A/N: The reader has been released from your duties as a H.Y.D.R.A. agent, the contract agreed upon by your father fulfilled. Now free, you have found yourself living at the Avengers Compound, piecing your life together with the help of Tony Stark and B.A.R.T. You knew it wasn’t going to be easy, but coming face to face with Bucky Barnes, the man who trained you, was a massive bump in the road to recovery. To your surprise, Bucky remembers you, the life you had together. And he is wracked with guilt, blaming himself.
Кукла is Russian for Doll
Mалый is Russian for Baby
Word count: 1,363
Prompt: “I don’t blame you for anything.”
TW: Angst, torture mention
Also, huge thank you to @created-to-protect for reading this, and for being the inspiration behind it!
It felt like an eternity since either one of you had said a word, the truth sitting between you like a sinking ship. Neither of you wanted to be the one to break the silence, to take the inevitable first step towards both your healing. Finally, he looked at you, tears in his eyes.
“I…I don’t…” Bucky’s voice cracked, the tears rolling down his cheeks as his icy blue eyes locked on yours. “I can’t change what happened,” he managed to breath, his long, thick, yet nimble fingers combing his locks back.
“I wish I could, you know that, Кукла.” He wanted to hold you, like he had a thousand times before when you were upset, or scared. But this time it was his fault you were hurting.
You had met him when you were only four, at your family home. He was a
mountain of a man, yet everyone in the room somehow behaved as if he wasn’t even there. That is, until you left your father's side, walking straight to him. You were still in your tutu and ballet shoes, your hair pulled up in a chignon. Your small, delicate hand reached up, touching his vibranium hand.
“See,” Your father boasted. “She is ready. Fearless, agile. She will make a fine addition to H.Y.D.R.A. Even Soldat could not deny this.” As your father and the other men continued their negotiations, Soldat stood still, the whirring of the mechanics in his arm the only sound he made as you continued to examine his metal hand. By the end of the night, your bags had been packed and you were on your way back to Russia, H.Y.D.R.A.s newest recruit.
You had spent years under his watchful eye as he trained you to be an assassin. There were days when you hated him, when you wished he would drag the blade of his knife across your throat and end the torture he was putting you through, but he never did. You learned, got stronger, faster, more agile. Eventually, your training sessions began to feel different. He never said it, but when you passed your final test, he was proud. You saw it in his eyes.
“You will need a codename,” he stated as you readied for your first mission with him. “Your father, he called you Mалый, yes?” His eyes raked over your now 18-year-old frame. “I think Кукла suits you better.” That was the moment it all changed. No longer were you just another agent. You were his. He protected you at every turn, and you him. You were inseparable. It had been an unspoken truth between you two for years, but this was deeper. You had fallen in love with him, and he with you.
The relationship, of course, was used to H.Y.D.R.A.s advantage. Their two best agents, side by side. No longer did they need to freeze Bucky between missions. He never left your side, not even when you were having your implants installed. It was no surprise when you became pregnant, another boon for the agency. A natural born super soldier, to be raised under H.Y.D.R.A. control. But the happiness was short lived.
Soon your instincts to protect your child took over. Every time they came for your child, you fought. You fought to keep him safe. You fought to keep your family whole. And they fought back, using Bucky against you. After all, he was the one who trained you. He was your handler.
“Y/N,” he whispered, cupping your face. “Let them take him. I promise, they won’t harm him. They need him, as much as they need us, okay?”
“No,” you pleaded, pulling away, holding your child tightly to your body as the scientists entered, flanked by armed guards and Bucky’s handler. Bucky moved towards you, the pain evident in his eyes, pleading with you to cooperate. But you were firm, backing away as you heard them speak his trigger words.
“Longing…” Bucky's eyes went wide, his pace slowing. You could see the fear in him.
“Rusted…” His left hand clenched, his eyes locked on yours. He saw the fear welling in you.
“Furnace…” The fear in you fought with the love you have for him, wanting to run, wanting to stay with him.
“Daybreak…” Your heart pounded in your chest as his expression goes blank, any trace of the man you loved gone.
“Seventeen…” A spark, a gleam in his eyes, one you’ve seen before. It’s not Bucky, but it’s not Soldat. Not yet.
“Benign…” He’s stopped, his body relaxed. Even if he wanted to protect you and your son, he couldn’t.
“Nine…” You run to your room, locking the door behind you. You know it’s not going to stop him. At best it will give you another ten seconds, but ten seconds could save your child’s life.
“Homecoming…” You only barely here the word as you’re climbing into the vents above your quarters, baby crying, feeding off your fear. You don’t need to see your Bucky to know what’s happening. You’ve seen it before. Jaw set, body tense.
“One…” You don’t hear it. Your crawling through the vents, the same way you did as a child when you were seeking him out to keep away the nightmares. Only now, he is the nightmare, and there’s no waking up.
“Freight car.” Bucky is gone. Only Soldat remained. His eyes are dark as his handler gives him his mission. Retrieve the child and it’s mother. Alive.
You cringed as you heard the vents creak beneath his weight, your body a shield between him and your child. It didn’t take long for him to find you. For all the memory wipes H.Y.D.R.A had done, he remembered how you would use the ventilation system to get around security. Your heart raced as he came into view, his eyes dead.
“Please,” you whimpered. “H-he's a baby…our baby.” Tears streamed down your cheeks as you kicked at him, hoping to make him see who you were. But it was no use. He dodged each kick, smirking when his flesh hand wrapped victoriously around an ankle, dragging you backwards as agents flanked from the other side, snatching your child. Your screams echoed through the vents. That is, until his metal hand wrapped around your neck, your world going dark. When you came to you were strapped in the Memory Suppressing Machine, surrounded.
“Prep her. Wipe her. She can’t remember any of this.” You managed to catch a glimpse of Bucky’s limp body being carried out of the room before you felt a surge of pain, your screams silenced by H.Y.D.R.A. You came to hours later, in your bed, with Bucky and your son, both seemingly asleep. No memory of the previous events. Blissfully unaware of the horrors you had just endured, but a nagging feeling you were no longer safe. Not the way you had been.
"I tried to stop them," he choked out, searching your eyes. "Y/N, you know I would never...I loved you, Y/N, and our son. I still do. I don’t blame you if you hate me, though. The way you looked at me...I wish..."
“Bucky,” you sighed, moving closer to him, kneeling before him as you took his hands in yours, tears rolling down your cheeks. “We can’t change what happened, okay? And…I don’t think I would want to. I love you, and…I don’t blame you for anything. That place…those people...” You pressed your lips to his, wiping his tears as they fell. "We're in this together, alright?"
Summary You found out your girlfriend works for the mobster queen of your part of the city after an attack on your old neighborhood
Mobster AU First ever hope it;s not terrible
Word Count:1650
Warnings: argument, sadness, a murder, character death
A/N: This is my second entry for @caplansteverogers 4k challenge. I hope you like it and you can see what you turned me into. I used to only write fluffy things.
Having a day off from work was a blessing. You could finally sleep as long as you wanted and spent your morning doing nothing. However, today there was a horrible surprise waiting for you. When you turned on the radio to hear some music, all the stations were reporting an attack at a restaurant in your old neighborhood. The same neighborhood you had been living in up until four months ago when you moved to get a better paying job. You panicked knowing your cousin, Matt and all of your childhood friends had gone out the night before. They had called you to join them in the celebration of Matt's promotion at the legal firm he is working at.
You called everyone to check up on them. You were sure they would be fine at first considering nobody had called you with bad news. After many phone calls to friends and the hospitals in the area, you found out that most of the people you cared about had died during the attack. The news had reported that a bomb had been placed in the restaurant owned by Luke Cage. Everyone's assumption was that his rival, the mobster queen on your side of the city, Jessica Jones was the one responsible for the attack. You had heard about her the moment you moved. She was feared by all for she was ruthless and didn't care who might get hurt because of her.
Sadness and sorrow started making your heart beating faster. But you were also angry at Jessica. You knew there isn't anyone in the world who would go against her willingly, but you hoped that someone would make her pay. You were scared of her but now you hated her for what happened to your friends.
Needing some comfort, you thought the best way to seek it was to visit your girlfriend at the hospital. Claire was always happy to see you and didn't mind taking a break to be with you. You knew her lunchtime was in half an hour so you went to meet her.
You were told she was with a patient but you could wait for her outside the cubicle. The other nurses trusted that even if you overheard anything Claire was talking to her patient about, you wouldn't speak to anyone about it. It seems though that they had no idea who the patient was. You were moments away from finding out and having your heart broken a second time within a few hours.
''I am trying to help you so it won't leave a mark. Would you mind not moving?'' You heard Claire inside the cubicle talking to her patient. You couldn't either of them from where you stood.
''I don't care about it leaving a mark. Just finish this so I can leave. I can't be here for any more time. I need to go plan my next move.'' Another woman spoke. Despite not being able to see her you could recognize that voice anywhere. It belonged to non-other than Jessica Jones. The same person you wished dead that same morning.
''I don't need to know about that Jessica. I'm just your nurse. And you will let me take care of your burn. You already know the police won't show up here because of our deal so just allow me to do my job.'' Claire was heard trying to treat a burn that Jessica had. You believed her injury to be from last night's bombing and that made you furious.
How long had Claire worked for that vile woman? Did she work for her as just a nurse or did she provide her with drugs that were used to kill people? Was she dating you just for yourself or did she have plans to recruit you for Jessica? All of those questions were filling your brain and you couldn't think clearly. Fortunately, your instinct was to run away and go home. You would confront your girlfriend when she would come back tonight.
''(Y/N) are you home? Erin told me you came to the hospital to see me and left. Are you feeling alright?'' After hearing you had gone to see her, Claire took the rest of the day off to make sure you were fine.
When she found you, you were packing your clothes.
''Where are you going? Did something happen?'' Claire sounded worried.
''Many things happened Claire. Were you ever going to tell me that you are working with Jessica? Or that, I don't know, that maybe you know about the attack on my old neighborhood last night?
You stepped closer to her so she can see the furious look on your face.
''And don't you dare deny it. I heard you talking to her at the hospital.''
''I wasn't going to deny it. However, you need to understand that I had no choice. Jessica was my friend growing up and I neither of us knew her father used to run the city. When she found out and was forced to take over she made me promise to help her. Only when she needed medical assistance, I haven't killed anyone.''
''Maybe not directly you haven't. I overheard the police talking about medicine used to kill people that could only come from the hospital. I was asked to write a story about it to expose the doctors. Can you tell me honestly you are not one of them?''
She stayed silent because you were right to accuse her.
''And the attack last night killed Matt and many of my friends. Did Jessica tell you about that?''
''I'm sorry (Y/N). Jessica wanted to threaten Luke since they are at war. She wants his territory and I guess I should have warned you about it. But I'm sure he has done the same at his side.''
''Do you really expect me to agree with that logic? Just because Luke must have killed people that gives Jessica permission to kill my friends? Besides, I grew up next to Luke, you don't see me running his errands like you do for Jessica. And I'm certain he would never hurt any of the innocent people that live in this part of the city.'' You pushed her out of your way to reach the door.
''(Y/N), don't push me away, please. Let me find a way to work things out between us.'' Claire tried to grab your arm but you stepped away.
''I don't think there is a way to fix this Claire. I need time to think everything over. I will come back tomorrow to gather anything I left behind.'' You left her home and head to your old apartment.
You spent the night trying to comprehend ever that had occurred during the day. You didn't know what your feelings were, it was an odd mixture of sadness, hatred for Jessica, grief, and denial that your girlfriend had anything to do with the attack.
The next morning you called the office to ask for one more day off in light of what happened with your friends. Instead of that your boss allowed you to work from home for the next two ween and you thanked him profusely for that. As soon as you finished your phone call, someone knocked on your door.
''Claire please, I can't talk to you right now.'' You thought about it and had decided to let her explain herself.
''I'm not your girlfriend (Y/N). Open the door.'' Luke rushed you because he would get into a fight if any of Jessica's people saw him. He seemed a little nervous when you let him in.
''What are you doing here?'' You tried to conceal that you were also mad at him.
''I came over to tell you I'm sorry for your loss. Matt would have been an excellent lawyer one day. I had my eye on him for a while. Also, Kate and Frank worked for me. I still can't wrap my head around everything that occurred.''
''I appreciate that you came all the way here to tell me that. You see, I had a talk with Claire yesterday about you. Do you know what I told her?'' He opened his mouth to talk but you didn't let him.
''That you wouldn't hurt innocent people. And I believe that although I thought everything over. The main reason I trusted you was not our friendship during school. I did that because you had promised to protect your people.
You moved closer to the open drawer in which you kept your gun. Ironically it was Luke who gave you this for protection from Jessica.
''You failed to do that Luke. And what good does a mobster king serves when he can't protect his people. I'm sorry but I think this is the only way to end your ridiculous turf war.''
You reached for the gun. Luke was too shocked to move because he couldn't believe you would try to kill him. Your hands were shaking a little because you had only shot once before at a target. When you pulled the trigger, you couldn't stand to watch Luke's body hitting the floor. The sound he made when you shot him was something you would hear for a long time.
You didn't think that any of your neighbors would call the police on you. Your first thought was to call Claire for help. Probably hearing her voice could calm your nerves.
''(Y/N) please tell me you want to talk things over. I can't imagine losing you.'' She sounded broken like she was afraid it was all over between you.
''Luke is dead. I shot him at my old home. I will need someone to clean it up here. Inform Jessica that she can take over from him and then come home. We can talk all you want.''
Chapter Summary: The Team was gone on a month long mission, and y/n was finding staying in to be boring. But when she finds a box by her coffee shop, she can’t wait to show her girlfriend, Nat, what surprises await.
Notes: Congrats goes out to @caplansteverogers for hitting 4K! You go doll! Hope yall like this fluffy piece. I threw them in the apartments in the Tower, just because I felt it made the Story flow better.
Masterlist
The tower had been lonely with everyone gone for the mission. Days turned into weeks, and no contact had been stressing you out. You busied yourself with learning new recipes, cleaning up around the tower, and working on new gadgets for the team. The little Coffee shop you favorited became a recluse for you, giving you a space to relax and plan without staying cooped up inside all day. One Stormy afternoon, about three weeks on your own, you were leaving the shop when you heard whimpering from a box in the ally. Pulling the hood of your raincoat tighter, you went to see what it was.
There was a rather large box sitting with the lid folded shut, a rustling coming from the inside. Slowly, you reached out to open it, being met with the bright blue eyes of a little yellow Puppy. Upon further inspection, there were seven Puppies total in the box. Your heart broke for them, and being alone in the Tower made you want to take them even more. Folding back up the box, you proceeded home.
Letting them loose in Your and Nat’s apartment floor, you asked Friday to order everything you would need, including food, toys, beds, and collars. Desire to get these puppies into good homes fell to the wayside as their personalities emerged the next few days, adorning them the names of your teammates they acted like.
Steve was the puppy that had jumped from the box when you opened it, his friendly nature didn’t get in the way of his naps though. Bucky the puppy stayed close to the golden, but his spotted fur was longer and accented his different colored eyes nicely. The two were inseparable, if you tried they’d wine and cry. Tony the puppy was disinterested in whatever you were doing, but always wanted to be in the same room. One of his ears flopped over while the other sat straight up, and he was always tripping over his own feet. Clint, the little white puppy, was adorable. He constantly cocked his head to the side while wagging his tail so quickly his body would wiggle too. He was a follower, doing what the group did, and you quickly realized it was because he was deaf. How fitting. Bruce the puppy was the smallest, the runt of the group, but he was smart. He followed you around constantly and sat at your feet while you worked, ate, and slept. Thor the puppy loved blankets, and would drag one around with him as he played. He was more muscular than the others, but was also more playful. The last puppy, Loki, was solid black, with pointed ears and bright green eyes. He loved tearing up shoes and burrowing under blankets.
The Puppies ruled your life for the next week, not that you minded. They were quick to potty train and were just too cute. It was late one Friday, and you had just settled into bed with them all curled up on Nat’s side when you saw the Common room light drifting through the hall. Slowly slipping from bed, you slid out of the small apartment room and walked down the hallway to find the team trudging in from the elevator.
“You’re Home!” You squealed, taking off down the stairs and launching yourself at Nat.
“Hello to you too.” She laughed kissing your forehead and spinning you around. “Sorry the mission was so long, we had some issues.”
“Can I get that kind of greeting?” Clint teased. You grinned and hugged him, quickly returning back to Nat’s side, missing her being so near.
“I hate to break up the reunion, but does anyone else hear whimpering?” Steve said, holding a finger in the air to shush everyone. I could hear scratching on wood, and groaned slightly as they all reached back to where their weapons sat on their suits.
“Calm yourselves, and follow me.” You said, smiling sweetly before pulling Nat towards the stairs, beckoning everyone to follow. They all stopped a couple doors down the hallway and watched you wearily as you turned the knob. As soon as the door was opened enough, all seven puppies ran out to investigate the commotion.
“Babe, I don’t think we need this many puppies.” Nat laughed as they all came running towards her. She kneeled down and sat on the floor, petting the ones that came up to her. Steve and Bucky sat on the other side and held, funnily enough, their namesakes.
“I know but they were abandoned and It was cold and rainy, so I took them in. I was going to put up flyers for people to adopt them but they’re too cute.” you sat beside Nat and leaned your head on her shoulder, rubbing puppy Tony behind his ears.
“What’re their names?” Bucky asked, consumed in the little pup crawling across his lap to get into Steves’.
“Well,” you pointed at each puppy as you named them. “Those two are you guys. This is Tony. The white one is Clint, and the two in Nat’s lap are Thor and Loki, respectively.”
“Can I ask why?” Tony asked, his disapproval warming as the Tony pup went to him.
“You’ll see, that is, if we can keep them?” You looked at Nat hopeful and she just rolled her eyes.
“You are such a child.” She muttered before smiling and kissing you softly. “But of course we can.”
Prompt: “There’s nothing about you that I would change.”
Summary: You and Bucky Barnes have been dating for a few months and developed a bit of a routine. Who knew Rory Pond would help you realize your feelings?
Warnings:fluff, language (sorry I don’t know how not to curse)
Words: ~1.1k
Pairings: Bucky x reader
A/N: This is for Caplan’s Fluffy Challenge @caplansteverogers This is my first fic so please be kind. I was inspired by the song Him & I by Halsey and G. Easy- if you haven’t heard it seriously go check it out. Once again thanks to @chaosinacoffeecup for being my vigilant beta!
You blinked sleepily, adjusting to the ray of light shining through the curtains of your bedroom. It was only 6:30am, but Brooklyn was already bustling with the noise of a warm Spring morning. You stretched, disappointed your space heater of a boyfriend wasn’t there when you woke up. Looking over to your bedside table you spotted a note:
Good Morning Dollface-
Sorry I’m not keeping you warm this morning, I promised to meet up with a certain punk and his bird brained friend for a morning run. Yes I know, it’s Saturday and our favorite coffee shop has snickerdoodle muffins today- I’ll be sure to bring you one home.
See you soon xoxo,
Bucky
You chuckled at his nickname for Sam, grinning at his memory of your favorite muffins. It was a tradition of yours to have breakfast together whenever Buck came over and spent the night. You decided to shower and plan your day before your soldier returned home.
When Bucky entered the apartment, you were curled up on the couch reading a book in his gray hoodie under a plush blanket he’d gotten you for Christmas. He’d written on the gift tag, ‘for when I’m not here to keep you warm’. He smirked at the image in front of him- your brows were furrowed, clearly unhappy with whatever was happening in the fictional world before you. You had wrapped yourself into an almost burrito like shape, only your face exposed and your nose buried deep in the book.
“What’s got that pretty little face in such a crease?”
“Hmmm?” You glanced up from your book, temporarily tearing yourself from the trance it placed you in. “Oh hey babe, when did you get back?”
“Just a minute ago, I didn’t want to interrupt your reading- you looked so focused.” Bucky chuckled as he walked over to your kitchen table, breakfast in hand.
“Were you checking me out Barnes?”
“Guilty as charged, doll. As promised, I brought you a Mocha Latte and a snickerdoodle muffin— and before you ask, yes I bought a chocolate extreme muffin too. But you bet your ass you’re sharing that one with me.”
“You’re too sweet to me, Bucky Barnes.” You placed a quick kiss to his cheek before joining him at the table.
“Anything for my best girl.”
———
You and Bucky had finished breakfast and were lounging together on the couch. Your feet were in his lap, his were perched on the coffee table.
“What’s the plan for today sweet cheeks?” You asked Bucky with a smirk.
“I thought you were sweet cheeks?”
“What can I say? You’ve got some pretty sweet cheeks, Sergeant Barnes.” You giggled at your own joke as Bucky playfully rolled his eyes at you.
“Well, I won’t be leaving on that mission for another two days so it looks like I’m all yours sweet cheeks.” The super soldier batted his lashes at you as he elongated the nickname.
You sat up and lunged for his middle, tickling his sides and behind his neck. The fight was on! Bucky grabbed a throw pillow and jokingly whacked you with it. You grabbed the pillow behind you and blocked his next blow. The living room filled with roaring laughter until you finally held up your pillow in mock-surrender.
“Okay! Okay! I can’t breathe! No more!” You huffed out a laugh as Bucky pulled you close to him.
“Since we’ve got all day together, ya wanna watch some more of that Doctor Who show we watched last weekend?”
“James Buchanan Barnes, when have I ever turned down a Doctor Who marathon?”
“Uhhhhh…”
“Never. The answer is never. Fuck yeah, I’d like to watch Doctor Who with you! I have popcorn and candy and we can snuggle in bed and start the next season!” You were practically jumping up and down at the prospects of tv and snuggles with your favorite super soldier.
———
After a couple of hours of watching television, inspiration struck you. You had the sudden urge to sketch Bucky while you watched the infamous episode Angels Take Manhanttan. Currently you were trying to capture his face, becoming frustrated with his curtain of chestnut hair hiding him from your view.
“Ya know, Stevie used to make the same face whenever he’d try to draw me.”
“It’s so hard to sketch your face when your luscious locks are in the way.” You huffed in annoyance at his perfect coif.
“Did you just say I had luscious locks?”
“Yes Buck, your hair is extremely enviable. But right now it’s in the way and it needs to move.” With another huff you sat up, taking the hair tie you always kept on your wrist and twisted Bucky’s hair into a low bun at the nape of his neck. You sat back appreciating your work, “There, much better.”
“All you had to do was ask, doll.”
You placed a finger on your soldiers lips, “Shhh, pay attention. This part is important.” As Bucky blew out an exaggerated sigh, you reflexively shoved a handful of popcorn in his mouth, shutting him up.
Bucky was shifting in his seat, his metal appendage whirring as he tapped his fingers against his thigh. “Doll, can I ask you something?”
“Of course love, what is it?” You paused the television and faced him.
“Would you like me more if I didn’t have this thing for an arm?” Bucky looked down at his arm, seemingly disgusted with it as he clenched his left fist.
You knew your answer immediately. “Absolutely fucking not. Without that arm- Hell, without the useless pieces of human protoplasm formerly known as Hydra- you’d be dead. I would never have spilled a steaming hot caramel latte all over your favorite shirt. I wouldn’t have gone to that same damn coffee shop four days in a row, desperate to see you again. We wouldn’t have gone to the little Italian place down the street for our first date. I wouldn’t have you in my arms right now. You’d be long gone and I’d be living alone eating a carton of fucking Ben and Jerry’s, crying while I watch Doctor Who for the gazillionth time.”
“Doll, you still do th—” You grabbed him by the shirt and pressed your lips to his.
“I love you, James Buchanan Barnes. All of you. There’s nothing about you that I would change.” You joined his left hand with yours and kissed his cool knuckles.
“Did you just? Y-you you love me?”
“Cross my heart, hope to die. I love you Bucky, so fucking much.”
“I’ve waited a lifetime to hear you say that to me, doll. I love you too.”
Warnings: floofs, swearing, allusions to violence.
Summary: Bucky Barnes is the bar manager where you work as a bar maid. You’ve had a decent crush on him since he started working there. It’s karaoke night and the bar is almost empty. What could happen?
A/N: This is for caplansteverogers’ song fic challenge! Enjoy!!!
Arms groaning in protest, you shove the tray of dirty glassware into the sterilizer, hauling the door shut and collapsing against it. Your lower back was throbbing and the heat from the sterilizer was a small relief you could afford to take this late into the night.
Nearly all the bar’s patrons had left and you’d been doing final clean up for an hour now. Closing time was always your favourite shift as there were less people in the bar, the other girls had gone home, leaving just you and the bar manager to close so you could relax a bit. You both needed it tonight.
He’d come to work at Jack’s nearly a month ago and you quickly realised work was not going to get any easier while your manager was around. The first week was quiet enough, not many people seemed to realise who he was as he was always wearing that tight fitted, long sleeved, black, cotton shirt that clung to his muscles so beautifully. It had covered his metal arm almost completely and he was so buff that he never seemed lopsided. Except when he walked he had a slight swagger, landing heavier on his left foot than his right but that just made him seem more relaxed and approachable. The man bun helped too. He always tied his hair back for work, like the girls, tucking the few rebellious strands that escaped behind his ear.
But, soon enough, word had gotten out that THE Bucky Barnes, the Winter Soldier himself, was managing the bar at Jack’s Tavern. Then the crowds of gawkers started coming in. It was good for business, sure, but you had seen the flickers of discomfort behind his carefully guarded expression. He always seemed so composed and calm when dealing with the rabble but they had really started to annoy you by the third week.
The girls were always fawning over him, trying to flirt or get a look at his arm. You could see it really bothered him even though he politely declined each advance. The guys were even worse, if that was even possible. They either stared at him with awe and asked where they could get his “mad skills” and “sick arm”, or they glared at him with such venom and hissed such horrible words that it took all your self-control not to knock them on their ignorant asses. More than once, you’d seen the latter type trying to get a rise out of him or force a fight. And more than once, you’d had to throw out full grown men who were acting like toddlers. It was those times that you and the other girls at the bar had seen Bucky slip off into the kitchen or sterilizer room. No one dared follow him but you’d all occasionally pop a head around the door as you walked by.
Tonight had been a particularly rough night. Ten men had surrounded Bucky in the garden bar and, before any of you knew what was happening, there were sirens everywhere. You knew now that Bucky had punched the silent alarm that summoned the police but, at the time, you were terrified that someone had been hurt badly. A few of the men were bruised but that was exactly what they had deserved. Bucky had locked them in the garden bar and, before you or any of the other girls could blink, he’d disappeared into the manager’s office. You had been desperate to follow him but you had to follow protocol, talk to the police and calm the other customers. Bucky had allowed the responding officers into the room with him to make a statement but, when they had left, he had locked the door behind them. You didn’t see him for another three hours.
When he finally came out, everyone in the bar had fallen silent.
He was covered in bruises and scratches. His eyes were blackened, there had obviously been blood coming from his nose at some point, his bottom lip was split and there were vivid finger marks on his throat. The sleeve covering his left arm had been torn off and the collar was ripped. None of that compared to the look in his eyes though. You had seen him upset and mildly frustrated but, this was the worst thing you’d ever seen. His usually striking blue eyes were dull and downcast. His whole body was slumped over a little. Your heart broke for him but the other girls were already swarming over. He shooed them away and shuffled back to his spot behind the bar, not making eye contact with anyone. Your chest had ached to comfort him but you thought that what he’d want right at that moment was normality so you carried on working.
Blinking heavily, you shook your head to clear it. The heat had been putting you to sleep while you were lost in thought. Pushing off the sterilizer, you limped across the room. You could hear the distinct yodelling of Big Joe, just finishing his awful rendition of Hit Me With Your Best Shot on the karaoke machine as you shoved the door to the sterilizer room open.
The bar was nearly empty. Big Joe and his mates were waiting to clear up their tab as you jogged up to the register.
“Split it 5 ways, could ya sweetheart?”
Joe winked as you plastered on your warmest ‘barmaid’ smile, and nodded, pulling your tattered cardigan tighter around yourself as you swiped his tab card through.
“Hell’ova night huh?” Joe shook his head, “I hope those rowdies get some serious time! Treating Mister Barnes like that… I tell you, if they were my sons, I would have smacked ‘em hearty for it!”
You handed over Joe’s receipt and genuinely smiled as you started putting through the other guys’ cards.
“If they were your sons, Joe, they never would have thought about it.” Came a soft voice from just behind you.
The guys all smiled and patted Joe on the back as they gathered their things and called out their farewells over their shoulders, the door swinging shut behind them. Bucky still has a soft smile playing around his cracked lips when you turn to face him.
“You alright?” You ask quietly, looking up into his clear blue eyes. You stare at him for a full minute before he drops his gaze quickly to the bar top mumbling, “… fine”. You swear you see a flicker of embarrassment cross his face before he seems to collect himself and looks back at you, smiling.
“Really, I’m okay, Y/N. Nothing I haven’t had before.”
He is turning to walk away when, before you could stop yourself, you reach out and grab his hand. Bucky freezes, sucking in a sharp breath, but he doesn’t pull away. You gently track your thumb up and down the back of his hand. He’s staring right into your eyes, trying to read your face. The longer he stares, the faster your heart beats and you can feel the blood rushing up into your cheeks.
“I-I’m sorry…” You step back, quickly letting go of his hand, and turn to clear the rest of the bar of dirty glasses. When you look up a moment later, he’s still standing in the same spot, staring after you with an unreadable expression. Turning, you ran the full tray of dirty glasses into the sterilizer room and slammed the door shut behind you, breathing heavily.
You stupid idiot! You kicked yourself, mentally, as you unloaded and reloaded the sterilizer. I can’t have feelings for him! He’s my boss!!! You stared hard at the door, as if it was the one that had embarrassed you. I’m fired… Sighing deeply and resigning yourself to your fate, you turn and walk purposefully out of the room.
Bucky glances up from behind the bar as you re-join him, carrying the clean glasses. You set the tray down, pull the dishtowel out of your back pocket and start drying the glasses, one by one, and placing them back on the correct shelf. You work quickly and quietly, humming along with the karaoke under your breath.
A gentle nudge to your elbow brings you back to earth, “You should have a go at that.” Bucky has a wicked grin on his face. He tilts his chin back towards the karaoke machine. “Seriously. If your humming is anything to go by, it might even be average.”
You crack an immediate smile and let out the breath you’ve been holding. “Yeah, no! Not unless you do it too!” You joke, prodding him sharply in the ribs. Bucky spins away expertly then performs an elaborate bow.
“Ladies first.”
Your jaw drops. “You can’t be serious?” You manage to gasp out, “I was only joking!”
A mischievous gleam is in Bucky’s eyes now, “Nah uh doll!” He waggles his finger at you, “you made a deal so no backing out now!” You stare at him until it’s very clear he is not backing down. Throwing your dishtowel down on the bar in mock fury, you stalk over to the karaoke machine, pausing briefly to strip off your cardigan and take out your hair tie, stuffing them both into your bag.
You scroll down the list of available songs, the back of your neck heating up under the spotlights and the fact that you are 100% sure Bucky is staring at you. You let out a little squeal as you recognise your favourite song! You quickly plug in the code before you can change your mind and turn to face the bar.
You close your eyes and take a deep breath as the song starts. Stepping up to the microphone you sing….
You’re the light, you’re the night
You’re the colour of my blood.
You’re the cure, you’re the pain
You’re the only thing I wanna touch
Never knew that it could mean so much, so much.
Your hands are threading through your hair as you relax into the music. You’d forgotten just how good singing could feel. It relaxed you to just let loose all of the stress of the day.
You’re the fear, I don’t care
Coz I’ve never been so high
Follow me to the dark
Let me take you past our satellites
You can see the world you brought to life, to life
You can feel your body swaying to the music as you open your eyes and stare directly into Bucky’s. Your nerve falters for only a second before you continue, this time singing directly to him.
So love me like you do, la-la-love me like you do.
Love me like you do, la-la-love me like you do.
Touch me like you do, ta-ta-touch me like you do.
What are you waiting for?
Bucky’s eyes widen as you toss your hair, pulling the microphone out of the stand and starting to really dance.
Fading in, fading out
On the edge of paradise
Every inch of your skin is a holy grail I’ve gotta find
Only you can set my heart on fire, on fire
Yeah, I let you set the pace
‘Cause I’m not thinking straight
My head’s spinning around I can’t see clear no more
What are you waiting for?
You bang your head twice with the drums, before continuing, one arm raised above your head, bouncing on your toes in time with the music.
Love me like you do, la-la-love me like you do (like you do)
Love me like you do, la-la-love me like you do (yeah)
Touch me like you do, ta-ta-touch me like you do.
What are you waiting for?
You giggle slightly at the look on Bucky’s face and send a cheeky grin his way. His face immediately lights up in response as he grins back at you.
I’ll let you set the pace
‘Cause I’m not thinking straight
My head’s spinning around I can’t see clear no more
What are you waiting for?
Love me like you do, la-la-love me like you do (like you do)
Love me like you do, la-la-love me like you do (yeah)
Touch me like you do, ta-ta-touch me like you do.
What are you waiting for?
Love me like you do, la-la-love me like you do (like you do)
Love me like you do, la-la-love me like you do (yeah)
Touch me like you do, ta-ta-touch me like you do.
What are you waiting for?
As you hum the last notes and replace the microphone in its stand you hear slow clapping. Looking up through your lashes, Bucky has come out from behind the bar and is walking towards you with awe splashed across his features.
“Wow, Y/N! That’s quite some voice you got hidden in there!”
You laugh freely, jabbing at his side as you drop off the stage, mentioning that it was his turn with a wink.
He shakes his head, jabbing you back and fleeing for the relative safety of the bar.
“You little…” you grumble under your breath as you go to close the bar doors and stack the chairs for the night.
Bucky is watching you warily from behind the bar as he wipes down the surfaces and taps. You are trying to look as casual as possible carrying the last of the clean glasses up to the bar, humming as you work.
“Anything left to do before we go?” Bucky asks as you place the last glass in its tray.
“I don’t think so…” you sweep your eyes around the empty room in thought, “nope, all done!”
Bucky smiles genuinely as you both head to the cloak room to grab your helmets.
Part of the benefit of living down the street from your colleague was the free rides, plus he has a motorbike which just made your trips together infinitely better.
Bucky had his back turned, locking up the back door to the bar, when you seized your chance, tiptoeing up to stand right behind Bucky.
“This is for going back on your word, Mister Barnes.” You whisper in his ear before you plunge both of your pointer fingers into each side of his ribs, making him jump as if he’d received an electric shock. You laughed evilly as you danced away and grabbed your helmet off the back of the bike.
Bucky hissed as he turned, dropping his helmet and tackling you into the pile of flattened cardboard. The ensuing tickle fight left the two of you breathless, clutching your sides from laughing so hard.
Leaning forward you rested your forehead against Bucky’s and closed your eyes, enjoying the cold night air playing across your faces.
“Hey,” Bucky whispered, his breath ghosting across your slightly parted lips, “you looked really beautiful under those lights tonight. You really should sing more often.”
You hummed in response, absentmindedly running your fingers up his arm to tangle them in his soft brown hair that had come out in the midst of your tickle war. Opening your eyes, you caught Bucky biting his bottom lip.
A/N: Part of @caplansteverogers Song Fic Challenge. There’s angst, omg…it’s all angst. A little fluff as well. So…flangst? Implied smut.
TW: Angst, implied smut
Prompt: My Immortal by Evanessance
Word Count: 1054
“Don’t worry,” he breathed against your lips as your tears fell. “I’ll be back before you know it, Doll.” Those were the last words Bucky spoke before he stepped on the quinjet with the rest of the team. That was four months ago. Four months of worrying. Four months of crying yourself to sleep. The only solace you could find was in the piano he insisted on buying you for your birthday last year. Every night you played. Every night you wept.
Six months ago
“Babe,” you called as you took the last of your birth control pills. “You’re gonna have to go get some condoms. I can’t see the doc for another couple weeks. Either that, or you’re gonna be suffering.”
Bucky stepped behind you, placing his warm hand on your stomach as he kissed your neck, his metal hand carding through your hair. “I don’t see why you don’t go see our doc,” he grinned, pressing his body against yours, his breath hot on the nape of your neck. That grin said it all. He knew exactly what he was doing.
“I don’t want everyone knowing I’m on the pill,” you whined. In a place like Stark Tower, it was hard to have any kind of privacy, and this was certainly a private matter. And it wasn’t that you didn’t the team to know, or that you didn’t want kids. No, you wanted them more than anything in the world. Especially with Bucky. But you weren’t even sure either of you could have them, and this way you didn’t have to face that reality. You spent the next few moments staring at his hand on your stomach, wishing for something that wouldn’t happen.
“Well,” he sighed, reading your expression. “Why don’t you just go off ‘em,” Bucky grinned. “We’ll figure this out together, alright Baby? Just like everything else. You and me.” He spun you around, and before you could protest his lips were on yours, arms on either side of the counter, blocking your escape. “Worse-case is I’m shooting blanks,” he breathed. “They didn’t mess with you too bad, not like Nat. At least we got that, right?” He pressed a soft kiss to your lips, making you smile. “There’s my girl,” he whispered as he swept you up, carrying you to the bed.
The coming weeks would be spent just like the others, only now you knew there was nothing stopping him from giving you what you both wanted. Nothing but whatever the serum had done to both of your bodies, and years of being frozen had done to his. You prayed daily that something would happen. A miracle. But you didn’t think you deserved a miracle. Not after all you had done. Bucky, though. Bucky deserved every miracle.
Tonight
The team had come home, everyone but Bucky and Steve. “Off chasing leads on Zemo and Rumlow,” Tony stated matter-of-factly. “Haven’t seen them in weeks, honestly. But I’m sure they’re fine. Two super soldiers against the world; what could possibly go wrong?” He knew how you worried, but he also knew you needed the truth. And if there was one thing Tony could be counted on, it was the truth.
“At least they’re together,” you stated coldly, trying to force a smile. But it was killing you, not having him there. You didn’t want him to find out from someone else. So, before the team could get close enough to notice the bump you were hiding, you stole away to your room.
Sitting at the piano, the small, swollen bump pressed against the keyboard as you plucked away. Everything was just as he left it that day. Everything but you. You were a ghost of woman. Once one of H.Y.D.R.A.s best operatives, the only one the trusted to send after the Winter Soldier when he went rogue. And that’s when you fell. Hard. You left everything you had ever known behind to be with him. And, despite his absence, you would do it again. He was your everything. Was. Now, unbeknownst to him, his child was growing inside you. Tears fell as you tried to play the song he loved most, the one which made him feel things he hadn’t felt since before H.Y.D.R.A. But tonight, it was hitting too close to home. Your Bucky was gone, and you were afraid you would never see him again.
Thoughts drifted to the sleepless nights with Bucky, holding him through the terrors he was reliving, as he wept, remembering every face of every victim. You would listen as Bucky rambled, sometimes for hours, about disjointed memories, some of them about you when you were little. “I always knew when you snuck in to my room,” he would chuckle through his tears. “How you would curl up under my bed, or next to the chamber. Drove your handlers crazy.” He would then kiss your head, and somehow everything in the world was right.
You were so lost in thought you didn’t hear the elevator, or his boots as he entered the room. All you heard was the keys of the piano, and his voice, so clear.
“Doll, you know how much I love that song,” he asked, his voice weary. “I think I may have driven Stevie crazy with it.”
You lifted your head, eyes wide with shock. It couldn’t be. Tony had just said… You turned slowly, eyes lowered, out of fear you were going mad. You took him in, one piece of clothing at a time, until you set your eyes on his. Cold, grey, to the outside world. But you found warmth. You always had. Before you could say anything, he rushed to you, dropping to his knees in front of you.
“I’m so sorry I couldn’t call,” he ejaculated, his firm hands clasping yours, begging for forgiveness as his eyes locked on yours. “I promise to make things right, doll. Just gimme a ch- “Bucky’s voice broke when his hands met the small bump in your stomach. “Dollface…is that…are…”
You cut him off before he could ask, pressing your lips lovingly to his. “I didn’t want to tell you over the phone, then when you disappeared with Steve,” you breathed happily against his lips. “It’s the only thing that kept me going…knowing a part of you was still here.”
Summary: Loki’s wife comes home to a quiet house, far too quiet.
Pairing: Loki x Reader
Song: Control by Hasley
Word count: 1677
A/N: Thanks to @caplansteverogers for another get song challenge. I hope you all enjoy this. Thanks to my beta readers @thegingerslytherin and @reogni for their input and help with editing.
“Say hi to Lucas for us.”
“Of course.” (Y/N) waved back to her friends as they stumbled up to the door of their apartment building. Another successful Girl’s night was in the books. As much fun as Myka and Helena could be she really wanted to get home to her husband, Lucas Blake, lawyer and best-selling author. She had to laugh to herself. Her friends were either very oblivious or maybe he made it that way. Sometimes it was hard to tell what of their going unnoticed was just people not paying any attention at all and what was from his own magic. In reality her husband was Loki, The Loki, and he was in hiding on Earth. He had come clean about it only days before he proposed.
Now, eight years later they were still happy. Together they had adopted a daughter named Claudia and an all-black Rottweiler-cross called Fargo. Everything was perfect. Still smiling as she pulled onto her street (Y/N) felt her stomach drop. A sick feeling overwhelmed her as she parked behind the two black SUVs with matte black eagle emblems on their sides. SHEILD vehicles meant one of two things. Either her husband had gotten himself in trouble again or they were all in danger.
The door was hanging open. As (Y/N) stepped into her home she knew exactly which it was. Moving carefully though the main floor halls she noticed where the fight had begun, the four corpses laying where they fell and where the scorch marks of Loki’s magic had changed to cold patches of ice. Something had made the normally unflappable Loki either panic or forced him to switch from his Aseir form to his Jotunn. Because of Loki’s uniqueness, as he loved his wife for calling it, they always kept the house on the cool side, but now it was cold, nearly frigid.
As she slowly climbed the stairs, beginning to also worry about the whereabouts of her daughter, she discovered why. The entire second floor hallway was coated in thick ice. Three more corpses lay on the ground, partially covered by the ice. It was clear to (Y/N) that they had not died by Loki’s hand but someone else’s.
The house was unnaturally quiet as she examined the two bodies that lay in front of her, the third lay in front of the master bedroom door. They had all had their heads crushed, like the ones downstairs had. She could see the trail of blood continuing to follow the same path into the room she shared with her husband. The ice had covered the top of the stairs to try and seal the hallway and the bodies had clearly been used to break it.
Using the flashlight on her phone (Y/N) scanned down the dark hallway. The only other light came from the open bedroom at the end of the hall. The ice sparkled as she moved the light around. None of the other doors appeared to have been touched. In fact they were almost invisible, as were the family photos that lined the walls. If whoever had come for Loki hadn’t looked they wouldn’t have seen them. Now more than ever she hoped her husband had escaped. As she reached the spot where the door to Loki’s office was she felt a bit more relief. The ice covering it was nearly perfect save for a small rune next to the knob.
Pulling the dagger Loki had given her years ago from her boot (Y/N) stepped in front of the office door.
“I call forth the fires of Muspelheim” She whispered and the blade glowed red. Touching it to the rune the ice melted almost instantly revealing the unmarred door hidden behind. Softly pushing the door open (Y/N) breathed a sigh of relief. The only thing out of place in Loki’s office was the big black rottie standing guard in the middle of the room.
“Fargo. Fargo, c’mere.” (Y/N) called softly. The dog whimpered and walked away from her. Laying down next to the large cedar chest against the back wall. Fargo stayed quiet as she approached him. Reaching out, she gently ran her hand through his short, soft fur. He must have gotten between Loki and whatever was attacking. The poor boy was missing an ear. He seemed more concerned with the chest than himself however.
Moving next to it, (Y/N) felt for the runes of her husband’s name on the side. Just above that was his old Asgardian sigil. Two snakes intertwined biting each other’s tails. Resting her fingers on it she muttered his pet name for her, his angel. “Valkyrie.” The lock clicked open and she carefully lifted the lid. Claudia flinched as she peaked inside.
“Something’s wrong with Daddy.”
“Sweet pea, what happened?” (Y/N) asked, helping her daughter from her hiding place.
“We were eating and the door bel rang. Daddy said to ignore it and keep eating. Then they knock yelling ‘Police’. Daddy goes and talks to them and I hear the policeman say ‘Mr. Laufeyson we need you to come with us, now.’
‘Not without my family, Agent Sykes.’ Daddy said. He sounded angry.
‘There’s not time. Loki, if everything you said really is true there’s absolutely no time. We’ll make sure they’re safe, but we have to go now.’
Daddy told me that we were going to play hide and seek. He said to hide in his chest because it would be a very good spot that no one would look for me in, except you Mommy. I did and then I heard people yelling and I got worried about Daddy. Then it got real cold and when I opened the door there was Daddy. He looked really scary. He picked me up and put me back in the chest. I was crying. He was so scary.
‘Please, my sweet Valhalla, don’t be scared. I can’t help this. Lie down and stay quiet.’ He kissed me and he was really cold. ‘I love you. I will come back to you, I promise, my sweet Valhalla.’
When I laid down and he closed the lid and I couldn’t open it anymore and I yelled and screamed and cried and you came and found me like Daddy said you would.”
The child threw herself into (Y/N)’s arms and cried. (Y/N) knew she had to finish searching the rest of the house. She had to see if Loki had managed to escape. If he was gone or dead, as much as she dreaded that, they were safer than if they had caught him.
“Take my phone and Fargo. Run to Mr. Lattimer’s house and show him this.” She handed her child her cell phone and the necklace Loki had given her on their wedding night. “He will keep you safe. I love you Claudia, our sweet Valhalla.”
(Y/N) watched as Claudia ran. She went to the office window and watched her run across the street. Then, with her daughter as safe as she could be, (Y/N) swallowed the lump of fear in her throat.
Still armed with the dagger, she crept down the hall way to their bedroom. Papers rustled as a breeze blew in from the balcony. The pages of their manuscript fluttered into the hall.
From the doorway she could see their bed. How many times had he shown her his passion, his heart and made her forget all others but himself? More than the number of nights she had awoken to him in fear, with tears staining his face, as he had awoken crying “They’re coming for me.”
The old villain was meaner than whatever hunted him. That she was sure of. Some small part of his soul, the part she could not reach, was as cold as the world he was born in. As (Y/N) darted across the doorway she prayed it would be enough. She had been writing about him so she would remember him when he was gone. Something he had been anticipating since they met.
(Y/N) spotted Agent Sykes, smashed against their dresser, his head crushed like the others. The trail of blood ended in a pool around his body. The glint of something shining in the moonlight on their balcony caught her eye.
Loki was in his full armor, including the horned helm he hated. He appeared to be ready for battle, standing alone on their balcony. For a moment (Y/N) stood at the threshold of the room. Her eyes locked on the imposing figure of her husband as he slowly turned.
“(Y/N)?” The soft, dark tones of his voice were stained with confusion.
“Loki. What –“
“Get away from here (Y/N). Take Claudia and run.” She had never heard him sound so panicked before. Then he screamed in pain. Doubling over, his helm toppled to the ground with a hollow clatter.
“I can’t help this (Y/N). Please, run, get away, now.” Loki stalked towards her. He seemed to be fighting something off, and losing. “RUN!” He screamed before his head dropped to his chest. (Y/N) froze.
There was a strange release of energy in the room. (Y/N) cautiously took a step forward.
“Loki?” Her voice shook with terror. His voice sounded wrong when he finally spoke again.
“You’re terrified. Good. You should be, (Y/N), you and the rest of you pathetic race.”
“Oh my God!” (Y/N) gasped.
“You are smarter than you seem. I like that. You are also right by the way, mortal.” The thing controlling her husband’s mind made him smile wickedly as he lifted his head to reveal bright, glowing, solid blue eyes. “Your darling monster is gone.” (Y/N) remained frozen to the spot as she watched this demon approach her. Stopping just out of arms reach, it summoned a gold scepter with a bright yellow stone floating inside its blade, to his hand. “Which leaves just one question for you.” That horrible smile broadened as it touched the tip of the blade to her chest.
