throat quietly. “… Did you sleep at all?”

“No,” I replied softly, careful not to disturb my partner snoring quietly against me. “No, I… Wanted to make sure nothing happened.”

“You’re a devoted man, James.” The fire flared minutely as he poked more wood into place, hisses and cracks punctuating his words. “Your family are lucky to have you.”

“I do my best,” I breathed, glancing down at Mars, my gaze following the curve of their lashes adoringly. “I have a lot of sins to attain for – a lot of pain to make right. The very least I can do is protect those who mean the most to me.”

“You’re a good person,” he replied after a beat, his voice gentle. “You and I both know that most of the things you’ve done that have caused pain were not things in which you had any choice.”

Reluctantly, I nodded. It was something I’d heard many times over the years, but I struggled to accept it as truth. While I’d had no say in what happened to me, under fear of suffering beyond belief or through simply being too far gone to have an opinion of my own, it was hard to reconcile that with the memories I had of watching through my eyes as it was my hands that took life after life in the cruellest manners imaginable.

And I’d hurt people – though admittedly not as many and rarely as severely – before and after my time with Hydra, and I had nobody else to blame for that.

“And I think they’re the best of us,” he added into the quiet after a moment, and I smiled softly to myself.

“They are,” I agreed, skimming my lips over my sleeping partner’s hair gently. “They make me the man I always wanted to be. Between them and the kids, I… Feel like I found the person I was supposed to be, if not for… Everything, you know?”

He made a soft sound of agreement before replying, his voice so hushed that even my advanced hearing almost missed it. “I know.”

I stayed watching the stars as they began to vanish from sight, chased by the rising sun, until Mars stretched against me, eyelashes fluttering sweetly.

“Hi,” they murmured, brow furrowing in a scowl, and I chuckled.

“Good morning to you, too,” I offered, grinning, and ducked my head to brush my lips tenderly over theirs. They purred quietly, eyes closing for a few moments more, and I couldn’t help but gaze at them in awe, jaw tense and nervous.

They’re so innocent. So vulnerable…

Thor cleared his throat, and I raised my head, shifting to sit up as my partner did the same. “We should get moving. If we make good time, we’ll reach Varinheim before nightfall.”

They scrabbled to their feet, any hint of sleep brushed away with the dust that clung to their clothes. “I’m ready. Let’s go.”

Chuckling quietly, I got to my feet, eyeing our small group thoughtfully. “We still need a plan.”

They nodded back, firm and determined. “I have one; I told you.”

“That isn’t a plan, it’s a sacrifice – and a dumb one at that,” I snapped stiffly, muscles taut as they narrowed their eyes at me.

“It’s what I’m trained to-”

“With dogs!” I countered, a low growl building in my voice. “This isn’t a dog, Bug. It’s a demon – a wild, unthinking, merciless machine of death and destruction.”

“He’s a sweet baby,” they attested, and I arched an eyebrow.

“You can’t really think-”

“I can’t believe you don’t-”

“That’s enough,” Thor interjected, his gravelly voice sounding ancient and timeless as he cut us off – the voice of a king dividing his subjects. “There must be a way around this. We can discuss it on the ride; let’s get moving.”

With a last, uncertain gaze at one another – we rarely disagreed, and when we did it was typically light-hearted and short-lived – Mars and I mounted our horses in stunned silence, worries heavy on my shoulders as I fell into place at the rear of the pack.

As we rode, we made tentative plans, suggestions coming to either mutters of agreement or vehement rejection. But eventually, we had some form of idea, risky as it was.

We passed into Norn Forest without difficulty, but the close trees made me shiver, eyes flicking nervously. Thor seemed calm, however, so I forced the tension from my muscles, straining to keep my gaze on the path ahead.

But shadows darting in the dark of the forest haunted me, silent spectres slipping between towering trunks without disturbing the leaf litter. I shook my head firmly, telling myself that I was imagining things – that my anxieties about the task ahead of us was playing tricks on my mind. I acutely missed the open expanse of the fields and meadows, enabling us to see for hundreds of metres in each direction before shallow slopes interrupted the view.

It wasn’t until Glaðr paused beneath me, head tossing as she let out a soft nicker, that I wondered if my fears had been founded.

Thor stiffened, glancing down at his own steed, then back to Sleipnir, gaze meeting the horse’s steadily. “Slip?”

The eight-legged creature turned its head slowly, ears swivelling, before pausing, eyeing the canopy-covered darkness and stomping a foot insistently. Thor nodded once, looking to us with a steady stare. “We’re going to move quickly. You’re going to go first,” he added, firm gaze shifting to Bug. “You’re going to hold on – tight – and Sleipnir is going to get you out of here.”

“What about you two?” they hissed back, shoulders trembling ahead of me.

“We’ll be fine, sweetheart,” I breathed, the hairs on the nape of my neck prickling at the feeling of eyes on me. “Do what Thor says. You can do this.”

You’re not allowed to die.

The god’s eyes grew gentle, and he reached out to touch their arm softly. “We’ll be right behind you, Small One,” he vowed, before his fingers shifted to the horse’s forehead. “Run as the wind, Sleipnir. Get them out of the forest.”

The moment the words left Thor’s mouth, the horse bolted, and I heard Mars’ gasp as the sudden air rushing at them forced its way into their lungs. But any protest was quickly smothered as the woods exploded around us, the shadows advancing with fearsome speed. Thor roared a challenge as he rose Mjulnir threateningly, the mighty hammer sparking ominously. I had only my own two hands against the spectres – but I was more than willing to do my damnedest to slow these creatures, glancing over my shoulder as Sleipnir’s tail disappeared between the trees.

My eyes turned back to the advancing shadows, hard and hateful. People – or otherwise – who stood between me and the happiness and safety of those I loved would feel the full extent of my fury, and creepy ghosts were no exception.

I hurtled myself from my horse as the first of the spectres reached us, vibranium moving through wisps of darkness without resistance. My body passed through the illusion, leaving me on my knees on the forest floor, fighting for breath, my lungs seizing as smoke swirled and swam inside me.

“You can’t touch them!”

I raised my head as I rasped, seeking out the voice through the haze of my constricting windpipe, fingers digging into the dirt desperately.

Thor was whirling his glowing hammer, blasts of light emitting from the metal to strike the advancing shadows. Each lightning bolt to the chest burnt a hole through illusion, smouldering away to nothing.

It took a few precious seconds for me to comprehend what I was seeing, but eventually I pushed myself to my knees, still wheezing frantically as I fought off the darkness closing in, around both me and my vision. I fumbled desperately at my pockets, coughing as I pulled my lighter free. The pitiful flame that burst free did nothing against the spirits growing closer, but the curls of smoke encasing my lungs came flowing from my mouth as I spluttered, falling as ash from parted lips. The acrid taste of burning was thick on my tongue – but I could breathe.

The flame was enough to keep the monsters at bay as I scraped the leaf litter into a pile, setting it alight and scooping a handful of the flaming debris in my vibranium palm.

It’s not lightning, but…

I curled my fingers loosely around my burning bundle, eyeing up the mass of spectres slowly thinning out around us and roaring hatefully as I dove forward. This time, my fist met a seemingly solid mass, blowing through the shadow’s chest with a sound like metal on metal, slowing fading as the creature burnt away to nothing.

I arched an eyebrow, using my free hands to beckon the creatures closer.

“Come and get it!”

Thor and I stood in the smouldering, foul-scented clearing, panting for breath, eyes watering from the smoke and smell. Our eyes met as I dropped the remnants of my bundle, dusting the residue from my fingers and swallowing dryly, my throat still burning from the bizarre smoke.

“… Thanks,” I murmured, spitting another mouthful of ash onto the ground. “Uh… For the advice. And for the help. And for getting Mars out of here.” I paused and looked around quickly, heart racing until I spotted our mounts sheltering under a tree at the edge of the clearing. Thor didn’t waste valuable time responding, only offering a nod as he crossed the space, swinging his mighty frame into the saddle a few steps ahead of me.

We were silent as we galloped through the forest, following in the broken trail through the undergrowth. Intermittent, gossamer-spun silver hairs caught on the bracken confirmed the path was Sleipnir’s – as did Bug’s desperate wails as light began to filter more efficiently through the thinning trees.

“Please- we have to go back; we can’t just leave them! Sleipnir, come on, I know Thor said to get me out – but look, I’m fine, see? We have to go back!”

Mars was stood before the mighty stallion as we emerged from the forest, gesticulating towards the woods desperately. The sound of hooves on grass made them turn, and I winced at the sight of the tears staining their cheeks, my feet hitting the ground before Glaðr had come to a halt. They clung frantically to my shirt as I bundled them to my chest, arms tight and protective around their trembling body.

I swallowed down thoughts of my Spiders, just as fragile as they shivered and sobbed against me, and wondered once more how we were back here again – how I had, for what felt like the hundredth time, found myself in Asgard cradling someone I loved as they wept.

I held them until my coughing drove them back, stumbling a few steps away from me with a brow creased in concern. “Are- are you okay?”

“Fine,” I wheezed, nodding. “It’s getting better. They suck if you breathe them in, though…”

Mars’ face went pale, and they were by my side once more, a gentle hand on my back and stroking carefully. “Will he be okay?” they asked worriedly, and I looked up in time to see Thor nod, opening his mouth to respond – but his words were cut off by my insistent partner. “What were those things? Why did they attack us like that? I thought you said that forest was safe!”

The god’s jaw set slightly, and I raised a hand to touch Mars’ shoulder gently. “He also pointed out that Asgard is highly unpredictable,” I reminded them, voice soft. “It’s not his fault, sweetheart.”

“They were mara,” Thor added, his lip curling. “They have no set domain. They’re… I suppose humans would call them demons. They attack people in their sleep, causing horrible nightmares, and then eventually…” He trailed off, but his meaning was clear, and Bug winced.

“But we were awake,” they pointed out, voice strained. “Why did they come for us?”

“The mara dwell in darkness and shadow. We intruded into their land – their current land, at least – and they attacked. They’re vulnerable to light, but if you aren’t aware, they can leave you without your consciousness. It’s not often that mara attack the awake, but those that succumb never wake up,” he finished softly, eyes dropping with guilt. I shook my head again, coughing another round of a thin, black, tar-like substance into the dirt.

“You weren’t to know,” I rasped, levelling my voice with as much determination and force as I could despite my chafed vocal cords. “It isn’t your fault, Thor. And besides – I’d be dead if it weren’t for you. Probably Mars, too.”

“And you’re sure he’ll be okay?” my partner pressed, still eyeing the contents of my lungs on the ground worriedly.

“He probably won’t sleep well for a few days, while the smoke clears his system,” Thor admitted. “But he’ll make a full recovery before long – possibly quicker than most, given how swiftly he heals.”

I nodded once, grimacing as I snagged a bottle of water from a Glaðr’s saddlebag and rinsing my mouth thoroughly. “I’ll be fine, Acushla. Don’t worry about me.”

Thor considered me for a moment longer, then nodded, looking to my partner. “May I see the map, Little One?” Mars offered it immediately, pulled from one of their plentiful, seemingly bottomless pockets. The god hummed as his eyes skimmed over the parchment, muttering under his breath and looking about himself. “… We shouldn’t linger long here. We’re closer than I’d like to Karnilla’s Palace.”

“Karnilla?” I asked as we climbed back into our saddles in unison, Sleipnir proving far more willing to move now Thor was back in the lead. He nodded as he encouraged Gyllir into a brisk trot, glancing back at me.

“The Queen of the Norns. She… Can be complicated,” he offered stiffly, muscles visibly tensing. “She has proven herself to be both ally and enemy. It would be best to move on as swiftly as possible, rather than risk her wrath. I’d hoped we would be passing far enough away that we wouldn’t be worth the effort – a party as small as ours poses little threat in her own domain – but…”

I nodded, exchanging a look of understanding with Mars. His unspoken words had us urging on our own steeds.

We may not be able to handle another fight.