This is a little imagine for @spidey-the-killer-queen after her shit day at class. It was a little rushed at 130 in the morning but ITs fINe. Love you 😍
Pairing: Reader x Dacre Montgomery
Today had been a shit day. It was your first official day of classes for your Master’s degree at NYU. You’d missed the bus, the train was down, and you’d forgotten your wallet. By the time you’d gone back to your apartment, you were already nearly an hour late to your first lecture.
Traffic was shit and your Uber driver wouldn’t shut up. Your headphones busted, and your laptop died. To add onto your already shitty day, Dacre had to stay late for some GQ photoshoot and interview for a five page spread.
You’d made it home and had flopped onto the bed, still fully clothed with shoes on. How were you going to survive the rest of your grad school if you couldn’t even handle the first day? Would the thousands of dollars of debt be worth all this shit? You let the tears soak your pillow as you drifted into a dreamless sleep, not caring that it was still daylight out.
You kicked out unexpectedly at something tickling your bare foot. A loud, obnoxious grunt brought you to full consciousness. You lazily rolled over and let one eye stay closed as you looked down your body at your boyfriend.
“Hey baby, how was your first day at big kid school?” You let Dacre pull off your other shoe and sock, staying quiet.
“I was a bit worried when you didn’t return my call. But now I see you have just worked so hard.” Dacre moved up your limp body and with no help from you, pulled your jeans down your legs. He left little kisses up your legs, and you slightly pulled away.
“Baby, what’s wrong?”
“I haven’t shaved.”
“You know that doesn’t bother me. Long as those leg hairs don’t get longer than mine.” His wink and grin almost brought a smile to your face but you just couldn’t convince your muscles to move.
“Okay, now I know something is wrong. Because I’m extremely hilarious. That’s why you’re dating me.”
“I’m just not in the mood, Dacre.” He backed off a bit and looked at you. His brow was heavy over his steel blue eyes as he let them admire you. Your slightly hairy legs, old band tee, and spider-man underwear. When your eyes met, his worried brow disappeared.
“Tell me what happened, love. I can’t help if I don’t know what to fix. Who do I have to kill?”
“I just had a shit day and if I start talking about it I’m gonna cry and I don’t want to annoy you because I know you had a longer and harder day than I did and I just feel guilty because you work so hard and I don’t have a job and you’re paying for literally everything and I just. UGH.” You didn’t take a breath until you finished your sentence.
“My day wasn’t that hard, I got to brag about you to the interviewer. And every time the weird photographer told me to give sex eyes I just imagined you.” You smiled softly at his last statement. He had ignored the comment about him paying for most of your expenses.
You’d had this conversation before. He wanted to support you so you could achieve your dream. After all- he always brought up- you’d supported the two of you when he was a struggling actor, put off your schooling to work three jobs while he was still up and coming.
“Tell you what, you tell me about your shit day, and I’ll give you the inside scoop on what I told the interviewer. The article won’t be out until next week. You can gossip with all your friends.” You sighed and let Dacre pull you into his arms. You leaned back and listened to his strong, steady heartbeat for a moment before you started.
“I woke up late, missed the bus. The train was fucked up for some reason. Then I forgot my fucking wallet and had to turn around because I didn’t pack a lunch and didn’t have any cash on me. So then, once I came back, I called an Uber and traffic fucking sucked, and then my phone and my laptop died. So I had to ask a total complete stranger to email me her notes. It just- fucking sucked! I’m not even sure I want to get my masters after today.” You smacked Dacre on the arm as his rumbling laughter came from behind you. You roughly wiped tears from your face.
“That does sound like a horrible day, baby. I’m so sorry. But-“ Dacre gently unraveled from behind you and went to the closet. You moved to the edge of the bed and sat cross-legged, watching your boyfriend sort through his suit jackets. After a moment, he bowed his head and took an audible breath before letting it out slowly. He turned around, hiding something behind his back and walked up to you. He kneeled down in front of you and kissed you.
“This was supposed to happen in a much more romantic way, in Long Island this weekend, but seeing as you had a shit day...” He pulled his hands from behind his back and opened a tiffany blue box with Cartier embossed in silver on the top. You suddenly forgot how to breathe.
“Y/N. You are my absolute world. Without you, I’d never be able to do what I do. Every time I get down, you pick me up, no questions asked. I couldn’t imagine my life without you. Even on the days when I’ve done something to piss you off, you light up my world.
“If you want to quit school and just be my arm candy, I’d be happy. But I think you’d look amazing with a grad cap on your gorgeous head. I really don’t care what you choose, as long as it’s with me, with my ring on your hand.” You sat there... staring at the absolute unit in the small box.
“Do I have to say the actual words, or?” You shook yourself and immediately started crying and shaking.
“Yes.”
“Er- ok, baby, will you mar-“
“No, no. I mean- yes I’ll marry you, you spoon.” Dacre smiled wide and slid the ring on your finger. Both of you were crying now, and hugging. And kissing. You finally pulled yourself away and held him at arm’s length.
“Wait, so some stranger knew that you were gonna propose to me before I did?”
“I mean, I asked your dad too! Plus, you’ll have to get used to strangers finding all our dirty secrets out if you’re gonna be Mrs. Montgomery.” You smiled as wide as you could, shaking your head at this grown ass man-child.
“I love you.” You didn’t hide the laughter in your words.
This work is technically part six of a seven part series based on songs from Ed Sheeran’s album, Divide. This chapter and “You Look Happier” can be read without the other chapters though.
Rami Malek x Reader
Word Count: 3,349
Your original plan had been to stay with Camryn and Sebastian at their apartment, but they had gotten almost a year break between their filming schedules and you didn’t want to crash their long term vacation if you could help it. So you ended up crashing at Joe’s until the apartment you had your eye on opened up at the end of the current contract, but you never ended up moving out. Joe had been there to comfort you; understanding what it was like to have to walk away from someone you loved but could no longer keep yourself around. He understood there wasn’t a limit on how many tears needed to be shed; no limit on how long it takes to get over someone.
The funny thing was, it didn’t take you as long as you thought. Or at least, that’s what you told yourself. You quickly found yourself falling for Joe. He was hesitant at first about the whole situation, with still being decent friends with Rami. But after he noticed Rami keeping to himself after the split, he didn’t mind as much. Eventually Rami stopped asking about YN during their chats.
It was five months after you had moved in when the press had really started having a field day with your and Joe’s new relationship. You had been out together, seen holding hands and sharing sweet kisses only a few weeks after you moved in, but hadn’t really posted much on social media about it. You had started feeling more comfortable, so you’d taken a selfie of you and Joe lying in bed, hair messed up and clearly lacking clothes under the sheets pulled up to your chests.
@itsyagirlynn: Sunday mornin, rain is fallin @joe_mazzello :*
@joe_mazzello: You need to start sharing the covers.
@benhardy1: Thanks for stealing my man @itsyagirlynn. Whatever will I do now :”(
@mrgwilymlee: What am I, chopped liver?
@imcammystan: You guys are sickeningly cute. Give @imsebastianstan some pointers @joe_mazzello.
The comments from your friends had eased the butterflies in your stomach. You had finally stopped constantly thinking about the what-ifs and started thinking about your future. You had a great group of friends who had been there for you during this trying time. They had stuck up for you after small rumors had started circulating when you two had been seen out on your first public date at O’Reilly’s all those months ago.
Things were going splendidly, if you didn’t think about him. You couldn’t… because if you did, then it would just uncap all the heartbreaking feelings you had managed to bottle up and stuff way down deep. You were happy with Joe, and you loved him. Didn’t you?
@ighandle1: MOM WHYD YOU LEAVE DAD
@ighandle2: she didn’t wait long did she?
@ighandle3: bish a homie hopper. Git it.
@ighandle4: You guys are the definition of cute and we stan a beautiful couple.
@ramimalek liked your photo: Sunday Mornin, rain is falling –
@joe_mazzello: You guys are all just jealous. Sucks to be you!
@imcammystan: You eggrolls need to get a life! Whomever she chooses to love is her own damn business. You got a problem you can come to me you pigheaded baboons!!!!
@LucyBoynton: <3
Seeing the negative comments littered among the usual fanfare of your Instagram hurt you more than you would have liked, but you had come to accept that you would never be able to make everyone happy so you settled for just trying to make yourself happy. Five months quickly turned into almost a year. A year without Rami by your side… But a year with Joe. You were happier, weren’t you?
~*’*~*’*~*’*~
You’d been having a movie night. Friday you’d started a Marvel movie marathon off with Captain America: The First Avenger. Now it was Sunday evening and you’d started on Disney classics.
You hadn’t been paying attention as Joe had put in a new DVD from the entertainment center, but regretted letting him pick the next one. The opening scenes of Beauty and the Beast started playing on the large screen in front of you and you tried not to stiffen up. Joe mistook your stiffness for a cold spell and snuggle closer to you, wrapping the comforter closer around your bodies.
By the time the ballroom dance scene started you could feel a panic attack coming on. There was a slight flush to your cheeks and the hot sting of tears tickled your eyes. You tried to keep your breathing even so Joe wouldn’t notice you were getting upset. You started feeling your back muscles tense and shiver along your spine as Belle walked down the steps.
You had started counting the windows in the living room, breathing deep and even. Joe had tightened his grip around your shoulders, rubbing his hand along your bicep lovingly. You were counting the windows in the living room, cursing yourself for looking at the spots where the windows were in your and Rami’s apartment. Rami’s apartment… You nearly jumped when a large hand ran down your arm and gripped your clammy hand.
Joe effortlessly pulled you off the couch and into his arms. You closed your eyes as he softly pressed his lips to yours. You were mad at yourself as tears fell down your face. You pulled your lips away and rested your head on Joe’s shoulder. He chuckled deep in his chest and tightened his grip around you. You choked back a sob, but you knew Joe felt your body shudder as you hiccupped. As the last note of Tale as Old as Time played quietly, Joe leaned down and whispered in your ear. The roughness in his voice surprised you.
“You still love him.” You blew hot air out of your nose at Joe’s statement.
“Course I still love him – I always will, but that doesn’t mean- I’m happy with you. I love you, Joe.”
“I love you too, but you were happier with him.” You were both crying silently now, avoiding eye contact but clutching to each other tightly. Neither of you wanted to have this conversation, but deep down you both knew it needed to happen.
Joe had felt your panic attack coming on when the movie started. He’d had a knot in his stomach the whole film and didn’t want to bring up the conversation you needed to have. He loved you dearly and wouldn’t trade a moment of these last six months; but he couldn’t watch you rip yourself apart anymore. You still loved Rami. You missed him terribly. Joe would be damned if he was the reason that you two weren’t together. He was mad at himself for letting things get this far.
“Don’t beat yourself up, Joey. I let us happen too.” God it was like you could read his thoughts. He met your eyes and smiled solemnly. You both let out a soft laugh as you continued to sway softly, movie long forgotten.
“I’m sorry, YN.”
“I am, too.” You shared a chaste kiss before you continued your slow waltz for a few more minutes before pulling away. You both fell asleep in each other’s arms that night, savoring one more night together. Surprisingly, as you felt your lids drooping closed, focusing on Joe’s strong heartbeat beneath your head, you felt at peace with how things were closing between you and Joe.
~*’*~*’*~*’*~
A month after you had moved out of Joe’s and into the spare room of Cam and Seb’s condo overlooking Central Park, you still couldn’t bring yourself to get a hold of Rami. It wasn’t like you were far away- your old apartment and the Stan’s was only a couple blocks away from each other. Less than a ten minute walk at a casual pace. You found yourself walking the complete opposite direction each time you tried to go there.
You and Joe still hung out on the regular but had become public with the mutual split. Both of you were content with how you’d ended things and all your friends were- as always- supportive. The fans hadn’t stopped with tagging you and Rami in posts and comments over every platform about getting back together; while others kept tagging you and Joe together. The former had only posted once about how you two wouldn’t be reuniting in that manner and to stop bugging him about it. You hadn’t seen anything from Rami concerning the fan-fueled feud. You’d logged out of all your social media over a week ago and hadn’t logged back in.
You were reading out on the patio, deeply entranced in the printed words as the world buzzed on around you. It was the first week of May and you had all the doors and windows open in the apartment. A comfortable breeze was wafting through the air, carrying the scent of blooming flowers from the streets below.
Camryn and Sebastian were watching the live feed of the MET Gala. All three of you had been formally invited but you had declined, not being brave enough to chance running into Rami during one of the biggest televised events of the year. Cam and Seb had declined as well, not wanting to leave you alone at the apartment. Cam had tried to get you to attend but hadn’t succeeded and didn’t try to push it like she normally would. She knew you’d come around eventually.
You were interrupted from a rather exciting part of your book by Seb’s booming voice calling your name. You jumped and turned your head to face the man. He had changed his lounging position on the plush couch to sitting on the edge of the cushion, hands clasped together, elbows on his knees, vein almost too visible on his forehead. Cam popped her head over the kitchen counter where she had been making a snack for you all.
“YN, get in here now, I said!” The pleading tone in his voice was unnerving you. Camryn and you got to the living room at the same time. You cocked your hip and bit at your thumb nail as you watched the scene unfolding on the flat screen. Cam gripped your shoulder when she heard you inhale sharply.
You watched with bated breath as the camera closed in on a red-faced Rami trying to contain his anger towards the interviewer but failing horribly. His eyes were bugged out slightly and his lips were pursed tightly in a thin line. He was dressed in a black velvet tuxedo, looking like sex on legs – should be illegal, honestly. You blinked your eyes rapidly and redirected your attention to the conversation happening on the red carpet.
~*’*~*’*~*’*~
This was the second interviewer Rami had dealt with that had asked him about Joe and you splitting. He didn’t know what had happened between you two, but he knew that it was mutual and there were no hard feelings about it. Joe had told him that much after you had moved out, but had said he needed to talk to you for the rest of the story. This current woman though, she was really grinding his gears. She kept pressing about what occurred when you had left.
“You know what. I’m so sick and tired of you guys sticking your noses where they don’t fucking belong.” Rami didn’t even care that he was cursing on live TV. He was physically sick to his stomach about this whole thing. The woman looked shocked to say the least, she made a move to remove the microphone from in front of Rami’s face but he grabbed it and held it firmly. He didn’t wait to see if she’d pull away before he let go and continued with his rant.
“I’ve lost the best thing I ever had. Eight years. Eight years of loving YN and it’s all gone because of you god damned people. We were happy, you know?! We were about to get married, start a family. And it’s all gone now. It’s all fucking gone because you-” He stopped mid-sentence, closed his eyes and took a deep breath. The woman held her hand up still, arm slightly shaking at the adrenalin of catching Rami’s raw, uncut rant on live TV.
Rami blinked the tears from his eyes before angrily wiping them off his face, not caring that he was close to sobbing on live TV. He looked down at his feet, letting the tears fall down to darken the red carpet below. It wasn’t the pap and media’s fault that he had lost you. It was his. He had so many chances to fix things, you had tried to fix it for six months and he had been too reserved about your relationship to make any type of statement about it. It would have been so simple…
“You know what-“ He smiled tightly, ignoring his tears, and threw his arms out to his sides, palms up.
“It’s not your fault. I’m sorry, you’re just doing your job. It’s my fault YN and I didn’t work. She knew the rumors weren’t true. She wasn’t ever worried about our relationship. That’s not what led to her leaving me. It was the simple fact that my dumb ass wouldn’t stick up for us to all of you and dispel the rumors. And I didn’t. I didn’t stick up for the best thing that has ever happened to me. And that’s on me. It’s all on me. And now I can’t fix it.” Rami had stopped crying. A melancholy look graced his trouble face now. He had finally admitted it out loud instead of in the dark, lonely confines of his troubled mind.
He didn’t wait for the reporter to say anything before he backed away and ran up the carpeted steps, ignoring the other cameras, reporters, and guests. He walked calmly to the bathroom where he composed himself for a few minutes before heading to his table.
~*’*~*’*~*’*~
You stood, mouth agape, staring in bewilderment at the TV screen, which has changed to a commercial now. Cam’s hand left your shoulder for a moment before poking you with your ringing phone. You didn’t even glance at the caller ID as you took it and answered. Your hands were shaking as you held the phone close to your ear. Joe’s excited voice filled your eardrum.
“YN are you watching the MET!? Rami, he just – “
“I know. I’m watching right now.”
“YN you need to go there. Like now. This is your chance!” Joe was talking so loud Cam and Seb could hear him through the earpiece. You glanced at the couple and widened your eyes as they frantically nodded their heads in agreement with Joe. As you stood silently in shock, your phone started vibrating with text message notifications.
“Yeah.” You hung up before Joe could say another word of encouragement. You turned slowly towards your closest friends only to find them missing from the living room. You blinked slowly and tried to gather your thoughts about how you were going to confront Rami.
What should you wear? When should you leave? What should you say? You were shaken from your thoughts as Sebastian stuffed your wallet into your hands and Camryn shoved you onto the couch. She started slipping your tennis shoes on your feet as Sebastian threw a lightweight jacket to you. They pulled you up and led you to the front door. You looked down at your capri leggings, tank top, tennis shoes, and thin jacket. Your frantic eyes stared up at your friends.
“What should I even-“
“Anything babe, literally anything that comes to mind. Just say something for fucks sake, YNN.” Seb nodded his head in agreement to Cam’s answer.
“What she said.” With that, they shoved you out the front door.
~*’*~*’*~*’*~
Rami barely made it through the opening speeches or appetizers before he excused himself to the bathroom. He carefully splashed cold water over his face before toweling off and making his decision. He was going to stop acting like a pussy, man up, and go after you. The Stan’s apartment was maybe fifteen minutes away if he jogged. He knew you’d be there. He didn’t say goodbye to anyone, and didn’t see anyone on the front staircase as he walked out. He was temporarily blinded by the unexpected flash of the pap cameras as he opened the doors.
When his vision cleared he nearly choked at you standing below him at the bottom of the limestone steps, news media vans and paparazzi surrounding you behind the velvet ropes. You had your hair up in a bun that was falling out haphazardly, with leggings and a jacket that he had bought you a couple years ago when you were camping at Port St. Joe in Florida.
You didn’t really know what to expect once you had gotten to the MET, but Rami almost falling out of the front doors was not one of the scenarios that played out in your head. You still were trying to compose some sort of comprehendible sentence as he ran down the steps two at a time, arms out to his sides for balance. As he neared you, your vision blurred as tears threatened to escape. You saw his green eyes glisten as well. He came to an abrupt halt in front of you, mouth agape, and hands hanging awkwardly at his side.
“That suit is a sin.” Your eyes widened in horror and shock as you realized you had said exactly what Cam had told you to- the first and only coherent thought that had come to your mind. Rami’s glistening eyes widened a bit. His mouth hung open slightly, not quite sure how to reply to that.
“Oh my God, I’m sorry Rami. Cam said just to say anything because I needed to say something and ever since I saw you earlier on TV that was what stuck.”
“You saw that? Earlier I mean… On the red carpet?” Rami’s eyes downcast to his shoes, kicking an invisible pebble. You tentatively grabbed both his hands and brought them to your chest, covering them with your own. Rami made eye contact with you when he felt how fast and erratically your heart was beating. It matched his own.
“Yeah. I don’t know what to say. I think I’m still in shock to be honest.”
“Yeah, me too… I- I was leaving to come find you.”
“You were?”
“Yeah… listen YN, I meant everything I said earlier. I didn’t know you’d be watching I swear. I miss you and need you and I don’t even know how I’m still functioning without you. I didn’t want to try to get a hold of you when you were with Joe. You two looked so happy. So much happier than we had been those last few months before I fucked it all up and let you walk out.” He took a breath and you stole a chance to interject, hoping that it would get your point across that you just wanted to forget this all ever happened.
“I was happier with you. It’s always been you.” You both shared a tear filled wide smile before Rami continued.
“I don’t know how or what I can do to make it up to you but I am begging you to give me another chance.” Rami started to kneel down, and at the slight roar of the unwelcomed audience behind you, you pulled him up into your arms and kissed him sloppily on the lips before pulling away.
“You already did make it up to me. It’s all I’ve ever wanted is for you to just stick up for what we have to everyone. Even if they don’t mean anything to us. You don’t have to beg for me, you never lost me. Not really.” You both were crying openly now, the paps and news cameras long forgotten. Rami cupped your face in his large hands and kissed you deeply.
This work is technically part five of a seven part series based on songs from Ed Sheeran’s album, Divide. This chapter and “I was Happier with You” can be read without the other chapters though.
Rami x Reader
Word Count: 3,120
Thirty days. Thirty days, twelve hours, and fifteen minutes since he had watched you walk out of your shared apartment. He tried not to recall the exact second you walked out. How utterly defeated and ruined you looked as you turned away broke his heart, but he didn’t have the courage to try to fix it.
He’d been walking down the street to O’Reilly’s for a couple drinks with some old Mr. Robot cast-mates when he looked up from his shoes and noticed you and Joe about thirty feet ahead of him. Joe had his arm wrapped around your waist, hand in your back pocket. Where his used to rest. Rami chastised himself briefly before shifting his eyes from your jean-clad back pockets to the rest of your frame. He couldn’t see your face from his point of view, but he could tell from the way you carried yourself that you were in a much better state from when he last saw you. You looked happier.
He realized too late that you and Joe were headed into O’Reilly’s as well. He slowed his steps, making sure you two didn’t see him. He skidded to a stop as Joe pulled at your back pocket with his hand, throwing you into a quick spin as he captured your lips in a quick, chaste kiss before he opened the door for you. You laughed loudly, the laugh that made Rami’s insides melt. That sharp, bark of a laugh escaped from you when you found something obnoxiously funny; like the pocket spin. How many times you had mentioned to him that you were in love with that scene from that movie your cousin was in. He had been listening, always planning on trying it with you, but never got the chance.
Joe pulled out a chair for you at a table for two at the far corner of the bar. Rami watched from the doorway as a waiter came and took your orders. As he left, Joe leaned over and whispered something in your ear. You covered your mouth with your hand to cover a blush and Rami couldn’t help but notice the pale line wrapping around your ring finger where his ring used to sit. You removed your hand before he could dwell on it any longer and the two of you shared a smile. You and Joe giggled for a moment before erupting in loud laughter, grabbing the attention of some of the other patrons. You both looked so God damned happy. He was trying to remember the last time you and him had looked that happy, but was having a hard time at the heaviness taking over his fond memories of your long relationship.
How could he have hurt you like he did? He didn’t mean any of it. Honestly.
~*’*~*’*~*’*~
Bohemian Rhapsody star Rami Malek; a CHEATER??
Marvel actress YFN YLN stays quiet about the Malek/Boynton affair.
Malek neither confirms nor denies allegations of affair with Bohemian Rhapsody co-star, Lucy Boynton.
Lucy and Rami seen together shopping at CARTIER. Where is YN???
@ighandle1: I can’t believe he would do this?! He seems so sweet! Lucy a lil hoe.
@ighandle2: She needs to dump his ass. She can do soooo much better.
@ighandle3: I doubt Rami would do this, he’s too sweet and Lucy and YN seemed like they got along from their instagrams. He and YN are perfect for each other. I hope you can work it out @ramimalek @itsyagirlynn
@ighandle4: With YN’s reputation before she started dating him I thought she’d be the cheater. But I’m not surprised. People suck. Karma’s a bitch, @ramimalek. @itsyagirlynn im single ;)
You were physically sick just looking at your phone. You always knew that being an actress would have its trying times with the press and social media, but you never thought that you’d be caught up in a disaster like this. You figured you’d accidentally leak a Marvel secret like Mark or Tom. There was the short-lived rumor between you and fellow co-star Sebastian Stan; but honestly, you two had been quick to shut down those nasty rumors.
Even Cam - Sebastian’s wife and fellow Marvel actress - had released a statement, tagging you, Rami, and Sebastian, stating that every single rumor was false and no one could convince her otherwise that one of her best friends could or would cheat on her with her own husband. And how obviously in love you and Rami were. The picture she posted was of you and Rami behind the scenes of your engagement photo shoot.
You had been very outspoken during the whole Sebastian rumors, responding to the earlier rumors with satire. A cheeky, clearly staged photo of you and Seb hugging tightly as Cameron glared at the two of you with her arms crossed over her chest in the background. You were all in your respective outfits for the Marvel Short you were filming for that day. Rami wasn’t a part of that particular impromptu photoshoot, but made sure to comment an equally funny response to your caption.
@itsyagirlynn: miss steal yo man! @imcammystan Americans do it better! Aussies stink!
@ramimalek: Baby, @itsyagirlynn why you do me so cold? Though tbh how could I compare to THE Winter Soldier? @imsebastianstan, @imcammystan I warned you about her! She’s crazy!
@imcammystan: What ever will I do?! :’( Guess @anthony_mackie will have to keep me company from now on.
@imsebastianstan: Can’t everyone just get along. There’s enough of me to go around. Except for you @anthony_mackie, you get none of this.
@anthony_mackie: I mean I won’t say no @imcammystan. Ya snooze ya lose @imsebastianstan. @itsyagirlynn, why don’t you come to the real winners here?
You blew air out of your nose, recalling how much Rami and your co-stars had laughed that night at dinner after you were done on set. The media and fans were having a field day with it. Your small smile faded from your lips after a few breaths. That had been over year ago. Things were different then. Rami had just been called back for the casting of Freddie for Bohemian Rhapsody. The fans and media knew nothing about the movie yet. Things had been simpler then. You had been engaged for about a year, with no wedding date set in stone due to both of your busy schedules but that hadn’t bothered either of you.
Of course you knew that the allegations were false. Rami would never cheat on you. You would never cheat on him. Hell, you had admitted to feeling sick every time you had to kiss someone on camera. To your relief, Rami had the same reservations about on-screen romances. Not to mention, Lucy had quickly become one of your closest friends while you tagged along on the set of Bohemian Rhapsody; your contract for Marvel easing up a bit until twenty-twenty.
You thought fondly about all the beautiful memories you had of everyone involved in your life during the past year. Late nights with Rami, Ben, Joe, Gwil, and Lucy that turned into mornings… Impromptu jam sessions with the Roger Taylor and Brian May… Naps with Joe, Gwil, and Ben as Rami and Lucy shot their Mary and Freddie scenes. It was probably one of the best years of your life, besides the year that Rami had nervously admitted his feelings towards you. You’d made new friends, and learned a lot about one of your favorite bands. It was heaven. That was, until it wasn’t.
About halfway through the press tours for your fiancée’s newest movie, rumors had started circulating about Rami and Lucy. You knew they were just that - rumors. But what had bothered you most about the whole thing was the absolute silence coming from Rami. In private, behind closed doors and between friends, he was very vocal about the fact that Lucy and he were just friends. You had no doubt in that; but on social media and during interviews Rami was very tight-lipped and shy about the whole ordeal. To be honest you were a little miffed about his whole persona in the public eye.
You had been very vocal all over social media and the press interviews about how absurd the rumors about you and Seb had been. Why couldn’t he do the same? You knew his anxiety got the best of him sometimes, but he usually was good about supporting you and backing you up with anything; press-related or not. The fact that Rami had been quieter than normal was unnerving.
You had voiced your concerns to Joe, since he had kept in contact the most since the boys had finished press tours. He only lived a few blocks down from you and Rami, so he was over at your apartment often. You had known him for years, you’d met during your sophomore year of high school after you’d moved from Brooklyn to California for your dad’s job. You had stayed in touch over email and phone ever since, reconnecting when you moved back to Brooklyn after you finished filming your first Marvel film. In fact, he’d been the one to introduce you to Rami on the set of The Pacific years ago.
He’d been very supportive of you and Rami, if not a little reserved about the whole ordeal. He didn’t believe that Rami was cheating, but agreed with you on the opinion that he should at least deny any rumors. You took his opinion to heart, especially after what happened with his ex and his best friend; he didn’t take cheating rumors lightly. Lucy had been quiet about the whole ordeal too, but you didn’t want to bother her. She was dealing with her own husband and getting ready for her first child at the moment.
You had tried to talk to Rami multiple times about how you felt about his silence on the matter, but he always repeated that he didn’t really feel comfortable talking about rumors to the public. It wasn’t really their business. You had agreed at first, but the itching feeling at the back of your head as to why he wouldn’t even post something small about it - personally dispelling the rumors – wouldn’t leave you alone.
You were hurt, as much as you hated to admit it, that Rami wouldn’t stick up for your relationship like you felt he should. Weren’t you worth it? You had some anxiety as well about dealing with the short comings of being famous, but you felt like you handled them well. You would never dream about letting someone you loved deeply come under back lash about any nasty rumors. Yet it seemed Rami didn’t feel the same way.
It had been six months since the rumors started, and your phone was still exploding with abhorrent comments and tags about the whole thing. You couldn’t take it anymore. You had already asked Joe and Seb for help. Cam had wanted to assist, but she was out of town filming for an Agents of SHIELD episode. The boys had quickly moved all of you essential belongings out of your shared Brooklyn apartment that you had shared Rami for the past seven years. He was at a photo shoot for Hugo Boss that morning so you’d had plenty of time to pack up.
You’d left any framed photographs of you two, including your engagement photos adorning the hallway walls leading to your master bedroom and study. You couldn’t bear to take them with you. Despite what some would think, the last thing you wanted to do was leave Rami. But you couldn’t be with someone who wouldn’t stick up for you. It just wasn’t healthy. You two had been through a lot together. You shared more happy times than sour; but no matter how many times you’d argued about this the last six months, you couldn’t come to terms with each other.
Joe and Sebastian had left you alone at your apartment about twenty minutes ago. You had passed the time scrolling through your social media accounts and returning emails. Eventually you heard the door unlock. You stood abruptly from the couch and smoothed your baggy t-shirt before stepping into Rami’s open arms. The stiffness in your posture immediately notified Rami that something was wrong.
“Baby, what’s wrong? What happened?” He dropped the folder of printed contracts he had received after his photoshoot and gripped your shoulders soothingly, pressing a hard kiss to your forehead. His strong hands ran over your shoulders, up your neck, before tangling in your hair. You squeezed your eyes shut at the contact. You didn’t say anything as you twisted your engagement ring off your finger and pulled his hands away from your shaking shoulders. You pressed the ring into his palm before forcing his tanned hands to close around it.
“I can’t do this anymore Rami.” His shoulders sagged with defeat. He didn’t need to ask you what you were talking about. He knew. He wished he hadn’t seen it coming. Wished he hadn’t hurt you this badly. But he had, and he didn’t know for the life of him why he let things go this far. You pressed a sorrowful kiss to his pouted lips before letting go of his clenched hands and backed away. You grabbed your purse and walked to the door. Opening it, you waited with a bated breath for him to say something – anything - to try and stop you from leaving. But it never came. You couldn’t stop the gut-wrenching sob that forced its way up your throat and past your lips as you closed the familiar oak door.
~*’*~*’*~*’*~
He clenched his eyes shut as he leaned against the doorway of the bar. He felt a warm hand on his shoulder and blinked his eyes back into focus. It was Carly. She had a heavy brow and a slight frown marring her lips. Her eyes followed to where Rami’s had been when she’d caught him frozen in the doorway from her seat.
“We can meet another time, Rami. It’s no biggie.” She waited for Rami to reply, but all she got was a slight nod. He didn’t make eye contact as he shuffled his way out the glass door, but Carly had not missed the unshed tears that were gathering in his green eyes. She glanced over toward YN and Joe at their corner table, giggling softly at Joe’s phone. She wished she knew what exactly had happened between those two. Rami and YN had so clearly been head over heels for each other when he took her on set of Mr. Robot. She didn’t think that Rami was at all capable of cheating, but he was very tight-lipped about anything regarding his personal life and the tabloids that she didn’t know what to think one way or another.
Rami had stopped by the liquor store a few blocks from his apartment before making himself walk up the stairs to what used to be YN and his home. He was trying to prolong the inevitable – that he didn’t want to return home. Home. He didn’t even really consider his apartment home anymore. The only thing that had made it home was YN. Before he even removed the keys from the knob, Rami had twisted off the cap of the handle of Jack and took a long, burning gulp of the whiskey. He tore the keys out and let them fall to the floor, flinching slightly at the loud slam of the heavy front door.
Taking another drink, he flopped onto the black couch and cradled the Jack in his arms. He found if he kept perfectly still with his eyes closed, he could almost ignore the mournful voice in his head trying to comfort him. The voice wasn’t a familiar one, rather a compilation of all his friends’ voices over the past month trying to reassure him that everything would be okay. That he would move on with someone too, eventually.
Truth was he didn’t want to move on. He hadn’t even taken any of your old things to the Women’s Shelter yet. All of the photos of you two together or with groups of friends and family still adorned the walls and shelf spaces throughout the house. Your engagement ring still sat on the coffee table in front of him; he had placed it there the day you left. He had been looking at it every night, trying not to recall the night he proposed with it, but just like every other night, today was no different. He couldn’t help the flood of memories wash over him as he recalled the night about a year ago when he had asked you to be his wife.
~*’*~*’*~*’*~
You two had been snuggling on the couch nearly all day; before the couch, it had been your bed. You’d gotten home from filming last night and hadn’t left Rami’s sight since he picked you up from the airport. You were on your fourth Disney movie – and Rami’s favorite – which happened to be Beauty and the Beast. You were almost asleep when your favorite scene came on. You found yourself singing along to Tale as Old as Time softly with Rami whispering it in your ear.
After the first verse, Rami shifted and stood, pulling you up with him. He started the all too familiar dance in the middle of your living room, humming and singing into your ear the whole time. His hands found their way to your sides halfway through the song. You’d stopped singing; choosing instead to bask in the sweet I love you’s and You’re perfect’s that Rami had been whispering.
As the song ended you pulled away slightly. You were sure if anyone had seen you, dressed in an oversized t-shirt and baggy sweats, they would describe you as making heart eyes at Rami. He blinked a couple times before reaching behind the couch cushion and pulling out a small black box. Your heart jumped out of your chest as he stepped closer to. As he started opening the box and went to bend down, you grabbed his shoulders and pulled him to you, smashing a sloppy, tear-filled kiss to his lips.
“YES! Rami, yes!”
“I didn’t even ask anything yet!”
“I already know what you’re gonna ask! And the answer is yes!” Rami smiled and laughed, not even bothering to kneel down. He slid the perfectly sized, simple princess cut diamond on your left ring finger and kissed you, the salty tears from both of you intermingling over your connected lips.
He loved you so fucking much. He was positive no one else could ever love you like he did.
Shelby Bates grew up with the Winchesters, fighting alongside them and saving the day as needed. She was living the life she loved with the man she loved, until a dark family secret comes out and she is kidnapped while Dean can only watch helplessly. Dean struggles to live without her- the only person that ever made him feel like he was worth something, until she shows up years later.
Pairing: Dean Winchester X OC(Shelby Bates)
Word Count: 3105
Rating: M
Masterlist
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter Two: You're Not Alone
Some days I just can't go on
I stumble and fall
And I hang my head
But You reach out for my hand
And You lift me up
Again and again
Oh, yes, You do
-Owl City ft. Britt Nicole
Dean sighed happily. He didn't know when he met the Bates' that he would come to care so much for the girl who annoyed the hell out of him as soon as they met. He had known Shelby for nearly ten years of their lives. In 1989, John was following up on a lead about the demon who murdered Mary.
-TOL-
While driving down a dark back road heading to what he hoped would be a motel, John Winchester sighed angrily at his rear view mirror. His two sons were bickering in the back seat, seat belts long forgotten. He didn’t have the energy for these two.
“Dean! Control yourself son. Buckle your brother back in and get in your own seat. You hear me? So help me if you don’t, I’ll pull this car over and make you two walk to the motel!” John eyed his eldest son angrily through the rear view mirror before Dean sniffled a bit and pushed Sam back down into his car seat. Just as Dean buckled his own seat belt, he lurched to the side, hitting his shaved head on the side of Sam’s own shaggy one. Rubbing his own head while checking his little brother over, Dean asked his dad what happened. Only to be answered by a growl and slamming of the Impala door. The two boys’ heads popped into view of the window and looked out into the rainy night. A royal blue Camaro sat perpendicular to their own car, smoke coming out of the hood and the hood slightly tee pee’d.
While John looked over the damage of the body on his car, the other man walked up and held his hand out with an old receipt from a gas station. It had chicken scratch on the back; probably the driver’s insurance information. John shifted angrily. His poor Baby, he had just had it washed. He grabbed the receipt out of the man's hand. He paused. Was that?
"You a hunter?" John asked with surprise in his voice. Hearing his dad, Dean got out and walked around to the other side of the Impala, looking up at the scruffy man in the leather jacket. Dean followed his father's line of sight to the mystery man's wrist, where a braided leather bracelet with an anti-possession pendant tied into it. A squeak came from the uninjured side of the Impala. A second later, Sam came up by Dean and grabbed his hand. He was still a bit shocked by the impact. Dean shrugged him off and walked away when his father gave them a look, telling them to get back into the car.
"What?" Is all the verbal response John received. His question was answered when the man's hand slowly went behind his back.
"Whoa, whoa man. No need for a gun. I'm not the boogeyman. I'm the guy who hunts him. John Winchester." John said with a tight smile, slightly forgiving the fellow hunter for the impact on his car. The man huffed quietly and shoved his hand out to shake John’s.
"Sorry ‘bout that. Can't be too careful. Name's Colt Bates. And this-" Colt said, turning around to behind his Camaro and reaching into the shadows,
"Is Shelby, my daughter. Shelby, mind your manners now. What would your mamma say?" Colt lightly scolded the young brunette, who had silent tears running down her eyes. She looked up at John through her eyelashes and sniffled, then held out her hand to the large man.
"It's nice to meet you Mr. John." The shy girl said. John shook her hand, eyebrows raising ever so slightly at how firm the handshake was coming from such a small girl. After releasing her hand, John called for his boys to come back around.
"Now boys, this here is Colt Bates and his daughter Shelby. They're going to ride back with us to a motel and we're gonna come back tomorrow to tow his car." At the words coming from the legendary hunter's mouth, Colt stilled.
"Nonsense John, we can call a cab-" While the two older men discussed what to do with the vehicles and such, the three young children looked at each other tensely.
"Hi, I'm Shelby. What are your names?" Shelby looked at Sam and Dean with her bright green eyes, tears still coming down but getting less frequent. Dean scoffed at the crying girl, What a wussy! He thought. Shelby just ignored him and looked at the short, brown haired boy next to the mean blonde one. He smiled shyly at her and introduced himself,
"I'm Sam, it's nice to meet you. This is Dean, my big brother. He can be a jerk sometimes." That made Shelby smile a little and Sam chuckled, while Dean crossed his arms over his chest and stomped back the Impala. He slammed the door to the back seat. Shelby and Sam shared a small smile.
The slamming door grabbed the two mens attention and John grumbled while Colt smiled a bit. They had decided to drive back in the Impala, since it had less damage to it. Colt unloaded some essentials from his car and loaded them in the trunk of Johns ride. He whistled softly at the impressive arsenal in the demon-warded trunk. He'd have to take note of some of the items in there.
The car ride to the motel was filled with the quiet chatter of the men talking about what they needed to fix the cars. Dean noticed that John had relaxed and seemed to have forgotten about the yellow-eyed demon for the time being. He was okay with that. Anytime John caught wind of that thing, Sam and Dean took the brunt of his frustration when he lost the trail, which happened more often than not. Maybe this dude and his wussy daughter would distract him long enough for a break.
Dean scoffed when Shelby's head fell on his shoulder as they rounded the corner for a motel. Sam and she had fallen asleep about 10 minutes into the ride. He ignored the cold feeling he got when Colt picked Shelby up from the middle of the back seat.
-TOL-
Almost as if she was reading his mind, the warmth from his left side disappeared when Shelby bolted out of her position gasping his name in terror. Another nightmare. Dean shifted to a more comfortable position and glanced at Shelby sidelong. She had tears in her eyes, much like the night they met. Only this time Dean didn't think of her as a wussy.
"Sorry, Dean." She murmured. Dean nodded his acceptance and rolled out of the bed. Shelby pulled her knees up to her chest and rested her chin on them. She eyed Dean carefully as he padded the kitchenette and started the coffee pot. He then walked over to his duffel and grabbed a few things before heading into the bathroom. Before he shut the door, he heard a soft 'thank you' leave Shelby's lips. He turned slightly and gave her a soft, half-smile.
"Anytime, Princess." Shelby's mood lightened at the nickname he had given her years ago, while she was in her pony-wanting stage. She gave him a warm smile as he turned around and shut the bathroom door. She checked the time. Three p.m. Damn, we slept longer that I would have liked. Shelby watched the coffee brew as her thoughts flew back to her dream. One she had often.
-TOL-
Breathe, Shelby. Just breathe.
But she couldn't, the cold water surrounding her at all angles wouldn't allow it. She looked down at her hand, which was connected to her mother's bigger one. She followed the tan skin up her mother's arm and to her face, to her closed eyes. This wasn't right. She should be looking at bright green eyes. And her mother's skin should be a deep tan, not turning pale.
Tired. So tired. Right as Shelby closed her eyes she felt someone grab her harshly from above. Dragging her up.
Breathe, Shelby. Just breathe.
"Damn it Shelby. Wake up. I can't lose you." Shelby swam out of the darkness and towards the familiar voice and gorgeous green eyes. But not her mothers.
"Dean." She shot up, gasping for air.
-TOL-
The real memory didn't quite match the nightmare she always had. It was her dad's bright blue eyes and his deep, gruff voice that met her when she awoke. Fifteen years ago, her mother drowned. Sucked down by something supernatural while trying to rescue Shelby when she leaned too far over the lake’s dock. Her family had been on a short vacation in Arizona. Colt and Amelia had just taken out a huge vampire nest and decided to celebrate. To this day they never found out what had grabbed Shelby off the dock and ultimately took her mother. To this day she still hadn't stopped blaming herself.
Ever since she and Dean had started to get along, her nightmare changed. To his voice, his eyes. Rescuing her. She had long since told him and Sam about her mother's mysterious death. And Dean knew about her regular nightmares. She still never told him about his appearance in it. She was too embarrassed.
She heard the shower turn off and glanced at Dean as he stepped out of the bathroom, clad in a blotchy green towel. Shelby averted her eyes from Dean's bare chest. She had seen the smooth slab of skin so many times before, she wouldn't be able to count. But after her dream she felt jumpy around him. Dean looked her way while he moved to the dresser by his bed and grabbed the clothes he would need for the day. Shelby cleared her throat before grabbing her workout clothes and disappearing into the bathroom. Dean dressed, smirking to himself the whole time. He loved to tease her.
Shelby wiped last nights makeup away from her face and pulled her knotted hair back in a high, messy bun. She pulled on her black shorts and grey tank top before splashing some cold water on her face to wake her up a bit. After brushing her teeth, the brunette opened the door to a fully dressed Dean on his laptop.
"I'm gonna go for a run. Wanna come?" Dean shook his head no and continued to check the internet. Probably looking for a lead. Shelby sighed. She was itching for a case, but she wanted to enjoy this day, especially after everything that had happened last night. Grabbing a twenty dollar bill from her brown leather book bag she smirked.
"You know, one of these days all those greasy double bacon cheeseburgers and pies are gonna catch up with those rock hard abs. And you'll be saying, 'Damn, why didn't I listen to Shelby when I had the chance?'" Dean rolled his eyes at the girl, grumbling about having good genes, and turned towards his laptop once again. Shelby sat down next to him and pull on her socks and running shoes. She slipped the twenty into her shorts pocket, then her moms old army knife into her thigh sheath that the shorts covered. It wasn't very comfortable while running, and the shorts didn't hide the huge bulge coming out of her left leg but she'd rather look stupid than be caught without a weapon.
"Well don't take too long. I wanna be on the road by tonight. Might have something in Alabama. Hey, and stay away from that damn bar! Shelby?" Dean got no reply as the door slammed behind the huntress. He smirked at her. Such the attitude. That's one of the things that drew him to her constantly.
He pulled the old ring out of his front pocket. He'd seen the heart-shaped garnet ring in a thrift shop a few months ago while their dads were on a hunt in Indiana. He, Sam, and Shelby had decided to check out the small town. They came upon a thrift shop. While Shelby was busy softly fiddling with an old guitar, Sam pointed out the antique ring to Dean, who bought it as quickly as he could without her seeing. Garnet was Shelby's birthstone. It was killing him to keep this from her.
Even something as small as a ring, which was supposed to be a surprise, made him feel slightly guilty about not telling her what was happening. He told Shelby everything. She was honestly the only person keeping him together in this life his father dragged him into. When John yelled at him for screwing something up on a hunt, it wasn't his little brother that brought him out of his rut. It was Shelby.
She had this thing about her, which made everyone in the room a little happier. That something, whatever it was, drove him crazy half the time. Because he wanted to be mad, get angry back at his father. For making him feel useless, like he didn't matter. It wasn't Sam's voice saying not to listen to him, no. It was Shelby's soothing voice that brought him back to reality. A reality where he mattered. He saved people's lives. He did matter. Shelby made sure he knew that.
-TOL-
Shelby took a few big gulps of the cucumber flavored Gatorade she had purchased from a gas station a few blocks back. She looked at her watch. 5:26. She should probably head back, it was getting dark. Shelby was glad for the warmer January weather in Georgia. She was a little chilly when she started her run in her tank top and shorts, but by the time she had been running for a few minutes she started sweating. She drained the rest of her Gatorade quickly before tossing it into a recycling bin by a bench in the park she had found.
Her trip back was quicker than she anticipated, Dean too apparently, for when she opened the unlocked door at six pm, she saw Dean had a crumpled piece of old college-ruled notebook paper in his hands. His eyes were tinged pink around the edges and glassed over when his head shot up. Shelby looked away quickly, not wanting to impose on whatever he was thinking about. She grabbed a change of clothes and her shower bag out of her duffel and headed to the bathroom for a long-awaited shower.
-TOL-
When Dean heard the shower turn on he glanced back down at the piece of paper in his hands. Shelby didn't know he had stolen it from her a few years ago. It was a song she had written. For him, but apparently she hadn't wanted him to see it because he found it in an old journal of hers while he was looking for some info on a case his dad had caught wind of.
It was right after John busted his mouth open for raiding a Djinn warehouse by himself, only being saved from death by the sure, calculating hands of Shelby. Just in time. Shelby had cried silently that night in the bed across the cheap motel room, scribbling something in her leather-bound journal. He assumed it was new info on the Djinn they found.
Turns out it was this song, which he keeps folded in his wallet at all times. It helped him through whenever his dad got rough on him.
Some days I barely hold on
When life drags me down
I wanna let go
But when my spirit is weak
You come to my aid
And strengthen my soul
I'm lost without You
I'll never doubt You
Your grace is beyond compare
And though when it rains, it pours
You know all I have is Yours
You smile when you hear my prayer
You rescued me and I believe
That God is love and He is all I need
From this day forth for all eternity
I'll never wander on my own
For I am Yours until you call me home
i close my eyes and I can hear You say
You're not alone
Some days I just can't go on
I stumble and fall
And I hang my head
But You reach out for my hand
And You lift me up
Again and again
Oh, yes, You do
Dean smiled lovingly at the doodles lining the side of the page; a horse head, some flowers, and a very detailed sketch of a .44 her dad carried around all the time. There were small notes of lyrics, like they were added as an after-thought; having no home yet in the script on the page. She was a great singer, and even better at writing songs it seemed. This wasn't the first she had done. Some of them she even shared with Dean; sometimes Sam, who could never seem to stop complimenting her on the job well done.
Dean felt the same about her songs and voice, she had this way of painting a picture with her voice. The way her fingers glided over the guitar strings killed him. Yet somehow he could never seem to do more than smile appreciatively and murmur 'good job' when she was finished. Maybe it was because he saw how she squirmed under the lime light of Sam's doting; and how her eyes lit up like New York City when she heard the soft acceptance from the oldest Winchester brother.
Shelby opened the bathroom door just as Dean slipped the paper back in his wallet. He looked her over before saying,
"Alright, let's pack up, we got business to take of."
"Dean, are you forgetting something?" Shelby tried to keep a smile from her face.
"No, unless you found my razor, I've been missing it since Florida." Shelby had noticed. The dark stubble adorning his otherwise smooth face explained everything. She had found it, in the back seat in between the cushions. She had left it there, rather enjoying the 5 o'clock shadow.
"Nope" She popped the P. She squirmed under the stern green eyes latched onto her form.
"Well in that case-"
"Dean, come on! I wanna do something for my birthday!" Dean smiled. Oh how he loved teasing her.
"I know Princess, if you would just calm yourself and get ready, I have something to show you." Shelby smiled as she ran to her duffel bag, excited for what Dean had in store.
Shelby Bates grew up with the Winchesters. Fighting along side them and saving the day as needed, she was living the life she loved with the man she loved. Until a dark family secret comes out and she is kidnapped while Dean can only watch helplessly. Dean struggles to live without her- the only person who ever made him feel like he was worth something, until she shows up years later.
Pairing: Dean Winchester X OC(Shelby Bates)
Word Count: 2,627
Rating: M
Masterlist
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter One: Somethin' Bad
Stand on the bar, stomp your feet, start clappin'
Got a real good feelin' somethin' bad about to happen.
-Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood
"Shelby, hey I was wondering if yo-"
"Jesus Dean, knock next time!" The tall, tanned brunette flung herself on the other side of the musty bed as a twenty year old Dean Winchester barged into the cheap motel room. Instead of turning around like any courteous young gentleman would do in this situation, he stood with his hip cocked and his arms crossed over his chest, with a smirk gracing his lips. The green-eyed man waited a few seconds before speaking.
"You can come out anytime, you know. Nothin I haven't seen before." Shelby rolled her eyes. She could just hear Dean's grin when he called over to her.
"There's a difference between the cheap hookers you bring here every other weekend and the body I work hard to maintain. Thank you very much!" Dean chuckled softly, shaking his head as he turned around. He stared hard at the blinking vacancy light outside the dusty window as he spoke.
"Sorry, just thinkin' out loud. You can come out now Shelby. I'm not looking." Shelby poked her head above the flowery patterned comforter and arched an eyebrow as she quickly grabbed the black sports bra and gray tank top off the bed. She ducked down behind the bed and quickly pulled them on before she snapped back up.
"Okay loser, I'm decent. What did you need? Are John and my dad back yet?" She had a nervous look in her eyes as she asked about their dads. Last time she saw them it was as she ran out of the motel room a few towns back, angry tears in her eyes because they wouldn't take her to the nest where the vampire that had killed a little girl, whom Shelby had taken quite a liking to, was residing. Dean grimaced. That memory was not the best.
Both of their dads had refused to take the young woman on the hunt with them. Dean had been on Shelby’s side; she was the best hunter out of their little posse. He didn’t know why, she had the same training as Dean did. She just seemed like more of a natural when it came to destroying monsters. He shook his thoughts about the huntress away and replied.
"No. I haven't heard from them since yesterday. They caught another hunt so they won't be back for at least another week." Dean smiled when Shelby sat down on the bed with a relieved sigh. She pulled back her long, curly, dark brown hair into a high ponytail, glancing at Dean, who cleared his throat as she raised an eyebrow in questioning. Dean continued,
"Anyway. I was thinking that the bar down the street looked like it had a couple of cowboys just asking for you to kick their ass in pool." At those words Shelby smiled brilliantly. Dean looked away after a second and cleared his throat again, waiting for more of an answer than her sneaky smile.
"Hell yeah! Just let me change. I can go for a run later I guess." Dean nodded and went over to the t.v. and flipped it on, then ungracefully flopped onto the couch. Waiting for Shelby to change, Dean called Bobby's house to see how Sam was doing. No answer. That wasn't unusual. Bobby was always reading up on different legends for the other hunters and Sam was probably holed up in the tiny upstairs spare bedroom with his nose in his school books, trying to live a 'normal high schooler's life'.
Dean snorted and rolled his eyes as he put the cell phone back on the side table just as Shelby came out of the bathroom. She was wearing a loose fitting black tank top with a gray rose on the front. Her blue jean cut-off shorts seemed to elongate her tan, toned legs, which were thick from all the running she did. Shelby would always comment on how much she hated her legs; Dean would just snort and roll his eyes, silently reassuring her she had nothing to worry about.
She was only nineteen but when she went out to the bars, no one asked any questions. She knew how to dress for the occasion. Dean stared at the lean brunette as she slipped two black flower and dragon bracelets around her left wrist. She needed her right wrist cleared for pool. Shelby could feel her companions stare as she buckled her rhinestone studded black belt. She knew the men stared, and sometimes it made her feel self-conscious. But if she wanted to make sure her and Dean ate that week, she needed to look good and innocent while she hustled the bar patrons for their money.
Shelby turned around to look at herself in the dirty mirror while Dean mumbled something about using the toilet before they leave. She sat down on the bed to pull on her stenciled grey, well worn cowgirl boots. Going along with the rose theme for tonight she had black rose studs in her ears and a multi-string beaded necklace. Her final touches were her black rose ring with diamonds lining the petals. She sighed. Her mom loved roses. She stared at herself in the mirror. What would her mom think of her if she saw her now? Hustling guys in dinky bars for money.
She smiled a bit. Her mom was one of the best hunters this side of the states. Her dad used to tell her stories growing up about how her momma would bring home the bread and butter for their little family. He’d say most guys would be jealous the way she would walk around hustling money, but he knew her momma would always love her dad and no other man. Shelby’s smiled brightened a bit at the thought of how much her parents loved each other. Dean cleared his throat for the umpteenth time that night.
“You look fine, Princess.” Shelby rolled her clear green eyes as she turned from the mirror and walked past him. He eyed her figure as she swaggered out the door letting her pony tail down and ruffling her curly hair as she headed towards her dad's royal blue '69 Camaro. Dean rubbed his hands on his pants and jogged out to meet her, slamming the motel door behind him.
"I'll drive there if you drive back." Dean nodded to the girl as she slid into the driver's seat and turned the engine over. They both smiled widely when the engine roared mightily back at them. They had changed the oil, replaced the carburetor, and changed the breaks for most of the morning. Happy with their work, Shelby threw the American classic into first gear and peeled out onto the gravel road, ready to hustle some drunks.
-TOL-
Walking into the dimly lit bar, Shelby headed straight towards the pool tables and grabbed a stick, smiling towards the two young men standing near the empty table. They tipped their cowboy hats a little drunkenly before sharing a look and each grabbing a stick. Dean watched the scene unfold with hard eyes. Shelby could handle herself but that never stopped him from trying to be protective over her. It was a habit after knowing her for almost ten years. His hand instinctively padded his front right pocket, where he felt the familiar bump of her birthday present. Tomorrow, she turned twenty.
Dean smiled openly as he watched Shelby sensually reach around one of the cowboys to grab the cue ball. His friend bumped his shoulder as they watched her bend over to break the balls up. Their smiles faded when almost all of them went in. Her father had taught her well. After about fifteen minutes of watching Shelby crush the Cowboy’s dreams of the night, Dean turned away as a pretty blonde passed by, smiling at him. He looked back at the only constant in his life, questioning if she would be okay for a bit.
He smirked as she held her hand out towards the taller of the two men who had lost horribly. He handed her a wad of twenty dollar bills and walked away solemnly. She looked towards him before rolling her eyes at the blonde standing behind him and laughed, which was her way of saying 'go have your fun'. Dean only hesitated for a moment before the blonde tapped him on the shoulder. Might as well find something to distract him from his huntress for a while. Wait, his?
Shelby sighed as she watched Dean walk out the back door of the bar with the slutty looking blonde. Typical Dean Winchester she thought with a little more sting than she would have liked. She ignored the catch in her throat and counted her wad of cash stoically. She finished and turned around as a couple of bikers eyed the pool tables. She smiled innocently as she sauntered up to them. They looked like fun.
"Hello, boys. Care for a friendly game of pool? I'm trying to practice a bit before my sister gets here." Shelby winked at the end of her sentence. The bikers glanced at her and smiled like the Cheshire Cat. Nodding, they walked past her a little roughly and grabbed some sticks, nodding to her to get the balls ready.
She played her routine like normal, only after collecting the four hundred dollars she had just hustled out of them, they didn't just walk away like the cowboys had. Shelby thanked the men and backed away as calmly as she could while still looking like she wasn't slightly freaking out at the look the older bikers were giving her. Figuring this was a good distance to turn and hightail it outta there, she did just that, only instead of setting eyes on the front door, Shelby came face to... chest with a third biker she hadn't noticed earlier. The guy was easily six and a half feet tall, making her five foot ten inch frame look slightly silly against him. She groaned internally, knowing they would be taking back the four hundred, and probably the two hundred she made from the cowboys earlier.
The third biker, who was sporting a mohawk and tattoos up the sides of his head, growled and grabbed Shelby's upper arms hard, most definitely trying to leave a bruise. Shelby didn't think then, she only acted. She slammed her head into the bikers chin and kneed him in the family jewels. Distracted by the kick, his hands left her arms. Shelby only had time to turn around as the first biker came towards her quickly. He also towered over her and it only slightly intimidated her after her face off with Mr. Tattoo. She smirked and ducked out of his reaching arms, sliding under a bar table and jumping over the pool table.
The second biker, who had tear drop tattoos on his face, screamed before he took his pool stick and swept the young hunter off her feet. This attracted the bartenders attention to the scramble going on and he yelled at the biker. Shelby took the advantage of the distracted creep to grab a beer bottle and smash it over his bald head. She practically flew out the back door of the bar as she heard sirens in the far distance. She opened the passenger side door of her dad's car and roughly grabbed the blonde by her bra strap and yanked her out of the car, landing her on her ass on the asphalt. The bimbo barely had time to catch her top before Shelby's voice rang out, yelling at Dean to DRIVE.
-TOL-
Dean had been having a good ole time forgetting about a familiar brunette huntress until that certain someone literally yanked it from his hands. Shelby mumbled something about never dying her hair blonde for the sake of not being prowled on by Dean. He peered over at the young girl.
"What was that sweetheart; you know mumbling is unbecoming." Shelby scoffed at Dean's sentence before retorting,
"You heard me, ass. I was just thinking out loud." She lowered her voice the best she could to match Deans, which only made him laugh loudly. He turned his head back to the wet pavement and flipped on the windshield wipers. The warm Georgia night finally had the rain the weatherman had been talking about all week. He glanced at the turn for their motel, and did nothing but press the gas harder, driving right past the ugly neon sign.
"Dean, I would really appreciate it if you could turn around. I've not had a good night." Dean looked over at the brunette. She did have a rough night. She could handle herself, sure. But that didn't mean she never felt horrible after the fact. Dean had seen her take down many monsters and not bat an eye. But humans, preferably of the male species were a whole other story for her. Especially when they weren't falling at her feet. Which she seemed oblivious to anyway.
Dean decided not to push her buttons tonight. She was already shaking. He looked at her face in the passing street lamp glow. She was beautiful but she would never say that; and Dean didn't know how to say that. Sure, he slept around with girls a lot. But that was easy, he wasn't worried about what they thought about him. He didn't count on them to save his ass when he tried to go into a djinn nest alone. He smirked at the memory and kept driving. He needed to wait out the cops.
"I'm just gonna drive around the block a couple of times. Don't need the cops finding where our little hustler is staying now do we?" Shelby smiled sheepishly. After looking back out the window as they passed various store fronts and street lights, Shelby slid over to the middle of the front seat and laid her head on Dean's shoulder. Dean smiled softly, finding himself wishing this happened more often, instead of when she was scared; Shelby silently wishing she was brave enough to do this when she wasn't freaked out.
By the time Dean deemed it safe enough to head back to their room, Shelby had fallen asleep. Dean picked her up bridal style and walked slowly to the room. Opening the door as gently as he could without waking Shelby, Dean slipped inside before gliding to the bed and laying the young woman on the ugly patterned comforter. He smiled gently as she rolled over immediately and started to snore lightly. Ha, she owes me ten bucks. Dean pulled her boots off and pulled the heavy cover off of his bed for her, since she was laying on top of hers. Dean slept hot anyway, so he wouldn't need them.
Heading over to his bed he pulled his own boots off and crawled onto the hard mattress. He was almost asleep when Shelby started whimpering. Dean immediately got out of his bed and laid down next to the sleeping girl, wrapping his arms around her and rubbing circles on her back methodically. She stopped her whimpering after a few minutes and Dean sighed, trying to slide out from under her. After he stopped her nightmares most nights he crawled quietly back to his own bed, not wanting to impose on her sleep any more than helping her.
He stopped trying to wriggle out of her hold when she tightened it and spoke. If her face wasn't resting in the crook of his neck he wouldn't have heard her whisper one word.
A strange woman Bucky is sure he knows but can't fully recognize, picks him up after the fall of SHIELD. She claims to be friends with Steve and that she is here to help him. He can't help but keep wondering where he knows her from; it's definitely not through Steve Rogers.
Pairing: Bucky Barnes/ OC(Rowan O'Connor)
Word Count: 4,154
Rating: M
Masterlist
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Rowan and Bucky had stayed one more night in the cozy Chicago apartment. Not much conversation filled the studio flat. Some awkward mumbles from Bucky asking Rowan how to work the shower was about it.
The next morning, they headed out the back door of the three story building. Bucky had his shoulder length brown hair mostly hidden under a Family Business Brewing Co. baseball cap, with the remainder of it sticking out the back in a small bun. He had shaved his face, giving him more of a five o’clock shadow rather than a bordering-on-homeless look. Rowan was dressed in green leggings and a pink tank top; a black oversized beanie covering up her auburn hair. She opted out of hiking boots, unlike Bucky, and sported a pair of comfortable running shoes instead. To any passersby, they looked like a young couple heading out to go camping for the weekend.
Rowan pressed a four digit code into a blue garage door and ushered Bucky inside. She grabbed a set of keys off a hook by the door. Bucky’s eyes scanned the low clearance ceiling, wondering which vehicle Rowan would choose. Bucky raised his eyebrows a bit at the car that Rowan led him to.
“Don’t judge me, I know its cliché. It’s not my normal choice but it’s the only one that has fuel in it right now. We don’t have time to stop for any until we get out of the city. I’m pretty sure by now Nat will have figured out which home I was talking about last night.” Rowan filled the back seat up with the few duffel bags she had carried downstairs, along with some empty ones. She had planned to find a clothing store on the outskirts of the city for Bucky. The raglan shirt and jeans she had given him were a bit too small. Luckily the boots were on the perfect side of snug for him.
Bucky wasn’t sure how, the information must have been hidden in a part of his mind from working for HYDRA, but he recognized the car. A blue Camaro. An older style with some rust. Had he driven one while on a mission?
“Where’d you get this?” His eyes wandered over the black leather interior as Rowan fished a cell phone out of a purple duffle bag and crushed it in her palm before letting the pieces fall to the ground.
“Souvenir from a mission.” Nothing more was said as Rowan and Bucky fastened their seatbelts and pulled out of the garage. Bucky stayed silent as Rowan shifted gears and slowly pulled out of the garage into the bumbling suburb streets. By the sun, he figured they were heading west.
-TTA-
“Got her.” Steve’s head snapped up, blue eyes following Natasha’s voice over to a group of large screens decorating the south wall of the room. They currently showed different angles of a back alleys and brick buildings. The location at the bottom right of the screen read “BUCKTOWN”. A small neighborhood hugging the Kennedy Expressway in Chicago. Steve’s eyes roamed the different camera angles when finally, they landed on two figures walking casually to a garage down a narrow alleyway off of West Webster Avenue.
To anyone else, the couple appeared casually dressed, like they were running errands or going on a trip somewhere, if the duffel bags were any indication. The woman was tall, nearly six foot it looked like, even in running shoes. She had a black, oversized beanie covering her hair. The man was over six foot, wearing a baseball hat with brown hair sticking out the back. His stride was large and his stature was rigid. His head never moved much, but to trained eyes, one could tell he was skillfully scanning the area.
“Are you sure Nat? I’m not going to be running around on a wild goose chase every time we see a couple and the guy has long brown hair. The man bun thing is in now you know. We can’t even see their faces right now. And that woman’s hair could be any color. Hell we can’t even see it under the beanie she has on.” Nat blew a warm breathe of air out her nose in slight annoyance, or maybe it was scolding, Steve couldn’t really tell most of the time, but he knew an explanation of why she was right was on its way.
“When Rowan was in the Sector she was on a mission to eradicate a biochemical warfare research facility in Chechnya. The building exploded and her right leg was crushed at the knee. They almost had to replace it with an enhanced prosthetic. It healed most of the way. If you know what to look for you can see that her right leg from the knee down swings out just a few degrees wider than her left leg as she puts her foot down, almost like she’s bow-legged.” Natasha rewound the footage of the couple walking from a brick apartment building to a garage a few meters down the gravel alley. Steve looked closely this time. His eyes widened for a moment before narrowing in frustration.
“She lied. God dammit why did she lie to us Natasha?”
“Language Capsicle. Princess Leia probably has a reason to keep your BFF to herself.” Tony strolled in casually, bag of blueberries in his hand. He popped one in and looked at a smaller computer screen sitting on the desk nearest to him. It had a small blinking red light on it, text zipping quickly across the screen.
“You know she hates when you call her that. And Tony is right Steve, like I told you earlier, there’s probably a legitimate reason for her not coming in with him.”
“No reason is good enough for him not to come back! Don’t you get that? He’s been gone for years and he needs someone he knows and trusts! I can help him through this; I know I can. I owe him that much.”
“You sure about that Cap? Because it seems like you wanting to find him has more to do with your inner demons than you think. You don’t owe him anything; what happened to him wasn’t your fault. He’s a soldier, he knew the risks when he signed up. ”
“He didn’t sign-“
“Not the point I’m trying to make here Steve.” Tony closed his eyes for a long moment before putting the blueberries on the computer desk and walking up to stand next to Steve and Natasha. His posture was no longer casual, but a bit pinched at the shoulders.
“After Afghanistan, hell even after New York, I had a lot of problems. You guys know how hard it was for me to be around everyone. Sometimes it takes being around a stranger, someone who’s been through what you have but doesn’t really know too much about you personally to really be able to get to the bottom of the issue and work it out. I know that’s what helped me, going to the Vet meetings at the church.” And talking with Rowan till all hours of the night at the top of Stark Tower. Though Tony left that part out. Rowan was adamant she “wanted to keep her badass black soul reputation fresh.”
Natasha kept reading the computer screens, typing fervently trying to get a better angle on the suspected Bucky and Rowan. She understood where Tony was coming from, and figured he might be able to get it through the super soldiers thick head about why Bucky might not come running home. Steve looked down at his boots guiltily. Tony grabbed his blueberries and started for the door.
"And you both know how much I hate going to church. Oh and better get a glimpse of them while you can. JARVIS shows that the scrambler Rowan has on her car is about to finish calibrating.” Tony turned, posture casual once again, and walked out the metal framed door. Natasha slammed her fist on the desk as all the camera angles turned to black screens. Steve fell into a chair and rubbed the heels of his hands into his eyes until he saw stars.
-TTA-
“How do you know we’re out of sight? We’re still pretty close to the city. There’s camera’s everywhere.” Bucky tried to remain casual in the passenger seat as Rowan struggled to find a parking spot outside of a Kohl’s on the southwest side of Chicago. It was busy for a Monday morning but Bucky needed new clothes and she’d rather get everything before they start their road trip than have to stop halfway through.
“All of my vehicles are equipped with Stark scrambling technology. Tony is aware but he won’t let Nat and Steve know about it. We had a little chat last night.” Bucky pursed his lips and gave a short nod as Rowan parked and turned off the car.
As they walked into Kohl’s, Rowan clicked a button on her key fob to lock the Camaro. As Bucky heard the car beep to signal its lock, all the store lights went out for a few seconds before turning back on. Bucky looked around cautiously as the employees mumbled about the systems rebooting.
“There’s a scrambler in my key fob too. Stark really likes me.” Rowan had a cheeky grin on her face as she grabbed a cart and strolled to the men’s section, grabbing Bucky’s arm along the way.
About an hour later they had checked out and were on I-80 heading west. Old school rock drifted quietly out of the speakers. It wasn’t necessarily an uncomfortable silence, but Bucky hated it. He found himself wanting to speak. About something, anything. He didn’t really care.
“So, uh Rowan, where exactly are we headed?” He kept his gaze shifted out the window, watching the gargantuan white windmills as their propellers gently lulled through the air, creating energy for who knows how many homes out here.
“Faith, South Dakota. After we load up on supplies we’ll head out to the Cheyenne River Reservation. I figure we camp out there for a couple weeks then head up to Vancouver. I’ve got a safe house up there no one knows about. We can grab my other passports and have some made for you. Then Juneau to a charter plane that will take us to St. Lawrence Island and last but not least I’ve got a friend who owes me a favor. He said he can get us as far west as Japan. We’ll have to figure out the rest of the plan from there. It’s the third of April. I figure by the end of this month we should be touching down in Japan. That should be enough time for them to already do a big sweep overseas.” Bucky was impressed by how in depth Rowan had already planned their travel. He still had a few concerns though.
“Won’t they be searching everywhere until they find us? If Steve is still the same as I remember, he won’t stop.”
“You’re right Mr. Barnes, Steve isn’t gonna stop, and as much as Nat loves me I doubt she’ll actively try to stop him from finding us. Tony is pretty complacent for me to work with so if I need him to throw them off our trail I’ll call him. But it’ll be fun to see how long that’ll take.”
“Why are we camping out in South Dakota for half the month? Why don’t we just get out now while we have them scrambled?” Bucky figured she was going to answer the same way his own thought process was heading, but he just wanted to see how aligned their thinking was. His brain was still itching every time he tried to think too hard about how familiar Rowan was. He was getting better at ignoring the alarm going off in his head when he saw her face, though he still wasn’t confident that was the best thing to do.
“Barnes, seriously? I know you know why I’m doing this. Is this some sort of trust test? Wouldn’t it be more entertaining to do some trust fall exercises instead? I promise I won’t drop you.” The teasing in her voice deepened her accent. It was a pleasant sound Bucky decided; not like some of the other women’s voices he recalled from his time in HYDRA. The thicker accent and her playful banter lightened his mood. Rowan eyed him. From this view she could see the edges of his eyes crinkling up ever so slightly; a tell-tale sign that he was about to let out a smile.
“Letting you drive is enough trust testing I can handle for any twenty four hour period.” Bucky rubbed his chin with his flesh hand. The crinkles moved from his eyes to his forehead.
“Hey! I’m an excellent driver.” Rowan took her eyes completely off the road when Bucky didn’t have a response. She had been trying to come off as less edgy than she was accused of being in the past. Sometimes she got too into the mission on hand. She kept reminding herself this wasn’t technically a mission or a job. She was helping someone. When her emerald eyes met the downcast face of Bucky she turned off the radio. He was glaring at his left hand, rubbing his fingers from his right hand over the silver palm.
“I can’t tell if I can really feel anything with it, or if it’s just my brain playing tricks on me since I know what my other hand is doing.” Rowan could hear the disparity in the man’s voice. She hopped over a couple lanes to catch the visitor’s stop just in time, narrowly missing getting clipped by a semi. Bucky sat rigid in his seat.
“Come on, out we go.” The tall woman held Bucky’s door open expectantly waiting for him to emerge. She grabbed his flesh hand and led him down the dirt path into a small cluster of trees, hitting her key fob as they went. She slowed as they passed the cluster of young birch trees and turned, grabbing Bucky’s left hand.
“Close your eyes. Go on, we haven’t got all day you spoon.” Bucky raised a thick eyebrow at the odd insult before closing his eyes slowly.
“Take a deep breath. There you go. Just relax.” She released his right hand from hers and it dropped softly to his side. She only held his left hand. It was a weird sensation. He could feel her hand, the warmth. It was a little sticky with sweat. He grasped it and ran his thumb over her palm; softly at first, then a bit harder. He could almost feel the creases in her hands. He felt where the ridges from the plates caught on Rowan’s callouses running along her palm and fingers, hard from years of action, like his remaining flesh hand.
She took his arm and led him to a patch of day lilies. He outstretched his hand carefully. He could feel how delicate they were. He lightly brushed his hand through the patch of flowers and the edges of his eyes creased in an almost smile at the feather light sensation. They were cool to the touch. He was sure he could tell they were supposed to be velvety smooth. But again, he just wasn’t quite convinced.
“See, you can feel. It’s not your mind playing tricks on you. I reviewed all your files. They connected your nerves to different parts of the arm. It’s pretty much your own, just a different color... And material I suppose, but that’s all semantics. Personally I think you pull off silver over gold any day.” Bucky looked up at Rowan’s teasing voice. Her eyes were bright in the mid-morning sun. Her auburn hair fell over the right side of her face, she brushed it back and outstretched her hand to Bucky’s own. He took it with his left, the urge to try to feel everything with it stronger now. Rowan pulled Bucky up swiftly from his kneeling position and let go as he brushed dirt off his knees.
They walked silently back through the small wooded patch in a content silence. Rowan was staring ahead, in deep thought it seemed. Bucky wondered what she could be thinking about. Did she still not know if going all over the world with him until he regained his memories was the best idea? If she didn’t, he couldn’t argue with her. He didn’t even think it was a good idea. He was still on the fence about it himself. She seemed like she had good intentions, and she claimed to be a friend of Steve’s. Something he wasn’t entirely sure of, Steve and Rowan didn’t seem compatible. Steve was a straight-laced guy. Rowan seemed a little… off the deep end on some matters. But people changed. Last time he remembers interacting with Steve he was a bit edgier.
Bucky shook his head. He was starting to get a headache from all this thinking. He closed his eyes briefly as he walked, the warmth radiating off Rowan half guiding him through the small trees. He heard birds chirping, Rowan’s leggings making a soft swooshing sound as her thighs brushed against each other as she took otherwise silent steps next to him; a little further off he could hear the droning of the cars and trucks zooming down the interstate. How simple their lives must be compared to his. He wondered how that would feel; worrying about mundane things like how much it would be to fix the car, what to make for supper, how much the next doctor’s office trip would run him. He also heard a low male voice coming from their twelve o’clock. It seemed Rowan caught it a few moments after him.
Rowan looked towards Bucky, semi-alarm running along her features. There was no way any cameras pinged their location. No way would she or Bucky not have noticed someone following them. And while she was sure every agent of SHIELD, HYDRA, FBI, CIA, or any other flavor of government agency had been alerted to Bucky’s status, she doubted they’d have people actively driving cross country looking for them. The only person besides herself and Bucky who knew about the Camaro was Tony Stark. He’d helped her rebuild the engine a few years ago on a slow weekend.
Bucky rounded the corner first, putting himself in front of Rowan. Instinct he supposed, though he didn’t think it was from his Winter Soldier days. Rowan poked her head around Bucky’s shoulder, not having to reach much at all, already being almost his height already. They saw two men walking around the Camaro, trying to nonchalantly peek inside. Bucky assumed the black Jeep Cherokee idling in park next to the Camaro was what they pulled in on. The two men, who looked to be in their late twenties, wore dark hoodies, with beanies pulled tight over their heads. One had a handgun tucked into the back waistband on his jeans and the other had one on the side of his right hip, tucked into a holster, hoodie doing a poor job of concealing it.
Bucky rolled his shoulders and grabbed for the glock he had secured under the waistband of his pants. Gripping the gun with his right hand, the gears of his left arm whirred lowly as it calibrated, something he figured happened when he told his arm to flex when he was preparing for a fight. Rowan laid a firm hand on his forearm, effectively stopping him from charging the two men. She put a slender finger to her lips before she motioned for them to keep listening and watch them. Bucky took a deep breath and let it out quietly through his lips. He tried to stop the shaking throughout his hands.
“You sure it’s just been sitting here? No one has been here?”
“No dude, this chick and her boyfriend headed out to the woods like twenty minutes ago. Probably just fuckin’ around. Let’s get it and go before they come back.” The guy turned towards the woods, keeping an eye out for anyone walking back. Rowan and Bucky ducked behind the thick brush by the opening of the trail.
“Shit, okay let’s hurry then.” Rowan and Bucky exchanged a relieved look. Weight seemed to be lifted from both their shoulders as they realized the two men were merely low life car-jackers. No special agents from either side of the law coming to get them, yet at least. The day was young. Rowan pulled her fob out of the small pocket from the inside waistband of her leggings and hit a button. A loud, shrill alarm went off. Both men threw their hands over their ears and turned around quickly. Rowan stopped Bucky from coming out of the woods.
“Your face is all over social media and the news. I can handle these guys. I won’t even need your gun.” She winked his way then stepped out, conveying the posture of a scared woman. The men grabbed their guns when they noticed Rowan all alone. She didn’t even give them a chance to put their fingers on the trigger before she pressed the fourth button on the key fob. One Bucky hadn’t seen her press yet. A light blue surge of energy exploded from the undercarriage of the Camaro, knocking both men to their feet. Rowan turned slightly and motioned for Bucky to come forward. As he drew nearer he made the assumption that both men were unconscious.
Producing two sets of handcuffs from a hidden compartment in the truck, Rowan tossed a set to Bucky. He followed Rowan’s actions and pulled the man into the back seat of the Jeep. He cuffed one arm before looping the short metal chain through the ‘oh shit’ handle and securing the man’s other arm. Rowan produced a cell phone from somewhere Bucky didn’t want to focus too hard on and dialed a number she knew by heart.
“Hey Tobey. Yeah I got a couple of guys out your way who were trying to car jack me. No not the Impala. It’s still safely tucked away in New York. My Camaro. Yeah that one. No I’m not getting his autograph for you. I just need to make sure the cops get them but I don’t have time to wipe my prints and such. I’ll take care of everything else for you. Great! Thanks Tobes. Yeah I’ll get with you soon. Bye.” Rowan hung up and tucked the phone away. Bucky stood with his back to the Jeep, facing the woods. He was still trying to subdue the shaking in his hands. He almost jumped when Rowan sidled up beside him. She kept her gaze forward.
“Ya know if I didn’t know any better I’d say we need to get your blood sugar up some. My hands get shaky when I don’t eat often enough. There’s a McDonald’s at the next exit. Sound good?” Bucky knew his blood pressure wasn’t low, and he knew Rowan knew that too. But he still appreciated the gesture.
“Yeah, sounds good to me.” Truth was, he was itching for a fight. His body was shaking slightly, his head on fire. It was almost as if he could physically feel the painful urge to end those men’s lives. He was ashamed of himself. He wasn’t on the battle field, this wasn’t a professionally trained operative coming to kill him. This was an every-day petty crime event. Childs play compared to some of the things he was used to being around.
He took a small step towards the Camaro before he staggered a bit, a dull throb encasing his head. A dim memory made its way to the forefront of his brain. A little brown-haired boy, with a smaller brown-haired girl next to him, sat in a well-lit living room. Bucky felt himself stretch and pop his neck as he kept his eyes on the children. They were playing checkers.
“Haide, soldat, nu avem toata noaptea. Acesta este jocul copiilor. Finalizati-le.” The harsh Romanian voice cut through the earpiece, like gravel sliding across glass it ended the silence that had been surrounding him. He lifted his sniper rifle, eye piece easing into place a few inches away from his alert blue eyes.
He shook his head, trying to rid himself of that memory, and moved to open the car door as a white hot pain travelled from behind his eyes down his spine. Lighting up every nerve ending as if they were being electrocuted individually. He opened his eyes wide and frantically searched for Rowan over the top of the blue car.
“Rowan, I… something’s wr-“ He tried to finish his sentence but everything went black.
A strange woman Bucky is sure he knows but can't fully recognize, picks him up after the fall of SHIELD. She claims to be friends with Steve and that she is there to help him. He can't help but keep wondering where he knows her from; it's definitely not through Steve Rogers.
Pairing: Bucky Barnes/ OC(Rowan O'Connor)
Word Count: 4,526 (I like long chapters sorry)
Rating: M
Masterlist
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Rowan jumped slightly when she felt her cell phone buzz in her back pocket. She eyed the sleeping form of Bucky, who had made his way to her now-made bed not long after their nearly-all-day conversation of how the two found themselves in this shit-show. She understood where the guy was coming from. She really did. She had been subjected to some of the same treatment. Cryostasis, memory-wiping, brain-washing, being used to do the dirtiest deeds against her own will. She would be forever grateful for Natasha saving her from the hell that the United States government put her through, but right now, she was not thankful to know the red-headed assassin.
I know you found him. -N
Who? -R
It's been over two weeks. If you hadn't, you would have updated me by now. -N
Update: I haven't found him. -R
You're lying O'Connor. -N
You know what this means to Steve. -N
We need you. -N
Damn it Rowan. Answer me. -N
Rowan sat for a long while thinking about how well Natasha knew her. Should she tell her? Nat knew she was lying and Rowan knew how desperate Steve was to find his friend. Over the past ten years the newly-formed Avengers or SHIELD, respectively, had called Rowan in on some cases. She had gotten to know the team pretty well, considered them all friends even. But she liked to keep to herself. Help out for the greater good here and there, slowly but surely clearing out her red ledger as Natasha always said.
Then back into the shadows she went; there were still people looking for her, wanting to use her like they had The Winter Soldier; like the Captain was originally meant to be used; how she had been used by those that got their hands on Erskine’s formula and updated it. Fury and SHIELD, Steve and the Avengers, they had offered her a place to seek refuge, but she felt like she shouldn't have to burden them. After what she had done, for them to openly welcome her to their safe hold... Would the same be said for Bucky Barnes? Probably, they knew who he was before all that HYDRA shit happened. Rowan was no one before The Sector. She had only ever been The Sector’s puppet.
"Are you gonna rat me out?" A deep voice from behind her startled her once again. Damn, she needed to be on her toes, no matter how at ease she felt with someone who had been through what she had. If anything, she should be on high alert, for she knew what this man was capable of and who was after him. She didn't answer him right away, letting the tension grow within the room.
"No."
I haven't found him. But I'll keep you updated. -R
Where are you.-N
Home.-R
Which one... -N
One you don't know about. I'll ttyl Nat. -R
She could feel Bucky reading the texts from over her shoulder. When she was sure he was finished, she shut her phone off and set it on the side table. She turned fully around to face the standing man.
"You know, I know you remember Steve, at least a bit. I've come to know him well over the past few years. Natasha saved my life; Steve is trying to do the same for you. They've... offered me a haven of sorts with their team. I'm sure they'd do the same for you. They're good people." Rowan tried to convince herself of what she was saying too. To be honest she wasn't one hundred percent sure what would happen. Tony was a decent man, Rowan liked him a lot, but he didn't know all of what Bucky had done. She already knew Nat and Steve were a go, Thor wasn’t even on planet but was so happy-go-lucky all the time she doubted he would mind, and Banner was nervous all the time and second guessed most everything their little band of heroes did anyway so she didn’t even bother worrying about him.
She smirked when she thought briefly of Sam Wilson, the handsome and comedic soldier that had helped Steve and Natasha during the past few weeks, all he had done while she visited them shortly was complain about how “that asshat” had ripped his steering wheel off. She had a feeling he would go with whatever Steve said though, he was a fantastic soldier, and a good friend to Steve. Still, she had her reservations about the whole situation. As much as she trusted Natasha and Steve, it was others around their team she didn’t quit trust yet.
"So why aren't you with them now?" Touché.
"I have my reasons."
"Then so do I." Bucky could tell Rowan was trying too hard to sound convincing. He wasn’t sure why, if these people really were her friends.
"Fine. Look, you're welcome to stay here as long as you need. But Natasha knows I know where you are. So eventually she's gonna come checking up on me. And it won't be for afternoon tea." Rowan blinked and looked away from Bucky's intense stare. She could tell he didn't like what she had said, not one bit. But he was thankful for her not giving his location away.
“Look, I know what you’re going through, and trust me when I say it will most definitely get worse before it gets better. But I’ll be here to help if you’ll accept it.” Why was she offering her help? It wasn’t like her. Maybe it was his situation, so much like hers… She didn’t know where she’d be if Natasha hadn’t helped her through that horrible time. And, much as she loathed to admit it, she trusted Nat and Steve with her life, they had come through a lot over the past few years. Anything she could do to return the favor was still not enough, and never would be in her eyes. Maybe that’s why she didn’t bother staying long with the group after she helped them out. Would Bucky feel the same way?
An important thing in her recovery was that Natasha didn’t need to help her. She hadn’t even known her, but she believed in her, or at least was a good enough actress to make Rowan believe it. She knew that Fury had all but forced Nat to follow after her and help her, for as long as it took. It was the fact of the matter that someone who didn’t know anything about her other than those horrible years believed that she could be better than what she was subjected to. She had a feeling that Steve would put too much pressure on Bucky to be like he was back when they were kids. He didn’t need that, he needed to see that total strangers believed he could overcome his red ledger.
Sure he was the old Bucky now, but once all the memories came through… He wouldn’t be the same as he was when Steve knew him best, he never would be, and she had a feeling Steve expected him to be when this was all said and done. Bucky would be a man who had memories from three different lifetimes, Bucky Barnes, The Winter Soldier, and… the man he will become now, whoever that might be. She was getting ahead of herself, they would cross that bridge when they arrived. Right now, she just needed to show him that he could trust her.
Bucky stared at the green-eyed woman in front of him. The woman who had apparently saved his life and who had pretty much led the same life as he had. She was offering him a place to stay, a safe place to stay; at least for now. Hell, if he were to admit it, he kind of wanted to stay with her. She knew what he went through, and from her own stories from today, vague as they may have been; he was sure she would be the best equipped to handle what his mind would do to him and the people around him when he started remembering more… But a voice in the back of his mind screamed a warning at him just when he found himself trying to trust this red head. It was dark and scratchy, it made his head hurt.
"Thanks for everything." Bucky said roughly. The woman's mouth dropped open slightly as he walked away abruptly, heading for the only door out of the apartment.
"Hold on buddy. Where do you think you're going?" No answer. Before Bucky could blink twice Rowan had rushed towards the front door, blocking his escape route. His automatic response of lashing out was met with Rowan's automatic response of defending herself against him. He was on the floor in a compromising position about three seconds later. He let his head fall to the ground. He was rusty. Rowan also had the same strength as Steve, if not more so with how his body felt; whereas Bucky had been injected with the Nazi's rip off serum according to Rowan. He just wasn't quite strong enough, especially in the state he was, freshly healed from gunshot wounds and being in what was probably as close to a coma as his body could get for two weeks. Hell, the only thing he'd eaten was some toast and butter over the last twelve hours.
"I'm guessing you just worked out how really fucked you are over the course of this encounter. I'm not going to hurt you Bucky. I'm here to help you. I know what you've gone through and I'm not going to let it happen again, okay?" Rowan relaxed her grip on Bucky's arms and sat up a little, although she remained kneeling over the other super soldier; not quite trusting him not to run.
"Before we go anywhere, you're going to need to rest up a bit more, you'll need a shower, and probably a shave and haircut… Or you know, you could probably rock the hipster man-bun look." Rowan smacked herself mentally, not even finding the words to reprimand herself for that last afterthought.
“Why are you doing this? Being… nice to me. After everything I’ve done. I’m a, a monster. I don’t deserve this.” Bucky looked up at Rowan with pathetic eyes, a dimple residing on his forehead in between his eyebrows as he frowned. Rowan sighed and closed her eyes a moment before answering,
“Because, when I was in your situation, someone reached out to me and helped me. Call it settling a deal, erasing my red ledger for all the bad shit I’ve done. Once you’re ready, you’ll probably find yourself in my position. You’re welcome.”
He didn’t have an answer to that. Bucky realized, as Rowan removed herself from above him, that this woman was right. He couldn't defend himself properly while in this state. So he would wait, regain his strength, use the help she was offering, then he would leave. Leave and never return so no one else would get hurt. He doubted he could erase his red ledger.
-TTA-
“She’s either with him or knows where he is.”
“How can you be so sure Nat? I mean, she isn’t giving up any information, and you only texted her. How can you tell she’s lying over a text?” Steve chewed his lip as Natasha turned around from her position on the couch. She hid the urge to roll her eyes.
“Because, Steve, I know Rowan, very well actually. I know she’s lying. There has to be a good reason for it. She knows how much he means to you; if he were hurt or is hurt, she might be waiting for him to heal up before letting you know he’s okay.”
“Well what if she can’t properly treat him? What if he needs a real doctor?”
“Then she’ll find a real doctor, Steve. Look- I know you know Rowan, this woman was trained like Bucky and I, sure - it was for the United States, but you know how corrupt they are. She knows her shit. She can protect him too, before you try to pull that card on me. The US government copied and enhanced the serum that you were injected with, she is definitely strong enough to handle anything that comes her way, and she’s spent enough time in the lab with Tony and Bruce to know her way around anything medical or mechanical.” Steve had found a seat at Tony’s kitchen bar while Natasha had been speaking. She was probably right. From what Steve had seen of Rowan she was definitely formidable against anyone who came her way. Steve paused for a moment in his thinking. Had she meant to say those things about Rowan? He had only assumed SHIELD had found her and tried to make another super soldier. It seemed that wasn’t the case.
“Okay Natasha. I’ll trust you on this one… I guess. Only on the condition you tell me what’s up with Rowan. No beating around the bush. I want her story. I haven’t asked once about how she got the serum or where she’s from, because I trusted you and she’s proved herself more than once. But this is Bucky we’re talking about… You said she was injected with the same serum I was? When did this happen? Why aren’t there more soldiers just like her working for the US? And why for the love of God won’t she just come live with us? I mean seriously, she fits right in with the team.”
Natasha smirked at Steve’s last sentence. She did fit in well with the team. Natasha suspected that with time Rowan would come to find that not everyone was out to get her and the people that were would have a harder time if she stayed with the Avengers, as they had now been dubbed.
“It really isn’t my story to tell, but for the sake of me winning this argument and the fact that she probably doesn’t mind if I share with you, I’ll tell you everything I know.” Steve took a seat across from Natasha, somewhat surprised at Natasha’s admittance that Rowan wouldn’t have minded sharing the information with Steve. Maybe he should have just grown a pair and asked her himself when she was here a few weeks back. He waited for about ten seconds as Nat pulled a device out of her pocket that looked like some sort of calculator. After another few moments, Steve grew even more impatient.
“Natasha. Am I supposed to be reading your mind or something here?”
“I’m disabling JARVIS in this room so he can’t overhear. Not that I think Tony would do anything with this information, but until we rat out all the HYDRA agents from what’s left of SHIELD and Stark Industries, I’m not taking any chances.” Steve admired Natasha while she typed furiously on the tablet in her lap. She was a strong soldier in battle, a world-renowned spy and assassin- no matter what end of her gun you ended up on, you had to give her credit for how badass she was- and among many other great qualities that the red-head possessed, doing everything in her power to keep her friends safe was one of Steve’s favorites. Once Natasha was finished with disabling Tony’s bodiless, voice-only robot-thing that Steve didn’t want to admit still freaked him out sometimes, she adjusted her seat for a more comfortable position.
“Rowan was born in 1935, in Ireland. Because of the unsettling government issues across Europe, her parents shipped her over to her Uncle’s farm in Virginia when she was ten. Her parents went missing and a few months later her mother’s body was recovered but the reason of her death was never revealed; they never found her father, there were rumors he a was a mutant; a human that possesses the X-gene. I’ll explain that later. Her Uncle worked on the farm as a cover, but actually worked with the White House- he was a scientist. That’s how the government found out about Rowan. They had been looking for young, impressionable people to shape into soldiers to “protect” the US and her allies. With an immigrant Uncle that was willing to keep quiet and no other family it was easy to start her training. After a few years in Virginia and D.C., they moved her to Australia, then Wales, then back to US soil when she turned twenty four. You kind of know what happened during the Red Room with me growing up? The US version was The Sector.”
“So she grew up like you did, training to be a spy? Did the US think the war would last longer than it did?”
“Hold your horses old man, I’m not finished yet.” Steve blushed and tucked his arms tighter across his chest, waiting for Natasha to stop chuckling at his impatience. Could he really be blamed though? He told Natasha that he would trust her on this one, and lord help him he would, but he still wanted to know everything there was about the woman supposedly keeping his best friend from him. If she was as trustworthy as Natasha claimed her to be (and he thought she was…but come on this was Bucky they were dealing with!), then he shouldn’t be freaking out, but he just couldn’t help it. Bucky had been there from the beginning. And he was supposed to be there till the end of the line. Steve thought that line had ended a long time ago. But somehow, God had other plans in mind.
“Rowan was twenty four when The Sector took your formula and enhanced it. I’m not sure how they got it from Erskine, I thought he kept it in his head and not written anywhere; if Rowan knows, she never told me. They immediately injected her with it, claiming she was already physically in top condition, so all there was to enhance, as far as they could tell, was her speed, strength, reflexes, hearing, eyesight, you know; the whole shebang. They heard rumors about her mutant father, but no powers ever surfaced, so they pretty much forgot about that. The serum worked, and, since the world was at a general peace, they locked her in the ice box until Bucky started showing up. Every time they got wind of The Winter Soldier they would send Rowan out to try to bring him down. She got close a few times, but HYDRA’s tech was just a little better than The Sector’s during those years. She’d be taken out for other missions though, The Sector was an organization that was almost as crazy as HYDRA, only rooting for the US. They claimed that they had allies, but at the end of the day it was all about good ole ‘Murica.
"They’re not known very well, the most you would ever hear would be whispers throughout SHIELD about a rogue government organization who was crazy about making sure the US was the biggest threat out there. All they cared about was making sure the United States had no enemies, and not because they made friends. They were out to strike fear in the other countries, to make sure no one dared to defy what the US wanted… About ten years ago Coulson debriefed me on a possible new asset to SHIELD. The file name was titled OBSIDIAN. Surprisingly it wasn’t an acronym, which our government loves to use usually. Something about Paleolithic history and how Obsidian was viewed as a protective power totem, given to soldiers to strengthen them. The Sector saw themselves ultimately doing good work for the US, the light-side if you will. Well there’s a light and dark side to everything… Rowan was their dark side.”
Natasha sighed rather loudly and stood, stretched, then headed over to the fully stocked bar. She poured two glasses of Tony’s no-label-although-lets-face-it-probably-privately-made whiskey and downed both before pouring two more. Steve sat quietly and waited for Natasha to finish before he dared speak. He watched her closely as she walked slowly back to where he sat. He took the offered drink and sipped a little before setting the glass on the coffee table. Natasha drank about half of the glass before setting her own down.
“So I did my job and brought her in. She had been in hiding for about two months from HYDRA and The Sector. It actually took about two years for her to fully trust me enough to get help from SHIELD. Over that time she and I travelled across Europe and Canada, though mostly sticking in Ireland. A lot of her memories from before she was used in The Sector came back to her while we were travelling. It wasn’t pretty. She hurt people, depending on when the memories came back and where we were. Anything can trigger them. One of her worst ones was when we were on a train. We passed by some old castle that apparently her parents took her to right before they shipped her over to the states.” Natasha took another long sip of her whiskey. She set the glass down and clasped her hands together, elbows on her knees. Her eyes stared blankly ahead as Natasha relived the day from so many years ago.
“She just spazzed out. She shoved me out of my seat and went on a rampage. I-I could barely stop her. She ended up passing out; but she had snapped one guy’s femur bone and literally ripped the security guards arm off with her own two hands. This woman-she, I, Rowan… Rowan didn’t even touch her, just looked her way, and she… Her body bent at odd angles, and she flew out of the window, over the edge of a ravine. There was lightning coming from Rowan’s fingertips, her eyes turned black. A storm popped up out of a seemingly clear blue, cloudless sky. I’ve never seen anything like it, at least not from any human besides Banner when he goes green... Or Thor when he uses Mjolnir. I hadn’t been actually nervous like that in a long while. I thought I might have to take her out.” Natasha seemed to be looking through Steve. She had a troubled look on her face, eyebrows closely knit together, remembering the years she had spent with Rowan, who she now considered her closest friend, were not always rainbows and butterflies.
Natasha had never seen Rowan use that power again. Not even in battle. It was as if Rowan hadn’t even realized she’d done it. She still didn’t know what she had done that to the woman, Natasha had never told her. Never told her about the lightning that flew from her fingertips as she rampaged through the train compartment, or the storm that raged over the train while there was an otherwise beautiful blue sky over the Irish countryside. She hadn’t even told Fury or Coulson about it. The only people on the train that witnessed it were either dead or had passed out from Rowan beating them to a pulp, luckily they hadn’t remembered when they woke up. A very attractive red-headed nurse had made sure of it. It was the only true secret she had left. Well, she guessed, not anymore. God, maybe she trusted Steve more than she wanted to admit. She didn’t like that...
Steve worried at his lip a bit more while listening to the tales of Rowan regaining her memories. He couldn’t imagine what Bucky was going through, if the memories had started to come back at all. He guessed the silver lining was at least Bucky wasn’t as strong as Steve or Rowan, he only had about eighty percent of their strength, as far as they knew, unless HYDRA had gotten a hold of The Sector’s updated formula. They might be in trouble then, until he could get to Bucky at least.
“She finally gave in enough to help us bring down The Sector. Fury was beyond furious and had some strong words with the President and his colleagues about how much of The Sector was hidden from SHIELD eyes all these years. Turned out The Sector was just a little too harsh for even Fury’s morals.” Natasha smirked.
“Turns out SHIELD was a little too much for Fury too, huh?” Steve nodded his head and blew hot air out of his nose in agreement. When Natasha didn’t continue, Steve took that as an opening for his questions.
“So why do the memories coming back make them go crazy?” He could only picture Bucky picking someone up and killing them with his mind…
“I don’t know if the same thing will happen to Bucky, but it’s more than likely. And I’m not sure, Rowan didn’t have an answer and she never really wanted me to ask Banner or Stark. They still don’t know her whole story. Only Coulson, Fury, and I know besides her. We were the only four who knew about the OBSIDIAN file. There’s no data left on it. All Sector data has been wiped from existence. As far as we know, there are no more agents, unless they have gone deep under cover. Rowan doesn’t trust Coulson or myself when we’ve tried to tell her, she is more paranoid than even I am.” Natasha and Steve both chuckled at her little joke. She had to put some kind of light hearted statement out there, for both of them were almost choking on the seriousness of the situation.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to unload this much information… If you could keep it to yourself, that’d be great. Rowan doesn’t even know about the details of the train incident. I didn’t want to tell her, I don’t know how it would affect her.” Natasha felt rather guilty now. It hadn’t been in her plan to tell Steve this much, but the words just kept flowing. Her time with Rowan had been one hell of a mission. Usually missions are easy for her to shake off after she’s done. She keeps it strictly business, how she was taught. But with Rowan, and it seemed since she was drafted for the Avengers and even SHIELD, her cold heart was warming up a bit. The things that happened with Rowan turned personal when Natasha and she became friends. The whole situation went up a whole other level for Natasha that she hadn’t ever been on. Sure, at the Red Room growing up, she thought a few of the other girls she trained with were considered friends, until they proved her wrong. It felt good to unload some of the heavy information she had on her friend. And Natasha knew she could trust Steve.
“Natasha, thank you. I won’t say anything.” Steve patted her knee before holding up his right hand, fingers tightened into a fist, sans his pinky. Natasha rolled her eyes slightly at Steve before reluctantly enclosing Steve’s pinky with her own.
“You’ve got to stop trusting Sam and Tony to update you on modern-day traditions.”
