A Nameless Dragon

MCU (Focus on Sam, Valkyrie, Loki, Bucky, Steve) fic writer. She/her. Dogs and cats and dragons. Here be a whump lover. wip masterlist / AO3 / buy me a coffee

[anamelessdragon]

wip masterlist

currently posting

Cold Frame - Post-Endgame, but in a universe that pretty much literally ignores everything in canon that phased out previous characters. A mostly-dead Loki shows up face-planted in Bucky’s garden one day while Steve’s over for lunch.

broking power - sequel to unjust means, the tfatws rough and dirty bucky noncon/whump hurt/comfort fic I wrote for a friend right after watching ep1x03. This one is launching off of that one post-series and is going to be longer, plottier, and more brutal (though also have more comfort after everything).

State of Shock - TFATWS but with Bucky paroled in an AI shock collar.

Whumptober 2025 - various hastily written prompts, more a fun challenge to myself than anything. Will focus on Valkyrie, Sam, Bucky, and Loki and will include original concepts and dips into universes of some of my already completed fics.

on hiatus/unfinished

In Cold Blood - Sequel to Ground Beneath Your Skin. Gen, Loki and Bucky-centric. A post-HYDRA experimentation fic where they try to move into the Avengers Compound for safety and to band against a common enemy. Cue trauma-drama-infused interpersonal relationships.

Turn Your Ear to the Sky - Whump prompt request, which I’m turning into the sequel to Turn the Noose of War. Gen, Steve & Loki & Gamora, though might get shippy. Steve, Gamora, and Loki have made it to Earth after their escape from Sanctuary and Asgard. The mentally and physically battered trio try to make contact with the relevant authorities on Earth to warn them about Thanos. Well, mostly Steve does. After the attack in New Mexico, SHIELD already has big reasons to be wary of weird aliens. And the aliens are just as wary of SHIELD, especially considering the very important fact that Loki hasn’t told anyone concerning his last dealing with Earth.

in progress but unposted

Untitled Sequel to Every Moment We Teeter - The Revengers deal with Thanos. But he’s not the big issue. The big issue is that reality seems to be becoming...a bit unhinged. Someone broke the universe. Loki has a feeling he knows exactly how it got that way. (Like its predecessor - possibly even moreso - this one will get dark.)

Untitled Sequel to A man with a metal arm walks into a bar... 

Convulsion - 3rd Bound in Oblivion fic - apparently I’m not Done (also it’s...very possibly going to involve Sakaar, because MY BRAIN)

[anamelessdragon]

The Puppy Raising Hiatus has officially concluded.

I have a five and a half day staycation weekend starting the 21st of this month and when I tell you I am absolutely determined to post an update of every. Single. Fic. During the course of it. Yeah. We’re back, baby.

[anamelessdragon]

State of Shock | Chapter 32 | 2.8k

by NamelessDragon (@anamelessdragon)

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Excerpt:

It was the sound of the breathing that always raked through Walter Emerson first; effortful stridor and wheezing, in and out, scraping through damaged tissues. It made his own throat and lungs feel a little like they were shriveling up.

The sounds weren’t unfamiliar at this point. They weren’t even as bad as they’d been when he’d been first recalled back to the project - after entire weeks of assuming that part of his life was over, that Barnes had been marked contained if not reformed and released to the general public, and Walter could take the money he’d received and put it towards good use somewhere else.  

But Barnes hadn’t cooperated. He hadn’t been discharged. And the project, and thus Walter’s work on said project, had been extended indefinitely. 

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Bucky's pardon requires that he wear an artificially intelligent shock collar as a term of his release. Bucky accepts, knowing it's his only chance to get out and do some good in the world.

Unfortunately, there are plenty of people ready to severely misuse that power.

A retelling of TFATWS.

Pairings/Characters: Bucky Barnes & Sam Wilson, appearances by the general TFATWS cast

Warnings: Chapter 32 - torture and trauma

Author's Note: Hello all! I went out of town for work in February, and then as soon as I came back, adopted a 6 month old puppy. XD I've had several dogs and fostered many more, but got them all when they were already older, and I was obsessive about raising this one to be a Good Boy, so he took up a lot of free time and attention for socialization. But he's nearly 9 months now and already a lovely gentleman, and I am officially officially back to writing again - though I am also taking a side tangent into a different set of fandoms (the Project Hail Mary/Iron Lung crossover crackship, of all things) under a different account.

Another "flashback" chapter here. Warnings for black site treatment.

Read on AO3.

[anamelessdragon]

Wearing my “All Hail King Valkyrie” shirt at the gym while Immigrant Song plays over the speakers and feeling an intense spark. Definitely jiving back into my fic writing passion at speed.

[anamelessdragon]

Picked up a new fic writing partner on Sunday.

[anamelessdragon]

Snug bug.

[anamelessdragon]

Picked up a new fic writing partner on Sunday.

[anamelessdragon]

State of Shock | Chapter 31 | 3.4k

by NamelessDragon (@anamelessdragon)

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Excerpt:

The collar was wide, thick, and solid metal. There was no obvious locking mechanism built into the ends where it would clasp shut around his neck.

There was no paperwork for him to sign to take it. No contracts. The hum around him was that of the engines of a landed aircraft and not an energy field bordering thick cell walls. No one was even watching him; he was standing completely alone in a bathroom, staring down at the contents of the black round box he’d been given. 

If he decided that the next thing that he would do with his time was crush the goddamn thing in his vibranium fist and thrust it down the jet’s toilet, no one could stop him.

He knew what the new collar meant; what Zemo wanted him to be in exchange for his help. Zemo’d said he was confident they would find a trail to the recreated serum in Madripoor, which meant a future opportunity to intercept the Flag Smashers, and maybe a better idea of their numbers. So Bucky wasn’t going to do that. 

He swallowed. It didn’t hurt. It hadn’t hurt for more than a day. Wherever Walker was - if he’d been to the prison already, and knew Zemo was missing - he wasn’t triggering it.

“James,” sounded outside the bathroom, raising his attention. “Our entrance into Madripoor has been approved. The escort will be arriving shortly.”

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Bucky's pardon requires that he wear an artificially intelligent shock collar as a term of his release. Bucky accepts, knowing it's his only chance to get out and do some good in the world.

Unfortunately, there are plenty of people ready to severely misuse that power.

A retelling of TFATWS.

Pairings/Characters: Bucky Barnes & Sam Wilson, appearances by the general TFATWS cast

Warnings: Chapter 31 - angst, implied/referenced past torture and trauma, Zemo's motivations being up to interpretation ;)

Back again! Had some major mental things to work through from rough times at the end of last year, but getting a little more back to normal, now. I have more time off upcoming, so I'm hoping to get back to regularly writing on Sundays like I used to.

Will belatedly get around to answering comments on the last chapter soon. Thank you to everyone who left them. <3

Read on AO3.

[anamelessdragon]

Wishing you the very best ❤️

Thank you, anon. Working on providing myself the best. Sort of succeeding. ❤️

[anamelessdragon]

Cold Frame | Chapter 49 | 4.6k

by NamelessDragon (@anamelessdragon)

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Excerpt:

Loki had scarcely stepped foot back into the house he had been recently ousted from when Stark, armorless save for the long brace he kept over his atrophied limb, shot him a look of agitation before issuing his first order. “All right, get over here and give me the low down on your process in withdrawing the energy. And we’re done with the grovelling, Barnes, so stay up this time.”

“Hello to you too, Stark,” Loki greeted, feeling a prickle of nervous unease despite his knowledge of Stark’s reluctance to kill. He felt better physically than he had upon being thrown out, but he was not entirely certain of his own potential against Stark’s technology should there be a second confrontation. 

Not that there was much obvious technology on display in the moment Loki took to glance around. The house contained a distinct lack of Stark’s previously preferred opulence, and instead now favored wood over metal. The furnishings and window coverings were meant to blend in, creating a cohesive, calmly pleasant atmosphere with their earthy tones and muted reds. Loki’s eyes lingered over shelves that were filled to the brim with books of varying sciences, as well as those recognizable as being of a more fictional nature. There were even a few he noted as being the same as some of those he’d read from Bucky’s collection. 

Knowing what he knew now of the origin of Bucky’s house, Loki wondered if the books had been gathered by Bucky himself, or yet another donation from his benefactors. Of course, knowing what he knew now, he was not sure if Bucky would have allowed himself or Loki their use with such ease had they come from Stark and his wife.

Regardless of origin, most of the ones that Loki had been specifically allowed to borrow had been personally destroyed by him alongside most of the living room. And though Bucky had not fled in favor of escaping Loki’s penchant for failure and destruction even and especially when he attempted to do the right thing, the memory of that was another sharp sting.

It crossed his mind that perhaps he could quickly and subtly magic a few of Stark’s books away without notice, when Stark snapped his fingers loudly. “Barnes actually explain to you why I let you back in?”

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A mostly-dead Loki shows up face-planted in Bucky’s garden one day while Steve’s over for lunch. (Throws Infinity War/Endgame deaths and other parts of canon out the window.)

Pairings/Characters: Slow burn Loki/Steve/Bucky, past Steve/Peggy, Sam/Bucky UST, Loki/Sam UST, Loki & Valkyrie friendship, Sam & Valkyrie friendship

Warnings: Chapter 49 - angst, description of injuries, references to past violence, UST

Author's Note: If you had told me when I had started this fic (over five years ago, now!), that not only was I going to be actively ignoring past, but future MCU canon regarding several of these characters, I would not have believed you.

Anyway, that is to say: though hopefully my most recent months-long hiatus is over and I plan on finishing this before the next Avengers movie, but if for some reason I do not, I will keep playing in this sandbox and completely disregard everything else. XD

Read on AO3.

[anamelessdragon]

State of Shock | Chapter 30 | 5k

by NamelessDragon (@anamelessdragon)

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Excerpt:

“You’ve got something?”

“I’ve got something,” Sam confirmed to Joaquín over the phone, squinting into the sun with Zemo’s garage that housed his car collection at his back. So much land, just resting open and unused. All in Zemo’s name. And another change of scenery, about to be left behind as the mission Sam was working took another unexpected turn with another unexpected, unwanted teammate, and one he had managed to convince himself would help fix things instead of spiraling them out of control.

He’d deal with the company, but Sam really missed the days when he’d worked with more people that he got along with than those he didn’t. Missed those people, most of all. Hell, even Scott would be a godsend at that point in time. 

“Not to pry or anything, Sam,” Joaquín said. “But is there a reason you’re sounding like you’re trying to hide the fact that someone just shot you in the foot?”

Sam frowned, hand stalling on its way to dig out his sunglasses. “I don’t sound like that,” he said.

“And you’re not giving me any details,” Joaquín said. “Which is cool, I get it, you’ve got stuff you need to keep under wraps-”

“All right, all right,” Sam said. “I’m good here, no bullet wounds. You just make sure to hang back so no one else tries to cave in your face with super strength.”

“Copy that, no ass whoopings on this side for at least another week. But I’ll keep digging through things. You let me know when you and that really grumpy guy who keeps bumming rides strike paydirt.”

Despite himself, Sam cracked a little bit of a smile. Joaquín was definitely slowly solidifying himself into the Get Along With category, even if the energy the guy could muster up and consistently sustain sometimes made Sam feel like he was fourteen cups of coffee behind. “His name is Bucky.”

“Sergeant Barnes,” Joaquín said, with a notable lack of inflection compared to his usual tone. “Oh, I know his name.”

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Bucky's pardon requires that he wear an artificially intelligent shock collar as a term of his release. Bucky accepts, knowing it's his only chance to get out and do some good in the world.

Unfortunately, there are plenty of people ready to severely misuse that power.

A retelling of TFATWS.

Pairings/Characters: Bucky Barnes & Sam Wilson, appearances by the general TFATWS cast

Warnings: Chapter 30 - angst, implied/referenced past torture and trauma

Author's Note: Happy to be updating this again!

In the interest of flow, I'm taking creative liberties in regards to the placement of Zemo's garage/his jet ie they're on one property, belonging to the Sokovian royal family. (In the show the jet also changes model when on the ground vs in the air. I'm using the in-air model for reference.)

Not sure when the next update will come, but it should be sooner than two months, especially as I'll likely be returning to 2k-3k word chapters.

Read on AO3.

[anamelessdragon]

Random for the usual blog content from me, but YouTube recommended this Christmas-themed dragon villain redemption arc song this morning, which is the uniquely me-catered intersection of interests, so I thought I would post a link to it.

[anamelessdragon]

Finished up a 56 hour workweek, and only working two days this week (tomorrow and Friday), so… hopefully a couple of fic updates coming before the new year.

[anamelessdragon]

RL still RLing, including a recent peaceful but very sorrowful goodbye to the very first dog I’ve ever owned, who showed up one day outside my house out of nowhere and was the best boy anyone could ever ask for. He propelled my passion and helped shape my ability to foster/groom/adopt animals in need and with behavioral issues. He lived until he was almost 18 and was hiking for miles and miles with the pack until about a month before he passed; I can’t ask for a better more extended quality of life, even if I’ll miss him deeply. What a champ of a pup.

I did manage to finish a rough draft for the next chapter of Cold Frame today. Hoping I’ll be able to post over Thanksgiving break or sooner, but still playing catch up with a lot of things financially and working pretty nonstop except for dog walks leading up to the holiday, so that’s not set in stone.

[anamelessdragon]

State of Shock | Chapter 29 | 4.8k

by NamelessDragon (@anamelessdragon)

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Excerpt:

The person who entered Helmut Zemo’s isolated corner of the Berlin Correctional Facility was a most welcome change to his endless days of monotony. 

James Buchanan Barnes, the former first Winter Soldier of HYDRA. A man who had attempted to disappear after his defection from said organization and live out the rest of his life nameless and unknown, until Zemo had flushed him from hiding like an adept hunter seeking a clever fox. 

Steve Rogers had been a man of few weak points for the type of overtaking Zemo had intended to apply to the leader of the Avengers, but in the end, his care for his old friend had been a plain and simple manipulation. 

Zemo considered his actions during that time a full success, even though he had been denied his attempted immediate exit. It was somewhat of a comfort even considering his long sentence to know that death would come to him eventually all the same - he simply had to wait for it. And then, along with all else, the visions of the events that had driven him fully to his calling would finally, blessedly cease.

Yet his acceptance of the wait did not inform his appreciation for it. So it was that when his visitor appeared, he found a deep stirring as his mind was allowed to engage in an assessment and analysis that had for years been relegated to the prison guards, who were much less intellectually enriching.

Externally, there were a few obvious differences in James from their last meeting: he was notably thinner, and his hair was kept in a shorter, clean cut style, though he seemed to prefer as frequent a shaving schedule as Zemo was allowed to enjoy in his incarceration. His clothing was simple, but layered; the most peculiar aspect was a turtleneck, which rested beneath a shirt, which was worn beneath a jacket. 

It was said that the trigger words had been removed from James’ head by the leaders of the nation of Wakanda. Zemo found they fell from his lips easily nonetheless; for even if James was successfully deprogrammed, one would not simply forget the words that had controlled nearly their every waking moment for decades upon decades. 

And it was no small pleasure to imagine the words still held their sway. The wall of Zemo’s cell would not stand up to a vibranium limb; the guards and prisoners alike, however many responded, would not stand up to a super soldier’s reflexes. James could provide an adequate enough diversion while Zemo made his escape. 

Such a daydream could not be sustained for long, but at least there was equal distraction to be found in reality.

James stood before Zemo’s cell unflinchingly, shaking his head in dismissal before Zemo had managed more than a few words. “Those days are over,” he said.

In the next instant, he had moved the fingers of his gloved hand up to delicately slide into the black stretch of fabric that covered his neck, pulling it down just enough to reveal a thin silver glimmer catching in the light.

———————————

Bucky's pardon requires that he wear an artificially intelligent shock collar as a term of his release. Bucky accepts, knowing it's his only chance to get out and do some good in the world.

Unfortunately, there are plenty of people ready to severely misuse that power.

A retelling of TFATWS.

Pairings/Characters: Bucky Barnes & Sam Wilson, appearances by the general TFATWS cast

Warnings: Chapter 29 - angst, implied/referenced past torture and trauma, implied/referenced past minor character death

Author's Note: Still dealing with RL things, but I had a good chunk of this chapter written before the mess and managed to chip away at it until it was complete. I am not expecting to be able to update it again until the December holiday break. But I am very excited for things to come in this story! As always, thanks to everyone who is reading, and we’ll see how much more of this fic I can get out before Doomsday. We’re officially in episode 3 of the series at 100k, so I imagine this fic still won’t be completed by that point. XD

Read on AO3.

[anamelessdragon]

Unfortunately, just got some Very Bad News on the finances front that will severely impede fandom engagement. Not on the I’m-about-to-be-homeless-again level, thank goodness, but I will immediately be on hiatus from everything due to this current RL hardship. Huge bummer, I was having a blast with having both the time for these whumptober prompts and my actual fic.

I’ll see you guys when I see you.

[anamelessdragon]

State of Shock | Chapter 28 | 3.1k

by NamelessDragon (@anamelessdragon)

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Excerpt:

“Bucky, I explicitly wanted a call an hour ago.”

“I was on a plane,” Bucky said to Walker, carefully moderating his tone. He paced on a sidewalk in Berlin with his phone pressed to his ear, glancing back to the sandwich shop where he’d left Sam to make sure he wasn’t finished picking up their food before turning away again. In his other hand was a pen he’d surreptitiously swiped after they’d landed; he rolled it around between gloved fingers. “My phone doesn’t connect to WiFi. I won’t be able to consistently get in contact.”

“Your phone doesn’t…how in the hell did you even find a model like that?”

“I’m calling now,” Bucky said, pausing as he stepped away from a nearby pedestrian and into the street so they wouldn’t overhear him, fluidly retaking the sidewalk once they passed. “We slept and now we’re getting lunch. We’re still looking for a lead.” Not even a lie, at that point in time. He just knew for certain that Zemo would have one.

“I knew Sam’s excuse about having a lack of obstacles from regulations would deliver squat,” Walker said vindictively, and Bucky set his jaw tight at the criticism. “You know things are just going to get worse the longer this gets delayed.”

“We’re working on it,” Bucky insisted.

“Eight super soldiers, Bucky. Eight.”

Bucky felt his face spasm; eight super soldiers at least from a serum that had a high probability of a connection to HYDRA. He didn’t need a reminder of the significance when it was driving his every action. “I know.”

A beat of silence, and then Walker came back with even more frustration in his voice. “Okay, well, fine. This has been extremely unhelpful.” he said, like it wasn’t his decision that Bucky was contacting him before they’d done anything fruitful. “Lemar and I will be back on that side of the world soon enough.” Bucky took that in, knowing that if Walker fully believed in whatever trail he was following at that point, he wouldn’t be so concerned about Sam and Bucky’s. It also meant that Walker was effectively starting a chase a lot earlier than Bucky had expected, even if he wasn’t aware of the need for it yet. “Report in nine hours. Early or on time. That’s an order.”

Walker hung up without another word. Bucky lowered the phone and stared at it, a low smolder building in his chest as he instinctively waited for a buzz at his neck. The collar had definitely heard that last part.

———————————

Bucky's pardon requires that he wear an artificially intelligent shock collar as a term of his release. Bucky accepts, knowing it's his only chance to get out and do some good in the world.

Unfortunately, there are plenty of people ready to severely misuse that power.

A retelling of TFATWS.

Pairings/Characters: Bucky Barnes & Sam Wilson, appearances by the general TFATWS cast

Warnings: Chapter 28 - angst, implied/referenced past trauma

Author's Note: Another chapter! I have a few fun weekend events this month cutting into my usual writing/editing time, so I'm expecting the next chapter (Zemo's POV) won't be up for a few weeks. But I will post it earlier if I can manage.

Read on AO3.

[anamelessdragon]

Whumptober posts and catch up will resume this weekend/Monday as I’ve been handmaking a costume for the Madre’s gremlin for a dog event and costume contest today because apparently that’s something I do now.