A/N: Mini hiatus there whilst I was going through some bother at work. But hopefully being locked in the house for several weeks will encourage me to write.
Summary: The team helps Y/N gain her wings.
Pairing(s): Steve x reader
Warning(s): If you have a fear of heights, maybe don’t read this one.
Y/N felt the wind whistle through her hair as she plummeted down. Her wings did nothing but weigh her down as she let her figure drop with little resistance. She heard Steve call her name from somewhere far away before she hit the ground.
“Why don’t you try flapping those things next time?” Steve asked exasperatedly, offering his hand and pulling her out of the pit full of foam shapes.
“There’s not exactly enough time to do anything,” Y/N replied indignantly. “It’s only a small drop. Besides, my wings were clipped, I’ll never be able to fly properly.”
“I guess that’s my cue,” Tony announced as he sauntered into the training room with an armful of materials. “I took the liberty of crafting some extensions to your wings that may help until your feathers grow back.”
“Mr Stark, I-”
“Call me Tony. And it’s okay, don’t worry about it.”
Y/N’s eyes welled up slightly as she watched Tony lay all the extensions out on the floor and explained what they did.
“I wonder where you could have gotten the idea for a jetpack from,” Sam called sarcastically from the boxing ring before getting hit in the stomach by Natasha.
“I like this one,” Y/N said softly, running her fingers over a thin sheet of plastic with long feather-shaped pockets combing out.
“Oh, that one just goes over your wings and acts as your primary feathers whilst yours are still growing” Tony explained. “Now, are you sure you don’t want a jetpack?”
“I really appreciate you making all of these for me,” Y/N said. “But I think this one is perfect.It’s more… natural.”
Tony shrugged and started packing the rest away. “If you ever change your mind, you know where to find me.”
“Alright, get those things on and let’s go again,” Steve encouraged.
He watched as she buckled the straps over her shoulders and around her stomach, before faltering.
“I can’t reach the ends of my wings to attach it,” she said with a crestfallen look.
“Can I help?” Steve asked carefully, knowing she was still wary about anyone touching her wings.
She hesitated, deliberating the answer, before nodding her head and turning her back to him.
He gently held the plastic and reached for one of the half-grown feathers to attach to the extension. As his fingers brushed against her, she flinched and folded her wings quickly.
“They’re sensitive,” she mumbled, not making eye-contact.
“Sorry, I’ll be more careful,” Steve apologised. He started again, feeding the plastic over the feathers until her left wing was fully covered. “I’m going to touch the other side now,” he warned as he began the process again. He marveled at the feel of the feathers. the longer ones were dry and brittle, but the small ones near the centre were soft and fluffy. He couldn’t help but stroke them timidly. Y/N tensed up and shivered, but didn’t say anything.
“Right, I think I’m finished.” Steve cleared his throat awkwardly and stepped away.
Y/N flexed her shoulders slightly and thanked him, already walking towards the foam pit. She stepped up to the edge of the platform and flapping her wings in preparation. Her feet left the ground and she soared about two feet forward before falling straight down into the foam. She let out a frustrated scream and clambered out angrily.
“What am I doing wrong?” She shouted.
“Hey, it’s okay, you’ll get it eventually.” Steve comforted her. “What was it you said earlier? You don’t have enough time to do anything. I think we can find a solution.”
“I’m not sure about this,” Y/N said nervously, looking down.
She was standing on the helipad of the Tower, staring straight down at the streets of New York beneath. Tony, Rhodey, Sam, and Vision were all waiting in the air, ready to catch her if she fell.
“You’ll be fine, you know they won’t let you get hurt,” Steve encouraged her.
“Yeah, I don’t see you volunteering to go first though,” she muttered in response, edging closer and closer to the edge.
The cold air whipped around her head and she took a deep breathe before spreading her arms and wings, slowly leaning forward until gravity kicked in and pulled her down. It hurt a lot more than she was expecting, the wind pricking her skin and causing tears to blind her. She desperately tried to flap, but it was hard to battle against the pressure.
The others rushed to catch up with her, seeing her struggle. Tony was close, his hand outstretched to grab her, but then her wings fully extended, the wind catching underneath them, causing her to soar off parallel to the ground.
“I’m doing it!” She cried out happily, here voice being carried by the wind. Her wings started to beat harder, lifting her further into the sky. The others watched as she careened through the air, maneuvering with expert precision that was once believed to be lost.
As Y/N finally laughed for the first time in so long, she let all of her fears disappear. The fear that someone would see her. That word would get around about her.
That’s why she didn’t notice the crowd forming beneath her, cameras and phones pointed at her, documenting every move she made before being posted for millions to see. Millions, including one scientist located deep in Northern Russia.
eyA/N: Chapter two is here! No matter what feedback I get, I’ll continue writing this because I have so much love for this story. Also, Tumblr deleted line breaks whilst I was on hiatus, so enjoy the free clipart I’m using instead.
Summary: Steve manages to bring his peculiar pickpocket back to the Tower, but more questions are raised when the rest of the team meets her.
Pairing(s): Steve x reader, a little bit of Bucky x reader
Warning(s): I think mentions of blood.
“What are you?”
The girl winced at the question, averting her gaze. Her shoulders heaved as her wings began to slowly fold in on themselves once more. She watched Steve cautiously as she pulled her coat over her shoulders, roughly shoving the feathers underneath her clothing, trying to hide the pained expression on her face.
“That can’t be good for them,” Steve commented bluntly. “Don’t they hurt?”
She breathed out softly and rose to her feet. “All the time.”
“I can help with that,” he responded eagerly. “I mean- we have doctors that can help with the pain. You won’t have to hide them away.”
“No doctors,” she hissed. “No more doctors.” There was a blaze in her eyes and Steve huffed in defeat.
“Fine, no doctors.” He held a hand out for her and she hesitated. “I won’t hurt you,” Steve reasoned. Her hand slipped into his and he pulled her to her feet.
“Where are you taking me?” Her voice trembled slightly.
“Somewhere safe.”
Bruce didn’t flinch when the girl removed her shirt, letting her wings stretch out before settling into a more comfortable position. It had taken a some convincing to get her to follow Steve back to the Tower, and even more to get her to agree to an examination - although, surprisingly, she didn’t seem deterred by his complexion and stature. She had clearly been hurt before, both the marks on her body and the uneasy look in her eye as Bruce tenderly washed her feathers gave it away.
“What’s your name?” Bruce asked softly, careful not to be too rough as he wiped the dirt off of her skin.
“I think- I think it was Y/N,” the girl replied hesitantly. “But no one’s called me that in a long time.”
“Would you like us to call you Y/N?” Bruce questioned.
The girl nodded and smiled slightly, not making eye contact.
The two of them were silent for a long time after that. Bruce continued examining her, asking for permission with his eyes before touching her. The tension in the air had dissipated and Bruce could tell that she was feeling more comfortable with the situation. Pride seeped into his head and heart; knowing his presence was appreciated by someone who seemed so fragile.
“How’s everything coming along?” Steve asked softly as he walked into the lab with Tony and Mantis. Y/N recoiled at the sound of him, allowing Bruce to swiftly wrap a hospital gown around her to cover her modesty.
“I’ve just taken some small samples, I’m about to run tests if Y/N’s happy to let you guys stick around.” Bruce looked at her expectantly and she gave him a tiny shrug.
“Y/N? That’s your name?” Steve asked, but she only glared back at him in response.
“You have pretty wings,” Mantis said innocently. “Like a bird.” She walked over to Y/N slowly with a dazzled expression.
“Mantis,” Bruce warned, but Y/N just watched as she came closer, reaching a hand out to stroke the feathers.
“I heard them talking about you and I wanted to help. You don’t have to be scared anymore,” she continued, ignoring Bruce. Mantis’ hand gently brushed her fingers against the wings.
She screamed.
It was a harsh and anguished scream, that caused tears to spontaneously fall from her pain filled eyes. She ripped her hand away and collapsed to her knees sobbing. The others watched on in horror as she continued to cry, her fingernails digging into the flesh on her arms as she hugged herself. Y/N merely looked on with a sad and apologetic expression. “What are you?” Mantis wept.
“What are you?” Bruce muttered as he peered through the microscope. He’d been alone in the lab for the past four hours now, going over the results from his previous tests. Y/N had gone to bed, trusting him when he told her that she’d be safe for the night.
“Still hard at work?” Tony teased, placing a coffee cup on the desk.
“Thanks,” Bruce murmured, not tearing his gaze away from the samples. “I need to borrow your eyes for a second.”
Tony stooped over and glanced into the microscope. “That’s Y/N’s DNA?”
“Yep,” Bruce confirmed. “What’s your take on it? Because I’ve been racking my brain all night and I really want someone to tell me it’s not what I think.”
“Bruce, it looks like someone dumped a load of random DNA onto your lens.” The two men shared an uncomfortable silence. “What do you think it means?” Tony asked.
“She’s not human. Not entirely anyway. I want to x-ray her, maybe examine her brain activity and watch reactions to different stimuli. The only problem is she hates doctors. It took almost an hour for her to allow me to use a stethoscope.” Bruce pinched the bridge of his nose with his fingers and sighed tiredly. “It’ll be a long time before she trusts me, or anyone for that matter. I just don’t want her to take off and get herself in any more trouble.”
“Y’know, there is one person who may know how to get through to her,” Tony hinted.
“I’ve tried, Tony, but I don’t know what else to say to her.”
“I actually had someone else in mind.”
“What are you, crazy?” Bucky scoffed.
“No way she’d trust me.”
“It wouldn’t hurt to try, Buck,” Steve encouraged.
“Don’t you wish you had someone to relate to when you were alone?” Bruce added. “You have a chance to be the person you needed all those years ago.”
Bucky groaned but agreed nonetheless. He made his way to the lab where Y/N was waiting and made sure to knock before entering so as not to startle her.
“Hey, uh, I’m Bucky,” he started. “I thought you could use some company.”
“I know why you’re here,” Y/N said bluntly. “You’re here to gain my trust so I let my guard down.”
“Not entirely.” Bucky sat down on the chair next to yours heavily, ignoring her when she jumped a little. “I get it, you’re scared. Too right, I’d be scared too. We’re not a pretty bunch, plus everyone is loud and obnoxious. But I’ll be damned if I said that I didn’t love everyone here like family.”
Y/N remained quiet, her eyes glued to his as he opened up to her in a way he’d never done before.
“Look, doll, I don’t like people touching me; I hate doctors; Hell knows I’ve had enough people prodding and poking at me; but if I can grow to stomach it, then anyone can.”
Y/N nodded slightly, shifting her gaze to the floor.
“Just give them a shot. And if you feel like you need a little nudge, I‘ll be there to support you.”
“Bruce told me about you,” she said timidly.
Bucky stiffened. “What did he say?”
“You were a soldier, a good man, but you were captured by some bad people. They hurt you and made you do bad things. Is that true?”
He clenched his jaw and nodded. “Is that what happened to you?”
“I don’t know,” Y/N responded sadly. “I think I escaped just in time.”
There was a long silence, neither of them comfortable enough to be the first to break it. There was a soft crinkling sound coming from Y/N’s wings, which she had forced underneath a bathrobe. They rustled when she breathed, and Bucky couldn’t help but worry about how much damage she must be doing to them. He thought back to when he was new in the tower, how Steve stopped at nothing to make him feel welcome, how he’d ground him with stories when Bucky had a particularly bad night, and how he would coax him into eating and talking. He knew that that was what Y/N needed, whether they wanted to talk to each other or not.
“I met Steve in 1930, way back when he was a scrappy little kid getting beat up by every asshole in town. I remember seeing him, having his ass handed to him as usual, and having to finish the fight for him. We’ve been fighting each others battles ever since.” Bucky stared at a spot on the wall directly in front of him, not daring to look if Y/N was listening. “There was one time he practically ran in front of a car to avoid going on a date I’d set him up on. Then I had to break the news to this poor girl that her date for the evening would rather break a rib and three fingers, than go to the pictures with her.”
Bucky continued his stories until the first hint of daybreak shone through the drawn curtains. Never, in nearly eighty years, had he talked so much. But he needed someone to talk to, and Y/N needed someone to listen to. As Bucky eventually finished retailing his life story, he finally glanced over at the girl next to him. She was beaming and bright-eyed, dry tears shimmering on her cheeks. She reached out slowly and clasped both her hands around his prosthetic one, bringing it up to her face and brushing it gently against her lips.
“Thank you.”
“Are you ready, Y/N?” Tony asked.
“I’m ready,” she confirmed, stretching her wings out completely.
Bruce and Tony stood behind a glass panel on the other side of the room as the x-ray hummed and flashed. Y/N’s face flickered nervously, but she stayed perfectly still until the machines died down.
“That didn’t hurt at all,” she remarked, as the men stepped back around the glass.
“It’s not supposed to,” Bruce told her. “You know I’ll tell you if something will hurt.”
She nodded solemnly and relaxed as he placed a blood pressure cuff around her bicep.
“This will pinch just a little, just keep your arm still and tell me if it’s too much.” He smiled at her reassuringly as the cuff began to tighten. "Your heart rate is incredibly high." Bruce stared at the numbers on the monitor, not quite sure what to make of them.
"How high?" Tony called from the computer as he processed the x-rays.
“About 300 beats per minute,”
Tony stared at him in shock, and his impression didn’t change when he looked at the images printed in from of him. “You need to take a look at this too.”
“Y/N,” Bruce said slowly after studying the pictures for a while. “What are you?”
“I don’t understand,”
“Your bones,” Tony interjected. “They’re hollow. What’s up with that?”
She shrugged. “I guess it has something to do with the experiments they did on me.”
“Who’s ‘they’?” Bruce pressed.
“The bad doctors from Hydra.”
“I thought Hydra weren’t a threat anymore,” Steve snapped, rubbing his forehead with his thumb and forefinger.
The gang had gathered in the briefing room after Tony decided that they needed to talk about their new revelation. Wanda had volunteered to take care of Y/N, her reason being that the others were just too scary to look at.
“We don’t know how far this goes, it could be old news,” Sam offered.
“Nothing mentioned anything like this when I hacked into their database,” Natasha quipped. “I think someone would have noticed a segment where they created human/bird hybrids.”
“Please don’t call her that, we’re trying to make her feel welcome,” Steve complained. “The best we can do is keep her safe, no doubt if Hydra exist, they’ll want her back.”
“Maybe we could just ask her what she knows?”
“It’s not much, she barely remembered her own name. Plus, I don’t know how willing she’d be to relive that whole experience,” Bruce told them.
“She hurts all the time,” Mantis said shakily. “It was hard to focus on anything when I touched her. It was just so much pain.”
“Y/N needs our help,” Steve stated. “We can figure out if Hydra are still operating by ourselves. If and when Y/N feels more adjusted, we can find out if she remembers anything that could help us.”
“Russia.” There was a voice at the door. Everyone turned to see Wanda and Y/N, the latter was standing strongly with her wings free from a t shirt she had cut holes into. “There was another base in Russia, completely off the books, run by a small team of scientists who trafficked homeless children and spliced their DNA with animals, aliens, and mutants. The test subjects that survived the procedures were then experimented on and forced to engage in combat to kill off any weaker specimens. They would then start again and improve their methods.”
“I accidentally brought back all of her memories when I was searching in her head,” Wanda explained quietly.
“It’s okay,” Y/N reassured her, “I’m tired of running.”
“Y/N, you don’t have to do this now-” Steve started, but she cut him off.
“I need to. I can’t let them carry on. I- I owe it to the kids that are still there.” A tear escaped from the corner of her eye, but she quickly wiped it away and looked up at Steve boldly. “What do you need to know?”
“Do you remember where this facility is?” Y/N shook her head. “Okay, then we need to retrace your steps from when you escaped.”
“All I remember is running out into the snow and not seeing anything else. I just walked in one direction until I reached civilisation. Then I hopped on a train, then another, then another. I eventually ended up on a cargo ship that brought me here, and I’ve been living on the streets ever since.”
Wanda placed a hand on Y/N’s shoulder and, much to everyone’s surprise, she leaned into it and accepted the hug.
The meeting adjourned after a few introductions and sympathy glances. Steve stayed behind to tidy up the mess that his teammates always seemed to leave behind, but was surprised to see that Y/N was still stood there watching him.
“Hey, Y/N, is there something I can help you with?” He asked, clearing the coffee mugs off the table.
“I just wanted to apologise for stealing your wallet the other day. I did some pretty crappy things to survive that I’m not proud of. I just hope you don’t judge me too much.”
“It’s okay, I ran the same scam back in the 40s. Also, you kinda robbed me twice.”
“Bucky told me,” she grinned. “And I robbed you twice? Damn, I must have been losing my touch. I’m glad I let you catch me, I would have left you penniless.”
“Excuse me? I caught you, fair and square.”
“Whatever helps you sleep at night, grandpa.”
He barked a laugh, acknowledging how she’d inched closer to him. “Okay, fine, it was a pretty even race. Especially since you have an unfair advantage of being able to fly if I got too close.
Y/N’s smile faltered and she took a step back, folding her arms across her chest defensively. “I can’t fly. Not anymore at least. They clipped my wings right before I escaped, I think so they could see if I was still useful. I’ve been too scared to try since, I don’t want to blow my cover.”
“You’re safe here,” Steve guaranteed. “On the bright side, you’re surrounded by people that can help you.”
A/N: I’m back after over a year’s hiatus, and this time I’ve got both my first Marvel fic, and my first series. Think of it as a peace offering for being gone for so long.
Pairing(s): Steve x reader
Summary: Steve won’t let a common pick-pocket take off with his wallet, but this is no ordinary thief.
Warnings: Slight mention of blood.
Steve breathed in the city air as he went for his regular stroll through Manhattan. The baseball cap was a surprisingly effective disguise he’d found, and so he utilized it whenever he went out in public. Today was like any other day. He’d see the old sights, grab some lunch from his favourite coffee shop, maybe even head to Central Park to eat - it’d be marginally quieter around this time of year. Then he’d head back to the Tower and switch back into Avenger Mode.
His thoughts were interrupted when he collided with someone on the sidewalk, completely dragging him out of his daydreams and snapping him back into reality.
“I’m so sorry,” he started, looking sheepishly at the small figure he’d just crashed in to.
“No, that was my fault, I’m sorry,” the person said back quietly, not averting their gaze from the pavement. Steve could just about make out a face under the large hood of a winter coat.
The person scurried off in the same direction they’d just come from and Steve lost sight of them in the crowd. He shrugged it off and carried on his journey to the coffee shop just as the first splashes of rain dripped down.
He smiled at the barista as he approached the counter, exchanged formalities and ordered his drink. His polite smile faded a bit when he fumbled for his wallet. Rifling through each of his pockets, he grew more and more concerned when he came up short.
“Damn it,” he cursed through gritted teeth. His mind immediately flew back to his walk earlier. He wasn’t an idiot, he knew that the person he’d bumped into had crashed into him on purpose and pick-pocketed him, hell, he even ran the same play in his youth when times were tough. There was no way he’d find his wallet again, so he dragged himself back to the tower and tried to push the bitterness out of his head.
A couple of weeks later the exact same chain of events played out. Steve was aimlessly wandering down the street and walked directly into someone in a large hooded coat.
“Sorry,” the person muttered and went to walk away, but Steve stuck out his arm to block their path.
A quick rummage through his now empty pockets confirmed his suspicions, but the thief knew he’d caught on and sharply ducked under his outstretched arm and made a break for it.
“Hey, stop!” Steve yelled, instantly taking chase.
The thief was fast, and agile enough to slip through breaks in the foot traffic, but Steve managed to keep up until they made a sudden turn into a narrow alleyway. Steve watched as they jumped onto a large dumpster and started to clamber up a rusty fire escape. Something inside of him snapped and he followed them up the old ladder, shouting incoherently at them as he closed the gap.
Finally, they made it to the roof of the building they were climbing up and Steve slowly took off his hat and squared his shoulders as he stared the assailant down.
“There’s nowhere to run, so just hand me back my money. You know who I am.”
The thief warily looked around for an escape before dropping their head in defeat. Steve relaxed slightly as they retrieved his wallet from their pocket, but then watched in horror as they broke into a sprint towards the edge of the roof and leapt over the alleyway beneath, before landing on the neighboring rooftop and running off again. Steve groaned, but he’d come too far to turn back now, so he continued his pursuit, not flinching when he reached the edge of the building before clearing the gap with little trouble.
The chase continued in that fashion for a while, Steve getting more and more frustrated at each jump. The thief somehow landed on their feet every time and easily carried on running, keeping a steady gap between the two of them. Eventually, they reached the last building on the block and Steve knew he finally had the upper hand. There was nowhere for the pick-pocket to go from here.
“Just take your damn money.” Steve’s wallet landed by his feet. “Please just let me go.”
“You’re not getting off that easy,” Steve growled, the adrenaline from the chase fuelling his frustration. “I’m taking you to the station myself. I want to make sure you don’t get into any more trouble.”
There was a tense silence for a seconds before-
“Hey, stop!”
Steve’s arm shot out and grabbed the thief’s hood as they tried to run passed him. He forced them to the ground and pinned their wrists above their head. Their hood had fallen from their head and Steve finally got to look into the eyes of the person that had plagued him for so long. They stared back at him, wide and scared. Dirt speckled her hunger-pang face, deep bags sagged under her eyelids. Steve recognised these features and his anger subsided. He saw his younger self in this young girl, he could tell that she hadn’t eaten a decent meal in what could have been at least several days.
“You’re hurting me,” the girl whispered through gritted teeth.
Steve let go of her, but stayed hovering over her frame. But he was confused, he hadn’t been holding her that tight. She groaned and rolled onto her side, sitting up slightly, spots of blood began to seep through her coat. Steve slowly reached for her again, but she cried out and hit his hand away.
“I want to help you,” he reasoned, tugging her coat away from her shoulders gently so he could take a look at her wounds.
She fought back weakly, but he was persistent. “Don’t let them take me away again,” she begged, a tear rolling down her grime-covered cheek.
Steve went to respond, but found his words were stuck as he watched her coat fall off her arms to the floor.
Dull, crooked feathers began to unfurl from her torn shirt, stretching out slowly and shakily. There was no shine to them, they were dry and sharp, like bark on a dead oak tree. Several of the larger feathers weren’t fully developed, leaving large, bloody gaps in the formation, others looked as if they had been deliberately cut in half. They rustled like dry leaves in the end of autumn as they shook in the wind. Her wings were long and crooked, the wingspan reaching about ten feet once they were fully extended; the tips of each wing drooped sadly to the floor, as if their weight was too much for this girl to bear.
Carefully, Steve rose to his feet. He finally manged to find his voice somewhere.
Summary: Ethan comforts the reader after they were stood up.
Pairing(s): Ethan x Reader
Warnings: None?
"I think I look pretty good," you said out loud, spinning in the mirror so you could see every angle of your chosen outfit. Your butt looked great in the jeans you wear wearing, your hair was actually cooperating with you for once and your nails had no grime underneath them.
"Pretty good? Pretty good? Y/N, you look fabulous." You turned to see your roommate and best friend, Ethan, leaning against your door frame and grinning at you. "So, who's the lucky individual that gets to take my best pal on a date?"
"Their name's Max," you told him, grabbing your bag and shoving your belongings into it. "Kathryn's friend that she wanted to set me up with. You would know that if you had listened to me when I told you about them." You winked at him and sauntered passed so you could put your shoes on.
"In my defence, you talk a lot. I can't always keep up with you and your ramblings." Ethan held his hands up in surrender.
"Jerk," you muttered. "See you later, I'll let you know if I'm not coming home."
"Yes, Y/N, get some," Ethan cheered tauntingly. You shoved his shoulder playfully before kissing him on the cheek and walking out of the apartment.
Later, at the restaurant you and your date had agreed to meet at, you were three drinks in and playing Angry Birds on your phone. Max still hadn't turned up and you were starting to get a few uncomfortable stares. You shot Ethan a text saying how bored you were and that you were tempted to order half the menu just to keep the impatient waiter off your back, trying to mask how disappointed you were.
"Are you ready to order now?" A voice asked from in front of you.
"No, I'm still waiting for my date. But I'll have another lemonade, please," you told him, trying not to sound too annoyed. This was the seventh time he had come over to your table. He tutted softly and walked off, not even bothering to write down your drink order.
You sent Ethan another text, joking about how you expected Max to pay for the entire evening based on how long they made you wait. Meanwhile, the waiter was walking back to your table with what looked like the manager of the establishment.
“Excuse me, Mx Y/L/N?”
You rolled your eyes internally and gave the manager a sweet smile. “Yes?”
"I'm afraid there are other patrons waiting for a table. We are more than happy to reimburse you for the drinks you've ordered, but I'm going to have to ask you to remove yourself from the dining area."
Trying not to seem too embarrassed, you gathered your possessions and stood up. Without another word, you walked out of the restaurant, head held high and bottom lip trembling. As soon as you found refuge in your car, you started violently sobbing. You'd never felt more humiliated in your life, you just wanted to go home and forget about this mess of a day.
"You're home early," Ethan cited as you walked through the door. "Date didn't end well?"
"Don't wanna talk about it," you mumbled grumpily, storming through the hall to your bedroom.
You slammed your door behind you and threw yourself onto the bed, burying your head under the pillow. After about ten minutes, you heard a knock and then a creak of hinges as Ethan peered his head around the door.
"Hey, Y/N, I've been calling you for a while now, is everything okay?"
"This is undoubtedly the worst day of my life," you groaned, your voice muffled by the mass of pillows and blankets covering your face.
Ethan grabbed a corner of the duvet and climbed into bed with you. He wormed one arm underneath you and wrapped the other around your waist so that you were completely enveloped in his embrace.
"Ready to tell me what's up?" He asked, leaning his head against yours.
"Max didn't show," you said after a moment of hesitation. "I was sat there alone for nearly an hour and a half before they told me I had to leave."
Now you had said it aloud you started sobbing again. Ethan watched you awkwardly before he grabbed a box of tissues from your dresser and handed them to you.
“Jeez, I’m- I’m really sorry,” Ethan replied as you blew your nose loudly. “If it’s any consolation, Max must be a real scumbag if they’re willing to stand somebody up. Especially someone like you. I mean, you’re the best person I know! Anyone would be lucky to land a date with you. They’re just a piece of shit who doesn’t know what they’re missing out on.”
“Thanks, Ethan,” you said after wiping your tears on his shoulder. “But there really isn’t anyone who would want to date me. Look at me, I’m a mess.”
“Granted, this isn’t your best moment,” Ethan responded with a small smile. “But you’re wrong about how nobody would want to date you.”
“Oh yeah? And who would the exception be then?” You asked sarcastically.
Ethan smirked and pointed to himself, wiggling his eyebrows and grinning.
“Yeah right,” you snorted.
“Come on. Why not?” He whined, pulling you into a deeper hug. “We’d be perfect together. We’re already best friends, we live together, and we get along great. We’re halfway to a healthy and committed relationship.”
“It’d be a weird transition,” you admitted. “We’ve been friends for far too long, I don’t think I can see you in any other way.”
“Let’s ease into it then,” he suggested, bouncing off the bed and heading towards the door. “You get into some comfier clothes and put a movie on, I’ll go make some popcorn and order Chinese food. How does that sound?”
Hey guys! I'm back from yet another suuuper long hiatus. I re-started college, my physical health hasn't been amazing, got myself a pretty active social life, yadda yadda yadda. Basically, I've lost inspiration for half the fics in my drafts or requests. So here's what I'm gonna do: I'll finish every request I’ve already accepted and publish them soon. After that, I won’t be taking requests for Youtuber based fics as I’ve mostly stopped watching them. I will, however, continue to write Marvel fics and imagines, as that is what I’m passionate about right now. I hope you all understand. I’m sorry if this disappoints anyone, but I just can’t bring myself to write something that I can’t pour my heart in to. Much love.
hi!! can you put your story rough nights under a "read more" please? i was scrolling through one of the many tags and it was one of the first few posts that i seen and i dont think anyone should have to see it & get triggered!
Sorry! Thought I already had but must have messed up when I was editing. Thanks for letting me know hun x
Summary: Ethan helps the reader through a particularly tough night.
Pairing(s): Ethan x Reader
Warnings: Lots of mentions of self-harm. Swearing. A bit of gore.
A/N: This was a tough one for me to write. If any of you are struggling with depression, or just going through a tough time, then please speak to someone. If you don’t think anyone will listen then TALK TO ME. I will do my best to help.
Blood dripped off your fingertips and you watched it swirl down the drain of the bathroom sink. Your mind was blank as you turned the tap on and let the cold water run over your new cuts littering your arm, only wincing slightly at the stinging sensation. Wrapping your forearm up in a thread-bare towel, you rinsed the basin of any leftover blood and prepared to make your exit.
You tiptoed out into the hall, careful not to slam the door behind you or let any of the floorboards creak. If Ethan knew what you had been doing he would be absolutely livid. You had promised him that if you ever felt the need to hurt yourself you would talk to him about it. Six months without an incident and you just couldn’t take it anymore, the pain was so strong, you couldn’t help but lock yourself in the bathroom and snap the blade off of a razor.
“Y/N?” You froze when you heard a voice come from down the corridor, slowly turning towards it and seeing Ethan leaning against the door leading to the living room, soaked in the dim light coming from his lamp and dressed in his pyjamas complete with tired eyes and scruffy blue hair. “What are you doing up so late?”
“No reason,” you answered defensively. “Why are you up?”
“I’m behind schedule, just finishing up on the last video.”
“Well, I needed the bathroom. I’m going to bed now,” you told him, ready to walk away.
“Wait, let me at least say goodnight,” he called, walking closer and holding out a hand to grab yours. You yanked it out of his clasp and held it out of his reach. His expression fell at your actions and you felt a small gnawing feeling of guilt in your stomach. “Did I do something wrong?” His voice was barely above a whisper and his eyes were scanning your face for any clues.
“No. No! Of course not. You didn’t do anything wrong, I- I guess I’m just tired.” You dropped your gaze, not able to look him in the eye any longer.
There was a brief pause before Ethan gently wrapped his fingers around your wrist and pulled it up into the light. You turned your head as he unravelled the make-shift bandage off of your arm and tutted slightly.
“Come on,” he said quietly yet firmly. “We need to talk.”
“So,” Ethan started, pushing you onto the armchair and crossing his arms. “What happened? Because last time I checked you were fine.”
“I guess I'm not then,” you replied bluntly. Ethan glared at you, staring you down until you had to break eye contact. “It’s just been a rough week,” you sighed, finally giving in.
“What happened?” He asked softly.
You shrugged and rubbed your arm, stopping when Ethan gave you a disapproving glance. “Just minor things piled on top of one another amplified by depression.” That’s how things normally were for you. You were normally desensitised to smaller issues, but your mental health struggled to cope with too many problems at once before shutting down.
“When did this start up again?”
“About two weeks ago,” you answered. “It started off with not wanting to go to sleep, but then not wanting to wake up. I think I stopped eating full meals around last Wednesday. But this is the first time I’ve hurt myself, I swear.”
Ethan let out a deep breath and ran his hands over his face. “What the fuck happened to talking to me, Y/N?” He shouted. You were shocked at his change of tone but let him continue. “Do you have any idea how worried I get when you feel this way? How useless I feel when I can’t even make you happy, let alone stop you from hurting yourself.”
“Ethan-”
“No, I’m not finished,” he cut you off, his voice filled with rage. “I thought we had a deal. You would tell me when you didn’t feel great and I would do my best to help you get through it. Jesus, Y/N, I know I can’t cure your mental health over night, but it would be nice if you at least let me know when you needed me.”
“I don’t need anyone,” you whispered, staring down at your hands which were locked around your knees.
“Bullshit,” Ethan said harshly. “No way am I standing by while the love of my life slits their wrists and feels like they can’t even talk to me.”
Moments that felt like an eternity passed and you didn’t dare look up once to meet his gaze. Ethan collected himself and softly apologised for his uncharacteristic outburst.
“I’m just so… angry that you think you’re all alone.”
“I know, I’m sorry.” Emotion was finally flooding back to you and you were hit by a thousand at a time. Without any warning you burst into tears, two weeks of emptiness being forced out of the way by an onslaught of anger, sadness, malcontent and shame. “Ethan, you don’t deserve this. I just didn’t want you to worry about me. I thought I could deal with it on my own but I couldn’t. Please, forgive me.”
He scrambled off the sofa and knelt by your feet, taking your hands in his and pressing them to his lips. “No, please forgive me. I should have noticed you were upset and yet, when I did, I was too late to stop it. I love you Y/N Y/L/N, and I don’t want you to go through this by yourself.”
“I love you too,” you breathed through the tears. “Help me, please.”
Ethan nodded and pulled you to your feet, leading you into the bedroom before laying you down and covering you with a blanket. “Get some rest. Tomorrow, I’ll book a therapy session for you so you can talk to a professional. You need to speak to someone about it if it gets this bad. I will stay with you the whole time if you’d prefer. But, for now, sleep and know that I’m right by your side. I’ll always be by your side.”
As you drifted off to sleep, the exhaustion hitting you like a bus, the last thing you heard was Ethan humming your favourite song, stroking your hair as you closed your eyes.
hey when you post your fic, could you put the fic part under a read more? it's a big block of text to scroll past every time, especially for something in the main tags. i'm just asking cause not everyone likes seeing an entire fic, and even ethan himself has said he doesn't like x reader stuff (and, again, it's in the main tags where he goes through)
Oh crap I'm so sorry about that! I forget that that's an issue. I'll edit my posts right away and remove them from the main tags. Thanks for letting me know x
Summary: When the reader discovers they’re pregnant, they worry about how Ethan will take it.
Pairing(s): Ethan x Reader
Warnings: Probably some swears.
A/N: This is my first post with a specific gender, so I apologise to all my male and non-binary readers. Also, I am not familiar/keen on the idea of pregnancy so if I get some facts wrong then I’m sorry. I REALLY ran away with this one, it was supposed to be about 500 words tops. Oops!
“Shit,” you hissed, staring down at the plastic stick in your hands. “Shit, shit, shit, shit.”
“Y/N, you almost done in there?” Amy called from the other side of the bathroom door.
“I-I’ll be right out.” You hid the pregnancy test behind your back and opened the door, revealing your best friend.
“Hey, you okay?” She asked, grabbing your arm as you tried to escape. “You don’t look too hot.”
“Yeah, I’m fine. Just tired, it’s been a long day,” you lied, edging further away from her as she scrutinised you.
Amy crossed her arms and glared at you, her eyes flicking over your form before frowning. “What are you hiding?”
“Nothing, I’m not hiding anything,” you said a little too quickly.
“Bull crap,” Amy snapped. “Tell me what’s going on.”
You sighed in defeat and held out the pregnancy test for her to see. “It’s positive. About three weeks now.”
“Woah,” she breathed. “That’s not what I was expecting.”
" Me neither. I just- I don't know what to do." You fiddled with the white plastic and chewed your lip nervously.
Amy draped an arm around your shoulders gently. "Come on," she said. "We have a lot to talk about."
You walked up the stairs slowly with Amy and Mark in tow, the only two that knew your secret so far. Poking your head over the banister, you saw Kathryn and Ethan at their stations with their eyes glued to the computer monitors, Tyler sitting on the sofa playing with his phone and Chica at his feet. Uncomfortable, you looked over behind you and Mark stuck his thumbs up reassuringly.
“Ethan?” You called out quietly. The only one that noticed was Chica, who stood up and padded over to you, wagging her tail. Tyler glanced up from his phone at the movement and smiled at you. You nodded politely back at him and nervously tip-toed over to your boyfriend, tapping him lightly on his shoulder.
“Y/N!” He greeted you happily, removing his headphones and spinning in his chair to face you. “What are you doing here?”
“I- erm, I actually came with pretty big news,” you explained. “Can we talk outside for a sec?”
“Yeah, sure, can I finish what I’m doing first?” He asked, gesturing to the screen.
“I can do that, you two go talk.” Mark told him, practically forcing you back down the stairs and out the door.
“Okay, it’s clearly important if you came to me during work. What’s up?” Ethan asked carefully.
You shifted awkwardly on your feet and opened your mouth before immediately closing it again, unsure of how to begin.
“Y/N?” He asked, sensing your nervousness. “C’mon, you know you can tell me anything.”
You looked into his eyes and couldn’t help but smile. Relaxing only a little, you started to speak.
“I don’t quite know how to say this, but I can’t keep it a secret for any longer,” you started. “I- I noticed I was - um - late, so I got it checked out and-”
“Late? Late for what?” He asked with a confused frown on his face.
“My- my period,” you explained. “My period was late.”
Ethan’s face went from confused to sudden realization as his brain processed what your words meant. “So- what are you trying to say?” He stammered, his eyes wide.
You paused before, reaching into your pocket and handing him the test. “I’m pregnant.”
Carefully, he took the plastic from you with shaking hands and gazed down at it in silence. You scarcely breathed as you waited for him to say something. Finally, the silence was unbearable and you broke it by saying his name in a timid voice. Slowly, he looked up at you, his mouth hanging open slightly and his knuckles white.
“I’m- I’m going to be a dad?” Ethan said quietly. You stared at him in shock, unable to speak but your head somehow nodding on it’s own accord. “I’m going to be a dad,” he said again, more clearly this time. “I’m going to be a dad! I’m going to be a dad!”
You watched in awe as he cheered and celebrated, before he finally pulled you into a hug and kissed the top of your head. “You’re not freaking out?” You said, more as an observation than a question.
“Well, a little. I mean, we’re going to be parents! But there is no one in this world I’d rather have my baby than you.” He took your hands in his and smiled happily, tears streaming down his face.
“I love you,” you told him and he laughed softly.
“I love you too,” he replied. “Who else knows?”
“Just Mark and Amy. I was going to tell you first but Amy found out and told Mark. They’ve been so supportive though.”
“Can I tell everyone else?” Ethan begged.
“Let’s wait a month or so before telling anyone just to make sure she’s healthy first,” you grinned.
Ethan gasped and covered his mouth, more tears spilling out. “It’s a girl?”
“Oh, I don’t know yet, but,” you smiled and placed a hand on your belly. “I think she is.” Ethan wrapped his arms around you and held you close. And in that moment you knew that you would never be alone again.
“So?” Ethan asked as you and Amy walked out of the practice room. “How is everything?”
“Everything’s fine, both the baby and I are healthy. Although I feel like I’m going to be walking funny for a few days,” you joked, massaging your slightly swollen stomach gently.
“That’s wonderful,” he said happily. “Amy, thanks for taking care of her in there. We’re lucky to have you.”
“Don’t worry about it,” she reassured him. “I’m more than happy to help.”
“Did you- did you find out the sex yet?” He asked excitedly.
Amy nodded. “The doctor told me. But Y/N wants it to be a surprise.”
Ethan gawked at you incredulously. “How can you not want to know?”
“I just want my baby to be happy and healthy,” you explained.
“Well, in that case, I’m waiting too,” Ethan said defiantly.
“You know what this means,” Amy said with a sly grin. “You can tell everyone now!”
You and Ethan looked at each other and smiled. “Guess we’d better go break the news.”
“I can’t believe you’re doing this,” you told Ethan bluntly. You were watching him have his hair bleached, ready for the next convention. “You realise you could walk out of here with bright pink hair, right?”
“Y/N, don’t make him change his mind, this will be awesome,” Mark scolded you from the other side of the hair salon. “In fact, leave the room, we don’t want you to see the colour until the panel either.”
You huffed and rolled your eyes. “This is the most cliched gender reveal ever.”
“Just get out of here!” Tyler shouted.
You went back to the hotel you were staying in, finding comfort in Signe, Amy, Marzia and Kathryn’s company. Everyone was in town for a tour and it was great to see some old friends again. They helped you into one of Tyler’s hoodies, the bagginess helping hide the baby bump and walked you to the auditorium the panel was being held in. You stifled a laugh when you saw Ethan wearing one of Jack’s old hats to hide his newly dyed hair.
“You didn’t see the colour, did you?” You whispered, careful to not let your microphone pick up what you were saying.” He shook his head no and clasped your hand as the Mark began to thank everyone for coming.
Introductions were made, jokes were tossed around and questions were asked until FINALLY the question everyone had been waiting for.
“Ethan, why are you wearing that hat?” A young girl in the audience asked.
“Well, actually, Y/N and I have something to tell you all,” Ethan answered, standing up and helping you walk round to the centre of the stage. “I’m not transforming into Jack - although that would be hecka cool - we have an announcement.”
“So as most of you know, Ethan and I have been dating for a few years now,” you continued, beginning to unzip your jacket.
“We’re having a baby!” Ethan cred, unable to hold it in for any longer.
The audience screamed and cheered as you removed the hoodie and let the cameras pick up your large belly. The noise was deafening, but all you were focused on was Ethan’s wide smile as he watched you. Finally, he waved his arms and the crowd died down, waiting to hear what else he had to say.
“Everyone up here convinced me to dye my hair according to the sex of the baby,” he explained. “We don’t know what it is yet, but we’re going to find out at the same time as all of you.”
Mark, Felix and Jack stepped forwards with what appeared to be confetti cannons, whilst Tyler held up a camera. “Ten! Nine! Eight!” They began to count down and the audience joined them. Ethan grabbed the brim of his hat and braced himself. Meanwhile, you could barely breathe as he mouthed the words “I love you” as they finally got to...
“One!”
Ethan ripped off the hat, revealing his usual blue hair. Blue confetti burst out from either side of you and you screamed along with the thousands of other people. You leapt into Ethan’s arms and buried your tear-stained face in his neck as he swung you round.
“I haven’t got pink hair, that’s good,” he joked breathlessly, his smile so wide that it made his face hurt.
“Well, unless they decide they want to be a girl, looks like I was wrong,” you laughed, hugging him as best you could when your middle section was blocking him from wrapping his arms around you.
“I’ll love them no matter what.”
“And I love you no matter what too.”
“I would say the same, but I was this close to having pink hair today.”
- Waiting nearly half a year for him to show you his metal arm
- He would watch your reaction as he rolled up his sleeve
- You would just reach out and gently stroke every single one of the plates, before finally curling your fingers around his wrist and placing his palm against your cheek
- Calling him ‘old man’ all the time
- Running your fingers through his hair
- You and Sam teaming up to constantly tear him a new one
- Sparring with him and ending up winning easily because he’s afraid he’ll break you
- He’d use really old pick- up lines on you
- Comforting him after a nightmare by being the big spoon for a while
- Making him herbal tea and doing yoga with him so he can learn to relax
- He’d make jokes like “When I was your age”, or “Respect your elders”
- Taking him shopping for new clothes and essentially playing dress up
- Butt grabs
- Steve dragging you to one side when he finds out you two are dating to give you The Best Friend Talk
- Getting sick of his music because he always plays stuff from his era
- Making him listen to Tony’s records instead
- Now he’s obsessed with classic rock
- He has mental breakdowns every other day that usually result in a trashed room and an inconsolable Bucky
- Nat teaching you Russian so you can surprise him one night
- His mama raised him right so he is a perfect gentleman towards you sometimes
- Dates are old-fashioned, normally consisting of dancing, a movie and dinner
- He gets super possessive if another guy hits on you
- Once you called him ‘Leather Daddy’ when he was in his combat suit
- You’ve persuaded everyone to call him that now
- Convincing the world he’s not the monster everyone thought him to be
- Hair pulling
- Training with him almost always leads to a steamy make out session
- Everyone finds your PDA super gross
- T’Challa is starting to regret not killing Bucky when he had the chance
Summary: The reader is a figure skater and Tyler thinks it’s time for some TLC
Pairing(s): Tyler x Reader
Warnings: I don’t think there are any. I am a good child
A/N: So I realised I had accepted this request ages ago and still haven’t posted it so here it is. I have never tried figure skating so if it’s shit then I’m sorry. Also, the gif is of a girl but obviously you can use your imagination if you’d prefer.
You clicked your heels together happily once the skates had been secured to your feet and pulled yourself up, waddling awkwardly until you reached the edge of the ice. Stepping onto the smooth surface, you let yourself slide slowly before propelling yourself forwards and racing around the edge of the rink until you came to a graceful stop in front of the entrance once more.
Tyler was standing there, watching you in awe. You held out a hand for him to take and watched as he gingerly placed one foot on the ice. He took a deep breath and began to walk as if he were on normal ground, causing him to promptly fall over. You burst out laughing, struggling to help him up as every time he began to stand up he would lose his balance again. Finally, he managed to get his footing and you slowly started making your way around the rink together.
“So how long have you known how to skate?” Tyler asked you, noticing how you effortlessly moved around the ice.
“A while,” you answered with a small smile. "I love how freeing it is to be here."
"Why don't you show me some tricks?" He asked. "Teach me how to dance."
You laughed and shook your head. "It's going to take more than one day to learn how to figure skate, Tyler."
"Then I guess we'd better get started," he joked, nudging you gently towards the centre of the rink.
Snorting, you moved away from him at a steady pace, building up enough speed and momentum to leap into the air and spin around twice before landing in a perfect arabesque, your arms outstretched and your leg straight behind you. Skidding to a halt next to Tyler once more, you grinned at his awestruck expression.
"That was incredible," he gushed, his eyes wide. "What else can you do?"
"I'll show you," you said with a wink, skating off again.
You began to pirouette on the tip of your skate, slowly bending your leg so you crept closer to the floor with each turn. Stretching out again, you arched your back and prepared to finish with a flourish. But - just as you came to a stop - you lost your balance and dropped like a stone.
“Ow, ah poo,” you groaned as you repositioned yourself so you could sit up. You glanced down at your calf and cursed when you saw you had sliced it open with the blade of your boot.
“Y/N! Are you alright?” Tyler called as he tried to maneuverer his way over to you without tumbling.
“I’m fine, nothing a warm bath and a bandage can’t fix.” You forced yourself to stand up again, wincing slightly when the pain in your leg became more apparent.
“No, I’m taking you home. Let’s go,” Tyler told you sternly, holding out a hand for you to hold. Allowing him to take charge for a second, you let him steer you towards the exit.
Back home, you collapsed onto the sofa, cold sweat making you feel hot and freezing at the same time.
“I hate to ask this,” Tyler said, walking into the room with a first aid kit and a bowl of warm water. “But you need to take your pants off.”
You snorted and pulled them down as best you could, hissing when the material got caught in the dried blood of your wound. Tyler rushed over and knelt down in front of you, gently tugging at your leggings until he pried them off of you.
“I didn’t realise you hurt yourself this bad,” he mumbled softly when he saw your bruised and bloodied legs.
“This has become standard for me,” you said casually. “Any day I don’t have to get stiches or a cast put on is a good day.”
Tyler frowned as he focused on cleaning your leg, his eyebrows knitted in concentration. You allowed him to disinfect your cut and wrap it up in gauze. Next, he placed your feet in the water, smiling when you sighed in bliss. He held your thigh tightly in his large hands and started to press down on all of your sore muscles, rolling the knots around with his fingers until they relaxed.
“Why are you being so nice to me?” You asked after he had finished massaging you.
“Somebody has to take care of you. Besides, I can’t have you hurting yourself every week and not getting a little love.”
You smiled and gratefully accepted the mug of cocoa he had made you. “I don’t deserve you.”
“Nah, but you’ve got me anyway. And you’d better get used to me, because I’m not going anywhere.” Tyler winked and sat next to you, wrapping an arm around your shoulders and pulling you in for a cuddle.
“I can live with that,” you said, wiggling your swollen toes. “After all, someone has to pick me up when I fall down.”
