◾Hi, Minnie Nicole, here! 😊❤ ◾Spoiler free page! I write original stories that purposely don't contain any spoilers because I hate having content spoiled for myself and would hate spoiling things for others. ◾MASTERLIST
Those Who Fall: "APTF" Story (Modern Domestic Stucky AU) [REUPLOAD]
Thirty-Seven
Making sure that the kids looked okay, and looking at himself in the mirror, Steve decided it was good enough. It had to be since there really wasn't anything that he could do about it now. At least the blood and snot had been cleaned from Ethan's face. Really, that was the most that he could do. But Steve still finger-combed through his hair before deciding he couldn't do anything else.
Climbing out of the van, he helped the kids and led them around to the back. After dropping the kids off at school that morning, Steve had stopped by the store and bought some more candy. Originally, it had been for the trick or treaters, but now he had no qualms about using them both up.
Opening one of the mixed bags, Steve poured it into two plastic jack-o-lantern pails, and handed one to each of the kids. His stomach was still in knots, but he knew that once he was inside, he'd feel so much better. Even if all they did was stop by real quick.
As he entered the building, the three greeted the security guards and the receptionist. Offering them all some candy, so it looked more casual and that they were there for a fun time instead of what they were really there for. Every person that they passed, the kids handed out the candy. Seemingly enjoying it more than they did when they were actually receiving it.
When they finally reached the floor for Shield Designs, they were greeted with a large welcoming grin from their favorite receptionist. The kids instantly yelled, "Darcy!"
"Hiya, rugrats," the brunette leaned on her desk, so she could get some candy. Steve allowed her a few -- or a handful -- more than everyone else. As she started unwrapping a Kit Kat, she said, "James should be back from the meeting."
Shit. Steve forgot about the meeting. Nevertheless, Steve was balancing on the precipice of an anxiety attack, and he needed to see his husband. Even if it was just giving his face a quick glance and getting one of those winks that always reminded Steve just how lucky he was.
"Thanks," Steve weakly smiled, leading the kids over towards Bucky's office. Bucky's office that was practically a glorified janitor's closet -- Bucky's words, not Steve's. Steve was proud of his husband and proud of his success in the company. Especially when Bucky was one of the youngest members of the company and had earned every accolade he had received.
Wanting to have just a moment alone with Bucky, Steve suggested to the kids, "Why don't you see if everyone else wants some candy?"
"Okay!" They both easily agreed and started walking around to the different cubicles where Bucky's colleagues indulged almost as much as Steve's students would.
Meanwhile, Steve continued walking towards Bucky's office in the back. Once reaching it, he paused and felt like the rest of his world was crashing down as a voluptuous blonde in a purple pencil skirt and a sparkly black blouse openly flirted with his husband. Steve was already having a bad day, he didn't need his insecurities being exploited by the universe today!
Clenching his jaw to hold back the tears, Steve lifted his fist and knocked on the open door. Immediately, Steve gained Bucky's attention, but the woman was still leaning against the desk, not even bothering to look his way.
"Steve," Bucky beamed, obviously glad to see him. Which assuaged some of his insecurities. Especially with how genuinely happy Bucky was. Even if he still didn't mind the woman leaning against his desk. As if she didn't care about someone interrupting them. As if she did this often.
"Isn't this a pleasant surprise," Bucky rose from his chair and crossed the office for Steve. Greeting him with a sweet kiss that he smiled through and asked, "What's the special occasion?"
"Just, uh," Steve worried his lower lip before looking off to the side of Bucky, so he'd get the hint, "Just thought it could be… fun."
Looking over Steve's Peter Pan costume, Bucky wiggled his brows suggestively and agreed, "Fun."
Feigning exasperation, Steve rolled his eyes, but a small smile stayed on his face. Bucky always knew how to make him smile. Even when Bucky didn't know Steve needed his help in doing so. It helped. It helped a lot. It helped everything. Steve knew this was a good idea.
That was before Bucky's observant gaze turned his expression into one of concern. Not turning to look back at the woman, he said, "Vicky, will you excuse us, please?"
"Of course," Vicky replied in a naturally sultry tone that made Steve's skin crawl. Hating that her voice was just as sexy as her appearance. As she left Bucky's office, she wished them both a, "Happy Halloween."
"Thanks, you too," Steve deadpanned, while Bucky closed the door behind her.
Turning to face Steve, Bucky asked, "What happened?"
"Hmm, where do I even start?" Steve humorlessly laughed. Crossing his arms along his chest as he bitterly answered, "Ethan finally snapped and got into a fight with Lance and got three days suspension. I met Lance's stepdad, who just happens to be the absolute last person I wanted to see. The protection order against Brock is expired. Oh! And when I come to visit my husband at work, one of his colleagues was flirting with him!"
Brows furrowed, Bucky asked, "We knew the order expired."
"Right," Steve nodded, the tears building in his eyes once again. "But we thought that he was still in fucking Florida."
It clicked for Bucky then as he correctly assumed, "Brock is his stepdad."
"Yup," Steve confirmed, his throat tight with emotion. His lower lip quivered as a tear escaped. Wiping the salty droplet from his cheek, Steve confessed, "I don't know what I'm supposed to do Monday."
"Maybe you should wait," Bucky suggested, stepping forward and wrapping him up in a hug, "Use some of those vacation days." Rubbing over Steve's back, and kissing his temple, "At least until we can figure this out. And we will figure this out."
"I just --" Steve cut himself off. Not knowing how to end his sentence. Just knowing that he felt sick and his heart ached. But also knowing that Bucky made it better. He had Bucky. He always had Bucky. Bucky would make it better.
"It'll be okay," Bucky promised. Rubbing soothing circles around Steve's back, "It'll be okay."
Those Who Fall: "APTF" Story (Modern Domestic Stucky AU) [REUPLOAD]
Thirty-Six
Perhaps Steve should've had a more level head, but he couldn't help it. He tightly held Ethan's hand and hurried the little boy out of the office. Not wanting Brock to know which classroom the six year old was in, Steve led the way up to the second story of the building, where it'd be easier to hide. Plus, he didn't feel comfortable leaving Sophia there with that psycho lurking around.
"Papa, what's wrong?" Ethan asked as they rushed down the hallway to Laura's classroom.
Coming to his senses, Steve slowed to a stop. Crouching down, Steve wiped under Ethan's bent glasses to stop his new tears. Steve's own unshed tears were building in his eyes and he falsely reassured, "Nothing honey. Nothing's wrong."
"Are you mad I was in a fight?" Ethan's lower lip quivered.
Bringing the little boy close, he said, "Of course, not sweetie." Rubbing his back, Steve half-joked, "Just don't do it again."
"Okay," Ethan nodded and sniffled. "Can I still go trick or treating?"
"Of course," Steve chuckled, kissing Ethan's temple while holding him a little closer before letting go. Smiling, Steve fixed the -- now -- distressed Rapunzel dress and said, "Everyone needs to see just how pretty your dress is."
Ethan smiled, showing that he had, in fact, only lost one tooth and that was the one he lost at home. Looking over Ethan's body further, he was glad to see that there was only minimal injuries. A couple of scratches and spots already bruising. Nothing that Steve couldn't take care of, and he felt a little better.
Standing, Steve glanced down the hallway towards the stairs, just to make sure that Brock hadn't followed them. When he didn't see anyone, he stood there for a moment longer because Brock could be hiding behind a wall or in the restroom or something. He could in one of the classrooms. He could be anywhere.
And now really wasn't the time for Kindergarten Cop to be going through his mind.
Steve tried to not think about the man for the majority of the last seventeen years. When he had to get the restraining order twelve years ago, Steve had been stupid enough to assume that they'd never see each other again.
Hands shaking, Steve reached for Ethan's and led the little boy over to the classroom. Occasionally glancing over his shoulder before knocking on the door. Smiling, Laura opened it and started, "I thought you weren't coming until --" Cutting herself off once she noticed the terrified look on Steve's face and the disgruntled way Ethan looked, she lowered her voice and stepped further into the hallway, "What's wrong?"
"I need to take Sophia home," Steve explained, those pesky tears building in his eyes again.
"Okay," Laura nodded, rubbing over her protruding abdomen as she questioned, "Do you need me to call Buck? Or have Clint come and help out?"
Steve shook his head and peeked his head into the classroom. Everyone was having such a fun time, and Steve hated doing this. But there was no fucking way that Steve was going to let her stay there when Brock could still be. Leaning back, Steve took in a deep, grounding breath, hoping that the tears would dissipate.
Laura rubbed his arm and stepped back into the room. While the class continued working on their fun activities, Laura sweetly called out, "Sophia."
The eight year old lifted her head from her work and pushed her bangs off her face. Steve stepped into the room and her face lit up. Making sure that Ethan remained out of sight, Steve gestured for her to join them. And Sophia didn't even hesitate as she climbed out of her seat, grabbed her project, and ran across the room.
"Look at what I made!" Sophia greeted, showing the mummy project as she excitedly clarified, "It's just like me!"
"It sure is," Steve fixed a smile on his face, "I guess it's a good thing you picked that costume, huh?"
Sophia nodded, noticing Ethan, and her expression changes to one of concern. Before she can question it, Steve told her, "How about you get your stuff, and we can go home and get ready for trick or treating, yeah?"
A bit more somber, Sophia nodded and went over to her cubby to get her things. Some students asked where she was going and others wanted Steve to come see their projects. All the while, Steve stood there, trying not to have a meltdown in front of a bunch of eight year olds.
As Sophia shrugged into her coat, Laura walked her back over to Steve at the door. Steve took her hand, too, and Laura softly requested, "Text me, yeah?"
"Yeah, okay," Steve nodded his confirmation and led them down the hallway towards the back staircase.
"Papa, what happened to Ethan?" Sophia asked, tugging on his hand.
Eyes roaming around to make sure that Brock wasn't anywhere, Steve dismissively said, "He got into a fight, baby."
"Is that why we're going home?"
Pausing at the landing, Steve lied, "Yes."
Because Steve definitely didn't want to worry them. Especially not when Ethan was still sniffling. Once they reached the ground floor, Steve glanced around before leading the kids over to Hildy's classroom. Trying not to disrupt the kindergartners too much, he gestured for Hildy.
Casually, Hildy crossed the room and paused at her desk to grab Ethan's things that she had already gathered. As she handed them to Steve, Hildy leaned closer and lowered her voice, "Are you okay?"
"Yeah," Steve lied and hurried to get Ethan's coat on over his purple, pink, and sparkly Rapunzel dress. As he straightened, Steve assured her, "I'll text you."
Reaching over to give his forearm a squeeze, Hildy smiled and walked back into the classroom. Steve closed the door and led the kids back down the hallway. Wanting to hold both of their hands while Sophia tried to pull away as she whined, "I'm a big girl, papa! I don't have to hold hands inside!"
"Sweetie," Steve sighed, exasperated. Looking down at the kids, Steve realized that Ethan's face was still a mess. So, Steve led the kids over to the bathroom. Checking to see if anyone else was in there, Steve didn't find anyone, so he led the kids into the restroom. Once at the sinks, Steve let go of their hands.
"This is the boys' room," Sophia complained, pinching her nose as she scrunched her face in disgust.
"It's fine," Steve assured as he took some paper towels and wetted them. Crouching, he tenderly wiped the damp towels over Ethan's face. Since the six year old was still sniffling, Steve asked, "You okay, honey?"
Nodding, Ethan said, "My glasses are broken."
"It's okay, we'll fix them," Steve promised, with a smile. Once all the blood and dirt was wiped off Ethan's face, Steve stood. Throwing the paper towels away, Steve took Ethan's hand, and then took Sophia's, and led them out of the restroom.
Briefly, Steve popped into the office and said, "We'll see you Monday."
"Happy Halloween, doll," Jennifer smiled and waved at the three of them.
Steve hoped that it still could be. But right now, he was paranoid and poorly holding himself together. Being extra cautious as he led the children through the parking lot, and making sure that no vehicle he didn't recognize was lingering. Then, he finally walked them over to the van and stood there protectively as they climbed in and buckled up.
As soon as Steve hopped into the driver's seat, he locked the doors. Letting himself take a breath, he buckled and started the engine. Glancing out of his mirrors more than usual as he drove around. After all, he wasn't going to go straight home in case Brock was following him.
His nerves were still in a bundle in his gut like his intestines had been tied together. Knowing that he wouldn't be able to calm down at home, Steve drove towards the interstate. Glancing at the kids in the rearview mirror, he asked, "Who wants to visit daddy?"
"ME!" Both kids yelled enthusiastically.
To help keep them happy, Steve turned up the Monster Mash. Strumming his thumbs on the steering wheel as he attempted to practice his breathing exercises. All the while, Steve drove towards the one person that had always been able to make him feel better.
Those Who Fall: "APTF" Story (Modern Domestic Stucky AU) [REUPLOAD]
Thirty-Five
Halloween was easily Steve's favorite holiday. Even long before that first Halloween spent with Bucky. Steve just loved it all. The spooky and the ooky. The fun and the freaky. Really just anything and everything that Halloween would -- and potentially could -- be.
Taking a tray of cookies out of the top wall oven, Steve's phone started ringing. Closing the oven door and turning it off, Steve grabbed his phone. Seeing the elementary school icon, Steve's brows furrowed. After all, it was Friday and he was making cookies to take to the class parties.
Accepting the call, Steve answered, "Hello?"
"Steve," Principal Ross unhappily greeted. Jumping right into it, Everett said, "I need you to come down to the office."
Looking at the cookies he had been transferring to the cooling rack, Steve asked, "Is everything okay?"
Ross exhaled a loud huff of air, "Ethan was involved in a fight with another little boy."
Knowing who that little boy probably was, Steve sighed and agreed, "I'll be right over."
Once they hung up, Steve walked over to the living room. Holly was on Wanda's hip and Wanda was dancing with her, causing the baby to giggle uncontrollably. Steve stood there for a moment, just fondly watching. Despite her meltdown the week prior, Steve knew that she was going to love that little girl more than anything.
Clearing his throat, Steve gained their attention and he asked, "Do you mind watching Holly for me? I need to go to the school early."
"Sure," Wanda easily agreed with a shrug. Pausing, she reminded, "Vis is going to be coming over soon."
Steve nodded, knowing that they weren't likely to break any of the house rules, Steve casually confirmed, "I'm trusting you both to make good decisions."
Nodding, a small smile was on Wanda's face and she went back to dancing to distract the eleven month old so she wouldn't have a meltdown with Steve leaving. Steve grabbed his coat and his keys and double checked that his phone was in his pocket.
The whole drive there, Steve's mind went to the worst place. Imagining Ethan's little face swollen and bloody. Imagining tear stains from him crying in pain. Hoping that his glasses weren't broken. Or that his ears hadn't been messed with. Worrying if Ethan was afraid.
Pulling into a spot in the staff parking lot, Steve cut the engine and entered the school. Walking into the office, the secretary, Jennifer, sadly greeted, "He's waiting for you."
Shrugging out of his coat, Steve walked back to the office. Giving it a quick knock, Steve opened the door and took a step in. Then, he stopped dead in his tracks as his stomach dropped and his heart started to race. Steve was pretty sure that this was what the fight or flight tug-of-war felt like when he couldn't do a damn thing as he looked at the one person he never wanted to see ever again.
There, Brock Rumlow sat and turned his head to look at who entered the office. And everything felt like it happened in slow motion as his eyes landed on Steve and a smug smirk tugged at his lips. His grin grew as his eyes roamed over Steve's petite frame, reminding the blond that he was standing there in green tights and a green tunic; Peter Pan without his hat, shadow, or courage.
"Mr. Barnes!"
Snapping out of his thoughts, Steve harshly forced himself to look at Everett behind his desk. His brow was quirked and he was, very clearly, not in the mood to deal with anything. Assuming that he had been trying to get his attention for a while, Steve tried his hardest to not pay attention to the brunet sitting off to the left.
"Have a seat," Everett gestured to the empty chair.
Only, it was too close to Brock. This room was too close to Brock. After everything that happened in their college days, Steve wanted to leave. He didn't care if the kids got expelled and he got fired. He didn't care if they uprooted the entire family, so long as it meant Brock Rumlow wasn't there.
"I'm okay," Steve said, standing close to the door.
Rolling his eyes, Everett let Steve stand, and went into what happened. "From what the other kids said, Lance called Ethan a… a, um… a, 'faggot.' When Ethan ignored him, Lance pushed him, and Ethan tackled him to the ground."
White hot fury shot through Steve at the name. Knowing that he wouldn't punish Ethan for sticking up for himself. Lance had been a dick with teasing and pushing, and it was only a matter of time before Ethan snapped. Not that Steve encouraged violence, but he knew that bullies didn't just stop.
Exhibit A-Z was sitting in the very room.
Of course, knowing who the little boy's dad was, Steve didn't imagine that it was particularly easy for him. Thinking of the little boy's name, Steve's brows furrowed and he asked, "You're Lance's dad?"
"Stepdad," Brock answered, checking Steve out and causing Steve's heart to pound so aggressively in his chest that he felt like it was trying to run to Bucky, where it was safe.
The hair on the back of his neck stood and wished that Bucky was there with him. Clenching his jaw to keep himself from crying, Steve asked his coworker, "So, what are we doing? What's the punishment?"
Everett fixed the nameplate on his desk the way he always did when he was bored. Folding his hands on the desk, he looked at Brock and Steve, and said, "Three day suspicions."
Sighing, Steve nodded, accepting this as fair. Brock, however, did not. He scoffed and said, "You can't be serious."
"I'm very serious," Everett doubled down, but Steve's hands started to get clammy.
"Because he called another kid a name and got his ass kicked, he has to be punished?" Brock stood from his seat.
So, it would appear that Brock was still using his stature to intimidate. Steve subconsciously took a step backwards, closer to the door. Meanwhile, Everett calmly informed, "We've been sending letters home with Lance explaining that he has been bullying. And we don't tolerate bullying. We've discussed this all with your wife and she agreed that this was better than expulsion. Which will be the next --"
"Expulsion?! For being a kid?!" Brock's voice rose and Steve backed into the door. As Brock clenched his hands at his sides, Steve could feel his breathing grow more difficult. An asthma attack was coming on, he just knew it because it would be the next worst thing to happen. Even when Brock turned, now facing Steve.
Opening the door, Steve shoved on his coat and walked as fast as he could. Of course, it wasn't fast enough. Brock caught up and said, "So, it's, 'Barnes,' now?"
"Don't talk to me," Steve lowly warned, crossing over to where the boys were sitting. Ethan's face was smeared in dried blood and snot.
Brock scoffed and quieted his voice as he mocked, "The order expired." Then, what could be -- should be -- taken as a threat, "I can get as close to you as I want."
More afraid than he had been in years, Steve quickly redirected Ethan's attention to him and signed for him to not look at that man. As Steve helped his son down from the office chair, Brock said, "Have a Happy Halloween," and Steve felt like he was going to puke.
Those Who Fall: "APTF" Story (Modern Domestic Stucky AU) [REUPLOAD]
Thirty-Four
Later that night, in their bed with Steve reading and Bucky crocheting, Steve decided that he'd rather do something else. Setting the novel off to the side on the end table, Steve moved closer to his husband. Resting his head on Bucky's broad shoulder, he watched the brunet crochet the start of a lilac baby blanket.
Noticing that he was trying a new stitch, Steve tapped the strip that was done and complimented, "This is pretty."
"Thank you," Bucky affectionately rested his cheek on the top of Steve's head for a moment.
"It looks like a flower," Steve continued, looking over at the project that was clearly meant for Wanda's baby.
"It's called, 'Jasmine Stitch,'" Bucky informed, kissing the top of Steve's head.
"Well, look at you being fancy," Steve teased, nuzzling closer and snaking his arms around Bucky's naked torso.
For a moment, the pair just sat there. Bucky crocheting and Steve cuddling. Then, Steve got another idea. Tilting his head up, he started pressing kisses to Bucky's neck. Starting with just a few. But since Bucky was purposely ignoring him, Steve doubled his efforts.
Making the kisses more sensual, Steve leaned more into his husband while letting his hand stroke down the patch of dark hair that led down to his groin. Only then did Bucky react. Tossing his head back, a soft groan escaped the brunet as his hands stopped their work on creating the blanket.
Smirking, Steve slid his hand beneath the waistband of Bucky's boxer briefs and circled his fingers around the hardening cock, giving it a couple of strokes of encouragement. Which caused Bucky to groan again and push the project onto the ground, so he could get his hands on Steve. Urging the blond to climb onto his lap.
As Steve threw one of his thin legs over Bucky's lap, Steve removed his own reading glasses and then Bucky's. Once the eyewear was placed easily on the table, Steve settled on Bucky's lap, grinding down as he did so.
Bucky tossed his head back again while his hands came up to Steve's narrow hips, giving them a squeeze. Of course, that only caused Steve to grind down harder and faster. Absolutely loving the feeling of his husband's erection growing harder between his legs.
Leaning in, Steve peppered Bucky's neck with open mouthed kisses and occasional nips. Trailing up to Bucky's ear, Steve sucked the lobe into his mouth and scraped it with his teeth. All the while, bringing his hands up to grope and tug and pinch the constantly pert nipples. Tenderly, Steve even spun the barbells pierced through each tiny, cute, pink nipple.
Groaning, Bucky lifted his hips, seeking more friction. Steve smirked and whispered in Bucky's ear, "Ya gonna fuck me, yet? Or do I need to tease ya some more?"
"Babe," Bucky whined, wrapping his arms around Steve's torso and rolled them, so Steve was on his back.
Kissing down Steve's neck, over his collarbones, down his sternum, and across his flat stomach, Bucky didn't waste any time. Removing Steve's boxer briefs, Bucky tossed them in the direction of their closet, but not caring where they landed as he kept his gaze on Steve. Looking over his petite frame as if it was the first time he had ever seen it, even though they both knew that was far from true.
Maintaining eye contact, Bucky lowered himself and licked Steve's cock from root to tip. Steve pushed his head further into the mattress. When Bucky's mouth wrapped around the head of his cock, Steve's breath hitched. Already so close to coming from Bucky bobbing on his dick a total of five times. The way Bucky could work his mouth… How he flicked his tongue so sweetly… The warm, tight suction on the way up… How he swallowed him down into his throat as though he was made for sucking cock… It worked Steve up so quickly that he'd be coming in a record amount of time. Which was not the way that Steve felt like coming that night.
"Lube," Steve pleaded, shoving at Bucky's broad shoulder, "Get the lube, Buck. I wanna come on your cock."
Pulling off, Bucky gave the tip a kiss and leaned back as he dug in the bedside drawer for the lube and a condom. Effortlessly opening the container and slicking his fingers and instantly easing his middle finger into Steve's hole. As he stretched Steve open, Bucky commented, "We need to get another bottle, it's running low."
"They might have pumpkin spice," Steve joked, only for Bucky to press against his prostate, causing Steve to arch his back. Once Bucky went back to stretching him on three fingers, he purposely avoided Steve's prostate, Steve teased, "Maybe even gingerbread cookies. Ya want me to taste like cookies, Buck?"
Groaning, Bucky rolled on the condom and slicked himself up. When he lined himself with Steve's hole, Bucky paused and took Steve's left leg in hand. Lifting the thin limb, Bucky placed it on his shoulder, so Steve would be spread open wider. Before thrusting in though, Bucky placed an affectionate kiss to the small, his only, tattoo on his ankle that matched the, his one, that Bucky wore on his own ankle.
Extending his hand to his husband, Steve smiled when Bucky laced their fingers together as he slid inside of his slick hole. Steve arched his back and keened when Bucky seated himself fully in him. Bucky let Steve's leg drop off his shoulder, but gestured for Steve to wrap them around his waist. And really, who was Steve to deny him?
With one of their hands linked together, Bucky took the other one and intertwined them as he brought both of Steve's hands above Steve's head. Holding his weight with his forearms on either side of Steve's head, Bucky sensually rolled his hips.
They set a passionate pace that was slow and deep, reminding Steve just how Bucky loved him. Just how much they loved each other. Especially reminding him after they came and Bucky cleaned up the mess. Once done, Bucky tucked Steve into bed and spooned him.
Lips to the back of his neck, Bucky said, "Love you, Stevie. Sleep tight, honey."
Lacing his fingers with Bucky's, Steve brought his hand up and pressed a kiss there before looking over his shoulder to kiss Bucky, "Love you, babe."
Closing his eyes and settling in, Steve was able to fall asleep knowing that today was a good day.
Those Who Fall: "APTF" Story (Modern Domestic Stucky AU) [REUPLOAD]
Thirty-Three:
It was the week before Halloween and the whole house felt like it was vibrating with so much excitement. Luke had been on cloud nine since the Homecoming Dance and the fact that Cassie had, in fact, agreed to dance with him. Sophia had gotten all the words correct on her spelling test. Ethan had lost his first tooth while Holly had gained another one.
Even the older kids were excited. Jonas was going to a Halloween party with his crush. Katie was excited for everyone to see her costume, and profusely denied that it was a cat costume.
But out of all the kids, Wanda was the most excited. Well, nervous, but mainly excited. She had an ultrasound appointment that could determine what gender her baby was. And all week, she had been wondering and thinking of baby names. Even allowing the other kids to put their input in, which led to Jonas suggesting the baby being named after him since he was already on his way to becoming the best uncle any kid could ask for.
"I think they're a boy," Wanda said while they drove for the hospital.
"Yeah?" Steve smiled. Glancing in the rearview mirror to Vis, he asked, "What about you?"
"Nah, totally a girl, who'll be just as beautiful as her mom," Vis smiled. Laughing when Wanda playfully swatted at him from the passenger seat without even turning around.
"You just want a girl because you think that girls are easier to raise," Wanda rolled her eyes and rubbed her baby bump.
"All I've ever known is boys," Vis shrugged, "Of course, I'm going to assume girls are easier!"
Taking in a deep breath, Wanda looked over at Steve and asked, "What about you? What do you think they are?"
Steve shrugged as he pulled into the hospital, "I've never given it much thought. I love all babies."
"Okay," Wanda nodded, strumming her fingers on her abdomen, "So, there's two votes for boy and four votes for girl." Speaking down at her bump, she claimed, "The odds aren't in our favor, bub."
Chuckling under his breath, Steve parked the minivan. Cutting the engine, Steve removed the keys and unbuckled. Before he could even open the door, Vis was already out of the van and opening the passenger door for Wanda. As the teen held his hand out for his girlfriend, Steve couldn't fight the smile that tugged at his lips.
Leading the way into the hospital, Steve nodded in acknowledgement at the receptionist as he continued to radiology. Gesturing for the teens to take a seat, Steve headed over to the window. The woman opened it and asked, "Can I help you?"
"Yes," Steve politely confirmed, "My daughter is here for her ultrasound appointment at 1:20."
"Name?"
"Wanda," Steve answered.
"Okay," the woman typed something in the computer and she said, "I'll sign her in."
"Thank you," Steve nodded, turning to join Wanda and Vis who were both reading a couple of Bucky's favorite science fiction novels from his youth.
As soon as he sat down, Wanda asked, "Are you going back with me?"
Trying not to seem too surprised by that, Steve questioned, "Do you want me to?"
"I mean," Wanda chewed on her lower lip while nervously rubbing her stomach as she confessed, "Hospitals make me nervous."
Nodding, Steve assured, "I can go back with you. It's not a big deal."
"Thank you," Wanda said, giving his hand an appreciative squeeze.
"Of course, sweetie," Steve reassured, smiling at her. As he settled further into his seat, he momentarily wished that they hadn't gotten there so early. However, Steve hated being late, and he was also nervous about the appointment. Nervous, but excited.
While reading the same paragraph for the fifth time, Wanda's name was called. Placing the magazine he was reading back on the table beside him, the trio stood from their seats. Following the woman into the back, she led them into a dimly lit room to the left.
As the technician closed the door, she said, "Wanda, you can have a seat on the table. Make yourself comfortable."
Letting Vis help her onto the exam table, Wanda continued holding his hand even after she was situated. Not for the first time, it was easy to see just how much they truly cared for one another. Idly, Steve wondered if that was what people saw when he was with Bucky.
Standing off to the side, Steve occasionally caught Wanda glancing over at him, and he made sure to smile reassuringly at her every time. Wanting her to know that he was still there. All the while, she chewed nervously on her lower lip. Especially when she rolled her sweater up so her abdomen was exposed.
Thankfully, the technician didn't judge her and simply tucked a towel at her legging's rolled back waistband. Smiling, she picked up the gel and warned, "This might be warm."
"Okay," Wanda nodded and turned her head so she could look at the screen.
Putting the gel back, the technician picked up the probe and placed it to Wanda's goo covered stomach. Soon enough, the baby appeared on the screen. The technician was typing on the keyboard and paused every so often to take pictures.
Bringing Wanda's hand up to his mouth, Vis pressed a tender kiss there. Wanda smiled up at him as tears built in her eyes. Then, she looked over at Steve as though making sure that he was seeing the baby, too. And Steve smiled, nodding as he gestured back to the screen. When she redirected her attention, Steve reached up and wiped at the happy tears that escaped the corners of his eyes.
"Do we want to know the sex?" The woman asked, looking at the young couple.
Wanda nodded, wiping her own tears. The technician gave her a tissue, and Wanda thanked her before confirming, "We'd like to know, please."
She nodded and started moving the probe around until she got the position she wanted. Taking a couple of pictures, the technician smiled at them and congratulated, "It's a girl."
Steve smiled, excited to tell Bucky that he was right. Even if it would go straight to Bucky's --
Wanda covered her face as she sobbed. Vis leaned over to quietly console her, and the technician got to work with cleaning up the area, so she could give them some privacy. As she passed Steve to exit the room, she said, "I'm all done. I'll give you a moment to clean up. Let me know if you need anything."
"Thank you," Steve nodded and approached the exam table.
With a red, wet face, Wanda wiped the gel off her stomach and continued crying. Steve tenderly touched her ankle and asked, "What's wrong, sweetie?"
"I was wrong," Wanda sobbed, covering his face again.
Steve's brows furrowed, she was upset because she thought she was having a boy and was wrong?
"It's okay, babe," Vis assured. Lovingly, Vis pulled her sweater down for her and helped her sit up. "We're still having a healthy baby. Everything's going to be okay."
"I --" Wanda sniffled "-- wish my family was here."
Steve's heart dropped down into his stomach because he knew how she felt. How she'd feel for the rest of her life. Mainly because he knew he did with his dad.
Glancing over at Steve, Wanda's tears started doubling and she apologized, "I'm sorry. I don't mean anyth--"
"It's okay," Steve reassured, genuinely meaning it as he gave her a side hug, "My dad passed when I was a kid. So, I get it."
Wanda nodded and hugged him properly. It was that moment that the baby decided to make their presence known as she began kicking from inside Wanda's womb. So aggressively that Steve had felt it on his hip. Looking at each other, both of their eyes were wide in surprise.
"Vis," Wanda excitedly waved him over as Steve stepped to the side. Before Steve could get too far, Wanda grabbed his arm and set his hand on her stomach. When Vis joined, she placed his there, too.
The trio stood there for a moment, just feeling the baby move around inside her womb. Smirking, Steve teased, "Bucky's going to be so jealous."
Playfully, Wanda rolled her eyes and stepped out of their grasps as she told them she was going to use the restroom before they left. Steve understood considering how much water she was supposed to drink and hold in her bladder.
A knock came from the door and the technician peeked her head inside. Politely, Steve informed her, "She's in the restroom; we'll be leaving soon. Thank you, for being so understanding."
"Of course," the woman smiled and asked, "Is she doing better?"
"I think so," Steve confirmed and repeated, "Thank you."
"Sure thing."
Once Wanda exited the restroom attached, Vis helped her shrug into her jacket. Wrapping his arm around her back, the teens joined Steve at the door. The technician held the door open for them and told them all to have a nice day. Knowing that they already were, Steve wished for her to have the same. Always hoping that others could be as happy as he was.
Love Blooms (demon!Bucky and pre-serum!Steve omegaverse au)
20
"BEFORE I go," Becca started, entering the dining room where Steve and Bucky were enjoying breakfast. "We have a matter to discuss."
Pausing with the forkful of syrupy, pancake goodness before his mouth, Steve asked, "We do?"
Becca confirmed, "We do."
Taking a seat at the table across from Steve, Becca turned to look at her twin at the head of the table, expecting for him to step in. And since she was looking at the Hell King, Steve directed his attention to the alpha too. After a moment of tense silence between the siblings, Steve asked, "Buck?"
Shifting uncomfortably in his seat at the head of the table, Bucky set the morning paper off to the side. Seemingly trying to buy himself some time, the brunet took a drink of his terrigen-spiced coffee. The longer it took for Bucky to talk, the further Steve's eyebrows rose on his forehead, accusingly.
"Buck?" Steve repeated.
Becca theatrically sighed as she correctly assumed, "I take it, you haven't discussed the baptism."
Pushing his half-finished plate of food away from himself, Steve's brows furrowed, "Baptism?"
Shooting his sister a glare, Bucky told Steve, "I was waiting to discuss this with you once things had settled down."
"So, let's discuss it now," Steve said. "You've never mentioned anything about a baptism before."
"Never?" Becca asked, mouth dropping open as she looked between Bucky and Steve. "It's one of the most impor—"
"I wasn't sure how to approach... this." Another glare at Becca as he interrupted her.
"Well, you could've just said it?" Steve offered. "When it comes to Mia, we should be able to discuss anything. Anything and everything. No matter how difficult it may be"
Bucky's steel-blue eyes softened, "Of course."
Folding his hands on the table, Steve prompted, "Mia has to be baptized."
"Yes, in the terrigen enriched waters of our homeland."
Steve nodded, "What happens if she isn't?"
Becca admitted, "She won't be considered a legitimate heir."
A heaviness that Steve didn't understand settled upon them. A beat or two passed with the trio sitting in silence at the table, breakfast forgotten. Steve quietly assumed, "And that would be a bad thing?"
In an act that almost made Steve laugh, Becca reached up and clutched her black pearl necklace, as if scandalized. Bucky gravely informed, "If she's not recognized as a legitimate heir, she'll be casted out. She'll be feral. She won't just not be considered my child, but she won't be anyone's child. Not even yours, Steve. They would kill you before they let you take her."
The air whooshed out of Steve as though he had been sucker-punched in the gut. Feral. No one's child. Not even yours, Steve. Well, he couldn't let that happen. He'd kill to keep Mia safe.
"Well," Steve tried to catch his breath and willed his heartbeat to slow, "I guess we have some planning to do."
Sighing in relief, Becca smiled, "Yes. It will be a beautiful ceremony for the first ever Princess of Maveth! Nothing but the best!"
"Let's not go too overboard," Bucky tried to reign his sister in.
It didn't work.
"I'm thinking lace and pearls and — oh! — flower arches! It'll be beautiful, really!" Becca looked at the two men for any input, but Steve thought that she had everything handled well enough. Plus, she seemed so happy right now. It made him think that maybe they could have a friendship moving forward.
"That sounds nice for the ballroom," Bucky decided, but still tried to keep her grounded, "Just the ballroom."
"Oh, please," Becca snorted, rolling her eyes. "Like father would have the rest of the castle just be plain, I don't think so. And you should be happy that everyone will be celebrating your daughter."
Sighing, Bucky picked the morning paper back up so he could continue reading it. Really, there seemed to not be a whole lot he could've done to stop her, so he decided not to. Steve tried to keep his lips from quirking into a smile.
"Now," Becca directed her attention to Steve, "It's tradition for the in-laws, so to speak, to be a part of the celebration. Is that something you'd like to do?"
"How would that work, exactly?"
"We give Joe and Sarah and paw paw an invitation."
Rolling his eyes, Steve snorted, "I meant, how would they go to another realm and witness all the creatures who look like they crawled out of a nightmare?"
Becca's brows furrowed as she glanced at Bucky, "Have you not been sharing a glamour with him?"
"It'll be simple," Bucky assured. "They won't know the difference."
"But what about travel? We're not going to be on a plane, right? How would we explain that?"
"Plant a false memory of them traveling," Becca smiled, as if there really was nothing to it. As though messing with a person's mind wasn't just easy but fun. Almost as though she did this often. Which, of course, Steve knew she did.
Bucky must've felt Steve's discomfort through the bond because he reached out to give Steve's hand a squeeze. Then, briefly, their shared memory of that first day at Stark Tower entered his mind, trying to settle him. Steve took in a deep breath, closed his eyes, and then exhaled. Keeping his eyes closed for another moment, Steve breathed in — one, two, three, four, five — and then exhaled — one, two, three, four, five.
After breathing purposefully once more, Steve opened his eyes. Agreeing, "I suppose implanting a false memory of traveling to another country wouldn't be the worst."
"It could even be a luxury, private jet," Becca grinned. "A royal private jet. They'll never want to fly any other way again. Promise."
At the absurdity of the situation, Steve laughed. What was his life now? Other realms? Hell Royalty? Planting of false memories? Blasphemous ceremonies and rituals with blood sacrifices? What the hell even was Steve's life now?
"Y'know what? Sure, give them the best trip they could ever have," Steve allowed. Standing from the table, he took his plate to the kitchen. Half-joking, "While we're at it, give me the same trip. I want a fluffy robe, warm towel, and champagne."
"I can definitely do that," Becca called after him.
Shaking his head, Steve chuckled to himself, rinsing the syrup from his plate. Then, within a blink, Steve found himself sitting in a lavish private jet, wrapped in an extravagant designer robe with matching slippers as he reclined in his seat. Hanging from his slender, right wrist is a delicate 14K gold bracelet. In his right hand, he held a glass of chilled champagne. Reaching up to touch his face to see if he was real, he spotted a giant, oval diamond ring on his left ring-finger.
"Dear, lord," Steve breathed, feeling lightheaded.
"I think it's a little puny," Becca said, out of sight. Adding, "Three carats just isn't what it used to be."
"Re'beck," Bucky warned, a growl in his voice.
"Fine," Becca sighed. "You never let me have any fun."
Just as fast as it appeared, the illusion vanished. Steve stumbled, reaching out to grab onto the countertop. His breath was labored, his heart was racing, and he could feel the blood rushing, drowning out all other sound.
Placing his other hand on the counter, he hit something else and was startled when a crash! was heard beside him. Opening his eyes to blurry vision, Steve spotted his plate from breakfast and bent over to pick it up. However, suddenly the floor was coming up to meet his face much too quickly and, distantly, he was aware that he was falling forward, about to crash onto the floor, himself.
"Whoa," Bucky said while strong arms wrapped around Steve's torso. Pulling Steve up and closer to his own frame, Bucky assured, "I got ya."
"I think I might puke," Steve warned, even though he was already feeling better with his alpha's arms wrapped securely around them.
"I'm sorry. Becca shouldn't have done that to you."
"Hey," Becca defended herself, "He's the one who said he wouldn't mind the same experience."
"You could've warned him."
"I'm fine." Stomach still reeling, Steve corrected, "I'll be fine. I just need to sit down, I think."
Steadily, Bucky led Steve to the island so he could sit down. Then he went to the sink to fill a glass with water for Steve. With Steve taken care of for the moment, Bucky started cleaning up the broken plate from the floor.
"Let me know if you need to lay down," Bucky said. "I can help you to the couch or up to bed."
After he drank the water, Steve leaned forward to rest his forehead on the counter. Maybe he did need to lay down. Quietly, Bucky offered, "I know you don't like the... magic stuff... but maybe I can help?"
Keeping his forehead on the cool surface, Steve reached out and said, "Maybe just this once."
Taking the empty glass from Steve, Bucky filled it halfway with water and spit his saliva into it. Handing it over for him, Steve took it and drank it all in two gulps. Instantly, Steve felt better. Maybe Bu'loch's abilities weren't the worst.
"Ew," Becca said from the doorway.
Rolling his eyes, Bucky said, "As if you've never done that."
"Usually mine take it straight from the source," Becca wiggled her eyebrows.
Cheeks heating, Steve averted his gaze to his feet. Maybe their swapping of spit could've been funner straight from the source, but Steve wasn't going to suggest it.
"Just figured that you two would be on that level by now."
Stressed, Bucky pinched the bridge of his nose, "I swear to all that is —"
Becca blew a raspberry at her twin, "Oh, don't get your panties in a bunch."
"Weren't you leaving?" Bucky asked, crossing his arms.
"Yes," Becca confirmed. "After another farewell."
When she was making her way back upstairs, Bucky turned to Steve, "I'm sorry for her."
"It's okay," Steve bit back his smile, "I get how embarrassing family can be."
"That's an understatement," Bucky chuckled.
From the baby monitor, the pair could hear Becca tell Mia, "Maybe one day daddy and papa will get their heads out of their asses and be honest with one another that they want to be together. And then you'll have lots of brothers and sisters to annoy in the future."
"Again," Bucky sighed, "An understatement."
Steve tried to fight his laughter as much as he could, but he was only human. He just couldn't help it. Maybe his frazzled nerves from the family visit was finally getting to him. Whatever it was, he had a bad case of the giggles. And because Steve was laughing, Bucky started to laugh too.
"I hope you two are listening down there," Becca spoke to them directly through the baby monitor. "I want a plethora of little nieces and nephews who are all as perfect as Mia."
Pressing his lips together, Steve looked up at Bucky. There was a softness to the alpha's expression as their gazes locked. He could feel something blooming there between them. It almost felt the way that it used to, back before Steve found out who he really was. Only, now it was different. Better, maybe. Steve knew who Bucky was. Not just him being a King, but he had a deeper understanding of who he was as an alpha, as a man.
Maybe another princess or prince — or two — would be nice. Who knew what the future held for them.
"I'm sure he's fine," Bucky tried to assure while his eyes remained on the elevators where Steve had been just a moment ago.
"Are you sure?" Vienna asked. Taking Kai from Bucky, "Maybe you should go check on him."
"We were only joking," Enola added. "We're not actually that upset that you got married. I mean, a little surprised, sure, but with how you and mom got together, it's not altogether unusual for you to do."
A strong hand squeezed his shoulder, comforting him. Reaching up, he gave the hand a soothing pat. Tearing his eyes away from the elevator that Steve disappeared into, he found Natasha. Forever glad to have her. He didn't know how he would've survived the past twenty-five years without her or their girls.
"I'll check on him later," Bucky assured the group, along with himself.
Another squeeze to his shoulder, Natasha let her hand drop as she suggested, "Let's go greet everyone, yeah?"
"Yeah," Bucky fixed a smile on his face. Holding Nadia's hand in his as he walked with the eight year old, he glanced around at his family to see where the last member was. "Where's Rick?"
"Outside already," Nattie said.
"Auntie Becks and Uncle Dum Dum got to him first," Vienna added before blowing a raspberry on her brother's cheek.
"Poor guy," Bucky chuckled, following the corridor outside where the family day of the reunion was taking place.
The resort's grounds were decorated with George Washington's school colors. Red, white, and black balloons, streamers, and table cloths. It reminded Bucky of the last day of school when the senior class was paraded around in their caps and gowns, accepting praise from younger schoolmates and their families for graduating. And while it was the first day of a weekend of celebrations, it was also the day that Bucky could feel his whole world changing. He knew that it was only a matter of time before he lost Steve completely. He knew that Steve wasn't his anymore, he was Peggy's.
But that was then.
Steve wasn't Peggy's anymore, he was Bucky's now.
He was Bucky's again.
"Over here!" a voice beckoned over the noise of the other attendees and the attendees' children.
Glancing around, looking for his ex-wife's partner, Bucky was getting a bit overwhelmed with everything going on around him. Laughter and good-humored arguing. Kids playing tag. Former classmates playing badminton. It was all... a lot.
"Over here!" The person repeated. Then, "Nat! JAMES!"
"Daddy!" Nadia led the way over to the table where Rick, Dum Dum, and Becca were sitting with their three sons. Once they reached them, Nadia and Kai climbed on to their father's lap. Kisses were given even though they had just seen each other no more than half an hour ago.
Looking over at his three grown daughters, Bucky missed those days. But he couldn't deny that watching them evolve into the women they were now didn't feel good. It did. He was lucky. Really fucking lucky. His daughters were smart, funny, kind, and strong-minded. They were everything that one could ask of their children.
"Hi, Mr. Rogers," Becca greeted, teasing her brother, "What's it like in the neighborhood this morning?"
Rolling his eyes, Bucky told his twin, "Shut up."
"Sorry," Becca shrugged, "Can't."
"Why not?"
"Because I wasn't even your maid of honor, you jerk!"
Trying to stop himself from laughing, Bucky pressed his lips together.
"Geez, dad!" Vienna said, feigning disgust. "Your own twin? How awful!"
"Yeah, so not cool," Sharon shook her head while Enola added, "Who could've been a better MOH than Aunt Becks?"
"From personal experience," Natasha said, "She was pretty fantastic. Even held my hair back when morning sickness hit."
"See!" Becca exclaimed, earning the table some looks from other attendees at the nearby tables. She was leaning on the table towards him, completely ignoring that they weren't the only ones at the reunion, "It should've been me!"
Not able to hold them back any longer, Bucky laughed. This was his family.
"So, uh," Becca and Dum Dum's youngest son, eleven year old, Iggy asked, "Where's your groom?"
"Oh," Bucky looked around, hoping that the blond was already making his way towards them. When that very clearly wasn't the case, Bucky redirected his attention in front of him and said, "He went to call his kids. They're with their mother."
Picking at her roll, Becca said, "It's still too weird thinking about how little Stevie Rogers from down the street is a dad."
"How do you think I feel when it comes to you?" Bucky arched an eyebrow.
"Hush," Becca shushed him, throwing a balled-up piece of bread at him. "That's not even remotely on the same level. I was always more mature than you two."
Natasha snorted at that. Playfully, Becca narrowed her eyes at her best friend before throwing more of the dinner role at her, causing Natasha to open her mouth as though she was going to catch it. When the bread bounced off her chin, the kids couldn't help but laugh.
"So, um," Becca shifted in her seat, letting Bucky know that this wasn't going to be as light of a conversation as it had been just a moment before. Instinctually, he tensed, waiting for whatever his twin wanted to know. "Has Steve said much about Peggy?"
"Not a lot," Bucky admitted. "But I also haven't asked much, y'know? This weekend has been a bit of a whirlwind."
"Ain't that the truth," Dum Dum agreed, taking a drink from his gin and tonic. Something catching his eye over Bucky's shoulder, the man lifted his glass and toasted, "Mazel tov!"
As Bucky turned to see who he could be celebrating, Steve placed his hand on Bucky's broad shoulder. Heat warmed the spot where Steve's hand was and the brunet couldn't help but reach up to give the hand a squeeze. A thrill passed through Bucky when he felt that — much like himself — Steve was still wearing the stretched gumball machine ring.
"Here," Becca's seventeen year old son, Felix, offered his seat to Steve.
"Oh, you don't need to do that," Steve told the teen, even though Felix was already getting another chair from an empty table nearby.
"Of course he does!" Becca said, "We want our boys to treat their uncle with the love and respect that they treat the rest of their family with."
Blushing, Steve took the now-empty seat beside Bucky. Looking around at the rest of the table, Steve clarified, "Everyone here heard, huh?"
"Yup."
"Pretty much."
"Welcome to the family!"
Steve sighed, but didn't say anything. So, Bucky leaned over and quietly asked, "Everything okay with the kids?"
"Yeah," a small smile tugged at the corners of Steve's pillowy lips. "'Miss 'em like crazy, but what else is new?"
"You have four, right?" Becca asked, regaining some of the attention at the table. "That's what the questionnaire said?"
"Yup. Two boys, two girls," Steve confirmed.
"God, I wish I had girls," Becca playfully, exaggeratedly sighed. When her sons started making noise and protesting, she jokingly dismissed, "Oh, you guys know I love you with all my heart."
"I've been telling you for years that you can take ours anytime you want," Bucky said.
"They're not little anymore though," Becca pouted. Then, she held her arms out for Nadia, "Come see Auntie Becks. I need some lovin'." Nadia happily climbed into the woman's lap while Becca asked Steve, "How old are your kids?"
"From sixteen to ten," Steve answered, the smile growing on his face. Bucky couldn't help but think how beautiful he was. Especially when he talked about his kids. It was so easy to see how much he loved them. And it was even easier to fall further in love with him because of it. "Wanna see some pictures?"
"Of course."
"Absolutely."
"Duh."
Beaming with pride and adoration of his children, Steve pulled out his wallet and reached across the table so Becca could see them. Instantly, Becca awwed at the pictures. Bucky couldn't blame her, they were cute kids. But he might also be a bit biased since they're half Steve.
"Gosh, she is Peggy's mini-me," Becca said, showing Steve the picture she was talking about. It was of the girls when they were younger, and Becca pointed to the younger of the two.
Steve agreed, "Alice is all Peggy."
"Alice," Becca repeated, trying to put it to memory. Moving her finger to the other girl, she waited for Steve to say, "Maggie-Mae."
Nodding, Becca flipped the insert to show the boys when they were younger. Steve said, "Mikey and Harrison."
"Harrison is like looking in a mirror, yeah?" Dum Dum smiled over at Steve.
Steve chuckled, "I don't know about that."
"I do," Dum Dum said, looking over at his own sons. Felix was definitely Timothy Dugan's clone while Rey and Iggy were somewhere in between their parents, a perfect mix.
"I just have to say it," Bianca started, taking the wallet insert from her aunt so she could see the pictures better, "We make one good looking family."
"Definitely," Bucky agreed, smiling over at Steve — his husband — as a pink hue started prettily tinting his alabaster skin.
Love Blooms (demon!Bucky and pre-serum!Steve omegaverse au)
19
AS SOON AS he could, Steve left the lowest level of the brownstone. Some of the devotees were lingering, talking with one another and vying for a chance to talk to either the King or Queen. The strangest though was how some of them had approached him, as though Steve was important to them as well. Important by association, he supposed. But Steve wanted none of that.
Swiftly, he made his exit and raced up the stairs from the ceremony level to the business level to the main residential level to Bucky's level. Well, what had once been Bucky's and Bucky's alone but now held the nursery and Steve's current bedroom with the master suite. He rushed the whole way and didn't stop until he reached Mia.
"Everything alright?" Dum Dum asked from the glider chair beside the crib. The guard was curled up with a Peter Rabbit quilt and a worn novel.
"Yeah," Steve assured, lifting his sleeping baby into his arms. She stirred briefly, but didn't wake, so Steve caressed her cheek and scent-marked her tiny body before smoothing the little fuzz of hair that she had. "You can go now, Dugan. Get some sleep."
"Will do," Dum Dum conceded, leaving the omega.
When the man was at the door, Steve stopped him, "Thank you. I owe my peace of mind to you."
"Just a part of the job," he reassured, a kind smile peeking out from beneath his bushy mustache.
Alone with Mia, Steve carried her to the glider so he could rock her. She was the most important thing in the world to him. He would do anything for her. Even if it meant to sacrifice himself. She was worth it. She was worth everything.
Knock, knock.
Directing his attention from the sleeping baby to the open doorway, Steve found Bucky leaning there. Arms crossed along his broad chest, the alpha asked, "How're you?"
"Fine."
Studying him, Bucky didn't say anything for a while. Steve wasn't sure what the alpha could possibly be looking for or what he was possibly seeing. However, there, and then gone, sorrow passed through the bond. Bucky promised, "You won't have to do that again."
Thank you, was what Steve was about to say, but didn't. If Steve was being honest, he didn't mind most of the ceremony. It was strange, but he liked seeing the good that Bucky could do. Allowing his followers to feel safe and confident and happy. Providing for a plentiful harvest, helping them with reaching their dreams, and healing them. Steve liked seeing that. He wouldn't mind seeing more of that.
Visions of Jessica with her son, Gerry, swam to the forefront of Steve's mind. His chest grew tight at the memory of their arms wrapped tightly around each other. Memories of Gerry's little voice saying, "mama." And if Steve was really being honest — which he liked to try to be most of the time — he felt that Bucky had performed a miracle.
"I..." Steve steadied himself as he thought about what he could possibly say. Before he could though, Bucky said, "Becca will be leaving soon."
"Oh?"
"Yeah," Bucky confirmed. Assuring, "So, we'll be able to go back to the... usual... sleeping arrangements soon."
"Oh," Steve breathed. The thing was, he hadn't minded sharing a room with the alpha. Bucky respected his boundaries and added a level of comfort that Steve didn't realize he needed. He guessed it was because the pair were mates and that mates needed time together.
Looking down at Mia, Steve half-teased, "Ready to not deal with a bed-hog?"
"Sure," Bucky glanced down at his feet, "We can go with that."
Standing, Steve said, "I don't know about you, but I'm about to pass out."
Pushing himself off the doorframe, Bucky agreed, "That sounds good."
Steve led the way into the master bedroom and Bucky closed the door behind them. Already the pair had a routine. One of them changing into their pajamas and taking care of their nighttime business while the other scented and marked Mia. Then, they would switch. Typically, it was Steve who went first. Changing first, peeking on the brunet and their baby, then he would brush his teeth, do his nighttime skincare, etc. Steve adored those stolen moments of Bucky and Mia. He wished that he could stitch all of those moments together so he could watch them on repeat.
"Alright," Steve announced himself.
Kissing Mia's cheek, Bucky reluctantly climbed away from the baby lounger and off the bed. There was a little, sleepy smile on his enticing mouth, and Steve couldn't help but want to kiss him. Nearly falling from tripping over his feet, Steve had no idea where that urge was coming from.
Or, at least, that was what he was trying to convince himself.
The bed being turned down already, Steve climbed into bed to Mia's left. Not too long after, Bucky returned. He climbed into bed on the right side, just like he had been for the last couple of weeks.
Once they were both settled, Steve stretched his leg toward the center of the bed. Just like everything else that had become routine, Steve smiled to himself when he felt Bucky's leg already outstretched towards him. Just like every other night that they had shared a bed together, Steve sandwiched Bucky's ankle between his own.
Before the pair could fall asleep, Steve quietly said, "I get it, y'know?"
"Hm?"
"What happened tonight," Steve clarified, "I understand why Jessica did it. I'd move heaven and earth to have Mia be safe, happy, and healthy."
Bucky caressed Steve's calf with his foot. "I know you would. I would too. But we'll never have to."
"It must be nice," Steve teased, "Knowing everything."
"I don't know everything," Bucky playfully argued. "I just have — what do you humans call it? — hope."
"'You humans,'" Steve mocked in an exaggerated imitation of Bucky, causing the alpha to let out a soft giggle. Steve attempted to muffle his own so he wouldn't wake their baby and shushed him, "If you wake her..."
"I can't help it," Bucky defended himself. Accusing, "You just make me sound so ridiculous. It's nice."
"'It's nice?'"
"Yes. Makes me feel like a person, and not like I'm on a pedestal. It's nice."
Chest clenching, Steve could only imagine what that would feel like, and he hated that Bucky had to feel it at all. Bucky was more than what his devotees assumed of him. He might've been all-knowing or all-powerful, but he was more than that. He was kind and compassionate and smart and funny, and spending time with him was something that Steve decided not to take for granted. Not anymore.
"Hey, Buck?"
"Hmm?" He sleepily hummed.
"You're... more... than that. You matter. And not just for what you can do. You, Bucky, matter."
Bucky's foot caressed Steve's calf. Hope coursed through the bond as he quietly asked, "To you? I matter to you?"
"To everyone." Reaching out for Bucky's hand that was resting on their daughter's belly. Giving the alpha's hand a squeeze, Steve added, "Especially to me."
Sooooooooooo, my doctor took me off one of my antidepressants and has upped the dose on my other one. I've been super emotional and my mental health isn't good right now. I have been reading a lot though. I read the "Game Changers" series and have read Rachel Reid's other books. I'm giddy about having guessed that "Game Changer" (the first book) was based on a Stucky fanfic. I'm also convinced that the other books are reworked Stucky fanfics. There're just too many coincidences, y'know??? I also watched "Heated Rivalry" with my brother and sister-in-law, who have listened to me talk about the book series for the past, like, two weeks. Basically, my life is about Stucky, LGBTQ+ hockey stories, and crying 💁♀️
Anyway, I hope you're all doing well wherever you are!
Much love and appreciation
Minnie ❤️❤️❤️
Love Blooms (demon!Bucky and pre-serum!Steve omegaverse au)
18
LOOKING INTO THE group, Bucky held up his hand to beckon, "Bring him forward."
Confused, Steve followed where the alpha's gaze was. The crowd was separating once more as two men dragged a limp man towards the center of the room. A ball of anxiety started to take root in Steve's stomach as he took in the unconscious man. His arms were tied behind his back, his clothes were ripped from a tussle, his feet were bare and bloody, but the thing that Steve couldn't tear his focus from was the sack over the man's head.
What was this?
What were they going to do?
Was this... normal? For this type of ritual?
Looking around at the rest of the room, no one seemed shocked. Of course, they were also all wearing masks, so maybe they were reacting the same way that Steve was. Not that that made Steve feel any better. If a person saw evil things being done and didn't try to stop them, that made them no better than the one doing the evil things.
"Lay him down," Bucky instructed the two men dragging the unconscious man. The devotees did as they were told. He was on his stomach though, so Bucky gestured for him to be rolled over. Then Bucky requested, "The dagger."
"What the hell?" Steve asked, under his breath.
"Steve," Becca warned on the other side of Bucky's empty throne.
Turning to look at her, he asked, "What're they gonna do?"
Softly, she claimed, "That's the man that killed Gerry. He's the root of all of this heartache and suffering, and now it's time to rectify it."
"How?"
Rebecca chose not to answer though. Instead, she straightened her spine and kept her face forward, to watch the sacrifice. Because that was what they were going to do, right? Take one life to give to another. They weren't going to perform a miracle, they were going to commit blasphemy.
Returning his attention to his daughter's alpha father, Steve watched Bucky, trying to gauge his reaction. Was this what Bucky wanted to hide from Steve? Certainly, it had to be. After all, if Steve saw him as the monster he was, that spoiled any plans for reconciliation, didn't it? And they had been on their way back to how they were before Steve knew who Bucky really was, weren't they? Trying to be one big happy family? As if the shaky foundation of their relationship hadn't been built upon lies and salted, sour soil.
Soon enough, Peggy joined the gathering in the middle of the room, handing the recently cleaned dagger to the King. The alpha thanked the elderly woman before bringing the dagger over to the mourning mother. For a moment, he let the mother hunch over the deceased child as she sobbed openly. Her pain was palpable and each new cry bounced and echoed and hit Steve in the heart.
"It's time, Jessica," Bucky said. When she looked up at him, he gave her an out, "If this is still what you want to do."
Eagerly, she nodded and accepted the dagger. As she moved closer to the bound man, Angie, Whitney, and Peggy poured a thick circle of finely grained blue Terrigen Crystal around the goat, the man, her, Bucky, and poor little Gerry.
Around the room, the devotees chanted, "Bu'loch," until it was incomprehensible. Steve wanted to run. To leave. To take Mia with him away from all of this. Surely, this couldn't happen. This couldn't be the right thing to do. It wasn't the right thing! Not at all!
Raising her arms high above her head, Jessica held the dagger; ready to plunge it into the unconscious man. Steve's breath stilled as he watched the woman grip the dagger tighter. This was going to happen. Steve was going to be a witness to this ritual. To this sacrifice. To this murder.
The goat bleated and Steve's stomach twisted tighter. He knew that this was wrong. He knew that he should stop this. But Steve knew that if he tried to stop this, the cult could turn on him, Steve's teeth ground together as he clutched violently at the throne's arms. He knew this was wrong, but he also knew that he needed to keep his daughter safe. If he was gone, who would raise her right? Her brain would be twisted into thinking that this was okay.
"Wait," Jessica said, causing the room to quiet. She brought the dagger down, but not striking the man's exposed chest. Instead, she held it to the side and redirected her gaze to Bucky. Steve felt as though he couldn't breathe. This was over! She was coming to her senses! Not everyone in this room was ba—
"I want to see his face."
All of Steve's breath pushed out of him so severely that his chest hurt. He was a fool. He was a fool to think that this wasn't going to happen. Of course it was going to happen. It was always going to happen. That was why Bucky didn't want him there. Bucky knew that this was wrong, but he was going to do it anyway.
Removing the hood from the man's head, Jessica stared down at him. Curling in on herself as her shoulders shook, sobbing. Bucky reached out, smoothing his hand over her head as he tried to soothe the woman.
"It's alright," Bucky assured. "It's all going to be alright."
Jessica nodded, but made no move to stab the man. Instead, she removed her uniform bunny mask and wiped her wet face. Trying to compose herself as best as she could before murdering the man before her.
"Otto," Jessica sniffled, tapping the unconscious man. When he didn't move, she hit him a little harder. And when he still didn't wake, she slapped his face so harshly that it sounded like a crack from a whip that echoed throughout the room. "OTTO!"
When the man started groaning in pain, Jessica turned his face so he could look at her. Otto blinked, confused. Gaze probably swimming, he looked around the room. She fought him to look at her while repeating, "Otto, look at me."
Brows furrowing, he asked, "Jess?"
"That's right," she confirmed. "It's me. Me, you, and our baby. Do you remember what you did?"
"Jess," he wiggled, trying to get out of his ties. "It was an acci—"
Jessica slapped him again. Enunciating, "It shouldn't have happened at all! You should've never gotten in that car —"
"It was an accident!"
"— you put that needle in your arm —"
The goat bleated.
Jessica raised her arms.
Otto wiggled along the floor, struggling to break free.
"— didn't buckle him in —"
Oh. Oh no. Steve felt emotion rise up and get stuck in his throat.
"— rolled the car! You did that! You killed him!"
Instantly, he looked at Bucky. The alpha was already looking at him. Steve warned, if you ever —
I could never, Bucky promised.
"Jess, no!" Otto pleaded as he squirmed. "Don't do this! We can work on us! We can try to have another ba—"
Jessica's arms were brought down, plunging into the restrained man's chest, cutting his pleas off with a guttural scream. The dagger was removed from the man's body before being thrust back in. Over and over.
And over again.
And again.
Again and again.
Again.
Not being able to look anymore, Steve closed his eyes. Only, he could still hear the slushy sound of the knife being plunged in and out of Otto's torso. Stomach roiling, Steve was certain that he was going to get sick right then and there.
"That's enough."
Peeking one eye open, Steve was relieved to see Jessica had stopped. Bucky had stopped her, thank god! However, Steve was past the point of thinking this ritual was over. So, he sat there and silently watched as Otto's blood was collected.
"Open Gerry's mouth," Bucky instructed.
Doing as told, Jessica tilted her deceased son's head as though she was going to perform CPR. Bucky continued, "Pour Otto's blood into Gerry's mouth." So she did.
Off to the side, the goat's bleating became more frequent. The animal laid on its side, clearly in pain. As guttural groans started leaving the goat instead of the bleats, a clear balloon of sorts was leaving the goat's body. The goat was in labor.
Bucky walked over to Jessica and Gerry, positioning himself at the little boy's head. Dropping down to one knee, Bucky lifted his left arm once more, pushing his sleeve out of the way. With his razorblade sharp fingernail, he slit his skin open. Once again, his blood flowed. This time, into little Gerry's open mouth.
After a moment, Bucky moved his arm and closed Gerry's mouth. Moving his hands down the column of Gerry's neck, it reminded Steve of how his in-laws used to get their dog to take their meds. Bucky was trying to get the boy to swallow the offered blood.
"Now breathe breath into his lungs."
Nodding, Jessica moved forward, tilting his head once more and opening the boy's mouth. Just as Bucky instructed, she breathed for him. Once. Twice. Thrice. She kept going. She was determined to bring him back. Just as desperate to give her child life as the goat was to give life to hers.
Eyes closed, Bucky touched Otto's forehead and Gerry's as he willed, "Life for life."
It didn't take long for the devotees to start repeating, "Life for life."
Life for life
Life for life
Lifeforlife
Even Steve found himself softly joining in, "Life for life."
The goat screamed as their baby exited their body covered in the goo from the amniotic sac. Around the room, the flames of the candles flickered, died, and re-lit.
Jessica pulled back then and Gerry coughed. Bucky helped the boy sit up, rubbing his back as he continued coughing. There were tears streaming down Jessica's face, causing some of the blood around her mouth to wash away.
Bucky tended to the goat then, making sure that the animal bonded with her spawn. The goat was eating the amniotic sac, even as Bucky cut a small portion of it off. Offering it to Jessica and Gerry. He instructed them to eat it, and she accepted it immediately. Placing a bit of it in her own mouth, then placing the rest into Gerry's. Despite Gerry being dazed, he managed to chew.
As if returning to himself, Gerry looked around the room before looking at his mother. His voice was hoarse, "Mama?"
Nodding, Jessica brought him onto her lap and held him tightly in her arms. Rocking him, she kissed the top of his head, "I'm here, baby. I'm here."
The little boy wrapped his arms around her neck, holding her just as close as she was holding him. Steve missed his parents at that moment, and he longed to hold his own child in his arms. While he might not have agreed with the ritual, Steve understood the reasoning. He'd do anything for Mia. Maybe even kill Bucky if he needed to.
Love Blooms (demon!Bucky and pre-serum!Steve omegaverse au)
17
Candlelight flickered about the room, casting long shadows that hid some of the followers and created the illusions of others in the corners of the dim room. Steve's eyes bounced around, glancing at some of the mask-clad people watching him — them — as they took their places beside Becca.
Shoulders back, head held high, spine straight; Becca was all poise and purpose. Steve tried to be like that too. Especially when the rows of followers bowed to them. Feeling his cheeks heat, Steve was grateful for the mask concealing his embarrassment from the situation.
"Welcome," Becca greeted, turning to look at the followers, "We're pleased to see so many of you here."
"Very pleased," Bucky agreed, silently demanding the room's attention.
Not knowing what to do, Steve simply nodded.
Climbing up the dais, Becca sat in a throne with ornate skulls sculpted into the dark-varnished wood of the frame. Bucky took his seat beside his twin in an identical throne as hers, and Steve took the third, smaller throne that was specifically brought for Steve and Steve alone.
Oddly enough, Steve thought about thanking the demonic offspring. For what?! He couldn't help but think. Only a moment later did he internally answer: For Mia.
Noticing that Steve was looking at him, Bucky gave him a casual wink. Feeling his cheeks heat beneath the mask, Steve redirected his attention to in front of himself. Amusement flowed from Bucky's side of the bond, and Steve tried to ignore that by watching an older member with a lace-detailed rabbit mask stand in front of the dais. Two more members — one, a pearl-detailed mask, the other a soft suede — took their place beside the first devotee. The trio bowed at the King and Queen, and even included Steve in that gesture too before turning to face their fellow followers.
Unrolling the scroll, a familiar voice came from the follower in the soft, suede mask, "When your name is called, please step forward."
Angela Martinelli. The one and only. Steve would know that voice anywhere. Hell, she was one of Sarah Rogers' favorite actresses of all time, she'd be ashamed and probably disown Steve if he didn't recognize the older woman's voice.
"John and Mary Hankin," Angie read. Two robe-claded people stepped out of the open space. "Marcia Hastings, James Howlett, Albie Johnson, Claire Mundy, Anne Webster, Pauline Weston."
More of the group joined the first pair while the member standing on either side of Angie got things ready for the ceremony. A table was placed off to the side, and pearl-rabbit member unrolled a velvet piece of fabric, revealing a dagger with beautiful, blinding blue crystals in the handle.
Beside the dagger was a gold goblet embellished with sigils that were adorned with the same blue crystals as the dagger. Really, Steve thought they were too stunning to be used in such a moment. Especially when — much like Peggy at his own ceremony a lifetime ago — Angie cut herself. Not as long or as deep as Peggy with Steve's ceremony, but her blood was still collected in the goblet all the same.
After enough was collected, the other member in the lace mask wrapped the elderly woman's hand to keep the wound covered. Then, the selected group was approached with the decorative dagger and the goblet. Steve watched as each member in the front of Angie pricked their fingers to drip blood into the goblet.
Once all of the blood was collected and the devotees were bandaged, Angie carried it over to Bucky while the follower with the pearl-detailed mask brought a basket with different seed packets to him. The alpha graciously took the bejewelled cup, and then he proceeded to gulp the offering down. A few drops of the blood dribbled out from the corner of his mouth, and Steve fought the urge to lean over and clean his face. Bucky was, after all, his mate, so it was only natural that Steve would want to be close to the alpha and take care of him.
"Oh, King Bu'loch, please accept our offering and bless us with a prosperous harvest," Angie spoke for the group before them.
Accepting the packets of seeds next, Bucky opened each one. Then, one by one, he spit into the packets. The dark, red-tinted saliva was thick like tar as it mixed with the precious, offered seeds.
"Thank you, your Majesty," Angie collected the packets and carried them back to their owners. The group bowed as, they too, thanked the Maveth King.
As the first group was absorbed into the rest of the followers, Angie switched places with the pearl-masked member. Pearl-bunny unrolled the next scroll. Each person she called stepped out into the middle before her. Taking the dagger, she held it in her aged hand. Steve was preparing for her to slit her hand the way that Angie had, but that wasn't what she did. Instead, she removed her mask. It took everything in Steve to stop the gasp that almost escaped him when he recognized the once-upon-a-time fashion icon and award winning actress, Whitney Frost.
Is this a fame cult? Steve couldn't help but wonder. Then, he thought, who else in The Business is a devotee?
Whitney turned to face the dais as she said, "We do this for you, Bu'loch." Her gaze never felt the man as she brought the dagger up to her still-beautiful face and sliced along the scar, stretching from her temple to her jaw.
Whitney proclaimed, "We do this for you, Bu'loch, so you'll know of our true loyalty and bestow your gifts upon us. Please accept our offering and bless us with healing and everlasting health."
Angie handed a cloth to Whitney and took the dagger from her. As Angie crossed the short distance between the trio and the group wanting to be blessed, Steve watched as the towel pressed to Ms. Frost's head darkened with her blood.
Standing before the followers, Angie instructed the men, women, and — to Steve's continued horror — children to lift the robe to reveal the afflicted area that they were wishing to have healed. Scars, growths, and other abnormalities were shown. It hurt to look at them, but Steve couldn't look away. Especially not when Angie instructed them to cut the new, old, and chronic wounds.
"Mama," a little boy — no older than eight — whimpered, reaching out for his mother.
"Now, now," Angie assured, "It'll only hurt for a second."
While his face was concealed, he sniffled and called out for his mother once more. The mother looked at the dais and then to her child. Some of the other followers were growing impatient. Someone, annoyed, asked, "Can someone else do it already?"
"That's not the custom," Angie reminded.
Quietly, Steve asked Bucky, "Can't you do something?"
A miniscule nod, Bucky allowed, "The boy's mother may join him and assist."
"Thank you," the mother rushed, joining her son. "Thank you, so much, your Majesty."
Bucky bowed his head, showing that he appreciated her. Really, he appreciated them all. Steve could feel that. This was more than just him only caring about them for what they did for him. Through the bond, Steve could feel that they mattered to him, truly. Almost unconditionally. Almost.
As the group cut their afflicted areas, Bucky held up his arm and Steve watched as the nail on the alpha's right index finger transformed from a normal, human fingernail into a sharp, black claw. Then, the alpha used his claw to slit his left wrist. Shocked and horrified to see the alpha injure himself for these people caused Steve's heart to skip a beat. He wasn't sure why it struck him so severely to see Bucky hurt — even if he was the one to do it himself — but he found it difficult to remain collected.
"I'm okay," Bucky softly reassured, even as the blood continued to flow. And it continued to flow until the goblet was filled.
Once done, the goblet was taken back to the bleeding followers. First, it was brought to the impressively accomplished Whitney freakin' Frost. Angie dipped a cloth into the goblet before bringing it up to the other actress's face. Swiping it along the cut, Steve watched as the wound sealed once more and became faint, as though it was an old, faded scar.
The process was repeated on the other followers. Steve watched, amazed as the magic blood sealed cuts, smoothed burns, and shrunk tumors. Briefly, Steve wondered if it could work on him. Spine? Straightened. Lungs? Breathing. Body? Certified beef cake.
It can't be that easy.
But what if it is?
The little boy looked just as surprised as Steve. Instantly the tears were dried up and the cut on his arm vanished. Steve wasn't sure what he needed healed, but he hoped that it was gone for good. He had spent too much of his youth in doctors offices to want any other kid to go through the same.
Next, the lace-bunny took control of the third group, "When your name is called, please step forward."
Peggy.
It hadn't been all that long since the last time that he was around Peggy, but it felt like a lifetime ago. The betrayal was still strong when he thought about how she had deceived him so he could be used as an incubator. More confusingly though, Steve could feel the prior adoration trying to stand its ground because he had once trusted her completely. He had loved her like family. Thought of her as another grandmother.
As the new group took their place in the center, Peggy instructed, "Place your personal items and headshots into the bin." They did as instructed, so Peggy continued, "Now, the lock of hair you were supposed to cut before arriving."
Did Hodge have to do all of this? Steve internally wondered, then felt silly because of course not, he gave you to Bu'loch instead.
Whitney handed Peggy the dagger while Angie brought the goblet underneath Peggy's hand, collecting the blood from her bleeding palm. From Steve's elevated position, he could see Peggy's blood mixing with the leftover blood from Bucky. As Peggy bandaged herself, the other two women went down the line of seven followers of the current group. Each one cut their palms, letting the blood flow into the goblet. Just like Peggy and Angie, the group bandaged their hands once the women moved to the next member.
Emptying the goblet into the bin, Peggy addressed the inhuman, "King Bu'loch, please accept our offering and bless us with renowned notability and success."
With that, the bin was set on fire. Professional pictures and non, teddy bears, items of clothing, and the dark mixture of blood all go up in flames. Once it had turned to ash, Peggy reached into the bin and collected the substance on her fingers. Then, she instructed them to remove their masks. One by one she drew a sigil on their foreheads. Steve wasn't sure what it was, or what it meant, but he figured that it must've been important. Especially since he had seen it written on various places throughout the house. Including a tiny corner of the wainscot at the second story landing.
When the group went back with the rest of the followers, Bucky stood from his throne. He demanded the room's attention without having to say a word. Steve couldn't take his eyes off of him as the alpha stepped down from the dais and stood in the center of the room. Blood was drying on the floor, but Bucky didn't seem to mind.
Looking to the right, Bucky held his hand out, beckoning one of the devotees to join him. The crowd split to let an individual walk out a goat. Behind them, a robe-claded, mask-wearer carried a child in their arms.
"Lay him down, Jessica," Bucky told her, the child's mother.
That was when Steve realized that the child wasn't sleeping, he was dead. This was the part that Bucky was hesitant to talk to Steve about. He was going to resurrect this little boy. He was going to perform a miracle.
Sorry I haven't been very active this past year. Things have just been crazy. I have early glaucoma (the light therapy DID lower the pressure though, so that's good), my stepdad had to undergo hernia surgery, and my mom is scheduled to get knee replacement surgery on December 23, 2025.
My pawpaw (my mom's dad) is also experiencing wasting syndrome. He's 80, has skin cancer (since 1991 due to being in Vietnam as a late teen/early 20s and then a construction worker once he got back to the 'States), COPD (he was a heavy smoker), and lung cancer (diagnosed in the spring of 2025). Me, my mom, and my stepdad went to bring him Christmas, however, he wasn't in the mood. Which is understandable. He's lived a long and hard life, and the love of his life (my mom's mom aka mawmaw) passed away a decade ago. We know he misses her, and we know that he's ready to be reunited with her whether it's in heaven or in reincarnation or something of the like.
ANYWAY, I hope you're all doing well wherever you are! I know the world feels all topsy-turvy right now, but I want nothing but the best for you guys!
Much love and appreciation
Minnie ❤️❤️❤️
"So, um," Steve started as they left their art history class.
"So..." Bucky prompted, tucking the petite blond under his arm to keep him warm against the biting wind.
"Christmas is coming up..."
Thinking about the sketchbook, Bucky bit back his grin, "It sure is."
"And I was thinking that we could... do something. Like, exchange presents." Before Bucky could agree, Steve hurriedly continued, "Not that I'm expecting anything — so, don't feel like you need to get me something. It's just that I have something for you, and I'd like to give it to you before mom and I go to her parents' house in Arkansas."
"You're gonna be gone for Christmas?" Bucky asked, feeling his chest tighten at the thought. Sure, they didn't have to spend every minute of every day together, but this would be their first Christmas together. Bucky didn't need gifts, he just wanted to spend the holidays with his favorite person.
"Yeah," Steve sighed. Looking up at the brunet, he said, "We try to visit at least once a year. Do you have any plans?"
"We usually go to Maine to visit my dad's brother and his family."
When a biting gust of wind swirled around them, Bucky pulled the petite blond closer. So, they wouldn't be spending their Christmases together. It was a bummer, sure, but it could be worse.
"We'll figure it out," Bucky assured, dropping a kiss to Steve's temple.
Steve beamed up at him, nodding. Reaching the building where Steve's next class was, the blond turned to embrace Bucky fully. Nuzzling into the brunet's broad chest before standing on his tiptoes so he could press a kiss to Bucky's cheek, and then his lips. Before the smaller teen could pull away completely, Bucky brought him in for one more kiss. And one more. And one more. And —
"Bucky!" Steve chuckled, shoving at his chest.
Keeping a firm grip on Steve's waist, Bucky pleaded, "Just one more."
"I gotta get to class," Steve weakly argued, but didn't pull away, letting Bucky kiss him again. And again. And again. And —
"Get a room!"
At the sound of the deep voice, Steve pulled away, his expression closing off to one of annoyance. Which shouldn't be allowed. So, Bucky turned them both as he playfully agreed with the muscular brunet, "Okay."
"Buck!" Steve laughed again. Repeating himself, "Gotta get to class."
"Fine," Bucky sighed, laying it on thick to keep that smile on Steve's handsome face.
"C'mon, Boy Scout," the other brunet draped his arm along Steve's shoulders, "Don't wanna be late."
Bucky narrowed his eyes at the other brunet and how he was touching Steve. He wanted the only one touching Steve to be him. But he didn't say anything. When the pair headed towards the door, Steve shoved the guy's arm off of himself, it made a small smile tug at the corners of Bucky's lips.
"I'll see ya tonight?" Bucky called before the blond entered the building.
Steve turned, hitting the brunet with a beautiful grin as he confirmed, "See ya!"
His heart soared, and to keep that smile on Steve's face, he playfully blew him a kiss. Smile still there, Steve mockingly caught the kiss and shoved it into his pocket. Bucky beamed at the gesture. Joke or not, it warmed him through to his very soul. Maybe he wasn't the only lovefool in this relationship. And maybe he didn't have to worry about the other brunet, not even when he wrapped his arm around Steve as they walked down the hallway.
— — — — — — — —
"HEY! Hey, YOU!"
On his way to his dorm, a deep voice repeated, "Hey, you! Pretty boy!"
Glancing around, Bucky didn't see anyone stop walking. No, the people he passed were looking from him to someone behind him. With furrowed brows, Bucky turned around to see the muscular brunet. The one that was too friendly with Steve.
Stopping so the guy could catch up, Bucky asked, "Yeah?"
"Bucky, right?"
Nodding, Bucky confirmed, "Yeah."
Not remembering the other brunet's name, Bucky didn't say anything. Vaguely he knew the guy from the double date they had, but other than that, he had no desire to know the guy.
"Brock."
"Right," Bucky shuffled his feet as they stood on the sidewalk.
"Steve's friend," he needlessly added.
"I know."
Brock smirked, "Just like you."
Brows furrowing, "What?"
"Steve's friend," he pointed at himself, then he pointed at Bucky, "Steve's friend."
"Oh," Bucky looked towards his residence hall. Not wanting to talk to this guy who acted like he had a claim on Steve, Bucky corrected, "We, uh, we're actually more than just friends, y'know?"
Brock's brows furrowed, "Like... dating?"
"Yea—"
"Because that wouldn't make us any different," Brock interrupted. Bucky's heart plummeted out of his ass and into the hard cement below. Not that Brock seemed to notice, "Since we're seeing each other too."
No, they can't be, Bucky's brows set into a heavy furrow as he replayed the last time he saw Brock. Steve had shoved him off. He had acted annoyed. As if he doesn't pretend to do that with you. Bucky felt sick. Maybe that was why he kept saying he had to get to class. And maybe that was why he didn't shove Brock off once they were —
"Wait," Brock interrupted Bucky's internal meltdown, "You're not exclusive, right? Because as much as I like the guy, I'm not into cheating."
Bucky worried his lower lip. After all, he had never brought up their relationship status. Sure, he was head over heels in love with Steve, but he never asked if they were exclusive. And it wasn't like he could fault Steve — or even Brock — for seeing each other since he had done the same before Steve.
He just had hoped that he and Steve were on the same page. That they didn't want anyone other than each other.
"Um, nope," Bucky cleared his throat even as it felt like it was going to close entirely with all of the emotion building there. Quietly, he admitted, "Not cheating. We're not —"
"Great!" Brock beamed. Then, he clapped his hand harshly onto Bucky's shoulder and left him standing there in a whirlwind of hurt and despair.
Steve wasn't his.
Had he ever been?
— — — — — — — —
Is the barista flirting with Steve? Bucky watched as Steve got their drinks. Before he made his way back to their table, the barista kept talking. And Steve was laughing. Is Steve flirting back?
"Thanks, again," Steve told the barista, making his way back to Bucky.
Reaching the table, he set Bucky's hot soy chai latte in front of him then took a seat in the empty chair across from him. Taking off his lid to let the drink cool, Bucky attempted to appear nonchalant as he asked, "You know him?"
"Who?" Steve asked, then glanced over at the service counter, "Greg? Yeah, he's in my algebra class. Pretty much he's the only one who is as clueless when it comes to math as me."
At Steve's laugh, Bucky smiled. It was small and didn't feel right on his mouth, not in the presence of the blond. But Brock's words echoed through his head. Steve's friend. Just like you. Steve's friend just like you. Stevesfriendjustlikeyou. Friend. Like you. Friend friend friend friendfriendfriend. You. It just kept circling around in his head.
"Oh! I gotta go," Steve stood from the table. "I'm helping a friend, but I'll text you."
With a kiss on Bucky's cheek and a wave to the barista, Steve was gone. And, well, since Steve was gone, there was no reason why he should sit alone in the shop. Even if he was debating having this be the headquarters to the Steve's Friends support group because no way was Bucky the only one crazy about the guy and mourning not being exclusive.
It had been several days since the incident with Brock, but all he had been thinking about was how much of a double-edged sword loving Steve was. Every time that he was with him, Bucky couldn't help but try to will his feelings to awaken Steve's. Sometimes, it even felt like it worked and that Steve loved him back. But Bucky didn't want, 'sometimes,' he wanted all the time. He wanted every second of every day forever.
That wasn't happening though, and it was killing him. Killing him so much that he forgot he was supposed to be studying with Stephanie until he entered his dorm room and found her sitting on the futon beside Clint while he played a videogame.
"Sorry," Bucky apologized to his classmate. "Have you been here long?"
"About thirty minutes," Stephanie said.
"No way have you been here for thirty minutes —" Clint argued, pausing the game "— because I was supposed to leave fifteen minutes after you got here." Checking his phone, he realized that he was wrong. Instantly, he stood from the futon and hit his head on the frame of Bucky's bed as he grabbed his stuff so he could rush out of the room with a crude, "Don't fuck on my bed!" tossed over his shoulder.
Awkwardly, Bucky chuckled and removed his outwear. Assuring, "He thinks he's funny."
"Hilarious," Stephanie deadpanned before giving Bucky a wink.
Bucky's smile grew more genuine as he made his way across the room to his desk. Taking out the materials he needed to study, Bucky said, "Seriously, don't listen to anything he says."
"So, we're not going to be fucking? What a shame."
Glancing over at the petite blonde, Bucky wasn't sure what to say. Was she joking? Or was she being serious and this was a real offer? She was cute, and very clearly his type with her petite frame, blonde hair, and blue eyes. But she wasn't Steve. Not that anyone could be Steve except for Steve.
But should he be exclusive with someone who didn't want to be exclusive with him?
After staring at each other for what felt like an eternity, Bucky moved to the futon. Opening his textbook, he decided that he'd let her decide to make a move or just leave it as it is. Maybe if he hooked up with someone else, it'd keep him from losing his mind over all of the guys that Steve was with. It would work, right?
Pressing firmly into Bucky's side, Stephanie asked, "What d'ya get for ten?"
"I got —"
Stephanie's mouth was on his in an instant. For a moment, he thought about pushing her away, but he didn't. Instead, he pushed harder into the kiss as though with enough force, he could forget about his feelings for Steve. Not that Stephanie seemed to mind as she laid back on the futon, pulling Bucky over top of herself.
Starting to undress, Stephanie made the first move to remove her shirt and pants. At first, Bucky felt like stopping this. This wasn't fair to Stephanie. This wasn't fair to Steve. Forget about him. If he really cared like you want him to, he wouldn't be with anyone else.
Tugging the hem of Bucky's shirt up, Stephanie caught sight of his piercings and commented, "Ouch."
"It was a good ouch," Bucky fixed a smile on his face while she removed his shirt entirely from his body.
Emboldened, Stephanie tugged at one of his nipples, sending a zap of pleasure to his cock. He wasn't hard, not even close. Closing his eyes, he leaned in for a kiss. Pathetically hoping that he'd get hard. Stephanie was a pretty girl with conventionally attractive features and natural blonde hair and big blue eyes —
Steve's face came to the forefront of his mind. First, Bucky sees those sky-blue eyes that he loves so much. Looking up at him like he wouldn't want to be anywhere else than with Bucky. And there wasn't anywhere else that he'd rather be than with —
Zipper down, Stephanie reached down to palm his soft member, trying to coax it to life. Bucky feared that he'd never get hard with anyone else ever again except with Steve. And he's really not seeing that as a downside. He loved Steve.
What the fuck are you doing?!
You LOVE Steve!
WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING, JAMES BUCHANAN?!
Climbing off of Stephanie and falling off the futon onto his ass, Bucky felt like he couldn't breathe. How could he do that to Steve? To his love for Steve? He couldn't. He wouldn't. He loved Steve too much to be with anyone else.
Stephanie sat up, "What's wrong?"
"I'm sorry. I can't."
"Oh," seemingly unsure of herself, she reached for her shirt.
Knock, knock.
Clint must've forgotten something, Bucky figured, standing from the floor. Zipping his jeans, he headed for the door. Probably forgot his keys.
Opening the door, Bucky found the one person he always wanted to see most and the very person he was least expecting to find standing there. Nevertheless, his own smile grew at the surprise because Steve was there. And he thoroughly intended on telling him exactly how he felt. Especially since Steve was the only one that he wanted to be with, and the blond deserved to know. Even if Steve didn't want to be exclusive.
Steve's smile, that had started off wide and brilliant, dropped from his handsome face. Just dimming to start off, but then gone completely as he looked beyond Bucky. The brunet's brows furrowed, concerned, "Steve? Are you okay?"
Reaching out for Steve, the blond to an unsteady step back, causing Bucky to follow and grab onto his elbow to help steady him. Of course, that didn't seem to help though as Steve yanked out of his grasp.
"Don't touch me."
His voice was low, dangerous. It scared Bucky. He had never heard anyone sound so threatening before. All he wanted to do was to pull the blond close and make things better. Steve should never look as hurt as he did in that moment.
"You're sleeping with other people."
At first, guilt filled him. No, he hadn't been sleeping with anyone except for Steve. But he couldn't deny that he had tried to sleep with someone else. Then, anger burned up the guilt because who was Steve to accuse him of something when the blond was doing the —
"Wait," Bucky's chest clenched. What if Brock was lying? "Are we exclusive?"
Without another word, Steve started down the hallway, heading for the exit. Following, Bucky was thankfully able to catch up and he blocked Steve's escape, "If you wanted to be exclusive, why didn't you say anything?"
Softly, he said, "I didn't think I had to."
Bucky's heart soared and then shattered as it fell back into place. The blond looked absolutely miserable with the hurt etched into his features and tears building in the rim of his eyes, waiting to spill over. There was nothing that he wanted more than to pull Steve close and to comfort him. To get to the bottom of things and work this out. All Bucky wanted was Steve.
Shoving the wrapped frame at him, Steve moved to walk around him. Without thinking, Bucky reached out to grab his shoulder to stop him. Voice soft, but unwavering, Steve warned, "Don't."
Not wanting him to feel trapped, Bucky stepped out of his way and tried again, "Steve, wait."
It didn't work though, Steve kept walking. He didn't look back at him. He didn't argue or turn and give Bucky a piece of his mind. Instead, he entered the elevator with his fists clenched at his sides. Meanwhile, Bucky was left standing there, holding a gift that he didn't deserve.
The One Where They Should Hurry Before Sam's Class is Over:
Bucky was in love.
Absolutely, positively, crazy in love. All he wanted to do was tell everyone that he could about his object of affection. Even if they didn't want to hear about it. Even when a certain roommate threatened to charge him a dollar every time that the blond was brought up. Bucky just couldn't help it though. He was stupidly in too deep with Steve, but he didn't care. All he could think about was Steve.
Steven.
Steve.
Stevie.
Really, it was no wonder how Bucky had fallen for the petite blond. Steve was kind. Thoughtful. To a fault, at times. Steve was funny. Funny without making a joke at another's expense. Steve was intelligent. And he never felt the need to put others beneath himself.
And let's not forget that the kid was a real stunner. He looked good all the time, but especially in pastels. Especially in purple. And blue. And that one yellow tee with the abstract sunset on it. And green, oh, you can't forget about green. And — it was just too difficult to choose which looked best!
Then, there was the fact that Steve was so creative. Like, really, truly artistic. Not just when he was working on something for one of his classes, but all the time. Every part of him as a person was awe inspiring.
Which was why Bucky knew the sketchbook would be the perfect gift for the petite blond. He knew it last week when he was a ball of anxious impatience as he waited for it to arrive in the mail. He knew it last month when he practiced writing Steve's name just right so he could get it to look good for the cover. He knew it on Halloween when he started shopping around for the most perfect sketchbook for the most perfect artist.
"What?"
Blinking his thoughts away, he looked up at Steve. Steve who was previously sketching him was now staring at him with curiosity and something akin to nervousness. Almost like he had something he wanted to tell Bucky but wasn't ready to speak aloud.
Or maybe Bucky was just projecting.
Blushing, Steve prompted, "You were staring at me."
"Well," Bucky tried to keep his heart from breaking loose and telling Steve how it really felt, "I like lookin' at ya. 'Feels only fitting when you're looking at me like that, that I return the sentiment."
"I wasn't looking at you in any type of way," Steve denied, despite the smile tugging at his lips.
"Oh, please!" Bucky exaggerated, setting his textbook to the side, "I'm practically naked with the way you were undressin' me."
Steve huffed, "I wish."
Biting back his grin, Bucky grabbed a hold of Steve's ankle and tugged, "C'mere."
Cheeks reddening, Steve placed his stuff off to the side before crawling over to Bucky. There was nothing better than seeing the blond move towards him with a sparkle in his eyes and a quirk to his pillowy lips. It was a truly mystical experience and Bucky couldn't believe that someone like Steve was wasting his time and energy — and art supplies — on the likes of someone like him.
Helping Steve steady on his lap, Bucky lifted his hand to cup the side of his face. Just looking up at him as the blond stared back at him. What did Bucky do to deserve this? What could he do to keep this? To keep Steve?
"What?" Steve quietly asked.
Caressing his cheek bone with his thumb, Bucky lied, "Nothing."
Playfully, Steve rolled his eyes before leaning in to kiss him. Sweet and affectionate was how it started. But once Steve bit his lower lip, Bucky couldn't help but let out a small groan. Of course, that only caused the mood to shift to one of desperate passion. Especially once Steve dropped his hips so he could grind along the hardening shaft of his cock.
"Clothes off," Steve spoke around his lips. Tugging at the hem of Bucky's t-shirt, "Off. Now. C'mon, Buck."
"Well, maybe if you rub me the right way, your wish will be granted," Bucky teased, raising his arms to help Steve undress him.
"Oh my god," Steve chuckled, "That was so bad."
Trying to keep a straight face, Bucky asked, "What? You're the one who wished for me to be naked, and who am I but a genie in a bottle."
"And yet," Steve looked down Bucky's exposed chest and gave the brunet's lap a pointed look, "You're still clothed."
"Appears so." Bucky kissed along Steve's jaw and asked, "What're we gonna do about that?"
Pulling away from the brunet, a wickedness lit up Steve's expression. That look was enough to make Bucky completely hard in his pants. Especially when Steve tilted Bucky's head up so he could lavish kisses down the column of his neck. Making sure to scrape his teeth over Bucky's Adam's apple, he couldn't help but moan out his appreciation.
Steve didn't stop there though. Instead, he continued kissing down Bucky's jeans, causing the brunet to arch into the feeling of Steve's mouth on such a sensitive area on his body. And while Bucky had gotten them pierced long before he even knew that a Steve Rogers existed, he's a romantic in the deepest parts of his soul and feels like the universe knew that there was a stubborn punk that would appreciate them more than anyone else he had been with.
Kissing down his stomach, Steve dipped the tip of his tongue into his belly button earning a giggle from the brunet even as his arousal grew. Bucky could feel the way Steve's lips quirked up into a smile against his abdomen, and he couldn't help but fall a little more for the blond. He wanted to tell Steve then and there just how much he loved him, but bit his tongue. Instead, he chose to tangle his hands in that silky blond hair, hoping that the soft touch conveyed enough affection for him to fall for Bucky just as hard.
"C'mon, Stevie," Bucky whined, "You're killin' me here."
"So impatient," Steve playfully tsked, but hooked his fingers in the waist of Bucky's jeans.
"Hmm, now who does that sound like?"
Playfully, Steve rolled his eyes, choosing not to argue with the truth. Instead, he concentrated on getting Bucky naked. Thankfully, the brunet was on the same page as he lifted his hips to help Steve undress him. Propping himself up on his forearms, he watched as Steve carelessly tossed the discarded garments on the floor behind him. Then, he settled on his knees and coaxed Bucky to the edge of the bed, not that Bucky could ever refuse Steve of anything, but especially not this.
All hard angles and arrogant juts and dips, Bucky wasn't sure that he had ever seen anyone sexier than Steve. Even before the petite blond sucked the head of his cock between those pillowy lips.
Sliding his fingers through strands of silky blond hair, Bucky said, "God, I love you— your mouth."
God! Fuck! Please tell me he didn't catch that!
Groaning at the admission, Steve's mouth around his dick caused the sweetest of vibrations, driving Bucky absolutely crazy. Bucky dropped back on the bed, not able to watch Steve as he set a teasing rhythm. He was just too hot like this, with his lips stretched widely around him and his long eyelashes getting dewy the further he swallowed him down.
When Steve's nose brushed against his lower stomach, Bucky let out a truly embarrassing, high-pitched squawk and pleaded, "I don't want to come like this. Can I fuck you? Please, Stevie?"
Pulling off, a string of saliva connected Steve's mouth to the brunet's cock, causing Bucky to groan and grasp himself again to stop himself from coming too soon. After a couple of breaths, Bucky opened his eyes to look at Steve. The blond made quick work of undressing himself, and Bucky couldn't help but lean forward so he could get his hands and his lips on him. Simply not able to keep his hands to himself when that smooth skin was revealed to him. It just wasn't possible.
Admiring him, Bucky admitted, "God, I want you."
"Yeah?" Steve asked, as though he didn't believe the brunet. Not even with the proof right in front of him, Steve asked, "How much?"
"Too much," Bucky bit back his grin as he coaxed the smaller teen onto his lap.
Seemingly still not convinced, Bucky wrapped his arms around that slender frame so he could roll them until he was under Bucky. The blond gasped at the motion and tightened his legs around Bucky's back. Both boys groaned when their erections ran along one another just right. Chasing that sensation, Bucky rutted against Steve's hip while grasping the skinny thigh tighter to himself.
"Buck," Steve whimpered. Accusing, "I thought you wanted me."
"Trust me, doll, I do."
"Then do something!" Steve insisted.
Not needing any more motivation, Bucky pulled back so he could reach into Steve's desk drawer for the bottle of lube and a condom. Steve made little noises of complaint when Bucky moved away, so the brunet soothed him by caressing his thigh with one hand while the other popped the bottle of strawberry lube open.
Generously coating his fingers with the slick, Bucky leaned down to worry at his collarbones until a small, red splotch showed. Proud of his handiwork, Bucky pressed a kiss to the visible mark before moving lower. Kissing down Steve's stomach. Licking up the length of Steve's hard cock.
When Bucky swallowed down his cock, Steve gasped and then loudly moaned at the sensation of Bucky's slick finger caressing the furrowed muscle of his entrance. As he set a steady rhythm as he bobbed on Steve's dick, he slipped his finger into Steve. The blond writhed beneath him, making Bucky work that much harder to make Steve feel good. All Bucky ever wanted was to make Steve feel good. To cherish him. To worship him.
"C'mon, Buck," Steve whined, grinding down on Bucky's fingers, "Sam's lecture is only for another forty-five minutes."
"Y'think I'm gonna last that long?" Bucky self-deprecatingly joked. But only half-joked. He was close, embarrassingly so, and just from touching Steve. Just from having his fingers in him and his mouth on Steve's cock.
"Bucky!" Steve squealed when Bucky rubbed over his prostate. "There! Right there!"
Chest tight as he watched the way Steve moved in his pleasure, Bucky had to be in him. Not a want, but a desperate need. And he needed it now. Removing his fingers, Steve looked down his tiny frame to yell at the brunette, but stopped as he watched Bucky roll the condom on.
Climbing over Steve, Bucky steadied himself with his hand by Steve's head as he lined his cock up with the blond's entrance. Steve leaned up so they could kiss while Bucky started to ease into the wet, hot cavern. It's a slow slide as Steve grows more accustomed with the stretch, and Bucky is battling with his restraint because he wants nothing more than to quickly bury himself deeply inside of Steve, but he wants this to feel good for the blond.
Finally bottoming out, Bucky stilled. Steve moaned and ran his hands down the brunet's back until he could grasp the firm globes of Bucky's ass. Then, Steve used the handfuls of Bucky's cheeks to pull him even closer, rocking him even further.
"More," Steve requested around Bucky's lips.
So, Bucky started thrusting. Slow at first, as Steve started guiding his speed and depth. But once the brunet eventually reached a rhythm that Steve liked, the blond removed his hands from his ass and chose to link his ankles together behind Bucky's back. Not that he minded as it brought them closer together. Not that Steve seemed to mind either as his cock was trapped between their stomachs, causing extra pleasure for him. And really, all Bucky wanted was to make Steve feel good.
No, that wasn't exactly true.
Bucky wanted to make Steve feel more pleasure than anyone else ever could. Especially since that was how Steve made him feel. He also couldn't help but hope that if he was able to cause so much pleasure in Steve that, eventually, Steve might fall in love with him too.
For a while, the only sounds in the room were skin smacking against skin and the soft moans that the pair pressed into each other's mouths. The sounds coupled with how wet and tight Steve was had Bucky close to coming. Not wanting to come before Steve though, he reached down and took the blond's cock in his hand. As he started stroking Steve, he gasped and arched his back before letting out a needy whimper.
"I'm gonna come," Steve told him, nipping Bucky's lower lip.
"Yeah?"
Writhing beneath him, Steve nodded, "Yeah."
Doubling his efforts to get the petite blond over the precipice, he started drilling Steve's prostate while jerking him off in time with his thrusts. Desperately trying to hold on until Steve came, but it was so difficult when he was so wet and tight and hot and so absolutely perfect.
Thankfully, it didn't last much longer as Steve gasped and his back arched off the bed as he shot his hot come between them. After that, it only took one more thrust before Bucky was spilling into the condom while Steve's body clenched around him, milking him for all he was worth. And only briefly did he stop himself from blurting out that he loved Steve. After all, he didn't want the first time it's to be said while he was balls deep in the blond.
Out of breath, Bucky flopped to the side, half on Steve, but not wanting to crush the petite teen beneath himself. With his eyes closed, he felt Steve's hand brushing his hair off of his sweaty face. Then, Steve kissed his temple and he almost lost his resolve because how was he supposed to keep his feelings to himself when Steve was so goddamn lovable?
Opening his eyes, he propped himself up so he could look at Steve. Kissing the blond, he hoped that by some miracle he'd reciprocate his feelings. That, maybe, if he put just enough of what he was really feeling into the gesture, it would spread to Steve too. Like an illness, but of romance.
"Y'know, you're, like, really good at that," Steve breathlessly said. "Like, really good."
"It was all you, babe," Bucky argued, kissing Steve's cheek before pulling out and climbing off of him. Still a little weak in the knees, he made his way to the bathroom so he could clean up their mess. First, he swiftly cleaned Steve's come off of his own stomach, then he took the washcloth out so he could gently do the same to Steve.
A soft smile was on Steve's face as he looked up at him, making Bucky's face heat under that attention. As they dressed, the pair kept stealing glances and sharing kisses. All Bucky wanted was for this to be his forever.
chapter eleven -->
Sorry it's been so long since I've posted anything, a lot has been going on in my life. My stepdad had to have surgery to fix two hernias, my mom needs to have knee replacement surgery, and I was diagnosed with early glaucoma. I've also been anxious, depressed, and in a lot of pain, but that stuff isn't exactly new.
Anyway, I hope you're all doing well wherever you are! I know that's not exactly easy these days, but I still wish it for all of you!
Much love and appreciation
Minnie ❤️❤️❤️
Love Blooms (demon!Bucky and pre-serum!Steve omegaverse au)
16
"Stevie, I don't want to worry you–"
When Bucky didn't continue, Steve turned to look at the alpha. A look of awe on the brunet's face. He was completely speechless and a mixture of affection and longing coated the bond. Picking out a thin sliver of lust tangled there too caused Steve's cheeks to heat.
"Um," Steve started and paused to clear his throat. Prompting, "You don't want to worry me...?"
Brows furrowing, it was as though Bucky had completely forgotten what he was going to tell the omega. After a moment though, he blinked whatever he was thinking about away and said, "Right! I, uh, don't know if you're aware but Becca is with Mia."
"Oh," Steve turned towards the mirror so he could try on the bedazzled bunny mask, "I knew that already."
"You let her watch our daughter?"
Glancing at Bucky's reflection, Steve nodded. "Keep your enemies close?"
"I guess," Bucky shrugged. Crossing his arms along his broad chest, he asked, "Are you okay with that though?"
Sighing, Steve removed the mask. Admitting, "I'm trying."
A deep fondness filled the pair, coming from both ends of the bond. Bucky nodded, "I know. And I also know that it's not easy. Especially not with Becca."
"She does have a... unique... approach."
"That's a nice way of saying it."
Shrugging, Steve added, "She's the queen of a parallel universe of horror and depravity, of course I'm going to be nice."
"She won't harm you," Bucky promised. "She knows better. Plus, she wouldn't want to hurt her niece by doing anything to you."
Steve wasn't so sure about that, but he also wasn't going to argue. After all, he was still convinced that Becca would be, at the very least, eavesdropping from the hallway. Whether she had super hearing or she was able to still read his mind didn't matter. He was trying to keep his mouth shut and his thoughts to himself.
"So," Steve looked down at the mask in his hands, "What are we doing tonight?"
"A little of this and a little of that."
When Steve gave him an unimpressed look, Bucky bit back a grin. Then, he said, "We have a few harvest requests, some fame stuff, health and wellness, and..."
Steve's brows furrowed at the way that Bucky trailed off. "And what...?"
Softly, Bucky answered. It was too quiet for Steve to hear though.
"Is it a secret or something?"
"Not necessarily."
"Then," Steve prompted, "What is it?"
The hesitancy was screaming through the bond, but thankfully, Bucky answered loud enough for Steve to hear him, "Resurrection."
"That woman from the other day?" Steve guessed, correctly.
"Yes. Her son, Gerry."
Steve didn't know what happened to this woman's son, Gerry. But he knew that if he were in her shoes and lost – pu pu pu, let's not even finish that thought. All Steve knew was that he'd be first in line. He'd do anything and everything. Even – no! Especially – if that meant signing his soul over to a Hell King.
"And you'll be able to do that? To bring him back? He won't be, like, Pet Sematary? He'll be normal?"
"Pet Sematary?" Bucky asked when Steve took a breath.
"It's a movie based on a Stephen King book," Steve answered. When there was still no recognition, Steve continued, "See, this guy's baby gets hit by a semi and instead of mourning him normally, the guy takes him and buries him in an abandoned ancient burial ground. And we – the audience – realize that the quote from throughout the story is very true: sometimes, dead is better."
"Nothing bad will happen."
"So, we won't find him behind a shed somewhere with his mother's severed arm clutched in his grasp and her flesh stuck in his teeth?"
Fighting back the smile that was desperately trying to be shown, Bucky promised, "I assure you that that won't happen."
"What about what Becca and your dad told my family? About the meat head? Or that long meat? Isn't that human? Won't he have those cravings?"
Not being able to hold back, Bucky laughed. Sure, he tried to disguise it with a cough, but Steve still narrowed his eyes at him. Bucky corrected, "It's head meat and long pig. And, no, he won't have those cravings. Typically, it's a delicacy that only inhumans partake in."
"Because it's peop–"
Knock, knock.
Crossing the room, Bucky opened the door. Becca stood there in a black velvet robe, smiling, "It's time."
"Okay," Bucky nodded, turning back to Steve. "Ready?"
Grabbing his bedazzled rabbit mask, Steve took a deep breath, and then followed the brunets. As they passed the nursery, Steve couldn't help but peak inside. Just wanting to make sure that his baby was okay before helping another parent resurrect theirs. It only seemed right. Seeing Dum Dum in there, protecting her, Steve felt like he could leave her and she'd be safe.
The three of them made their way down to the lowest level of the brownstone. Steve had never been there before. He had seen no reason to go down there. No desire to see what went on there. For all he knew, it could've been an actual stairway to Hell.
As they entered the ritual floor, Steve was surprised by the amount of people already there. Conversations ceased when the trio was noticed, making Steve want to turn around and retreat to the nursery. Becca smiled at the adoring followers and clapped her hands, "Let's not dawdle."
Crossing to the wall of masks, Becca took one of the bejewelled masks at the top and placed it over her face. Once she was in the ritual room, the followers went for masks. Steve noticed that the ones for the followers were plain silhouettes. Half-realizing that they were the same as the ones used in his own ceremony.
"Stevie?"
Blinking the vague memory away, Steve looked to Bucky. The brunet's brows were furrowed with concern. Steve shook his head and quietly said, "Mia."
"She'll be fine," Bucky assured. Hesitantly, he scent-marked his shoulder, "Dugan's with her, and he's one of my best."
Steve shook his head, "That's not what I meant."
For a moment, the gap between the brunet's brows shortened; not getting it.
"The last time I saw these masks," Steve explained, looking at the now-empty wall.
A deep sorrow rose in the bond, and Steve didn't like it. He didn't like feeling the Maveth King's pain. But he also didn't like being the reason for it. He especially didn't like the nasty, sticky guilt that was gunking up the bond.
Trying to shake the negativity from the moment, Steve placed the bedazzled bunny mask onto his head, still leaving his face in view. Giving the brunet a soft smile, Steve said, "Let's go. Don't want to keep your fans waiting."
"Devotees," Bucky corrected. Opening one of the cabinets, he grabbed a matching black velvet robe and slipped it on. Then, he grabbed a white rabbit mask with gold detailing and ruby encrusted inner ears. Offering his hand to Steve, he suggested, "Shall we?"
Steve pulled his mask down over his face, and then took the alpha's hand. Bucky grinned and pulled down his own mask. Not keeping the followers waiting any longer, the pair entered the ritual room.
At least ten other men turned to the sound of a child calling out for their father. Before Steve could get a good look at the teen, she tackled Bucky in a fierce hug. Instantly, the brunet wrapped his strong arms around her while his eyes shifted over the people milling around in the lobby.
"What are you doing here?" Bucky asked his daughter.
Pulling back, but not letting go, she teased, "Had to make sure Nemo was taking good care of you. Y'know, keeping you hydrated, feeding you more than table scraps, taking you for walks –"
"We've never walked that cat!" Bucky barked out a laugh.
"That's why he's so big," she giggled, her toothy grin showing off her braces. Out of the corner of her eyes, she glanced at Steve. His heart started to race almost immediately. How was he supposed to introduce himself? As her dad's old childhood friend – a friend that she had probably never even heard of before? As her dad's special friend? Or as her dad's husband?
"Right," Bucky got to it, "This is my daughter, Vienna. Sweetie, this is –"
"Your new daddy."
Whipping his attention to find the Cootie Queen herself, Natasha. Steve's first instinct was to hug the woman. Well, once he recovered from choking on her comment.
Holding out her bottle of water to Steve, she asked, "It is true, isn't it?"
"How'd –" Bucky stared at his ex-wife as though she was a sorceress of infinite power.
"Auntie Becks," Vienna answered for her mother.
"Of course," Bucky shook his head.
Finally able to breathe, Steve cleared his throat so he could awkwardly compliment the woman, "You look good, Nattie."
"Not so bad yourself," Natasha stepped closer so she could pull him into an embrace. They had spent so much of their childhoods together. The four of them were as thick as thieves. It was something that he cherished most. Even when they would fight and tease, they knew that they cared too much to throw everything away for something so petty.
Well...
As they pulled apart, Natasha teased, "You two are left alone for one day and you do this. Steven Grant, you promised you wouldn't get into any trouble."
Steve's heart ached at the thought of the last promise that he made to Nat before he was excluded from their lives. It had been such a common promise. More natural to them than saying "bye" when they left each other's houses. Or asking for one another to text when they got home so they knew they made it safely.
Overcome with his nostalgia, Steve pulled Natasha in for one more hug. He hadn't just lost Bucky for the past two and a half decades, but Nattie and Becca too. God, having her in his arms and Bucky beside them, it almost felt like old times. Nattie's naturally red hair even smelled the same, like that peaches and tangerine shampoo she loved.
"I missed you too," Nattie quietly told him. Once Steve let her out of his embrace, she took to cradling his face in her hands. For a moment, she just studied him. Steve understood the longer look. Sometimes it was still weird to see his own reflection when in his head he was still that scrawny little shit talker and back-alley brawler that had no business getting up to the trouble that he did. "There he is. There's Stevie."
"If you don't stop, you're going to make me cry," Steve playfully warned, only half kidding.
"I've missed you so," Nat added before pinching his cheek like his older relatives used to do. As much as he hated the sensation, he couldn't help but adore the person doing it.
"What am I? Chopped liv–"
"BUGGY! BUGGY!"
Bucky was interrupted by a little boy no older than four as he raced towards the brunet. His tight coil curls bounced messily about, but that didn't deter him. Vienna allowed her father to move away from her as he picked her half-brother up. Bucky held him tight and kissed his tawny-beige cheeks as though he was his son too, and Steve was sure that he was going to become a puddle right there in the hotel lobby.
"Did ya miss me?" Bucky asked the toddler.
He nodded and nuzzled closer to Bucky. Steve couldn't help but think about how Bucky could be like with his own children. Hoping that they could one day be a big happy family.
"Kai, you can't just go running off," a woman in her early twenties reprimanded as she walked up to their growing group. She hugged Bucky and teased, "Enola's pissed at you."
"Why? What did I do?" Bucky asked, swaying Kai as the toddler held tight to him.
"You got married before me!" Enola joined the group, bumping her sister with her hip so she could hug their dad.
Bucky glanced over at Steve. Almost as though he was trying to see what Steve thought of all this. So far, Steve was falling more in love with him by the second. Even – no, especially with his family joining them. This was the Bucky that Steve had always envisioned and wanted. If anything, Steve was sold on being with him for the rest of their lives.
Good thing we're already married.
"I see I inherited my taste in blonds from you," Enola giggled, looking over at Steve.
"Speaking of blonds," Bucky looked around the lobby, "Where's Sharon?"
"Sharon?" Steve straightened. It was a small world – Steve knew that much – but please, please, don't let it be his niece. Sure, on Peggy's side, but that didn't mean that just because they've been divorced for eight years didn't make her his niece still. And right now, he really didn't need the world to be that small. That was the last thing he needed in his life right now. He wanted – needed – for things to work out for him and Bu–
"There she is," Bucky grinned, gesturing for his daughter's fiancée to join them. The Brown woman with ombré blonde hair gave her soon-to-be father-in-law a hug.
"Oh thank god," Steve breathed in relief. When the group looked over at Steve, his face heated as a blush ran down his neck and up his ears. He explained, "My niece is also named Sharon."
"Oh," Sharon giggled. "It's just a nickname. When I was little I would be the first to share my toys, so my family started calling me, 'Sharin' Karen,' and then it just evolved to, 'Sharon.'"
"Well, it's nice to meet you, 'Sharin' Karen,'" Steve extended his hand to her. She accepted it and Steve introduced himself.
"Wait," the raspy voice of Bucky's middle daughter regained the group's attention. "You're Steve? Like," so much like her mother as she assessed Steve, "Steve Steve?"
"I think so?" Steve glanced from her to Nat to Bucky. What did that even mean? Steve Steve? Did that mean that Bucky had talked about him over the years? Did he share their memories with his kids? Maybe flip through old yearbooks? Or maybe it was seeing pictures of the four of them that were still littered around their grandparents' house?
"The very one," Natasha confirmed.
Nervously, Steve started chuckling, "I'm sure the stories you've heard are all lies."
"Maybe if they came from dad," she smirked, inheriting so much from Natasha, including – but not limited to – her know-it-all smirk. Resting her arms on her youngest sister's shoulders, she claimed, "But I'm sure that Auntie Becks wouldn't lie about you making her laugh so hard that soda sprayed from her nose."
"I forgot about that," Bucky laughed, still hugging Kai close to himself as he dropped a few kisses to the little boy's forehead.
"Which time are we talking about?" Steve asked, smirking. "Because there were a lot of soda fountains back then. Almost as much of a Friday routine as our sleepovers."
"And here I was thinking that Auntie Becks was the coolest adult I knew," Natasha's youngest daughter giggled, crossing their little circle so she could hug the brunet.
"Well, that was your biggest mistake," Bucky nudged the eight year old.
Steve couldn't help but miss his kids. They'd be home soon enough, but he wasn't used to not having them around. And seeing how Bucky and the rest of his family were together made him long for his own.
With tears building in his eyes, Steve excused himself. Bucky's brows furrowed, "You okay?"
"Yeah," Steve assured. "Just going to call my kids."
The concern didn't lessen in Bucky's expression, but he didn't question Steve further. For that, Steve was thankful. Even though he did hate having to leave Bucky and his family, he needed to hear from his own first.
Bucky had wanted to be married to Steve for as long as he could remember. It didn't matter if it was a big elaborate ceremony with doves being released at their first kiss or them in distressed, travel-jeans down at the courthouse. He just wanted to be married to his best friend. Just like how his parents were married to their best friend. Bucky supposed that with a relationship like that to idolize, it made all the sense in the world that he would latch onto Steve as that dream for himself.
Steve, even more handsome now than Bucky thought as kids, was busy getting dressed. Long, artistic fingers efficiently buttoned his shirt. He was certain that Steve could make even the smallest of tasks seem fascinating. Even now, with Steve moving on to roll his sleeves, Bucky was entirely consumed as he watched the fabric show more of that smooth, freckled skin.
"What?"
Blinking his gaze back into focus, his eyes locked onto sky-blue ones. Clearing his throat, "What?"
"You're staring."
"Am I?"
"Yup," Steve fought the smile threatening to break across his stupid, handsome face. "And you're still doing it."
"Can ya blame me?" Bucky good-humoredly scoffed. "I can't help it that I have the most attractive husband to ever exist."
Brows arching high on his forehead, "Husband?"
Oh no. Bucky thought, I shouldn't call him that, should I? We were drunk, after all. And the reunion is done today. Does that mean that we are too?
"Hottest around," Bucky shrugged, helplessly, raising his hand to show the gumball-machine wedding ring. As if either of them could ever forget that they got stupidly drunk and made such a big commitment. Hell, he could've turned around and showed off the fresh ink. That was more permanent than the stretched ring that Bucky was certain was starting to turn his finger green while simultaneously pinching the skin between his fingers.
"Debatable," Steve argued, stepping into Bucky's space. Fixing the collar of the borrowed Hawaiian shirt, he said, "For one, you look better in my clothes than I do."
"Now that's just a bold-faced lie –"
"– Second, you're the number one DILF with a capital I'd-Like-to-Fu–"
"– We're not even going to agree to disagree with this bull." Bucky narrowed his eyes into thin slits as he looked over at the love of his life.
"You're entitled to your wrong opinion."
Grabbing Steve by the collar of his shirt, Bucky pulled him closer. Briefly smashing their mouths together in a passionate kiss, swallowing the surprised yelp that left Steve's mouth. When he pulled back, the brunet nearly growled. "You listen here, and you listen good, punk. You're the most goddamn attractive person I've ever seen in my life. You were back when we were scrawny, mouthy kids, and you are even more now that we're adults. I can't quite remember if I've told you that this weekend, but I have a feeling that I'm gonna say it again. And again. And again."
In reply, Steve blew a raspberry at him, but there was a twinkle in those perfect, hypnotic sky-blue eyes that Bucky longed to see every day for the rest of his life. We are married...
"You ready to go?" Steve asked, sliding his arms around Bucky's neck.
"Do we have to?"
Feigning thought, Steve's nose scrunched adorably. "Yeah. We do."
"But Ste-eve," Bucky playfully pouted. Bringing his hands to Steve's hips, "We'd have way more fun just the two of us."
"James," the corners of Steve's lips shook as he tried to keep the smile at bay, "Our friends are down there."
Sighing, Bucky said, "I know."
"Then, let's get down there," Steve pulled Bucky closer so he could kiss him.
"Fine," Bucky exaggerated. Then, he teased, "For a price."
"What're we talking about here?"
Puckering his lips, "A kiss."
"I guess," Steve mocked.
Kissing again, Bucky wanted to hold onto this for however long he could. He didn't want to miss out on another day, let alone twenty-five more years. He was stupid for letting Steve go all those years ago. No, he wouldn't change the path he chose because he loved his girls with his whole heart, but he wished that Steve could've been there too. He'd give anything to have that.
"C'mon," Steve tugged on Bucky forward, "Let's not keep them waiting."
Walking down the hallway hand in hand, Bucky couldn't keep the smile from his face. Stealing glances at Steve, the same as when they were in school. Only now, he wasn't afraid of getting caught. Instead, he purposely bumped into Steve to regain his attention.
Playfully, Steve rolled his eyes, but his grin grew. Removing his hand from Bucky's so he could, instead, wrap it around the brunet's shoulders, pulling him in close. It was reminiscent of how they used to be. Before, it was Steve who would be burrowed underneath the protective weight of Bucky's arm. But he could get used to this.
Once in the elevator, Bucky crowded into Steve's space, not that the blond seemed to mind. There was a dopey smile on his handsome face that made Bucky's knees go weak. God, Bucky thought, how could I go so long without him?
Not wanting to think about that, Bucky leaned in. Deciding that he wasn't going to miss any chance to be close and to hold and to kiss. The feeling of Steve's lips against his felt right. The way they fit together was a revelation.
The elevator stopped at a lower level floor, causing the pair to stop kissing, but not without a quick, chaste one.
"Don't stop on my account," Thor teased. "Far be it from me to deny newly weds from displaying affection publicly."
"Newly weds," Steve squeaked while Bucky giggled, "How'd you know?"
"Ouch," Thor touched his chest, feigning hurt. "Is that anyway to treat the flower girl?"
"Flower girl?" Steve and Bucky asked together. Bucky's giggles turned into stomach clutching laughter at the thought of this viking-esque man tossing flowers before them as they walked down the aisle.
"The best flower girl ever," Thor grinned, repositioning a white daisy behind his ear.
"And, uh," Steve shifted uncomfortably, "Who else was in attendance?"
"Well," Thor thought. "Brucey, Sam, Maria, Mr. and Mrs. Barton..."
The more people that their former classmate named, the tenser Steve grew. He supposed he could understand why the blond wasn't thrilled about having so many people attend an event that he could remember. But then again, Bucky liked the idea of being Steve's husband. He liked the idea of other people witnessing their love.
Was that so wrong?
"... really, it was beautiful," Thor finished.
The doors opened once more when they finally reached the ground floor. Thor exited first, followed by the newly weds. Bucky took Steve's hand in his; nervous that the blond might not want to be close to him. Thankfully though, Steve didn't take his hand back and, instead, laced their fingers together. Raising their hands, he pressed a kiss to the back of the artist's hand, making him smile.
Love Blooms (demon!Bucky and pre-serum!Steve omegaverse au)
15
DING-DONG!
Brows furrowing, Steve wondered who could be at the door. With his arms full of Mia's toys, he glanced at the clock. It was after ten-thirty. Who the hell would be at their house this time of night? People could be sleeping. In fact, Mia was sleeping, and really, Steve should've been sleeping too. It was more than two hours past his bedtime, he was definitely going to be a mess tomorrow.
"That better not have woken her up," Steve quietly threatened, dumping the soft blocks and noisy wearable rattles in the toy basket. Of course, then he thought that it could potentially be his family returning from the airport. What if they forgot something? What if the flight was canceled?
DING-DONG!
However, Steve doubted that his family would be so rude as to ring the doorbell more than once. No way would they risk waking Mia. Hell, the trio had practically tiptoed as soon as those little eyelids fluttered closed. Even whispering so as not to disturb her. And it wasn't even for their first night, or earlier that day, it was for the entire week and a half they were there!
DIIIIINNNNGGGG-DOOOONNNNGGGG!
Grinding his teeth, he made his way to the front door. A man was at the door, but he couldn't make out his features since the stranger's back was to him. For a moment, he debated answering the door. But he knew that he was safe. There was no way that the guards playing poker in the kitchen or the guards reading in the library upstairs or Dum Dum talking on the phone with his mother in the formal living room would let any harm come to him. And if somehow this stranger did harm him, there was no way that Bucky wouldn't do everything in his power to bring the unlucky bastard down. Of that much, Steve was certain.
As Steve opened the door, the man turned to ring the doorbell again. Although the baseball cap he was wearing shaded the top half of his face, Steve would recognize his soon-to-be ex-husband anywhere.
"What are you doing here?" Steve asked, crossing his arms along his chest as he glared at the beta.
Taking a folded card out of his back pocket, he claimed, "I was invited."
"What?" Steve took the card. "Invited to... what, exactly?"
"Cult shit," Hodge shrugged. Then, he shifted on his feet, "Ya gonna let me in, or...?"
You are cordially invited to tea.
"Tea? You're invited, 'to tea'?" Steve's brows settled into a heavy furrow. Looking up at his husband, "What does that mean?"
"You're askin' the wrong guy," Hodge tried to squeeze his way into the house, but Steve stepped in his way, holding the door close to himself. "C'mon, you're really gonna keep The King waiting?"
"No," Steve finally decided, causing Hodge to grin, thinking that he won. Fighting back his grin, Steve said, "I'll let him know you're here."
Then, he closed the door in Hodge's face. As he left the mudroom, the front door opened behind him. Turning, Steve said, "Goddamn it, Gilmore! You don't live here! You're not welcome –"
Snatching the card from Steve, Hodge argued, "Actually, I am. I was invited!"
"You can't just let yourself in!"
"Do you wanna upset King Bu'loch? Because I sure as fuck don't."
"I don't care! This is my home –"
"The King's home –"
"And you are not allowed in unless invited –"
"I was," Hodge smirked, arrogantly holding the card up.
Knowing that the pair could argue all damn day and night over this, Steve knew that the time for his words was over. Instead, he decided to talk with his body. Shoving at Hodge's broad chest, he attempted to push the beta out of the door, out of the house, and off the porch if it meant he'd be gone!
Of course, the muscular blond barely budged. No matter how much force Steve put into it, it wasn't going to do much. However, it didn't need to.
"Everything alright?" Dum Dum peeked out of the formal living room. Noticing how Steve was trying to forcefully remove the muscular blond, Dum Dum walked up to the pair. Stepping in front of Steve, he kept his gaze on Hodge as he asked Steve, "Is he bothering you, sir?"
"Yes," Steve sighed, knowing that he should've gone to bed when Mia did and regretting his decision not to.
"Would you like me to remove him?"
Looking around Dum Dum's broad shoulder, Steve got a pathetic look from his selfish soon-to-be ex. It was up to Steve. Both he and Hodge knew that. And while the power was in Steve's hands, he knew that Hodge had been invited.
"What's going on here?"
At the sound of Bucky's deep voice, Hodge straightened his posture, "Just here for –"
"Tea, apparently," Steve answered, arms crossed along his chest.
"I'm well aware," Bucky nodded, joining them.
Dum Dum explained, "I was trying to diffuse the situation."
Bucky nodded, "Thank you, Dugan. I'll take it from here."
"Yes, sir," Dum Dum relaxed, taking a step closer to the room he had been in.
Before he could leave, Bucky said, "Tell your mother that I say, 'hi.'"
"I will," Dum Dum paused at the door to turn back and look at Steve. Reminding the petite omega, "Just holler if you need me."
Giving the guard a small, appreciative smile, Steve agreed, "I will."
"So," Hodge prompted, "Where's the, 'tea?'"
Annoyed, Bucky crossed his arms along his broad chest, "If you cared to read the invitation carefully, you'd see that you were meant to use the business –"
Mia's cry gained the trio's attention. Bucky backtracked to head back upstairs, but Steve stopped him. "I'll deal with her. You deal with him."
"Will do," Bucky gave him a soft smile that was, frankly, doing things to Steve and those pesky butterflies. To Hodge, he settled a serious expression on his face, "This way."
Looking over the railing to the staircase that led to the business floor, Steve told Hodge, "Be sure to use the business exit, Gilmore."
"Sure thing, sweetheart," Hodge mocked.
Rolling his eyes, Steve continued upstairs. He wondered if Bucky could do something to help speed up his divorce. He was, after all, a Hell King with Hell King powers. Surely, there was something that he could do.
Or would that be a conflict of interest?
Did a, 'conflict of interest,' even count when one is a Hell King?
Reaching the nursery, Steve lifted Mia into his arms. Swaying her, Steve cursed his soon-to-be ex-husband for waking her. Not that Hodge would care if he woke her up, she wasn't his, after all. Her only meaning to him was that she was payment for his dreams.
Once Mia was settled, he gazed lovingly down at her, caressing her cheek. He hated how her existence was tainted by a talentless hack who should've just sold his soul instead. If Hodge even had one, of course.
Unbuttoning his shirt and pushing aside his supporter, Steve helped Mia latch. Gazing down at her, Steve promised, "You're better off without him. He's not the father type. And no one could ever love you more than your actual daddy. Well, except for me. I love you the most, but your daddy loves you too."
"It's not just you two who love her."
Standing in the doorway, Becca smiled at him. Her smile was sweeter than honey, and it caused the hair on the back of his neck to stand up: a warning. Sure, the queen had been nice to him and his family for the rest of their visit. But he wasn't sure it was sincere. He wasn't sure if he would ever be able to tell.
"The whole world will love her one day."
"It's not the same." Steve situated the two month old on his shoulder so he could burp her.
"You're right, it's not," Becca appeased, stepping into the room. Extending her arms towards Steve, she said, "Here, let me do that while you get dressed."
Brows furrowing, he looked down at himself, "Get dressed?"
"Of course," she giggled, taking a few more steps towards him, "Just because you're Mia's father doesn't mean that you can show up in –"
"Show up? Where?"
"Downstairs, of course." Tilting her head as she looked him over, "There's a ceremony. You're to be expected."
Cult shit, that was what Hodge had called it. Only, Steve wasn't in the cult. He had fathered the King's child, yes. But he wasn't in the cult. Not really. He had never participated in any of the cult activities. Well, Steve held Mia closer, not after that night.
"I assumed that Bucky told you."
"Well, he didn't."
Arms still extended, she wiggled her fingers, "You wanted to be her father. This is part of what comes with it."
You wanted to be her father, echoed in his head. He had fought for her. Fought to be her father. There was no doubt that things would've been different if Bucky had gone along with his original plan of taking her and leaving Steve. So, Steve supposed that he understood where Bucky's followers would assume he would be there. Being The Father and all that jazz.
Not wanting to provoke the queen, Steve reluctantly handed Mia to her aunt. After all, Steve knew the power they had, and the last thing he wanted was for them to turn it onto him.
Besides, he might want some help in the future when it comes to his soon-to-be ex-husband. Who knows, maybe Becca could do something creative, like give the muscular blond a flesh eating virus. Or hell, maybe she'd create a whole new thing that no one has ever dealt with before.
Lifting the bedazzled bunny mask, Steve mocked, "All hail, Steven. Father of the princess of Maveth."
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