#if I only could I’d make a deal with god
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The Anthology - Chapter 3: Down Bad
Artwork by @faith2nyc
Read on AO3
He’d made it all up.
It’s the only explanation Steve can conjure as he finds a seat in the corner of the café and picks up this morning’s copy of The Daily Star that’s laying on the table, his trusty baseball cap and aviators providing some semblance of cover from the blinding sunshine and the sharp eyes of other patrons.
NAT'S NIGHT OUT!!
He thumbs through the pages until he finds the images promised on the cover. Not only are they grainy from the zoom of the long lens being pushed to its limits, but also a touch overexposed. In any case, it doesn’t matter. He sees them all the same as he runs his hand over the shot of Natasha seated at a booth in a nightclub with a cocktail in hand. Of her dancing with her friends. And finally, of her leaving at the end of the night with a jacket draped over her shoulders that’s at least three sizes too big to be her own.
The last thought ties his stomach in knots, but truthfully, it’s the common denominator in all of the photos that’s most excruciating – the way she’s beaming from ear to ear. Not that he would ever begrudge her for finding happiness. It’s all he truly wants for her. And yet, he’d be lying if he said seeing her having the time of her life doesn’t make him feel as though there’s vice in his chest, slowly but surely squeezing the life out of him.
Since she inexplicably shut him out, his mental real estate has been consumed by trying to understand why. His nights have been divided between ruminating on what he could have done wrong and worrying that something had happened that she’s too afraid to share. Though seeing what’s in front of him now, he realizes that maybe the answer isn’t as complicated as he thought. For that shift between them, that cloying desire for more – be it time, touches… all of it – could have very well been one-sided. Perhaps he had assumed, wrongly, that the feeling was mutual. A severe miscalculation on his part when, in reality, it’s merely something his mind had fabricated to keep him from noticing that little by little, he had been covertly surrendering pieces of his heart to her.
Ah, hell.
His hand flies to his face at the gravity of the revelation, and he pinches the bridge of his nose. Hearts were never supposed to be part of the deal. And up until this very moment, it hadn’t occurred to him that he had jumped the gun. Not this irrefutably, at least. But while it’s taken him this long to figure it out, it’s evident that she had seen it first, her actions since then making her stance on the matter loud and clear.
“God, I thought I’d never make it to the end of that line.” Bucky’s complaint interrupts his thoughts, and he looks up in time to see his costar walk up to the table, offering him one of the to-go coffees in his grasp. “You owe me for that one, pal.”
“Add it to my tab,” he says dejectedly, accepting the cup as he rises from his seat. “You ready-”
“And what do we have there?” Bucky says, his lips curling into an approving smirk, and he follows his gaze to see him eyeing the magazine on the table. “Looks like someone had fun last night.”
“Seems so,” he says, and if Bucky is at all offended by his dismissive tone, he doesn’t show it. “Come on.”
They manage to exit the café unnoticed, but it’s as they turn the corner that they hear the telltale clicking of cameras. Next to him, Bucky scoffs. “You’ve gotta be shitting me.”
He looks up to see the hordes of paparazzi gathered at the end of the block, and with a sigh, he grips his coffee tighter, keeping his head low as he and Bucky begin to approach. As grateful as he is that he gets to do what he loves for a living, it’s times like this that truly made him miss being back home in Brooklyn, where people didn’t pay him any mind so long as he wasn’t blocking their way.
The commotion grows louder as they near, and they’re bombarded by questions the second they enter the melee.
“Steve, how are you doing today?”
“Can we get a smile, James?”
“Is this Cap’s final movie?”
“Excuse me,” he says firmly, bringing his free hand up to push away the lens when the paparazzo that asks the last question gets a little too close for comfort.
“Oh, come on, Steve!” the man says as he continues to follow him. “Just give us a scoop!”
“No comment,” he says, the exasperation evident in his tone now.
“If not about the movie, then something about your costars! There’s gotta be something. Your leading lady doesn’t seem interested in working-”
Anger flashes through him like lightning, and in an instant, he turns, his coffee hitting the ground as both his hands reach for the man’s collar. “What did you just say?” he says practically through gritted teeth. Vaguely, he’s aware of the voices and the clicks of the cameras intensifying as he tightens his grip, but he can’t bring himself to care. “Say it!”
Before he can get a response, Bucky is there, trying to wedge himself between him and the paparazzo. “Steve,” Bucky says, his voice all but pleading. “It’s not worth it, man.” He nods towards the crowd. “Come on, let go.”
He glances at the sea of cameras and phone screens that’s amassed around them before looking back at the man in his grasp who still has a smug look painted on his face. With a final glare at his captive, he shoves him away.
“What the hell has gotten into you?” Bucky says the second they're in the safety of the gym's lobby, placing a hand on his shoulder in an attempt to stop him in his tracks.
His only response is to shrug out of Bucky’s grasp as he heads for the lockers. What did it matter, anyway.
Chapter 2 | Chapter 4 (Coming Soon)
#Romanogers#The Anthology#Steve Rogers#Natasha Romanoff#Captain America#Black Widow#steve x natasha#Down Bad
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Whatever you do, don’t listen to Running Up That Hill by Kate Bush and think about how Buck would’ve switched places with Eddie when he was shot by the sniper IN A HEARTBEAT 🫠
#9-1-1#911#buddie#evan buckley#eddie diaz#4x14#if I only could I’d make a deal with god#and I’d get him to swap our places#ouch my heart
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Stranger Things 4 Volume 1 was soo goood!
And I especially loved Max so I drew her!🧡
Instagram: aesth_attic_art
#max mayfield#stranger things#stranger things season 4#if only I could I’d make a deal with God#fan art#stranger things fanart#season 4#thebeeecharmer art
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it is an absolute flurry of events that leads them to the position they end up in — mr sacks, claw extended waiting to receive the gift of baked honeys he'd prepared for this day, and him, a fluffed up, disgustingly cheery holiday display in all his lights and bells in front of it. he'd been ready for the hand off without hitch, and yet ... the entire street in spite is alive with energy this time of day, and the bustle doesn't stop necessarily so much as ... stutter.
his ears and tail had fluffed a good three sizes the way his fur had stood on end, pleasant shiver along his spine. the same second he drops all his honey jars are the same beat that he dives forward to wrap his arms around mr sacks' shoulders ... and now here they are, tangled up on the ground together, so close he could probably lean down to kiss it if he were so impolite!
he shifts to hover over it, eyes wide, cheeks ablush, tail wagging at full speed behind him — and, oh, london stares with mouths absolutely agape, but not as intently as he holds its gaze 'neath its cloaks—
"which one are you? is it spices? today's gift was honey—" his voice is breathless, but excitable, shifting his legs so his knees press into its side, straddling it. he talks so fast, he doesn't even give it a chance. his heart is racing! he might bark for it, if it asks. " — will you marry me?! please, please, please—"
@londonfallen / mr spices
#here u go michael#another one for the elybat harem#` ✞ elysium. ⁞ and if i only could‚ i’d make a deal with the gods.#ship tbt.#londonfallen
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oh also headsup to everyone that i will be TRYING to see if i can’t catch the new bravern ep earlier than i usually do tomorrow so y’know. beware the Posts
#like i wont be able to focus on anything once it drops anyways so like. MIGHT AS WELL#i could barely focus on anything today tbh. LMAO#i don’t even know why i’m so anxious like i fully trust that it will be good and satisfying and i have zero expectations plotwise#i just want isami to be happy i think 😭 he and lulu#either way tho it’s been such a fun time keeping up w this show :]#like i’m rly glad to watch it while it was airing and see all the fanarts and talk abt silly theories w my friends and make Posts#and i still do think ep9 in particular maybe even elevates this to like. fav stories ever been told type of deal#like recency bias ofc but also. bravern himself is SO 😭#anyways. LMAO#t.txt#what a special show :]#OH MY GOD WAIT I DO WANNA SAY#WHOEVER GOT THAT GIF OF MINE TO BE LIKE ONE OF THE FIRST BRAVERN GIFS IN TWITTER SEARCH#THANK YOU BUT WHY IS IT ONLY SEVEN PIXELS 😭 EVERY TIME I SEE IT I CRINGE#wait also again i lied earlier on. rip. i actually DO expect smith/bv to come back in some fashion#like i’d bet money on that. but like. i do also trust the show to make it work if he Doesn’t ykwim?#its just one of those scenarios where it’ll be like. happy ending: will make me very happy#bittersweet ending: will stay with me forever and ever and ever and ever and ever an#okay sorry for editing this post four millioj times i gotta go do chores
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ENDLESS PORTRAITS ◟ ⋆ › the white rabbit & alice.
ft. @zorkaya / zarina as alice <3 & artist.
#I HAVE SO MUCH ART TO POST EVEN THO I'VE BEEN SICK AAAAA#KEJNRHMKJENMRH#HI REN#trick or treat era or w/e LLOOK AT THIS CONTENT#this file is huge rip to the quality on tumblr#•#ʚ c. white rabbit ɞ ⁄ if i only could‚ i'd make a deal with god and i’d get him to swap our places.#ʚĭɞ ― misc: portraiture ˊˎ-#ship tbt.#i am redoing ship tags aaaa
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Me when. Me when Barney Guttman
#logs and I have something in common!!!#this is /srs btw#he’s very pretty and nice and he has a nice singing voice and can suplex people#what more could you possibly want#he’s perfect#me @ logs: if I only could…. I’d make a deal w god…..#dead end paranormal park#barney dead end#barney guttman#de:pp
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Me: There’s a scene where my favorite red-headed character is floating into the air and her friends are trying to bring her back down, all while she is trying to take back control of her mind. The writers also likely killed off for real this time.
Someone: Are you referring to Max Mayfield or Penny Polendina?
Me: …
Me: …
Me: Yes
#if only I could- I’d make a deal with god#and I’d get him to make sure these two characters haven’t been officially killed off for real#rwby#penny polendina#stranger things#max mayfield#st4 spoilers#rwby8 spoilers
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@lcveblossomed (continued from here)
“HELL YEAH!” Casey offered the other girl a wide grin. “I just… have to make sure everything’s okay with my brother. But I should be able to make it!” She was relieved that she was being included. “What can I help bring?”
#✽ (042.) if i only could i’d make a deal with god; be running up that hill with no problems (casey)#lcveblossomed#✽ (queue) — keep calm and queue on
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God I miss Ryan Dunn.
#and if I only could#make a deal with god#I’d get him to swap our places#fuck he should be here#Ryan Dunn#jackass
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Sorry for being a poser guys I’ve listened to very little Kate Bush in my life but I’m obsessed with running up that hill rn ever since people started playing it everywhere bc of stranger things
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i feel like demigods who’ve lost someone close to them relate too much to a verse in “running up that hill” by kate bush
#yk the one i mean#‘If I only could#I'd make a deal with God#And I’d get him to swap our places’#percy jackson#annabeth chase#grover underwood#jason grace#leo valdez#piper mclean#hazel levesque#frank zhang#nico di angelo#will solace#percy jackon and the olympians#heroes of olympus#trials of apollo
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inbox call ! let eiko annoy your muses !
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from adorning lights and festive cloak to instead being decorated from ears to tail in hearts and flashy, pink-and-red fashion, elysium certainly has cemented himself in london's public as a very ... eccentric celebrator of holidays. they've only just started this eve for the feast, but one would think they'd already reached valentine's revel, how he walks around. and more importantly —
" ... hello again, mr fires." another gift he's handed over, this time more casually, where he places the handle of a key-to-heart dagger within the master's claws, its sharp blade pointed outwards to himself. though the design is expected in shape, much like the gun he had gifted it these past holidays, it's clearly a homemade weapon, embroidered with blazing red rubies and painted with a myriad of golden oranges to simulate the colors of flame. "a gift for you, if you don't mind. simply for, uhm... for the holiday. of course."
@londonfallen / mr fires
#u gotta learn 2 write faster buddy#our thread count#KJENRMH#` ✞ elysium. ⁞ and if i only could‚ i’d make a deal with the gods.#` ✞ fires & elysium. ⁞ the bitterness of winter and the sweetness of spring‚ we are poets and our story is our masterpiece.#londonfallen
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❛❛ AND IF YOU GO CHASING RABBITS, you know you're going to fall ...
PLSS THE CUTE ASS ART @londonfallen COMM'D FOR ME AS A GIFT EKRJHNM THE CORE FOUR.... / artist.
#KJMKJMH#THEY'RE SO CUTE#MY SKRUNKLIES#GRABS THEM#ʚ c. white rabbit ɞ ⁄ if i only could‚ i'd make a deal with god and i’d get him to swap our places.#ʚ c. jabberwock ɞ ⁄ stroke of luck or gift from god‚ by the hands of fate or devil’s claws.#ʚ c. bandersnatch ɞ ⁄ you go down just like holy mary‚ mary on a cross : your beauty never‚ ever scared me.#ʚ c. king of hearts ɞ ⁄ roses are red and violets are blue‚ from the depths of my gardens our hearts bloomed.#ʚĭɞ ― misc: portraiture ˊˎ-
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running up that hill is such a yj zatanna coded song idk
#young justice#zatanna pre-season 4#and her getting back her dad#thought abt this while it was p’aying on the tadio#and if i only could#i’d make a deal with god#and i’d get him to swap our places#yeah…
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