For: @youvebeenlivingfictional Comfort Prompts, 11: Stopping by their workplace on your way home late at night with the hunch that they’re still there.
Pairing: Captain Christopher Pike x Reader (no Y/N)
Warnings: Mention of canon-typical violence
WC: 790
Rating: Teen
Notes: tfw you have to post immediately before you lose your confidence... it's been a while!
When you press the chime for the door of the ready room, you hope there won’t be an answer.
You hope the captain is in his quarters, cooking, perhaps, or reading a book, or watching one of those black-and-white movies he enjoys. You would like it if he were working out in the gym, or maybe taking a walk in the arboretum amongst the trees.
But based on how he’s looked when you’ve seen him hurry down a corridor, when you’ve handed in a report on the bridge, he hasn’t been doing any of those things for a while. And right on cue—
“Enter.” The familiar voice sounds subdued as you step through the doors. Your eyes sweep across the mostly empty room, from the red armchairs, over the conference table and the display still showing the disputed border that the Enterprise had found herself in the middle of, to the desk at the other end with the captain sitting there, poring over a PADD.
And it’s more than just the stubble that’s there at the end of a long day. It’s the hunch of his shoulders. It’s—it’s not defeated, that isn’t the word, but the almost resolute look in his eyes. The way they’re narrowed slightly, just at the corners. You’ve known him for years, and it isn’t a good sign.
“He just has to get through it,” Una had said in an undertone, glancing round to make sure you weren’t being overheard at dinner in the mess hall. “He’s signing off on all the fitness evaluations, and he is personally going over every single repair log. I would’ve insisted, but when he’s in this mood—” She had given a small shrug. “I pick my battles. But you’re welcome to try…”
And so here you are.
“What can I do for—oh, hey,” his face relaxes a little, and the corner of his mouth quirks up just slightly. Not quite a smile, but it’s a start. “It’s—I guess it’s late, huh. Did you need something?”
“No, nothing. I don’t need anything. But…” You pull the last chair from the conference table, spin it round, and sit down so you’re more on his level. “It’s nearly gamma shift, and I wondered…” your eyes stray to his PADD. “Do you need to be doing those reports right now? I have it on good authority that they’re not due in for another month. Surely they’ll keep ‘till tomorrow.”
He shrugs. “As a captain you stay on top of the paperwork, or you drown in it. But… I could take a break. Drink?”
“Sure.”
He stands, walks round the desk, and heads to the other end of the room to pour two glasses of whiskey. He holds one out toward you, question in his expression, and you get up and join him. You sit together in one of the alcove sofas.
“Cheers,” he says, and you clink glasses. You enjoy the bite of the alcohol, the complex flavours on your tongue.
“So you spoke to Una?”
“She told me you were working through something. I just think you’re working too much. You know what they say…”
He rolls his eyes at that. Which you deserve.
“I just… I remember Rigel VII, Chris. And those months before. This… this conflict? It wasn’t that, but I worry, you know? I know being captain is the loneliest job and blah blah blah… but… sometimes I think you hold onto that load?”
He regards you with those pale blue eyes, softened now.
“When I gave the order to fire on that Zenali ship… I know it was the only order I could have made, and I don’t regret it, not for a second… but…” he tilts his head, takes another sip of his drink. “Meeting the Zenali ambassador, who lost his son... he was so gracious. He didn’t bear us any ill will. Just wanted to work towards peace.”
“Yeah.” You know that you can never fully understand the weight of those decisions, and those consequences, but at least you can be here with him. You lean back against the sofa, and after a beat, Chris mirrors you.
“I guess Number One could take a look at the repairs for me. Perhaps I will call it a night,” he says after a while.
“Yeah?” You try to play it cool, but you’re pretty sure he can read your relief.
“Yeah.” He smiles properly this time, downs the rest of his drink, and puts his glass up on the side. “So, any suggestions on what one can do around here to wind down?” He stands, and offers you his hand.
You take it, letting him pull you up. “I may have one or two…”
Prompt: @simplyemm suggested that Reader needed to take some time off work.
A/N: A little spice
MasterList
Y/N paused mid-type as she heard a soft huff and the tap of a watch hitting the surface of her desk. "I'm nearly done, Bucky." She wasn't about to look around the side of her laptop to see him resting his chin on crossed arms on top of the desk. He could sit there and get sore knees for all she cared - she had to get this work finished. She heard him lightly tap the metal buckle of the watchstrap on the wood a few times. "James." She warned.
"James?" Came Steve's amused voice from the doorway, "Sounds like you're annoying her, Buck." He leaned on the frame, arms crossed and head tilting as he watched the scene unfold, "Better behave before she grounds you."
Bucky shrugged, eyes trying to stare a hole in the back of the laptop, "Nah, that would mean she would have to stop working first." They had been trying for the last hour and a half to pull their shared lover away from her work - it was bad enough she spent so long at the office on a regular day, but now she was bringing it home. She was burning herself out, and for what?
To be given more work on top.
"Press the 'save' button, Honey; you got five minutes before I turn off the internet." Steve wasn't going to resort to puppy eyes and longing looks like Bucky. With his warning made, Steve headed back toward the living room, and Bucky traipsed after him with an exaggerated sigh.
The internet connection was lost, exactly when she was told it would be, and it frustrated her to no end. Just a little longer, and she would be done! It wasn't like she had spent the whole day, on her day off, working on reports and documents to get ahead for the next workday. Y/N stretched as she stood, her ass aching from being sat so long and her lower back saw from her lousy sitting posture. She glanced at the wall clock and froze.
It had been all day.
"Shit...." No wonder they were hounding her to stop. When the woman sheepishly wandered into the living room, she saw Steve sat with a book in hand, and Bucky slumped so far off the sofa that his backside was barely on the edge. She had promised to spend the day with him, and it was evident he was disappointed.
"We used to have a girlfriend that looked like you," Bucky groused and then hissed when Steve kicked his foot without even looking up.
"I lost track of time...." Y/N explained weakly.
Bucky's cheeks puffed out before he blew all the air out, childishly pouting without looking her way, "You called me 'James'."
"Because that's your name." She saw him weigh that up, but he still wasn't giving her his attention. Rolling her eyes, Y/N walked toward them. Still, instead of going to Bucky, who had already begun to sit up expectantly, she sat on Steve's thigh. "But if you don't want to talk to me anymore, I'll hang out with Stevie."
"Really?" The brunette's brows lifted in disbelief - making a disgusted face when she nestled into Steve.
"Yes, really." Y/N smiled and placed a kiss on Steve's cheek. Steve wasn't the least bit surprised by her mischief, looking at his friend with a playful smugness. This had little to do with him, but he was enjoying the attention. "You obviously don't like me anymore."
Bucky wasn't going to let that slide and leaned across the sofa to kiss her lips chastely, lingering slightly before pressing another to her cheek. "Don't even joke about that, Darlin'. I adore you - even if you love your work more than us." She combed her fingers through his hair and pulled his lips back to hers, moaning slightly as his tongue slipped past and caressed hers. They had nearly forgotten about Steve when he cleared his throat and prompted Y/N to pull away from Bucky to kiss the blonde.
Large hands spread over her lower back and began to massage the tense muscles, making her moan into Steve's mouth at the heady mix of pain followed by quick relief - Bucky's hands were magic. "You're gonna run yourself into the ground." His vibranium hand skimmed up her side and curled tenderly around her throat, drawing her away from Steve so that he could get her attention. "We got you that bath stuff you like, and Steve's gonna order food-"
"Thank God."
Her little quip earned her a sharp smack to the thigh as Steve leaned in to nip at her bottom lip, hungry blue eyes caught hers, and she felt heat melt down to her core in response, "We're nice to you, Honey. Don't make me discipline you instead."
Before she could answer Steve's threat, Bucky tightened his hand around her neck just so, "You're ignoring me again. I don't like it, Darlin'." He waited for her to meet his gaze, then continued, "You're gonna eat some food, then take a nice long bath, and then you're gonna let me and Steve take care of you. No more work. None." Bucky let go of her and stood up like he hadn't done a thing.
Steve kissed her throat where Bucky's hand had been and gave her a light push to get her to stand up from his lap, "You can have the internet back when we can trust you."
Steve had picked up his book again whilst Bucky headed for their shared bedroom to start pulling down the blankets and comforter toward the end of the bed. He searched the drawers for their spare sheet to cover the bed. Y/N followed him in and barely suppressed a needy moan as he prepared the bed - they were planning to make a mess. They only got that sheet out to make it easy to sleep afterwards; they would just throw it onto the floor when they were done, so no one had to sleep in the wet patch. "Can I help you, Y/N?"
Y/N approached him from behind, her hand resting on the cool vibranium of his bicep before kissing his scars lovingly. "I'm sorry I missed out date." She placed feathery light kisses along his shoulder and under his jaw, "Are you gonna shave this scruff yet? I can finish here whilst you do it."
Bucky shook his head, "And miss a chance to leave beard burn on your thighs so you can't ignore me whilst you work? No way." He pivoted to wrap his arms around her, giving her a squeeze and then nodding toward the door, "Now get outta here before I call Captain spangles to fetch you."
The woman let out a sigh and left disappointed; Bucky wasn't going to give her a clue about tonight's plans, so she headed back to Steve. She leaned over the back of the sofa and glanced at the book he was reading, waiting for him to turn the page before speaking. "I could always cook if you don't want take away."
"You never stop, do you?" Steve sighed and placed the book down after marking his page. His head fell back so that he could watch her watch him, a smile on his lips as he reached to caress her cheek, "Just let me and Winter Smoulder take care of you."
-
Once the food arrived, Steve and Bucky dove in with their usual Super Soldier gusto. The men eating double what she could but always making sure her plate was full. She told them off when one of them instigated a small food fight, and they spoke animatedly about their day. Bucky had done a few chores around the house, fit in a workout and a trip to the mall whilst she had been in her office. And Steve had sat through two of the most boring meetings of his life and broken a door by accident. It was silly, menial things that the world might find boring to learn about their heroes, but Y/N liked being able to relate to them somehow.
Steve had excused himself from the table, and Bucky had guided her out of her chair to come and straddle his lap. His kisses were slow, lazy almost, wanting to savour having her yield against him and just enjoy her. Bucky worried at times that he could be seen as needy. He always wanted to be with her, and at times, he wished he could just sit back and relax like Steve. When she would spend her spare time at work or in the home office, he worried that it was because she didn't want his company - that she wanted an excuse to be away from him.
It wasn't true.
He knew that it wasn't true and that she was a workaholic. Y/N was a perfectionist who just wanted to do well in everything she did. Sometimes, he wanted to throw her laptop out of a window and drag her to bed with him - burrowing away into the blankets until Steve come looking. Speaking of.
Bucky heard Steve walk back into the room, and he tried not to grumble when the blonde's hand ran up her back and brought her away from Bucky's kisses.
"Sorry, pal, the baths ready for this worker bee." Steve lifted her to her feet and nodded toward the bathroom, "Take your time."
Grudgingly, Y/N headed for the bathroom, and when she entered, she couldn't help but smile. Steve had filled the large bathtub with bubbles; he had lit candles along the windowsill and even plugged her iPod into her favourite playlist. Y/N tested the water and shook her head fondly, always a little too hot. She brushed her teeth and shaved her legs in the sink whilst she waited for it to cool a little – if they were making an effort for her, she could at least return the favour.
When she finally sank into the bath, it was with an appreciative moan. It was warm and soft. She wanted nothing more than to let the water embrace her for the rest of her life.
Losing track of time was a little too easy; her eyes were half-closed, and she sank a bit further the more relaxed she got. She heard a light tap on the door, and then Steve slipped in, closing the door to block out the light from the other room. He made his way silently to the side of the bath and knelt beside her. "Hey, pretty girl." She didn't miss the way he practically purred at her, "Turn around for me?"
The perk of having a large bathtub was that it was easy to move around in. It wasn't large enough for the three of them though, and that was unfortunate. Y/N turned so that her back was to the Captain and hummed when his large hands began to massage her shoulders. Steve's hands weren't as practised as Bucky's, but they were still incredible. He always knew just how to loosen the knots and tension, his fingers splayed out across the back of her shoulders, and slowly, he dipped them down her arms and into the water. He left open-mouthed kisses along her shoulders, smirking into her skin when she let out a breathy little moan as his hand found their way between her legs. "We're gonna ruin you tonight." Steve's nose traced her ear lightly, "Buck's looking forward to getting his mouth on you - just wait until I tell him you're freshly shaved." His index stroked over her sex, smoothly gliding along her skin, "He said he was gonna make you cum on his tongue until you got nothing left. I'm gonna need you to save a little something for me, Babydoll. Gonna need you wet and ready for when I stretch your greedy, little hole open."
Her head fell back onto his shoulder, panting softly as he circled and brushed her clit teasingly, "We're gonna fuck you until you can barely think straight." He nipped her ear, "Then we're going to make love to you until the sun comes up - we already called in sick for you." And then Steve was up and across the bathroom, "Enjoy the rest of your bath, Honey."
Steve closed the door and grinned all the way back to the bedroom, throwing Bucky a wink and pulling off his top, "We got about two minutes before she's in here begging for cock."
"The fuck did you do?" Bucky sat up and followed suit in removing his clothes.
He shrugged nonchalantly, "Just reminded her that all work and no play make for two very horny boyfriends."
Growing up I was very limited as to what I can do because my dad was very strict. School was the biggest priority so that was the only thing I excelled at. I had no other hobbies nor skills. No sports, no clubs, no reading, no socializing with peers, no partying, no dating, no working, no dogs, nothing. I felt like such an ass and such a loser because I was so suppressed while my peers had a lot more freedom and fun. It was horrible, all I knew was schoolwork and obedience.
At least I am free and independent now and my dad is a lot less strict, and that I'm miles away from his toxic home country and from my nasty and emotionally abusive uncle and grandma. I had no true friendship nor true family growing up because of them. They all ruined my childhood and teen years. I was horribly bullied in school and having bullies at home didn't help either.
I'm free now and am working hard to find myself, socialize, relax and try new hobbies. So far I've taken up reading, cooking, health and fitness, socializing, watching TV, being smart but not just academically smart, can warm up more easily to my peers and converse with them, beauty and fashion, and travel. I have a pet dog and I live with my mom and siblings and we are free to decorate our house however we want (we weren't allowed to back thrn) and we can put up Christmas decorations which my dad hated.
I feel more normal now. Growing up people thought I was weird and I felt like such a loser. I've only started living my life now in my 20s. My life is great and I hope it gets better and better with time.
Even though I was bullied in school I feel like my biggest enemy was my home environment.
Rotoscope animation based on video footage of our group dancing. The audio track Déjà Vu was made by creating black out poetry out of Peter Thompson and Slavoj Žižek’s book The Privatisation of Hope: Ernst Bloch and the Future of Utopia, and running these lines through Typatone, which converted this into sound to be overlaid onto an existing track.
