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chasseurdeloup-retired · 4 years

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The Fast and Furious: Stripe Drift || Jane and Kaden

TIMING: Current LOCATION: Kaden’s apartment and then some fun travel PARTIES: @jane-the-zombie and @chasseurdeloup SUMMARY: FOLLOW THAT MIME! CONTENT WARNING: Reckless driving (motorcycle)

Kaden was running out of sick leave, but he couldn’t possibly go to the station or the shelter covered in black and white stripes. The field would be just as bad. But somehow work had to get done. He could do desk duty from home, right? Only, uh, well, he needed his files. Or anything. There was no way in hell he was calling Gary. He already felt like shit, the last thing he needed in his life was Gary. He sure as shit wasn’t calling Stryder and he had a feeling Sarge was going to have more questions than was worth his time. Which left Wu. He just had to figure out how to get the files without her seeing him. At all. Not even a little. He asked her to leave them at the door. So why was his phone ringing? “Hello? Wu? Are you bringing the files? You can just leave them at the doorstep. I’m very sick, super contagious. Really best if you just drop them off.” he said, adding in a few coughs for extra effect.

“I’m outside, Paw Patrol,” Jane replied, leaning against her bike, files tucked under her arm. Last thing she expected to do today was pick up desk duty for animal control. She pinched the bridge of her nose. Those coughs sounded as real as could be, and she didn’t really feel like walking all the way up to Kaden’s apartment building. “Come on Langley, come and get’em, I don’t really give a shit if you give me cooties or whatever?” If she didn’t know any better, Jane would have accused him of playing hooky. And if she didn’t know that Kavanagh would rather cheerfully throw herself out a second story window rather than miss work, she’d tease him about wanting to spend more time with his girlfriend by pretending to be sick.

“Outside?” Kaden said, his heart dropping to his stomach. He couldn’t have her see him like this. Leaving the apartment hadn’t gone well before, but at least he hadn’t run into anyone he knew. This, Wu? She’d never let him live it down. “Can’t you just stop being an asshole and drop them off? I’m not feeling w--” A chill ran down his spine. The one that meant a werewolf was nearby. Or maybe… “Hold on.” He grabbed his scarf, gloves, and jacket despite the heat, trying to cover up what he could, and peeked out of the door. There was a scuttle, a familiar inhuman movement. A small creature on all fours. The mime that had emerged from the cookies. It was at least ten inches tall now. And it was booking it. “Putain!” He reached inside to grab a knife, but when he looked back, the creature was gone. “Get back here!” he yelled, forgetting the phone was still in hand as he ran down the stairs to try and find the thing. He saw it stretch and morph, pulling itself through the underside of the door. Fast. Far too fast. He ran after it, watching it crawl past Wu and her motorcycle. “Not this time, connard! Not this fucking time!”

Jane was about to mock Kaden for being a big baby when something distracted him… And then he was yelling. “Langley? Langley!” She snapped into the phone, and started striding right to the front door, only for a cat to slip out, followed by Kaden. A striped Kaden. She hung up the phone. “Are you striped?!” Jane asked in amused disbelief, except then she got a good look at what she originally called a cat. “What is that! What is that! Argh!” This was the bad place. The thing stretched and skittered across the pavement way too quickly for it to ever be possible. “WHat the hell is that!” It seemed to grow just a bit bigger, it’s black and white body a stark contrast against the pavement. Jane was moving after it before she even realized what happened, and next thing she knew she was at her bike, chucking the helmet she didn’t wear at Kaden. “Hop on, let’s go.”

Oh fuck, Kaden almost forgot he was striped and covered in the stupid face paint. Almost. Either way, Wu sure reminded him. “Maybe. It’s not by choice, alright! We gotta follow that--” Before he could finish his sentence, he found himself catching a helmet. A helmet? For what? He looked down at it, then back up at her. And her motorcycle. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me, Wu. There’s no way I’m getting on that thing with y--” Out of the corner of his eye, Kaden saw the creature scurrying away, further and further, about to be just out of vision. A string of French curse words flew out of his mouth as he shoved the stupid fucking helmet on his head and climbed onto the stupid fucking bike behind Wu. “You better drive saAAAAAAAAFE,” he screamed as she took off speeding, his arms barely locked around her before she started.

“You said the same thing about the rollercoaster!” Jane laughed - yes, laughed. She wanted to figure out what that thing was, despite everything. She just barely waited for Kaden to grab onto her before she revved the bikes engine and was off like a shot. The damn thing only seemed to go faster and faster and faster. Jane was known for speeding - in fact, she frequently pushed the bike up to 90-100 miles per hour at night with no helmet on. She caught up easily, gaining on the stupid little mime thing. “What is that!” Jane didn’t know if he could hear her scream over the sound of the bike, the adrenaline and - oh crap, was he screaming too? - Jane wove around a large pickup truck, hardly paying attention as the driver laid on the horn. Come on, come on, come on! And then they took a sharp turn down another large stretch of road. “Will this thing ever stop running?!”

Kaden felt his stomach rolling and reeling as the motorcycle darted through traffic. Putain de fucking merde, was that a truck? That truck almost cut them off. He was going to die. This is how he died. Not by werewolf, mime, or even by banshee, but a fucking motorcycle driven by an almost zombie adrenaline junkie cop. “Slow down, what the fuck! THAT’S A CAR, THAT’S A-- STOP!” he shouted while she clearly ignored him and sped around with no cares in the world. Meanwhile, he was pretty sure he was one fucking swerve away from a heart attack. “And where the fuck is your helMEEETTT.” The sharp angle of the turn nearly sent him spilling off the edge and his arms wrapped around her tighter. He was likely using entirely too much hunter strength but right now he didn’t give a fuck if he bruised one of her ribs or two, he wanted to live. “I don’t fucking know but try not to kill us!”

“My helmet’s on your head!” Jane called back. But it wasn’t like she wore it anyway. She really only carried it around because Marley bought it for it and gave her a look every time she saw her not wearing the damn thing. The only reason she slowed down a little was because Kaden had a death grip on her torso. “Ow - ow - ow! Can you stop! Loosen up!” This wasn’t at all like when she rode with Marley. Except she didn’t have time to think about the pain in her ribs because the fucking mime thing burst off the road and into the field. And, automatically, Jane followed. She surged the bike off the road and down onto the dirt bellow, careening after the fucking thing like it was some really fast rabid dog. “Hold on tight! We’re off roading!”

“I loosen up when you slow the fuck down!” Kaden screamed in her ear. It surely didn’t hurt as much as any time Regan screamed ever, but he hoped it hurt a fucking little after the sheer amount of fucking panic he was experiencing. “We’re what?” Kaden asked as his eyes went wide. Was she really turning onto the dirt. Off the road? Off the-- They were going off of the road. Away from the road. “No,” was all he said at first. And then the ride got bumpier and it was clear she wasn’t turning around. “No, no, no. Wu, no. WU, NO!” All Kaden could do was scream more as they flew through the dirt and grass, his voice breaking up and bouncing with every jostle of the motorcycle. At this point, he was almost okay with letting the fucking thing live. It was fine. He could be a mime forever so long as he never had to do this again.

Dirt, grass, and small rocks kicked off behind them as she sped through the field abd after the mime fiend. Jane watched in some horror as the mime stopped, stood upright…. And then melted into what looked like a black sticky substance. “Uh-oh.” Jane was going too fast to stop, and next thing she knew, they were flying through the sauce on the bike. The bike slid, and for 10 solid seconds, Jane was certain they were going to crash. At least Kaden’s wearing the helmet. But Jane steadied them, swinging the bike around as dirt and mud sprayed back behind them before forcing the bike to jerk to a stop. Jane cut the engine just as she spotted the black, sticky sauce moving across the ground, before disappearing down into a nearby drain. Jane pressed her lips together in a thin line, before wincing. Her ribs? Bruised. But maybe she deserved it. Her thoughts sobered a little when Daniel’s voice echoed in her head -- you’re out of control, Wu. She looked behind her, a little guiltily. “How you doing, Paw Patrol?”

Kaden was pretty sure his screams reached a new decibel as the bike spun out of control. It was nearly impossible to remember that he had to be conscious not to break Wu’s ribs as he clung onto her. It slowed and he thought it might have stopped, but he couldn’t tell because his world was still spinning. Was he seeing this right? Did the mime monster turn to ooze? And, yaah, pretty sure it slithered away. “What the fuck?” he said at the sight of the sauce disappearing into the drain. Then he remembered. They were stopped. He let go of Wu, scrambled off the bike as quickly as possible and considered heaving right then and there. “What the fuck, Wu?!” she said back to her, shouting once again. “Were you trying to get us killed?! Do you normally do this?! Why?! WHY?! I know you’re going to bounce the fuck back but I’m not! And why aren’t you wearing a helmet, if your head gets damaged you won’t come back at all! If you end up as a fucking pancake on the side of the road, no amount of zombie anything is going to let you live!” Kaden screamed again and turned to let a new slew of curse words in multiple languages fly while he tried to get his pulse back down to a respectable fucking level.

Jane winced as Kaden started screaming at her, talking about pancakes and zombies and helmets as well as a multitude of colorful things in multiple languages that she only half-understood. Crap. “Hey, hey! You said follow the mime!” Jane said, hands raised in slight defense. Of course, he was right, but she wasn’t about to easily admit that. “I only own one helmet, I thought it would be better for you to wear it instead of me.” Jane prodded at her ribs, wincing again, before glancing back at him. “Sorry, though. I would have gone myself if I knew you weren’t going to like it. I do normally drive like that - hey.” Jane squinted, leaning forward. Something was off about his face - wait. Wait. “The stripes are gone. Off your face.” She leaned against the seat of her bike, pointing. “You’re clean.”

“I know what I said but I didn’t think you would drive like th-- Wait, what?” Kaden looked down and took the gloves off his hands. His hands. That were flesh colored. And not striped. No black, no white. Pink fleshy skin tone and blue veins. He squished it a bit to make sure. He pulled up his sleeves to check and still, no sign of stripes. “I’m clean? Putain, I’m clean! No more stripes. What about my face? Is my face okay, too?” He pulled out his phone and fumbled with the screen until he opened the front facing camera. There was his face. No paint. No dumb black triangles or silly eyebrows painted on. “The screaming worked, holy shit!” Regan was right! Again! Somehow! He ran over to Wu and picked her up into a hug. “No more stripes!” he said, beaming. And recalling pretty quickly that he bruised her ribs. And that she was his colleague. “Right, sorry. Just excited,” he said as he quickly put her down. “It didn’t go away for a few days, so yeah. Uh, ride back? Slower? Much, much slower.”

“Your face is fine too - oh.” Jane watched in amusement as he pulled out his phone to look at his face. “The screaming? What do you me - Whoa!” And Kaden has seized her, picking her up in a big hug that hurt her ribs. Laughing loudly, Jane shook her head. “Hey! Ow! Put me down!” But her words mixed with laughter as he seemed to sheepishly put her down. She snorted. “No kidding, huh? I guess what they say about Hunters having a killer grip is true.” She poked at her ribs again, feeling the pain shoot through them. Ouch. That was going to hurt for a bit. Well, she certainly had worse. Jane grinned at him when said she could drive back, bending to pick up the helmet off the ground and held it out to him. “Don't worry, I promise I'll only speed a little.”

#wickedswriting #writing #chatzy #janethezombie #jane #fast and the furious stripe drift

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the-magic-lava-lamp · 5 years

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Caught Up In You

Chapter 1 - Hop To It

Summary: A story revolving around a group of teenage friends, their mishaps, their relationships and their coming of age.

Watch as they navigate through the highs & lows of high school relationships and learn to grow up as most of them are approaching the end of their Senior year.

Ships: SamBucky, ThorBruce, Stony, ValJane...(More ships & characters to come)

Word Count: 9,774

{Tuesday Night}

“-Stop screaming and turn left at the light.” Tony mumbled miserably in the passengers seat of his fathers car. He was trying desperately to sink into the material of the seat and ignore the horrid expression on his fathers face. It helped to rub his palm harder into his eyes, it earned him the fuzzy kind of vision that usually only got when he was drunk. The different kind of streetlights bled together and he could almost pretend he was in any other situation.

“I’m not screaming. Trust me, you’d know the difference if I was-”

His father paused just time to catch Tony mouthing those words along with him in a mocking gesture.

He did one of those half-chuckles of disappointment and tightened his hands on the steering wheel. Tony wanted nothing more than to escape the scene entirely. It wasn’t fun to admit but he was highly embarrassed and angry with himself just the same as he was pissed at him. He shuffled in his chair and lifted his legs to tuck them under his body. His knees hit the door with a loud thump which sounded eerily close to an angry reaction and maybe it was. For a few painful seconds, it made the air even more awkward.

That was a common thread pulled between them. Most of their fights now consisted of long, horrid silences that would only break when Tony decided he wanted to really make a scene. Sometimes it was on purpose and other times... a little more subconscious.

“Don’t make this into a fit, Tony.”

“I’m eighteen, Dad.” He spit. “I’m not having a fucking fit.” He dug into the bag at his feet and pulled it onto his lap. Logically, he could get out of the car so much faster if he could gather all of his crap ahead of the parking lot cruise.

“You sure about that? Because to me, it looks as if my seventeen year old is pouting in my car even though he damn well could be driving his own car if he-”

Tony leaned over and turned the radio back to F.M. to avoid conversation even further and block out whatever shit he was gonna say next.

The car rolled to a complete stop at the next red-light. Tony’s head thumped softly against the headrest, nails dragging painfully hard into his lip.

“You always said The cards would never do you wrong The trick you said Was never play the game too long...”

“I work Tony. This is a huge waste of my time-” He glanced at his son and waved a spare hand off the wheel, Tony ached to slap it.

“Eyes on the road, dad. If we get into a car accident, that’d be on your head.” Tony pursed his lips and chuckled a little as he curled his body forward. “What would your co-workers think, huh?” He put on a scandalized voice and felt a little proud when his dad gripped the wheel harder.

“-And you're still the same I caught up with you yesterday Moving game to game No one standing in your way...”

“You’re such a smart-mouth brat, Tony.” He scowled and Tony moved his eyes back towards his window.

“Wonder where I get that from...” He rolled his eyes.

“I want you out of my car right now.” He heard his father mumble mostly to himself but he couldn’t help but notice they’d slowly turned onto a quiet side-street. There weren’t many passing vehicles and an open sidewalk wasn’t far from his view.

“Fine.” Tony reached out and grabbed the passenger door handle and cracked it back, sending the thing flying outwards. He attempted to unbuckle but there wasn’t much more he could do to escape after his father swung his arm over his body and reached for the door handle.

The car swerved but luckily the road was completely empty. The tires skidded, wind blew heavily and for a moment Tony thought he might actually fall out. But the car door banged closed next to him and made him jump as he recovered from sensory overload.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” His father screamed as soon as he centered the car and pulled into the Theater parking lot.

“There you stood Everybody watched you play I just turned and walked away I had nothing left to say...”

Tony swallowed and collected his bag. “That’s a load question, pop.” He rubbed the back of his hand across his mouth and nodded. “See ya afterwards.” He gestured to the doors and didn’t stay to hear anymore.

Tony fell out of the car and hightailed it inside, hoping he wasn’t edging it too close to late.

He pushed the heavy doors and slid the stupid visor onto his head. The neon lights buzzed as he steadied his hands and regained his way of walking with purpose. He held firmly onto that argument though. There was no way that was leaving his mind anytime soon.

The red concession stand counter glittered under the burning neon and he kept his eyes centered there just in case boss-man was around.

He punched in, took a moment or two to calm down and went to his station.

“Hey Tony, I re-stacked the candy tree thing cause some guy fell on it earlier which was amazing, you should’ve seen it-” His co-worker had a habit of appearing out of nowhere and scaring the absolute shit out of him. But he was slowly getting used to it. He leaned over to put his forearms on the counter and look right at Tony. “You havin’ a bad day or something?”

Tony smacked his palms down onto the glossy counter and sighed. “Yeah. You could say that. Old man took my car away so I had to put up with his...” he gestured his hand out and let it fall “crap the whole way here.”

“Well, I know something that’s gonna make you feel better.” He grinned and his grins were always unsettling.

“What’s that, Bucky?” Tony mumbled, not that interested as he went to work on refilling some of the popcorn.

Bucky merely tapped him on the shoulder and he glanced up just in time to see Steve Rogers strolling in, ticket in hand like always. The tiny red stub stuck out from his clutched fist and Bucky knew it was because Steve would lose it otherwise.

Natasha strolled in at his side and threw a knowing smirk Bucky’s way.

Tony’s expression suddenly changed from dim to flirty in a matter of seconds, he was good at that. “Steve Rogers. What chick-flick are you seeing today?” he smirked and went through the motions of preparing Steve’s usual order.

Steve opened his mouth to answer but had to take a quick glance at his ticket to actually provide an answer. Natasha beat him to it anyway, maybe to save some embarrassment

“Some spy movie.” she shrugged, taking the candy Bucky handed from over Tony’s shoulder. Steve wasn’t the only one who came in quite often though he was the most painfully obvious. “Steve here is really into the tight outfits.” She tilted her chin towards him and that earned her a gentle shove of his elbow and a blush.

Tony ate that shit right up. “Kinky.” He threw him a wink and did the tiniest of hair flips that he could manage. His hair was getting pretty long and he had to admit to himself, it was really working for him.

Steve took the bag of popcorn and tried hard not to keep eye contact, he was far too embarrassed now. “See ya after the movie, Tony.”

He started to walk off, Natasha following close behind.

“Steve!” Tony basically skipped over to the other side of the circular counter with the happiest of smirks. “Please try to keep the excitement about the outfits in your pants. Some of us have to clean up that theater when the credits roll.” He tilted his chin up and swiped his tongue across his bottom lip at the last word.

Steve nearly slid on the smooth floor and his blush couldn’t get any deeper as he quickly sped off to the sound of Nat’s laughter.

Tony lingered in that happy state for a few seconds, still on his tip-toes and his palms flat on the glitter again. But soon after the two disappeared into the theater hall, he fell back onto his flat shoes.

“That cheer you up?” Bucky grinned, shoving some popcorn into his mouth and Tony rolled his eyes.

He threw his hands up in ‘I don’t even know’ kinda way and went back towards the cash register.

“You don’t get it yet, do you?” His annoying friends voice came again while Tony thumbed through a magazine he kept under his customers eye-line.

“Get what?” He asked, not interested at all. Smug Bastard was such a know-it-all. Bucky could tell just by his tone that Tony didn’t find any value in what he was about to say. There was nothing the ‘Great Tony Stark’ didn’t already get. It only spurred Bucky on though.

“Steve.” He clicked his tongue. “The guy’s gotta a major crush on you.”

That got him. Tony spun around completely and leaned backwards on the ledge. “No he fucking doesn’t.” He growled, not finding this the least bit funny. Bucky was a jerk who loved to torture him but he was far from being in the mood for it. Especially not with a topic like that.

“Why do you think he comes in here like every day?” He gestured with his hand.

“To see movies. I don’t know.”

“Tony. I dare you to ask Steve anything about these movies that he’s been seeing. He literally doesn’t retain any information cause he doesn’t actually give a shit about them.” He pinched Tony’s arm and got a nice slap for it. “I’m his best friend, asshole. He tells me stuff.” He threw a piece of popcorn in the air and caught it with his mouth. “The only thing he gives a shit about is seeing the handsome brunette behind the counter...” He winked “Oh and his major crush.” he slapped Tony’s arm and walked past him.

“He doesn’t have feelings for me...Steve’s a total-” He took in a breath “Jock. I’m not even on his radar of people he could sleep with.” He shook his head and Bucky rolled his eyes this time.

“Believe it or not but Steve doesn’t get around as much as you think.” He chuckled. “And he’s got his eyes on you, idiot. And I know you got eyes for him.”

Tony seemed more insulted by the word ‘idiot’ than Bucky’s assumption. It was laughable and one of the many reasons Bucky was amused yet annoyed by the dude. “Shut your mouth and get to work.”

“You should take my advice and ask him out, Lord knows he won’t ask you. I landed an excellent fella so you can trust my advice.” He swirled the damp towel over the selection of stains littering the counter though it was hard to find them with the shadow of his stupid visor.

“Ah, your allusive boyfriend.” Tony mumbled.

“Don’t start with me, Stark.”

“All I’m saying is...” He turned to his long hair co-worker. “I’ve never seen him. For such a swell guy-” He mocked Bucky’s outdated language habit. “He doesn’t ever come to visit you or for a quickie in the bathroom?”

Bucky growled. “He comes when I’m working my Tony-free shift, I’ve told you. It works better for his schedule.”

“Ah, that’s when he comes.” Tony put a dirty emphasis on the word. “So what I’m hearing is that you did have a quickie in the bathroom?”

Bucky blushed and shoved past Tony to do some other odd job that didn’t really need to be done yet.

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{Wednesday Morning}

“-I told him to fuck off.”

“No you didn’t. Please tell me you didn’t.” Bruce rubbed his hands together and followed Tony to his locker. His mind was still reeling from Tony’s dramatic story and he was desperately trying not to make it obvious that he was stealing long glances to the clocks.

“No. But the trying to jump outta the car stuff is true.” Tony pursed his lips together and dug out his books. Bruce fell against the metal lockers and sighed, rubbing his hand down his face. “I didn’t get hurt, ok? But wouldn’t that have made him happy, huh?”

Bruce gently thumped his hand atop Tony’s which was curled around the locker door. “He doesn’t want that, Tony. You know that.” He swallowed. “So what exactly led to that fight?” he was almost afraid to ask and it didn’t help when Tony physically cringed.

“I went to a party, stayed past curfew...got drunk. The usual.” He shrugged like that was nothing and Bruce tried to remember that Tony didn’t respond well to rants about safety.

“And what else?” There was more, it was obvious.

Tony heaved a sigh and slammed the door closed when his Chemistry book slid free. “I came back home and...” he rubbed at his neck. “I was drunk so I was just saying shit to bother him cause he was yelling, right? Y’know I’m good at that.” the book slipped a little from his grip. “I told him that I was with some guys and I may have accidentally come out of the damn closet.”

Bruce frowned. Tony had been struggling with that idea for a while now.

“And he said he was taking my car away so I accused him of being homophobic as shit and that was the real reason he was punishing me.” Tony suddenly looked really pained. “But you should’ve seen his Goddamn face, Bruce. I was drunk and I still can’t get it out of my head. He was fumbling through an explanation about how wrong I was....” He shrugged and started walking down the hall again, Bruce following like a puppy.

“Tony, I’m sure he was just shocked.”

“Can you please just be on my side, Bruce?” Tony shook his head and Bruce sped up to his side.

“I am on your side.” He scowled, fumbling with his hands again. “I’m just trying to be logical about this.”

“No, you’re being hopeful. I know better cause he’s my dad. He wasn’t just shocked. He was pissed.” Tony growled and took off down the hall, leaving Bruce in the dust.

He stepped slowly to follow but looked up at the nearest clock.

“My brother is waiting for you in the library.”

“Jesus!” Bruce jumped in the air and nearly fell onto the glossy floor as he turned to face Loki. The greasy and terrifying man was smiling at him in that smirky way, hands behind his back.

"He asked me to come collect you. But it seems you were busy with whatever Tony was bitching about.” He gestured gently to the open space where Tony had been. Bruce would roll his eyes if he weren’t so afraid of the man. “Tsk, tsk, Banner. You should take this tutoring gig more seriously.”

And with that, Loki elegantly walked right past him. Just like any other time they’ve interacted (Which was like twice), Bruce took that time to shake his body free of the chills he’d acquired.

He quickly made his way to the library.

Thor was sitting atop one of the long tables in the library, legs curled into the criss-cross position to keep his book still. His pen dashed furiously across the paper as he attempted to finish the load of homework he’d completely forgotten about until this morning.

He glanced up just in time to catch a glimpse of Bruce strolling in and his heart momentarily stopped. He was in no mood to get scolded today and if he could just finish the last two problems before he came over, he just might make the day without it. And if he was lucky enough, Bruce might beam at him again.

Last Thursday had been the best fucking day of Thor’s life. Valkyrie had switched lunches with him, Loki had managed to make it the full day without getting into trouble and Bruce had given him the biggest grin when he reported back with an B in Chemistry.

“Hey-”

“Bruce!” Thor happily greeted him, already scooting over to give him some room. Bruce awkwardly hopped onto the table next to him with much more hesitance.

“I told you, I don’t think we’re allowed to sit here-”

Thor shoved his pen behind his ear and showed off his work. He watched while Bruce momentarily forgot his hang-up and slipped his glasses on to look over the papers. “This is good work, Thor. You’ve really improved. I told you that it was only a matter of time.” Bruce pulled back and wiggled the book in front of him.

“Thanks...” Thor had come into this session with one goal and just because of one compliment, he was flustered into forgetting. He beamed back at Bruce and ran a hand through his hair. He wasn’t totally used to being on the other end of this. “But um...Y’know, I’m still struggling with uh-Math. So, I came back to the idea that it might be beneficial if I had the ability to contact you outside of school. Just to um, help y’know?”

Thor tried his best not to embarrass himself but was finding it mighty difficult with Bruce staring up at him like a little puppy.

“So, about that phone number-”

Bruce swallowed and started playing with his hands. “I told you, I don’t know about that.” He shrugged and faded that off with a nervous chuckle. But upon seeing the way Thor’s face fell, he rushed to explain again. “This isn’t because I don’t like you, Thor. It’s just...we’re good like this, right?” He pushed his glasses back up his nose and gestured at the books between them.

Thor nodded back, licking his lips. “Yes, of course we are.” He quickly put the smile back on his face and it wasn’t even a chore. Anytime he spent with Bruce was special to him. He wasn’t about to ruin that. He scooted closer and found that his buddy moved in as well, their laps now supporting the open Math book.

This was fine.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Valkyrie was having a pretty shitty day and the sight of a pouty looking Thor was going to be no help unless his problem was more interesting than her test crisis coming next period. She threw him a smile and leaned on her locker. “What’s the matter with you, big guy?” She narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms. Thor looked embarrassed which wasn’t such a common trait for him. “Is it Bruce again?”

He deflated. “No.”

“Convincing.” She shrugged and turned back to grab some of her junk, arm sliding painfully against some metal. “When are you going to tell him that you don’t actually need the tutoring?”

Thor shrugged and that was answer enough.

“How long have you known him Thor?”

Her friend paused and shifted on his feet. “Basically since first grade but we only sort of became closer friends during Sophomore year.”

She hummed. “I’ve only known him since the summer so I can’t give you much that you don’t already know, bud.” She shrugged. “But either he’s interested or he’s not...” She glanced over Thor’s shoulder as she thought on it. “I know Bruce is a little off-beat and...not the best at making decisions or voicing his entire opinion...and his crippling fear doesn’t help that....”

her tongue clicked and Thor jumped like a man half his size.

“Am I just freaking you out now?”

“No....”

She stared him down.

“Ok, a little bit-actually-yes you are. A lot.”

“Ooof.” Valkyrie smacked her palms together and slammed her locker door shut. “Maybe you shouldn’t come to me for advice then, huh?” She shook her head and began to try and walk off.

She’d met Bruce over the Summer just before the big Senior year. He’d been working at her favorite, favorite Diner in town. It was one of the few Drive-In places left and man oh man, the burgers. Valkyrie licked her lips.

Bruce new her order by heart within his first few days there and could have it whipped up in no-time if he knew she was coming. So she’d given him her phone number just for that purpose. Which, Bruce was incredibly reluctant and all twitchy about it until she clarified that she didn’t give a shit about anything other than just getting her burger a bit quicker.

Somehow, Bruce just became her good buddy and through him, she met Thor just a couple days before school started. He was one of the few guys in Bruce’s ‘group’ that he introduced to her because; ‘I think you’d get along great with him! You actually remind me a bit of him.’

“Wait!” Thor suddenly came up next to her again and it was her turn to jump.

“Shit, you scared the hell outta me!” She smacked his arm, hard. But Thor didn’t seem to mind at all.

“I forgot the good news!”

Disinterested again, she shoved one of her ear-buds into her ear and waited. “That scares me. What is it?”

“I set up a date for you-” He held up a gentle hand when she opened her mouth with a grunt. “I know, I know-that last one kinda suck BUT...” He flashed a very charming grin. “I know the perfect girl and I know you’ll love her. I’m really excited about it.” He patted her gently on the shoulder and she’d be lying if she said she didn’t smooth a little at that last part.

“What’s her name?”

“Jane. Jane Foster. She’s one of the smartest people I know and surprisingly strong-she slapped me this one time and it stung for like-”

“Why did she slap you?” Valkyrie raised a brow but was getting an idea of how Thor might know this girl.

“Well...” He scratched behind his neck and looked off at the posters behind her head. She kicked his shin. “Ow! Ok ok, she might be my ex-girlfriend.”

Valkyrie sped up but he only chased her down again.

“Wait! Valkyrie, trust me, Jane’s amazing. A good match for you, I think.” He waved his hand out and she shifted her weight to the other foot.

“You’re asking me to trust your taste in woman?”

Thor shrugged, puppy-dog eyes and all which had her blowing air between her gritted teeth.

“Fine. Send me the details, you big sap.” With a roll of her eyes, she finally took off for class.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

{Friday Night}

“I think he had a fight with his old man or something. It doesn’t feel right to tell you this.” Bucky shook his head and stared at Tony from over Steve’s shoulder. The boy was curled over the ticket booth with the most miserable expression on his face. He’d had that same dead look since their last shift together on Tuesday. Plus, ticket service sucked so that probably wasn’t helping him any.

Steve hummed into his palm and slid a couple bucks over the counter for his usual movie snack. Bucky thumbed with it a little and danced his fingers across the green. “Do you think...?-” His friend trailed off and he tried not to roll his eyes but it was getting way too difficult these days when it came to this dramatic bullshit.

“That he likes you?” He whistled, throwing a red cup into the air. It flipped against the glaring yellow lights and landed perfectly in his hand. Cola spilled effortlessly from the machine and bounced a little of the lip of the cup, Bucky licked it off his finger. “Yeah. He does. And I know this because he’s so fucking obvious and basically told me so.”

Steve’s eyes lit up like they always did at the idea but there was no follow-through of belief. Just sadness. Damn.

“Well from what I gathered from you, Tony hates you.” Steve started and Bucky nodded.

“And I hate him too.” he snapped his fingers over his shoulder and shoveled popcorn with his spare.

“-So I doubt that he talks to you about feelings.”

“You’re right, he doesn’t. But-” He poked the tiny metal shovel into his friends cheek, giving him a impermanent dimple. “He doesn’t explicitly have to. It’s all on his face every-time you come in. Which, is so damn obvious too Steve, you have no idea.”

“If it’s so obvious than Tony must have picked up on it and he hasn’t made a move sooooo....”

“Now you’re just being difficult which I hate so...” He wiggled his hand out. “Go see your stupid movie.” He turned away only to have Steve reached out and pull him back.

“Has he said anything about me?”

“Jesus Christ.” Bucky would slap Steve if he wasn’t his best friend-’actually.’

Bucky reached out and gently slapped him. “Here, this shouldn’t be too difficult even for a punk like you.” He ignored the fake hurt puppy look and slammed a pen and napkin down onto the glittery counter. “Phone number goes there.” He pointed. “And you can slip it to him on your way to the movie room.”

Steve sighed and rubbed his palm down to his chin.

“Hop to it, soldier.” He winked and turned on his best friend.

There was some shuffling and lingering as far as Bucky could guess from his hearing. He heard the pen drag across the flaky napkin and then footsteps. For a moment, he let himself celebrate a victory.

He turned on his heels only to find the napkin still sitting on the counter. It was decorated with a small drawing of Bucky standing next to the popcorn machine which was overflowing, sending the snack everywhere. Little pieces of Steve’s hand-drawn popcorn fluff littered the paper and Bucky felt like a fool for believing Steve would actually go for it.

He scoffed and shoved the paper into his pocket before going back to work.

And he made it through about 17 flawless minutes of restocking the candy shelves when he felt Tony’s presence at the head of the counter. “Hey asshole. What do you want?” He mumbled, scooting a bit on the glossy floor so he could look at him.

Tony was slouching over the red strip of glittery hell, forearms pressing heavily into the counter and wearing a painfully obvious look of drowsiness. His visor was in his hand rather than burrowed somewhere in his flippy hair. That was Del Costa’s least favorite thing to see of his employees, not that either of them took that to heart. Del was a grumpy little old man with soft eyes for a few employees which just happened to include them.

“I’m gonna walk out the door, right now. I swear to God.” He rubbed his face and Bucky rolled his eyes.

“You go ahead and do that. Dare ya.” He scoffed and stood to continue his busy work. They were having an very slow Friday night and he blamed the shitty movies that were currently out. That and the fact that the place was tiny and not too far from a much larger theater that was in the next town over.

“I would and you know it.”

Bucky shrugged. “I honestly don’t care and it’d probably make my life a lot easier if you weren’t here so...” He waved his hand towards the double doors and gave him a smug smile and Tony immediately responded by throwing his visor at him. “Why are you so miserable anyway? It’d drag me down if I wasn’t in such a good mood.” He emphasized that just to rub it in a little before lifting Tony’s arms to swipe the cleaning rag under him.

He held Tony’s arms at the wrists and scrubbed the counter which didn’t even seem to bother him. Instead, Tony went completely boneless and allowed the action with ease. “What’s with that good mood anyway, Hot Topic? It’s freakin’ me out.” He wiggled his fingers and Bucky dropped his hands, they slammed down.

“I can’t just be in a good mood?” He rolled his eyes.

“I’ve literally never seen you smile the entire time that I’ve known you, and you’ve done it at least ten times today.” Tony pursed his lips in thought.

“Get back to work before Mr. Costa sees you.” Bucky tipped his chin towards the incoming group of customers and Tony sighed dramatically.

“Whatever. I’ll get it out of you sooner or later.” He threw a wink and wandered off, the picture of misery. That was of course until he hit the half-way mark and turned on a flirty smile. If Tony was in the mood for it, he could really play the part of a happy worker well. Even if he was just about quit. Bucky could never even attempt that. Hiding his irritation was one of his weakest points these days.

~~~~~~~~~~~

“Hey, you weren’t at your post. Bucky said you were....” Steve paused mid-sentence as he came down the concrete steps. His index finger was lazily slipped into the small bag of popcorn which he had to admit was a bad idea.

His finger was greased, making his skin filmy and liable to have something slip through. When Tony flung his head his way, Steve suddenly plunged his finger deeper inside like the crisis of spilled popcorn was the most important thing in the world right now.

Tony was gripping his phone with such intensity that his fingers were curling over the screen and it almost looked as if he were trying to crush the damn thing. “Hey, something I can do for you?” he scratched behind his ear and looked frazzled. Which, in truth, wasn’t that uncommon.

The flashy lights from the gigantic sign were reflecting nicely into Tony’s warm brown eyes and Steve found himself frazzled now. Tony moved, coming to lean on the blue railing just a few steps down from him. This was the moment that he realized Tony had changed out of his work shirt and was sporting his regular work jeans but with a band t-shirt that was...-'For the love of all that is good and pure in this world, it’s cropped’ and in that lazy casual way that made him want to tilt his head for a better look.

‘Never seen that much of his skin before...God, was that a dumb thought’. Steve would kick himself if he weren’t standing right there. He’d never seen Tony in a get-up like that before. Not that he stereotyped him but Tony was quite the little...nerd.

“Chicks dig it.” Tony wiggled his eyebrows and Steve rolled his eyes out of habit. “I spilled-no, your friend ‘spilled’ a large soda on me like ten minutes before my shift ended.” He scowled, looking back towards the building over Steve’s shoulder. The retro blue and red lighting now framing his jawline. “So how was your movie?”

Tony topped that off with one of those closed mouth smiles that made Steve’s knees weak.

“Good, good.” he mumbled. “A little much but...that’s kinda what every movie is like these days.” The shrug rolled off his shoulders like 2nd nature.

“You don’t seem to be that picky these days. You come in just about every other day.” Tony chuckled and swiped his hand under his nose just as fast as the chill that passed through the air. “Your film of choice this time was one of those action flicks. The saucy criminal couple running from the cops and having the best sex of their lives....gotta love it.” His grin widened and Steve was far too nervous.

“Yeah. There was a surprising amount of layers to it though-”

Tony snorted but he ignored it.

“Really. The main girl, Natalie, had this whole side story-line about her broken family. It was actually done very well. There was this one scene that-” He felt a tangent coming on but was shortly interrupted by Tony shoving his hands into his pockets.

“You must’ve really enjoyed it then, huh? You gonna spare me the details?” The skin around the bridge of his nose crinkled with that snide comment.

Steve bit his lip, not sure what he’d said wrong.

“I forgot my jacket. But I’ll see ya next time?” He thumped Steve’s shoulder and jogged back into the theater, leaving him confused and with a lot to think about on his ride home.

~~~~~~~~~~~

“-I thought you said that he doesn’t really watch these movies?” Tony shot up, completely out of nowhere. Bucky would have jumped if he weren’t used to that shit.

Again with the eye-rolling but he couldn’t help it. “He doesn’t.”

“Well, he was basically spoiling the entire plot of this movie that he really seemed enthused about watching.” Tony shrugged, like he knew it was a stupid thing to complain about and was already embarrassed about it.

"His whole world isn’t about you, Tony. He just came out of the theater so of course he’s talking about it. Steve likes to share-and hey, where’s the rest of your shirt?” Bucky teased as he turned to find the guy’s midriff exposed more so than usual.

Tony looked less than impressed and turned away, eyes drifting towards the glass doors where he could spot Steve’s car driving off. A sigh escaped his lips and Bucky wanted to scream.

“Did I ruin that good mood?” he edged off into a new subject and Bucky would be glad for it if the new one didn’t involve himself.

“No.” Was all he intended to say but Tony very clearly wouldn’t be letting it go any time soon. He should have left around twenty minutes ago but here he was, leaning up against the counter like a patient customer. Damn, they needed more of those these days.

“Come on, tell Daddy what it is.” He wiggled his fingers for a few seconds and his shadow glazed over the counter.

“I hate that nickname.” He scowled. Tony had been using that for nearly his entire work career at the Horizon Theater and he’d be lying if he said it hadn’t slipped out of his mouth a few times just from hearing it so often. “And please leave before Mr. Costa kicks you out.”

Tony only gave him a pleading look.

“Fuck you.” He chuckled because although he was irritated, he’d been dying to tell someone about this all day. He licked his lips and turned his chin down to the counter to stare at the individual glitter pieces behind the glass. “Um...-” shoving some hair behind his ear, he tried not to get embarrassed. “My boyfriend told me he loved me today.” The tone he used was very clearly trying way too hard to come across as indifferent. But his heart was pounding when he thought about it again.

Tony stepped back, looking impressed. “Wow. Big step.” He nodded but added a small frown.

“Oh you’re jealous, huh?” Bucky was going to seize anything that would turn the attention off himself.

“Why would I be jealous of your imaginary relationship, Barnes?”

Bucky slapped his arm but before the fight could really start-

“Boys!”

They both jumped this time and from their far right, Mr. Costa strolled over with a large smile. He was a tiny old man who almost looked like he was being swallowed by the dark hallway. He opened his arms and slapped a hand onto Tony’s back. “Why are you still in my theater?”

“Well I was just-” He lifted his hand only to have Mr. Costa lower it for him.

“You’re off the clock, go home and leave my worker alone, huh?” He grinned with genuine cheer and Tony sighed but turned to leave.

But not without giving Bucky the finger and yelling a loud goodbye to both of them. Mr. Costa waved back and leaned his bent elbow on the counter. “So, how are we doing today?”

Bucky rolled his lips together. “Fairly well. Better than last Friday. It’s a real gas here tonight.” He tipped his chin to the small crowd of teens leaving theater 1.

He was rewarded with the nod of acceptance that Mr. Costa was the best at giving. Bucky took in the fact that he was making casual conversation. “Not here to bust my chops, huh sir? What’s your ulterior motive?” He asked, refilling the tiny cup of soda he was allowed.

“Bust my chops...” He repeated with a shake of his head. “That’s why I like ya, son. Talk just like me.” His hand swiped down his mouth and Bucky grinned. “You tell your little friends about that deal we’re offering soon-on the tickets?”

Bucky’s shoulders dropped just the slightest at Del’s soft tone. “Yeah-yeah I did, sir. I spread the word.” He took a long sip of the fizzy, burning pop. “I’m sure business will be booming soon.”

Del Costa nodded once more and gently laid a hand atop Bucky’s before he wandered off, mumbling to himself about the things he had to remember. As he headed over to where the ticket guys were, Bucky let out a long breath.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

{Monday Morning}

“I honestly just don’t get it.”

Loki quirked his brow from over Thor’s shoulder and if he wasn’t so happy that his brother was enjoying his company at school for the first time in ages, Thor might’ve shoved his elbow into his stomach.

What he actually did was groan as he turned to his locker once more.

“I’m just saying...that guy, really?” Loki pointed with his chin to where Bruce was chatting happily with Valkyrie. He seemed rather enthusiastic as he made some explosive gesture that almost had him fall backwards. He had such a habit of stumbling over his own feet...

Thor grinned impossibly wide. “Yes.”

“Why?-You know what actually never-mind-”

Though Loki had changed his mind and was already starting to walk off because he remembered exactly the type of person his brother was, Thor launched into it. “He’s the most...genuine person that I’ve ever known.” His voice turned small and earnest. “He always gives me the best advice, he’s so smart and.....”

Thor trailed off as Bruce made another gesture that had him bouncing like an excitable puppy. Instead of finishing his sentence, Thor just threw Loki another grin and happily bounded over to his friends.

Valkyrie smiled at the way Bruce perked up with the added company. “Hey, big guy.” She glanced over her shoulder to where Loki was lingering. Looking a little awkward as he hovered. “What’s up, moody?” She reached over to smack the dude’s arm.

Loki rolled his eyes but didn’t miss the way Thor’s lit up at the idea of him getting along with his little friend-group. He gave the girl a small smile though he wasn’t entirely sure he could pull off the friendly kind.

“I’m gonna grab my books from my locker-” Valkyrie tried to throw Loki a hint to make himself scarce as well so the two idiots might have a shot in explaining their feelings. But she wasn’t sure he’d care that much.

She was about to push past him when Bruce grabbed her arm excitedly. “Hey! Wait, you gotta tell Thor the good news!”

“Ooooh, what is it?”

‘Oh, if they only knew what she was trying to give them’. She frowned, letting her arms fall limply in front of her as she reluctantly turned. “It’s nothing. Now if you don’t mind-wait a minute-I don’t care if you mind. I’m leaving-”

Valkyrie tried to escape again only to have Thor reach out for arm again.

“Oh come on, you have to tell me now.” Thor demanded and she decided she might as well give up.

Valkyrie turned and gave Bruce a heated glare before she spoke again. “I had my date with Jane on Friday-”

Thor lit up. “Oh yes, yes. How did it go?” He gently pat her arms.

She must’ve accidentally let a smile through there because Thor looked positively excited as he shook her arms. “Good. Great-” She rolled her eyes when the blonde lit up again. “It was fine. Now I’m gonna go-”

“Wait! Tell him the best part!” Bruce slapped her arm lightly.

She sighed and collected herself to look at Thor’s happy little face. “We’ve got a second date-But, don’t let this go to your head. I don’t want you thinking you’re the perfect matchmaker.” She shook her finger in his face.

“But I so obviously am the best.” Thor dropped her arms and spread his own out with a wide grin. She tried not to laugh at the way Loki stepped back to avoid getting hit like it was second nature to him. “I told you that Jane was great for you!”

Valkyrie pursed her lips. “Uh-huh, you also set me up on four other dates that were...” She wiggled her palm “Not the best.”

“Well, I was just excited.” He shrugged. “Fifth times a charm, huh?” He reached out once more but she only threw him one last smirk before taking off down the hall. She may or may not be on her way to find Jane’s locker.

Once she was off, Loki decided that he was done as well and glided away with that elegance of his.

The air softened from the noisy laughs of their classmates nearby and was suddenly very quiet. Thor spun on his heels to face his much tinier friend but found himself (yet again) extremely and uncommonly nervous. Bruce, though small and nowhere near intimidating, could send him into such a dazed state.

The light above Mr. Hammonds English class door was flickering as it always would. It shined in Bruce’s eyes each time it caught on again.

“What-um...what’s your first period again?” Bruce did that nervous tick again (the scratch behind his ear) and bounced his weight from leg to leg.

“Astronomy.” Thor grinned just thinking about that class. It never failed to keep him interested. “-We just had this whole project about whether we believed in life outside of Earth...” He shoved his hands into his pockets to avoid making more large gestures but the smile was just going to stay-put. “We got assigned a side that we had to defend, right? So luckily, I got the correct side.”

Bruce nodded, happily listening though he hadn’t really asked for all this information. “That there is life?”

“Yes, of course. Don’t you think so?”

“Yeah-Yes, I do.” Bruce shrugged. “There’s no way that we’re alone in the universe, that’d be a very...ignorant way of thinking.” He pushed his little glasses up the bridge of his nose. This had been one of his late night discussion topics with Tony just some weeks ago when he’d stayed the night to work on some designs for his father’s company.

Thor’s smile got brighter which didn’t seem possible. But Bruce only loosened his own smile to a very-near frown.

“I wish you wouldn’t look at me like that, Thor.”

That sentence stunned the blonde for a moment. “What’s wrong with the way I look at you?”

Bruce blushed though he tried to hide it. “It’s like...-” He took in some air. “I dunno...like you got real feelings...” ‘For me’ was implied but Thor knew Bruce well enough by now to know that he was far too embarrassed to say something like that.

“I do. Have I not made my feelings clear enough?” He was genuinely baffled. Thor made no attempt to hide anything he felt. He’d asked Bruce multiple times to hang-out past school, complimented him, and tried to get his number at least four times now.

“I know that you-...well, I know you’ve said that you...” Bruce sighed, tilting his chin up to Mr. Hammonds light. “Might wanna ‘hang-out’ but...I don’t think that’s the type of thing I’m cut out for.”

“What do you mean?”

“I just mean...a relationship with you-which isn’t an insult Thor. I would never say something to hurt you.” Bruce quickly rushed over to pat the guy’s chest. He could be so oddly touchy-feely without noticing even when discussing something like this. “We just don’t...-We’re very different people.”

Thor licked his lips and nodded. “I think we’re more similar than you think. Like all the times we get sidetracked in conversation when you help me study. During tutoring? And we’ve become so...in sync. You really helped me out when I was having my family issues, we don’t mind when the other goes off a long ramble about a topic, we make each other laugh....and even Loki likes you, not that he’d say so-”

“He does?”

“Oh yeah, he said that you amuse him. Which, is a compliment for Loki at least.” Thor shrugged. “Anyway, I think that if you gave me a shot, you might feel something?” He pawed at his hands as his nerves rose from his stomach to his chest.

“I dunno, Thor-”

“That’s ok. You don’t have to say yes. You don’t even have to give me an answer at all. I reassure you, I’m fine with just friends as long as I get to be around you.” Thor gently pat down on Bruce’s shoulder.

Bruce looked down at Thor’s hand and became lost in his own head. Overthinking. He was especially good at that.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

{Monday Night}

Bucky was being particularly insufferable. Tony was doing his best to give the guy the benefit of the doubt because he’d done his fair share on the other side. And Bucky may have complained but he always allowed Tony to have his little rants and such.

But Bucky was just parading around with the hardest looking frown that Tony had ever seen. It was very scary when a customer approached he just switched the damn thing to a bright grin with such speed that it knocked the wind outta Tony.

Plus, Bucky could be a little destructive when he was angry though he suspected it wasn’t totally on purpose. It just seemed to be on those kinda days where the guy would run into displays and knock them over. His mumbled swears could be heard from the other side of the counter but almost nowhere else in the place. Just his luck.

“Hey, what’s the matter with you?” Tony gently pinched his arm only to get slapped away.

“Nothing just-Oh shit. No way.” Bucky’s eyes widened as he raised his arms in mock defeat. Tony stepped back and craned his neck to see what the guy was so suddenly worked up about.

Walking up to the counter was a harmless looking guy around their age with a smirk on his face. “Hey, Buck.”

“I’m don’t have the strength for this guy today. Nope. Tony, you take care of him.” Bucky shook his head and turned away. Honestly, Tony sprinted to the counter because he’d had enough of angry Bucky today.

As Tony rung up the guy’s choice of two hot-dogs, he and Bucky seemed to communicate over his shoulders. He could tell by the way the man lazily shot up the finger with a glowing smirk. Bucky’s groan was loud and full.

Tony wanted to get in the middle of the drama immediately, planning to bother Bucky about it as soon as the dude left.

The guy collected his little paper trays of greasy food but instead of walking off to either of the hallways of theater rooms, he smoothly glided around the red counter. He kept a dog in hand but slid the other across the glitter to Bucky’s waiting hand.

Tony couldn’t help but wave his hand with confusion from his place far across the wide circled counter.

The brunette smiled, the first genuine kind of the day, and mumbled a thank you that was kinda muffled against the other guy’s cheek in a greeting kiss.

“Well I’ll be Damned! You weren’t lying.” Tony chuckled but he was either too far away or the two idiots were too far off in their own land. He suspected it was the second because the counter was nowhere near that large plus he could delightfully hear everything they said, if he listened carefully.

“I’m picking you up after work today at nine, right?”

Bucky nodded with a small hum as his mouth curled around the hot-dog. The guy watched Tony’s co-worker with an amused yet maybe aroused kind of smile. “Seriously, this is hot to you, Sam?” Bucky chuckled, swallowing his mouthful before sticking his finger in his mouth and sliding it back out with a pop.

Sam licked his lips but rolled his eyes. “You’re an asshole, you know that right?”

Bucky nodded and gently smacked Sam’s cheek. “You love it. Where are we going?”

Sam took a quick bite of his food and looked off towards the front doors. “That is for me to know and for you to find out later.” The comment ended with him poking his finger into Bucky’s arm.

Tony hadn’t ever seen his co-worker so ok with being touchy-feely. In fact, he seemed more than just ok with it.

Bucky wasn’t even hesitant about snatching Sam’s hands away from his hot-dog and curling their fingers together, elbows resting on the counter as they swayed. “So you don’t know what we’re doing, that’s what you mean. Right?”

An annoyed sigh broke free from his partners mouth. “I have plans. I always have plans. You’re the one who just makes date night up as you go along.” He pointed one of his fingers to the best of his ability with Bucky’s gripped nearby.

Sam pulled away slightly but gave Bucky’s hands one more playful squeeze. “Anyway, I gotta go but I’ll see you later. Love ya, B.” He quickly gave Bucky a kiss on the cheek and started to let go his hands.

“Love you too.” Bucky’s response was far more mumbled and shy than Sam’s. Tony figured that he might even be blushing from the way he tried to linger their grip as Sam took off with his own hot-dog.

With Sam gone, Tony slid his way over with the biggest smirk.

“Shut-up, Tony.”

“I haven’t even said anything.”

“Keep it that way.” Bucky shoved past him and began his routine with the broken butter dispenser. It had been funny for the first half of their shift but now it was just sad.

“That’s pointless and you know it.” Tony rolled his eyes and shoved Bucky away with his hip and finally got his hands on the machine. “Listen, I won’t say much but...that soft little ‘I love you’ was a new side of cute for you.”

Bucky growled. “Stop talking.”

“Are you embarrassed?” Tony teased, turning around to face him. “What was with that stunt show, anyway? I thought you hated the guy when he walked in. You managed to fool even me.” His arms crossed.

“It’s just something we do.” Bucky shrugged, not knowing how else to explain it. The thing he had with Sam was so unlike any other relationship he’d ever experienced and he’d like to keep the details to himself. So, he would just have to do what he does best. Which was deal with his annoying co-worker in the only way possible, shift the attention away from himself and onto Tony.

“You’re just jealous cause you’re alone and sad.” He mocked a pout and flipped one of the flimsy red & gold cups in the air. “-And don’t you dare get all mopey about it cause you sure as hell could do something about it but you don’t.” He spoke just before Tony could open his mouth to complain and smacked the cup mid-air to whack him.

The empty theater memorabilia bounced off his head and thumped against the glossy floor with a satisfying hollow pop.

Tony didn’t seem to have any more energy left as he stared at it for a solid thirty seconds of silence before walking off. Defeat caved his back in slightly and slouched his stance as he went off to bother someone else.

Bucky felt conflicted but decided to look forward to his own date night rather than take on Tony’s issue just yet.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Tony was equal parts excited and horribly confused when Bruce Banner rolled into the theater, alone and on a Monday night. His brows shot into the air and hid behind his falling strands of brunette hair.

Bruce approached with slow caution and with his usual confused expression. “I thought you didn’t work Monday nights?”

“I always work Monday nights, genius.” Tony chuckled and fiddled with his fingers.

“Oh shit.” Bruce smacked his forehead and began to rub his fingers against it with intensity.

“Woah, woah-buddy.” Tony wagged his hands around. “Why were you trying to avoid me? Is it about our last conversation because I’ve been meaning to talk to you-”

“No, no. It’s not that, Tony!” He interrupted his friend with a genuinely kind grin. “You know that you can always talk to me about your problems with your dad, right? I didn’t mean to make you think that I was on ‘his side’. I was just trying-”

Tony felt that familiar rush of embarrassment that came with talking openly about his problems but he smiled. “I know, Bruce-baby.” He reached out to pinch his cheek and got smacked away. Bruce’s face begged him to actually be serious. “I know. I’m thankful.” The tiny towel flung with his hand gestures.

“Anyway, I’m surprised that you left your house. Why is Bruce Banner showing up to the theater? And alone?”

Bruce opened his mouth but never got the chance to speak because a happy looking blonde darted up behind him from the direction of the ticket stand.

‘Thor?’

“Thor?” Tony was beyond confused now and Bruce had taken to hiding his face in his hands when the blonde bounded over.

“Stark!” Thor tipped his chin in greeting.

Tony had basically known the same group of guys since he was little. First grade was when he palled around with Bruce, Thor, Clint, Natasha and Steve. They were each others ‘classroom’ friends.

Tony had Rhodey, who was his best friend that got put into a different class.

Steve talked about his best friend Bucky nearly every day who had tragically gone to a different school.

Thor used to just talk to everybody.

Clint & Natasha had been the only two ‘real’ friends in that group. They were scary. Like twins. Tony got chills just thinking about it.

Since the 1st grade, they had all just grown-up around each other & in the same schools. Some stayed kinda close and others didn’t. Tony wasn’t bitter about any of it, not at all.

He had not been aware that Bruce was even regularly speaking to Thor again.

“Oh wow.” He blinked slowly and habitually started preparing the usual snacks ordered by their customers. Two sodas and a large popcorn. “What are the two of you doing here tonight?” He attempted to throw Bruce an amused look but the guy was too embarrassed to make eye contact.

“We’re on a date!”

Tony nearly choked.

Thor’s voice was laced with excitement until he glanced down at his partner. “Unless...you didn’t want to call it that-because then of course, we’re just hanging out or..?-”

Bruce tried to be subtle about the way he tugged gently on Thor’s sleeve but Tony was just able to catch it. “No-um....yes-yeah.” Bruce struggled through his words at first but finally glanced up. “We’re on a date.”

Tony would literally applaud Bruce on his ability to overcome his habit of anxiety over such things but he didn’t think Bruce would like that very much.

“Why don’t you go get our seats and I’ll bring back the snacks?” Bruce tugged on Thor’s sleeve again and the big dork nodded, patting his friends arm as he left.

When the blonde was a good distance away, Tony leaned over and shook his friend by the shoulders. “Look at you! Wow. I’m so proud...yet so...” He leaned back with his arms crossed “Jealous.”

His friend blushed and slapped his hand against his cheek to cover it.

“And not to mention, confused?” He added.

“I’ve been tutoring Thor.” Bruce tried to clarify. “Since the end of Junior year.”

“Why didn’t I know this?”

“I don’t know! I just didn’t...-I...” He shrugged. “I didn’t think it was that big of a deal but then Thor...” He looked in the direction the guy took off in. “Well, he’s expressed an interest in...me?”

“Don’t sound so confused Bruce. You’re a catch.” Tony winked but tried to get his point across with honesty. “I can’t say this hasn’t completely thrown me off but don’t sell yourself short. You’re a great guy. Hell, I would’ve dated you Freshman year if you asked.”

Bruce rolled his eyes and stole a piece of popcorn from the container Tony slid over. “That’d be a disastrous relationship.” He chuckled and Tony pretended he was offended. “I just don’t know.” Bruce laid his chin in his hand and sighed.

“You’re on a date with a wonderful, blonde, jock. who seems to really like you. Just enjoy it.” Tony thought it best not to let his bitterness drip into his tone at all.

Bruce shrugged. “How are you doing?”

‘Typical of him to switch subjects’. Tony didn’t feel like masquerading with dramatics, so he gave an honest sigh. “It is what it is, Bruce. The old man...” His sentence faded into a far off thought while his hand hung loosely in the air. “Will be here to pick me up after my shift and for the first time in a long time...I don’t even feel like gettin’ his goat. I’m too tired to argue tonight.”

Bruce’s face suggested that he wanted to talk some more but it also expressed a loud eagerness to return to Thor. So, Tony shoved the snacks over and cracked a small smile.

“Enjoy your date.”

Bruce wandered off with a mixture of emotions brewing but that was nothing new. ‘God, just hope the guy lets go and has some fun.’ Tony wished Bruce well but couldn’t help but feel hopelessly jealous that everyone seemed to be getting into a relationship but him.

The blonde jock that he had his eyes on was never going to make a move.

Life sucked.

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leal-5 · 5 years

Text

Tomb Of Time and Destiny: Chapter 8, Part 1

A/n: this chapter was too long so I had to make it two parts

Erza

Two hours later, We pulled off the trail in a small clearing, beside a boulder, and allowed the three men behind us to thunder past. I slid down off the horrible saddle and turned back to the Castor, Juvia doing the same. Throughout the entire ride I could feel that Castor was itching to sprint full speed with me, but he knew he couldn't when I was on that stupid sidesaddle.

“Sorry buddy,” I sighed in english while stroking him.

“It's a shame we can't just ditch the side saddles.” Juvia muttered.

I blinked. “Who says we can't?”

Juvia looked at me in surprise, before cracking a grin. “We Bellum women are audacious aren't we? Let's show them just how audacious we can be”

I eagerly turn back to Castor and grab hold of the leather strap, unhooking the first buckle, then the second, sliding the saddle from Castor, Juvia doing the same to Pollux.

I heard the men shout, come to a halt, and then turn back.

Jellal began turning to us, “We shouldn't stay here for much longer. This hill is Phantom Lord territory at the mo- what are our doing?.”

I couldn't help but grin wickedly. “We’re going to show you,” I said, heaving the saddle behind the boulder and covering it with a huge, fallen branch, “how we ride in Bellum.”

“You can’t do that-“

“We are holding you back, right?” Juvia said, Pollux's reins still in her hand. “Admit it. Juvia and Erza are holding you back.”

He returned glanced at Juvia, then back to me. “Yes, you are holding us back. As we told you you would.”

“Well, we can fix that,” we said at the same time, turning away from him so we could place both hands on the backs of our horses. We began to count, bouncing on our feet a little to gain momentum on each count.

“One,”

“Two,”

“What do you mea-”

“Three!”

With a mighty push, Juvia and I lift ourselves over our horses while simultaneously throwing our right leg over their back, leaving Jellal with his mouth hanging open in shock. Normally, his was a difficult maneuver to pull off, but Juvia and I made it look easy.

“Now, we can ride,” I said, unable to hide my smile. I squeezed Castors flanks with my heels, and we leaped forward.

I allowed my grin to spread and Juvia could not resist her laughter as we passed the other men, their mouths agape. This is how we were taught to ride-without a saddle at all. It felt familiar, comfortable.

‘Yeah, you boys have never seen anyone like us. You know it. I know it. Wait until you get a load of all four of us together.’ The very idea of it made me laugh out loud.

I leaned close to Castors ear, “Take me to where we first met.” I whispered, somehow certain that he would understand.

“Erza,” I look to my left to see Jellal who had caught up with us. “Slow down, the others need to catch up.” Looks like Castor and Pollux are faster, if not the fastest, horses here.

I pulled on the reins, bringing Castor down to a trot and then to a complete halt, Juvia copying my movement. Surprised, Jellal passed us and then turned around, pulling to a halt in front of me.

‘What? He thought I wouldn't be able to stop? What does he take me for? An idiot?’

He arms crossed casually in front of him, regarding me with new, curious eyes. “So that is how Bellum women ride?”

“Better than that silly saddle,” I said, jutting out my chin.

The other men arrived then, surrounding us, averting their eyes from my bare thighs due to my hitched skirt and Juvia's bare legs.

“Are we near the tombs?” Juvia pressed. “Where you found us?”

“They are over there,” Gray said, pointing straight ahead. I noticed how Gray struggled to swallow when he accidentally glanced down at Juvia's legs. ‘Huehuehue’

“You really think we shall find your sisters among the tombs, like we found you?” Natsu asked.

I shrugged. “It’s as good a guess as any, right?”

Jellal remained where he was, still staring at me.

‘Oh my gosh, could he be a little less hot? He belonged in some teen-girl magazine. Movies. Book cove- WAAH STAY ON TASK ERZA!!’

“Well, come along then,” he said, nudging his horse forward. I took my original place, beside Juvia in between the two groups three. We surged ahead at a far faster pace than the morning’s, then abruptly swerved right on another narrow road.

We hadn’t gone a quarter mile when all of a sudden both Castor and Pollux stopped an refused to move forward.

“What's wrong Pollux?” Juvia gently asked. Pollux merely whinnied and shook his mane.

“Come on Castor.” I said nudging him lightly with my heel, but Castor just trotted lightly in place, refusing to take another step forward.

Sensing that we weren't behind them anymore, Jellal, Gray, and the other rider in front of us stopped as well. Frowning Jellal looks at Castor, then motions at Gajeel, Natsu and the other guy behind us to scout ahead. I frowned in confusion but I didn't question anything. Castor and Pollux have done nothing but protect us so there must've been a reason for their behavior. The three men divided and surged past, then turned around and headed back toward us.

It was then that I saw them. Phantom Lord men. There had to be at least fifteen of them. They shrieked a war cry and bent lower, seemingly moving in slow motion. Jellal paused beside me as everyone else but Gray took off, in flight.

“Erza, you and your sister must ride hard,” he said urgently, his blue eyebrows lowered in urgency. “Faster than ever before. Gray and I will guard you both from behind.”

I nodded and wheeled my horse around, biting my lip as I dug my heel into Castor's sides. He gave us a head start before he began to follow, keeping himself between us and our pursuers. Where had the others gone?

Just as I finished that thought, we raced past both Gajeel and Natsu, who both looked ready for a brawl based on their grinning faces. I glanced over my shoulder at Jellal and glimpsed a trace of a smile on his lips.

Thirty paces farther, when we met the final two men, they pulled ahead of us, then reached over to grab our reins, slowing us down to a halt. Then they quickly dismounted and pulled us off our horses and hid us behind a massive limestone boulder.

“Please remain here.” One of them said before going back to his mount, grabbing a large sack and tossing it behind the boulder where we were, probably to make the horse lighter.

I swallowed as I heard the pounding of hoofbeats approaching, the sound of roaring fire and metal clanging. The cry of one man, the guttural groan of another.

They stood a few feet away, swords unsheathed. A sort of, final line of defense for us. Surely enough, a few moments later arrived four Phantom Lord men and they immediately clashed with two of them, striking and parrying blows repeatedly. The other two unmounted and began to look around near the boulder where we were hidden.

“No!” Grounded out one of Jellal's men, struggling to shove past his opponent. Juvia looked at me with wide frightened eyes. Panicking, I reached down and fumbled with the sack the knight had tossed over earlier, desperate for anything to use as a weapon. A cup, even. But instead, inside were two extra swords. Juvia looked like she was going to cry with relief.

We knew how to wield a sword- our old guardian made a big deal of us learning for some reason- but, it had been a while since we’d actually practiced. Well, at least it wasn't a bow and arrows, that was more Levy and Lucy's thing. Especially Levy, since most of the time the swords were bigger than she was.

We each hesitantly grabbed a sword, testing its weight. It was definitely heavier than the ones we practiced with, but given our unusual strength it wasn't anything we couldn't handle.

A twig snapped ahead of us, startling me so much I nearly dropped the sword. There he two Phantom Lord men paused, slightly surprised to see two females, before one of them let out a low laugh, clearly amused at the sight of swords in our hands.

Juvia POV

Both men charged forward, clearly deeming us unthreatening whatsoever. When they got close enough they raised their swords, intending to strike us down in one hit. Erza and I sighed dramatically and closed our eyes tiredly. I was kind of getting tired of these people thinking we didn't know anything just because we’re girls.

“Mistake number one,” I said, eyes flashing open. Erza and I calmly took a side step to the left as they brought their swords down, missing us completely and leaving them hunched over beside us in confusion. We slammed the hilt of our swords on the small of their back so that they fell completely on the ground. “Never underestimate your opponent.”

Leaving our backs to them, we took a few calm steps ahead of them. “Mistake number two,” Erza began. We both abruptly stop and whirl around, already expecting a sneak attack by the two soldiers. I raise my sword just as Erza raises her armored arm, blocking their attack with ease. “Never be predictable.”

They stared at us with such shock that their grip on their swords slackened a little.

"And mistake number three,” We whispered, leaning close so that they could hear us better. “Never let your enemy gain the upperhand”

And with that, I twisted my sword under then over his and jerked it upwards, causing it to go flying into the air. Erza did the same basic movement, but with her arm. We caught the swords as they came back down and pointed all our swords right at their throats.

They were gawking so hard at us I swear I could see the bottoms of their throats. They scrambled back and dashed into the woods.

“Tch. Cowards.” Erza muttered, but not fighting the smile that slowly formed on her lips.

I grinned at her. “Erza-chan was a total badass.”

I snickered when she blushed, embarrassed.

“Erza?!”

“Juvia?!”

Our eyes widen as we recognized the voices of Jellal and Gray. Without a second thought, we shoved our swords back into their original place and tossed the Phantom Lord swords into some bushes. I mean, these guys already thought we were weird, and to see us with swords in both our hands would probably give them a heart attack.

Not two seconds later, they came tearing through like a bunch of wild animals. Panic grew in their eyes when they couldn’t locate us near the boulder. A twig snapped beneath my weight and they immediately turned in our direction, their hands raised and glowing threateningly. They visibly relaxed when they realized it was us.

“Are you alright?” Gray asked me as he approached, his eyes surveying me for any signs of injury, Jellal doing the same to Erza beside me.

“N-no! Juvia and Erza are fine!” I smiled hesitantly to prove my point. Gray just looks away with a nod.

“You hid, good job.” Jellal compliments with a nod towards the bushes where we were standing.

‘Right.’ Erza and I smiled nervously. ‘That's exactly what we did…’

We walked back out to the clearing. When the two men that hid us looked up and saw that we were unharmed they rushed to us with apologies.

"Please forgive us!"

"We should've done more to protect you!"

Our eyes widened and we took a nervous step back as they bow before us on their knees.

"N-no! Juvia thinks you both did marvellously!" I exclaimed, waving my hands frantically in a attempt to get them to stand up.

"We couldn't have asked for a better knights to guard us. You did your absolute best! It was four against two, the odds where against you!" Erza bends over and places a hand on one of the knights shoulders, and I do the same for the other. They stared at us in surprise as we tugged them up. Once standing, we step back and we bow to them just like I had done earlier, at the waist with a hand over our heart.

"We are indebted to you." We murmured. Why do we thank people like this? Well, it was how our foster parent had taught us. Same foster parent that insisted that we learn how to wield a sword- or bow and arrow for Lucy and Levy. She was a weird lady....

We straightened and gave them a reasuring smile, oddly, both knights faces were flushed deep red and they refused to look us in the eye. Erza and I blinked and glanced at each other in confusion. 'Is it something we said?'

Gray clears his throat. "We're very sorry to interrupt but, we need to head back. It won't be long before reinforcements arrive."

I tried not to let my disappointment show. "Of course, Juvia understands."

The ride back was quiet. I nearly cried when they made us ride on the sidesaddle back.

"People will speak endlessly about it if you come riding in like that." Jellal said when they brought a very worried Castor and Pollux back.

'Oh puh-lease! We all know you just don't want anyone seeing Erza's bare thighs like that!' I giggled darkly into my palm.

Erza POV

"Happy thoughts?"

I blinked at looked at Natsu who gave me a cheeky grin. We were currently in the dining room with everyone. Jellal and Gray were sitting beside their father telling them how everything had gone, meanwhile Natsu had taken a seat beside me while Gajeel had taken a seat beside Juvia, who seemed the only person who wasn't intimidated by him. In fact, she seemed to be teasing him! She was smiling softly while lightly tugging at his hair, Gajeel was trying to look annoyed but his hunched shoulders and the slight blush creeping up his neck said otherwise.

"Yeah, I was just thinking about my family." I responded with a smile.

"Oh, What are they like? Your sisters?" He asked curiously. I blinked. 'What are Lucy and Levy like?'

"Well, they're the sweetest people I know and also one of the toughest and most stubborn."

Natsu laughed "So they're like you and Juvia, huh?"

I blinked. "I suppose so...." I said softly, looking down at my food as a wave of emotions hit me. I missed them and I worried about them. We have always been together. This is the longest we've ever been apart from each other. I glanced at Juvia and saw that she was feeling the same as me. "I'm kind of tired, I think I'll go to bed."

Natsu furrowed his eyebrows but nodded in understandingly. We bidded everyone goodnight and practically fled to our rooms, both of us thinking the same exact thing.

'We're going to that tomb tonight. No matter what.'

Juvia POV

“Should we leave them a note?” I whispered. It was very late, possibly two in the morning.

“What would we write? ‘We’ve snuck off the premises and back onto Phantom Lord territory to go to the tombs to look for our sisters! Thanks for the hospitality!’ It’s best that we go now and look for them, hopefully if they're there we can jump back to our own time and these kind people will forget about us.”

“Juvia supposes you’re right…” I said with a sigh.

“Okay, the only thing that we need now is weapons.”

I wasn’t going to argue with that. There was no way we were going out into those woods without swords or something to defend ourselves with!

“There is an armory near the dining room! Juvia has seen it! But, there are a bunch of knights that are roaming about and keeping guard all around this castle, it’ll be tricky to arrive without us getting caught. Juvia suggests that she go alone to retrieve the weapons for us!”

Erza chewed her lip nervously and when she couldn’t think of a better idea herself she nodded in agreement.

“Ten minutes.” I whispered before I set out before quietly shutting the door behind me.

My heart was hammering away in my chest as I came out into the courtyard. Why did I feel guilty!? These kind people were far better off without us complicating their lives. They’d probably be relieved to not have to figure us or our future out. I knew at least one person would certainly be happy to discover I’d disappeared as fast as I had shown up- Ava.

I hid from two knights who appeared to be on guard duty. They walked past me without so much as a glance in my direction. I eased open the Great Hall door and looked around, seeing nothing but empty chairs and tables illuminated by the soft glow of the moon. I tiptoed over to the armory, nearly sobbing when the door creaked on its hinge. Slowly, I dared to look over my shoulder, expecting to see men charging over to me, demanding to know what I was up to. But no one appeared in the deeply shadowed hall.

I open the door the rest of the way. Here, there were indeed many weapons. Swords of varying lengths; longbows and arrows; axes; and horrible, spiky balls-on-chain thingies. I hurried to a wall and pulled two swords down. They were about ten pounds lighter than the one’s we had used earlier so I could move it with more ease. I moved over to a shelf and pulled out two double sheaths that had long, leather straps. It was perfect. In a bit I had one of them wrapped across my chest and buckled at the waist. In the front pocket sheathed a dagger with a seven-inch blade. In the back stowed my broadsword.

As soon as I felt the weight of the weapons, my heart began to slow its frantic pace. I felt stronger, safer. I reached back, practicing my pull a couple times to get a sense of how long it would take to bring it forward, to ward off an attack. I looked down and saw that the dagger could be positioned the opposite way, too. I switched it around, and now I could simultaneously pull the dagger out with my left hand and the sword with my right.

I grinned. ‘It’s perfect for Erza and Juvia.’

I pulled a cape over my shoulders and had just picked up all of the extra stuff for Erza when Gajeel's large and scary looming figure appeared in the doorway.

His eyes widened in surprise. “Juvia?”

“Oh, Gajeel-san!” I said, tightening my fist around the edges of my cape in front of me. ‘Remember Juvia! This is the same man who confessed that he had a thing for cats earlier at the dining table!’ I nearly snickered at the thought. “You almost frightened Juvia.”

“What are you doing in there?”

“Juvia is lost,” I sputtered. “Juvia was in search of the kitchen, hoping to get a…drink.”

“A drink? Why not send a servant?”

“It’s late. Juvia didn’t want to bother anyone. Could you show Juvia where to go?” I opened my eyes wide, hoping they said innocence and not liar, liar, pants on fire.

He seemed to buy it. “Sure. It’s this way, in back.” He turned and started walking in the other direction and I scurried to catch up.

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