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ppaperheartss · 4 years

Text

Godzilla

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x f!Reader

word Count: 5.7K

Warnings: a lil angst, some swearing

A/N: Hey! I really hope you enjoy this, I’ve worked really hard on it. Inspired by Godzilla by Kesha. Any comments or feedback are appreciated!

Bucky Barnes wanted to find peace. His whole life had revolved around fighting and angst and fear, and now he decided it was time for that part of his life to be over. It took him a long time to readjust to a life without meaning, without something to fight for. He spent his days wandering around the compound looking for someone he could spend time with, but most of the time the compound was a ghost town. So he kept himself occupied with therapist appointments, catching up on pop culture and exploring different music genres.

(Rumour has it that Bucky was seen working out to Taylor Swift’s new album, but he always denies it regardless.)

He was proud of everyone else on the team. Sam took on the role of Captain America with both hands and was eager to help the country with the pressing issues which the Avengers never got the chance to handle. Captain America is now the frontface for Black Lives Matter and is tackling gun violence one day at a time. He is making America great again.

Wanda has taken on the role of training new agents and works very close with orphanages in New York to rehabilitate young people who have led traumatic lives. She even introduced the Pietro Maximoff Foundation which aims to find people that had been injured in all Avenger fights as collateral damage and get them the help they so rightly deserve.

Scott spends a lot of time with Cassie to make up for all of the years that they missed together, and he even has another little one on the way with Hope. Though Bucky isn’t very fond of children yet he’s open to the idea of a miniature sized version of Scott running around the compound and causing havoc. Even the thought of it brings a smile to his face.

Parker recently graduated high school and now works with Bruce a lot of the time in their own lab in the centre of the city to continue on with the work that Tony had started. After the whole fiasco with his identity being outed he tends to keep a low profile, taking his time to get used to the spotlight that is everyday life as an Avenger.

Bucky is still coping with that too, honestly. It’s strange walking down a street knowing that everyone probably knows his name and his history, and has an opinion of him, when he has never seen them before in his life. Maybe he has. He struggles with his memory too.

When he was diagnosed with PTSD and anxiety, it was a strange experience. He had a little knowledge on it from his uncle who had fought in war before him and suffered from the illnesses, but it was different knowing about it and being diagnosed with it he realised quickly. He’s cautious around strangers and struggles to speak to someone who he doesn’t know if he can trust yet, but his therapist Dr. Walker says he’ll develop with time. He just needs to focus on his breathing and find something to distract hunsekd.

And he did. He went from not being able to open up the door for his takeout - which the app to order said takeout took him just a bit too long to understand - to being able to speak at veterans meetings with Sam in front of a couple dozen people. He connected well with the other veterans, especially those who had lost a limb in war, and found himself looking forward to the meetings for the chance to speak to people who shared similar life experiences and didn’t give him a sad look whenever he opened up about his nightmares. Knowing he wasn’t alone gave him a sense of belonging, something that he hadn’t felt in a very long time.

He retired from the Avengers and moved to a small apartment in Brooklyn that Sam helped him look for. He even went couch shopping with him, making sure that he bought the deepest and comfiest one there. He didn’t mind, he loved how comfortable modern things are compared to the 30s, but he wondered why he insisted on getting that particular one. That was, until one night Sam came to his apartment blackout drunk and slept there for 15 hours straight. He only woke once to complain drunkenly about how small the blankets were, to which received a pillow to the head.

Bucky enjoys having his own place to live. He wakes up early in the morning to go on a leisurely run through his neighbourhood and watch the sky turn from red to pink to blue. He stops at the cafe at the bottom of his street for whatever pastry is fresh and a sweet coffee.

He then comes home to his cat and plants, and spends his days loving and caring for them. He found Alpine on what could have been one of the worst nights he’s experienced in his normal life. It had been raining heavily for hours and Bucky was walking home from therapy when he was jumped by a group of men. In the panic of it all he lashed out, and having not been in the field for so long he underestimated his strength.

A civilian got hurt in the scrapple, but she was so scared of who he was that she refused to take help from him. The police then arrived and Bucky had to fight his case for an hour in the pouring rain with only a running tee on. It was a witness from an apartment block on the other side of the street who came to Bucky’s aid and explained how he hadn’t started the fight and didn’t hurt the woman on purpose. He walked home in a storm of a mood, his whole body shaking with anxiety and the cold seeping into his bones, when he heard a faint meow come from a dark alley.

He quickly swooped into action without hesitation, fishing the small creature out of the soggy box it was in and shielding it under his arm as he started to jog home.

That’s how he found himself an hour later sitting face to face with a small white cat with eyes he thought resembled his own in a strange way. He knew he was going to keep the cat without hesitation, he just wondered how something so pure could have made its way into his fuck-up of a day.

He even got a job in a coffee shop for a short while when Dr. Walker felt he was ready for it, so he could work on his social skills and how to control situations positively. He lasted a whole month in the shop and he made fairly good relationships with his colleagues and frequent customers, but he was asked to leave one afternoon as they had had a complaint from a daily customer about him. Apparently Bucky has a resting face that looks intimidating, and made the customer feel anxious. He had a tough time in his head that night. It took him a few days of wallowing in self pity and several conversations with Sam and Dr. Walker to realise he didn’t do anything wrong. He had to accept the fact he couldn’t convince everyone he was a good guy, and this is something he is still learning to accept.

He had felt so much misery over his lifetime that he thought he would never get the chance to be happy again, perhaps this new life would be enough for him. Though, he had to admit, that the fact that the only constant human interaction he had on a daily basis would be with store workers when he went grocery shopping, it was starting to make him feel lonely. It was like he lived on the moon, only watching others live their lives from a distance as he lived his own mundane life. That, of course, was before he met you.

You came shining into his life like a beam of sunlight that made him feel warm and fuzzy on the inside. There wasn’t a moment where your beautiful smile didn’t grace your face, and the joy on you radiated instantly made his day a whole lot better. You had been neighbours for quite a while before your first interaction, though you would always give him a chipper smile when he passed you in the hallways to which he responded to with a bashful grin.

Bucky woke up with a feeling something was wrong one day, and his suspicions were confirmed when he got a call from the nursing home informing him that Steve was sick. He knew he had to visit right away, just in case, but he didn’t know how long he would be gone and refused to leave Alpine alone. He couldn’t ask Sam, he was too busy being Captain America and a dumbass to properly care for a cat, so he moved onto what seemed to be his only other option.

The super soldier stood in your door frame (which was just too small for him to stand at his full height comfortably in) with a cat carrier in hand, blue bag slung over his shoulder and a desperate smile on his face. “Hi, I’m Bucky. Barnes. Bucky Barnes. Your neighbour. Room 6? Anyway, I need to ask a huge favour of you. I have to visit a friend out of town but I can’t leave Alpine alone - she doesn’t like it at night, and I was really, really, hoping you could watch her for a few days. I understand if you’re busy or have plans, though!”

You listened to his ramblings with an amused smile on your face, hand on the doorframe and leaning forward slightly. “Alpine?” you mused, eyebrow raised slightly.

His cheeks tinted instantly as he nodded down to the now meowing carrier. “Yeah, my cat. She’s two. She’s lovely, I promise. Doesn’t scratch or anything, she’s a real doll. You won’t even notice she’s there.”

You had bent down to look inside the carrier as he continued to ramble, only to be met with remarkable blue eyes which matched its owner’s perfectly. Cooing softly at her, you look up to meet the other pair of striking blue eyes. “Of course I’ll watch her for you. What else are neighbours for?”

He smiles instantly, shoulders relaxing as he lets out a breath. Holding out the carrier to you with his metal arm which you took instantly, he starts, “Thank you so much…”

“Y/N. Y/N L/N.”

“Y/N.” he repeats, setting the bag at your feet. “My number’s in there if you need anything, please don’t hesitate to call. I’m better at calling than texting. Thank you, again, I owe you.” He smiles before waving quickly as you exchange goodbyes, turning on his heel and walking quickly to his car with keys in hand.

After closing your door you set the carrier down and open it up, lifting out the small white cat into your arms. Smiling fondly, you press a kiss between her ears. You wandered over to your window to see Bucky climbing into his car as he held a phone between his ear and shoulder, and something deep inside of you knew this was the start of something special.

After that first encounter, you and Bucky seemed to be glued to the hip. It started off as a coffee date as a thank you after he got home from the weekend in which you watched Alpine, and you were glad to hear that Steve was well. It then evolved into a home cooked dinner from you the next day because Bucky refused to let you pay for your coffee even though you insisted and you wanted to pay him back somehow. He was always a gentleman with you.

It then turned into weekly Friday night movie nights to catch him up on what he had missed movie-wise and supermarket shopping together the next morning because Bucky loved shopping in near-empty supermarkets just as much as you. Somewhere along the line you both got keys cut for the other’s apartment and you more often than not spent everyday together, even if it was just spending your hour lunch break from work sitting on a park bench chatting. You both had formed the best friendship possible, so it was no surprise to anyone that you wound up dating. It was meant to be, really. Soulmates.

But not when Bucky went to the gym, because there was no way you would be caught dead doing physical activities.

You loved being around Bucky; he was sweet and caring and loved to try whatever new hobby you were experimenting with. He would always taste-test your cooking and baking and never say anything mean about it - even that time you made cupcakes and used salt instead of sugar he was quick to force it down and sing its praises. He cries at dog movies and volunteered at the local animal shelter weekly after you informed him one night that he could because he was just desperate for some interaction with the dogs. You were surprised he hadn’t come home with every single dog his first day there because he just wanted them to be loved so much.

Bucky Barnes was a Saint sculpted by gods who had a heart of gold, and you could never see him any other way. Sure, you knew his history. Hell, you had even written a paper all about him and the Howling Commandos in your college History class, but none of that mattered to you. The Winter Soldier had been gone for over a decade, the trigger words meaningless and the mystery over, and you just wanted to know Bucky. Not his past - not that he could remember much of it anyway - but his and your relationship’s future together and what possibilities come along with that.

Bucky loved going shopping with you. He would give you an armful of clothes and make you give him a fashion show, where he would cheer for you and clap obnoxiously and shower you with the sweetest compliments, and you both savoured every second of it. You also had a fairly decent understanding of fashion, so you would help him keep up with all of the trends and keep him looking as gorgeous as he always is. So a Saturday spent together roaming the mall should be the perfect outing for the both of you. If only you could do it alone.

You held his hand tightly in yours, fingers intertwined and palms sweating slightly, but you were sure it was only his that was. You kept him near to know he was safe and coping, because crowds were one hundred percent not his thing. Maybe that’s why recently he had taken a liking to online shopping, because you could still have your famous fashion show in the comfort of his safe, judgemental free apartment. You could feel every set of eyes follow you and the six foot ex-assassin beside you for longer than necessary as they walked past you both, but you kept your head held high. No one was ever going to make you feel bad for loving Bucky. Not now, not ever.

“Oh my God.”

“That poor girl.”

“Stay back, he’s dangerous.”

“Do we just let murderers walk free now?”

You don’t know if the people walking by tried to be discreet with their whispering or wanted you both to hear, but you could hear them so Bucky definitely heard them. Looking up at him as you feel his breathing hitch, you follow his eye line and find a small girl being whisked away by her mother with fear evident on her face. The air around you grew thick, like you could feel his suffocating anxiety grow. He didn’t want to scare anyone, and this sight seemingly pushed him over the edge into a downward spiral.

Tugging on his arm you grab his attention, flashing him a reassuring smile.

“Why don’t we get food? I’m starving.” He simply nods in response, not trusting his voice.

You sit across from him in the booth in the corner of the food court, eating happily as you watch him visibly relax into his surroundings. He has a mountain of food in front of him but you know it’s never enough, and you just grin as he reaches over to swipe some of your fries.

You both talk mindlessly about insignificant things; a jacket that caught his eye, where you’d like to go next, how you both are craving ice cream, oblivious to the numerous pairs of eyes staring at you two. The flash of a camera and a series of giggles catches your attention. You quickly look to Bucky to see his reaction, but just smile at him distracted by his milkshake which has now covered his face. You lean over the table to wipe it away with a napkin before kissing his nose gently, and he smiles happily at you as his cheeks tint red.

“Why don’t we just leave after this?” He looks up at you, and it pains you to see the hope in his eyes at the thought of leaving. “We can go to that ice cream parlour at the bottom of the avenue and have a walk in the park instead.”

You smile at him. “That sounds so much better than shopping, baby. Let me go throw all of this in the trash then we can go.”

“No, I’ve got it. I’ll be two ticks.” He slides out of the booth, pecking your lips quickly as he picks up the trays and walks over to the trash. You still have a smile on your lips as you pull on your jacket and pick up your purse, but it fades quickly when you hear a crash and yells from behind you.

Jumping out of the booth quickly you turn, finding Bucky standing with a now empty tray between a bunch of chairs and a woman draped across the floor covered in the remains of your lunch. Bucky’s shaking as he tries to stammer out an apology. You assume that they’ve bumped into each other, and with Bucky’s strength she fell back hard.

People had started to crowd around as the woman went into painfully fake hysterics about how he had attacked her, and Bucky just stood there like a deer in headlights. Pushing through the crowd you run to him, grabbing the tray from his hands and setting it on a table. You take his hand in his, holding onto it tightly, and he leans into your touch to try to make his body as small as possible.

A hush settled over the crowd as the woman’s cries turned into whimpers when she realised she had an audience. “That thing just assaulted me! Did you see it? Doing this to a vulnerable woman!”

A few people murmured agreements to her accusations, and it only made your blood boil more.

“Bucky is a person, not a thing,” All eyes turned on you, and you only stood taller to secure your confidence. “and he wouldn’t harm a fly. I’m sure this was all just some sort of accident.”

She scoffed as she was helped up to stand from a few bystanders. “He’s a criminal. He knows nothing but hurting people. Just look at that,” she gestured to Bucky’s metal arm that he was now trying to hide away behind his body.

Just as you tried to defend Bucky, the crowd started getting rowdy again and you felt a tug on your hand. Looking back you see a mortified looking Bucky with glistening eyes. His voice is so weak you almost don’t catch what he says.

“Just leave it, Y/N. Please. I want to go home.” You nod quickly, fixing your bag over your shoulder and delivering the woman a scowl as you turn and practically run out of the mall together. You didn’t want to make a scene, because it always affects Bucky worse.

The car ride is silent, you in the drivers’ seat and Bucky bouncing his knee beside you, eyes shifting around frantically. You sit in the parking lot of your apartment block for a while, Bucky’s head on your shoulder and your hand running through his hair softly as he finally lets himself go. You stay there until his shoulders ache and he can’t find anymore tears to cry. You hold him close as you walk to your apartment, and he sits on the bathroom counter as you run a warm bath. You drop in his favourite bath bomb, and that at least brings a smile to his face.

He finally begins to relax as he sinks into the warm water and you sit on the edge of the tub, treading your fingers through his hair gently. It’s quiet for a while, but both of your minds are loud.

“I wish they would see you like I do.” Your voice cuts through the air like a knife. He sighs, shaking his head.

“They never will. Why should they? I’m a monster.” Bucky sounds weak. He’s tired of living like this, scared that he’ll make one wrong move and his face will be plastered all over the news.

“You’re not a monster, Buck.” You keep your voice steady. “You're the kindest, sweetest person I know. I don’t care about your past at all, and I… I love you.”

You weren’t planning to tell him you loved him for the first time, but it just seemed right in the moment. He’s quiet for a while, and you begin to wonder if he actually heard you or has fallen asleep from the warm water and lavender.

Bucky takes a deep breath before he speaks again.

“I love you, too.”

You can’t control the smile that takes over your face and you lean forward, planting a kiss on his head. You hear him smile and he moves to see you. The water swishes as he moves. A wet hand cups your cheek and you lean into the touch, watching his eyes stare at your feet as he struggles to get his words out.

“I love you so much it hurts. I wake up in the morning and see you laying beside me, and I know that I’m where I’m supposed to be. I just don’t want to screw it all up.” He finally meets your eyes. They’ve turned a stormy blue, and you can see all of his emotions swirling around them.

You turn your head to the side and kiss the palm of his hand, your fingers still running through his hair gently. He leans in, the tension escaping his muscles. He sighs as he pulls away, resting his forehead on yours. You smile at him, pecking his nose quickly.

“You could never mess this up. You’re my soulmate. Now, how about we have that ice cream now?” the two of you share a knowing smile.

You squeal as Bucky pulls you in for a hug, both of you laughing as he soaks your clothes and peppers your face in kisses.

“This is wrong, this is all wrong. I told you I should’ve worn a tie! Even Steve agreed with me on that one! I look so stupid wearing, why the hell am I wearing a leather jacket to meet your parents? Can we turn back? I’ll change quickly. Let me cut my hair. Is it too long?” Bucky pulls down the passenger mirror to inspect himself, his forehead creasing as he tries to perfect his already styled hair.

You sigh as you reach over from the steering wheel and take his hand, bringing it over to kiss his knuckles gently. “You look great. It doesn’t matter what you wear. They’ll love you no matter what.”

He grumbles a disagreement as he sinks back in his seat, changing the song playing through the car radio until he finds a depressing song to play to match his mood. You had noticed he did that a lot after only a week of dating. Whenever he’s happy you will almost always hear Michael Jackson or Queen playing from wherever he is in the apartment, and he had downloaded Spotify’s Sad Songs for whenever he felt down.

You reach over and change the song quickly, which earns a sharp look from him. You scoff, but you both know that it’s not malicious. “Calm down, Buck. You’re just nervous. We’re having a barbecue, not a fancy meal in a fancy restaurant.”

“I know. I’m sorry. I just don’t want them to hate me. Would you leave me if they hate me?” He sounds like what a sad puppy would if it were able to speak. Stopping at a red light, you turn your body to face him.

“I love you, okay? Nobody will ever come between us, not even my parents. Just flash them that charming smile of yours and they’ll have you hooked.” He smiles bashfully at you, and you grin as you kiss him quickly.

After that the ride is short and sweet to your parents’ home. Honestly, you didn’t know how they were going to react to Bucky. You hadn’t told them who he was specifically, just that he was your handsome boyfriend who you loved very much. They had always been accepting of whatever life choices you made, even when you decided to drop out of college. They just wanted you to be happy. And Bucky made you happy, so that means they should accept him.

You held onto his hand tightly as you walked up the driveway, and before flashing him one last reassuring smile you knocked the door. The air was tense and time seemed to stretch as you waited for one of your parents to open up the door. Even you were becoming slightly nervous.

The door handle jiggles before the door flies open, and you smile fondly at your mother standing in the doorway. Bucky smiles too, though it’s a nervous one.

It had been so long since he had felt any parental love - he thinks about his family everyday - and as selfish as it sounds he was hoping he could use this as an opportunity to finally have a stable father figure in his life. From the stories he had heard from you, he decided you had lived the life he had always dreamed of. Family trips, game nights, going out for special meals together. Even just the little things, like how you called them every night to say goodnight. He craved stability in his life, and this may be one way he can achieve it.

She looks between you both, the smile on her face fading the longer she looks at Bucky. Just as you open your mouth you see her eyes flit downwards - straight age Bucky’s metallic hand. He adjusts his hand to loosen his grip on yours and swallows dryly. A strangled gasp escaped her lips before she grabbed your empty hand roughly, tugging you inside and scrambling to lock the door behind you.

“Y/N! What were you thinking, bringing that monster here!” She searched your face as if she was hoping to find bruises under your makeup, and your blood boiled.

“What the hell?” You shouted at her. Reaching back you feel for the door handle, but she takes your hand in hers before you can.

“Do you not watch the news? He’s dangerous.” She pulls away, staring at you like you were crazy. “Has he been lying to you?”

“I know exactly who he is mom-”

“Then it’s… it’s Stockholm Syndrome. I’ve read about that! I think I’m using that right.” she says. You scoff at how ridiculous she’s being, fully conscious of Bucky standing behind the door. She only frowns.

“I can’t believe you’re doing this. That’s my boyfriend that you just locked outside.”

“Whatever’s you’re feeling isn’t love, honey. I’ve heard everything about him. Did you know he attacked some poor woman in a food court a few days ago?” There's a tinge of pity in her voice, and it only makes you more angry.

“Oh my god,” you moan. “He is my boyfriend! That’s the James that I told you about! And you just slammed the door on his face and called him a monster.”

Her movements falter as realisation dawns on her face. She actually loves the monster, is what you assume she’s thinking. You turn and swing open the door, only to see Bucky seemingly frozen in place in shock and mortification. He just blinks and stares at you, and you just want to swaddle him up into a blanket and hold him close right on the spot.

You reach your hand out for him, but he flinches back and stumbles down the steps.

“Th-This is all wrong. I’m sorry. I knew I shouldn’t have come.” He sounds weak, like a child after being scolded.

He stands there looking lost, like he wants to run away and never come back but is also too scared to turn his back on you. He isn’t leaving you, just the situation. He doesn’t know what to do. Will you hate him for this? Are you angry that he isn’t standing up for himself? But he doesn’t want to shout what he wants to say. He wants to be calm. He’s learned how to be calm. How can he learn to be calm after everything he’s gone through, but no one else can?

Your dad comes to the door and you know things will only get worse. You step down to stand beside Bucky, holding his hand tightly.

“Y/N, what’s going on here? Who is that man?” Your dad seems just as confused about the situation as you are.

“Mom just- ugh. I can’t believe this is actually happening.” You didn’t want to cause a scene, just because of the sheer fact that your mom knows about what happened the other day so if one person sees this who knows what it will be escalated to in the media.

“She ruined today. Today was supposed to be amazing and she messed it all up because she didn’t want to give Bucky a chance.”

“Sweetie, look at him,” your mom began to defend herself. “Can you blame me? All I know is that he is a killer with an arm made of metal. He could hurt you!”

“Like you are?” She stared back at you in shock. “You took one look at him and decided he was a monster. He’s a person just like us, and he deserves to be treated like one. I’m sorry, but I can’t stand here and allow you to treat him like that. I love him and he loves me, and that’s all that matters.”

Your dad calls on you as you storm to the car, but you don’t listen. Slamming the door behind you, you push your foot in the ignition and drive away as soon as Bucky gets in the car.

Bucky doesn’t know what to do. Normally he knows how to help you, but he’s never seen you like this before. You’re shaking, and he doesn’t know if it’s from anger or fear. Fear that you’ve lost your parents? He’s so lost and feels terrible that he can’t help you.

It takes about fifteen minutes for you to stop seeing red and finally slow down to the speed limit. It was like something else took over your body and you were watching from five feet away. Everything happened so quickly. What actually just happened. Are you in the wrong? Maybe you should’ve told them about him before. You don’t want to have to but you know you should have. Explain it. Him. Bucky.

Looking over you see him half smiling patiently at you. He’s the one hurting right now, but he’s hiding it so he can be there for you. You don’t mean it, but the look he gives you when your lip trembles causes the floodgates to open.

He manages to reach over to the wheel and guide the car off the side of the road when the road begins to get blurry from tears.

“I’m so sorry, Bucky. I didn’t know she was going to do that. Never in a million years did I think she’d do that! She-she’s horrible and nasty and-”

“Y/N, please.” Bucky reaches out and holds your hand, his other reaching up to wipe the tears off of your face. “You don’t mean that.”

“But it’s still not okay.”

“I know it’s not,” he sighs. “I just thought they would be more like you.” He smiles weakly at you.

“So did I.” You sniff as you lean over, resting your head against his shoulder. His lips instantly reach down to kiss your head gently.

“Let’s leave it for now, and you can call in a few days. Maybe we can convince them to come around to me. I know you want them to like me.” Bucky’s voice doesn’t sound as hopeful as his words, but he wants this for you. You’ve always had a good relationship with your parents and he doesn’t want to be the reason it’s all messed up. He knows he’s not worth it. Well… yes, I am worth it, he forces himself to think.

He knows his worth in this relationship. He knows he means so much to you. You mean the world to him. He hopes you know that. But he knows how much your parents mean to you, and he would never want to make you choose. That’s selfish of him.

You look up at him and smile. “You know I love you, right?”

He smiles back. “You tell me everyday.” He bends down, capturing your lips in a kiss.

Bucky still had a long way to go with his recovery, but you made everyday easier. He couldn’t imagine his life without you anymore. You were the reason he got out of bed everyday, the reason he cared for himself, the reason he smiled.

Who knew Godzilla could fall in love?

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fanficwriter013 · 4 years

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The Tower: The Queen Of Asgard - 8

The Tower: The Queen of Asgard An Avengers Fanfic

Series Masterlist PREVIOUS //

Pairing: Avengers x OFC, Bruce Banner x Bucky Barnes x Clint Barton x Wanda Maximoff x Steve Rogers x Natasha Romanoff x Tony Stark x Thor x Sam Wilson x OFC (Elly Cooper)

Word Count: 1987

Warnings: Anxiety

Synopsis: The twins are now three and while the Avengers know that Clint and Thor are the biological father’s none of them know or care which blond, blue-eyed baby is related to which man. When Riley gets the power to control wind and it becomes evident that she is the heir to the Asgardian throne, Elly, Steve, Thor, and Tony take the twins to Asgard to train her.

Not every Asgardian is happy with their king’s choice of consort, nor the impurity of the heir’s blood. While others expect Thor to make things more official. What’s clear is, the role of Queen of Asgard is not easily filled.

Author’s Note: Written with @avengerscompound whom is the person to blame for my zombieness

Chapter 8: The Market

After we’d unpacked and Thor was sure we were settled we talked about what the plans were for the weekend. Tonight there was going to be a feast to welcome us. Tomorrow Thor would start his training with Riley.

“I am going to have to leave you. I have been away for too long and there is much I need to attend to. If you wish to explore the castle you are free to do so. There are guards everywhere so you will be safe. If you wish to explore Asgard I just ask that you take guards with you. The temptation to touch you will be a little high for my people I fear.” Thor explained.

“We did want to buy some things for the others,” Steve said.

“There are several markets through the city. I’ll call for some guards to escort you.” He said and went to the door, speaking to the guard who was standing outside. When he came back in, he fished around in his belt and pulled out a small pouch. “This is Asgardian currency. The guards will help you. However, both bartering and haggling are fine. So if you have anything you are okay to part with, take it with you. I’m sure my people would be interested in owning something Midgardian. Particularly if it is connected to my consorts or children.”

“Thank you,” Steve said, taking the money.

Thor kissed us goodbye and the three of us put together a tote bag with clothes and accessories we didn’t mind getting rid of. By the time we were done, there was a knock on the door and eight guards filed in. The woman at the lead stepped forward.

“Good morning, your majesties.” She said bowing a little. “We are here to escort you to the markets.”

“Oh great, thank you,” Steve said and the three of us moved forward.

“First, you will need some ground rules for your trip.” She said. “Stay with us in the group. Do not let anyone touch you or it will just lead to a riot. Play hardball with the vendors. I’ll help interpret if you need it. Most people are going to be excited to see you.”

We nodded in understanding and the group led us back out of the palace and into the city. Just outside the grounds was a large open-air market and it wasn’t long before we were surrounded by stalls selling food, clothing and handcrafted goods. There was a lot to see and a lot of sounds and smells. A lot of people were speaking a language that sounded Scandinavian. I wasn’t sure where to even look first until I saw a stall with the most intricate and beautiful armor I had ever seen in my life.

“Here!” I said pointing.

The group moved with me and Steve picked up a Shield and turned it over. “This is so intricate.”

“It’s all beautiful.” I agreed. “You think Sammy might like something like this?”

“Oh yes. Definitely.” Steve said.

I began to look things over more closely. “Are we thinking purely decorative or something he can maybe incorporate into his uni?”

“Hmm…” Steve mused. “Let’s go functional. He might not end up using it, but then he has the choice.”

“A set of vambrace maybe?” I asked. “Then he can wear them on his arms and they won’t interfere with the wings. And you know what he’s like about bringing knives to gunfights.”

Steve chuckled and pulled me close to him, kissing me on the top of the head. “Sounds perfect.”

I looked over a few designs and picked up a pair in black with intricate silver scrollwork. “Maybe these? I like the colors. They should go with what he wears. But I don’t know. Those gold ones are nice too.”

“Those ones look good. You’re right. They suit his style.” Steve said.

The head guard waved over the stall owner who had been hovering nearby and said something to them in that Scandinavian sounding language I assumed was the common tongue on Asgard.

“Are you serious? For the mother of the heir?” He said with a strong accent.

“Oh. Yes. That’s me.” I said a little awkwardly.

“You want my work?” He said.

“Yes, please. It looks very well crafted.”

He made a small noise and touched his chest. “The mother of the heir. She says well crafted. You take. Take.”

“Oh, we couldn’t. Please. You deserve compensation for your work.” I said, feeling completely shocked.

He turned and said something to the guard in Asgardian and the two began to talk animatedly. I looked up at Steve unsure if I’d done something wrong. He shrugged and shook his head.

The guard turned to me. “He wants to know what’s wrong with you.”

It felt like I’d been hit in the face. The not paying my way thing had always been one of my big trigger issues thanks to my upbringing. Accepting gifts outside of the usual birthday or Christmas had a strong bond to recently having received a beating. Not to mention, I really didn’t want to just take advantage of my position here. And now I was being called crazy because I thought people should be paid fairly? “I - I just…” I said, tapping my hand on my thigh nervously. “I just don’t…”

She turned back to the vendor and they began to talk again. My heart was hammering. I had been so excited about this and now I just wanted to go back home. Steve began rubbing my back in soothing circles, and I think it was the only thing stopping me from running from the stall. “If this is going to be what bartering is like every time. I can’t do it.” I whispered.

“It’s okay. I can do it.” Tony said.

“Thank you,” I whispered and Steve rubbed my arm.

“Okay, what’s the cheapest thing you brought with you?” The guard said.

I looked like a deer in headlights, but Tony stepped forward and pulled a screwdriver out of the bag. She took it and handed it to the vendor.

He took it and then the Vambrace, wrapping them up and giving them to us. I left the stall and turned to Steve and Tony.

“I want to go back to the palace,” I said. “You guys keep going. Can someone take me back?”

“But you were so excited about going shopping,” Tony said.

“Yeah… well, that was before I got straight up called crazy for not wanting to take advantage of my position.” I said. “I’ve gotten used to being a gold-digging whore. I don’t really want my ‘people buying me’ trigger hit another dozen times today.”

“They think it is a great privilege to be able to provide for the mother of the heir. It’s not… what you said.” The lead guard said.

“He asked what was wrong with me because I wanted to pay him. I thought…” I said and shook my head.

“They’ve not met someone of your status. This is their opportunity to impress.” She explained.

“So he thought he’d insult me?” I asked. “Why are you arguing with me? Aren’t I the one in charge here? Do as I’ve asked!”

She held her hands up in defeat and I turned to Tony and Steve. “Something pretty for Wanda. Something that definitely doesn’t look like it’s from Earth for Bruce and Bucky. A knife for Nat. Something really overdramatic for Clint like a sword or a bow. Like really over the top and unnecessary.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Steve said.

“Okay. I’ll see you back there.” I said.

Tony stepped forward and pressed a kiss to my temple. “Find the kids.” He said. “They’ll help. And bitch to Loki if you want. I’m sure she’ll understand.”

A short man stepped forward from our guards and bowed. “I’ll take you back, your highness. Follow me.”

I followed him and he stayed very close to me as he led me back out through the market and into the palace grounds. “You were wanting the library?”

“If that is where Loki has the children still,” I said.

“Lady Loki could spend all day in the library, my lady.” He replied.

“I’m not so sure Riley can,” I said. “Riley is the heir.”

“We know the children, my lady.”

I nodded. “Sorry. I wasn’t sure. They haven’t been here before.”

He gave a sharp nod and led me down several corridors. We reached a large door with four guards stationed at it. “Here is the library. I shall wait for you here. In case you and the children need an escort.”

“Thank you,” I said and went inside.

“Mommy!!”

Riley’s voice echoed through the room and was quickly followed by her footfalls as she ran at me.

“Riley!” I said, catching her and swinging her up off the floor. I tossed her in the air and then caught her and pulled her into a cuddle. “Have you been having fun with Auntie Loki?”

“No,” Riley pouted. “They borwing, mommy.”

“Do you need something more active to do, little bug?” I asked.

“Yeah…” She hummed.

“Alright. Let’s tell your Auntie that we’re going back to your room, okay?”

“Otay.” Riley said.

I wandered down the rows of books that seemed to stretch upward forever. “Loki!?” I called.

She appeared in front of me with Pietro, a scowl etched on her face. “You do realize you’re in a library don’t you?”

“What are you gonna do? Banish me?” I teased.

“Don’t try me.” Loki scoffed. “That mother of the heir crap won’t get you far with me.”

“Good. Because I hate it.” I said. “Riley is getting antsy so I’ll take her back to our rooms. Are you still having fun with Piet?”

“My little bookworm?” Loki said. “Of course. He’s most welcome.”

“Alright. Enjoy yourselves. You know where I’ll be when you’re ready to hand him over.”

“Let’s go!” Riley said bouncing.

“Alright, let us away!” I said and did a trotting jog back out to the corridor.

I approached the guard who had taken me here. “We’d like to go back to our wing.”

“This way.” He said.

I followed along with Riley on my hip. “Do you want to walk or be carried?” I asked her.

“Cawwied.” She said.

“Like this?” I asked and swung her under my arm like she was a sack.

“Mommy!” She said giggling.

“No?” I said and swung her up over my shoulder. “This better?”

She scrambled so she was sitting up and patted my head. “Yes!”

“Okay. Up high so you can see the world.” I said. “What do you think of Asgard, little bug?”

“Is pwetty.” She said.

“It is pretty.” I agreed. “It’s part of you. Did you know that? You have two homes. The one you’re used to and this one here.”

“Feews awive.” Riley said.

“Does it?” I asked. “That’s probably because you’re connected to the magic here. Your daddy Thor will teach you.”

“Turn here,” The guard said.

I followed his direction and Riley patted me on the head. “Where dis?”

“We’re going back to the bit of the palace daddy Thor made for us.” I said.

The guard chuckled darkly and I turned to him and furrowed my brow.

“Half breeds and Midgardians thinking they can just waltz in here and take over.” He snarled.

I took Riley down off my shoulder and held her close to me. “What do you want?”

“Asgardian rights.”

“I don’t want to take those from you.” I said, backing away from him.

“But you did, when you seduced the king. Filthy Midgardian taking the position of queen from one of us.” He snapped. “You will be purified in fire when the rightful king returns.”

“I didn’t… that’s not what happened. And we don’t want to take anyone’s rights away.” I said. “Oh god, Heimdall, please be watching this.”

// NEXT

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