jj swears he fell for you the first time you laughed at one of his stupid jokes instead of rolling your eyes at him like everyone else usually does.
he acts annoyed when you make him wear sunscreen but secretly loves when you rub it over his nose and cheeks because it’s one of the few kinds of soft affection he’s gotten used to.
if you’re naturally affectionate he becomes clingy without even realising it. always has an arm around your waist, hooking his finger through your belt loop, pulling you into his chest while he talks to people.
when he’s having bad nights he shows up at your window without texting first and just quietly crawls into bed beside you.
the thing he loves most is that you never make him feel like he’s “too much” to love. you just have a way with people.
you have him wrapped around your finger without even trying. one smile from you and suddenly he’s agreeing to things he swore he’d never do.
compliments from each other go something like this.
you: “well you look mighty fine as always, jj.”
jj: “not as fine as you though, sunshine. swear you walk around this island tryin’ to ruin my life.”
he’d teach you how to drive the boat while standing behind you with his hands over yours on the wheel.
jj is the type to randomly kiss you mid sentence because he “couldn’t help it”.
when he gets hurt doing something reckless he tries to act tough until you start patching him up then suddenly he’s hissing dramatically and whining for attention.
the first time you say “i love you” he goes completely quiet for a second because nobody’s ever said it to him in a way that felt real before. after that he says it all the time. whispered against your lips, mumbled half asleep and yelled across the beach.
a/n: this was so cute!! i felt like sunshine! reader would suit jj the best so i really hope you guys like it and i can’t wait to right some fics for them! :))
Prompt: "Pet Sitting" Day 2 of @flufftober
Pairing: TFATWS Bucky Barnes x Reader
Word Count: 6.3k
Synopsis: When Bucky Barnes needs to leave town for work, he turns to a pet-sitting app to keep his stubborn cat Alpine company. He expects scratched furniture, daily guilt, and a frazzled sitter, but what he gets is daily photo updates, a blossoming connection, and the warmest surprise of all: maybe he’s finally ready to trust again.
Tags/Warnings: Alpine mention! (duh), awkward flirting, Sam Wilson, bookworm reader, canon divergence from TFATWS show to fit my narrative, Bucky falls first and hard
Flufftober 2025 | Main Masterlist | AO3
There truly was an app for everything. At least, that’s what Bucky had deduced after spending the better part of his day trying to figure out how to hire someone to keep his cat alive.
When Sam Wilson had called with a new lead on the Flag Smashers, Bucky had said yes before he even really thought about it. Normally, he would have been on a jet to wherever he was needed to stop the anti-nationalist supervillains immediately.
But now? Now he had Alpine. A small, white cat he had adopted when his therapist said he needed connection. Something warm that didn’t involve punching people in the face and a companionship that wasn’t born out of a battle.
So why did it feel like such a battle to figure out how to save his sanity and furniture? Because he was not about to leave his cat alone with a bowl of food and a promise that he might be back in a week. Sam didn’t even know how long he would need to be gone.
And now here he sat, scrolling through an app called ‘Rover’ that Sam had deemed ”Tinder, but for animals”. Which already filled Bucky with dread considering his track record with the dating app. Nevermind that his cat was like him in the way she didn’t much care for strangers. So this almost felt like picking out a victim that was going to have to deal with her mood swings.
“What about this one?” Bucky asked Alpine, turning his phone so she could see a photo of a sitter. He figured that if whoever was going to be tasked with watching her, she may as well have some input. Maybe then she wouldn’t tear them to shreds. Not that she could really answer save for a slow blink, a flick of her tail, or an unimpressed yawn. She sniffed the phone, but the look of disgust was unmistakable in those bright blue eyes.
Bucky sighed again, continuing his scrolling. “We’ll have to pick someone you know. I can’t leave you alone. Not because I don’t trust you, but someone has to make sure you don’t starve or dehydrate while I’m gone.”
Alpine stretched her paws out in front of her, tail in the air curled like a question mark before hopping up to snuggle onto Bucky’s lap. She watched his thumb flick across the screen, ears perked high like she was now just as invested. Until she let out a quick mmrp and tapped her paws on his thighs.
“Her?” Bucky asked, pausing on a picture of a woman, a giant smile on her face as she cradled a dark grey cat and a golden-colored puppy in her arms. She had hundreds of glowing reviews, something called ‘Star Sitter Status’, and over 10 years of experience.
She was also – Bucky held the phone closer to his face – yeah, okay, she was kind of attractive. The kind that made something defrost in his chest.
“I really need to get out more,” he muttered. “Getting flustered by a woman holding an animal and talking to you like you can actually answer me.”
Alpine kneaded her paws again like she was confirming both his statement and choice of sitter.
“Alright, you know best.” He murmured, scratching behind her ears and already typing out a message.
───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────
There hadn’t been time for a meet-and-greet – whatever that meant – not with Sam basically breathing down Bucky’s neck that their window for this lead was rapidly shrinking. You, thankfully, hadn’t seemed fazed. Bucky initially apologized for the awful timing, sending over a picture of Alpine as a bargaining chip, asking if you had any last-minute openings. You had responded nearly immediately.
Oh, she’s adorable! I had a cancellation last week, so the timing is actually perfect. I’d love to take care of her.
After a bit of back and forth that mostly consisted of payment methods and shot records, Bucky ended up standing outside a stranger’s apartment with Alpine in her carrier, and a duffel bag packed like he was expecting to be gone months instead of just a week. The guilt nagging at the back of his mind as he felt more like a deadbeat cat parent abandoning his fluffy child to someone he only knew through text message.
The door swung open to reveal you in an oversized blue pastel sweater and leggings, and a smile warm enough to melt asphalt. “Hi there!” you said brightly. Confident and friendly, like you’d known Bucky and his cat forever instead of less than 24 hours.
“You must be James, and this must be Alpine.” Your voice had a calming lilt, breezy and dangerously charming as you bent slightly to peer into the carrier.
You stepped aside so he could enter. The apartment was bright and cozy, pastels just like your sweater dotted every throw pillow, blanket, and fuzzy accent. Bucky hadn’t known what to expect, but it certainly wasn’t this much color or comfort. His apartment barely had a rug and a couch. But here? Every spot had a soft place to curl up.
“I set up a space for her by the window, a lot of the cats I care for like to watch the birds in the garden.” You added casually, closing the door behind him.
Bucky nodded, the tension in his shoulders easing just a fraction as he took in the space. He loosened his iron grip on the carrier once he realized it was creaking under stress. The quiet warmth of this place was the complete opposite of the dreary New York City sidewalk. It smelled like vanilla and citrus, like someone had just baked and then did a deep clean. There was a faint hum of music, something soft and instrumental, that made it feel less like a stranger’s apartment and more like an upscale spa reception area.
A cream colored cat tree was set up right where you pointed, bowls were laid out along with a host of pillows. A basket of toys proclaimed “A house isn’t a home without a pet” in calligraphy in the corner.
“If you want to set the carrier down, and open it, we can talk while she gets acquainted with her surroundings.” The suggestion was gentle, with a confidence that may have been misguided considering the fluffy menace in the carrier wasn’t reacting the way Bucky had expected. He was fully prepared for mewling and screeching, though this could be the calm before the storm.
Still, Bucky did as instructed, maybe grimacing more than he meant to as the hinges to the carrier creaked open. “She…really doesn’t like strangers.”
And she really didn’t. He’d seen full-grown men flinch when Alpine got into one of her territorial moods. So Bucky was bracing himself for the worst.
You smiled, relaxed and completely nonchalant, “That’s okay, I get it. It’s weird being in a new place. I’m sure we’ll be the best of friends by the time you come pick her up. How long were you going to be gone again?”
Bucky rubbed at the back of his neck, “I know I said a week, but my…work trip may get extended.” He hadn’t wanted to tell a stranger where he was going or what he was doing. He figured a small white lie was best instead of saying ‘I’m going to go do some illegal shit and get shot at.’
Nodding, “That’s fine, just let me know. I have another client coming in 10 days, so if you’re still out I’ll make sure to keep them separate. And I work from home so I’ll always be around. Any medications or special instructions?”
He cleared his throat, now sheepish as he produced a paper with everything he thought you would need to know. Alpine had been kept on a strict schedule ever since Bucky had adopted her, finding it grounded him. “Figured this was easier. I know it’s kind of a lot,” he muttered, suddenly self-conscious. “The schedule helps…both of us, I guess.”
To his surprise, you didn’t laugh or tease him. Instead, your eyes lit up, taking it, but Bucky had noticed Alpine creeping out of her carrier. She padded right to your feet, sniffing at the socks you were wearing. He held his breath, waiting for the flurry of scratches and yowling, the puffed tail, or for her to bolt back into the carrier.
But it never came.
Alpine weaved around your legs like she had known you forever. And you? You stood unbothered as you read through the care instructions.
“Promise I’m not ignoring her,” you said without looking up, like you could sense his question before he even asked. “With cats I always try to have them investigate me on their own terms before I start showing affection. I’m just letting her warm up to me first.”
“Smart.” Even though Bucky didn’t know if it was or not. Too busy transfixed on the way your lips barely formed the words as you read silently. He shoved his hands back into his jacket pockets, but he couldn’t stop his eyes from drifting over your face.
“Food and everything in the bag?” You asked, looking down as Alpine brushed her head against your calf, leaving a streak of white hair on your leggings.
“Extra in case I am gone longer.”
You bent at the knees then, sitting on the ground. “I wish all my clients were as prepared as you.” Your smile could disarm a nuke with the softness behind it. Bucky grappled with the strange surge of feelings pushing behind his ribs. And then Alpine hopped into your lap, curling instantly against your thighs, and purring loud enough Bucky was sure the neighbors could hear.
“See?” You offered, two fingers lightly stroking down Alpine’s fur. “No longer strangers.”
Bucky was rendered speechless at the sight of his cat who had hissed and puffed up at anyone he brought into his apartment laying in your lap as the picture of contentment. A part of him felt relieved, that this wasn’t going to end up with you – a complete stranger – bloodied from sharp claws and teeth. But the other part? Softened completely at the sight of Alpine burrowing deeper into your arms like she’d known you her entire life.
Your arms shifted under Alpine’s body, scooping her up as you easily came back to standing. “We’ll be fine, I promise. I’ll send you updates, even hourly if you like. And if anything goes wrong, which it won’t, the first call will be to the vet, the second will be to you on the way to said vet.”
“Thanks.” Bucky fidgeted with the edge of his leather jacket, not sure if he should just…leave or stay to make sure Alpine wasn’t going to pull a complete bait and switch. You noticed the way he was lingering by the door awkwardly immediately.
“You want a minute to say goodbye?” You offered, holding her out to him.
“What?”
“To Alpine.” You grinned, lifting one of her paws. “I can step into the kitchen, let you have a moment. There’s no shame in crying, I totally get it.”
Bucky Barnes. The Winter Soldier. Was not going to cry as he dropped off his cat. His eyes were just…a little scratchy from the scent of vanilla. That was it.
Alpine let out a soft mmrp, completely unbothered as you handed her back to Bucky. “Just yell if you need a hug after.” You winked, disappearing into the kitchen like that was the most normal thing to offer a man with a vibranium arm and what Sam called ‘a resting murder’ face.
Bucky didn’t even dignify that with a response. Mostly because no one had offered him something like that in a long time, and the softness behind it had caught him completely off guard. It wasn’t with a trace of pity, more like…you actually cared about him too, not just his cat. Maybe you just weren’t aware of who he was. Instead of pondering too long on what an actual hug would feel like from someone who seemed to be sunshine personified, he scratched Alpine one last time behind the ears. “You be good, okay? I don’t want to hear how you became a terror after I’m gone.”
She yawned like she’d already forgotten who he was, and hopped down from his arms, trotting off to wherever you disappeared.
“She’s in good hands, I promise.” You reassured again, returning to the entry way, Alpine hot on your heels like a white magnet.
Bucky hesitated at the door still, fingers hovering just over the doorknob. He glanced back, not at Alpine this time, but at you. It had been a long time since he’d left something – or someone – he cared about in another person’s hands. Let alone a stranger. But something about the way you were looking back, casual and steady, made the guilt that had been in his chest loosen.
Then his gaze drifted, looking at how his normally standoffish cat sat obediently beside your feet, gazing up at you like she picked her new favorite human, Bucky couldn’t help but believe you when you said everything would be fine.
───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────
The first few updates Bucky got from you were standard. Or…at least he guessed they were. He wasn’t sure what the protocol was in this situation. But you sent things along as promised to show that Alpine was settling in nicely. A picture of her, lounging on the cat tree by the window with the caption: ‘The queen has claimed her throne.’
A short video of her cautiously sniffing a piece of salmon you were cooking. Typical cat things. Though now he was mildly concerned he’d have to start buying fish to keep her happy.
Now, he was halfway around the world, holed up in a warehouse that reeked of mildew and rust. Sam was at a makeshift table, covered in blueprints and dossiers muttering to himself. Bucky was meant to be keeping watch. And he was, leaning near a window, eyes on the quiet street, trying to catalog anything remotely out of place. Until his phone buzzed in his pocket, and he just had to check it immediately.
A selfie. You and Alpine curled up on the couch, her paws mashed into your jawline and a smug expression on her face, while you looked a little helpless and amused. You’d captioned it: ‘She’s refusing to move. Guess I’m stuck until dinner at 5 pm sharp.’
Another ping.
‘Also, she loves instrumental jazz. Didn’t expect her to have such good taste in music. She may wear out some of my records by the end of this.’
Bucky exhaled through his nose. Not quite a laugh, and closer to it than he’d like to admit.
He scrolls back to look at the photo longer than necessary. Not at Alpine who was really meant to be the focus of it. But at you. How you had a halo of soft light around your shoulders, hair a little messy, and an oversized hoodie. There was a record player in the background, a little blurry, but Bucky could make out a few of them. Chet Baker, Ella Fitzgerald, John Coltrane. He really didn’t expect that. You with your pastel colors and sunshine smile screamed bubblegum pop music, not old jazz.
It didn’t match, and that somehow made whatever feeling Bucky was having about these updates worse. Or better, he wasn’t sure yet.
Another ping, another photo. This time, a close-up of Alpine who had buried her body halfway inside your hoodie, paws sticking, and her head pushed into your chin. The caption read: ‘Resistance was futile.’
And maybe it was the fact that Bucky knew once Alpine got comfortable she was an immovable object that got him. Or maybe it was finally having someone else know what that feels like that knocked something loose behind his ribs. But he smiled, full and unguarded.
Across the room, Sam’s head snapped up. “What was that?”
Bucky didn’t move, schooling his features back into his normal glower. “What was what?”
“That little…smirk.” Sam stood then, waving a pen in his general direction. “You’re smiling. We’re about to infiltrate a den of mercenaries and you’re smiling about it.”
“I’m not smiling.”
“You are too, is this a cat thing?”
Bucky pocketed his phone, “Just focus on making the plan, Wilson.”
“Who could you possibly be texting? Last I checked you only had like three numbers. And none of them should put that big of a smile on your face.”
He clenched his jaw, “I’m getting updates about Alpine. That’s it.”
“Oh, since when did Alpine learn to text?”
“I’m not – ” Bucky sighed, running a hand over his hair. “Just…let it go.”
Sam narrowed his eyes, “You’re acting weird.”
“I am not.”
“She’s cute isn’t she? That’s the issue, you picked an attractive sitter.”
“Alpine picked her.”
Sam chuckled, “Whatever you gotta tell yourself man.”
───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────
The mission in Madripoor took a toll, both physically and mentally, and somewhere deeper Bucky didn’t want to even name. Zemo’s plan to infiltrate Selby’s bar to get information had worked, sure, but it had meant slipping back into a version of himself he’d worked so hard to bury.
That part didn’t necessarily scare him. What did was how easy it was without the trigger words. That even without the Winter Soldier programming, violent instincts still lingered.
Bucky found himself scrolling through the updates he had missed, the room dissolving around him while Zemo and Sam argued about their next steps.
The most recent one was a photo of Alpine, but just her little white ears sticking out of the duffel bag Bucky had brought her supplies in. The caption read: ‘She found the snacks. I had to move them, but…she can also open drawers.’
“See? He’s texting his cat again.” Sam’s voice cut through his thoughts. “Can you focus up, man?”
“Again, I’m getting updates about my cat. She’s just…giving the sitter a hard time.” Bucky tried to make it sound casual. Like he wasn’t using these little check-ins and updates to keep himself tethered to something that wasn’t sharp and riddled with blood. Something normal despite how his day had gone.
He thumbed back up to a previous picture. You had Alpine swaddled tightly in the blanket Bucky had brought, only her nose and barely one paw sticking out, eyes half open. Her head was tipped back, looking up at the camera with adoration. ‘One of the only ways I could keep her from gorging herself in the treat drawer. But she seems to like it when I hold her, more so when I sing her lullabies.’
And just when Bucky was about to put his phone away, a new photo came in. You, curled up on the floor beside the cat tree. A book was open on your lap, and Alpine was perched like she was reading along with you. The angle wasn’t great, like you’d balanced your phone on the coffee table, but Bucky could just make out the title. The Hobbit. Well-worn and curling along the edges from use. You captioned it with: ‘Story time is mandatory in this household. She picked this one out herself. We’re starting a new chapter tonight.’
Bucky stared at the photo longer than he meant to. Not at Alpine this time, though it was cute how she seemed so invested. But at the way your fingers held open the book. At the way the light from the window provided a soft, dreamy glow to your figure. At the fact that you even owned a copy of The Hobbit, let alone one that looked like it had been read so often.
He was certain he had had you figured out, but the more accidental glimpses he caught into your life, the more he realized how wrong he was. The fact that you liked jazz. Enough to have vinyl records of albums. The fact that you were reading to his cat from one of his favorite books without even knowing.
He opened the message field, poised to type something. But the words just wouldn’t flow from his brain to his thumbs. He clenched his jaw, rolling his shoulders out like he could work the words free somehow. Started with: “She likes fantasy stories. What do you think of it?”
He deleted it with a grimace. Obviously you liked it or you wouldn’t have such a well-worn copy. You were watching his cat. He shouldn't want to ask about the book like it was a normal conversation with a normal person in a normal life. But that’s what you somehow felt like. A snapshot of a life that had nothing to do with mercenaries or war criminals or super soldier serum.
'Good choice. That’s one of my favorites too.'
Deleted that too. Because why would you care?
Eventually, he settled on 'Thanks for the updates. Looks like she’s having a great time.' Before locking his phone and letting it rest on his knee.
Zemo looked up from where he was lounging with a drink. “You have the smile of a man caught between two worlds.”
Bucky groaned, “Stop talking, Zemo.”
“I’m only observing, James. You have a particular softness in your eyes I never really thought possible from a man who just punched his way through a bar. It’s easier to smile for people who don’t know your sins, no?”
Bucky felt a muscle in his eye twitch. “You’re just really itching to get thrown back in prison, huh?”
Sam snorted from the corner. “Are you two done? We’ve got leads to chase. Sharon says she knows where Dr. Nagel is.”
Bucky said nothing in response, tucking his phone back into his pocket. But not before he stole one last glance at the photo. You and Alpine in the warm halo of afternoon light. A quiet reminder that maybe the world wasn’t as far gone as he’d been made to believe.
───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────
“Can’t believe he pulled an El Chapo.” Sam muttered, staring at the open hole in the tiled bathroom.
“Yeah? I can.” Bucky sighed, still reeling from the fight with the Dora Milaje. He had tried to keep it civil, tried to act as a mediator, but when the Wakandan guards want something, there’s usually no sense in fighting back.
He found himself rolling his vibranium arm at the shoulder, testing to make sure it was still attached. He shouldn’t have been that stupid to think this piece of weaponry didn’t also come with stipulations. But having a person he trusted show that they had a fail safe if anything went wrong messed with his head a little bit. That even though he wasn’t the person he used to be, people still treated him like he was.
“I’m gonna make a call,” Bucky called over his shoulder as Sam typed out a message to Joaquin, who he thought would have some new leads.
He opened the messaging app, a new update from you had just come across. Alpine sitting on the cat tower, one paw pressed against the glass at a blurred spot of color in front of her. ‘She made a new friend today. Didn’t get a good picture, but it’s cardinal. Only hissed at it once.’
His thumbs hovered over the letters to type out some message. Anything to form a connection. Asking for another update, but that felt too demanding. You’d been amazing at sending photos and updates so far, he didn’t want you to think you weren’t doing enough. He did, however, see the little green icon next to ‘Online’. An option for ‘video chat’ was right next to it.
Leaning against a brick wall and out of the sunlight, he hesitated. He just wanted that glimpse into that life. Something that wasn’t life or death to counteract the thoughts pingponging around his brain. He hits the button before he can continue second guessing it and the one thread he can pull to ground himself goes offline. He didn’t know what he was hoping to get from this. Just…something steady. Someone who didn’t look at him like a time bomb or a weapon.
“Oh, hey! I was just about to send you an update saying Alpine was about to get tucked in for bed, but this works too.”
Your face filled the screen, only the glow of fairylights behind you. A soft shuffling followed by an unimpressed mmrp could be heard as you adjusted the screen. “Sorry, it’s dark in here, I was just about to head to bed.” Followed by the flicking of lights one by one until Alpine could be seen, cozied up in a makeshift box under a canopy of pastel sheets.
“I built her a little fort today,” you continue, likely trying to fill the silence as Bucky just…watches. Mostly in awe of how calm Alpine looked, her tail flicking lazily in the soft glow of the room. “But she hated having her cat bed in there, so…random box it was.”
You turned the camera slightly to show Alpine more, curled up in a perfect loaf inside the cardboard box you had lined with pillows. Again, Bucky could hear the soft jazz playing in the background. Something he couldn’t quite place, but gentle and melodic.
“She misses you,” you added gently, fingers scratching behind Alpine’s ears. “She keeps going to the door like she’s waiting for you to come back. Paces a little just before dinner. But the second I start preparing her food, she’s racing to the kitchen.”
A small throb pulsed behind Bucky’s ribs. He leaned further into the brick wall, tucking his chin down to try to hide the look on his face. He wasn’t even sure what the feeling he was having was. Fondness? Heartache?
You hesitated before speaking again. “So, how's the work trip?”
That did something that somehow caught him off guard. You asked like you cared. No agenda. No digging for leads. Just…asked unprovoked. He studied you for half a second, “It’s…fine. Just been a long day.”
“We’ve all been there. But Alpine will be here ready to bug you for salmon when you get back. I really shouldn’t have given it to her. That’s on me.”
Bucky tried to respond, but words seemed to fail him. Eventually he settled for a quiet: “Thanks.”
He stared at the video on the screen, Alpine, purring loud enough to be heard over the tinny speaker quality curled in her stupid little box fort, and you beside her. No expectations behind your expression – well, maybe just the promise to come pick up his cat – just…there.
He rubbed the back of his neck, forcing out a laugh. “Alpine’s really out here getting the royal treatment isn’t she?”
You chuckled in response, “Only the best for the princess. But don’t worry, I’m charging her ‘meowster’ card for the additional fees.”
That earned the closest thing to a laugh Bucky had managed in days.
“Glad to hear it’s at least going through, they must have upped her limit.”
You devolved into laughter then, with Alpine turning away from you with an unamused expression.
“Anyway, I should let you go.” Bucky said, seeing Sam waving at him from the door. “I just wanted to actually see if she was behaving or if she was holding you hostage and making you send those updates.”
“She’s been a perfect angel.” You reassured. “I’ll send more pictures in the morning.”
“Thanks.” Bucky said before ending the call.
Sam walked up, a quizzical look on his face. “Were you flirting with her? Is that what that was? If we weren’t having to chase leads, I’d be flabbergasted.”
───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────
The sun was dipping low on the Louisiana horizon, casting golden streaks across the dock. Bucky sat on an overturned bucket, a wrench flipping loosely through his fingers as he looked out over the water. Sam was beside him, leaning back on his elbows, eyes closed in the sunshine.
The day had been filled with boat repairs and dancing around the looming fact that the Flagsmashers were still out there, and that all of their leads had dried up. The least Bucky thought he could do while Alpine was safe in your care was make sure Sam, his sister, and his nephews stayed safe until something came up after the threats on their life.
His phone buzzed in his back pocket. He pulled it out, already knowing who it was. Another update from you. This time, a video of Alpine batting at a feathered toy that twitched in response to something you had hooked onto her collar. A familiar mmrp and the scratching of claws on hardwood echoed from the speakers.
“Sorry, I had to keep her distracted somehow. I was in the middle of an email and she deleted the whole thing. She’s kind of an attention hog.” Your voice flowed out.
Bucky bit back a smile before typing out a message in response. ‘Sorry, she gets like that. Hope it wasn’t anything too important.’
Your reply came quickly: ‘Nah, I’ll survive. Hope you’re doing okay.’
Bucky stared at the message longer than he meant to. The water lapped quietly at the dock while cicadas hummed somewhere in the trees behind them. A part of him wanted to say more, do something more for you after Alpine had disrupted your day.
He typed out a message ‘I really owe you dinner or something for putting up with her for this long.’
No, that seemed too forward. Delete.
‘I know a good salmon spot.’
What was he doing, asking out a grizzly bear? Delete.
He let out a frustrated sigh and leaned back, squinting into the light like the sun was the main source of his problems. This wouldn't have been an issue in the 40s. That version of him would have already asked you out and he knew it. The issue was technology.
Then, with as much forced casualness as he could muster – because he definitely hadn’t been rehearsing the question in his head for days – Bucky asked, “Hey…how do I ask out my cat sitter without it being weird?”
Sam’s eyes snapped open. He turned toward Bucky slowly, eyebrows raised. “You’re asking me for dating advice?”
“No, I can get by on my own.”
Sam barked a laugh. “Clearly not if you can’t even figure out how to ask her on a date.”
“There’s too many rules nowadays.” Bucky muttered, running his hand over his hair. “I can’t figure out how to not sound creepy texting on this thing.”
“Okay, then call her.” Sam said it as if it were that simple and Bucky hadn’t already deleted tens of iterations of ‘let’s go get dinner’. He could only imagine how awkward a phone call would be.
“No, that’s not – look we’ve only talked through cat updates. Is that enough of a connection to ask someone to dinner?”
“Well, do you want to ask her?”
As if summoned by the mere notion of romantic idiocy, Sarah Wilson appeared. “You two are just getting nowhere fast.”
She stepped down onto the dock with a tray of lemonade, raising one brow as she caught the tail end of the conversation. “What’s this about a cat sitter?”
Sam grinned, “Bucky’s got a little crush and he’s trying to act like it’s a hostage negotiation.”
Sarah nodded at the phone still in Bucky’s hand. “You like her?”
Bucky nodded, half-shrugging, the tips of his ears now turning pink.
“Then stop overthinking it and just ask her to dinner.” She waved a hand at him. “You’re a grown man. And she’s clearly into cats, so there’s your icebreaker.”
“But do it when you pick up Alpine,” she added, pointing a finger at him as she set the tray down. “Women like a face to face thing. Plus that way, if she says no, she can’t just dump your cat somewhere.”
“She wouldn’t do that.” Bucky defended immediately, turning the device over in his palm.
“Oh you’re so far gone, Barnes.” Sam chuckled, sipping on a drink. “You sure talk like you know her already.”
“I’m going to push you into the water,” Bucky grumbled, rewatching the short clip on mute.
Sarah huffed a laugh, “You’re both hopeless.” She turned then, and headed back towards the house. All the while muttering something about the “men” under her breath.
───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────
The Flagsmashers had been dealt with, all either arrested or…otherwise indisposed. The world, for once, didn’t feel like it was actively ending. And Bucky finally had the space to breathe again.
Which meant it was time to go get his cat.
He didn’t send much when he let you know he was ready to pick Alpine up.
‘Alpine’s going to be mad when I mess up her new schedule isn’t she?’
Your reply came almost instantly. ‘She’ll forgive you if you bring extra salmon.’
Now, standing in front of your door again, Bucky shifted from foot to foot, trying to give himself a pep talk. He had salmon – some fresh, some precooked – depending on what kind of night this turned into. He’d debated bringing a classic, like a bouquet of flowers, decided they were too forward, and instead settled on a thank-you gift bag Sarah helped him put together. Chocolate, a pastel pink pair of fuzzy socks, a lint roller because he remembered how Alpine’s fur had clung to your leggings, and a small hand cream in a scent Bucky thought might match the vanilla-citrus of your apartment.
He knocked once, and the door opened immediately. Like you had watched him fidget through your peephole in an effort to calm his racing heart.
You looked just as he remembered. Soft and bright, that sunshine smile still present, but a little more guarded. “She’s been clingy all morning,” you sighed, opening the door wider. “I think she knew you were coming.”
And as if on cue, Alpine strutted lazily into view, stopping two feet from Bucky, and sat down like a statue. No meow. No chirp. Just one very pointed glare and tail swish.
He had expected Alpine to be a bit…disgruntled and standoffish. He had left her a little longer than he had said with a total stranger. But a stranger that she had picked.
Bucky crouched down and reached a hand out, only for her to turn her head and dramatically sigh. But a moment later, she pushed forward, headbutting his knee and letting out a long mmrrrp like she’d absolutely suffered in his absence.
“She missed you,” you said softly.
“I can tell,” Bucky huffed, scratching behind her ears. “She’s laying on the guilt pretty thick.”
He straightened, handing you the gift bag awkwardly. “For you, just a thank you. I know she can be a little demanding.”
You peeked inside, eyebrows lifting in surprise. “Is…are these pink fuzzy socks?”
He rubbed the back of his neck, a faint blush creeping up into his cheeks, “They matched a blanket I saw. In one of the photos. I figured…y’know, you like that color.”
“That’s dangerously observant,” you said, smiling. “Thank you, this wasn’t necessary. She really was great, once she warmed up to me. She just kinda started following me everywhere.”
Bucky glanced down at Alpine, now doing figure-eights around his boots, occasionally sniffing at the other bag in his hand. “She chose you. I was scrolling for ages trying to figure it out until she just…tapped on your picture.”
“Well, she’s welcome anytime.” You hesitated, like you wanted to say more. “Though…hopefully next time it’s just a vacation, not an international incident.”
Bucky must have looked shocked, because for all intents and purposes, you thought he was just on a work trip. He had mentioned nothing of what he was up to. He didn’t even think you knew who he was.
“Saw you on the news with Captain America,” you said sheepishly, shrugging like it was no big deal.
He tilted his head in surprise, “You mean Sam?”
“Yeah,” you said matter-of-factly. “He looked real good in that flying suit. People should stop giving him so much shit about it.”
That landed harder than it should have. Most people were unsure when John Walker was labelled Captain America, and even more people were hesitant and skeptical when they saw Sam holding that shield. You’d just said it like it was obvious, without a shadow of doubt.
Bucky cleared his throat, “I won’t tell him you said that. It’ll go right to his already inflated ego.”
You laughed softly, nodding. “Noted. If I meet him, no more compliments.”
“Yeah,” he chuckled in return. “So…have you eaten yet?”
You blinked in surprise, eyes widening slightly. “No, not yet.”
Bucky lifted the second bag slightly. “There’s some food in here. I did bring extra salmon for Alpine, but also potatoes, broccoli, I think some kind of salad. Sam’s sister sent me off with enough to feed a family of six. I was just gonna reheat it at home, but…if you’re hungry, I thought maybe…”
“Yes,” you said, before he could finish. “I mean, sure. Yeah. Sounds good.”
Bucky relaxed a little, cracking the smallest smile. “Cool.”
Alpine let out a loud, impatient meow from between the two of your feet, rubbing around your ankles. You looked down at the little cat, “I think she either approves, or just wants her salmon.”
“Well, guess we shouldn’t keep her waiting.” Bucky said, nodding towards the kitchen.
“Right,” you agreed, taking the bag from his hand. “But just so we’re clear, I really enjoyed having Alpine around. I might demand visitation rights when I realize I miss her too much.”
Bucky followed, smirking, “We might need to get her approval first, but we can negotiate terms over dinner.”
Please drop a like or comment if you enjoyed! This author thrives off of words of affirmation. :3
Banners & Dividers made by me
For Abbot, could I please get a fic where she's a resident, and a fixer, always making sure the others are okay, checking up on them as well, and making sure they eat, lending a near for anything but she has a tendency to forget about herself. Maybe Abbot notices and sorta just quietly begins doting on her but her own forgetfulness results in her fainting and the Pitt to kinda be like "work mom fainted." Jack could notice her fading and being the one to start fussing over her like she fusses over everyone else. 🥰
I love this. I just read three utterly devastating fics about Jack, and I need to be revived by a sweet, happy reader and Jack. Hope you like!
Get What You Put Into the World
Jack Abbot x f!resident!reader
words: 3.5k
Warnings: self-neglect, sunshine reader to anyone and everyone, forgetting she needs her own sunshine too, soft!Jack, overprotective!Jack, fluff!!,
rimunagenius speaks: I'm back and writing after the long ass hiatus, and I've never been happier y'all, i dont know what to do with myself. Had to come back and proofread bc no one told me this looked a mess :((
-
"Work, Mom has entered the building!" This is how Mateo had greeted you every shift. He took pride in the title, as did you, but he loved to refer to you as such due to the endless number of times you made sure he had a snack while working triage.
"I'm here, how is my little duckling doing?" You smiled at him fondly, handing him a breakfast croissant from Better Buzz on the way to work.
His smile grew wide, before giving you a 'thank you' side hug, before stashing it under the check-in counter where his lunch resides. You walked to the lockers, packing your things away and grabbing what you needed for the incoming night shift.
"Hey Robby, brought you something." You slid a cookie-dough cake pop from Dutch Bros. his way. You found out he liked these when you had been greeting Dana at the nurses' station, and he snuck a bite while updating his final chart before he was heading home. "You could've just asked, you know," and a small "Yeah, but it was calling my name, had to think fast," followed. You had turned it into a ritual and brought him one every other shift.
Something about leaving a buffer day so he could feel like he was actually staying fit and watching his calorie intake. You left Jack's on the counter, sticky note already on it. He walked up next to Robby when you resumed the conversation with Dana, her husband's attempt at making her a nice dinner for their anniversary, making you giggle and smile so brightly, you hadn't noticed he snuck a bigger bite of the cakepop you had left unattended again. Leaving you with one small final bite, your first one at that. Dana sighed, giving them the unamused look she always directed at the pair when they were together, catching their attention. "Not you too," and Jack shot you a smile, mouth full of the pink cakepop.
"Oh, thank you." He greeted you with a hug and patted your back. "You shouldn't have." Dragging out the final word as he unwrapped the delectable treat from the bag.
"It was nothing, really. Figured you needed it after the morning you've had." You smiled at him softly, placing your stethoscope on your neck, reaching for a tablet to see if you needed to pick up someone's admitted patient.
"No, really, you shouldn't have." He said, or tried to, as he was already backpedaling towards the exit, bag slung on his shoulders, mouth full, half the cakepop already gone. You couldn't help the chuckle that left your lips as you had set the tablet down, figuring you'd wait for the next five minutes for Jack to start rounds.
You made it a habit to take care of everyone you worked with. Including day shift. It wasn't long ago that you were on the same shift. You had been a senior resident, your attending doctor position hopefully nearing soon.
Besides that, you just wanted to take care of the people who devoted their lives to caring for everyone else. It was the least you could do. Everyone had taken notice of this.
You were greatly appreciated at the PTMC. You were the ED's very own ray of sunshine in gloomy energy that came with treating traumas, successful or not. You were happy with the occasional flowers you got for Valentine's in return, but you didn't do it for the potential reward; you did it because you simply...wanted to.
You had left a drink carrier on the counter, labeled with your fellow residents names, their fav coffees to start their shift off on the rght foot. It wasn't until you were tripple checking that you had remembered everyone's orders that Dr. Abbot had walked up behind you.
"Greetings, sunshine." His face was glued to the tablet in his one hand, placing the coffee cup from his run to get coffee before work, onto the counter. He shot a glance your way. It wasn't lost on him that you seemed to take care of everyone. Working in healthcare, especially in the busiest ER in the city of Pittsburgh, can take a lot from you. Hell, it took a lot from him, even after everything he went through during his active duty and service in the military.
He adored that you hadn't let it take that from you. Your welcoming demeanor remains intact, the big smiles shared with not just your coworkers but patients, too. You were exceptional at your job. He knew it, and everyone knew it. You had the highest patient satisfaction scores on night shift, beating out Shen in your first week.
Because he happened to notice everything, he noticed that while you were busy taking care of everyone else, you often forgot about yourself. He'd pride himself on his perceptiveness and how well he could read others and see things that other people missed. Which is why when he noticed your brows knitting together while counting the coffee cups you brought for everyone else, you had realized you forgot your own.
"I'm already on it, don't worry." He slid the cup he had placed on the counter just seconds ago, your way. He admits he had to ask around for your order, not fully knowing it by heart, but knowing that you liked the biggest size so you could make it last, not too much ice so when the ice melts you don't lose the sweet but bitter taste of your coffee, and that you hated black coffee and preferred something sweeter like milk and caramel in it.
Fitting to your personality, if you asked him.
You turned and faced him, a shocked expression on your face. "Hi, Dr. Abbot." You were puzzled as to how he knew you had forgotten to order your own coffee this morning. You hadn't even announced that yet. "Wha- How'd you know." You smiled at him widely, taking the Iced Golden Eagle, with extra caramel and soft top on it.
"This is the third time this week you've forgotten about your coffee, sweetheart. Figured it was bound to happen again." You blushed embarrassingly at the fact he noticed, but more at the fact that you should've learned by the second time to not forget about yourself too. He felt a wave of warmth when he watched you take a sip and hum to yourself softly as you enjoyed the drink.
"Thank you so much! You shouldn't have, I could've gotten a coffee on a break from the break room." You glanced at his soft expression, one that you hoped would soften with every coming night shift. You were going to make it your mission to soften the 'tough, brooding Jack Abbot.'
"We both know that'd be your worst nightmare. Don't worry about it, kid. It was nothing, really." He shot you a quick wink, it was so quick you thought you missed it.
If you wouldn't remember to include yourself, he would. It was easily going to become his new favorite way to chase a high. Pleasing the biggest people pleaser, in a good way, of course, he knew.
-
There was six hours of your shift left. It had been pretty busy to where everyone snagged whatever downtime they had left to get a snack, catch up on charting or to use the bathroom. Not that the downtime was long enough for either anyways.
The lull in the ED was very welcome by everyone. No new traumas, enough nurses to cover triage, so when you walked up to Ellis, who seemed to be scrounging her lunch bag for a snack and failed miserably, you offered your help.
You threw a granola bar across the counter, taking a seat right next to her. "Thanks, Sunshine. My lifesaver." She immediately tore into the wrapper taking a swift bite.
"Anytime." You were looking forward to that granola bar, actually. It had been the last one in your pantry, and your paycheck wouldn't clear until two days from now. You would just have to add it to the grocery list.
Shen wasn't far behind, rounding the corner of the hallway, the trauma room 4 door closing behind him. He let out an exasperated sigh, plopping in the rolling chair next to you guys.
He rolled a few centimeters, but he didn't seem to mind as his arms were crossed over his eyes, and he rested his head over the back of the chair. "You hungry? Need to eat before the wind picks up in here."
Unbeknownst to your group, your attending, Dr. Abbot, had been watching from across the way. He was glancing at the board, a boy about eight years old, waiting for the results to come back from the lab about his stomachache. Couldn't be more than just a regular, harmless ache. Another patient suffering from a concussion, taking a rest in trauma three in the dark, before being discharged.
He had nothing to do, which was rare, and during this time, he would usually be making his way to the vending machine for a snack and a new cup of coffee. Which he now fully intended on doing when he watched you slide your last two snacks that were in your scrub pockets to Shen.
Damn you and your need to help everyone, he thought to himself.
It was admirable, really. He never saw anyone as giving as you. He called it your biggest strength, but it also seemed to be your biggest weakness because you couldn't refuse. Even when you knew you needed to.
He got two bag of chips from the vending machine. He saw you scarf a bag of cheddar ruffles enough times to know you prefered those the most, and he even grabbed himself one.
He made a detour to the break room, his lunch bag tucked away in the corner of the counter, hoarding his other snacks for the rest of the shift. He grabbed his last granola bar and decided you needed this win more than he did.
He was on his way out when you had walked in, a small sigh escaping your lips. You hadn't noticed him yet as you sat at the table and put your head down until you were needed elsewhere.
You were very tired, and you hadn't known why. You probably didn't get enough sleep last night. Maybe you were hungry, but you wouldn't go get a snack because you're trying to preserve the rest of your last paycheck for groceries for the next two days.
"You need to eat." His voice caught you by surprise. You popped your head up and gave him a tired smile.
"Hey, Dr. Abbot. Fancy seeing you here." You joked, a stupid grin on your face, before shooting him the most unserious wink. You couldn't even wink properly, which made the interaction all the more comical.
He himself was shocked when he chuckled softly at the horrible wink and unfunny joke. Perhaps that's why what was supposed to be unfunny was funny, because it was you doing it.
"Hello to you too. Here, eat this." He slid the bag of chips and a granola bar your way before turning and grabbing a water bottle from the fridge a few feet away. He slid that your way, too. "Watched you give away your snacks, figured you may be hungry."
You gaped at him. He had seen that? Seemed like today, he seemed to notice a lot of things that you had been doing. You were hoping you'd find a new snack in your lunchbox, that happened to be next to his, that you had missed like you had been the last few weeks.
"I don't want to take your food. You should eat too." You suggested, a longing gaze for the chips infront of you selling you out.
"Take the damn snack. Don't worry about me. You're who I'm worried about," He slid the snacks closer to you, reaching and opening the back of the chips, and reaching in and grabbing one. Holding it out to you, waiting for you to open your mouth. "Now eat."
You obliged and opened your mouth, a satisfied groan coming from your chest when he placed the chip in your mouth, and he grabbed another, waiting for you to finish.
"You don't have to feed me the chips, you know." You chuckled softly at the gesture. He was acting like a doting husband. Not that you wanted that, not that you didn’t either. Well, who complains about a good-looking older man hand-feeding you your favorite chips? I mean, it's Jack Abbot, so you would not dare complain, but he didn't have to, is all.
"Making sure you eat is all," He fed you the one that was in his hand. He watched as you took the chip in your mouth. Feeling accomplished that he was able to get you like this. To eat, yes. But to allow him this close to you, to allow him to perform this act of service to you. "You're always taking care of everybody else, but who takes care of you?" He whispered.
You noticed he scooted closer in his chair, his knee barely kissing yours under the table. You let him feed you the chips, and you watched as he unwrapped the granola bar for you. That he let you eat by yourself, but he opened the water bottle, and made sure you at least drank half before returning to your shift.
You thanked him, adorning that sweet smile, grabbing his hand, and thanking him for his service to you. He watched as you walked out the door. The phantom feeling of your hand dragging away from his as you walked out with a newfound pep in your step after being energized was a massive win for him.
He liked doing this. Taking care of you.
-
You don't know why you suddenly couldn't catch your breath. You had been treating and talking to a geriatric patient before politely excusing yourself because you suddenly felt dizzy and lightheaded. You had snacks, you had water, you remember because Jack had literally hand-fed you.
In hindsight, you realized you hadn't been hydrating as much as you'd liked. The last time you had water was when you were with Jack, but you only had half the bottle.
That was 5 hours ago. You thought you could make it through the rest of the shift without a break. But what you didn't take into account was the fact that the ER had gone increasingly busy over the last several hours.
A car pileup takes up all of your time and has you running from room to room to help med students and jump into action. You hadn't sat down, hadn't eaten a real meal, the lunch you brought for yourself being forgotten in the breakroom fridge.
You were walking down the hall, passing Matteo. "You're not looking so hot. You doing okay?" Your cheeks were flushed, somehow the room felt like it was spinning, and your steps faltered just barely. Noticeable to you to know something was wrong, easily passable as a trip to others.
"No, y-yeah. I'm fine. Don't worry about it. Just need water." You patted his shoulder, convincing him enough to let you off on your own. He turned to make sure you had been okay, and he just kept on.
You got to the nurses desk and grabbed your water bottle you had left there. You popped the lid open, and only a single drop escaped, barely replenshing the declining state you had been in. Uh oh. This was not good.
You had given some water to a little boy here waiting for his brother. He was crying and wandered out of the room, and you had scooped him up while you attempted to drink water. Water bottle in hand, he started to ask about your stickers, enamored with a Spiderman one your nephew had stuck on there weeks ago.
He proclaimed his undying thirst to you, and you trying to appease the solemn boy, you told him you knew Spiderman could help, and before you know it, you had let him have the whole thing. "Damnit." You turned to go retrieve more water, maybe a snack, your stomach quite frankly speaking to you because you missed your lunch three hours ago.
Jack had been discarding his gown and gloves after leaving one of the final pile up victims. Fluids he didn’t wish to identify plastering his gown, and a little bit of his shoes. He looked up, spotted you, and was on his way to check on you when he saw you almost trip yourself with your own feet.
He started to push quicker, watching the cold sweat forming rapidly as he rounded your side to hoist you up. "Whoa, slow down. Are you okay? I was just coming to check on you." He said softly, his voice going from stern and serious to soft and concerned.
"Yeah, just hungry and thirsty. I was on my way to the break room." You said, wiping a little sweat off your forehead. You were really hungry. The snack wrappers that you let the other have earlier were just left there to taunt you on the counter behind him. You really should've just stashed one for yourself, you thought.
He let go of your arm; you were completely unaware he had grabbed you to stabilize you, and the second you looked away from him, the spinning room suddenly started to get really dark as you fell. You were sure you were about to faint. The last thing you remember was Jack Abbot's look of concern before your eyes closed.
You woke up n a hospital bed. Unsure of what had happened, you looked around to find Matteo checking your vitals. His face going from serious to worried when he saw you had opened your eyes.
"Should've double checked on you." He whispered. You grabbed his wrist, offering him a small smile.
"Don't worry about it. It's really my fault. Should've eaten something." You shrugged because there was really nothing you could've done now. It already happened and now you just needed to hydrate and eat something. No need for others to feel guilty over something you could’ve prevented. Didn’t need to inconvenience them.
The door opened, and in walked your favorite three musketeers. Dana offered a small smile, Robby offering a sympathetic look, and Jack rounding the bed and sitting down next to you.
"Are you okay? Do you need something? You need food." You watched as Abbot rambled on with the things you needed.
"Yeah, Matteo came running after Jack carried you in here, screaming, 'Work mom fainted.'" She giggled at your 'are you serious' look, you shot the nurse.
"I agree, you need to eat. Listen to the doctor." Robby shrugged, his hands in his sweater pockets.
You lay there as everyone came and went, watching you while you lay down for a bit. Jack left, saying something about bringing you food. They were really being dramatic for a little fainting, you thought.
"Not to be dramatic, but what were you thinking?" It was just you in the room, Jack making his way over back to your bedside after closing the door behind him. A tupperware in hand, soft steam following him from your warmed-up lunch.
"What do you mean, Dr. Abbot?" You sighed happily as you saw the bowl of your lunch, your stomach clearly sharing the same excitement as you both heard it grumble softly. You wasted no time taking the fork and shoveling a mouthful into your face.
"Jack, please. But why do you insist on taking care of everyone else and clearly forgetting the most important person." His tone is not scolding you, but sounding more like a concerned friend. Although he would like to get mad at you for allowing yourself to let it get this far, he wouldn't because you didn't deserve it.
"'Dunno. Figured they needed it more than me."
"Just because they're bad at hiding their needs, doesn't mean you need to completely disregard yours, you know." He gave you a pointed look, as if to silently tell you that you were not winning this argument with him.
"I love that you have a big heart, but you really need to make sure you eat and are well before walking around here til you drop. Literally." You chuckled softly, tucking your head down, taking another well-needed bite of your food. Cheeks flushing with embarrassment that you had literally dropped in the ER at the end of your shift, just because you couldn't bear to see your friends dragging their feet because they were hungry.
You just didn't want to see them suffer, you suppose. Clearly forgetting that you couldn't either. How are patients supposed to be satisfied if you quite literally drop?
"Gotta love the dedication, though, sweetheart. First resident I've ever had who worked til they literally couldn't."
"Oh, that's really embarrassing, but also makes me feel cool. Gotta keep those patient satisfaction scores up somehow, ammiright?" You lulled your head in his direction, an amused look on his face.
"If you wanted to go home early, you could've just said that." He laughed.
"Oh, shut up." You both sat there. He watched as you ate your lunch and drank your freshly refilled water, the full bottle and a half, this time. Before you know it, you were "discharged" as the Pitts patient, and you and Jack walked out side by side.
I like you like this
loverboy & his sunshine ☼ • fluff • established relationship
♡ 10:41 p.m - Steve’s bedroom, lamp lit, a book a little too quiet in his hands.
you know how Steve feels about his glasses, he knows how you feel about them, and if you have to tell him a million times, you will
You’re sprawled across Steve, cheek pressed to his chest, fingers absentmindedly playing with the tufts of hair there, your legs tangled with his beneath the sheet.
You’re in one of his old shirts—the soft, worn off-navy one you claimed weeks ago—hair tied up, body loose, comfortable in a way that feels second nature to you.
Comfort has always come easy to you when you’re with Steve—easy when he treats it like his second full-time job.
He’s laid out beneath you, still a little damp from his shower, hair curling slightly at the ends, stubble left untouched because he was too tired to deal with it—and because you’ve made it abundantly clear how much you like it when he doesn’t.
One of his hands rests on you, warm and steady, thumb brushing slowly along the back of your neck, occasionally catching in the loose strands of your hair. The other holds a book.
Your book.
It’s become routine—late nights, low light, taking turns reading to each other until one, or more often both, of you drifts off. Usually whoever’s had the worse day gets read to, but more often than not Steve insists, claiming letting you rest somehow makes even his worst days better.
Tonight is no different.
His voice is soft above you, steady at first, the rise and fall of it something you could probably fall asleep to if you let yourself. You’re not even fully paying attention to the story, more focused on the warmth of him, the way his chest moves under your cheek, the way his thumb keeps tracing the same slow pattern at the nape of your neck.
Then he hesitates.
Barely.
But it’s not the first—nor the fifth—time it’s happened tonight.
A pause where there shouldn’t be one, his chest tightening just slightly beneath you, the rhythm of his voice stuttering before it picks back up again, slower now, more careful.
Your fingers still against his shirt, listening properly this time, and there it is again—a stumble over a word, a quiet clearing of his throat, like he’s trying to smooth it over before you notice.
You do.
Of course you do.
You notice when the boy blinks.
You lift your head just enough to look at him, your chin resting lightly against his chest. His brows are drawn together, eyes narrowed slightly at the page like he’s trying to force the words into focus.
“Hey,” you murmur softly.
His eyes flick down to you immediately, instinctive, already halfway to brushing it off. “M’fine,” he says, a little too quick, thumb stilling briefly at your neck before it resumes like nothing happened. “Just—light’s weird or something.”
It isn’t. You both know that.
You don’t call him out on it—not directly. Instead, you push yourself up slowly, careful not to make it a big thing, your hand sliding over his chest as you shift until you’re hovering above him, one knee settling beside his hip.
He watches you, a little confused, book lowering slightly in his grip as his eyes track your movement.
“Hold on,” you say, so soft it’s like you’re careful not to spook him.
Your hand reaches back to the nightstand, fingers closing around his glasses where he left them earlier—after another day of refusing to wear them.
When you bring them back into view, you pause for just a second, letting him see what you’re doing, giving him the chance to protest if he wants to.
He just looks at you, something quieter settling in his expression, something a little unsure but he doesn’t pull away.
You shift closer, your free hand coming up to his jaw, thumb brushing lightly along the line of stubble before you tilt his face just enough, and he lets you, eyes soft, fixed on yours as you slide the glasses onto him carefully.
They settle into place and you can’t resist a soft little boop to his nose, earning a small, surprised smile from him before it fades into something shyer.
He goes a little still.
Then his gaze drops, not to you, but to the frames, like he suddenly doesn’t know what to do with himself now that they’re on, his eyes going slightly cross-focused for a second as he adjusts, which only makes him look more endearing, but you don’t react—you don’t want him to overthink it, even if you know your expression has gone a little too fond to hide.
“Uh—okay, so…” he mutters, voice a little off, a little shy, fingers coming up to adjust them even though they don’t need it, buying himself a second before he glances back down at the book like he can just… continue.
You don’t let him. Your fingers slip under his chin, gentle but certain, tipping his face back toward you before he can disappear into the page again.
The glasses slide slightly down his nose with the movement.
You push them back up with your thumb, soft, your touch lingering just a second longer than necessary.
“How many times do I have to tell you this, Stevie?” you murmur.
His breath catches.
You’re so close now, your voice low but full of sincerity. “I like you like this.”
He goes pink almost instantly, the flush creeping up from his neck to his cheeks, eyes flicking between yours.
Your fingers don’t leave him. They slide from his chin up into his hair, slow, threading lightly through the soft strands before trailing back down along the side of his face, over his cheek, across the faint scratch of stubble.
He leans into it instinctively.
Just a little.
You feel it.
See it.
The way his shoulders drop, the way his grip on the book loosens completely, his thumb still sweeping slow, absent circles along the back of your neck, leaving a soft trail of goosebumps in its wake.
“Yeah?” he says, voice lightly wavering, heavy with emotion.
You smile, soft, your thumb brushing once more over his cheekbone, right beneath the frame of his glasses.
“Yeah,” you repeat, knowing you’d say it a million times over if that’s what it took—if it meant chasing away that small, uncertain look in his eyes and replacing it with the soft, honey-warm smile that only ever seems to be yours.
You don’t rush it, don’t break the softness of the moment—you just stay there, your chin resting against his chest, your thumb still tracing just beneath the frame of his glasses, your hand still warm against his skin.
And when that smile finally settles on his lips—slow, soft, a little shy but yours—
you lean in just enough, voice barely above a whisper.
“See?” you murmur.
“told you, Stevie.”
loverboy steve masterlist ♡
P.S. first time writing sunshine reader… be gentle ♡
P.P.S. slowly getting used to writing blurbs… (apparently not short ones) ♡ requests are open!
Hiiiii!! I love your fics!! its so good especially the angst🙂↕️...can you also write another angst(im sorry i just love being emotionally hurt😭) with comfort as well please? Where Natasha x fem reader and she snaps at reader and hurts her feelings? But then apologizes later to her and they make up? Or make out🤭😂
Bad Mood
Natasha Romanoff x Fem!Reader
[A/N] Thank you for the request lovely! Hope you enjoy this one ❤️
There’s no one that Natasha loves more than you. You’re the first person who never wanted anything from her – just her company was enough. As you weren’t an Avenger you were also one of the first people to sit with her and completely let your guard down. Natasha hadn’t been used to that – how openly trusting you were. She’d been trained to be suspicious of everyone – any little girl in the Red Room who was too trusting had soon paid the price.
But around you she could finally fully relax and let her guard down. Natasha knows you don’t have a bad bone in your body. It would never occur to you to manipulate, to lie, to cheat. There’s no ulterior motive with you – you’re always 100% you. What you see is what you get.
Natasha’s been dating you for nine months now and you haven’t fought once. You haven’t even come close once.
So Natasha feels guilty when she causes your first fallout.
You’ve come round to visit her at the compound. Natasha had invited you the day before and she’d been looking forward to it. She was always glad to spend time with you. But Natasha hadn’t predicted just how difficult her day was about to get. Fury discovers she made a mistake on their last mission and chews her out for it for half-an-hour. In training she ends up paired with Peter Parker who talks her ear off when she’s already irritated after her discussion with Fury and she ends up snapping him, causing him to look like a wounded puppy which makes her feel guilty as well as irritated. When she goes for lunch she spills her drink down her new t-shirt and in the afternoon she has to sit in a long, pointless meeting where everyone talks without actually saying anything.
Natasha’s on her way to her room when she remembers that you’re coming over. As you’re dating Natasha you’ve been granted clearance to the compound but there are certain areas you can’t enter unattended. You’re in the living room waiting for Natasha and she sighs, just wanting to lie down. She tells herself it will be fine – you can both have a quiet night in together. Maybe it will make her feel better.
“Nat!” You beam, getting up and throwing your arms around her. You’re always so physically affectionate, always wanting to cuddle or hold her hand. So far Natasha had found it endearing. Today she feels a stab of irritation though she tries to push it down as she loosely hugs you back “Have you had a good day?”
Natasha just nods and mumbles “Better now you’re here.”
You kiss her cheek and then pull back slightly to look at her, your eyes bright. You’re always so happy. It’s never bothered Natasha before but now she feels slightly annoyed by it. It’s like there’s never anything in your life to leave you feeling sad or stressed “I was thinking we could maybe go out.” You say “I really fancy going somewhere fun like bowling or to the arcade-”
Natasha closes her eyes at the thought, already feeling a headache forming. She shakes her head “That’s- I would’ve loved to but today- Today has been long and I just fancy a cosy night in. If that’s okay?”
“You might feel better if we go out?”
Natasha sighs “I just… I’d really rather not tonight.”
You pout but press another kiss to her cheek “Okay. Why don’t we cook something and then we could play some video games or something? I’m so excited to play the next levels on Overcooked-”
Natasha remembers the last time you both played ‘Overcooked’ and the thought makes her stomach sink “I’m not… Really in an ‘Overcooked’ mood tonight. Cooking something sounds good though. Then maybe we could just watch a movie and cuddle.”
“Alright if that’s what you fancy.” You say easily, kissing her cheek again as if you’re physically unable to stop yourself giving her little kisses.
You both head into the kitchen. There are a few other Avengers in there all sorting out their own dinner and you smile, chatting easily to all of them. You have that affect on people, everyone always seems drawn to you. Natasha feels a pang of jealousy in her gut, hot and heavy as a stone. She has no idea where it’s come from – she’s always loved how well you get on with the rest of the Avengers. It bodes well for your future together. But tonight she wants all your attention to herself.
Natasha wraps an arm around your waist as you begin working, making no attempt to help you, just keeping a possessive arm around you. The other Avengers finally leave them alone and she leans her head on your shoulder. It makes it more difficult for you as you chop and prepare but you don’t say anything.
You start singing under your breath. This is another one of your little habits that you do often and Natasha’s never minded but now the sound of your soft voice sends a wave of irritation through her. She closes her eyes, focusing on the feel of her arm around your waist but she can still hear you singing softly. You don’t have a bad voice but something about the way you’re singing softly just grates on her for some reason. After a few lines you stop and Natasha breathes a sigh of relief when you suddenly start again and she loses it.
“Will you fucking stop with that annoying singing?” Natasha snaps, letting go of your waist “Why are you always in such a goddamn good mood, huh? News flash Y/N, shit goes on in this world. Not that you’d know anything about that.”
“Nat-” Before you can say anything further Natasha storms out of the room, ignoring the way her heart twists at your crestfallen expression.
She stomps to her room, sitting down on the edge of her bed and burying her head in her hands as she takes several deep breaths. Deep down she knows she’s the asshole. You hadn’t done anything wrong and she was taking out her bad day on you. Her eyes fill with tears. Why is she like this? You’ve seen the side of herself she’d fought so hard to keep hidden. How grumpy and irritable she can get over the tiniest things. Why would a lovely, sunshine girl like you want to date her? You deserved better than her.
Natasha was selfish though. She wanted to keep you.
After about ten minutes Natasha rises from her bed, ready to come and find you when suddenly her bedroom door opens and you appear holding two bowls of food “Hey baby,” You say softly “I got our food.”
Natasha blinks, tears still in her eyes as you cross the room and sit down on Natasha’s bed – on the side that you’ve officially declared your side. She says nothing as she silently reaches out and takes the bowl you hold out to her. You smile “You mentioned a movie, did you have anything in mind?”
“No, I… I’m happy to watch whatever you want.” Natasha says in a quiet, subdued voice.
“Coolio, I’ve really wanted to watch ‘Companion’, I heard it’s good.” You flick through the streaming services.
Natasha puts down her bowl and looks at you “Y/N… I’m sorry.”
You smile at her “It’s okay-”
“No! No, it’s not okay.” Natasha says, tears starting to spill down her cheeks “I’m- I don’t want to be like this Y/N, you deserve better. I shouldn’t snap at you like that, I-”
“Hey.” You reach over and take Natasha’s hands in your own “I’m not gonna lie Nat, you hurt my feelings. Okay? But Steve and Sam told me you’d had a shit day. And I probably should’ve picked up on that earlier.”
“It’s not your responsibility to track my mood.” Natasha sniffles “I shouldn’t have snapped at you like that.”
“We’re gonna snap at each other.” You squeeze her hands “If anything… You’ve gotten comfortable around me. To snap at me like that.”
Natasha rolls her eyes with a tearful, affectionate smile “Trust you to put a positive spin on me being such a bitch.” She suddenly wraps her arms around you, pulling you onto her lap.
You laugh and squeal “Nat, I’m gonna spill my food everywhere.”
She takes the bowl out of your hand, putting it next to hers and then presses kisses to your face “Thanks for cooking but… There’s something I need more than food right now.”
You giggle as she keeps kissing your face and holds you tightly in her lap “Oh yeah? What do you need?”
“You.” Natasha kisses your lips, kissing you almost desperately “I love you. I love you so much. Please don’t leave me.”
“Nat, I’d never-”
“I’m serious. I know I can be moody sometimes. I know I can be a lot. But I do love you. More than I’ve ever loved anyone.” Natasha leans her forehead against yours “I need you. And I’ll do my best to show you that every day. I promise.”
You smile and kiss her back “Seriously though, I worked hard on this food. Can we eat it?”
Natasha laughs, handing you back your bowl and adjusting you so you’re sat right next to her. She wants to keep you within arm’s reach, fully intending to pull you back into her lap as soon as she’s finished eating. She still feels guilty for upsetting you – she knows you’re downplaying how much it upset you. That beneath that sunshine exterior is a woman who’s hurting but hides it from everyone. It was cruel to say what she said. But she’ll make it up to you. Today and every day.
sunny was never late. if anything, she was usually early. she liked having time to settle down, organize her things, and prepare herself before classes started. that was why rushing through the crowded hallways of a brand-new school on her very first day felt like a complete disaster.
she hurried down the hallway, holding her bag tightly against her shoulder while trying not to trip over her own feet. her heart was beating fast from both running and nervousness.
first day. new school. new people. new everything.
after a quick meeting with the principal, she finally found the classroom she was looking for.
physics.
taking a deep breath, she straightened her sweater, fixed her skirt, and gently knocked on the door. “come in.” sunny pushed the door open. the classroom immediately fell silent.
the teacher stopped talking. every student turned to look at her. for a moment, sunny felt completely frozen. she offered a nervous smile.
her blonde hair rested neatly on her shoulders, her blue eyes quickly scanning the room while she tried not to panic. she looked confident on the outside, but inside she could already feel anxiety twisting in her stomach from all the attention.
“um…good morning, i—”
“you must be sunshine.” the teacher’s voice interrupted her. sunny blinked. “oh…yes. i’m sorry i’m late, i—”
“go sit down.” his serious tone made her stop immediately. “okay.” she nodded politely and smiled again before looking around the room.
there was only one empty seat left. all the way in the back. her heart sank. she hated sitting in the back. she always preferred sitting near the front where she could focus and hear everything clearly.
but she didn’t have much of a choice. carefully, she walked between the rows until she reached the empty desk. someone was already sitting beside it. a boy wearing a black hoodie. hood up. head lowered.
for a moment sunny wondered how he wasn’t getting in trouble for wearing it in class. but she quickly pushed the thought away. she never liked judging people she didn’t know. quietly, she sat down and then she smiled at him.
“i’m sunshine.” the boy slowly turned his head. his face was pale. tired. his dark eyes met hers for a brief second. then he simply looked away and turned back toward the front.
sunny blinked. but she didn’t take it personally. instead, she smiled to herself and opened her notebook.
the boy’s name was matt. most people didn’t know much about him and honestly, matt preferred it that way. he wasn’t the type to start conversations. he wasn’t the type to tell people what was happening inside his head. especially not now. he spent most of his days moving through life quietly. helping people when they needed something. being there when someone asked. listening when others talked.
because he knew what it felt like to need help and not know where to find it. but when it came to himself…he never asked. not out loud.
a few minutes later, matt felt gentle tap on his shoulder. he turned. sunny was smiling again. this time she looked slightly embarrassed.
“um…do you have a pen i could borrow?” her voice was soft and polite. matt looked down at his desk. he only had one. his only pen. without saying a word, he handed it to her.
sunny’s face immediately brightened. “thank you.” she smiled before returning to her notes. matt didn’t answer. he simply looked forward again.
he didn’t care that he couldn’t write anything now. it didn’t seem important. nothing really did.
a few moments later, he glanced toward sunny. she was carefully writing in a pink notebook. her handwriting looked neat and organized.
a few strands of blonde hair kept falling into her face while she focused on the teacher. every now and then she would tuck them behind her ear before continuing to write.
she listened carefully. completely focused. completely unaware that matt was watching her. there was something strange about her. something bright. something warm.
her floral perfume lingered faintly in the air around them. it was distracting. far more distracting than the lesson. matt looked away. yet somehow he found himself glancing back again.
and again.
and again.
eventually the bell rang. chairs scraped across the floor as students started packing their bags.
sunny carefully placed her books back inside her backpack. before leaving, she turned toward matt. she held out the pen.
“thank you.” he took it. sunny smiled one last time and then she left the classroom.and somehow the room felt a little emptier after she was gone.
later that afternoon, matt walked through the front door of the house. he barely made it inside before hearing laughter.
“chris, stop that!” aubrey was laughing uncontrollably while trying to push him away. chris only laughed harder. then he noticed matt. “look who’s finally home.” matt sighed immediately. “how was your day?” chris asked.
“leave me alone.”
“wow. somebody’s grumpy.”
aubrey giggled. matt grabbed a bottle of water from the kitchen.
“seriously brother,” chris continued. “what happened today?” matt took a long drink. “people.”
“people?” chris asked and matt sighed. “people who act like life is just sun and flowers.” aubrey and chris exchanged a quick look.
then aubrey smiled slightly. “speaking of sun…” matt already looked annoyed. “there’s a new girl at school.” chris raised an eyebrow. “oh?”
“sunshine or something.” the second aubrey said her name, matt immediately rolled his eyes and looked away. aubrey noticed instantly.
“ohhhh.” chris looked at her in confusion. “what?” aubrey pointed toward the kitchen where matt was standing. “matt, you’ve already met her.” for a second chris stared blankly. then realization suddenly hit him.
“ohhhh.” a grin spread across his face. “new girl for matt.”
“shut up, both of you.” matt immediately grabbed his water bottle and headed toward the stairs. behind him, aubrey started laughing. “i think she seems nice.”
“you should talk to her.” said chris to aubrey. “maybe i will.”
meanwhile, matt closed his bedroom door and leaned against it. for some reason, he could still remember her smile.
across town, sunny sat beside her bedroom window. the evening sun painted the room with soft golden light. her diary rested open on her lap. she had been writing in it every day for almost two years.
every memory. every thought. every feeling. carefully preserved on paper.
she smiled while writing about her first day. the new school. the new classroom. the teachers. the students.
the strange boy in the black hoodie who barely said a word. she wrote that the day had been wonderful. she wrote that everything was fine. that she loved her new school. that she was excited for tomorrow.
but when she paused and reread the page, she frowned slightly. because the truth wasn’t quite that simple. the teacher had been annoyed with her. someone laughed when she spilled juice on herself at lunch. the boy beside her barely acknowledged her existence. and she had spent most of the day feeling nervous.
so why was she writing that everything was perfect?
was it really perfect?
or was she trying to convince herself that life was always supposed to be sunshine and flowers?
she didn’t know.
so she closed the diary and stared out the window instead.
in another room across the city, matt sat quietly beside his own window. the house was silent. the evening sky had already turned dark.
he stared outside for a long time. lost in thoughts he couldn’t explain. thoughts he never shared. for weeks he had felt trapped inside his own head.
exhausted.
alone.
unable to see anything ahead of him.
but today had felt different. not because anything important happened. not really.
for the first time in a long time, matt found himself wondering about tomorrow. wondering what would happen if he stayed. wondering if maybe there was still something left worth waiting for.
author’s note: i already love them !! 🤍 let me know if you want to be on taglist
Ok ok, hear me out batfam x neglected pinkie pie personality reader, where she is all happy and energetic like pinkie pie wanting to make everyone smile who is a amazing baker! That leaves out fresh baked deserts(that got eaten fully by the bat siblings) where Bruce adopted her at an orphanage where it was burned down(being a past theory if pinkie pie was adopted). You know the mlp albridged version being mlp friendship is witchcraft being that one episode where pinkie sing to apple jack the song being “gypsy bard” where Bruce in his Batman suit ( and the mid life crises cape) (and you choose a different character if you like) and she sings this song to her friend on a rooftop who was sad and just Bruce flabbergasted at the song she sang. Can you do this if it’s not too much trouble
Also love your work!!!
Okayyy wait this is actually such an amazing idea (^^) so imma totally do it for you and I'm sorry it took me so long to see it 😞 I don't check bc I don't think people are going to ask actually so I'm super grateful!! And 💗 thank you so much !!
So on to the story-
Imagine this:
Bruce did not expect to walk into the ashes of an old orphanage late at night after patrolling the area and to find you — this tiny little sugar-powered gremlin with soot on your cheeks, clutching a half-burnt cupcake tray like it was your emotional support baked good.
You didn’t even cry.
You just looked up at this 6'2" man in bat costume, with a cape- with the biggest doe eyes.
“HIYA!! You look sad. Do you want a cupcake? It’s a little burnt but that just means it has character!” you state as you bounced on your feet, rocking.
Bruce:*processing very slowly*
And boom. Adoption papers all filled out and file away.
Fast-forward a few years… (idk maybe 2)
You’re basically the sunshine goblin of the manor — bouncing around like caffeine in human form, leaving cute notes and fresh desserts everywhere. The boys pretend they don’t like sweets but every night the kitchen is mysteriously RAIDED. All the snacks gone and ready to be restocked the next day.
When confronted-
Damian blames Jason.
Jason blames Tim.
Tim is unconscious on the floor from too much sugar.
Dick is wiping frosting off his face pretending he wasn’t involved.
Bruce is tired, with a migraine.
But they all love you, and your energy.
One of your brothers (choose your fave — Dick, Jason, Tim, Damian, Duke, whoever you want) is sitting on a rooftop, head down, clearly upset about something they won’t admit, after a mission gone bad. Just all the dramatic vibes really.
You creeping behind them after You FINALLY track them down with a basket of cookies and your blanket because baked goods = emotional CPR or better yet a sugar coma. ( But yk what's the difference when it's you-)
You plop down next to them, legs swinging over the edge like this is a perfectly normal place to have a snack, as you wrap the blanket around yourself.
They’re like, “I’m fine.” ( but yk better ovi)
You:
“You’re not fine. You’re brooding. That’s, like, level-three-Brooding-Pose. Bruce does level five.”
And before they can argue, you start humming.
Then singing.
Gypsy Bard — bright, fast, eerie, comforting.
Your voice echoing over Gotham rooftops, totally not fitting the vibe of the grimy city but somehow fixing everything anyway.
Your brother just stares at you like:
“…How are you real?”
And THEN—
Up behind you, Bruce lands in full Batman suit, cape dramatically flapping like a midlife-crisis bat blanket.
He stops. Just… stops.
Because HIS kid — the one he thought he saved — is now saving someone else with nothing but a silly, sweet childhood song and a smile, a basket of cookies, and a blanket wrapped around them.
You then finish the song, look at your brother:
“Feel better?”
They nod slowly. Because how could they not? (A little kid just sang them a song to cheer them up-like)
And Bruce?
Flabbergasted. Absolutely stunned.
He has no idea how someone so gentle yet chaotic ended up in his life but he’s so, so grateful.
He doesn’t say anything — he just sits down beside you both, letting you lean against his armored shoulder while you offer him a cookie.
He takes it.
And for once, Gotham feels small, warm, and okay.
To add on to this I believe Alfred would love to bake with the reader 💕 like genuinely love to have someone who wants to help and just have a pocket full of sunshine with him- to run errands n more! Well anyways I hope you liked it (^^)
⤿ DICK GRAYSON is full of life and smiles, then he meets you and he is given a reason to smile even during the hardest moments.
!! fluff. silly. headcanons. established relationship. fem reader. batboys version. modern ish au/not totally canon concepts. crack sorta. THIS IS SILLY bc to be cringe is to be free. i love sunshine x grumpy. ENJOY.
!! You met at a rooftop block party in Bludhaven. You were stringing up fairy lights and humming along to a playlist full of disco and pop. Dick showed up to check on noise complaints and ended up helping you hang the last strand.
!! You offered him a lemonade as a thank you for helping set up and said, “You look like someone who knows how to dance, you should stay for the party!” He grinned. “I do know how to dance, don't tempt me with a good time.”
!! You love to greet dogs on the street. On one of your first dates, the two of you were walking around a park and you waved and cooed at a puppy you past, and Dick did the exact same. That made you both just stop and stare at each other like you'd fallen in love immediately. (you totally had)
!! You both wave at kids in strollers. You both say “thank you” to bus drivers and compliment baristas on their latte art. It’s not performative, it’s just who you are.
You loved accessories. You had so many earrings, notebooks, different color shoelaces, tons of different bracelets, everything you had ever been gifted you kept.
!! Dick doesn’t wear many accessories, especially not the bright and jingly ones you do, but he’s the guy who’ll hold your sequined purse without flinching. He'll help you pick out which nail polish, and say “You look like literal sunshine, babe.” when you walk into the room.
!! You once gave him a star shaped pin you bought just for him, and now he wears it on his jacket pocket.
!! You both love movement. You dance in the kitchen, stretch on rooftops, race each other across crosswalks and parking lots.
!! You once challenged him to a cartwheel contest in the park, which he obviously won. You accused him of cheating via acrobat privilege. He kissed your cheek and teased, “You’re just mad I stuck the landing.”
!! You both talk with your hands. You both laugh easily. You both cry during movies even though Dick tries to hide it. You once caught him tearing up during a documentary about penguins. You handed him a tissue and said, “It’s okay. They’re very committed partners.” He sniffled and nodded.
!! You love giving gifts, and soon into your relationship you realized that the he also loved giving gifts. You leave sticky notes in his gear bag. He leaves flowers on your windowsill. You once gave him a homemade bookmark with a quote about hope. He gave you a first edition comic book with a handwritten note, “You're my favorite story.”
!! You may be lots of smiles and love, but life can get very overwhelming and the overstimulation gets to you. When this happens, he'll just wrap you in his arms and hum so that the noisiness of the world gets drowned out.
!! You learned how to comfort and ground him when he gets overwhelmed by responsibility. You just bring him to sit down, take away the tablet or files or any distractions, run your hands through his hair, and tell him the one thing that you mean with all your heart. “You don’t have to fix everything.”
!! You once showed up to a dinner wearing matching socks with Dick. You got them while you were on your way back from walking Haley, you saw the little blue bats and immediately bought them. At the dinner with his family, you hadn’t planned it. You just matched.
!! Jason groaned. Damian looked personally offended. Bruce blinked. Dick winked at you and said, “We’re just built different.”
!! You once brought very carefully decorated sugar cookies to the precinct where Dick was working for an ongoing mission. He tried to act cool, but the second you left, he handed them out like they were gold.
!! One of the cops asked, “Is she always like that?” Dick said, “Yeah. Isn’t it great?” He didn’t stop smiling for the rest of the shift.
!! When you’re both tired, you don’t talk much. You just curl up together with your legs tangled, hands linked, and your fingers tangled in his hair.
!! Dick hums sometimes, soft and low. You trace patterns on his back. It’s not dramatic or loud. It’s just safe.
!! The one thing that was your biggest flaw, or your best traits, you both believe in people. You both get hurt because of it, but you never stop trying. You once told him, “Hope isn’t naïve. It’s brave.”
!! He looked at you for a long time, then said, “You’re the bravest person I know.” You didn’t need him to say that, you weren't doubting yourself in the moment, but you kept those words filed away in your memory and you think of them every time the world feels too hard.
