[rayofsunshinc]

⛧ ───── RAYOFSUNSHINC. An independent multi-muse roleplay blog featuring muses from Marvel, The Walking Dead, It, Doctor Sleep, Stranger Things, Teen Wolf, Riverdale, The Hunger Games, Preacher & Sinister. ⛧ Crossover, duplicate & OC friendly. ⛧ Written and loved by Sara (she/they, 33) CURRENTLY LOW ACTIVITY

♥︎ A STUDY IN:  reckoning with the past  /  childhood lost  /  generational trauma  /  who are the real monsters?  /  shame & guilt  /  feeling like an outsider  /  addiction & recovery  /  found family  /  accepting the love you don’t think you deserve  /  survival at all costs  / loss & grief  /  death & immortality  /  finding hope when all is lost  /  what it means to be a hero

⛧ QUICK NOTES: I do not interact with minors. Be aware of horror themes, triggering content and adult content. Follow at your own discretion. I use a queue to post, so if you see me active sometimes I'm not actually here. Messages are welcome only if we are mutuals.

site | rules  |   muses  |   memes  |   starter calls | side blog for extra posts

♥︎ ACTIVE MUSES BELOW ♥︎

Marvel: Bucky Barnes, John Walker, Natasha Romanoff, Sam Wilson, Steve Rogers, Wade Wilson The Walking Dead (& TWD Universes): Aaron, Daryl Dixon, Michonne, Nick Clark The Hunger Games: Peeta Mellark Preacher: Proinsias Cassidy Hannibal: Will Graham Sinister: Dominic Williams (aka Ex Deputy So and So) The Shining/Doctor Sleep: Dan Torrance It: Ben Hanscom, Richie Tozier Stranger Things: Eddie Munson, Jonathan Byers, Steve Harrington Teen Wolf: Allison Argent, Jackson Whittemore, Stiles Stilinski Riverdale: Jughead Jones Shameless: Fiona Gallagher, Mickey Milkovich

[rayofsunshinc]

i'm sorry i haven't been around! i have been busy and just spending more time writing fics. i get one-track minded sometimes like that.

wanna sit down and get into drafts this weekend. thanks for being patient. 💖

[alwaysxinxtrouble]

Bucky went still when Steve pulled his hand away. Not outwardly—not in any way most people would catch—but something in him stalled, like a wire had been cut mid-current. His fingers lingered where the contact had been a second too long before curling slowly into his palm, the absence sharper than it should’ve been. He didn’t understand that either.

His gaze dropped briefly, tracking the space between them like he could still feel the ghost of it. Then he forced himself to look back up, jaw tightening as he tried to hold onto what Steve was saying instead of the way it felt.

“Trust,” Bucky repeated quietly, like it was a word he hadn’t used in a long time. His brow furrowed, something conflicted flickering across his expression. “They used that word too.” A beat. “Different context.” There was no accusation in it—just fact, tangled up with something harder to shake.

He dragged a hand back through his hair, shoulders tense before they dropped again, exhaustion pulling at him from every direction. “I don’t… know how to do that,” he admitted, voice rough. “Not without a mission. Not without…” He trailed off, jaw working like the words didn’t quite exist anymore. His eyes found Steve again, searching now—less defensive, more uncertain.

“But I’m still here,” Bucky said after a moment, quieter. “I didn’t leave. I didn’t… finish it.” A faint crease formed between his brows, like he was trying to make sense of his own actions. “That has to mean something.” He shifted slightly, the movement careful, like his body was remembering pain even if his mind wasn’t cataloging it properly. Then, after a small pause—

“…You can sit closer,” Bucky added, almost hesitant, like the offer surprised even him.

[rayofsunshinc]

Steve nodded. ❝Yeah, yeah. Okay.❞ He said softly, almost nervously. It was a complicated nervous. There was a hint of that same feeling he used to get when they were young and unsure of what lines were okay to cross. Bucky wasn't that kid anymore and neither was Steve, and it was frightening how much things could change too.

But there was something good there, because despite everything, Steve still felt that pull toward Bucky. It seemed like Bucky was feeling it too, even if he couldn't understand why or how to put it into words. Steve could barely put it into words. They just were.

His chair scrapped across the floor to be closer. ❝Decisions can be hard even without your circumstances. You made a choice for yourself.❞ Steve tried to help him make sense of it. ❝That does mean something.❞ He only hesitated briefly before he put his hand back on Bucky's. He offered a hint of a smile, something warm and affectionate in his gaze.

❝You always looked out for me, you know.❞ Steve told him. ❝When we were kids and I got into fights with guys that were double my size, you would be there to make sure I didn't get my ass handed to me. Or you'd at least clean up my cuts after. You sat by my bedside when I was sick. Sometimes for hours.❞ He swallowed hard, like the next thing wasn't something he spoke about often. ❝When my mom died, you just ... took me in. I wasn't going to be able to afford rent on my own. I could barely get work. Hell, I think you could barely get work even though you tried to act like things were okay.❞ His gaze lifted, trying to find that person buried beneath what had been done to the man in front of him. ❝That was when you said it. You told me you were with me until the end of the line.❞

His brow furrowed, emotion swelling up inside him. ❝That's why I have to do this for you. I can never make up for the things you did for me. It's not a contest and I'm not keeping score. Love isn't like that.❞ He swallowed hard. ❝But I just ... I want to. I need to. And I think you need me too.❞

[lookedinfinite]

she was glad for the silence, for a break between questions. there was only so much she could explain - and even less that she was willing to. if it was up to her, he never would have even seen her in passing, it was a risk to have someone who now knew her face and her ties to others.

not that david counted, it was too late to do anything for poor boy.

"she's not dead." if she was lucky, he'd write her reply off as hope, but there was an amount of certainty that wouldn't be explained by that. if girl was dead, maeve would be able to feel it, she would have felt it when she first arrived.

backup would take time, would only bring more attention. the day had been full of enough messes that she didn't want to add to it - but nothing seemed like the right thing to do.

"emmy, I need you to focus on my voice." gentle tone was much softer than anything she'd used yet, sighing as she released herself from his touch to move closer. careful with her steps, glancing up to make sure nothing looked on its way. "she should be able to phase through it if she focuses." it felt like a betrayal to even say that much about girl's ability, worry clear on her features. "though it's certainly thicker than anything she's gone through before."

[rayofsunshinc]

Sam’s eyes flicked to her the second she said the other girl wasn't dead. It was certainty and he noticed that. But he let that part pass for now, jaw tightening as he crouched slightly beside the collapsed section. Dust drifted from somewhere above them in soft little streams, the whole structure groaning.

He noticed the shift in her voice too. He watched her step toward the rubble and finally pieced together what she was doing. ❝Emmy.❞ He repeated quietly.

Then everything else was making sense. By this point in his life, weird wasn’t exactly new territory. ❝Okay.❞ He said carefully, already moving with her. ❝Okay, then we keep her calm.❞

He lowered himself near the collapsed wall, raising his voice just enough to carry without sounding harsh. ❝Emmy, right? I'm Sam. If you can hear us, listen to her voice.❞ His gaze shifted briefly toward Maeve, watching the worry she was trying and failing to hide. ❝Don't think about anything else.❞

A low crack sounded somewhere overhead. Sam immediately lifted the shield off his back into position on instinct, eyes darting upward before settling again. ❝You sure she can do this?❞ He asked under his breath to Maeve, quieter now. He wasn't doubting her, just measuring the risk. ❝Because we can start digging.❞

[asgardianhammer]

[ ϟ ]— It was mildly thrilling, to feel the warmth and strength of Steve's hand tighten around his, and something deep with the broad chest answered in kind, a swell of gratitude and a sliver of disbelief.

Even now, even as they walked openly side by side, thunderer found himself half-expecting the moment to dissolve like mist under morning light, yet Steve remained, solid and warm, utterly real, and the god's ribs expand on an inhale, filling with a steady, reverent awe at his own fortune.

' It is beautiful,' and the agreement comes as a soft rumble, voice touched by a sliver of pride.

' Hard-won, perhaps, but all the more precious for it.'

Gaze moves unbidden towards the other, lingering on the mortal whilst he spoke, the very act of being seen and understood in return a gift he was still learning to accept, and hold.

The jest pulls a laugh from him, bright with delight as he nods in agreement as well.

' It would be a bold tale indeed to leap straight from longing into vows without so much as a shared night together,' and another chuckle follows, shoulder brushing the mortal's lightly, a fond and playful nudge of it a deliberate act.

By then they had reached the heart of the village, and the god slowed, reluctantly releasing his hold to guide the cart to a stop near one of the waiting townsfolk, exchanging a few quiet words and a grateful nod as the wood was taken from his care. It was far from practical, at some point in the future a system would have to be created to ensure all the hearths would remain burning without the king's involvement, but for now the simple act grounded him, making him pleased at being useful.

Returning to the human the brightness within him still burned, the playfulness softening into something more earnest. Hand is eager to return to the other, entwining of fingers almost careful this time.

' So...' and it is necessary to shape words carefully, it feels right to do so as ceruleans regard the man for a moment.

' How would you have this unfold, Steven? Considering your remark, a meal in private is in order I suppose?'

[rayofsunshinc]

The work put in, the hardships, that surely put things into perspective and made a simple life all the more precious. He truly did wish that more beings could see it that way, but he felt lucky to be witnessing it.

After all, it was often difficult to just ... sit back and enjoy what you built.

Cheeks turned pink again, but a gentle laugh left him. He didn't have to shy away from the way that Thor nudged him. He nudged back, grinning brightly.

But he stepped back, only to allow Thor to drop the wood off. A half-done job, Steve noted. Well, there was always tomorrow and Steve would be glad to help so they could get more done the next time. It was a nice, grounding thing to do. Felt good to contribute too.

He reached for Thor's hand, gladly intertwining their fingers with a squeeze.

❝So.❞  Steve echoed, eyes moving from their hands back up to meet Thor's gaze. His gaze was warm, full of absolute adoration and a spark of something else.

His free hand moved to gently caress Thor's jaw, a heavy breath leaving him as he nodded. Both aware of himself and that they weren't quite in private yet, his hand dropped, but his smile didn't falter.

❝A meal in private would be appropriate.❞ He said, nerves bubbling up in his chest. ❝Do we clean ourselves up and I put on my best shirt?❞ He asked, a hint of a laugh in his voice but he wasn't exactly kidding. Nervous, but more serious than anything.

He ducked his head a little. He took Thor's hand between both of his, both fidgeting and finding comfort in being able to just ... touch him as he wanted to. ❝I mean, there's not exactly a guide to this, is there?❞ He asked.

[rayofsunshinc]

you guys ever act silly goofy and imagine what it's like when your muses get silly goofy?

like who is singing out loud while fixing their lunch?

who would NEVER exhibit this behavior??

[usergambit]

RYAN REYNOLDS as DEADPOOL Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) dir. Shawn Levy

[untilthcyrot]

❝ New York is certainly rich with it. ❞ America was the land of dreams, and New York was ripe with providing everyone the opportunity to make their lives better and more fulfilling. If you weren't there for the arts, then maybe you were there for the food, or maybe you were there because you wanted to experience the hustle and bustle of a vibrant city. When Nadja first discovered the art scene here, she knew she wanted to establish a ballet studio. It was the perfect place, and she hadn't been proven wrong since. ❝ Of course I do. ❞ She wanted to experience the world with Cassidy, literally and figuratively. Even if they weren't crossing the border to another country, New York would still be a fun escape for them. ❝ We could get up to a lot of things there. ❞

[rayofsunshinc]

America was the perfect place for a young man to try and start fresh. Of course, Cassidy had been no regular man. He was freshly bitten, not sure what he was, and wanting desperately to run away from it. New York had been a home away from home for many years, until everyone around him began aging and Cassidy didn't. It was where he'd learned he was a vampire. He left the city, but he'd found his way back there more than once. The last time he'd been there, his memories were blurry and he had been at his worst. ❝Oh yeah. I mean hell, you're talking a prestigious ballet studio. Last time I was in New York, I did drugs with Debbie Harry. The punk scene had it's place back then, you know.❞ 

Cassidy laughed softly at how different their lives had been. Yet, they'd found each other and bonded over the vampirism. There were parts of his past that he was ashamed of, laughed off, but he didn't want to feel that way anymore, especially about the time he spent with Nadja. ❝Good, 'cause I want to be there.❞ He took her hands in his and kissed her knuckles. He grinned again. ❝We could have a nice date, find some trouble to get into.❞

[alwaysxinxtrouble]

Steve didn’t interrupt him. He kept walking beside Eddie, boots crunching over the brittle, ash-covered pavement while the warped ruins of Hawkins loomed around them. Eddie’s sharp tone didn’t bother him—he’d expected worse—but the unfinished sentence did. If anything happened to you I— Steve’s jaw tightened slightly, and he glanced over just long enough to catch the tension written across Eddie’s face. “You’ve got a funny way of showing it,” he murmured quietly, though there wasn’t any bite in it.

“Hey,” Steve added after a moment, softer now. He slowed half a step and reached out, briefly squeezing Eddie’s shoulder—steady, grounding. “Nothing’s happening to me, alright?” His voice dropped just enough to cut through the tension hanging in the air. “We’ve been through worse than this.” The reassurance came easily, the same quiet confidence he’d used a hundred times before when someone needed it.

But when Steve really looked at him, the panic in Eddie’s expression made something tighten in his chest. Steve didn’t pull away completely, his hand lingering for a second before dropping back to the nail bat at his side. “Munson,” he said gently. “Talk to me.” The air had shifted around them, that wrong hum crawling through the Upside Down again, but Steve’s attention stayed on Eddie for a beat longer. “What is it?”

[rayofsunshinc]

Eddie felt Steve's hand on his shoulder, the calm, reassurance in his voice. He tried to focus on that. He and Steve were together, and that was something.

❝I just — I feel like something is happening.❞ Eddie admitted, looking over at Steve with wide eyes. ❝Damn it, I know something is happening. Something — I think it's something bad. I can feel this place like — like when it's active or something.❞ 

But he couldn't shake the cold sweat, the piercing in his head. He put his forehead in his hand, gasping softly. The lab was in sight and he didn't want to slow them down, but he couldn't help it. When he was down there, whatever connection he had to it was heightened.

His breath picked up, and he gripped onto Steve's shirt to keep himself upright. ❝Vecna.❞

Then, there was a clear shift. He winced, sharp pain hitting him. He doubled over, dropping to the ground. He could faintly hear the others around him, Dustin saying his name and Steve. But he could feel something with this place dying. It wasn't Vecna, but he was surprised.

He sat, catching his breath and looking back up at Steve and the others. ❝You know how Will can get visions of this place? How he's connected?❞ He let out a heavy breath. ❝I think I am too. I can tell when the portals open, I can feel it when Vecna is active, I know when the demogorgons are hurt. And I think they just got fucking wiped, man. I don't understand.❞  

[asgardianhammer]

[ ϟ ]—– It should not feel this way, but when Steve withdrew the god sensed the absence of it all at once, like warmth leaving the room, giving him a moments pause.

The food was a convenient distraction, and turning his attention toward it thunderer was grateful for the grounding simplicity of it, of only them, and the unwrapping of the meal. Taking a bite with audible satisfaction a low hum escapes him, and like many times before he thoroughly enjoys one of the few Midgardian foods that seemingly never disappointed, savoring a few smaller bites with a semi-smile on his lips.

They ate in companionable quiet for a time, the earlier tension settling into a comfortable sort of calm, yet beneath the surface heat lingered, filling him with mild wonder at how persistent it was.

A sharp chime broke through the silence, Thor's phone lighting briefly, coaxing him to reach for it.

Brows furrowed as the message was processed, a strong huff released through his nose.

' Stark,' he stated after a moment, tone carrying mild exasperation. ' He advises that we "lay low", whatever that means, for the remainder of tonight, and tomorrow besides.'

Mild confusion surfaces, and the frown remains in place.

' That is curious... and highly inconvenient.'

[rayofsunshinc]

Steve glanced over only at the huff that Thor let out, curiosity peaked.

He sighed heavily at the information, reaching for his own phone to see the same message. He eyed it, like if maybe he looked longer, it would change. But no, of course not.

❝Yep.❞ Steve echoed the sentiment.

He tossed his phone back onto the mattress next to their food. He reached for a handful of fries, eating them ungracefully as he contemplated the fact that he was going to be alone with Thor for even longer. It wasn't a bad thing. He just ... wondered when this lingering thing would pass. He thought about the fact that he might have to see Thor change clothes again and his cheeks heated up all the way to his ears.

❝We'll just have to make the most of it.❞ Steve said, like he'd thought of how exactly they'd do that. ❝Attempt to get some good sleep and see if we can't find something to do in town. Something quiet, of course. Yeah.❞ 

He didn't understand what this gentle convincing himself of how it was going to be fine was about.

[painofhumanity]

"Gonna be honest, I don't know much about the whole online thing. I can do a Google search, that's 'bout it," she admitted with an embarrassed chuckle. "Nana used to take me to antique stores, though, 'cause there's usually one or two ghosts hanging around with stuff that was theirs before they died. And those ones aren't as sad as the ones that hang around their own graves, so I liked going there better than when we went to cemeteries."

She would normally be worried about how that sounded, but Dominic wasn't normal--in the best way possible. "Well. . . I can't say I'm an expert or anything, but I've been talkin' to ghosts my whole life, so, if you have questions. . . I'm happy to answer 'em, if I can."

[rayofsunshinc]

❝That's okay. Sometimes being away from the computer is for the better.❞ Dominic said with a gentle smile. He had definitely been down some rabbit holes he wished he wouldn't have. He glanced over at the talk about antique stores. ❝God, I can only imagine. I've definitely picked up on ties to old stuff, but you pick up on everything, don't you?❞ He asked.

He nodded, appreciating her offer. ❝Ghosts are one thing. I'm definitely curious about that.❞ He tapped his thumbs on the wheel. The diner was in sight already, the neon sign glowing in the dark of the night. ❝What about other things?❞ He dared to ask. ❝Like ... like demons.❞  

[lunarruled]

That was the thing when being around Daryl Dixon, sometimes it just got quiet but that didn't mean he was upset or that it was something bad. More than likely he was just in his head, something Kyleigh had learned to just happen. He was the type of person that spoke when needed or if you were really close to him, when he felt like it. So she just kept on doing what she was doing, hoping that he would find something they could cook their meal in.

Out of the corner of her she watched him search though the cabinets, the thought not lost on her that he didn't argue or put up any kind of fight about it. Just did as she had asked, something that made her heart melt a little bit. In human terms it was such a simple thing but to her it spoke volumes. Pack members did those kinds of things for each other, and again she wondered how he was feeling about all of this. Thankfully before she messed it up by speaking he found something, her eyes going fully in his direction. "Oh that's awesome, good shit!"

Anyone else probably would have just left it there, thinking that it had no real use now. But other than cooking it could be used for a couple of other things, so yeah Kyleigh was pleased. Now that the meat was well seasoned she was actually looking forward to tasting it, gently placing it into the pan so Daryl could take it to the fire. When he didn't immediately turn to do so Kyleigh's eyes went up to his face, finding that he was already looking at her. Had she gotten some seasoning on her face? Did he change his mind and want something else?

"Daryl? You alright?" Her voice was surprisingly soft when she asked even though he had finally moved, just a step back from her. She didn't think his behavior was weird, just kind of out of place for him.

[rayofsunshinc]

The question caught him off guard, just a little, because her tone was soft. He was always quiet and people didn't tend to notice the smaller details of his silence. But Kyleigh wasn't like everyone else.

The cabin was quiet except for the crackle of flames and the faint rattle of wind outside. He nodded on instinct, and because it was true. He was fine. Better than fine, really.

His eyes dropped briefly to the pan before finding her again. ❝M’alright.❞ His jaw worked once, like there was something sittin’ there he wasn’t sure how to spit out. Then he huffed out a quiet breath through his nose, almost annoyed with himself.

❝Just ain't used to this.❞ He shook his head slightly. He glanced around the cabin, then back at her. His fingers flexed against the pan handle. ❝Feels too damn normal.❞ He clarified quietly. There was no bitterness in his voice, though. If anything, it sounded almost conflicted. Like maybe he was okay with that.

He stepped backward toward the fireplace. ❝Gettin’ comfortable gets people killed.❞ He muttered, putting their food over the fire. But even as he said it, he didn’t sound convinced.

[endiness]

[untilthcyrot]

Every time he repeated the words back to her, she felt the weight of them more and more. They weren't said out of pity because she'd bared her soul to him, or he thought he owed it to her if it meant drying her eyes. He said it because he meant it and wanted her to know the depth of his feelings for her. Now she knew, and it kept her grounded. The endorphins pulsed through her mind, making her forget all about her obsessive maker, as if she hadn't been crying about him at all. In this moment, it was only them, and that's all her body and soul needed.

Cassidy's own disbelief was met with laughter, and it comforted her. It made her body tremble with joy instead of fear. She kissed him with a passion she hadn't felt in a very long time, like she had been saving it for him all along. Her lips were desperate against his (as if they didn't have all the time in the world to do this over and over again). Her fingers grazed through his hair at the back of his head and kissed him deeply and sweetly all at once. It all felt so unreal, like a fairytale. A very vampiric fairytale, but a fairytale nonetheless. ❝ I love you, ❞ she made sure to say again between kisses.

[rayofsunshinc]

The kiss slipped into him warm and dizzying, loosening something deep in his chest that had been locked tight for years. He couldn’t stop smiling against her lips, even as she kissed him like she’d been starving for this just as badly as he had.

His hands moved, one sliding up her spine to pull her flush against him while the other stayed firm at her waist. Every desperate, sweet kiss she gave him only pulled another quiet sound from his throat. His forehead brushed hers for a fleeting second before his mouth found hers again. Her repeated I love you made his chest ache.

Cassidy kissed her deeper again, everything he couldn’t fit into words into the way his mouth moved against hers. When he finally broke the kiss, his nose brushed against hers, lips still hovering close enough to steal another kiss at any second. His thumb stroked gently along her cheek, catching the last traces of tears there.

❝I think I could listen to you say it forever.❞ His voice softened. Then he kissed her again, lingering and intimate, like he wanted to memorize the feeling of her mouth against his for the rest of eternity.

[nysusmuses]

Steve told him not to say that, and Eddie frowned. Staring at his own knee, he tried not to feel bitter. He'd accepted the risks when he'd gone back- when he'd run off to distract the DemoBats to buy them all more time. A part of him had hoped he might survive, yeah, but this?

He was something he didn't fully understand, and despite his interest in dark and strange things, he'd never been dark. Not like this. Eddie Munson- despite the vicious rumors this town liked to spread- was not by any means a violent person. He didn't even like hunting or fishing, for Christ's sake! He didn't want to hurt anyone- much less again and again, for however long this was going to last.

If it ever ended. Eddie paled at the thought, shuddering. This couldn't it. This couldn't be... how it was, now. There had to be some cure, some way to fix this-

"It doesn't matter, man..." Eddie said miserably, running a hand down his face. "There's no intention is nine-tenths of the law when it comes to goddamn monsters," he snapped, dropping his head back against the wall and groaning. "... I'm gonna end up in a goddamn cage the rest of my life. Not even old enough to legally drink, and I'm-" he barked a bitter laugh. "Christ..."

He swore he wasn't going to end up like Al Munson, or like his father before him. That dealing drugs was just to help Wayne catch up on his backed up bills, to help fund the road trip with Corroded Coffin out of Hawkins and to California to make a new life for them all. It was temporary.

And then he dealt to the Queen of Hawkins High. He watched her die in the most horrific of ways... and nothing was ever, ever going to be the same again.

"You know... you're not what I thought you'd be like,"

I wasn't back then, he thought, picturing her sweet laugh, the pleasantly relieved smile on her face. But I guess I kinda am, now.

Eddie picked at a loose thread in the blue jeans he'd borrowed from Steve. Everything he owned was locked away in evidence, and Steve had been nice enough to share his clothes so he wouldn't have to walk around in an ill-fitted, grave dirt and blood stained suit. But it felt strange, being clad in expensive, soft fabric that smelled like Steve. Everything hung a little too loosely, and the style was to polished- even the more relaxed fits like the thin sweater and jeans he wore now.

Steve's heart rate picked up, and Eddie's dark eyes looked up, locking on his chest. It was so loud. It was like a goddamn lunch bell screaming at him, and it made it so much more difficult to focus through his thirst- his senses locked onto the other like... like Steve was a rat, and Eddie was a goddamn snake. The temptation he felt to taste the air was not helping him fight the comparison, either.

Eddie was breathing hard through his nose, clenching his teeth against the urge to rush over and sink his teeth in, feel that blood rush and fill his mouth and warm him from the inside out-

"If you need to ... do it again, you can."

The metalhead blinked, surprised. "I- what?" Dark eyes were wide as Eddie looked up at the other with a baffled expression. "You're joking." He retorted. "You- Harrington, I almost killed you, last time. The hell do you mean do it again?" Eddie shook his head. "No. No way, man. I'm not- I don't- I don't want to hurt you, Steve!" He hissed, speaking lowly.

[rayofsunshinc]

Steve watched him intently, trying to understand. ❝No, you’re not. Nothing like that is going to happen.❞ He insisted. Not if he had anything to say about it. Eddie said it didn't matter, but Steve thought that it did.

He looked Eddie over, watching him there in Steve's clothes, upset and scared of what would come next. Steve frowned, wanting more than anything to be able to fix this. But there was nothing he could do except try and help.

He didn't understand all the layers that there were to this in Eddie's head, but he still felt for him. Going from the town's pariah to an actual ... something. He didn't want to say monster, but vampires were like totally in the monster movie section at Family Video.

Still, he wasn't going to look at Eddie like that. He couldn't. He was still talking to the same Eddie that he had always known. Well ... the Eddie he'd always known, he'd shaken his head at from the hall when he passed by or laughed at along with Tommy H and the other guys. Ugh, he hated himself for those times. It was almost embarrassing to think about.

But he had gotten to know Eddie. He'd found out he was funny and so damn charming. Most importantly, he was talking to the same Eddie that had made a brave decision when it mattered. A stupid, brave decision, but a brave decision.

Steve had spent all this time mourning someone that he barely knew, couldn't figure out why it was hitting him so hard. He'd blamed it on the fact that Eddie had died sacrificing himself for all of them, and he just felt guilty for surviving.

Sitting here in front of Eddie, feeling that same fondness and curiosity he'd felt before, he knew that it wasn't just that.

He sighed, closing his eyes and pinching the bridge of his nose. Why? He had to go giving a shit now, didn't he?

He should've known that Eddie was going to say no. Further proof that he was no monster.

❝I’m fine!❞ Steve reminded him, hands gesturing impatiently. It might've taken him few days to feel like himself, but he was okay now. ❝If you do too much, I’ll just — I'll just stop you. I won’t be so caught off guard this time.❞ He tried to reason, not knowing if he would really be able to do anything or not.

He leaned forward a little, voice lowering. ❝Look, man. I can practically see your mouth watering. I know that you don’t want to, but it might be the only choice you have right now.❞ He let out a nervous breath. ❝I trust you, alright? You stopped yourself last time, right?❞

[alwaysxinxtrouble]

Bucky stills the second Sam’s hand comes up, the touch catching him off guard in a way that doesn’t feel like a threat—just… unfamiliar. His breath hitches slightly as Sam turns his face back, instinct telling him to pull away, to deflect, but he doesn’t. He stays. Let him be held there. The kiss lands softer than he expects.

For a split second, Bucky doesn’t move at all, like his brain hasn’t caught up yet, like he’s waiting for the other shoe to drop. But it doesn’t. There’s no pressure, no demand. Just that same quiet steadiness Sam’s been offering him this whole time. And something in him gives.

His hand tightens slightly in Sam’s, not enough to stop him, just enough to stay anchored as he leans into it—just a fraction at first, then more certain. His free hand lifts, hesitating for the briefest second before settling against Sam’s side, like he’s testing whether this is real or not.

When the kiss breaks, Bucky doesn’t step back right away. His forehead hovers close, breath uneven but quieter than before. “…that was your plan?” he murmurs, voice low, a little rough around the edges, but there’s something else there now, too. Something softer.

[rayofsunshinc]

Relief flooded him when Bucky tightened his hand against Sam's, when he kissed him back gently. Sam cupped the back of Bucky's neck, squeezed his hand more tightly, but didn't kiss him too hard. Not just yet. It had been like he was holding his breath and oxygen was finally coming back into his system.

Sam brushed his forehead against Bucky's before he could get too far away. ❝No.❞ He admitted quietly. A soft chuckle left him, despite how he was still alight with nerves. ❝Felt good though.❞ His voice was still raw too, honest and soft. ❝Couldn't ask for a more romantic moment.❞ He joked gently, just to add a little of their usual levity into the moment. But he really couldn't think of something more romantic than the dock during golden hour.

He closed his eyes for a moment, hand still cupping the back of Bucky's neck and not wanting this to end. He tilted his head up to kiss him again. Soft, but more sure.

[rayofsunshinc]

Another busy weekend ya'll. Longing for the day I can be really present here. In the mean time, send me memes!