Pairings: Steve Rogers X Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.!Reader.
Square Filled: 5 “Soft under hard exterior trope”.
Word Count: 256 words.
A/N: This is my entry to @avengersbingo Avengers Bingo Round 4.
You can read it on Wattpad and Ao3 too.
@saiyanprincessswanie.
My native language is Spanish so I wanna improve my writing skills in English if you notice any mistakes, please let me know and I will correct them.
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It was a rainy afternoon in Brooklyn, and you were in your office when the door suddenly opened.
You looked at the door and saw Steve walking in, wearing his leather jacket. Sometimes you thought it was funny how he tried to behave, but you knew the truth.
“Good afternoon, Steve," you said. "Can I help you with something?"
Steve approached you, and you pretended to be dumbfounded by his presence.
“Yes, I'm looking for a book about... Well..." Steve turned to look at your desk. "This book," he said, putting his hand on the book on your desk.
You knew Steve wasn't interested in the book; he just wanted to talk to you.
“Really?
Steve took the book and leafed through it, though it was obvious that his mind was elsewhere.
“You know? “he began in a softer tone. Actually, I came here because I needed a break from everything. I've always found this place... comforting."
“I'm glad to hear that, Steve."
You sat down in one of the nearby chairs, inviting him to do the same.
Steve sat down next to you, setting the book aside.
“Everyone expects me to always be strong and the leader. But there are times when I just want to be... normal," he confessed.
You nodded, understanding his feelings perfectly.
“We all need a space where we can be ourselves without expectations or pressure. Here, you can be Steve; I'll always be here to listen to you."
“Thank you."
The rain started to fall, so you continued to talk.
Summary: Years after losing your husband, you are on a path of moving on with your life, however, you need help. And who better to give that encouraging push than Tony’s AI?
Warning: 18+ angst, bittersweet, some fluff.
Pairing: Tony Stark x Reader
Square filled: Hologram
Word count: 600ish
A/N: I’M SORRY. Written for @avengersbingo
Avengers Bingo Masterlist
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“What about this? Too much?”
Holding two statement necklaces in front of your reflection, you tilted your head sideways, silently hoping Tony would say neither.
“Diamonds, definitely diamonds. They always suit you better, hon.”
Sighing, you let out a soft groan and agreed with the choice, going over the bed where a selection of dresses lay like a scattered rainbow.
Even a small decision like this one seemed like the most difficult one these days. Partly because your heart wasn’t fully in it, or maybe you were just not ready.
“I can hear you thinking, Y/N. Go with the strappy red, it brings out your best features. Plus it’s my color.”
You could practically hear Tony’s smirk, you closed your eyes for a moment and smiled, normally he’d wrap his arms around you and pull you against his chest, nibble on the soft skin of your neck and let his stubble tease your skin.
“It’s not for you though, is it?”
You turned around with a sad smile, Tony—or rather his life-size hologram followed you up next to the mirror again, this time crossing his arms and leaning against it as he studied you with a fond smile on his handsome face.
It had been over two years since he passed in the events with Thanos, sacrificed his life to save the universe and brought all those turned to dust back. As heartbroken and devastated as you were, he had left you and Morgan a piece of himself; the bastard had thought through everything.
His quips and sarcastic comments followed you everywhere, helped your daughter sleep when she demanded a story specially narrated by her Dad, it was almost like he was still here.
Almost.
“Earth to Miss Y/L/N? Isn’t your date in like ten minutes?” He snapped his fingers bringing you back to reality, his hologram glitching just slightly at the sides. It stabbed through your heart that you weren’t Mrs. Stark anymore.
“Maybe I should cancel. I don’t think I’m ready, Tony. I don’t know if I will ever be.” You murmured, throwing the dress behind, suddenly the thought of putting in so much effort for another guy seemed overwhelming to you, and it wasn’t the first time.
“Stop flattering me, honey. What was the one promise you made me?”
“That I’ll never get over you? That I won’t ever stop loving you? That nobody will ever take your place?” You felt tears sting in your eyes as you finished speaking, wanting nothing more than for Tony to wrap you in his all-consuming hugs.
“That you will always choose to be happy.” He reminded you, walking over and pretending to catch a tear that escaped down your cheek. You saw him do it, but felt nothing. His big brown eyes that missed the spark that real Tony had, bore into you, waiting for an answer.
“I will choose to be happy.”
You nodded, giving him an almost convincing smile as you picked the red dress finally, going over your appearance one last time and blowing Tony a kiss who pretended to catch it with a chuckle. It was a small step towards that long journey that was ‘moving on’.
Summary: You are Thor & Loki’s younger sister, unfortunately you are forced to find a husband...royalty AU
Warnings: language
Pairings: Reader x James Bucky Barnes, Reader x Clint Barton, Reader x John Walker
Square Filled: Unrequited Love
Word Count: 6237 Main Masterlist
A/N: @avengersbingo my first and long over due entry to Avengers Bingo Rd 4
Sneaking out was always easier than sneaking back in, you tried your best to make it home before sunrise and today you almost made it. Of course, luck wasn’t on your side and you knew the staff would be around so you had to decide whether to trek back through the hidden passageways or tiptoe through the main rooms of the castle without being found out. At this time of day, neither was a great choice, but you quietly took off your shoes as you slipped through the main entrance to the palace and held your head high, as a princess should, as you passed the guards.
No one said a word to you, most likely knowing that tattling on the princess of Asgardia at this time of day would only become more of an issue for them, putting Odin or Frigga in a bad mood first thing in the morning would be no good for anyone. You began to relax, turning down the final hallway to your room, only to be greeted by your mother and your personal security, Brunnhilde, waiting for you.
“Mother, what a pleasant surprise first thing in the morning” you were trying your best to avoid any questioning on your whereabouts.
“Well, my dear, I wouldn’t be here if you were here when I came to you last night” she raised an eyebrow challenging me “and before you start formulating some plot in your head, I also asked the guards to notify me of your return. And yet all night, not a single person in the palace knew where you were.”
You knew you were caught, she knew you were caught and yet, you couldn’t find it in your heart to concede, “well then, it seems that I am once again the Hide & Seek victor.” Turning and entering your room, knowing the conversation wasn’t over, but you were too tired to argue with anyone right now.
“Before you even think about sleeping, Nebula will be here momentarily to prepare your bath, and I expect you to look presentable for breakfast with your father” you looked at your mother stunned, it’s as if she could read your mind.
“Why would father want to have breakfast with me when he has your beautiful face to admire?” Unfortunately that didn’t work as you had hoped, your mother just laughed as she walked out of the room with Brunnhilde, reminding you that your flattery will get you nowhere.
You took your time getting ready before heading to breakfast with your family, normally you wouldn't want to disappoint your parents but you had been up all night and there was little you could do to make yourself move any faster. Somehow you managed to make it to the dining hall just before your father, so you take that as a win, even if you hadn’t been able to sit before rising to greet him.
“Well, isn’t it nice to have the whole family together, it’s been so long” Odin looked around the table and seemed happy to have you all gathered together. You were immediately suspicious and looked to your brothers, trying to figure out what was going on.
Loki appeared to be as concerned as you were, but Thor seemed to have his normal idiot smile on his face and seemed more interested in the food being served than anyone at the table, typical. Rolling your eyes, you immediately grabbed your coffee mug, needing caffeine to make it through the morning in one piece.
“Since we are all here, why don’t you tell our children about the exciting news” your mother smiled around the table before picking up her tea. Loki immediately looked at you, you both knew something was going on and not liking it one bit.
“Right, of course my dear. We are hosting a gala, inviting all the surrounding kingdoms. Oh and my darling daughter, you will have a new security detail, he will be starting this afternoon after he is finished with Quill. And I know I don't need to remind you to be on your best behavior” your father eyed you with a small smirk, knowing that a suggestion to behave was pointless for him to make but decided to do so anyway.
You were doing your best to hide your emotions that were triggered by his statement, but watching Loki smirk in your direction while he ate only angered you more. “Thank you father, but Brunnhilde is excellent and I’ve grown quite fond of her. So, really, there’s no need for someone new” you smiled at your parents, holding your breath that your attempt would work, and hearing Loki snicker at you didn’t help your nerves.
“Be that as it may, the Valkyrie have important training and she is needed there. Don’t worry, it’s already done, you will be well taken care of and not cause any problems" with that, your father rose from his seat, all of you following suit and heading out of the dining hall.
You needed a few hours of sleep before worrying about your new security detail and how to get out of the palace by yourself. After your nap you decided a ride on your horse, Chocolate, was the best way to enjoy the day, so you were dressed and heading to the stables. Riding around the back pasture behind the palace was not your ideal choice, but if your parents found out you were out again without security, you wouldn’t hear the end of it.
The ride helped to clear your head a little, maybe a change in your security detail wouldn’t be so bad, you adored Brunnhilde, but would much rather have her as a friend to celebrate with rather than a watchdog, always on duty, never having fun. Taking your time to make it back to the palace, you notice your brother approaching and roll your eyes as you try to walk past.
“First day with new security and you decide to hide, tsk tsk sister”.
Rolling your eyes at him trying to irritate you more than you already were, “really Lokes, you of all people should be helping me here, not making matters worse!” You were toe to toe with him, and even if he still was several inches taller than you, you weren’t intimidated by him in the least.
He merrily scoffed at you “how am I making anything worse? I’m simply pointing out the error of your ways, I’m trying to help, unlike Thor” the last part muttered under his breath and made you freeze.
“What do you mean by that?”
“Oh, you’ll see soon enough” and just like that he had disappeared as quickly as he had arrived.
You were debating if you should take the time to bathe Chocolate yourself or allow someone at the stables to handle it, now that you heard Thor was being himself more than usual, you didn’t have a choice and left the stables to investigate on what could have happened in the few hours you were away.
Making your way back into the palace, you headed for the kitchen first, just a small snack needed to tide you over until dinner. The staff was never surprised by your arrival, even if they did feel the need to bow, you always felt more like one of them than your royal lineage. Maybe that’s why all these changes were making you irritated, you knew what was expected of you, but you still hoped that your requests would be considered, marrying for love rather than obligation or convenience, it shouldn’t be too hard to ask for.
Heading back toward the throne room, you were stopped by Peter Quill, your father’s personal secretary. “Your Highness, I’ve been searching everywhere for you. You have a new security detail that you need to meet. Will you please follow me?”.
Deciding to get this encounter out of the way as quickly as possible you followed Peter to the throne room where you found your parents chatting with a rather handsome man.
"Ah, there she is, come daughter, you need to get acquainted with your new security detail. And remember, you are to be by her side at all times'' your father stated as you approached.
"This is Clint Barton, he will be your personal security going forward" Peter tells you as you smile at the new face.
"It's a pleasure to meet you Sir Barton, and father don't scare the man, he didn't mean at all times, just outside of the palace" you smile trying to make the encounter a bit more lighthearted.
"I know what I meant child, until you can prove that you won't be sneaking out unaccompanied at all hours of the day, then Clint will be with you at all times" his tone left no room for argument, but you were about to try and plead your case only for Peter to whisk the king away for something or other, you weren't really listening.
Sighing, you tried to give a genuine smile but felt too embarrassed to put any effort into it. Before you could decide what to do next you heard Thor's booming voice from the doorway, "and there is my beautiful sister, we've been searching for you".
As he approached, you noticed a man trailing behind him, he wasn't as tall as Thor but had the same arrogant demeanor about him and you could only hope he had nothing to do with what Loki had mentioned.
"This is my dear friend, John Walker" Thor patted the man on his shoulder as he pushed him closer to you.
"It's actually Duke John Walker" he immediately corrected but pretended to be humble to the title.
You were instantly irritated and wanted to run and hide but instead you smiled politely "Sir Walker".
At this point, the nicest thing you could do was to simply acknowledge the man, since it's not his fault your idiot brother dragged him around looking for you.
"Why don't the two of you go to the sitting room and I'll have the staff bring you tea" at that point you might actually ring Thor's neck if he opened his mouth again.
"Wonderful idea, Princess, shall we?" John held out his arm and you thought the day couldn't get any worse until you remembered your new, and very attractive, security that began to follow behind you towards John.
Instead of saying anything, you took his arm and lead him out of the room and down the hall. He immediately started commenting on the decor and how it differed from his estate, was this guy serious? But of course you could only smile, knowing speaking your mind would only cause a problem for you.
As you turned to the sitting room, John finally noticed Clint following the two of you and spoke up. "Thanks for the escort, but the princess and I will be spending tea alone" his arrogant and entitled tone rubbed you the wrong way but you were curious as to how Clint would react.
"As her personal security, she will not leave my sight" Clint told him as he made his way to the corner of the room with no intention of leaving. Realizing this could very quickly escalate into something ugly, you decided to intervene
"Sir Barton is very dedicated to his craft, so why do we sit and chat, I doubt we will even notice his presence" you motioned to the sofas and chairs in the center of the room.
Opting for a chair in order to leave as much space as possible between you and your brothers friend, you sat and waited for him to choose his seat.
"Of course, anything for you princess" he smiled at you and it nearly made you ill. You were raised to know exactly what to expect from people and what they expected from you, but moments like this, you had hoped you could just freely speak your mind and put entitled diplomats in their place.
John immediately got comfortable on the sofa next to you and began telling you all about himself. What a surprise. He drones on for what felt like hours. You were only slightly relieved when Anya arrived with a tray of tea and cakes.
"Thank you, it looks wonderful. Can we get another serving set for Sir Barton?" you motioned to Clint in the the corner as Anya nodded before slipping out of the room.
Stirring your tea you heard John scoff and looked at him questioningly. "Is something amiss?" trying your best to remain calm, you could guess what caused his reaction by the few minutes you had been around him so far today.
"Why are you thanking one servant and offering tea to the other?" You nearly laughed at his utter disrespect to another human solely for the reason he had a title and they didn't.
"Well, first of all, they are staff not servants and secondly, they are human beings. Everyone deserves kindness". You are looking at Clint when you make the final statement and see the slightest hint of a smile.
"Oh princess, how naïve you are" John chuckles and you immediately tense up as you watch him mock you.
At this point the smart thing to do would be to stay quiet and remove yourself before you threw a punch, but today was not that day. Glaring at the Duke, you decide to unpack everything on him, why the hell not?
"Tell me Duke, do you know my name?" That instantly caused him to quiet down before scoffing,
"of course I do".
"Just wondering, since you haven't used it since we met. It seems that you only have used my title" taking a bite of the cake on your plate, anxiously awaiting his response.
He didn't respond right away, presumably trying to recall your name but apparently came up blank. "Your position is power, princess. I acknowledge and respect that about you" he seems smug, as if he had just given you a compliment. Was he expecting you to thank him, boy was he going to be disappointed.
"My position seems to be more important to you than it is to me" you knew challenging him wasn't the best idea but you were hoping for him to get frustrated and storm out. "So tell me John, what is my name? Just wondering if you actually remembered it".
He looked shocked and you decided to push him further, you just wanted to get him to leave.
"Do you usually have trouble remembering names? What's the name of your mistress?" this time you waited for him to respond while sipping your tea.
"I beg your pardon? What sort of question is that?".
"Which one? You haven't answered a single one of my inquiries". Holding his eye contact was not nearly as difficult as you thought it might be.
"Why would you ask if I have a mistress?"
You shake your head "I asked her name, or do you frequent brothels?"
At this point he was turning red and completely flustered. "I have never been so insulted in all my days. Please give Thor my regards" as he stood, gave a pathetic excuse of a bow and stormed out of the room.
Humming happily you continued drinking your tea before turning to Clint, "you are welcome to sit and finish your tea. The chamomile tastes nice with the lavender shortbread"
Clint simply nodded before sitting in the middle of the sofa, rather than closest to you as John had. You weren't sure if striking up a conversation with him was the best approach but we're relieved by Anya returning to check on the tea.
She smirked at you the moment she entered the room, "scared him away did you, your highness?" Anya had been like an aunt to you since you could remember and knew you better than most,
"it seems I have, he was much more fragile than I expected. The tea is wonderful as always, it's a shame he missed the opportunity to enjoy it properly" you did your best to remain calm but a giggle escaped and Anya simply rolled her eyes.
Turning to Clint she whispered, making sure to be loud enough for you to hear "was she awful or did he deserve it?"
You held your breath, not sure how Clint had taken your encounter with John, you had yet to have a conversation with him and wasn’t sure what to expect.
“Walker's disrespect shouldn’t have allowed him into the palace, let alone a private meeting with Princess Y/N”
Relief came over you by his response, not only did he agree with Walker's attitude, but he used her given name. Wondering if it was just his nature or if he was actually agreeing with your reaction to Walker’s behavior, you weren’t sure, but you felt at ease with your new security, more than you had anticipated was possible in such a short amount of time.
“Well, I am going to try and get a nap in before dinner, thank you for everything Anya” smiling, you turned toward Clint. “Please feel free to stay and finish, I can assure you, I will be in my quarters until dinner”
He stood almost immediately, making you believe he didn’t trust you at all, until he spoke “I’d like to make sure you make it safely, seeing as Walker may be lurking about” then he opened the door for you with a smile.
Making your way back to your room seemed to take longer than usual but maybe because you were enjoying Clint’s company. He didn’t say much, and neither did you, but the quiet between you was comfortable and you decided that maybe the new security detail was a better idea than you had initially thought.
Once you were well rested, you dressed for dinner and were surprised to find that Clint was just outside your door when you opened it. The sight immediately put a smile on your face and he offered his arm to escort you to the dining room.
“I hope you weren’t waiting here all this time, that must have been quite boring” He simply smiled,
“I will do whatever is needed to keep you safe”. The simple comment made your heart skip a beat. You had never met someone so genuinely kind and handsome at the same time. Reaching the dining hall seemed to happen faster than you wished, but you entered the room, seeing you were the first to arrive, you wanted to prolong your time alone with Clint.
“So tell me, is you being assigned to me a punishment for improper behavior?” you smirked. Clint merely chuckled under his breath, and made his way to stand at his post during the meal, as you made your way to the table and immediately enjoyed your first glass of wine with a smile on your face.
Dinner nearly passed as any other until your father asked about your visitor.
“Oh yes, my dear friend John, how did that go? Will you be seeing him again?” Thor responded with a large grin on his face.
You simply stared at your brother, curious as to how he could lead an army into battle, and yet not see the true nature of the people he was closest to.
“The visit was fine, father. And no Thor, I won’t be seeing him. I would appreciate it if you kept your mind on your strengths on the battlefield and not match making. Your dear friend John, is nothing more than a title chasing misogynist, and I only hope his blatant depravity does not corrupt you as well” trying your best to seem unbiased while leaving no room to question your distrust of the man you were forced to have tea with against your will.
The gasp your mother had made gave you the relief you needed in that moment. Her simple expression of shock let you know that John Walker would not be welcomed back.
Thor on the other hand seemed confused, “did you not find him handsome?” Looking at Loki for some clarity as to what that had to do with the situation only made you ask for more wine in order to endure the rest of the meal.
Thankfully your mother and father took over the conversation with Thor and what sort of man you should be introduced to, allowing you to somewhat enjoy your meal. Not really paying attention to much of the rest of the conversation, you waited as patiently as you could for the dinner to end.
Once your father rose from the table, you were dismissed and made your way to the back gardens, with Clint’s accompaniment of course. Knowing you were to find your future spouse in the next few weeks was the only thing consuming your mind. If all of your suitor options were as dreadful as John Walker, you were certain to rather die a spinster than commit to anyone.
The following days were filled with your mother fussing over the details of the gala, the invitations and food preparations as well as you needing a gown. Thankfully, Clint was a better companion than you had anticipated and helped make the dreadful tasks so much better. Small talk came easily and you felt as though your life had been missing Clint this whole time and was now, finally, how things should be.
The night of the ball was no different, Clint by your side, making you feel secure and protected from anything and everything around you. Once your entrance was announced, something you utterly detested, you slowly made you way around greeting guests.
When you spotted John Walker, you took a deep breath before heading in his direction, Clint immediately stopped you. Without saying a word, but giving a pointed look, it was as if you were reading each other's minds.
Raising your head high you turned and were immediately approached by Lord Barnes, bringing a smile to your face.
"Princess Y/N, would you do me the honor of a dance" his smile nearly took your breath away.
"Of course, James, it would be my pleasure". You had always found Lord James Barnes handsome, a blind person would, but he was also the kindest and strongest man from the neighboring country of Brooklyn.
Dancing with James was wonderful, for such a large man, he was rather graceful on the dance floor. However, you knew a marriage between the two of you would never happen, as he was very much in love with Prince Steven. And against your better judgment you inquired on how the two were doing.
“Well, Steve is courting Duchess Margaret” James advised with a strain in his tone.
“Oh James, I had no idea, I’m incredibly regretful for mentioning him” you attempted to show your empathy, but you really had no idea what he was going through.
“Nonsense, I knew he would need to find a queen in order to take his rightful place on the throne. That is why I am here, I too am in need of a lady to carry on the Barnes lineage” James kissed your knuckles and bowed as the song ended.
Initially you were shocked by his comment, but you supposed that there were certain expectations that no one could avoid. Surprisingly, the remainder of the ball was enjoyable, you danced most of the evening. Meeting new people was a normal part of the monarchy, and although most seemed nice enough, no one captured your attention enough to allow yourself to be courted.
The next several weeks were more of the same, entertaining gentlemen from all of the surrounding kingdoms, making their intentions known to almost everyone they came across. As flattering as it was, there was not a single one you felt any sort of connection to, luckily, during this time you also had Clint to keep you company.
The two of you spent as much time outside of the castle as possible, riding horses and he occasionally provided you with lessons on archery, as it was his specialty. All too soon you were back in another family dinner centered around your possible suitors and who they would allow to court you properly.
“With all due respect father, I believe I should be the one to determine whom I allow to court me. It is, after all, my future we are discussing, my opinion should be the determining factor” smiling as best you could while trying your best to remain civil.
“Of course, we understand that, don’t we dear” your mother quickly spoke up before your father could make the situation so much worse. Odin sighed heavily, thoroughly exhausted with the situation still taking place, and did nothing to hide it.
“My dear, your future and happiness are the most important, however, I feel you may be quick to judge and I don’t want you to miss out your best option solely for the fact you think someone better might come along” your father immediately looks at your mother for confirmation on his statement, and you did not miss the small nod of approval she provided.
“Thank you father, and I promise to make a wise choice for myself and the good of the family” you responded, trying your best to appease him “however long that may take”. You smiled as politely as possible, you had no intent of choosing someone just to get it over with.
That evening your mother came to your chambers to assure you that your father only wanted what was best for you.
“My dear, remember that love, although incredibly important to a successful marriage, may not be there from the very start” the queen smiled as if that made any sense to you at all.
“How am I to marry for love if there isn’t love there?” you questioned immediately.
“Well my lovely daughter, a friendship built on trust and respect can turn into love, eventually. Look at your father and I, our marriage was arranged by our parents. We built a friendship first, it wasn’t until just before you were conceived that we truly fell in love with one another” she spoke with a smile on her face of the fondness of the marriage she had endured for all these years.
You were shocked to learn that their love story didn’t begin until after both Thor and Loki were born. When you were about to question the secrets she just revealed, she stopped you immediately.
“I know what you are thinking, my duty as queen came before all else. Our marriage was an agreement, and bringing heirs to the throne were our first priorities for the kingdom. During that time, your father showed me the man he truly was, through his respect and devotion to me and our children. Along the way, we both fell in love, and love produced you. My life has produced more happiness than I could have ever asked for, and only with your father by my side.” she kissed your head before leaving you for the night.
Presumably to sleep, but after that revelation, you were sure if you could possibly close your eyes without your brain running in every direction.
The next morning was much the same as every other day, except your mind kept reminding you, trust & respect, trust & respect. Knowing you wouldn’t be good company at the dining table, you had your meal brought to you in your room. Deciding the best way to get all the thoughts out of your head, you grabbed your journal and began to write.
By morning, you had a better idea of how to navigate your next steps with your options in courting. The day had progressed like any other, but you were definitely more astute to your interactions with Clint. You needed to know that the trust and respect was reciprocated before approaching him and your offer of marriage.
The more you spend time with him, you realized it had been much more than just trust or respect, you had begun looking forward to your time together, especially when it was only the two of you. By the end of the week, you had come to the realization that you were falling in love with Clint, and that excitement could barely be contained.
It was after a late dinner with the family, when Clint was escorting you to your chambers that you decided to address your feelings for him.
“Would you mind staying a moment, I have something I wanted to speak with you about” you motioned for Clint to follow you into the room.
He merely nodded and followed you, looking a little concerned when you began pacing the room. Taking a deep breath, you turned toward him and smiled, there was no reason to be nervous, you knew Clint and that he would be kind to you, no matter what.
“Since you’ve become my security, I’ve become rather fond of you,” you paused briefly to gauge his reaction, only to see the same stoic face you’ve grown to love.
Giggling to yourself you continue “you have become a dear friend with whom I trust and respect, but I’ve recently realized I am falling in love with you.” Seeing that his expression hadn’t changed, you decided to lay everything out to him in order to move things along as quickly as possible.
“This whole finding a proper suitor has been daunting, but it’s because I’ve been looking in the wrong place. You’ve been here, with me through all of it….and I know it’s not customary for a princess to make such a scandalous request, but I know, that if we married, we could both be very happy for the rest of our lives” you were smiling at Clint, waiting for him to break out the charming smile that he saves only for you, but his expression hadn’t changed while processing everything you had just divulged.
“Y/N….I can’t marry you” barely above a whisper, but you heard it loud and clear.
Rushing to him and grabbing his hands in yours, doing your best to reassure him “we can marry, my parents only want me happy, your status doesn’t matter”.
He looked deep in your eyes, giving you a small but sad smile, “it’s not that, I can’t marry you as I am already married”.
The anger at his blatant lie sprang up in you immediately, stepping away from him and dropping his hands as you crossed your arms over your chest. “You can just tell me the truth, you don’t need to lie to me” trying to sound strong but feeling completely defeated.
“I assure you, I wouldn’t lie to you, and especially not something this important. Laura and I have been married nearly 5 years now, and we are expecting our first child in a few months” he calmly explained but it only confused you.
“Clint, we have been friends for months, you have never once mentioned a wife or child on the way. You needn’t spare my feelings, you can just say that I’m not what you want, I can handle the truth.” Shaking your head you began pacing the room again.
“Y/N, it is true, I don’t discuss my personal life at work, but Laura expecting was what made me leave the active infantry and work in the castle.”
And that is when it hit you, this was a job for him. He didn’t even consider you a friend that he could confide in, you were just a job to him.
Your embarrassment was something you had never felt before, you couldn't even face him to ask him to leave your chambers. The only thing you could do was walk into your private bathroom, locking the door behind you, before attempting to draw your own bath.
The running water had hopefully drowned out the sound of your cries, once the sobbing had started, you weren’t sure you would be able to make it stop. You weren’t sure how long you sat there before the bathroom door was forced open and your mother came in, immediately pulling you into her arms while the maids completed getting the bath ready.
Once you had calmed down, your mother assisted you in getting in the bath and washing your hair. It had been so long since the two of you had quiet moments like this, and it was exactly what you needed while your heart was breaking. She never asked any questions, only took care of her youngest child as only a mother could, even cuddling with you in bed until you woke the next morning.
“My darling” she kissed your forehead as she stroked your back “you are the strongest woman I have ever met, you needn’t make any decisions today. We can stay here all day, take our meals here, read every book in the library, whatever you would like” her smile reassuring you that everything would turn out fine.
“Thank you mother, but I would rather be alone today, if that is alright” giving her the best smile you could muster. “Of course, whatever you need. I will have your meals sent in. I do have some things to take care of today.” Stopping her as she made her way to the door, “Mother, can you also have them bring me some paper and a quill? I have a letter I would like to write.”
As the sun was setting, your letter was written, the Asgardian seal embossed to it and ready to be delivered to its recipient. The only person who had come into your chambers today was your mother, the queen not allowing anyone near you was the most helpful in making your decision.
The next morning you exited your room, with a new determination, and a completely different outlook on your future, one that surprised even yourself. As expected, Clint was standing guard outside of your room, as you made your way toward the dining hall, but was wise enough to not say anything to you, allowing you to handle the situation you had put the two of you in.
Reaching the room seemed to take longer with no conversation, but it was for the best that you move past this with as much dignity as you could. Once he opened the door, you turned to him, he looked expectant and almost hopeful that your comradery would go back to how it had always been, but that was impossible now.
Instead you handed him the letter you had written yesterday. “Can you please have one of the palace footmen deliver this today? It is quite urgent” you gave him a small smile.
“Of course Y/N” he nodded, offering you a small smile as well.
You could have left it at that, but decided to make one final statement to him that would solidify your decision, so while he was still within earshot you replied “thank you Sir Barton”.
His shoulders immediately sagged when he realized you were putting up a barrier between the two of you that hadn’t been there since his first day in the palace. He wanted to say something, explain himself, but he knew nothing would undo the damage he caused by not being honest from the beginning and allowing you a false sense of hope, something he hadn’t intended but was nonetheless solely on his shoulders. As deemed by his position, he merely bowed at your request and made his way out of the dining hall.
The following day the castle was buzzing with excitement before you had even finished getting ready for the day. Not sure what was happening, you sent your maid to find out as much detail as you could before you even allowed her to pick out your wardrobe for the day. Once she made her way back to your chambers you demanded every last detail you could get.
“Well Princess, it seems there is a suitor here, demanding an audience with the King and Queen. We all know that only means one thing, he is bypassing courting you properly and is arranging an engagement with your parents!” she was shocked that any man would attempt such a thing, your strong willed reputation was known throughout the realms.
The smile on your face grew as she fastened your corset and you began picking up your jewelry. “As long as it’s Lord Barnes, that is not an issue” hearing her gasp at your comment made you begin to giggle.
“How do you know it’s Lord Barnes, I was saving that for the shocking reveal”
“Oh, I apologize for thwarting your plan. But Lord Barnes is here because I summoned him” you winked at her as she finished pinning your hair back.
Her jaw nearly dropped to the floor, “you summoned a suitor? Is that allowed?” whispering to make the innocent question seem scandalous.
“My dear, as Prince of Asgardia, the only way I will ever get what I want, is by taking it” you stood and made your way out of the room, not even glancing at Clint who was at his post as usual. Making your way to the throne room, you tried your best to walk at your usual pace, but today you had a mission to accomplish.
do you trust me with your scars enough to show me your heart | 🅼
fill: soulmate au
stucky [james “bucky” barnes x steve rogers]
series: wonder if it's room in heaven for savages
synopsis: There was always a sweetness that lingered in Steve’s nose whenever he spent time with Bucky Barnes. It was a light floral scent with underlying honey and peach that followed Bucky wherever he went. Steve was never too far behind, low eyes and an intoxicated grin gracing his features every time. It was the look of a boy caught in a snare.
Rating: T / No Warnings / Established Relationship, Fluff
Written for @yearoftheotpevent, April Prompt: Canon Divergence
@avengersbingo: Betrayal
@marvelrarepairbingo: (G5) Birthday Party Surprise
Summary:
Jane was dead set on not celebrating her birthday, which was precisely why Bruce was buying her a cake anyway.
The timing of Jane’s birthday never quite worked out for a celebration. Not while she was in college, at least, which had basically been her entire life. Sure, before college it had been at the start of summer vacation—the perfect time for gathering up her friends and getting into whatever trouble they could find. Even in her first few years of undergrad, she could concede that the first week of June was a great time for awkwardly sneaking into a bar and enjoying herself.
But since she’d started summer classes, and had moved onto having teaching responsibilities… No parties, cakes, candles, nights out, or next-day hangovers for her. Which was probably for the best. And after 4 years of that being the case, it was practically just another day to her. In fact, she didn’t even want anyone to cause a fuss over her in the first week of the semester.
“Oh, c’mon. You have to have a party,” Darcy said, nudging Jane’s arm with her elbow. “Let me throw you one!”
Summary: Loki isn’t sure what his relationship is with Clinton now that he’s been an Avenger for a while. Whatever it is allows for them to regularly share their bodies together. Shamelessly and with enough desire that eventually the Alpha doesn’t even care if they are found out. A good thing since everyone was only separated from them by a door.
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
Title: Take a hold of my hand (and come with me)
Link: AO3
Participant: SomeSortofItalianRoast
Square Filled:
- Year of the OTP: March 2023 Challenge: road trip
- Warm and Fluffy Bingo: O5: Only One Bed
- Avengers Bingo: A3: Slow Burn
- Marvel Rare Pair: N3: FREE (card MRP067)
Archive warning: No Archive Warnings Apply
Rating: Explicit
Pairing: Scott Lang/Steve Rogers
Tags: Road Trips, Slow Burn, Friends to Lovers, Virgin Steve Rogers, Masturbation, Frottage, Only One Bed
Word Count: 9170
Summary: “I want to get to know you as something other than Captain America.” The words were so softly said, even Steve almost missed them.
Or, Scott Lang joins Steve Rogers on his cross country road trip.
Created for @yearoftheotpevent, @warmandfluffybingocards, @avengersbingo, and @marvelrarepairbingo
Title: I'll put his picture down and maybe get some sleep tonight
Pairing: Bucky Barnes/Steve Rogers
Rating: Mature
Word Count: 5k
Tags: No Powers, A/B/O Dynamics, Shrinkyclinks, Alpha Bucky, Army Bucky, Jewish Bucky, Omega Steve, Pre-serum Steve, Fake Marriage, Pining, Steve Rogers Feels, Mild Sexual Content, Sad Ending
Steve thinks it is the dumbest plan on the planet when Bucky proposes they get married so Steve can have health insurance.
"We don’t tell anyone and no one is going to figure it out. We live together, I already go with you to most of your appointments. It will be fine. We get married, you get on my insurance, and get your heart surgery. When you graduate in the spring, Stark’ll hire you, and then you’ll have your own insurance. Besides, I’m deploying for a year in September. We can get a divorce when I get back. No one ‘ll be the wiser. Let me take care of you in this way.”
And Steve says yes. Not for the insurance, but because he has been in love with Bucky since before he knew what that meant.
Created for a few bingos:
@avengersbingo - C1: Fake Marriage
@steverogersbingo - Secret Relationship
@buckybarnesbingo - AU: A/B/O
@stuckybingo - AU: Shrinkyclinks
I'll put his picture down and maybe get some sleep tonight is available to read on AO3!
