#for a long time she may feel she DOES want to snap at Steve. like she DOES want to insult her parents | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

steddiealltheway · 1 year

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@steddie-week day 1: hunger / pining / Somebody to Love by Queen

"I'm going to murder Steve if he tries to flirt hopelessly with another girl when he likes Eddie," Robin says with a groan.

"Keep your hands still," Nancy gently reminds Robin as she paints another black layer on her nails. "Does Steve know that he likes Eddie?" Nancy asks with a laugh.

Robin resists the urge to use her hands to speak. "No! But even you have seen the pining. I thought he was going to have a meltdown when he saw Gareth jokingly flirt with Eddie."

Nancy blows on Robin's nails before frowning and scraping off some polish that got on her fingers. "Maybe Gareth is in love with Eddie," Nancy jokes.

Robin laughs. "He's been asking me if you're single for months now."

"If only he knew..." Nancy says with a wide smile before laying a kiss on her girlfriend's hand. "But hey, I'm dealing with Eddie who is hopelessly trying to get over his crush on Steve. He would be willing to be set up with anyone, I swear."

Robin throws her hands up. "That's it!"

"Robin your nails-"

"We set them up on a blind date. Steve has been trying to get me to find someone for him forever now, and Eddie wants the same thing from you! It can be operation... Find Them Somebody to Love."

"You just got that from my Queen tape."

"But it's a great plan!" Robin says with a victorious smile. She holds out her hand to shake on it.

Nancy rolls her eyes and shakes Robin's hand. "If this works, I'll repaint your nails."

Robin's brow furrows. "What do you mean..." she trails off as she looks at them.

"There's some in your hair," Nancy says with a wince.

Robin starts to scrape the paint off. "You call Eddie while I get this off."

Nancy watches her struggle for a moment before handing her some nail polish remover. "I hope this works for our sake."

-:-:-:-:-:-

To say Steve is surprised when Robin excitedly calls him to set him up with someone is an understatement. He may be a bit clueless and naive, but he knows when she's up to something. But maybe she's excited and thinks it's just a really good match, but he thinks that's just the hopeless romantic in him talking.

He also thinks it's strange that the date is at a burger joint that Eddie really likes, but maybe Eddie helped Robin with the date? He really hopes not but doesn't know why. He also knows that maybe the burger joint is a coincidence and the Eddie thought is just because Steve can't stop thinking about him.

It's weird. He's never really had a friend like him before, but he thinks it's part of the trauma bonding that makes Steve feel so intensely about him. But it's different from Robin it's... he doesn't know.

But he doesn't have much time to think about it as he parks outside the food joint. Time to lay on the Harrington charm.

As he walks in he notices only one table that has one person at it. The girl is facing away from Steve in a booth, her long dark curly hair being the only thing visible. She's definitely Steve's type.

As Steve approaches the table he runs a hand through his hair and tries not to think about how she has hair like Eddie's. As he turns to the girl with his most charming smile, it quickly turns into a real smile. "Eddie?" Steve asks.

Eddie's head snaps up and multiple emotions cross over his face as he takes in Steve. "Steve? What are you doing here?"

"Blind date, and you?"

Eddie replies, "Same here, man. Nancy set me up."

Steve tries to ignore the way his heart seems to break. He gives Eddie a smile but it's too tight and entirely fake. "Robin set me up, but hey, that's great, Munson." Steve goes as far as patting Eddie on the back which makes him internally cringe. What's happening?

Eddie slowly glances at Steve's arm and gives it a confused look as his hand still stays on his back. "Right, sorry," Steve apologizes and feels entirely not like himself. Why is he so damn nervous? "But hey, what if I waited here with you until our dates come and we can keep each other company?"

It looks like Eddie wants to say no, but Steve is already sliding into the booth. Eddies just continues to stare at Steve as if he's the last person he wants to see at the moment. Steve ignores those signs and continues talking, "So a blind date? I didn't know you were looking for someone."

Eddie huffs and looks down at the table. "I'm not really looking for someone, I'm just trying to get over someone."

Steve feels that familiar pang in his chest. "Someone I know?"

"Like you wouldn't believe," Eddie mutters. Steve just nods because he has no idea what that means. Eddie continues, "I didn't want to like this guy, but it just kind of happened. And they're incredible and way out of my league, so here I am. But they're somehow just always around..." Eddie trails off staring at Steve.

He almost feels like Eddie is trying to hint at something, but he isn't sure what. "I've been there. It took me a while to get over Nance, but eventually with time it happened. But hey, I don't know how someone could be out of your league, man. I mean you're really uh... well," Steve takes a moment to really look at Eddie and he weirdly feels his cheeks heat up, "You've got really nice eyes, and hair of course, and nice... lips."

Eddie squirms a bit in his seat and glances away. "You don't have to take pity on me, Harrington."

"I'm not!" Steve insists a little louder than he intends to. He lowers his voice and repeats, "I'm not. I'm just stating the facts. You're a really attractive guy. Plus, you're really smart and creative, and you can play the guitar well which I'm sure other guys dig, and you're also uhh really funny and kind-"

"Please stop, there's only so many words of affirmation I can receive in a day before I combust," Eddie jokes but there's a light flush on his face.

Steve holds his hands up and says, "I'm just saying you're a catch. Anyone who doesn't see that isn't good enough for you anyways."

Eddie narrows his eyes at Steve for a moment then glances over his shoulder. "So, uh, doesn't look like our dates are here yet."

Steve glances around and notices no one is sitting alone and no one else has walked in. Weird.

A waiter walks their way and takes their drink orders and gives them a few more minutes to look over the menu. As soon as he's out of earshot, Steve asks Eddie, "Do you think it's rude to put in an order when they're not here?"

Eddie glances around and his eyes settle on the wall. Steve looks over and notices the clock. "If they're not here in the next ten minutes which is fifteen minutes after the date start time, then we can order," Eddie states.

Steve smiles but suddenly his stomach makes an obnoxious growling noise. Eddie's eyes widen. "We can make that five minutes if you'll last that long."

"I can last ten minutes it's alright," Steve replies.

Two minutes later, Steve is already giving in, "Okay, what if we just ordered when the waiter comes back?"

Eddie smiles at him for the first time that evening. "You're weak, Harrington," he jokes.

"Hey, I was strong enough to lug your body around."

"If only I was conscious for that."

Before Steve can think of a response their lovely waiter interrupts them and asks for their order. Steve ends up ordering the same thing as Eddie which has Eddie scoffing, "I thought you thought my taste in food was bad."

"If putting strawberry jelly on a turkey sandwich is your idea of food, then I stand by what I said."

"I'm going to make you try it one day," Eddie says with a wide smile.

Steve leans forwards. "Is that a threat?"

"If you want it to be," Eddie says with a wink.

Steve laughs and has the sudden thought that he really doesn't want his or Eddie's dates to show up. He just wants Eddie to himself.

What?

"What, are you traumatized by the thought of it or something?" Eddie asks after Steve has gone silent.

Steve looks up and really takes in Eddie again. You're a catch. Anyone who doesn't see that isn't good enough for you anyways.

Oh shit.

Steve glances towards the door and outside and doesn't see any cars approaching. He looks back to Eddie and says, "If our dates don't show up in the next five minutes, what if we agreed to be each other's date."

Eddie looks at him for a moment with narrowed eyes. "As in... we're just like... hanging out or...?"

Steve takes a deep breath and says, "A real date."

Eddie's eyes widen and he looks around. "The kids didn't put you up to this, did they?"

"No, Eddie, I- I would really like to go on a real date with you."

Eddie stares at him again then asks, "You swear that this isn't a joke?"

"On Dustin's mother," Steve jokes then holds out his pinky.

"You know how much a pinky promise means to me."

"I know, it's a promise that can never be broken," Steve says.

Eddie hesitates then wraps his pinky around Steve's. "I hope our dates don't show up then," Eddie says with a big smile.

"Me neither," Steve agrees.

-:-:-:-:-:-

"I can't believe it's working!" Robin excitedly shouts from the passenger seat of Nancy's car.

"Me either," Nancy agrees as she watches Eddie rant while flailing his hands and Steve laughs. After a moment, Steve rests his hand over one of Eddie's and gives it a squeeze. Eddie flushes enough that Robin and Nancy can notice from the slight distance.

"Do you think they're going to kill us when they see us?" Robin asks.

Nancy scoffs, "No, they'll probably be over the moon thanking us. I'm just surprised that they agreed to go along with the date without thinking we were pranking them or something."

"Maybe the dinguses just finally sucked it up and admitted they liked each other when they figured out the plan," Robin says with a shrug as she watches the two get up. "And it looks like it's our time to leave."

Nancy shakes her head and looks at Robin. "Wouldn't that draw more attention to us though? We should just let them go first while they're so absorbed in each other's company."

"That's a good ide-" Robin stops as she looks back at the pair. "They've spotted us. Shit."

"Like I said, they're probably going to thank us," Nancy says, praying she's right. She rolls down the window as they approach.

Steve waves with a big smile. "Hey! We thought it was you, but we just wanted to let you know that your dates for us stood us up, but that's okay. Great really because Eddie and I decided you know..."

"I finally confessed that I've been pining after him," Eddie says nearly bouncing up and down.

Steve turns to look at him. "Wait, the person you said was out of your league, that was me you were talking about me earlier?"

"Steve, I thought you realized that after I told you I've had a crush on you for years now."

"Oh. Hey, I'm not out of your league at all, if anything you're out of my..." Steve trails off and seems to realize Robin and Nancy are still there, "Well, we're going to make up for lost time, but it was good seeing you. Thank you for attempting to set us up!"

Eddie and Steve wave as they leave, laughing about something moments later.

"Oh my god, did they just...."

"Holy shit, do they really think..."

Robin and Nancy look at each other and nod. "Dingues," they agree.

They look back as Steve and Eddie seem to argue about what car to take back and Robin sighs, "They'll eventually realize, right?"

"I doubt it," Nancy says.

Steve and Eddie walk towards their own cars seeming to realize that they don't have to drive together. "Gosh, they were made for each other."

It's years down the line when Steve and Eddie are telling the story of their first date when Nancy and Robin finally get fed up and tell the truth, but Steve and Eddie still don't believe them. Once a dingus, always a dingus.

#steddie #steddieweek2023 #steve harrington #eddie munson #steddie ficlet #stranger things #robin buckley #nancy wheeler #ronance background #dinguses to lovers

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justmeinadaze · 6 months

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Secret Sinners Part 3 (Steddie X You)

A/N: I have been thinking about this chapter and excited to write it since I came up with idea for Secret Sinners. After a rough therapy session my brain went to town so you're going to have a lot of angst and feels in this one but I hope you enjoy it because I did <3.

Warnings: Demon Steddie X Human Fem Reader, SMUT, DP, this time they are softer with her due to the angst, FLUFF, they love each other, Readers dreams are gooey with fluff :)

ANGST, they are put through the test Nancy mentioned in the last chapter and its not fun, all three deal with different insecurities, Reader sees visions of her demons as who they were before they were trapped as well as how they would be if they were like their dads, she does get hurt (slapped, demeaned verbally but brief), Eddie deals with the consequences of running, and Steve deals with his fear of being alone and trapped again.

Bit of a rough angst but not like my toxic steddie fics :)

Word Count: 8691

Series here

You smile from your place in the auditorium as you watch your mom dance on stage with some of the kids from her class. When you were growing up, you loved seeing her do her steps. She was always so graceful when she moved, as if ballet was the easiest thing in the world.

Taking a hold of a little boy’s hand, she holds it in the air as he spins in fast circle with a big grin on his face as his long wavy locks slap his face. When he stops, he falls to the floor and giggles, scrunching his nose as he grabs his tummy.

The music stops and you promptly clap your hands making your mom smile as the children head backstage. The little boy she was dancing with waves excitedly at you before following his classmates.

“Thank you, my love.”, she beams as she saunters towards the edge of the platform and jumps down to sit beside you. “So are you ready for this next adventure?”

“I am but I’m a bit nervous. Nancy said it would be rough and I don’t want to see them in pain. They’ve already been through enough.”

“You have to, baby.”

“I know, mama, but I can handle it.”

“Could you handle losing them?”

Her question startles you as you fully turn to face her.

“Why would you ask me that?”

“Really think about that, Y/N. Could you handle not having them in your life in whatever capacity that may be…”

Your eyes snap open as you are met with the sound of whooshing and clinking as your demons continue to practice their sword fighting. Eddie pushes his weapon out of the way with his and grabs Steve by the throat before slamming him to the dirt below.

“Wow, you really do suck now. Don’t ya, big boy?”, he teases.

The other demon growls as he wraps his legs around him and spins him around until he’s straddling his partner underneath him.

“I’m just rusty. I’m getting better again though.”, he grins before leaning down to kiss his lips. “Hey baby. Are you alright?”, Steve asks when he glances your way and sees you awake.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Just another weird dream.”

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“No, Eddie, like I said I’m fine.”

Both demon’s blink as they glance at each other, sensing something in your tone.

“Alright then, well, do you want to get something to eat before we get a move on?”

“No, I’d like to go to this place where this witch is. I’m tired of wondering and would rather just find out what we need to do so we can do it.”

“Babe, we can’t go in there with that mindset… the let’s get on with it ideal. Jonathan said he’s the only one that’s walked out with that potion. We have to be care—”

“I know what we have to do, Steve! You think I don’t worry about this 24/7! It’s been a week since we found out we need to do. Can’t we just go do it!?”

Both their eyes narrow in your direction as they try to control their tempers. Fully prepared to have a verbal fight with you, Eddie steps forward but stops when he notices your head turn away to hide the single tears that begin to fall.

“Y/N, sweetheart. What did you see?”

“My mom. She asked me if I could handle losing you. She’s the second person to bring up losing one or both of you. Why?! I don’t get it. Haven’t we been through enough?”

Tugging you into his arms, the long-haired demon presses you to his chest as he rests his cheek on your head.

“Edward, I’m scared.”

“I know, baby. We are to.”

“Y/N, if getting this thing requires us to separate or for you to lose us then, honey, we’ll just leave. I’m not letting go of you or Eddie. I don’t care what anyone says.”, Steve tried to comfort.

“We’re going to do this together, princess. Everything will be alright.”

################

Clinging to your hand, you and Eddie follow Steve as you pass through into this new realm. Because it wasn’t as hostel as the others, they both felt you didn’t need a disguise but because they weren’t sure what you would be walking into they still brought all their weapons.

“What is this place called?”, you asked.

“Uh, Espejismo.”

“Huh. Are all the realms named after something in Spanish?” The demon flashed you a questioning look so elaborates. “Espejismo means Illusion and Malvado is Evil.”

“Maybe just a coincidence?”

“How do you know Spanish?”, Eddie asked.

“My dad. He used to travel a lot of his work so he learned the basics for most languages.”, you smile softly at the memory. “Where are we headed to again?”

“Jonathan couldn’t give me details but he said we would know it when we saw it.”, he replied as he continued to look at the instructions the demon slayer provided him.

As they walked down the street, something familar caught your eye. Without thinking, you crossed the area and stood outside a little shop as you watched a class of ballet performers do their warmups. You smiled to yourself as you watched the kids hold the bar and do their best to bend their knees the way they should.

“Y/N! Baby, you can’t leave like that.”, Steve scolded as he followed your eyeline.

“After my mom got sick, she taught classes like this. I would go with her sometimes during the summer and watch. I always asked her if she missed performing and she said that training new minds fulfilled her more than the applause ever did.”

Eddie softly smiled as he petted the back of your head before kissing your temple.

“Hi there. My adult class isn’t until later.”, the teacher announced as she opened the door to her studio.

“No, I’m sorry. I was just telling them about how my mother taught ballet.”

“Oh wow. That’s amazing. Do you dance as well?”

“Ha, no ma’am. I was born with graceful feet and trip when I walk normally so…”

The woman chuckles as her eyes scan over the three of you. You’re not sure if it’s because of her occupation or her kind demeanor but you feel safe with this person as if you could tell her anything.

“Why don’t you guys come in and watch the rest of the class. They are supposed to perform acts from plays and pieces they enjoy.”

“We don’t want to impose.”

“Nonsense. Please! Come in.” Your demon’s apprehensively follow as they take in the surrounding. “I’m sorry we don’t have chairs but feel free to sit on the floor here.” After doing as she asks, the young lady turns to address the children in front of her. “Alright, kids. You have a bit of an audience today but please just behave normally and do your best. Show them what we got.”, she giggles before turning to you. “Are you ready for an adventure?”

Your smile falls as her words echo that of your dream.

“Y/N? What’s wrong, honey?”, Steve whispers when he feels you stiffen beside him.

“What’s the name of this realm again?”

“Espejismo. Why?”

Your hands immediately grab theirs as the lights in the studio go out and the kids begin their performance. Sullen music begins to play as a young lady dances into frame while another reads from sheets of paper in her hand.

“Once upon a time, there was a beautiful, strong girl who worked every day being a mother to the realm around her. She made money at a job she hated to care for her father who was sick with a disease that also claimed her own maternal parent.”

Your demon’s eyes shot forward as they gripped tighter to you.

“She slaved away in her day to day feeling lost and alone until she found a gem that housed her future. What she didn’t know yet was that this stone was home to two evil demons who were trapped by a deity who utilized their kind for certain tasks through the realms.”

Two of the younger boys danced out in front, grabbing the girl’s arms, and spinning her about.

“They whispered lies to her.”, murmured the kid reading the story in a low deep voice that gave you chills. “They told her they loved her—”

“That isn’t true! We do love her!”, Steve shouted rising to her feet. The girl tilted her head as she glared at him. One of the young men that had been portraying him in their dance spun in circles till he transformed into a vision of the demon’s father.

“How can that be when you are incapable of love?”, the girl asked.

“Steven! What the fuck are you doing, son? Do you want to die? You have to keep your hands closer together if you want to hit your target!”, his dad growled. The other performers transformed as well displaying themselves as himself as his mom.

“Bill, come on. He’s just a boy.”

“That’s no excuse! He’s MY boy and I won’t have a kid who can’t fucking fight on the battlefield!”

“You were trained to fight, Steven.”, the girl continued. “Not love. Why do you think Nancy left? Or why you and Eddie were captured?”

“STOP IT!”, you screamed. “You’re hurting him!”

The lights flash and the teacher takes over telling her stories as an image of Chrissy bleeding to death appears in front of you and Eddie.

“What about you, Edward? It’s your fault all the bad stuff happens right? You’re the reason the princess was murdered, why Steven had to kill a fellow solider and flee with you, being trapped in that stone as he lost his mind… even before you became a solider you were a problem.”

Eddie’s mother appears in front of him, sobbing on her knees as his dad towers over her. A tiny version of him runs to place himself between them holding up his fists, prepared to fight.

“I swear to God, boy, you are always in the fucking way.”, his father grunted in anger.

“And I always will be if you touch her again!”

“Do you think you can really beat me, you little punk?!”

“I think I can try, asshole!”

You run to the woman with Steve’s bat in hand ready to end their pain but as you swing a light blinds you before the world goes dark.

***

“Y/N!”, Eddie screams as he finds himself in the castle back home that he had maneuvered around so many times. “STEVEN!?”

“Geez, would you stop fucking screaming?”

The demon’s eyes widen as he turns towards the voice that he heard behind the locked door next to him. As he peers into the room through the window in the door, he sees his father chained to the wall, bloodied and bruised.

“I already get tortured every day. You don’t need to add to it.”

“Fuck you.”, Eddie spits. “You deserve what you got after what you did to us and then running, you coward.”

“Oh, I’m a coward? Excuse me, son, but didn’t you run to? If anything you’re worse than me. Not only did you run but you took your best friend down with you.”

Tugging on the handle, the demon finds that the room is accessible and stomps in coming face to face with this man he resents.

“First off, I’m not your fucking son. Wayne and my mom helped raise me, not you.” That made his dad laugh sarcastically. “Secondly, I ran because I didn’t do the thing they accused me of.”

“You didn’t? You didn’t get Chrissy killed?”

“No.”

“So you weren’t sneaking around with her behind her father and fiancés back? You weren’t planning on running away with her the night before her wedding? Funny, I heard a slightly different story.”

“That’s…that’s not why she was killed. That wasn’t… I didn’t…”

“You’re doing it again, you know. Being selfish and looking for this potion is going to get Y/N or Steve killed. Could you handle that?”

“EDDIE!”

Turning at the sound of his voice, the demon ran out of the room and down the long corridors as he listened to Steve scream his name. Bursting through a door, he froze when he found you both on the floor. You were in the exact same spot Chrissy had died in and his heart shattered.

“Y/N? Baby…no, no, no. Please…”, he sobbed as he tenderly touched your face. “Wake up, sweetheart, please. Not again. Not again. Not—”

“Edward…”

Placing you gently back down, the demon crawled around the bed to find a limp Steve bleeding from his torso and his beautiful lips.

“Steven, everything’s going to be alright, baby. I promise.”

“I-I-I tried to save Y/N but—”

“Shhhh…”, the long-haired demon cooed as he caressed his cheek and ran his fingers through his hair. “Don’t think about that right now, ok? We’re going to get you some help and then…”

The sound of clanking metal caused Steve to wince as he rolled to his side and grabbed Eddie’s shirt roughly in his hands.

“Run, honey. If they catch you they’ll kill you this time. RUN!”

“NO! I’m not leaving you two. You both saved my life so many times. I’m not going anywhere! If we die, it will be together!”

The door banged open as guards pointed their weapons towards him.

“Come on, Edward. Don’t make this harder than it has to be.”

Rising to his feet, he extended his arms out to them so he could be restrained.

“I won’t.”

***

“Y/N! Eddie!?”, Steve shouted as he wondered the forest he had walked so many times growing up.

“Steven.” The demon jumped at the sound of his mother’s voice. “Come on, son.”

Talking his hand, she guides him to his childhood house he had grown up in and leads him into the living room.

“Baby!”, he cried excitedly as he fell to his knees in front of the chair you were sitting in and took your hands in his. “Honey, everything is going to be ok, alright?”

“No, Steve. It won’t.” Your eyes glanced behind him and he quickly turned to see your parents, Wayne, and his father enter the room.

“What’s going on?”

“Don’t you remember, sweetheart? We’ve been looking for a way to get Eddie out of the stone and—”

“Y/N, what are you talking about? Eddie isn’t in the stone anymore. YOU saved us by giving Maeve Henry.”

“No, Steven.”, Wayne sighed. “Y/N was able to make a deal with her to let you out but Eddie had to stay. Knowing my nephew he probably insisted on you going.”

“No…No! I never would have left him there alone! I love him and—”

“What does that mean? You love him.”, his dad sassed.

Steve glared at him as he stood to his full height again and clenched his fists.

“I mean I love him, dad. We have dates, we talk, kiss, and fuck each other. I. LOVE. HIM.”

Bill growls as Steve’s mother tries to calm him.

“Maybe we should let the little shit stay in the stone then.”

Taking ahold of his hand, you pull him down next to you as you kiss his cheek.

“Steve.”, your dad grins softly in his direction. “We all wanted to talk with you today because it seems a new deal was presented to Y/N today. She talked to Maeve and there is a way to set Edward free.”

“Thank goodness.”, he sighed as his eyes continued to scan the room.

“The thing is, Y/N would have to take his place.”

“Fuck that. Are you fucking kidding me?!”, Steve roars as he rises to his feet. “No! Plus Maeve needs Demons and Y/N isn’t one.”

“For now.” His head swivels to look at you as you speak. “Baby, if we find that potion I would be strong enough and can take over.”

“No! We’ll find another way, Y/N.”

“There is no other way.”, Maeve confidently announced as she entered the room. “The deal is simple, Steven. Either she replaces him or joins him. Would you rather lose one or both?”

***

“Edward!? Steven?! I swear to God, if you hurt them!”, you shout as you continue to search for them.

The sound of screaming fills your ears and you hastily turn around to see a small village go up in flames. You remember this from the vision they showed you of one of their summoners.

“Lizzy.”

A young woman cackles as she throws the torch in her hands towards another building and it promptly bursts into flames. Slowly backing away, you bump into something hard, coming face to face with the demon’s you love in their demon form. Their red eyes glared forward with small smirks on their faces as they watched the area burn.

“You see? I did it!”

“Good job, princess!”, Eddie grins as she runs into his arms and kisses his lips.

“No.”, you whisper. “This isn’t how it happened.”

Elizabeth scoffs as he places her on her feet and she saunters over to you.

“Excuse me. This is my memory and I know what happened. I was there remember? You think demons sent to force people to kill others didn’t enjoy innocents being murdered?”

“They didn’t. Edward and Steven never wanted to kill beings they didn’t have to.”

Their eyes glow as they turn to face you, growling in your direction.

“Look at you. Brave soul to use their real names.”

“Because it’s who they are! I love them for them.”

“What if who they are is a lie? They lied to you a few times, right?”

“They lied to protect me.”

“Hm. I wonder what else they are protecting you from.”

Elizabeth snaps her fingers and your body is thrust back into a different home near a forest you very much recognize. Your hands were covering your face and you removed them to find yourself kneeling on the ground with huge boots in your purview. Lifting your eyes, you gasp at the sight of a much larger demon standing over you with red glowing eyes. Raising his hand, he hits your face so hard you fall to side.

“This is what Edward Munson is meant to be, Y/N.”, a female voice echoes through the room.

Quickly getting to your feet, you try to run but you aren’t fast enough as rough palms grab your arms and turn you around allowing you to come face to face with an angry Eddie.

“You’re so fucking pathetic, Y/N. No wonder our son is weak!”

He hits you again before tossing you through a door where you fall into a much nicer mansion style study. There’s another demon in the room, back to you as he leans over a desk with maps and papers spread out everywhere. The glass in his hand clinks as he turns around and you’re met with an equally annoyed Steve.

“Fuck me, Y/N. How many times have I said not to bother me while I’m fucking working!”

“I…I didn’t…”

“I…I…really? Just get the fuck out of here and let me focus. I swear, honey, I love you but you’re just never going to be good enough if you don’t use your fucking brain. Now go check on our son and make sure he’s actually doing what I told him to.”

Your heart sank as you got to your feet and watched him sigh as you listened to the sound of Eddie stomping around as he shouted.

“This is what Steven Harrington is meant to be.”, the voice spoke again.

Shaking and completely unsure of what to do next, you threw your head back and screamed as loud as you could.

When you finally opened your eyes again, everything around you had disappeared and everywhere you turned was blank space until abruptly a woman you had never met appeared at your side.

“Sh-Show me…the truth… I don’t need your tests or your fucking tricks! SHOW ME THE TRUTH!”, you shouted at her as tears fell down your cheeks. “Let me make the right decision for myself.”

***

Clenching his jaw, Eddie held his head high as he was pushed to his knees in front of the king.

“I see nothing has changed. First you kill my daughter and now a high-ranking official’s son?!”

“We also found the body of a human female as well, sire.”

The king scoffs as he absently gestures every which way.

“I don’t care about one nothing human. She’s not one of our people.”

“But she was one of mine.”, the long-haired demon growled, wincing when he was hit in the shoulder.

“Just always a troublemaker, aren’t you?”

“I’ve been known to fuck up from time to time but I assure you, sir, Chrissy wasn’t one of them.” Something hit Eddie hard in the side as he toppled over in pain.

“I’m going to love the sound of your screams for the rest of your miserable existence.”

“Good. I’ll take anything you got because nothing is going to change the fact that I loved your daughter and she loved me! I would have done anything for her!”

“Like run?!”

“I fucked up!! I shouldn’t have run off. I was fucking terrified but to be honest with you, sire, if I hadn’t of run I never would have found Steve or Y/N.” One of the guards kicks him causing him to howl in pain before he continued. “Steven always says I kept him sane but the truth is he did that for me. The first time we made love, I’ll tell you, sire, I never felt fucking safer. He’s always afraid I’m going to leave him but the idea of not having him here…fucking kills me.”, he cries.

“Y/N is the most gorgeous human I’ve ever met and I don’t just mean that physically. Her kind is despicable and selfish. We spent over 3,000 years watching mankind do unspeakable things but she’s different. She’s selfless almost to a fault. She’s brave and funny and so fucking smart. She absorbs everything we say and patiently explains things to us we may not understand. If she really is dead then I know she’s back in heaven because she was definitely an angel in her world!”

“So, if you want to torture me then FUCKING DO IT! Because I’m ready, sir. I’m not running this time and if they are gone then I’m ready to join them.”

The guards behind him aggressively lift Eddie to his feet and guide him away from the king before roughly pushing him through the double doors.

***

Steve heavily exhales as his brain overloads with all the information he’s being provided.

“Sweetheart.”, you coo as you run your fingers through his hair. “I’ll be ok. This is originally what I wanted remember? You two to be free and together.”

“Y/N, no. It will NOT be ok. I told you before that it would be hell for you because you would be alone and then it would be hell on earth because we would burn it down to set you free.”

“Hm. That feels vaguely like a threat.”, Maeve sasses.

“Because it is.”, he counters as his eyes glow.

“Steven…” Grabbing his cheeks, you force him to look your way. “Then, maybe, I can go in there and stay with him. You can live your life and go home.”

“NO! I’M NOT LOSING YOU BOTH!”

“So you’ve made your choice then?”, the deity asks.

“No, goddamn it. Give me a minute and let me think!” Taking hold of your hand, he pulls you to the corner of the room so you can talk. “Honey—”

“It’s ok. I promise you. I love you so much and you both changed my life. Let me do this for you.”

His eyes scan yours before cupping your cheeks in his hands and passionately kissing your lips.

“Tell Edward I love him.”, he whispers, tearing himself away from you and glaring at Maeve. “Take me.”

People in the room gasp at his response as you rush forward placing yourself in front of him.

“Steve, no. You hated it in there.”

“I know. That’s why I won’t allow you to go and I won’t leave him there. Take me.”

“That wasn’t the deal, Steven.”

“Then make a new one, Maeve.” Her head tilts at his newfound attitude with her. “These are two people I love with all my heart. They’ve always been there for me especially this woman right here. I refuse to let her suffer for the rest of her life in that purgatory. She and Eddie have been through enough in this life—”

“And you haven’t?”, your mom asked him.

“Oh please. What hardships has he gone through? Leading an army and being a mentor in a vacation house. That stone would be a nice reprieve I bet.”

Steve smirked as he bent down and placed his hands on his knees like he used to do with some of the children he trained.

“Well, dad, why don’t you take Eddie’s place?” His father scowled at him, angrily turning away to avoid his son’s hard gaze. “Yeah, that’s what I fucking thought. You know, you always said I was weak and a coward but the truth is you are. I worked hard to get ahead and yet it was never enough. I found two beings who love me for me and I’d do anything for them.”

“You won’t get to see Eddie to say goodbye. As soon as I do this there’s no going back.”, Maeve warned.

Steve’s bottom lip quivered at the thought of not even being able to see the man he loved but Eddie would understand. Turning towards you, he caught you as you jumped into his arms.

“I love you, Y/N. You are an amazing, beautiful woman. You’ve shown me so much, baby. I wish I could have spent the rest of my life with you two.”, he whimpered his last sentence as he kissed your forehead before shoving you backwards and hastily moving forward. “Do it, Maeve.”

The last thing he heard was you shout as white light blinded his eyes.

***

They passed by you so fast as you stood there and took in all the memories. Eddie protecting his mom when his dad was drunk and enraged. Steve feeling inadequate as his father called him names and belittled him. You saw Wayne break as his nephew took his place in their militia.

“Edward, I can’t let you do this.”

“It’s done, Wayne. I already did it and the king approved. I start training next week.”

You saw Steve catching Nancy as she packed her bags to leave.

“That’s right, Nance. Just fucking run like the coward you are.”

“Steve, this isn’t my fault, okay?! I didn’t choose this. It just…is.”

“I thought you loved me…”

The training and combat were glimpses of things you had already seen including them meeting and their kills on the field. What was new was watching Eddie appear out of nowhere as the enemy soldiers were relaxing and playing his guitar, lulling them into a false sense of security while Steve and his team killed them.

“Always amazing, dude.”, Robin beams as Eddie bows.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Congratulate him later and make sure none of these assholes are moving.”

“Yes, sir.”, she salutes sassily making him smile.

There were things they hadn’t told you that appeared before you.

Eddie played his guitar making the girl in his bed swoon.

“You don’t have to keep wooing me, sir. I’m already here.”, she giggles.

“Hey, maybe I’m serenading my best friend and his date. Not everything is about you, babe.”

Steve chuckled through a breathy moan from his spot on the floor in front of the bed as his head fell and he thrust harder into the girl underneath him.

It amazed you how much cockier they seemed before their time on the run. You had never meet this version of them and a part of you thought if you had…you would have hated them. You assumed the memories of Chrissy were purposely skipped because you had seen them all before including the memory of Steve finding him and deciding to run with him.

The memories that hit the hardest were the ones that involved their suffering. You saw them accidently bleed on Maeve’s gem and watched their first angry night in captivity.

“Fuck! Are you fucking kidding me!? We run and we still end up in a fucking prison!”, Steve shouts as he throws something across the room. “What the fuck do we do now?!”

“I mean…at least we don’t have to run anymore right? See different parts of the world and watch beings kill other beings.”

They lay side by side staring at the ceiling after their first time being intimate.

“Eddie?”

“Hm?”

“Did I, um, are we…what was this?”

“Honestly, I’m not 100% sure. Since you initiated it, what would you like it to be?”

“Did…Did you like it? Being with me, I mean.”

“Did I like the sex or did I like being with you?”

“Um, both, I guess.”

Eddie rolled on to his side, capturing Steve’s face with his palm, and placed a tender kiss on his lips. After pulling away, he gently ran his thumb along the man’s bottom lip.

“Yes.”

They watched as Arthur’s father screams at his son, Steve glancing towards Eddie as he flinches. While his back is to them, the demon scoots closer to the long-haired boy and delicately pushes some of it behind his ear.

“Are you ok?”, he whispered.

“Yeah. He just reminds me of my dad. It got me thinking if he ever talked to you that way if he found out about us.”, Eddie growled.

Steve softly smiled as he kissed his cheek.

“I love you, Edward.”

“I love you to, Steven.

When you made it to their memories with you, you could barely view them through the haze of your tears. The three weeks they were tied to you they had so many conversations about things they wished they could do with you and show you back home. They constantly talked about how much they loved you and wanted to spend the rest of their lives with you.

A few memories you hadn’t seen with your own eyes did stand out to you. You witnessed Steve tear Noah apart, them murmuring things to each other while EMS came to take your father, and a heated debate the night you asked them to leave you alone when you found out they had lied.

“We should have told her the truth. Now we fucking lost the best person we’ve ever met.”

“Maybe this is good, Steve.”

“What the FUCK are you talking about?!”

“The angrier she is at us the easier it will be for her to let us go. We’re going to lose her anyway.”

“Eddie, I love her! I can’t stand her last memory of us being us breaking her fucking heart.”

“We’re going to break her heart when we disappear!!”, he roared.

Their conversation ceased as they listened to you cry on the other side of the wall.

“That’s our fault, Edward.”

The long-haired demon swallowed the lump in his throat as he quickly looked away.

“I know, Steven.”

The last memory you see is you freeing them before you’re sounded by a white once again.

“You say you love them for who they are but do you really understand what that means?”, the woman by your side muses as she begins to slowly walk around you. “They are killers, Y/N, and violent ones at that. In their world, that was praised as well as their lust for women of their kind. I imagine in the beginning being able to fuck a summoner was something they enjoyed greatly.”

“That was their past. They aren’t like that now.”

“You’re very forgiving. You forgave the man who cheated on you with your coworker while you were at home taking care of your father. Hell, you forgave that coworker and even allowed her to push you around. You forgave the heavens even though you prayed constantly that both your parents would get better and forgave all the people that abandoned you after they got sick. Let me ask you something. How do you know Eddie and Steve aren’t like those other people? How do you know they aren’t taking advantage of you?”

Her intensely beautiful eyes scan you over as you cry harder and shrug.

“Because they’re still here.”

The woman waits patiently for you to collect yourself so you can explain.

“I freed them from their prison and even I thought they would want time alone to travel but they insisted on staying by my side. They found out they could finally go home and I begged them to go back but they knew doing that would mean they couldn’t be with me. I told them to do whatever makes them happy even if that doesn’t involve me yet here they are putting themselves through God knows what because they want to be with me for the rest of their lives. They love me and I love them…EVERY PART of them.”

The woman stops walking and gently smiles in your direction before gesturing towards some double doors.

“I’ll be right in.”

#############

As you walk through, you come face to face with your demon’s hugging each other tightly.

“Oh my god. Look at your face. What happ—“, Steve interrupted himself when his eyes met your swollen, tear-filled one. “Y/N?! Baby, what happened? Are you ok?!”

Your knees buckled and Eddie quickly caught you as he winced himself, falling with you to the floor.

“It’s ok, sweetheart. I know. We’re real, baby. I promise. It’s ok.”

Steve circled his arms around you both, rocking you along with Eddie.

“Everything IS ok.”, the woman from before grins as she glides into the room and sits behind a desk gesturing for you three to sit in the chairs in front. “I’m Mirage by the way. If you couldn’t tell by the name of the realm.”, she grins.

“What did you do to her?”, Steve growls as they both stand and place you behind them.

Pushing them aside, however, you dry your eyes and take a seat, ushering for them to do the same.

“I genuinely am sorry for the pain I caused especially to you, Y/N. You do seem like an extremely kind soul. You have no idea how many people come to me asking for this potion and the kind of people they are. I have to be very careful which is why I push so hard. I’ve only ever met one person I felt deserved this and now I’ve met two.”, she smiles handing you the black bottle. “Keep it safe. A regular human shot glass will keep you alive for a thousand years and make you strong like them. I feel I should also tell you—”

“I can get pregnant.”

Both their eyes whipped in your direction as she sighed, flashing you another soft smile.

“Humans can’t impregnant demons which is why I didn’t say anything to Nancy and Jonathan. If you drink that potion that will now be something to take into account.”

You nodded before laughing under your breath.

“You already know, don’t you? That’s another reason you showed me them being like their dads.”

“You did what?”, Eddie snarled as his hands gripped his chair tighter trying to control himself.

“Would I have survived the birth if you didn’t give me this potion?” Her eyes lock with yours and you can’t help but laugh again. “Sounds like you need some tests of your own if you would knowingly leave a boy without his mother. I did everything I could to keep my parents here and if I had known someone knew a way to save them and didn’t… You should be ashamed of yourself.”

“I live in a universe by myself, sweetheart. I create the world around me and none of it is real. Trust me… I amashamed but we do what we have to do to keep the peace.”

“Yeah, keep telling yourself that.”, you spit as you get to your feet and grab the bottle off her desk. “I want to go home please.”

Steve nods as he quickly creates the portal and guides you both through.

#############

After stepping through, you silently walk towards your car where you three had left it and drove with them to the nearest hotel where you all crashed in bed wrapped tightly in each other’s embrace.

The following morning you and Eddie felt extremely sore, Steve doing everything he could to take care of you both. Throwing his shirt to the side, Eddie waited patiently, flinching when the ice pack touched his body.

“I saw you both die.”, he abruptly announced. “Y/N, you had a knife in your chest…you were…already gone.” Your eyes became glassy as you scooted closer to him when his voice cracked. “The guards were coming and Steve told me to run but…I didn’t. Not this time. They kept hurting me while I faced Chrissy’s dad.”

“In mine, you were still in the stone and Y/N made a new deal with Maeve. It was either she takes your place or join you. Either I lost one of you or…both.”, Steve whispered his last word, clearing his throat before he continued. “I told her to take me. She said I wouldn’t get to say goodbye to Eddie or ever see you guys again. I made the same choice…take me.”

They both glanced your way but you avoided their eyes as you kissed Eddie’s shoulder.

“You said…she showed you us being like our fathers?”, Steve urged.

“She showed me a lot of things…”, you whispered.

“You can tell us, honey. It’s ok.”

“You don’t understand.”

“Help us to, baby.”, Eddie cooed gently as he turned his body to face you.

“I’ve never…been afraid of you. When you first appeared from the stone, I was scared of your appearance but… I saw Elizabeth and you both were happy she killed all those people. Mirage said you were evil…that’s who you were meant to be. Eddie, you grabbed me and hit me…told me I was pathetic and that I was the reason our son was weak.”

The long-haired demon closed his eyes as he tried to control his tears as his body shook beside you.

“I ended up in this study where, Steve, you were going over maps and papers. Y-You said I was bothering you and that I was never going to be good enough if…”

“…you don’t use your fucking brain… Yeah, my dad said that to me and my mom a lot.”

“I’ve never been afraid of you before.”, you repeated as your voice trembled. “I, um, screamed at her and demanded she show me who you really are and allow me to make the choice for myself. I saw everything… you two killed so many beings…”

“It was our job, Y/N.”, Eddie murmured.

“Was it your job to sneak up on defenseless soldiers with your guitar so Steve and Robin could kill them?”, you asked in an angry tone that had both their heads hanging. “Or how about all the demon women you both were with that you disrespected constantly? I wonder how Chrissy and Nancy got so lucky to get the versions of you before you were trapped.”

“Nancy was part of the reason I was like that.”, Steve growled. “No one had ever fucking hurt me the way she did but we were younger, Y/N. All we knew was death and sex especially Eddie and me. You saw how we were raised! Every day was a fucking war while we were there.”

“Did she insinuate that we enjoyed being trapped those first few years because we got to see people get killed and fuck the summoner if we wanted?”, Eddie asked, chuckling sarcastically when you nodded.

“I heard you say it…on your first night.”

“I was trying to calm him down. Truth was we were both terrified but I needed to keep it together for him.”

“You didn’t have to take on that burden, Edward.”

“Yeah, well, I did, Steven.”

“What was your test?” When you didn’t immediately respond, a rumble immitted low from Eddie’s chest as he rose to his feet. “Was it if you would still love us and stay with us if we were those monsters you saw?! If we treated you like trash would stay?!”

Rising to your feet, your chest bumped his as you glared up at him with termination.

“No, it was if I would still be weak like I was with everyone in my life if you two were using me like they had!” You shook your head as you flung your arms in the air angrily. “My ex, Carol, my boss, friends, family that disappeared, hell even fucking Henry thought they could use me because I never said anything! I never fought back! I had already been through so much and each time I got my hopes up even a little bit I got fucked over! The first time I ever fought back was when I saved you two!”

Eddie’s demeanor softened slightly at your admission as you continued.

“You could have left a long time ago…but you haven’t. You could have gone home. I TOLD you to go home but you’re still here. I know you’re not like your dads or even how you were before…everything. I know that because if you were or I thought for one second you didn’t love me…I wouldn’t be here.”

To prove your point, you popped open the bottle of potion and chugged a good amount of it back before putting it back on the dresser.

Cupping your face in his hands, the metalhead pulls you in for a rough kiss that has you both groaning into each other’s mouths. You cringe as the formula runs through you as you cling to his shoulders.

“It’s ok. It doesn’t hurt as bad as last time.”, you grunt through the pain.

“Y/N, I would never hurt you like my dad did. I would never lay my hands on you or Steve like that. I swear, princess. You’re both safe with me.”

“And our son?”

Eddie breathily laughed as he rested his forehead on your own.

“That was real?”

“How do you know, Y/N? How do you know she wasn’t fucking with you?”, Steve asked with a small shake in his voice.

“She could have had you guys say kid or child. In my test you both mentioned our son. I’ve also…seen him…in my dreams.” Standing off the bed, the demon lifts you in his arms and lays you flat on the mattress behind you. “Is that ok? How do you both feel about that?”

Steve passionately kissed your lips, his tongue gliding across your own as the other demon comes to lay beside you as well.

“Scared but ready. Hopefully, he’s more like you than us.”

“In my dream, he had your hair, Edward and Steven’s smile. He was dancing with my mom and having so much fun.”

You started to cry again causing them to panic slightly as both demon’s wrapped their arms tightly around you.

“I’ve never been afraid of you before.”, you repeated again. “I’m sorry. I know it wasn’t real but I didn’t like it. Even worse, I know it was real for you two because you went through that.”

“No reason to be sorry, honey. I’ve been to many different realms but none like that one. Baby, I swear, I will never talk to you, Eddie, or our son like that. I love you three so much. Like he said, you’re safe with us.”

Tenderly moving you onto your back, Eddie kisses your tummy and up your body, kissing the bruising that was beginning to form along the side of your face.

“Me to, princess. I love all three of you.”

Reaching over you, he unbuttoned Steve’s pants and helped him slide them down his legs as you lifted your own over his hip. Changing back into their demon form, they both groaned at the feel of your skin against theirs as Eddie spit into your cunt before taking hold of the other demon’s cock and guiding it into your entrance.

As he slowly thrust into you, your arm circled around his neck and mewled as your fingers ran through his hair while his lips kissed your own.

They were both being incredibly soft with you and you appreciated the change especially with everything that happened. The truth was they needed that just as badly as you did. Both demons thought they had lost you and the other feeling utterly helpless. They needed to feel every part of you and each other to remind themselves that THIS was their reality and not what they were shown.

Placing himself between your legs, Eddie’s tongue flattened as he licked along Steve’s cock as it pumped in and out of you while also taking time to suck and flick the muscle along your clit making you moan.

“Fuck, that feels so fucking good.”, Steve whimpered as he rested his head against the side of yours. “Can you see him, honey? Eddie knows how to take care of us.”, he grunted as quickened his pace.

As you tilted back to kiss him, Steve’s palm tangled in the other demon’s hair, pressing him further into you causing you to pant heavily as you tried to focus in on all the sensations you were feeling.

“Please…please don’t stop.”

“Mmm—cum, pretty girl. Cum on Edward’s tongue, baby.”

After sliding his cock out of you, it was promptly replaced with Eddie’s tongue and expert fingers moving at a blistering pace till you screamed his name as the coil in your tummy snapped while grinding your hips against his motions.

“Good. Good girl.”

They continued whispering praises to you as the metalhead climbed the length of your body and the other demon positioned you more on your side with your back against his chest. Eddie whimpered as he guided himself into your dripping, sensitive core as Steve hissed while pushing his length into your ass.

You desperately clung to them with their heads falling on either side of your nook as they thrust their hips at a slow but firm rhythm. Their eager pants warmed your skin as they pumped their cocks impossibly deep with you, moaning as you dragged your nails down Eddie’s back over his tucked away wings.

As your fingers ran through Steve’s hair and along his horns, they both leaned over you to exchange a kiss as they began pounding into you.

“F-Fuck, please.”

“I know, baby. We—shit—we can feel it. Cum, sweetheart.”

Both demon’s lips attached to your neck as Eddie reached down to massage your clit while your eyes rolled back and whimpered their names. To your surprise (and delight), the long-haired demon came with you, filling you up as your cunt clenched tightly around him.

Steve’s hand clasped around your neck lightly as he chased his high before his rhythm faltered and grunted as he released his seed inside of you.

You did everything you could to keep your eyes open for them but with the heaviness of the day and them making you feel good, the tiredness overtook you as you fell asleep in their embrace.

***

As your eyes opened, you were still in bed at the hotel but you were wearing one of Eddie’s shirts with Steve’s boxers tucked tightly under the covers. Freeing your arms to stretch, an extra weight in the bed moved startling you slightly till you noticed the little head with black curls.

Grinning, you scooted down so your face was level with his as you watched the little demon sleep. Your fingers gently traced along his face making your smile grow when his skin didn’t cause you any pain. Your hand moved along his back, feeling the tiny growth of wings that were beginning to sprout. When he opened his eyes, they were red with a hint of your own color shimmering up at you with nothing but love.

“Hi, mommy.”

Your chest caved in as a cry escaped your throat at the sound of his voice. It wasn’t deep like theirs but soft like your own.

“I’m sowwey, mommy. Did I make you sad?”, he asks as his little hands reach up to dry your eyes.

“No, sweetheart. You didn’t make mommy sad. You’re just so handsome!” When he giggled at your compliment his mouth opened wide like Eddie’s as a loud cackle exuded from him. “How are you, baby? Are you alright?”

He nods, scrunching his little nose in thought.

“Mommy, are my daddy’s nice like you?”

“Of course, honey. Why do you ask?”

“I only know you.”, he responds as he touches your stomach. “An granma an granpa.”, he chuckles as he points at the light outside of the window.

You try to contain your tears of joy so you don’t frighten him again.

“I wanna meet dem but they don’t have a door like you.”, he says as he points to your forehead.

“Yeah, your mommy’s weird.”

“No, mommy!”, he laughs making you smile.

“Do you want me to tell them something for you?”

The small demon’s nose scrunches again as he thinks.

“Tell dem Ellis says I love you!”

Your eyes flutter open as light pours into window of the hotel and you feel gentle hands running along your arms.

“Hey, princess. You alright? You were kind of mumbling in your sleep.”

“I saw him again… our son.” Steve lifts his head and rests his cheek on your shoulder from behind you. “He looks like both of you. How can that be?”, you whisper.

“Honestly, baby, this is kind of out of bounds for us. If we had known you drinking that would have gotten you pregnant… I guess like Maeve said, ‘When you meddle in the abstract…’”, Eddie murmured back as he caressed your face.

“Maybe someone back home would know. I mean maybe the little buttheads can find something.”, Steve teases making the two of you laugh softly. “Tell us more about him, Y/N; our son.”

After describing what you saw, they both smile as they paint a picture of him in their heads.

“I wish I could talk to him to.”

“He said he’s tried but you two don’t have a ‘door’ like I do.”, you emphasis by tapping your forehead. “I guess that’s a unique way to explain my gift. He wanted me to tell you something. He said, ‘Tell them Ellis says I love you.’”

At the mention of his name both your demon’s locked eyes as Eddie released a heavy exhale.

“Baby, when we were trapped, we talked a lot about so many different things. One night, I asked Eddie if we ever had kids what would their names be. I told him I didn’t have any preference because I don’t have any family I’m really close to except him even before. He said if it was a girl, Elizabeth, because that was his mother’s name. If it was a boy—”

“Ellis because it’s close to that. Fuck…”, he cried as you tilted forward to kiss his lips. “You guys didn’t have to do that. Y/N has family and stuff we could have named him after.”

“We can do that next time.”

Again, his head shot up to look your way.

“Y-You’d want more kids with us?”

“I mean, yeah. I’m not exactly sure if I can after this one. Like you said this is new territory but if we can…”

Both demon’s cling to you like little kids as they smile and kiss your face.

“So, now I get to see your home?”

“Yeah, baby, you do.”

######################

@tlclick73 @tiannamortis @steeldaisies @goodhappyfriday @paleidiot @fireeyes-on-teller-dixon-grimes

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janesociety · 1 year

Text

daddy issues, pt ii

tony stark x teen!reader

type: angst, hurt/comfort (?)

summary: you aren’t getting better- tony knows it, you know it, and so does everyone else.

word count: 2.5k

warnings: mentions of death and dying. reader is very sick. medical procedures like surgery and an iv.

pt i

marvel masterlist

✩ ✩ ✩

You were getting better. That’s what Tony had kept telling you, at least.

You weren’t all that convinced.

You woke up almost a whole day later with Tony’s hand in yours. He was always softer with you than other people, but not like this. He rarely left your side the entire time you were out, and once you woke up, he still seemed to check in on you regularly- sometimes for hours at a time.

Bruce eventually took you off the oxygen, but the IV remained in your arm- much to your dismay. He kept running tests, everything he tried coming up blank, but he wasn’t going to stop until you were better.

“You don’t have to sit in here all day and watch me sleep,” you spoke up one day as you groggily rolled onto your side. Tony set the book he was reading off to the side. “I won’t wither away just because you’re not here.”

“Oh, please, we all know you’d burn the place down if we left you alone long enough,” Tony said, adjusting his position in the plastic chair he was sitting in. “That’s why we had to put your room next to Steve’s- popsicles don’t burn, they melt.” You couldn’t help the laugh that flowed from your lips at the lame joke. Even if it was followed by a small coughing fit. “Take it easy, kiddo,” Tony said, scooting closer to your bed. “Don’t wear yourself out.”

You gave a small head nod in response, suddenly feeling weaker than before. Tony leaned back in his seat, picking his book back up.

“Tony?” you asked. He hummed in response. “Am I dying?”

“No, of course not,” he said, a little too quickly in your opinion.

“I’d want you to be honest with me if I was,” you said, playing with your fingers. The small act was making your hands ache, so you stopped, resting them over your stomach.

Tony reached over, careful to avoid the wires sticking out of you, taking your hand in his.

“You’re not dying, Y/N,” he said firmly.

You still knew he was lying.

Within the next two days, things only seemed to get worse. All the Avengers were now taking shifts by your side- usually with a lot of overlap as each lasted hours at a time. You’d been put back on oxygen when you began complaining of being so tired that it hurt to breathe.

You tried to put on a brave face for the rest of them, even if you could read all their faces and knew that they knew something you didn’t. You never cried or complained. You didn’t question anyone about you dying again, simply accepting it as a fact. Of course it was going to happen one day, but you couldn’t help that you were sad it was so soon.

“Please tell me you have something,” Tony said as he entered the lab adjacent to the med bay.

“I might,” he said, putting some scam results he took up on a board. “I think it’s connected to her powers. You see, she got them from HYDRA, right? Now that’s not easy- it takes advanced biotechnology to be able to give someone powers without killing them. You already know that, I suppose.” Tony resisted the urge to snap at Bruce for taking so long with his explanation. “Well, I think they installed some kind of self destruct along with. Like a biological timer to keep their ‘goods’ from being kept in the wrong hands.” Tony kept harsh eye contact with Bruce. “It’s causing her body to shut down.”

“But you can fix it, right?” Tony said, staring at the black and white images that meant nothing to him.

“We’re running out of time,” Bruce said, clearing his throat. “Once it gets past a certain point, it may… it may just be better to let her go.”

“No, we’re not doing that,” Tony said, barely letting Bruce finish and crossing his arms over his chest.

“Tony-“

“I promised her she wasn’t dying and I will not be made into a liar,” he said, harshly. Bruce looked away from him, the monitor on his desk displaying your vitals in the next room. Tony sighed. “Just tell me what you need. Doctors, staff, medical equipment- I can get you anything you need in the next two hours.”

“I’ll see what I can do.”

You were pretty out of it for the next few days. When you were conscious, you were in pain, and when you slept, you were restless and often had nightmares. In the times you were awake, you were aware enough to know there was now a team of medical professionals checking in on you at all times. You felt like a guinea pig with how many people were constantly examining, touching, and prodding at you at all times.

Tony still stayed close, albeit a bit farther back after being snapped at by a doctor one too many times for being in the way.

Even if your eyes hardly opened for more than ten minutes at a time, you were always acutely aware of the number of people around you. Most of the Avengers sat with Tony around your bed and you kept hearing things along the lines of “go to bed, Nat,” and “we’ll come get you if anything changes, Steve,” and “if I fall asleep, wake me up when she does.”

You could hear the hushed whispers of doctors talking to Tony or Bruce over your head. You could hardly focus long enough to catch any of what they were saying, but when you heard a doctor say “Let’s step into the hall,” you knew it wasn’t good.

“Unless we can figure out what’s killing her,” Dr. Klein, an older woman and one of the best immunologists in the Northern Hemisphere, said, “we’re going to just be barely keeping her alive. Her quality of life is rapidly deteriorating and I believe she may be taking a turn for the worse.” Tony watched you through the window, surrounded by machines, doctors, and superheroes. “I thought I should let you know that it may be time to discuss hospice options in the event there’s nothing else we can do.”

Tony didn’t answer her. He just stood, watching you. He shut down any time anyone brought up you dying. He couldn’t help it. Imagining a world without you just seemed so impossible he couldn’t even fathom the reality he was being faced with.

Dr. Klein’s pager beeped and she excused herself, leaving Tony alone.

“Steve?” you said, your mouth dry from how long it’d been since you spoke. The others around the bed, including Steve, collectively stood and walked closer to you. You could tell Wanda, Bucky, and Sam were there and were somewhat surprised that Tony wasn’t.

“I’m here,” Steve said, taking one of your hands and leaning closer to you to hear your weak sounding voice.

“What’s going on?” you asked, not actually wanting to know what was going on, but rather wanting to have a conversation with someone. You hadn’t had much of a chance to speak to any of them and it was starting to get quite boring only being stuck with your thoughts and nightmares.

“You’re in the hospital still,” he said, stroking your hair back.

“Oh,” was all you could muster, mentally kicking yourself for sounding more confused than you were. You had to take a moment, the small sentences winding you. “Can you talk to me?” you croaked, your voice sounding scratchy. “All of you?”

“‘Course, doll,” Bucky answered, grabbing his chair and moving it forward. You mustered up a small smile, but it disappeared the moment it was there. The thought crossed his mind that he preferred it when you were screaming and thrashing, because then at least you could move. He mentally kicked himself for even comparing the two.

“Anything you want to hear about?” Steve asked. You wanted to say yes and list off all the things you wanted to talk about since you got sick, but your throat was already so sore from talking. You shook your head no.

Sam leaned forward in his seat. “Why don’t I tell you about mine and Bucky’s training session the other day?” You couldn’t help but crack a smile, seeing Bucky immediately turn red.

“Hey now-“

“C’mon, Buck,” Sam said, feigning offense, “you’re going to deny the girl this funny story just because she wasn’t there to experience it?” Bucky just shook his head. “Anyway, as I was saying…”

You tried to stay awake. You really did. But you kept nodding off anyway, jumping awake every few minutes to tell him to keep going.

“I can finish the story later, Y/N,” he said after the eighth time you’d fallen asleep.

“No, no,” you said, coughing slightly. “Just keep going. I want to hear your voice.” You took notice of Wanda’s silence, reaching out suddenly for her hand. She took it, squeezing it a few times as she tried to keep tears from her eyes. She’d already lost one sibling. She couldn’t lose another, even if you weren’t blood.

“So Bucky decided it was a good idea to get up again-“

“Excuse me,” a doctor said, rushing up to your bed with what seemed to be a whole medical team and a few other doctors you recognized behind him. “I’m sorry, I need you all to step back.” He was being quite rude with his tone, you thought. Everyone did as they were told, but you kept your feeble grip on Wanda’s hand.

“Ma’am-“

“Please,” you spoke up, staring weakly at him. He glared down at you.

“Alright,” he muttered under his breath. Nurses moved all around you, messing with the machines, your IV, one even shining a light in your eyes. You’d gotten somewhat used to people randomly walking up to you and poking at you or shoving things in your face, but with so many people it quickly became overwhelming. You squeezed Wanda’s hand tighter, beginning to shake a little.

Finally a familiar face appeared over you.

“Y/N,” Bruce said, leaning over your bed. “We’re gonna take you back to surgery, okay? Everything’s gonna be alright.” You began to shake more and Wanda put a hand over yours in a weak attempt to comfort you.

Tears were forming in your eyes, suddenly feeling the most scared you had been since you got sick.

“No,” you cried out weakly. “Please.” Tears streamed sideways down your face, either hitting the oxygen tube around your ears or your hair. Even if you were barely conscious most of the time, you wanted to be aware before you died. You didn’t want to go out on a metal table. The idea of not being able to feel yourself slipping terrified you.

“It’s going to be alright, you’re in good hands,” Bruce said as your bed began moving. Wanda’s hand slipped out of yours and you waved it around frantically trying to find hers again.

“No, please, no,” you whispered, barely processing where you were going. All you could see were the lights overhead as they rolled you down the hall. Everything else took too much effort to focus on. You came to a sudden stop in a dark room. Your cries became louder.

“Y/N, listen to me, sweetheart,” Bruce said, appearing in front of you again, “everything’s going to be alright. You’re going to be okay.” As he was speaking, someone removed your oxygen tube and put an oxygen mask over your face. “You’re alright.”

“You’re okay.”

“Everything’s alright.”

That was the last thing you remember.

Fortunately for you, the Avengers, and, by extension, Earth (because who knows what would’ve happened if they’d really lost you), you woke up a little over a day later.

You still felt sore- all the muscles in your body burning even as you laid flat on a bed. You were still exhausted. Beyond exhausted, even. Your eyelids and limbs are so heavy you could barely move. You could feel the now familiar feeling of an oxygen tube under your nose. It calmed you in some way.

The only real difference you could identify is you didn’t feel like you were being drained. Like the life was no longer being sucked out of you.

When you finally got your eyes opened, it took a minute for everything to come into focus. The overhead lights that had been on almost the entire time you were sick before were now dimmed, which you were thankful for considering being blinded was not the first thing you wanted to experience once you woke up. You turned your head slightly, still unsure of moving your body. The only person next to your bed now was Tony, just like the first time you woke up there.

He was holding your hand again, which you had to look down to realize because you were still trying to regain meaningful feeling in most of your body. He was asleep, slumped forward with his head resting on his arm against your bed. Slowly, you moved each of your fingers, eventually resulting in you squeezing his hand. It took him a minute to wake up- using his free hand to rub his eyes and check the time before he finally looked up and saw you staring back at him.

“Hey,” he said, leaning forward so he was closer to your head. He held your hand now in both of his so that it was next to his face. “How are you feeling?” You cleared your throat, not feeling the ache in your lungs you’d grown accustomed to over the long week.

“Amazing,” you said, cracking a smile. Your voice was weak and hoarse, but all Tony could focus on was the fact that your eyes were actually focusing on him- not in the distance, not nodding off, at him. He laughed at the absurdity of your response, and so did you, but you stopped once you realized his had turned to sobs. You didn’t know what to do at first. For one, Tony Stark was crying in front of you. Not only that, he was crying about you. And secondly, you were still feeling a bit drowsy from anesthesia and processing everything was taking just a bit longer.

“Tony,” you said, haphazardly moving your other hand to sit on top of his that were still around your other hand. “Please don’t cry.” He smiled, tears still running down his face as he rested his forehead on the stack of hands you’d both created.

“We thought we’d lost you,” he said, his shoulders still shaking as he squeezed your hand tighter. He looked up at you, his face red. You grinned at him.

“You didn’t really think you could get rid of me that easily, did you?”

#tony stark #tony stark x you #tony stark x reader #tony stark x teen!reader #tony stark x daughter!reader #tony stark x fem!reader #avengers #the avengers #avengers x reader #avengers x teen!reader #avengers fanfiction #steve rogers x teen!reader #wanda x teen!reader #bucky x teen!reader #sam wilson x teen!reader #bruce banner x teen!reader #janie writes ‧₊˚✩彡

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navybrat817 · 2 years

Note

I gotta ask, is this how Stud looks at Smartie? 😍😍😍😍

Pure heart eyes, maybe he thinks he’s being discreet… 😂 not with that face!

Stud is all heart eyes. 😍

Stop and Stare

Pairing: Roommate!Bucky Barnes x Female Reader

Summary: Bucky can't help but stare at you.

Word Count: Over 600

Warnings: Fluff, feels, some sugary sweetness, roommate!Bucky Barnes (he’s a warning, okay?)

A/N: Hey, lovelies! Stud is crazy about you, okay? Not beta read and written on my phone, so any and all mistakes are my own. Please follow @navybrat817-sideblog for new fics and notifications. Please reblog or comment as it means the world!

Roommate Masterlist | Masterlist | Current Fics

It was a quiet evening in the apartment as Bucky sat at the table, giving you space to finish one of your last assignments. As much as you welcomed his distractions, you were almost finished and promised to give him your full attention after. The sun began to set, but there was still enough light shining through the window to illuminate your frame. It gave him the chance to admire you yet again.

Like I could ever get tired of looking at you.

Since the two of you started dating, Bucky wasn't exactly discreet with his stares. Many were on the receiving end of his grumpy gaze, but not you. Never you. He smirked whenever you caught him looking your way, his eyes soft and unwavering. Some days he couldn't quite catch his breath when you smiled back at him.

You wrapped yourself around my heart, Smartie.

His heart beat faster against his rib cage as he gazed at you. You were just as beautiful as the day you walked into his apartment, changing everything for the better. His eyes moved along the shape of your nose and lips, longing to kiss them, before they fell to your chest. His shirt covered your skin, a flare of possessiveness surging. As tempted as he was to pull you up to dance or run his hands along your body, he refrained for the time being.

I promised I'd be good. I can wait a couple more minutes.

"Buck? Buck!"

He blinked as the voice in his ear snapped him out of his trance, forgetting that he was on the phone. "What?"

"Were you even listening to me?" Steve asked.

"No," he admitted as his friend sighed.

"Staring again?"

"Yeah," he grinned.

"You know what? I'm not even mad. I'm just happy you're happy."

"Thanks," Bucky kept his gaze on you, happy that Steve understood.

"Wait, is she listening?" Steve asked. "Not that you've done much of the talking."

"Punk," he chuckled. "She's finishing up her assignment and has her headphones on, so she can't hear us."

Bucky planned a weekend away for the two of you once the semester wrapped up. You deserved the break and he wanted to give you something nice, unforgettable and special. It was tough keeping it a secret, but he didn't want to spoil the surprise.

"Does she have any idea?"

"No," his smile widened. "I can't wait."

"You know, Rebecca's going to love having a sister."

Bucky swallowed the sudden lump in his throat. "She has to say 'yes' first. And I didn't say I would ask her during the trip."

"But you are going to ask her."

"I am."

His mother's ring was one of the only keepsakes he had in his possession. For someone special. In his heart, he knew you'd love it. You weren't just his missing piece. You were his future.

"After I ask her parents. I'm old fashioned that way," he said as you began to shut down your laptop.

"We really are old men," Steve laughed.

"You may be old, but I'm doing just fine, punk. And I gotta go. Call you later," he said, hanging up when Steve said "bye".

You removed your headphones and smiled as you looked toward the table. "All finished," you announced as Bucky rested his chin on his arm. "See something you like, Stud, or do I have something on my face?"

"Just looking," he smirked.

You swiped your left hand across your cheek anyway as if to wipe it clean. The vintage ring would be a perfect fit on your finger. Steve was right. Rebecca would love you being part of the family.

As long as you say "yes".

*****

More to come from Stud and Smartie soon. Love and thanks! ❤️

#navybrat writes #bucky barnes x reader #bucky barnes x female reader #bucky barnes x you #bucky barnes x y/n #roommate!bucky barnes x reader #stud and smartie #roommate!bucky barnes #bucky barnes #bucky barnes fanfiction #bucky barnes imagine #bucky barnes au #roommate au #sebastian stan x reader #sebastian stan x female reader #sebastian stan x you #sparkle fics #sending love ❤️#asks are always appreciated

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bowiebond · 2 years

Text

Lucas doesn’t really know what to make of Billy Hargrove.

When he first saw him, he thought he was Max’s playboy brother. Some hotshot with an attitude. After the night at the Byers, he thought he was terrifying. A ball of red hot rage with his eyes set on him. Billy Hargrove seemed like a bull, and Lucas was wearing all red.

Now, he’s not sure.

Now, Billy seemed less like a bull and more like a big, wounded dog. Barking and snapping his teeth when aggravated but walking with a heaviness in his shoulders. Dark circles under his eyes and wobbly with his new cane. Max spent most of her time out with Billy walking leisurely, casually, like she didn’t want to draw attention to the fact that he couldn’t keep up like he used to.

Lucas joins them sometimes, only because if he doesn’t, he rarely gets to see Max at all. She’s taken to being his caretaker, even if Billy growls at her to knock it off some days, gritting his teeth around aches and pains.

Lucas gets to hang out with Max alone more when Steve takes up the mantle of keeping Billy company. He seems pretty huffy about it at first, but there’s a strange air around them as time goes by. Like they’re slowly melding into one person, one entity. Much like how Robin and Steve were RobinandSteve these days, joined at the hip, Billy and Steve were becoming BillyandSteve. One was rarely seen without the other.

Lucas was pretty sure Steve was the only one allowed to physically touch Billy when he was off in his own head or out of breath, whether from panic or physical exertion. Max would get her hand chewed off if she tried.

There’s a softer, heavier side to Billy Hargrove these days, and Lucas isn’t sure how to feel about it. There’s a big difference between the scary, looming shadow of Billy from that night at the Byers, or his time possessed, and this wounded, tired version. A Billy that wears cashmere sweaters to cover his scars and stay warm (I hate the fuckin’ winter, he spits once to Max, ignoring Lucas’ presence as per usual, I can’t stand the cold anymore.) and lives alone in an apartment paid for by the government to keep his mouth shut.

Lucas’ lungs burn as he steps off the court. It’s just practice, he’s still sitting on the bench, but he’s working towards getting off it. He’s praying for it.

The click of the cane is what alerts him of his presence. It’s a strangely familiar sound now, one that gets slotted into the Billy Sounds part of his brain, next to the grunt the guy makes that’s almost a laugh but not.

“You’re not half bad, Sinclair. Almost as good at Steve was.” It’s still weird, hearing Billy call Steve by his first name. Harrington had sounded like a taunt, a challenge, now…Steve sounded like a good natured tease. Fond, like he was talking about his favourite song.

Lucas really doesn’t get Billy Hargrove.

“I don’t know if Steve played dirty, but he told us you did, so I don’t think you can judge how good he was.” It’s not a jab so much as a defence on Steve’s behalf. Max loves her brother, a complicated kind of love that hurts some days and feels great others, but Lucas loves Steve.

He loves Max too. It’s the only reason he’s trying to see Billy the way she does.

Billy laughs at his words. In the past, he thinks the man may have scowled or sneered or laughed at him instead of what he said.

“He’s just mad I was better. It’s fine, he can beat me now.” He leaned heavily on his cane with a weary sigh and stares at Lucas a long moment. “Can we talk, Sinclair?”

His expression gives little away and it makes Lucas’ hackles rise subconsciously. He looked down at the basketball in his hands, fidgeting with it as he tossed it back and forth between his palms.

“Can this wait until after I’ve showered or…?” He placed the basketball in the trolley of other balls, wanting to put off the inevitable.

Billy sighed, reaching up to scratch at his brow.

“It’s a bad pain day, honestly, I just wanna sit and get this sorted so I can go back home and kick my feet up before someone hounds me about pushing my limits.” He rolled his eyes and Lucas had a good idea who that someone was.

He wiped his sweaty palms against his shorts and shrugged.

“Yeah, okay.” Billy manages a small smile, but it feels disingenuous with the way he tilts his chin down and turns around with it, hobbling his way over to the benches. Most of everyone had scattered to shower and head home.

Billy made to sit and gave a grunt, seeming to struggle for a moment. Lucas offered his hand out of habit and Billy scowled at it. With his lips tightly pursed and a tinge of sweat on his brow, he glared up at Lucas. Lucas thinned his own lips self consciously, prepared to drop his hand before Billy’s eyes softened and he huffed, clasping Lucas’ hand hard — his palm is clammy, a weird mix of cold sweat and hot skin — and lowering himself against the low bench with a grunt. He rested his cane across his lap and sighed heavily.

He looked worn thin already and it made Lucas feel guilty despite doing nothing wrong. Billy had made the decision to come all the way out here to talk. That wasn’t on Lucas. Billy could make his own decisions, could decide how much his body could take and how far he could go alone before needing a hand. Billy was as tough as nails as far as Max was concerned, even if Steve sometimes spoke of Billy as if he was fragile. Lucas didn’t know who was closer to the truth of it. Maybe they both were.

“Come on, sit, I’m starting to feel self conscious here.” Billy joked with a low chuckle, patting the spot beside him. Lucas took the offer, keeping his limbs closer to his centre. Not wanting to touch Billy. Not wanting to appear bigger than him even if he had been given a significant growth spurt in the past few months.

He didn’t want to appear smaller either thought, so he let himself sit up straight, even with his hands tucked between his bouncing knees.

“So…let’s talk?” Lucas prompted and Billy chuckled once more.

“Shit, where to begin?” He scrubbed a hand over his face, wiping the sweat from his (pinched) brow, the movement subtle.

There was a long silence as Billy thought, and Lucas let him. He felt sticky and gross with sweat, mildly self conscious about how he might smell, but he wasn’t going to push Billy. Not just because he was volatile in the past, but because he looked like he really wanted to say this right. That he wanted Lucas to really hear him.

“…I’m sorry about last year.” Billy said finally and Lucas turned his head so quickly that he heard something in his neck crack.

“What?” Lucas furrowed his brows. “Last year?”

“A few months over a year, but close enough.” Billy shrugged, shifting in his seat to cross his arms over his chest and lay back against the benches above them. It doesn’t look comfortable, but Billy never looks comfortable. “That night. At the Byers place. I’m sorry.”

Lucas stared at him, unable to form a word. He never expected an apology, if he was honest. People rarely apologised to him in general. Especially about bullying or threats.

“Wow. This must be really for you to say. I’ve never heard you say sorry unless you were dying.” It’s snarkier than he wanted it to be and he immediately wants to hurl himself off a bridge for the comment. Billy’s gonna beat his ass with his cane for that.

Billy just laughs.

“You’re such a snarky shit, you’re just like Max.” He clicked his tongue and shook his head. “I mean it though, Sinclair. And I know…I should have should have said something sooner.”

“Why didn’t you then?” Lucas challenged and Billy huffed, looking frustrated.

“Because I didn’t realise back then what I did was wrong.” Billy’s scowl is only deepening and Lucas is prepared to be the one he punches to let out steam. “I don’t know how much Max told you…about my dad.”

Lucas’ stomach churned.

“Not a lot. Just that he…that he wasn’t a good dad.” He can’t look at him when he says it. It just makes him think of Patrick who rocked up to practice with a black eye last week. He hadn’t been able to say anything, voice stuck in his throat, heart hammering in his chest. He wasn’t sure if anything he said would even help. If Hopper were alive…

But he wasn’t. Billy’s revival had been a miracle in itself.

“Understatement of the year.” Billy huffed a soft, bitter laugh. He licked his dry lips and continued. “That night…He smacked me around because Max disappeared. And I knew, I knew you and your friends had something to do with it. I was angry, I was looking for a fight, kid. And you…you were an easy target.” Billy admitted, a thousand yard stare in his blue eyes.

“Cause I was black, right?” Billy huffed out though his nose and half nodded his head to the side, as if he wasn’t entirely sure himself.

“It was a lotta things, Sinclair. Partially, yeah, cause you were black. My dads never favoured your ‘kind’. Nothing visceral, just underhanded comments. Casual, normal.” He rolled his eyes and Lucas’ stomach squirmed. “I had friends of all different races, Sinclair, growing up. It was California. But I knew not to bring them home unlike Max. By the time I was your age, I avoided them all together to save my ass trouble.” He sucked on his teeth, like he was annoyed at his younger selves cowardice.

“I had a friend, anxious guy who really mellowed out after a little weed. So smart but so strange in how he applied it. He knew all kinds of tips and tricks…” His expression softened into something almost sad. “He was the closest thing to an actual friend I ever had. But he was Hispanic. I never let him near my house, and at fifteen…I dropped him. Because my dad found out, and threatened to blow his head off his shoulders because he thought I was in love with him. A dirty Mexican who was stealing peoples jobs.” Billy scoffed and shook his head. Lucas tried not to visibly wince.

“So yeah. I did target you for being black. For being different. Because my dad doesn’t like different, and I grew to accept the same.” Billy shrugged. “I didn’t know any better back then, but I still did it. And it was shitty of me. You didn’t deserve that, you were a kid.” Lucas’s heart clenched, constricting tightly in his chest. He wasn’t going to cry, but he could feel the burn in the back of his eyes.

“Thanks.” Was all he could say, picking at his nails.

“And I…I was scared for Max when you kept getting so close to her, if I’m honest.”

“Scared? For Max?” Lucas furrowed his brows in confusion before huffing with a small scowl, looking away. “Let me guess, you assumed because I’m black, I’m aggressive, right? A hoodlum?”

“Surprisingly, that wasn’t why.” Billy chuckled, sardonic and rumbling low in his throat. “You know how my dads a dick?”

“Yeah…?”

Billy grinned but there was no humour in it.

“Whenever Max came back to me after talking to you, she was either upset or being secretive.” Billy reached for his pocket like he wanted a cigarette but he had been forced to quit and he looked annoyed by coming up empty handed, clicking his tongue.

“I learned pretty young, Sinclair, that boys who make girls upset, one day turn into men who will hurt those girls who have become women.” Billy turned his gaze to Lucas, his expression like steel. “You were my target that night because Max cared about you. I wanted you to stay away from her not just because you were black, but because Max, no matter how angry, can’t hurt someone she loves. And I thought, she might not fight back if you hurt her one day.” He was staring into Lucas’ very soul, the rims of his eyes growing pink as tears threatened to dampen his fierce gaze.

“I let her keep seeing you because she proved she could handle herself. But if I ever see her with a single bruise, ‘you’re dead’ won’t just be a phrase. It’ll be a promise.”

“I would never hurt Max.” Lucas can say it with intention, with purpose, because it’s true. There wasn’t a cruel bone in his body. He’d rather die than put a hand on Max. He loved her, and he wanted to make her happy, like how his father made his mother happy. He wanted Max to never want for anything. That much he knew.

“…I know.” Billy finally looked away, looking like he regretted even threatening the possibility. After a long moment of staring into nothing, Billy spoke once more.

“Max likes you. And…so does Steve. I didn’t wanna keep tip toeing around everything that happened between us. So I’m sorry. I…hope we can start fresh. Or keep doing whatever we’re doing to appease the people we care about.”

He offered Lucas his hand, an extension of — what? Friendship? Appeasement? New beginnings?

Lucas glanced at Billy, and all he saw on his face was exhaustion. He looked so much older than he was. But beneath the weariness was a sparkle of something. Like Billy truly meant this gesture, this fresh beginning, instead of feeling obliged.

Billy had to mean it, right? He wouldn’t have driven here just to talk to him, to apologise, on a bad pain day if it hadn’t been on his mind, guilt likely eating away at his inside every time he thought about their strained relationship.

Lucas hesitantly took his hand and shook it. It was still clammy and gross but Lucas smiled and Billy responded with his own lopsided one that was almost a smirk.

“Lucas Sinclair. And you are?” He offered and Billy laughed.

“Billy Hargrove. Does this mean I have to gatekeep my sister from you like a real brother now, or…?” His eyes crinkled at his own tease and Lucas laughed nervously.

“Please don’t?”

Billy only laughed again, slightly strained around the edges with his weak lungs, but it made Lucas’ muscles slowly relax. Tension seeping out of him.

For the first time, in a room with Billy Hargrove, he didn’t feel anxious.

He still didn’t understand him. Not really. He can’t put the words Steve and Max have used to describe him onto the blond, but he’s sure with time, Lucas will find his own descriptors.

Billy accepts his hand when he goes to stand, cane handling most of his weight, and Lucas feels weirdly younger than he is when he waves him goodbye.

Guys are piling out of the showers and Lucas turns to look at them, his eyes finding Patrick with ease. His bruise has mostly faded but it still twists Lucas’ gut to see.

“Hey, Patrick!” The older boy turns to look at him with surprise. Lucas wiped his sweaty palms of his shorts discreetly.

“If you’re not busy, I thought maybe we could go hang out at the arcade…mind waiting five for me to shower?” Patrick still looks vaguely surprised but then a smile curls on his lips and there’s a flash of teeth that makes Lucas’ heart leap with hope.

“Sure, little man. Sounds good.” Lucas beams and is quick to get going.

He’s not sure how he can help Patrick. But maybe just being there as an open ear might be enough for now.

#billy hargrove #lucas sinclair #implied harringrove #background elmax #disabled!billy #disabled!billy hargrove

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sarahowritesostucky · 3 months

Text

📖"Alpha, Beta (& Omega)"

Rated: Explicit

Chapter Rating: Teen

Word Count: 3627

Pairing: Steve x Bucky

Tags: a/b/o, arranged marriage, enemies to lovers, nobility/royalty au, alternate history, dom/sub elements, beta bucky, anal sex, oral sex, hurt/comfort, first time, age gap (18/29), domestic discipline, spanking, head of household, wedding night, Edwardian time period, m/f/m poly marriage

Summary: To save House Barnes from scandalous ruin, James must agree to a contracted marriage, accepting Lord Senator Steven Rogers as his Alpha, Husband, and Headship.

To read previous parts of this series first, got to the story's masterlist

12. A Headship's Rebuke

This Chapter: If Bucky ever wants to get out of this marriage and get his independence back, he’s going to have to really buckle down and remember his mission.

Bucky has a hangover the size of Long Island the next day.

Steve isn’t too sympathetic about it, which irks Bucky. He’s already feeling like shit, he doesn’t appreciate Steve’s continued scolding.

Only … he doesn’t exactly scold him. He’s crisp and curt, which in itself is very un-Steve-like. He barely says a word to Bucky when they wake, making himself scarce after they dress for the day. Sharon is the one who gives Bucky what he needs. He’s provided with a tonic to help relieve his headache, a mild breakfast and absolutely no words of comfort. It’s not Sharon’s job to do that. She’s just household help, and while she may have a relationship with Steve, to her Bucky’s nothing but a mandatory duty. He’s the man her employer married whom she now also has to wait on, so she does, but she extends him no courtesies or gestures of kindness. Bucky wonders if she’s always this cold, or if Steve told her what happened last night and she’s decided to stand in solidarity against Bucky.

Either way, Bucky’s left on his own to figure out what to do all day. “Where did Steve go?” he asks Sharon, when he notices that the apartment is empty save for the two of them.

“Pietro took him to a meeting, I believe,” Sharon says. She’s carrying laundry in a basket, and she continues on down the hallway, leaving him alone.

“Oh,” Bucky says to no one. He twists his lips and looks around the room with a sigh. “Okay.”

Steve returns around eleven o’clock, just before lunch. Bucky forces himself not to ask where he’s been. He doesn’t want Steve to think he cares. Steve appears in the living room and looks down at him where he’s sitting on the couch. “Hi.”

“Hi.”

“I received a telegram,” Steve says. “A motion was called and I had to send instructions on how I wanted my vote to go.”

Bucky wants to ask what the motion was, but he forces himself not to. “Kay,” he says.

Steve stares at him. “What’ve you been doing this morning?”

“Nothing. I wasn’t sure if I was allowed to go out.” He says it with a modicum of sarcasm.

Steve frowns. “What? Of course you could’ve.”

“Well how would I know that?” Bucky snaps. “I don’t know what these new ‘boundaries’ are, Husband.” He uses the title in an obnoxious show of formality. If Steve wants to be all Headshippy on him, then Bucky will treat him like one. He gets a small measure of satisfaction as he watches Steve realize this.

“Oh. Well okay.” Steve seats himself in the room’s armchair. “I suppose you’re right. Would you like to discuss that now?”

“Not particularly, but I guess it’s whatever you want, right Husband?”

Steve huffs. “Is that how you’re addressing me now?”

“Unless you’d prefer ‘Alpha’.”

Steve’s jaw works in frustration. “I’d prefer my name, in private company.”

“Fine.”

“Oh stop it,” Steve snaps. “Just because I scolded you last night doesn’t mean I’m suddenly your jailor. Grow up.”

Bucky feels anger flood through him, though it’s followed quickly by embarrassment. “I’m eighteen, Steve!”

“I know that,” Steve growls. “Am I supposed to feel bad about that? I don’t. You think it's tough being married so young? Try being shoved into a Senate Seat at twenty-four. You’re eighteen, not eight. Act like it.”

Bucky huffs and crosses his arms, refusing to say anymore. Steve watches him for a moment before speaking. “Boundaries. Okay. Let’s talk about it. I won’t expect you to tell me your every move, but I will expect to know what your general plans are during the day.”

“Even on this trip?”

“Especially on this trip, our honeymoon.”

Bucky snorts. “For as splendidly as it’s going.”

“And you were raised as a gentleman and Senatorial heir, just like I was,” Steve says. “So I expect you to conduct yourself as such in public. No drunken escapades, rudeness or disrespecting our union.”

Bucky can’t manage any snide comments toward that. Steve’s right—he was raised as a gentleman. He feels a small bit of shame creep in at the reminder of his ridiculous behavior last night. That’s what it’s going to take though, he reminds himself. If he wants to make Steve want a divorce, then he’s got to continue doing things like that, and worse. “Okay,” he says. “Fine. Those are the rules. Now I know them.” Now he knows exactly which ones to break.

“Good.”

Steve seems to relax a bit. “Well … What would you like to do today?”

“With you?”

He sighs. “Yes, with me. We’ve got another two days in London before we head to the continent. Is there anything you’d like to do, see?”

Bucky shrugs. “I don’t know. I guess.”

Steve nods curtly. “Well come on then. I’ll get Pietro to hail us a hackie.”

Despite his efforts to remain despondent, Bucky winds up having a good time while he and Steve visit some of the more popular tourist sites around the city. His hangover ebbs, and after Steve buys them lunch at a café, he feels back to normal. He finds himself slipping back into friendly territory with Steve, and he scolds himself each time he laughs at something the alpha has said, returns a smile, or gets drawn into enthusiastic conversation without realizing. Steve is a reasonably easy guy to get along with, so If Bucky ever wants to get out of this marriage and get his independence back, he’s going to have to really buckle down and remember his mission.

They see most of the places that Bucky had on his list of things to see. London bridge, Big Ben, Parliament and Buckingham palace take up most of the day, and Bucky finds himself growing antsy as he realizes that he’s been friendly with Steve the whole time and not managed to create any incidents that might add to their fighting.

This marital discord stuff is hard.

They get to Westminster Abbey and step out of the hackie together. “We’ll head home after this, yeah?” Steve suggests.

Bucky nods. “Yeah, I’m hungry.”

Steve smiles and takes his hand. “Sharon told me she’s making a roast for supper. It should be good.” Bucky doesn’t comment. Instead he’s quiet as he looks at their joined hands. Steve guides him into the abbey. “Wow,” he says once they’re inside. “It’s huge.”

Bucky nods, looking up at the ceilings. “It doesn’t seem any bigger than the national cathedral though.”

“You’ve seen it?” There’s a modicum of surprise in Steve’s voice.

Bucky scoffs, yanking his hand back to himself. “My family did keep a residence in D.C., you know. I’ve been to the capitol tons of times.”

“Of course. … I wasn’t making a jab at your circumstances.” Steve looks away sadly, visibly putting on a cheerful face after that. “There are over three thousand people buried here,” he tells Bucky. “Tennyson, Dickens, Queen Elizabeth, Chaucer, Darwin …”

Bucky keeps examining all the fancy architecture, not looking at Steve. “I suppose we would’ve gotten married there, if it hadn’t been such a rushed affair.”

Steve pauses in his listing of famous names. “At the national cathedral? Yes. I suppose so …” Bucky can feel Steve peering at him, probably trying to figure out why he’d bring that up. “... Either there, or at St. Patrick’s in New York,” he says quietly. “It’s customary.”

Bucky nods. Privately, he’s grateful that they hadn’t had to have a grand State wedding. Even if he’d chosen the marriage, he wouldn’t have enjoyed saying his vows in front of a thousand people. He continues looking around the cathedral, eventually wandering away from Steve, who lingers in the section where the poets are buried.

A man in church robes approaches Bucky near the nave of the church and greets him with a smile, asking if Bucky has any questions about the history of Westminster. Bucky shrugs, stepping away from the plaque he’d been reading. “No, not really,” he says. “I was just looking around.”

“I see,” the man says.

“Are you a priest?”

The man smiles. “No. I’m a deacon here.” He holds out his hand. “Deacon Aemes.”

“James Bar— erm, Rogers, that is.”

“You’re American?”

“Yes. I’m here with my husband, Senator Steven Rogers.”

The man’s eyes seem to light up with recognition. His posture straightens. “I see! Is this your first visit to London?”

“Second. We’re honeymooning here.”

“Wonderful!” the man beams, which is annoying. Bucky has had more than his fair share of experience with being treated differently once people figure out who he is, and he can tell that’s what’s happening now. He tries to think of a way to get out of having to talk further with this man. “I think I’d better go find him, actually,” he starts to say. “We were just about to—”

“Are you interested in worship services during your visit?” the deacon asks. “We have seven services each Sunday. I’m sure with your husband’s Societal standing I could arrange for reserved seating.”

Bucky frowns. “No. Thank you. I—” His eyes catch on movement out of the corner of his eye, and when he glances over he sees Steve heading their way. He pauses, reconsidering his words. This is an opportunity, he thinks, nerves quickening his pulse. “I … actually don’t go to church.”

“Oh.”

“Yes. I’m an atheist,” he says, forcing back a sly grin and inserting disdain into his tone. “It’s silly to believe in God.”

Deacon Aemes’ face is turning pink. He looks mortified. “Well … that’s—”

Steve has come up to Bucky’s side, and Bucky continues his spiel, “Religion is the root of all evil, if you ask me.” It’s a wild exaggeration and just about the rudest, most-awkward thing Bucky can think up on the spot to say. Not to mention it’s a lie: He’s always held a general belief in God. But he continues his rude speech now that Steve is there to listen. “When was that last kiddie fiddler scandal, after all? Half a year ago?”

“Bucky!” Steve says in shock.

Bucky forces a scornful laugh. “What? It’s true. Religion is just the opiate of the masses: people too scared to use their own brains, so desperate for comfort that they'll believe anything, giving corrupt men power that they don’t deserve. Christianity spreads intolerance and hate, and it generally fucks up other people’s lives. It’s fucking awful.”

It’s a trifecta of obscene behavior for which Bucky is somewhat proud of himself. If the insults to religion and the shameless mention of lewd acts weren’t enough, he’s also made sure to top it off with a nice smattering of curse words. Bucky sneers at the deacon. “As far as I see it, ‘God’ is nothing but a rapist, murderer, thief and pedophile, himself.”

Unsurprisingly, deacon Aemes is starting to look enraged. “Sir! You are in a house of worship. Have some respect.”

“‘Respect’?” Bucky scoffs. “For what? The Church of England? It’s been responsible for more abuses than—” Steve’s hand closes around the back of his neck and scruffs him so fast that Bucky’s speech cuts off in a gasp.

“Sir,” Steve practically growls at the deacon. “I am so sorry for this rudeness. Please, excuse us.”

“Well I never,” the deacon sputters. He looks utterly outraged, though Steve’s taking control of the situation seems to have kept him from outright yelling at Bucky himself. “I’d suggest you leave,” he says tightly. “Don’t come back, and take your disrespectful Spouse with you.”

Steve nods tightly. “We’re going.” On Bucky’s neck, his fingers tighten cruelly and he steers him away. “Come on.” He marches him down the length of the cathedral and shoves him into a narrow side hall near the front doors. He crowds Bucky in against the wall. “What the hell is wrong with you?!” he hisses.

Bucky fights back the victorious smirk that wants to come. “What?”

“How could you say those things to that man?!”

“Well it was all true,” he says. “You want me to lie?”

Steve’s face darkens. “Don’t play coy, it doesn’t suit you. You went out of your way to provoke him.”

“Sorry,” Bucky says, putting no apology into the word.

Steve seethes at him. He steps back. “Come on. We’re going home.”

“What if I don’t feel like—”

“Follow me, now,” he Voices, already walking away.

Bucky’s eyes widen at being commanded, though he knows he honestly shouldn’t be surprised at this point. Steve seems to have no problem coercing him with his Voice whenever he gets truly mad. Bucky’s feet start following, and even though it’s not pleasant seeing Steve so pissed off, he does thrill a little at having accomplished his goal.

This was just one small step, though, he thinks. He’s still got to do far worse to make Steve want a divorce.

Steve is silent and terse on the ride back to the apartment, but once they’re inside and the door is shut, he gets right to work in ordering Bucky about. “Sit,” he says, pointing at the writing desk in the living room. “There. Grab a pen and paper.” He stalks out of the room, leaving Bucky to do as told and worry what’s next. He returns after only a moment, a stack of envelopes and papers in hand.

“What’s that?” Bucky asks.

“The post. Our mail was forwarded. These are the nuptial congratulations and well-wishes we’ve received.” He sets a large part of the stack in front of Bucky, then a single open sheaf of paper. “This is a list of the guests who were at our wedding, and their titles.” He sets down one last envelope. “And this is a letter from your mother.”

“My mother?” Bucky starts to reach for it.

“No,” Steve says, making Bucky’s eyes snap back to him. “You’re going to answer the other letters first. Then you’ll write thank you responses to each and every person who attended the wedding.”

Bucky winces. “You can stop Voicing,” he says.

“No, Bucky. I can’t.” Steve is looking down at him with icy eyes. “You obviously don’t know how to listen without it.”

“You should’ve told me I wasn’t allowed to speak my mind to strangers,” Bucky throws out. “How was I to know that was one of your ‘boundaries’?”

“Shut up,” Steve says. “You’re not going to say anything smart for the rest of the evening. Sit here and answer the letters. Do a good job. I’ll be reviewing them before they’re mailed.”

Bucky huffs. “Fine.”

Steve raises an eyebrow at his tone, but doesn’t command him any further. He makes to leave the room. “I’ll be in my office,” he says. “I’ll come get you when dinner is ready.” He stalks from the room.

Well.

Bucky twists his lips to keep himself from saying anything as Steve leaves. He supposes that as far as consequences go, this isn’t so bad. He sets in to opening the envelopes.

Most of them are from high Society: other Senatorial families or congressmen and women. A few letters from prominent common folk have made it into the mix, though. Bucky recognizes the name of a famous singer on one. Everybody writes nauseatingly cheerful messages, all in the general theme of: Congratulations! Blessings for your union and best wishes! Here’s hoping you find your Third and have butt-loads of children as soon as possible!

Bucky crafts three versions of the same reply, which he cycles through depending on the type of person he’s responding to.

The aforementioned list of names and titles also makes mention of all the wedding gifts that’ve been given, and it becomes clear that Bucky and Steve will have a front hall full of packages when they arrive back to Steve’s Brooklyn residence back in the States. The promise of a state-of-the-art gramophone, in particular, holds Bucky’s interest (he writes that individual a genuinely customized response).

Over an hour later, he’s still writing, having answered all of the well wishes and moved on to the list of wedding attendees that he needs to thank for simply showing up to his and Steve’s farce of a wedding. His hand is cramping and he’s just set the pen down to wince and rub at his palm, when Steve appears.

He clears his throat at the door. His eyes are fixed on Bucky’s hand. “You’re hurt?”

“No.”

He stares at him for a few seconds, as if he’ll say something else, but he doesn’t. “Sharon says dinner’s ready.”

“I haven’t gotten to read the letter from my mother,” Bucky says. “Can I—”

“No. Come on. Dinner.”

Bucky tucks his lips in and follows meekly after Steve. At least he’s not using his Voice anymore.

Dinner is indeed a roast, and it’s just as delicious as Steve said it would be. Bucky moans a time or two during the meal, and though he isn’t trying to entice Steve, he does catch his husband pausing to consider him each time he moans. Bucky finishes chewing another bite and says, “Sharon’s a much better cook than Agatha”

“That’s your family’s cook?”

“Yes.” He frowns. “Though I’m not sure they’ve been able to keep her on staff since … you know.”

“I’m sure they have,” Steve says. “The marriage contract stipulated that they be well-provided for.”

“How much?” Bucky asks. It’s quite a gauche thing, for men of their breeding to talk about money, so Bucky masks his embarrassment by reaching for his wine glass and taking a sip. “How much per annum?”

“That’s between your mother and I,” Steve says, though there is a degree of amusement in his tone. “Honestly, Bucky.”

“Come on Steve. Please tell me? I’d like to know. I’d like to not have to wonder what my mom and sisters are able to afford.” He looks down, abashed. “I’d like to not have to worry.”

Steve softens at that, and he begrudgingly admits, “Twenty thousand per annum, Buck.”

Bucky inhales harder than he intends to, choking on his mouthful of table wine. He coughs and carefully sets the glass down before he’s able to choke out, “Seriously?”

“I told you not to worry.”

He’s shocked, he can’t hide it. Steve’s paying Bucky’s family just as much as they ever earned on their own from taxpayer dollars. “You can … you can afford that?”

Steve shrugs. “I wouldn’t pay it if I couldn’t afford it. House Rogers is wealthier than most. Surely you must’ve realized that.”

“Uh, yeah,” Bucky says. “I guess I just didn’t know how much you’d be willing to pay for my family.” Suddenly, he feels very, very embarrassed; very small, and very grateful to Steve for what he’s just admitted. “Um, thank you,” he murmurs.

Steve nods. “You’re welcome.”

That’s all the more they talk about it, both of them finishing their meal in silence. When his plate is cleared and his belly is full, Bucky sighs and stands. “Well I guess I’ll get back to it. I’ve still got a bunch of letters to do.”

“You can take a break, Buck,” Steve says. “You’ve done a lot. Finish tomorrow.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Why don’t you go read the letter your mother wrote you, okay? I’m going to finish up a few things in my office, then I’ll get ready for bed.” He doesn’t say anything about Bucky doing the same, but it’s clear that he expects it.

Bucky nods. “Okay. I’ll uh, I’ll see you in a bit.”

“See you in a bit.”

Bucky goes back to the living room and reads the letter from his mother. It’s a kind and heartfelt note, but nothing that Bucky hadn’t expected from her. He takes the time to write her back, then seals that envelope and sets it aside to be sent out with the next day’s post. Briefly, he wonders what she’ll think of it when he and Steve divorce.

When he goes to bed, Steve is already washing up in the en-suite, so Bucky has privacy as he changes into pajama pants and a shirt. He trades places with Steve in the bathroom and then they both tuck in. “I’m tired,” Bucky manages to say—half because he is, and half because he isn’t at all certain what Steve wants to be doing right now. Will Steve always be obvious when he wants sex? Or is Bucky supposed to ask for it?

“Okay, Buck. Me too.” Steve leans over and cups the back of his head, pulls him in and pecks a kiss to his forehead. “Goodnight.” He lies down and adjusts his pillow, closing his eyes. Unlike the night previous, he’s lain down facing Bucky, this time.

Bucky bites his lip, staring at Steve’s face for a moment. God, is the man ever good looking. And what did that kiss just now mean? “… Steve?” he says after a moment.

“Mm?” Steve doesn’t open his eyes.

“Are you still mad at me?” Bucky isn’t sure if he wants the answer to be yes or no. Steve getting mad was the point, but it instinctively doesn’t feel good to know his husband is angry with him. It feels rotten. He angsts about it until Steve responds with his eyes closed, sounding tired.

“Just … go to sleep Buck. It’s over. We can start fresh in the morning.”

Well.

Bucky huffs and lies down—also facing the center of the bed. He watches Steve’s face for a long time, deep in thought. Steve doesn’t open his eyes again, and Bucky eventually sighs and closes his eyes as well. Being married to Steve is … confusing. He needs to get this divorce thing going before he does something stupid, like develop feelings.

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onceuponastory · 1 year

Text

gut feeling - steve kemp

I'm starvin', darlin' Let me put my lips to something Let me wrap my teeth around the world. Start carvin’, darlin’ I wanna smell the dinner cooking Wanna feel the edges start to burn. - eat your young by hozier

Plot: After a young woman goes missing, Detective Y/N interviews one of the last people to see her alive...Plastic Surgeon Steve Kemp. Warnings: Steve being a creep (he’s a warning) who taunts, lightly threatens and tries to manipulate the reader. Mentions of someone going missing... as well as what Steve does to people in Fresh. There’s no direct references to cannibalism, but we know he is one, so I tried to weave it in a little. Please use your own discretion. As always, if I miss any triggers, please let me know! A/N: So. I’ve had Hozier’s new song Eat Your Young on repeat, and it gave me Steve Kemp vibes, so here’s something I wrote for him.

Not beta’d, so any mistakes are my own.

“Take a seat there please, Doctor Kemp.” Y/N gestures to the chair opposite her. “Can I get you some water or anything?”

“Please, call me Steve, Detective.” The man smiles, doing as she asks. “And no, thank you. I’ll be alright.” Despite the smile, charm and dizzying good looks, which she knows have already made most of the women in the station go crazy… it has little effect on Y/N. A local woman has gone missing, and since one of her last known locations was doctor Kemp’s office, they’ve brought him in for routine questioning. But from the first moment he stepped in the door, the hair on the back of Y/N’s neck pricked up. Even now, something deep in her gut is telling her that something is wrong with him, and that he may know more than he’s letting on. After being in this job for so long, she knows when to trust her gut. “Now, how can I help?”

“We’re hunting for a missing person, Doctor.” Steve’s smile falters a little at her refusal to call him by her name, or to act like they’re friends. She knows people like him, people who pretend to be charming and hide behind a smile like to pretend they’re in control, and have everyone wrapped around their finger. The last thing they want is to lose that control.

“Ah yes, that student, right?” He interrupts her. “Such a shame, isn’t it?”

“Yes.” She nods. “She came to you for a consultation a few days before she went missing, correct?” She passes over a photo of the girl. The doctor peers down at the picture, studying it intently.

“Yes, I remember her.” A small flicker of a smile crosses his lips, one that sets her alarm bells off even more. “She needed…quite a lot of work done, to be honest. At least three, four surgeries?” The way he speaks about this woman and her body like she’s some piece of meat makes Y/N’s stomach churn. Creep. “I was prepared to do it though, and she was committed to having it done. Sorry Detective, but I can’t help.” He even leans back in his chair, as if that’s it all over, and he’s free to go.

“I wouldn’t say that. Did she mention anything about wanting to run away? Or someone she’d met, perhaps a new boyfriend she was doing this for?”

“What, do you think she’ll spill her problems out to her doctor?” He chuckles. Y/N doesn’t laugh.

“It’s just a question, Doctor. Maybe you asked her why she was undergoing the surgery during your consultation. After all, you were one of the last people to see her before she disappeared.”

“I know.” He snaps, with a huff. For a moment, it’s as if his mask slips. The charming, smiling doctor is gone, and the true man beneath is revealed. And it startles Y/N a little. Yet, in the blink of an eye, he’s back to the same way he was before - charming, and like butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. “No, she didn’t tell me anything. I just made an appointment for her in a few weeks’ time, and sent her on her way. That’s all.”

“Are you sure there’s nothing else? Maybe a comment that sounded weird, or something else she mentioned?” He raises a brow, studying her.

“Why, Detective? Are you accusing me of lying to you?” Although he’s calm, Y/N knows exactly what he’s doing - he’s testing the water to see what they have on him, if she’s all bark but no bite. And regrettably, Y/N doesn’t have anything else connecting him to the woman. All she has is a gut feeling telling her not to trust Doctor Kemp. Although it’s never let her down before, she can’t solve a case based on that alone.

“Not at all, Doctor. Just trying to solve this case and bring her home. You’d be surprised how much information people brush aside at first, not knowing how important it actually is.” She states. He nods, yet continues to study her curiously. His gaze fixed on her makes Y/N feel even more uneasy. She wonders what he’s thinking. If only she knew.

“You know, it’s admirable how committed you are to helping people.” He speaks finally. Y/N shrugs.

“I could say the same about you, Doctor.” Strangely, her words seem to make him laugh, and she frowns.

“That’s not why I’m a doctor.” When she raises a brow, he continues. “I’m just so fascinated by it all. The human body is a very powerful thing, Detective…and I like making sure it’s in top form. It’s incredibly important to me that people reach their full potential.” He smirks at her again then, like he’s noticed her unease around him, and how she doesn’t trust him… but if he has done something, he knows she can’t do anything to pin this to him. Y/N registers her heart beating ever so slightly faster. Whether or not he had something to do with her disappearance aside, he’s pretty fucking creepy. “Now…are we quite finished? I do have patients to see.”

“Well, we might need to make further enquiries. Let me give you my card, and you can call me if you remember anything else, or if she gets in contact.” As she roots around for it, he speaks once more.

“I would just hate for any problems to be caused. After all, I am an established doctor, and on the medical board.” He points out. Immediately, she registers the smug, condescending tone in his voice. One which warns her that he can ruin her entire life with one phone call if she goes any further with trying to pin this on him.

“I know.” She snaps, harsher than she meant. Despite how uneasy she feels around him, his threats don't scare her.

“I’m glad to see we understand each other then.” He smirks. Prick. As she shows him out, he turns back to her. “Goodbye, Detective.” He smirks. “Good luck with solving your case.” She murmurs goodbye. As he disappears, her coworker walks up to her.

“So…?” She asks. Y/N’s jaw clenches.

“I think he’s guilty as hell.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

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kaunis-sielu · 1 year

Text

Sick: 4

Helen banishes Steve into his room.

“We should check on the others.” You say, you need something else to focus on so you don’t panic spiral over Steve. “Nat lives with Clint and Pepper lives with Tony.”

“Go. You’ve been maskless in here and you’re not showing any symptoms. Shower and go.” Helen says and you nod. You don’t look at Steve, if you do you’ll break.

You move out of the med bay and into the showers where you take a quick shower, cry a little and then head out to check on the rest of your friends.

You knock on Nat’s door, when she doesn’t answer you let yourself in.

“Natalia?!”

“She’s not here Nox. They had a call for help an hour ago.” FRIDAY informs you.

“Who went?”

“Carol, Kamala, Natasha and Wanda.”

“Where is Pepper?”

“Stark office.”

“Tell her I’m on my way.”

“Of course.” You hurry to the elevator and make your way upstairs, it’s not long before you’re up on the level of Pepper’s office. She greets you at the door.

“Tony?” She asks, her face pale and anxious.

“He’s okay, his temperature is down but he’s still unconscious and not because of me. I came to check on you. How are you feeling?”

“Fine but Happy isn’t here, I was about to send Peter over to check on him.”

“Not a bad idea. Tell Peter to keep his mask on, it has filtration right?”

“It does.”

“Tell him it stays on.”

“I will.” She promises her phone in her hands, “you’ll keep me updated on Tony?”

“Of course. Let me know about Happy.”

“Why don’t you stay? It’ll only be a couple of minutes. They live in the same building now. With May gone Tony made sure that Peter had somewhere safe and Happy volunteered to keep an eye on him.”

“That’s so sweet.”

“I know, Happy will never admit it but he’s got a real soft spot for that kid.” Pepper says as she calls Peter, when he answers her worried gaze meets yours.

“Peter? Are you alright?” She says then pulls the phone away from her ear with wide eyes. She puts the phone on speaker and you’re greeted with hacking coughs.

“Ms. Pepper? I don’t,” he coughs a few more times, “I don’t feel so good.”

“Peter where are you?” You ask your worried gaze meets Pepper’s.

“Nox?”

“Yea Spider. Where are you?”

“Home.”

“I’m on my way.” You don’t wait. You sprint downstairs and to the garage.

“FIRDAY, get me directions to Peter.” You say tugging your helmet on. Tony had made the display screen like his, with the ability to show you the fastest route, warn you about any hazards and communicate with the team.”

“Directions uploaded.” She says as you tear out of the garage and up a ramp that leads to the road.

“Order me a car to follow me.” You don’t know how else to get Peter back to the tower but you’ll be able to get to him faster on your bike. “Also tell Helen where I’m going.”

“Okay Nox.” FRIDAY says as you tear through the streets. At one point you’re up on the sidewalk because of abandoned cars. What the fuck is going on? It literally looks like the apocalypse.

At one point a woman yells, “Avenger!” And you screech to a stop. You’re four blocks away from where Peter is but you can’t just ignore a civilian.

“How can I help?” You ask the woman not removing your helmet.

“What is going on! All these people are sick! The hospitals are overrun and we haven’t even heard from any of you!” She yells and you realize that she just wants someone to yell at.

“We’re doing our best to figure it out.”

“Where’s Ironman!”

“Working. He’s working.”

“So he’s not infected?” She asks and you suddenly get a bad feeling.

“FRIDAY,” you whisper.

“Running facial recognition.” She says as the woman snaps,

“What?“

“We should have more information Friday.” You lie, “I have to go.”

“No.” She reaches for your arm but you knock it away and gun it away from her.

“FRIDAY who was she?” You ask as you watch the woman stalk down the street and out of your review mirror.

“I don’t know.”

“What?”

“I’m still looking but what I’m coming up with doesn’t make sense.”

“Tell me.” You instruct as you pull up to Peter and Happy’s building.

“It was the face of a woman who is not where that woman was.”

“Explain.” You say as you punch in the code for Peter’s building, it had shown up on the screen of your helmet when you’d looked at the keypad.

“That face belongs to a woman named Everly Winston. But when I track Ms. Winston she’s exactly where she should be. At work.”

“What does she do for a living?”

“Paralegal.”

“No siblings? Like a twin?” You ask punching the button for the elevator. Happy lives on the 40th floor and Peter is on the 37th so you won’t be walking up the stairs.

“No, I am 100% certain that is the face of Everly Winston but that it was not Everly Winston.” She informs you as the elevator slides open and you get in punching the button for Peter’s floor.

“What the hell?”

“Indeed.” FRIDAY agrees as you take the elevator up. You hurry to Peter’s door and pound on it. You hear him coughing and pull out your lock picking kit, something you’ve always carried due to constantly locking yourself out of your apartment. After a couple seconds you’re into his apartment and Peter is on the floor coughing, his whole body shaking with the effort.

“Nox? Get out. You’ll,” he has to stop talking to cough, “you’ll get sick.”

“No I won’t. Go to sleep Pete.” You tell him softly cupping his face and he doesn’t fight it just sinks into sleep. You heft him onto your back and head back out of the apartment.

“FRIDAY, tell Helen and Pepper I have Peter and will be checking on Happy as soon as I get Peter into the car.”

“I’m sending some bots to help with Happy.” He is quite a bit bigger than you so this is a good idea.

“Do it.” You agree as the doors slide open to the elevator. To your horror there’s an older woman already on the elevator. You get on, Peter over your shoulders and she doesn’t even bat an eye.

You get him downstairs as the car is rolling up, you open the passenger side and shove him in before buckling him and shutting the door.

“FRIDAY where are my bots?”

“Incoming. You have a message from Steve.”

“Don’t-“

“Hey Doll, I’m fine. I’m feeling fine.” His rich voice fills your helmet before you can stop it, “I just wanted to check on you. FRIDAY updated me on your weird encounter. I think the woman was wearing one of those masks that Nat used when we took down Pierce. There’s a glitch in the video just before you push her hand away, by her chin, that means she might be Hydra and might have changed her face. Be careful. I love you.” You let out a soft breath that you hadn’t realized you were holding.

“FRIDAY, keep your head on a swivel.” You tell her,

“On it.” You know she’s scanning your area for any danger now. You move back into the apartment building and after locking Peter’s door you head for Happy. He’s in bed, barely conscious so with a gentle touch you put him to sleep too. The bots take him out gently and you lock the door behind you. He goes into the back seat of the SUV and you lead it through the streets on your bike.

“FRIDAY, connect me with the lab.” You say, as you get closer to the tower.

“You’re connected.”

“I have Peter and Happy. We’re on our way back.”

“Good. What’s it like out there?”

“Apocalyptic. Cars are abandoned, hardly anyone is out, it’s weird.”

“So others are sick?”

“It seems so. At least according to that shady woman.”

“Shit.” Helen says and you hum in agreement. Shit is absolutely right.

“We should be there in less than five minutes. I have the SUV following me, but it looks like it’s just plowing through any vehicles in the way.” You tell her watching the SUV crash another car out of the way in one of your rear view mirrors. “Oh, yea that’s what it’s doing.” Helen laughs and you know it’s not that funny but it’s nice to hear a little bit of joy.

“Sorry, I shouldn’t laugh but that was so funny.” She says and a smile pulls at your lips. “How long until you’re here?”

“We’re three blocks out.”

“We’ll be ready for you.” You don’t know where you’re even going to put these two. Maybe you can move some of the more stable guys into a quarantine room? But that’s the problem, are any of them actually stable?

Tag list:

@foxyjwls007 @andahugaroundtheneck @also-fangirlinsweden @pagina16ps @princesssterek @valsworldofcreativity @dumblani @inkedaztec @loving-life-my-way @animegirlgeeky @shinycupcakebaker @eralen @sophham @gh0stgurl @killcomet @wonderlandfandomkingdom @abschaffer2 @capsiclesdoll @patzammit @sass-masterkittenmama @jaqui-has-a-conspiracy-theory

#steve rogers x reader #steve rogers imagine #imagine avengers #avengers imagine #captain america x reader #imagine captain america #sick story #helen cho #natasha romanoff #Clint barton #Peter Parker #happy hogan #pepper Potts #Tony stark

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ijuststareatstuffhereok89 · 2 years

Text

“Shine”- a Loki/Reader one-shot

You finally get a break from being a personal assistant at the Avengers Compound when you get cast in a leading role in the local community theater’s production of Beauty and the Beast. Loki, as familiar with the theater as he is, can’t help but get worried and jealous of your leading man, and he has an idea on how to keep an eye on you…

Pairing: Loki x Plus Size!Reader CW: Dumb, contrived fluff, Jealous!Loki, stage fright, body insecurity Word Count: 2.8k

“I can’t believe I got Belle!” you said excitedly, sitting around the conference table with Clint, Bruce, and Steve. “I didn’t think I did well at the callback.”

Not to mention, a woman my size isn’t usually considered princess material, you thought, not wanting to say as much out loud in front of three attractive men. The last time you were under a size-10 was in middle school, and these days you hovered between an 18 and a 20. You were usually cast as the villain or the comedic relief on stage because of it, but this director had apparently loved your voice enough that your dress size didn’t matter to her. Finally, your chance at a lead had come.

“I can’t believe you’re willing to drive forty-five minutes each way to sing and act in front of strangers,” Bruce said, half-jokingly. “But I’m sure you’ll be great.”

“Y’know, I played Belle once,” Clint quipped. “But then Lila told me she was tired and wanted to switch the DVD to something else.”

“I have to admit, these Disney cartoon films weren’t the first things I took in after being awoken,” Steve added, “But congratulations. I’ll be sure to buy tickets.”

You beamed. “I hope you all come! In fact, I bet I can convince the box office to comp you all. The Avengers endorsing a small-town theater would be a boon for them.”

“The only problem is, we still need a Gaston,” you added. “We need to find someone fast, but it IS a small town, and no one has the vocal range, or the cockiness in his personality, needed for the part. We may not have a show without a Gaston.”

You heard heavy bootsteps come up behind you, and you didn’t even need to turn around to know who it was.

“A children’s show?” Loki scoffed. “Why would you want to see something as inane as a musical derived from a cartoon?”

Ever since you were hired, you’d had it pretty bad for Loki. He was smart, funny, and his long, bouncy black hair made you swoon. However, you’d stayed away under the assumption that Loki could have any beautiful woman he wanted, and someone like you would never live up to the lovers of his past. Loki must’ve taken offense to this, for when he grew wise to your reasons for keeping your distance, he immediately closed the gap and began flirting with you in the hallways. You thought he was mocking you, and so, in spite of your crush on him, you always brushed by him, never acknowledging him as anything more than an Avenger.

You groaned. “Piss off, even you can’t rain on my parade today!”

Loki pulled out the chair next to you and took a seat. “And does this mean you’ll be quitting?”

You shook your head. “I know that’s what you’re hoping for, but no, it’s just in the evenings four times a week until tech.”

“And how much are you being paid?” he added. “As a leading character, hopefully plenty?”

You rolled your eyes. “I thank you not to judge my hobby. And no, it’s not a paid engagement.”

“I don’t judge your choice of pastime,” Loki countered. “In fact, I patronized the performing arts on Asgard frequently. My qualm is that you are willing to drive a long way from here, four days a week, to work amongst strangers for no money whatsoever, only to expose yourself before a live audience, who could either love you or laugh you out of the house.”

You could feel his icy words begin to affect you.

“Hey, come off it, Laufeyson,” Steve snapped. “Why can’t you be happy for her?”

“It’s my dream role,” you added.

“I imagine, as a leading woman, you will be kissing a leading man as well? Kissing a stranger in public!” Loki sighed. “Theater people will do anything for a bit! It just doesn’t seem very becoming of a single woman.”

You grunted and shot out of your seat. “Becoming?! The only thing I’m BECOMING is agitated, Loki! Jesus Christ, do you always have to cast a cloud of negativity over every little good thing that happens to one of us?”

“No,” he said as if it were simple fact. “Only when it happens to you.”

You bit your lip. “If this is your idea of flirting, Loki, you need to take a lesson or two.”

You went to leave, deciding to take the rest of your lunch break in the lab. Before you left the conference room, you turned back to Loki. “And yes, I’m kissing someone. He’s rather handsome, too, and his voice could remove my panties faster than your magic ever could.”

“Ouch!” Steve laughed.

“Nice one,” Bruce added.

Clint leaned back and folded his arms, amused. “There isn’t enough aloe in the country to soothe that burn.”

Loki looked down at his lap, smarting at your insult as you skipped away in triumph. Even so, he was already concocting a plan. He just needed to rent a certain film to do some research first…

“—ashamed of his monstrous form, the Beast concealed himself inside his castle, with a magic mirror as his only window to the outside world. The rose she had offered…”

Three days later, you were dressed ready for a one-on-one dance workshop with the choreographer when you first entered the space that, two months from now, would be shining spotlights on you as you belted out the final notes to “Home.”

The house was already populated with other actors and tech crew working. The Narrator’s deep bass was chilling.

“Y/N!” chimed out Bri, the choreographer waiting for you. You smiled as she came up to you. “Glad you’re on time! Thanks for bringing character shoes.”

You shrugged. “About time I took them out for a spin again! Hey, any updates on the Gaston situation?”

Bri nodded excitedly. “Actually, the director’s meeting with a candidate right now. He sure looks the part, at least I think so! He’s just got to audition—”

As if on cue, a rich, handsome baritone started singing some tune that was unfamiliar to you. It was upbeat and robust, but it was also a sweet melody.

Oh no, I might end up falling for the bad guy in the end if this man gets the role, you thought, shuffling towards the left wing, where a piano was being kept, and where an accompanist was plunking out the song the mysterious singer was gifting your ears with.

You brushed aside one of the curtains, only to stop in your tracks as you processed that it was Loki himself, singing that incredible song. The director was standing behind the accompanist, looking very pleased with him. Your jaw hit the floor.

After the final bar, the entirety of the cast had gathered around the left wing, and they all erupted in applause and cheers.

Marie, the director, quickly scooted around the piano to shake Loki’s hand. “Welcome to the cast, Gaston! Everyone, we have a full cast!”

Fuck. A. Duck.

Everyone clapped again as Marie gently turned Loki around to face you. “And I believe you already know our Belle! You two probably know how to work together already! So, Mr. Loki, go see Adele for costuming before the end of tonight if you would? And Y/N,” she turned to you. “I changed my mind, I want you and Garrett doing Intimacy Coaching with Marty in the green room, okay?”

“Yeah, okay,” you said, trying to hide your burning desire to kick Loki in his sack. As soon as Marie left you to your own devices, Loki smirked and raised a curious eyebrow.

“Intimacy Coaching?” he asked, sounding intrigued.

“Don’t get your hopes up, perv,” you groaned. “It’s just boundaries and limit-testing. We kiss twice at the end of the show and it’s to make sure we’re cool with each other, that’s all.”

“I’m sure your partner wouldn’t agree,” Loki murmured.

“Okay, first of all, Garrett is gay. Gayer than Christmas. So that’s already one problem solved,” you told him. “Second, just…why? Why, Loki? Was tormenting me at work not enough to get you off anymore?”

“I thought someone needed to keep an eye on you,” Loki growled. “And it’s been nearly a millennium since I’ve graced a stage with my presence, so I—”

“—you are ridiculous, you know that? You SHOULD be playing LeFou!” you barked, spinning on your heels and walking away before you lost your cool entirely.

Loki followed you with his eyes, his shoulder dropping as you left the house. Damn, he thought. I’m losing my touch. Sighing, he went to go retrieve a script from the stage manager as Garrett, the actor playing Beast, was practicing the final notes of his big ballad, which seemed to perfectly reflect the feelings in Loki’s own heart in that moment:

“Hope I could have loved her and that she'd set me free But it's not to be If I can't love her…”

Tech Week arrived faster than you thought; you were having such a blast rehearsing for the role of a lifetime. What’s more, when word got out that an Avenger was in the leading cast, ticket sales boomed so much that the company had to rent out another week from the building for a second weekend of the run, which of course meant even more people would be seeing you.

You didn’t say anything more to Loki than was absolutely mandated by your respective parts in the show. Even at music rehearsal, you sang away from him. If you’d just turned your head a few times during a solo, you would have seen that Loki was genuinely impressed by your vocals, and couldn’t hide the admiring look on his face.

Admittedly, the stage fright was beginning to crawl up your back, especially now as you were in the green room with the costumer, getting the final touches finished on your ball gown. Sadly, no version of the iconic yellow gown fit your full body, so a replica in the same size and shape, but in a crystal blue color more akin to Cinderella, was made. You still looked incredible, at least according to the seamstress, but the fact that there was no costume in the yellow you’d dreamed of wearing as a girl made your insecurity only grow. Now showtime was beginning to feel less like a looming adventure and more like a ticking clock. Would the audience receive you for who you were as a singer-slash-actor? Or would no one be able to get past your looks. After all, it was right there in the song lyrics: “it’s no wonder her name means ‘beauty.’”

“Would you like to go out and show everyone?” asked the costumer. You looked at yourself one more time in the mirror, sighing and admitting to yourself that you really looked all right.

Picking up the hem of your billowing skirt, you went upstairs and onto the stage, where two stagehands were standing under spotlights, so that the tech director could focus them.

“Oh, never mind, let her stand under the light,” the tech master yelled from the booth above the back of the house as you stepped onto the stage. The stagehands moved aside for you, and you could hear several people gasping from the house.

“Y/N!” cried out Marie. “You’re stunning! Can you move well enough to dance?”

“Yes,” you said meekly, stepping into the light, feeling vulnerable.

“Geddit, Bella!” you could hear Garrett calling from the wings, and you looked over at him, dressed in his own royal-blue best.

“Do a slow turn,” the tech master asked. You obeyed. “The light reflects this color differently than I thought…”

After a few minutes of standing in the light, hearing the encouragement from your cast and crewmates, you were given permission to step aside and to get out of your dress and into dance gear for the top of the show, but as you swiftly walked back into the wings, you heard Loki call out from near the curtain.

“Beautiful,” he mused, admiring you. You stopped in your tracks and looked at him oddly.

You couldn’t help but fail to stifle a laugh at Loki’s appearance in his own costume: the standard candy-apple red jacket and black ponytail. He looked the part for certain, but seeing him in such a recognizable suit was strange, to say the least.

Loki smiled and looked down at himself. “I know. I should have asked to play the clock.”

You smiled. “You look like Gaston,” you said.

Loki raised an eyebrow. “Should I consider that an insult?”

“Um….no,” you answered. “He’s supposed to be the physical ideal. Herculean, y’know?”

Loki took this as a signal to slowly close the gap between you, looking you in the eye. “I knew Heracles,” he said quietly. “He’s not exactly someone I’d invite to supper.”

“Look, Loki,” you began, “About what’s been going on between us, I’ve been thinking about it, and maybe it’s worth it to talk things through? After all—”

“—Y/N, I didn’t make my intentions fully clear before,” he said. “I did not take this part because I was worried that you’d be swept off your feet by another. Well, perhaps not entirely.”

“You didn’t? Could have fooled me,” you quipped.

“Ever since Stark hired you,” he continued, “I’ve held a bit of a torch for you. That said, my knowledge of Midgardian flirting rituals are limited. Once I thought my attempts to get your attention were yielding the opposite result to what I was hoping for, maybe I became a bit spiteful.”

“So you DID ask for the part to torture me?”

He quickly shook his head. “I wanted to protect you.”

“From whom?” you asked.

Loki sighed. “One thing about Midgard I DO know about is the shallowness of the people here. I know you are a lady of beauty, but the humans out there can’t seem to appreciate anything that falls outside their norm. I was afraid they would come after you.”

You looked away from Loki, blushing and hoping he wouldn’t notice. “I guess I appreciate the gesture, cavalier and outdated as it is.”

“But,” Loki continued, putting up a hand. “After hearing your dulcet tones sweetening the air in the room, and seeing you grace the stage with your body in that immense dress, I don’t see a need to protect you any more.”

You cocked your head. “No?”

Loki smiled and took your hand, gently starting to remove the opera glove on your arm. “You are talented and graceful. Any audience that would judge you for a large frame and not your skills are mad and not worthy to attend the performance. But, with what you’ve been bringing, I think worrying is no longer required.”

You smiled. “Thank you.”

“And,” Loki continued, removing the glove and bringing your bare hand to his lips, laying a gentle kiss on your knuckles. “If you would forgive me for my previous misguided transgressions, I would be honored if you’d let me escort you to the after party on our final evening.”

The light kiss on your hand sent electricity up your arm and down your spine.

“You’d willingly be seen with me?” you asked. “And you’d be proud of me?”

Loki took your arm and pulled you in even closer, taking his hand and running it gently along your cheek. “My dear, I’d be a beast not to be.”

Opening night, you felt the icy chill of stage fright cement you off in the right wing as the recorded narration and the opening scene played out for the audience.

Loki was right behind you, confident in his stride as always.

“How do you feel, Belle?” he asked gently, leaning by your ear from behind you as you stood watching for your cue. You shook your head, your skin shaking with fear. “Darling, your skin is trembling.”

He caressed your neck with a hand, and somehow, it did the trick, stopping the shakes underneath your skin and warming you.

“You really think they’re going to like me?” you asked. “What of--?”

“—no what ifs, Y/N,” Loki demanded. “This is your finest hour,” Loki said, encouraging you with a firm-but-kind hand on the small of your back. “Act like it.”

Giving you one last kiss for luck on your cheek, he gestured to the stage, where the scene was going black and the narration dying. “I do believe that is your cue. Go. Shine.”

You felt a tingle of courage (and pleasure) milk the adrenaline from your brain, giving you the fuel that you needed to take your place for your grand entrance. Once you did, and once the first spotlight and twinklings of “Belle” emitted from the orchestra pit, the audience clapped for you.

You immediately blew them away with your opening notes, Loki’s own heart began to tremble with admiration (and affection) as he watched you.

“Little town…such a quiet village…”

@el-zef @lokisasgardianvampirequeen @lokisgoodgirl @mischief2sarawr @michelleleewise @mochie85 @toozmanykids @xorpsbane @huntress-artemis @itsybitchylittlewitchy @the-fantasy-loving-angel @moonlightreader649 @littlemarvelmenfan @ficitve-sl0th

#MCU #MCU Loki #MCU fanfiction #Loki fanfiction #Loki fluff #Beauty and the Beast #MCU Avengers #fluff fic #fanfiction #theater #marvel #loki x reader #plus-size reader #loki/reader #loki x reader fluff #enemies to lovers

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the-hinky-panda · 2 years

Text

Day 15: Warlock

10/15: Warlock

Universe // Characters: Los Regalos // Horacio Carrillo

You’re acquiring a reputation around Medellín.

La mujer del coronel.

The Colonel’s woman.

It doesn’t go unnoticed that you’re known as this in all the bakeries and most of the food stalls. Horacio must have, at some point in his gift gathering, talked about you. It’s something that makes you smile during the stretches of time when he is off chasing leads with Javi, Steve, and Search Bloc. Sometimes he comes back with just dirt and grime that easily rinses away. Sometimes he comes back with more lasting marks. But you try to distract yourself with butter cookies and fruit filled empanadas, using their company as a poor replacement for his.

You also hear whispers of Horacio’s reputation too. They call him a brujo, a witch or warlock rather. The sicarios and their sympathizers are convinced he is tapping into black magic, not phone lines, to find his leads. They are convinced that the devil himself has blessed his rosary and allows him to exact his vengeance on the cartel. It leaves the narcos with the burning question of “who’s side is the devil really on?.”

You’ve become convinced, in these quiet nights of solitude and baked goods, that it’s both. The devil is on both sides because the one thing that evil loves most is chaos. And that is what Pablo Escobar has brought to Colombia: chaos. And Search Bloc is creating its own chaos as it fights the chaos created by the cartels.

It’s during one of these long stretches of loneliness that the phone calls with your family start to take a turn. The basic niceties remain. How are you? Fine. Are you staying safe? Yes. Have you caught any big names yet? Just one really. But then new questions start to pop up. When are you coming home? I don’t know. How many years are planning to dedicate to this? As many as it takes. But then one evening, your mother stops tip-toeing around with the questions and goes straight for your throat.

“You’re not getting any younger, sweetie. When are you going to come home and settle down? Having kids when you’re past thirty just makes things so much more complicated. You still want to have kids, a family, right? And men, they want a wife that they can take care of, not one that can take care of themselves. All this running around a foreign country with guns and drugs, it doesn’t make you look very feminine.”

You’re missing Horacio, haven’t slept well for three days while he’s chasing sicarios in Cali and waiting for news that he’s on his way home, and that is why your regular good nature fails so horribly. “Mom, maybe I don’t want a husband and kids. Maybe I’m okay with taking care of myself and not settling down. Maybe I want something different than what you do since I’m not you. Raising a family is great but maybe it’s just not for me and I’m okay with that. I wish you were too.”

Her silence immediately makes you feel guilty for your outburst but she recovers before you do. “Well, I just want you to be happy.”

“I know,” you acquiesce. “And I am happy, mom. I like Colombia. I like the people I work with.” I like Horacio, you almost say. It doesn’t feel right to tell your family before you tell him just how much you care for him.

“Your future isn’t in Colombia though. It’s here. With us, your family.” She sighs heavily. “You need to come home, honey. And soon.”

“Why?” You laugh humorlessly. “The husband options are withering? All the good once at church getting snatched up?”

“Yes.” The answer is short, like the snapping close of a book. End of discussion.

The next day you get a call from Horacio, who is on his way home and will be back at base within a matter of hours. They caught a couple low level sicarios from the Cali cartel who may be convinced to turn on some Escobar’s men but that remains to be seen. You’re sitting at your desk, trying to not stare at the clock, when everyone returns to base. Steve is tired, does the bare minimum, and heads home to Connie and Olivia. Javier is a bit more keyed up, wanting to go out for drinks before heading back to his apartment but you demure, your eyes cutting briefly to Horacio’s office. Javier immediately picks up on the situation, gives you a tap on the shoulder, steals a cookie from your desk, and heads out with a wink.

When the numbers of officers dwindle, you pick up a mostly empty folder, and head up to Horacio’s office. He sees you coming and immediately closes the blinds. You step through the door and straight into his arms, his mouth landing on yours with no preamble or greeting. You smile into the kiss as your hands run over his arms, shoulders, and back looking for any wounds or sore spots.

“I know what you’re doing, querida,” he murmurs against your lips.

“Oh yeah? So are you going to tell me or am I going to have to do a full body inspection?”

“I like the sound of the inspection.”

You hold his face in your palms as your eyes rove over his face. There is no blood or bruising like when he returned from Cartagena. “Well, so far so good.”

He studies your face with the same amount of intense scrutiny. “I missed you.”

Those three words shouldn’t make your knees go weak but they do. Maybe the rumors are true and he has sold his soul to the devil in order to do magic. He certainly has bewitched you.

“I missed you too.”

#Hinky's October Fic Fest #colonel horacio carrillo #horacio carrillo #horacio carrillo x reader #los regalos series

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silversoulstardust · 1 year

Text

steddie motorbike rider au

happy valentine's day, lovelies! here's the last part of steddie motorbike rider au on tumblr <3

part 1 here part 2 here

word count: 2k

*******************************

“Oh my god Steve, this is a sign from the universe,” said Robin excitedly through the receiver, high pitched in a rapid chatter. “This is god telling you to bang that beautiful stranger.”

Steve scrunched up his face in mock disgust at the suggestion, pulling away the receiver from his ear and scowling at it as though Robin could see it. “What? No! Robin, what?”

“Pshht, please Steven Beverly Harrington, don’t act like you’re above all that,” replied Robin, and it sounded like she rolled her eyes as she said it. “Above fucking someone on a first date.”

“Stop saying my middle name,” snapped Steve without a bite. He paused for a moment, his finger twirling around the cord. “I don’t know that much about him.”

“Okay, genuinely curious. How much did you know about Heidi, or Susan, or Megan, anyone really, before you let her hop on your disco stick?”

“Eww. Don’t talk about my disco stick, Rob. Also don't call my dick a disco stick. May I remind you I just broke up with Amanda a few days ago?”

“Amanda who?” asked Robin, but she didn’t even pause for Steve to answer. “Exactly, she’s nobody in your life anymore. She ceased to exist in our lives the moment she cheated on you, Steve. Good riddance, to be honest. I don’t even like her, and I just know she doesn’t like me either. Girl’s gut feeling. Anyway. Don’t change the subject. I’m onto you.”

Steve ran his hand over his face and groaned into the receiver. “Okay, how do I even bring it up? Make my move? I literally just ran out of the room the moment I saw the bed. It was awkward, okay? But I also don’t want to sleep on the floor, or on the couch here in the middle of the lobby.”

“Why are you asking me? How do you always make your move in the bedroom? Just put on your Harrington’s charm or something. People seem to dig it.”

“You’re useless.”

“You need me to lie to Keith to get another day off tomorrow. So, no, not entirely useless,” mused Robin. “Just fuck that guy. Like, literally. It doesn’t have to mean anything, it can be a one time thing, but also, is it so bad if it does spark something?”

“You’re really enjoying this, aren’t you?” Steve deadpanned.

“Thoroughly. Already popping popcorn for when you tell me about all the juicy details tomorrow.”

“Ughh. You’re the worst,” sighed Steve as he rolled his eyes. “Love you, Rob. Good night.”

“Love you too Stevie! Make good choices! Night night,” said Robin chirpily, the last thing Steve heard before he hung up the phone.

He sighed again, heavily this time as he looked up at the stairs from the reception counter where the phone was, like it was a behemoth thing he had to conquer. He dragged his feet up after turning off the light at the main lobby area, heading towards the room again.

Just moments after they reached the room over an hour ago, Steve and Eddie were rendered speechless for a moment. It wasn’t really that awkward, not like how he emphasized it to Robin anyway. But there was a moment of silence where they exchanged looks with one another and it was as though they were telepathically playing ping-pong with the single thought of having to share the bed for the night, not verbalizing the arguments of other options at hand.

In the end, as Eddie was rummaging through his backpack for a pair of clean clothes he shrugged it off with, “I’m cool with sharing the bed. You?”

“Yeah, I’m okay with it too,” Steve stuttered, before making an excuse to call his workplace to let them know he wouldn’t be able to make it to work tomorrow. Technically, it wasn’t a made up excuse. He really did inform work. It just so happened that the assistant manager was his best friend too. And with Robin, there was no way he could get away without telling her the entire thing, so a quick phone call easily turned into an hour-long chat.

When Steve reached the room, Eddie was looking out a slightly open window, shirtless in a sweatpant with a towel on his hair. The sound of key clicking as Steve locked the door gathered his attention. And when he turned to look at Steve, there was a lit cigarette in between his fingers, a wisp of smoke slowly escaping the burning ember.

But of course Steve’s attention wasn’t drawn to that. His eyes instead went to the intricately designed inks on Eddie’s pale skin, of a creature and a spider on his chest and an odd looking dragon bracing his toned bicep. And there were bats too, on his forearm, but Steve had seen it before at the restaurant. He couldn’t help but wonder how many more tattoos were there on Eddie’s body. Wonder if he could have a closer look at each one of them. To admire it up close. His throat suddenly became dry, and he had to swallow hard before he was able to speak again. “Did you shower?”

“Yup," replied Eddie as he stubbed the cigarette. He rubbed his hair with the towel and let it fall on his shoulders as he took steps to close the gap between them. “You should take a shower too.”

“And you washed your hair? Dude, it’s freezing out there,” Steve gestured outside the window Eddie just closed, to the droplets on the glass and the sound of pattering rain and thunder in the distance. “You’re gonna catch a cold.”

“Hah! Nope. My uncle told me if you get rained on it’s better that you shower. Otherwise it’ll get you sick.”

“Yeah, I’m not buying that.”

“I haven’t gotten sick even once since I was fourteen, so,” Eddie shrugged, and pulled a black shirt over his head, before leaning into Steve’s personal space as he made his point. “Suit yourself, big boy. But don’t come at me crying when you catch the sniffles.”

In a fit of panic, Steve elbowed Eddie away, and Eddie narrowly evaded it with a shit eating grin on his face. “I won’t, because I’m not going to,” Steve sputtered his response. He then went into the bathroom and took a shower avoiding water from his hair, adamantly sticking to his gun.

When Steve stepped out of the bathroom in a cotton robe that barely fit him, Eddie was already tucked in bed. The overhead light was turned off, only a pale yellow light from the side table was illuminating the room. The robe was probably a standard size. But he felt like a giant in it, with the robes not overlapping all the way and had one of his thighs exposed, the slit splitting high and close to the crotch area as he walked. And he had no other choice, either that or he’d have to sleep in his birthday suit, because he wasn't prepared to overnight anywhere tonight.

He thought Eddie was already sleeping, lying in bed with his arm slung across his eyes, but he raised his head slightly to watch Steve emerge from the bathroom and walk towards the queen sized bed, settling on the empty space next to him. Even in the low light, Steve was aware of the burning gaze that was aimed at him. Eddie’s eyes were tracking Steve’s every move much like a lion preening on its prey, as Steve straightened his legs and crossed them at the knees, revealing a strip of skin on his thigh.

Steve pointedly ignored it. One thing was because he loved being a tease, but mostly because he was swimming in thoughts of what pick up line was best to use in this situation.

Steve wasn’t lying to Robin about how clueless he was to make this first move. Yes, he had a reputation, but he really liked Eddie. He didn’t want to ruin this budding friendship, and Eddie was a fun ride buddy he’d like to keep. If he had misread the situation, that was it. Game over. Tomorrow morning they split ways, and Steve would return to his sad life in Hawkins, and Eddie would continue his journey up north, never to be heard from again.

“Hey, um. Eddie?” said Steve finally, breaking the silence, testing the water.

Eddie shifted to lie on his side, with his elbow and hand propping up his head, giving Steve his full attention. “Yeah?”

In the end, Steve couldn’t help but parroted what Robin had said earlier. “Do you believe in the signs from the universe?”

Eddie was silent for a long time. Maybe it wasn’t that long, but it was long enough for Steve to start feeling self conscious and second doubting himself. Eddie’s neutral expression then slowly turned into glee, his mouth stretched into an amused grin, a wobble of his lips clamped down with a bite. A snort escaped him and Eddie flopped back on his pillow with a giggle he was unable to contain, and it didn’t take long for it to morph into a full blown raucous laughter.

Steve was dumbfounded. He stared at Eddie, flushed in the face and breathless as he laughed, rolling on his sides as though Steve just told him the funniest joke in the world. He scowled. “What’s so funny?”

Eddie promptly propped himself up to sit against the headboard next to Steve, shoulders brushing one another as Eddie was breathing in and out trying to stop himself from laughing.

“It’s just,” said Eddie in between giggle, biting his lower lip hard, “you spent all day flirting with me, an hour on the phone, over half an hour in the shower, and plus however long it was since you’ve been sitting on this bed with your thick thighs out here begging for my mouth to get on it, and ‘do you believe in the signs from the universe’ was the best pick up line you can come up with?”

Eddie shook his head and chortled. “You’re really hot, Steve, but I didn’t expect you to be such a dork.”

If Steve was a cartoon character, he was pretty sure there would be steam coming out from his ears at this point. His entire face was red and warm from the rush of embarrassment. It really was a lame and dorky pick up line, Steve had to admit. He was about to cover his face and lament on his cringe attempt at flirting but his mind bounced back. “Wait. You think I’m hot?”

“The hottest,” said Eddie simply, with a deep dimpled smile on the corner of his lips, his face inches away from Steve’s.

Steve’s line of sight fell on his lips. It was a little chapped, but the plump of the bow of his lips looked thoroughly kissable. He shifted his gaze to Eddie’s brown eyes, and caught him staring too. Steve swallowed thickly and with a voice barely above whisper he asked, “May I?”

The answer came in a form of plump lips pressing on his own in a gentle, languid kiss and yup, it was as soft as Steve had hoped it would be. Steve found himself a lapful of Eddie as Eddie deepened the kiss, playfully nipping on Steve’s lips to let his tongue in, licking and tasting the insides of his mouth. In turn, Steve could taste Eddie too – a little minty and very much smokey — but it all tasted sweet to him.

When they finally broke apart, out of breath with pink, swollen lips, Steve pressed a chaste kiss on Eddie’s cheek. “Um, before we carry on, I want to make one thing very clear. I think you’re kinda hot too. Not kinda. You’re hot. Beautiful actually. I hope you don’t mind me calling you beautiful, Edd–”

Eddie cut him off with a slap of his hands to cup Steve’s jaws and a punctuating kiss on Steve’s lips with a grin on his face. “For the love of god, Stevie, just shut the fuck up and fuck me.”

Steve had no choice but to oblige. And Eddie? Eddie just landed himself a pretty sweet ride.

************************

@zerokrox-blog @evix-syne666 @goodolefashionedloverboi @original-cypher @i-must-potato

That's it for tumblr! Thank you for reading. I plan to write an explicit version but it'll only be posted on Ao3, maybe sometime later this week. (I feel bad for not being able to meet the deadline that I myself set up lol work and immigration paperwork got in the way </3)

#steddie #steddie ficlets #steddie fanfic #steve x eddie #steve harrington #eddie munson #stranger things #stranger things fanfiction #motorbike rider au #valentine's day #with a side of #platonic stobin #chromie writes #chrmz.txt

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mr-m-murdock · 2 years

Note

could i hv hcs for buckynat as parents

like how they decide they want kids, adopt them, both of them w babies xx

| natasha x bucky |

warnings: none

a/n: yeah babey

okay so kids are a big BIG deal. especially with the lives nat and bucky have and have had, so this is not a flippant suggestion, right?

WRONG - bucky turns over in bed at five in the morning: nat's half-asleep. he pokes her cheek and says 'you wanna have a baby?'

(she pushes him off the bed and throws his pillow down on top of him once she's gotten over the shock)

okay but then aside from that, the discussion they must have about this child. the measures they must put in place to keep her safe before they even adopt her. the emotions she elicits from the both of them (fierce protection, practically feral. buckynat parents are INTENSE about this child). obviously regular missions are out of the question now: that baby is not going to be left alone for the rest of her life

i feel like nat decides after bucky does. but it’s not like she needs persuading. it’s more like she’s weighing it up with an endpoint already in mind. like she’s trying to repent before she can let herself have one good beautiful thing that she was told she would never deserve and could never handle and that would only confound her ability to function. she just has to convince herself she’s good enough.

and then they get another one. and omg the UNCLES. steve. sam SAM OH MY GOD. tony, but he's not allowed alone with either of the kids until they're at least five. he resents this. RHODEY. clint oh my god clint. him and sam take them to like paintballing and laser quest and archery ranges and teach them such questionable skills - 'you wanna learn how to pick a lock, little romanoff?' cue bucky telling clint he’s banned from their house until the new year (unseriously. bucky loves clint but will never admit it)

the aunts THE AUNTS. sharon's terrible with children but they love her anyway - she's fun to annoy plus she gives them money every time she comes round. maria - you wouldn't think it but she's great with them. she plays with them non stop, allows them to climb her like a tree, disguises healthy food by cutting vegetables into little shapes like stars. she's a blessing. melinda may is the no nonsense but secret softie one and the kids get through to her before too long

okay bucky with a baby. bucky with a goddamn baby. he holds that thing like he's afraid if he squeezes even a little it'll snap in half. he changes the kids when they're little with SO MUCH care and precision. he's slave to their every whim and demand and he LOVES IT. they fall asleep on top of him while he's watching tv. they drool on his chest & he doesn't care. they sit on him and brush his hair. he does the 'here comes the aeroplane' thing with them EVERY. MOUTHFUL. nat rolls her eyes but in reality she finds him too endearing to verbalise it.

bucky barnes father of the year is all I'm saying

natasha is different but no less loving OBVIOUSLY. she’s very serene with the kids when they’re babies, opposite to bucky who is all smiles and babytalk. they fall asleep quicker when nat’s around and as they get older they beg her every night to read to them (because duh her voice) and sometimes she sings as well. when bucky’s cooking she’s playing with them and she makes up the most extravagant and imaginative games

and of course the kids love their ‘aunts’ and ‘uncles’ but they love it best of all when they can go home and sleep it off in nat’s arms with bucky’s cooking wafting through the door and inciting the loveliest dreams (he’s an amazing cook shut up)

*wipes away tears*

#bucky barnes #natasha romanoff #buckynat #natasha romanoff x bucky barnes #winterwidow #fic!#headcanons #hcs for anon #anon cuties

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tessabennet · 7 months

Note

Hellooo!

As always, I'm fashionably late to the WIP Ask game, but I hope you'll still entertain me!

I kind of want to know everything and also nothing at all about Felt the Healing... but no, I'm gonna stay strong and not ask about it.

Instead, may I ask for a snippet from Bleed Into One? Also, why d’you think Kingdom Come was easiest to write for you? I’d imagine it to be one of the hardest parts, no?

I hope you feel better soon! 💜💜💜

And I'm fashionably late with answering it. Sorry to keep you waiting, J!! And of course, thanks for the ask 💜

You're being very brave about Felt the Healing. I *hope* I'll get to share it at some point early next year 🤞

As for why Kingdom Come was so easy to write... I'm not actually sure? I liked that there were relatively few canon restrictions, so to speak. Like, I knew where to start and where it had to go, but other than that? Five years is a long time, and each character could have their own journey that I got to choose for them. Which I guess was a nice change from how writing the fic in canon-verse usually goes

Anway, I'll give you two snippets from Bleed Into One. One for Bucky, one for Steve.

No. 1

"Right,” she nods. “The deal is, we're gonna sue this country to hell and back."

That has Bucky taken aback. But before he can ask, Bernie's already gesturing at some notes she took, neatly written down in a notebook she flips open.

"Compensation for personal suffering and immaterial damage, veteran soldier's aid, disability compensation, army pension, an that's just the financial stuff I've been working on already. We'll demand your purple heart back, for a start, we'll demand a full pardon, and I'll get the fucking president to write you a personal letter of apology in his finest cursive."

She takes a sip of tea, grimacing at how hot it is. Then she clicks her pen and looks at him, eyebrows raised. "Questions?"

No. 2

At first the guy hardly seems to look at the picture – but then he does a double take, frowning down at it, then at Steve again. "Are you sure you have an ordinary soul?"

What the fuck kind of stupid question is that? What does he even mean, ordinary? How can a fucking soul be ordinary?

"Well, how the hell would I know?" Steve snaps, anger showing so clearly in his voice.

He's personally insulted by the question, honestly. Nobody without a soul, ordinary or not, could go through what he did and come out of it this human. Nobody.

The frown on the guy's face deepens, and then he pulls out a radio and starts talking into it. "I have a case requiring special evaluation," is all he says.

Hope you like it!

Please join my WIP ask game!

#writing #fanfic

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wakeupcunningham · 2 years

Text

@helltothefire ─── a kiss that isn't meant to happen but does so anyway

they didn't have much time to plan everything out, and as meticulous as nancy's plan was, there was absolutely no guarantee that things would go well. between the threat of unknown creatures and a rabid small town mob, stress was the only thing on chrissy's plate it didn't help that she had seen jason during their unorthodox shopping trip. j a s o n.. she didn't know exactly where they stood. her love for him hadn't faded, she'd yet to break up with him, hoping beyond all hope he'd listen and put an end to the chaos he'd created. but he'd been so blinded by his ego, caught up as the leader of a pointless witch hunt, he had turned into someone she hardly recognized and yet.. he was ( is? ) her first love. they had been together for so long after all, it wasn't simple for her to let go of those feelings.

the sound of laughter rips her from her thoughts, grounding her back to the present. she assumes everyone else must be done with their makeshift weapons and the reality of the situation begins to set in. without a doubt, chrissy cunningham is in over her head. well at least she feels that way.

( but she knows what she has to do and as long as she sticks with it, things should be okay.. right? ) her brows furry, an uncharacteristically dour expression taking over her face, this has to be the end. they have to win. she's not prepared to see what'll happen if they don't. she lets out a sigh, a shuddering breath, as her fingers lace together instinctively. any minute now she'd be leaving with max and the sinclairs, any minute now her newfound friends would be going into the upside down and she may never see them again.

at this thought, her gaze moves from the ground to the rest of the group and she can't help but let her worries melt away at the sight of everyone altogether and laughing and enjoying these last moments before it's time. even if something were to happen, she's grateful to have met them, people who have given her a taste of what true friendship and connection feels like. her eyes land on a wild brunette mane, her smile softening, just a bit. she just wishes she had more time. she never expected to become as close to eddie munson as she has, yet their newfound friendship has brought out more feelings than she'd like to admit. confusing feelings. feelings that she hasn't had the time to make sense of. who could after all?

a wave catches her attention and for a moment, her stomach sinks. had she been staring this whole time? her eyes dart away, heat building at her ears and spreading to her cheeks, she's embarrassed no doubt about that. she doesn't have a chance to ruminate as she hears her name, her head snapping over back in his..wait, their? direction. she's surprised to see dustin right at eddie's side ( was the tunnel vision really that bad? ) it's not as if she can ignore them, so she steels herself and heads over, offering a wave as she approaches.

she's surprised, almost suspicious, to see dustin leave at her arrival. ( he was the one who called her over after all ) there isn't much time for her to linger on that, however, steve's calling everyone back. it's time. she can't help but let her smile fall as she's, once again, reluctantly pulled back to reality. cold, ugly reality. she gazes over at eddie, her breath catching-- she knows now isn't the time, she knows that they need to get moving.. but her gut is screaming at her to say something, anything to the charming rebel.

❝ i just.. i just want to say,❞ the words fall from her lips, almost at a mumble, suddenly seized by nerves. she clears her throat, time to try again..

❝ anything can happen tonight, we could win and save our town, we could lose and.. anyway, i just.. no matter what happens, i want you to know i'm really glad i met.. we i guess re-met.. you in the forest. i never really imagined i'd care a-about you the way that i do.. ❞ her cheeks are bright pink at this point--

❝ i wish we had more time, eddie. there's so much we still have to do and we may not have the time to do it.. but i don't want to believe that. i want to believe that we'll make it, i want to believe we'll walk that stage and leave hawkins and grow up. so please just.. ❞ maybe it was the sense of impending doom ( she'll choose to believe it was ) but in that moment, no one else exists, there's no jason, there's no monster, there's no town to save. there's only the cheerleader and the dungeonmaster, and the endless possibilities of what could have been. before she can stop herself, she stands up on her toes, her hand gently resting on his chest as her lips meet his. it's a soft, timid kiss, one that said more than her limited vocabulary could.

she wishes that time could stop, that they could live in this moment a little while longer. but time doesn't stop, they have to keep moving forward. with that sobering thought, she pulls away, ❝ just please don't die, okay? ❞

#(:: v: a badass is born !? ::)#helltothefire #:: have some 'chrissy survived & is part of the hawkins co action' goodness!!! ::#:: ms chrissy 'yes i technically still have a mans but you might die so... ::#:: queue !! ::#:: sorry for the length i got carried away T_T ::

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itsapeterthing · 3 years

Text

Who’s She? || Bucky Barnes

pairing: bucky barnes x doctor!reader

summary: when sam gets injured during a mission and isn’t able to go to a hospital, bucky brings him and natasha to his own home to get cared for by his girlfriend, y/n, who he’s been keeping a secret.

a/n: this is my first time writing for bucky! reblogs and replies are super appreciated! also here i'm going to pretend that bucky didn’t get snapped so you started dating during the blip and natasha didn’t die

word count: 2.9k

warnings: mentions of blood, sam getting shot, fluff

masterlist || request

“Shit.”

He followed the sound of the gunshot to another open room within the warehouse. He watched as the group they had been fighting fled the building, hopping into their trucks and speeding away before he even had the chance to process what was happening in front of him never mind go after them. When the group dispersed out of the room he finally saw what all the commotion had been about- Sam was lying on the floor with Natasha kneeling above him at his side.

“What happened?” Bucky asked, jogging towards where the two of them were in the center of the large, open room.

Natasha looked up, her hands feeling around Sam’s shoulder, blood coating her hands.

“There’s no exit wound.” She told him finally, standing up. “We have to get him out of here.”

Bucky watched as Sam groaned, still lying on the ground, with his hand putting pressure on his shoulder.

“So, what?” Bucky asked her. “We take him to a hospital?”

Nat shook her head. “We weren’t supposed to be here. If we take him to a hospital now... they’ll find out.” She turned back to Sam. “Feel good enough to walk?” She asked him.

“I don’t know.” Sam said. “How far are we going?”

Natasha shrugged, placing her fist underneath her chin, assessing the situation.

“Well,” She told him. “We can’t go to a hospital... but I could try my best in the back of the van.”

At that, Sam pushed himself up onto his elbows with a look of fear in his eyes as he turned to look between Natasha and Bucky.

“You’re joking right?” He grimaced. “There’s nothing else we can do?”

Watching the situation play out before him, Bucky swore to himself knowing what he was about to do and partly regretting the decision before he even made it. As much as Sam could piss him off, he knew better than to let him suffer under Nat attempting to stitch him up. He couldn’t let him go through that when there was a better way.

“Shit.” Bucky shook his head, reaching his hand out to Sam to pull him up. “Fine. I know somewhere we can go.”

Natasha and Sam looked at each other, quirking their eyebrows, questioning how Bucky of all people would know somewhere to go in a situation like this. Not in a position to argue, however, Sam took his hand, standing to his feet.

“So... where are we headed?”

It had been a half an hour long drive before Bucky finally pulled the car over to the side of the road outside of an apartment building. Natasha and Sam followed his lead as he walked inside, up the stairs and unlocked one of the doors with his set of keys.

Hearing the key turning in the lock and commotion outside your apartment door, you spun around from your seat on the couch watching as you boyfriend, Bucky walked in the door of your shared apartment.

“You were gone for so long you almost had me wor-”

Before you could finish your sentence you watched as none other than Sam Wilson and Natasha Romanoff made their way through the door of your apartment. Although you had never been introduced, you recognized them immediately as members of the famous group of Avengers and coworkers of your boyfriend.

You sprung up from your seat immediately upon seeing these unfamiliar familiar faces. That’s when you noticed the blood coating the upper half of Sam’s suit and Natasha’s hands. Your eyes shot open wide, turning to face Bucky.

“James?” You said his name slowly.

“He got shot. There was nowhere else we could go, Y/n.” He told you. “You can fix it right?”

You made your way around the couch, rushing to Sam’s side and guiding him to sit on the cushions, continuing your conversation with Bucky all the while.

“I work in the maternity ward, Buck.” You reminded him.

Sam’s mouth dropped and Natasha, still standing in the doorway watched the conversation playing out between you and Bucky, still unsure of who you were.

Sam angled his neck to face Bucky from his seat on the couch. “You took me to a gynecologist?”

“She’s a doctor!” Bucky shouted at Sam, gesturing wildly with his hands.

“A maternity doctor!” Sam shouted back. “Do I look like-”

“If you don't want her help then-”

“Stop it!” You shouted, breaking up the useless, unnecessary conversation between the two men. They both went silent at the sound of your raised voice, turning back to face you. “Buck, go get my kit from the bathroom, okay?”

He quickly nodded, heading out of the room. As he did, you turned to Natasha who was still standing in the doorway.

“We need to get this suit off. I can’t work through it.”

She nodded, making her way across the living room, kneeling in front of Sam. Pulling a knife out of the holster at the side of her leg, she began slicing through the shoulder of his suit so that the two of you could take it off without raising his arms, affecting the wound.

When Bucky strolled back into the room, carrying your kit in his hands, Sam turned to him while Natasha continued to slice at his suit.

“So... how come she gets to call you ‘Buck’ and I can't?” He asked.

You smiled as you opened the kit, pulled gloves over your hands and set up your materials at your side. Slipping the jacket off of his shoulders, Bucky replied.

“Because she’s my girlfriend.”

A silence hung in the room for a moment as Natasha and Sam took their time to process the words that had just come out of Bucky’s mouth. It was almost impossible for them to comprehend that he had a life outside of the business they got into or that he could care for someone in such a way. The idea of someone like Bucky living out a domestic life in his free time was unbelievable.

“Wait your... but you...” Sam stumbled through his words, turning to look between you and the grumpy, 106 year-old man he had gotten to know over the past few years. Finally he broke into a smile, chuckling. “No way.”

You laughed, grabbing a seat from your dining table and pulling it up to Sam, plopping yourself down in it. Pulling your tray of materials towards him, you smiled. “Yes way. Good to know he’s mentioned me.”

You looked over your shoulder and winked at your boyfriend who was leaning against the wall behind you, his arms crossed.

“I’m just protecting you, doll.” He smirked. “You know that.”

Natasha tore off the last piece of the suit, stepping away from Sam, sinking herself into a nearby armchair.

“Gross.” She commented at the sound of the pet name Bucky held for you.

Laughing at her comment, you leaned forward, a cotton swab with numbing jelly in your hand.

“I know, baby. I’m just messing with you.” You told your boyfriend before turning your attention back to Sam. When you noticed him eyeing you warily, you said. “You can trust me. I may work in the maternity ward, but I know what I’m doing.”

He then nodded and watched as you pressed the swab against his shoulder holding it in place. As you continued applying a light pressure, Sam finally took in your surroundings, now noticing the framed photos scattered along the walls and surfaces of you and Bucky, of Bucky and Steve from back in the day and of you and- who Sam assumed were- your friends. He didn’t know how he didn’t see all of them when he first came in, being able to realize that you and Bucky shared the space as a home.

“How did you even lock this down?” Sam asked, glancing up towards Bucky.

Natasha, kicking back in her seat laughed. “Rogers always said you were ‘quite the ladies’s man’ back in the good ol’ days, Barnes. Who knew you still had it in you?”

Rather than play into their game, Bucky rolled his eyes, sitting down on the coffee table, grumbling to himself.

Sam turned back towards you. “So what did it?”

You glanced at your wrist watch, pulling the swab off of Sam’s shoulder, tossing it to your side and instead picking up what Sam thought to have looked like a sort of tweezer as he watched.

“What do you mean?” You asked, a light smile playing on your lips.

You knew this conversation was making your boyfriend want to kick everyone out of your shared appointment and that the only thing stopping him was that you were currently taking a bullet out of one of their shoulders.

“Like what did it, you know?” Sam asked, laughing. “Was it the staring? It was the staring wasn't it? He stares all the god damn time. It pisses me right off.”

You grinned, continuing the conversation as you slipped the tweezer into Sam’s bullet wound, hoping to distract him. Once you pulled the bullet out successfully and dropped it onto the table besides you, you grabbed the materials to stitch the hole closed.

“He does stare a lot, doesn’t he?” You laughed. “You’re right though actually. I caught him staring at me at a bar and slipped him my number. I figured he was too nervous to ask for it. That was what? Two years ago now?" You asked, looking over your shoulder at your boyfriend.

"Yeah something like that." Bucky replied, nonchalantly.

He was trying to act casual in front of his friends. That night was two years and three months ago to the day and he knew it when you asked. Bucky Barnes wished he could forget about a lot of things in his extended lifetime, but until the day he dies he swore to himself he would never forget the night he met you. Seeing you sitting across the bar from him changed his life for the better and he never wanted that to end. So much so that little did you know that he had bought a ring for you six months ago with the help of his best friend and most trusted confidant, but until the right moment arises it continues to sit in his locked safe in your shared bedroom.

“God, man, I can’t believe you kept this a secret for that long!” Sam exclaimed before cringing as he watched you slip the needle into his skin. “And to think- I thought we were friends.”

Your boyfriend rolled his eyes. “We’re coworkers.”

“You know what? That hurt.” Sam shook his head, pausing, before turning back to Natasha. “You’re pretty quiet. This antique has had a secret girlfriend for two years and you’ve got nothing to say?”

At his comment, Natasha stopped staring at the pictures on the wall, instead turning back to the group.

“Two years huh?” She asked. “That means Rogers knew didn’t he?”

Suddenly Bucky was very interested in staring at his hands as a silence washed over the room. You knew Steve leaving to travel back to the past a few months ago was still a sensitive subject for your boyfriend. Despite the fact that the other Avengers- or former Avengers- knew nothing of your existence, you had met Steve more times than you could count and you knew how important his friendship was to Bucky.

“Uh... yeah.” Bucky answered finally, clearing his throat.

Saving your boyfriend from the awkward conversation surrounding a touchy subject, you finished the last of your stitches on Sam, leaning back in your seat, pulling off your gloves and dropping the materials at your side.

“There!” You announced. “All done! Just try not to move that spot too much for the next few weeks, okay?”

“That’s easier said than done.” Sam said, smiling, glancing at his stitched up wound. “Not everyone just has a metal arm that can do the job for them.”

You laughed, maneuvering your way around the couch and into the kitchen to rinse the remainders of blood from your hands in the sink. As the warm water ran on top of your hands, you felt the unmistakable cold touch of vibranium wrap around your waist. As you scrubbed your hands in the sink, a hint of a smile gracing your face, you felt your boyfriend’s other hand tuck the piece of hair that had fallen into your face behind your ear.

“Thanks for doing that. I know I put you in a weird spot.” He almost whispered, leaving a light kiss on your cheek.

You heard the sound of Sam laughing at something Natasha had just said in the other room and shrugged.

“You don’t have to thank me, Buck.” You said. “Honestly... I kind of liked it. Not that Sam was shot or anything obviously- that’s awful and it’s terrifying that if it were somewhere else he could’ve died- but it’s good to feel... I don’t know... needed like that.”

You turned off the faucet and the second you did, your boyfriend handed you the towel, unwrapping his arm from around your waist and stepping back to look at you.

“But you are needed?” He said, leaning on the countertop. “I wouldn’t be able to do any of this or anything without you.”

You shrugged again, drying your hands.

“I know, Bucky. That’s not...” You sighed. “That’s not what I mean. I don’t know... it just kind of feels... cool.”

“Cool?” He asked, quirking his eyebrows and grinning at you while he said it.

You groaned.

“Yes! It made me feel cool!” You said, throwing the rag on the counter. “You guys are legitimate superheroes. All of you live like you’re in some action movie most days so yeah- it made me feel kind of cool to be included. Maybe you don’t notice it after all this time, but it felt exciting to me.”

He flashed you a smile, pushing himself off of the counter to rest his hands on your waist.

“So, you like heroes, huh?” He asked, clearly teasing you.

Although he was flirting by attempting to tease you for what you had just said, he admittedly felt his heart fill a bit more knowing that you thought of him as a hero.

You smiled, pulling on the dog tags that hung around his neck, teasing him right back.

“No, but I do like 106-year-old grumpy old men who have me stitch up their superhero friends.”

“I’m not grumpy.” He pouted.

“The first step is acceptance, babe.” You fake pouted, stepping back from his arms and lightly tapping him on the cheek. “Now go ask your superhero friends if they want anything to drink.”

Just as you finished your sentence you heard a shout from the other room.

“I’ll have a water if you don’t mind!”

At the sound of his voice you and Bucky turned towards each other, eyes wide.

“Were you eavesdropping?” Bucky called from the kitchen back to Sam who was sat in the living room, separated by a wall.

“Thin walls!” Sam called.

“I’d hate to be your neighbors!” Natasha added.

As tough as your boyfriend was, you watched as he became flustered, knowing the others had just heard him flirting with you in the kitchen. You laughed, patting him on the shoulder before grabbing two waters from the fridge and making your way back into the living room, handing one to each of your uninvited guests. Bucky followed behind you as you plopped yourself back down on the couch watching a conversation between Natasha, Bucky and Sam unfold.

While Bucky and Sam had a harmless argument about the mission they had just been on, you felt a soft pat on your arm and turned to see Nat facing you.

“About what you said in the kitchen-” She began.

Remembering what you had told Bucky in the kitchen minutes before about them being movie-like superheroes, you grew embarrassed.

“Oh God! I’m sorry. You really don’t have to mention it-” You said, cutting her off.

“No, seriously.” She told you. “For what it’s worth, I wouldn’t have been able to fix him up like that. It was nice to have you there.”

As badly as you wanted to play it cool in front of her, you couldn’t help but smile. As embarrassing as you thought it was for them to hear everything you told your boyfriend in confidence, you meant every word you had said and it meant a lot for Natasha to acknowledge you in such a way.

“Thanks. That means a lot.” You smiled.

When you turned back in your seat, you noticed that the conversation between Sam and Bucky had ended and that they both were turned towards you and Natasha.

“Yeah, thanks for that, Y/n. I think I would have rather bled out then let her fix it.” Sam added and Natasha scoffed. “Hey, now that we know you exist we could use you! It’d be nice to have someone keep this robot in check.” He shrugged at your boyfriend.

Whether it was because he was genuinely enjoying himself or it was just because he was beside you, Bucky chuckled at Sam’s comment, stretching his arm over your shoulders as the two of you sat on the couch chatting with the two of them.

“I’d like that.” You laughed, leaning comfortably into your boyfriend. “Oh! Does that mean I can get a metal arm too-”

Before you could even finish your sentence, your boyfriend cut you off.

“Absolutely not.”

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