IN WHICH you’re sick and refuse to eat, but it’s nothing that your beefy husband Bucky can’t help with.
WC: 2.5k
Warnings: vague mentions of smut, mentions of puke, beefy!bucky, INACCURATE VIKING UNITS, pregnancy(?).
A/N: my mom is the BIGGEST viking fan and yet idk anything abt em so…yes everything about this is inaccurate. From their beds to their huts but it’s fiction so who CARES.
A huge campfire was bustling outside your hut, that you knew. The sounds of men and women alongside their noisy children made the headache currently gnawing at your head just about 10 times worse. You’d been lying sick since this morning and if you were being honest with yourself, all you craved was for a good sip of water alongside the company of your dear husband.
Talking of, Bucky had been gone for far too long now. Even though he’d just gone on his regular routine as a fellow warrior, it helped that they’d only gone out to hunt that morning.
You suddenly winced as the high pitched wail of a kid adventuring far too close to your hut breached your ear drums, and from the thud that you’d heard a split second before, he’d taken a nasty fall to himself. It didn’t help that his father had chosen the front of your hut opening to reprimand his son, the headache feeling like it would burst out from your head and carve a hole through your skin at any moment now.
You couldn’t tell what sort of sickness you’d picked up on, but hell if you wouldn’t give up anything in your possession in that instant for an ounce of relief. Your stomach yelled at you for food, but the ache in your head only increased the growing nausea that came with your illness. You were sure that once you’d be healed and back on your feet, you’d kill whichever scum had passed on their bug to you.
Comfort only came as you curled over yourself, soft blankets warming you, the stitches and patches of soft furs from all sorts of animals that Bucky had hunted and skinned for you. You missed your husband so, so much more in your sick haze. Your eyes finally started to droop as you felt your body giving in to slumber, which was hard prior to the insane pounding at the far back of your head.
It didn’t take long for your vision to darken, your rumbling stomach being the furthest of your worries as a faint smile overtook your features as you felt the headache begin to dissipate as sleep pulled you in its arms. You could almost taste it, the sweet and victorious taste of relief, when-
“You are not joining us tonight?” And there it was, the pounding in your head almost immediately punched back to life at the loud sound of whoever that was that had breached your hut. You groaned in dismay, turning around reluctantly to find your sister looking at you in confusion. It didn’t help with the fact that she was your sibling, but at that instant you wanted nothing more than to rip her hairs straight from the root and craft yourself a rag doll with them out of spite.
“Get out.” you mumbled before rolling back, not missing the way her eyebrows furrowed at your rudeness. You’d treat her a little better if you felt a little better, but you didn’t, and to add to that the only person that you wanted with you right now was probably fighting off whatever beast was hiding in the forest.
She did, however, listen to you for what felt like the first time in your entire life as sisters. A content sigh left your lips at the newfound silence, as silent as it could be with a meal in preparation happening outside. Finally, you felt the warm arms of slumber welcoming you again in the embrace that you seeked so much, and it felt a little too good to be true. Maybe because you had a knack for jinxing yourself, but the sound of the hut door creaking again had you close to tears.
The sound of metal colliding against the floor however, gave you a brief idea that it was in fact not your sister. You didn’t have it in you to greet your husband, instead choosing to wallow in your pain as you held yourself like a dying child. You didn’t hear much from Bucky but the rustling of something that sounded big and meaty, probably a catch that he’d brought home to skin later.
On his side, Bucky was confused as to why you weren’t outside with the other people. It wasn’t that you didn’t know that the feast had arrived, and if you’d fallen asleep, the doubling in noise would’ve surely awakened even the deafest foe. He contemplated waking you up before his blue eyes fell upon the bucket of water by the door, as full as it was before he’d left home that morning.
With his eyebrow furrowed, Bucky kneeled beside you in all of his silence. You could hear the trinkets attached to his belt clanking against one another, his booted feet causing a heavy thud against the floor.
“You haven’t drunk, you haven’t eaten.” he stated as a matter of fact, and your undying silence threw him off. He’d been your husband long enough to know that you weren’t sleeping, eyelids shut as a decoy more than anything. The beefy brunette sighed at your actions, eyes flickering between the abandoned wooden plate that harboured his food, waiting for him in all of its loneliness. The cut of meat had his mouth salivating for a taste, after all he had been gone all day to bring back food for his people, why shouldn’t he enjoy it?
Yet, he just couldn’t get himself to as he eyed your curled figure. There must’ve been a reason why you hadn’t bothered to take care of yourself today, of course there must’ve been one, and as your husband - it was all the more his duty to care for you. There was no resentment or obligations in his actions, only love.
One of Bucky’s palms slid under your cheek, disconnecting your face from its warm place upon the layers of furs. You whined in dismay, but Bucky didn’t falter. His huge palm covered half of your face, his thumb rubbing at your cheek with inclination. You felt your body relax once more as he slowly let go, as much as you’d normally complain, this time you felt happy as your cheek made contact with the blanket once more.
Your peace didn't last long, not when you had a burly husband who had enough force to take down a 300 pound beast on his own. You gasped suddenly as you felt his arms wrapping themselves around you, before pulling you into the warmth of a familiar torso. You wasted no time getting comfortable, you head pushing impossibly further into the firm flesh of his chest to serve as a pillow. It didn’t faze Bucky, blue iris simply gazing down at your slithering form.
“You haven’t eaten today,” he states again, and this time you’d actually taken the courage to look up at him, eyelids pushing away from each other painfully slowly as you tried to adjust to the dim light of the oil lamps burning by the side of the hut. You could feel his warm palm slowly inching itself into caressing your back through the material of your dress, the beaded necklace that you wore squished between the both your bodies.
Bucky didn’t ask, he could tell that you were ill and you had no intentions of talking if you didn’t feel well. So he did what he could, a hand digging into the meat in his plate to rip a fat piece off. You watched in dismay as his hands dragged to your mouth, pausing before you closed lips as you refused him access.
“You’ll be even more ill if you don’t eat, come on.” his gruffly voice sent shivers down your spine. You could feel the ends of his long, auburn hair tickling your cheeks as the wind whistled past the cracks of your shared hut. Your nose involuntarily scrunched at the smell of the meat before you, which you normally loved like all people in your village. Bucky took notice of your discomfort, lowering his hand slightly to prevent you from puking all over him and the place.
You made a sound of frustration, sick and tired of being sick and tired. You simply wanted to eat and all the more drink but your body just wouldn’t let you do any of it. So sick that tears pricked at your waterline again, resurfacing the throbbing headache that'd been killing you since this morning.
You couldn’t even have told when the sob had burst through your mouth, but it had apparently and it didn’t fail to startle the hulk of a man you were lucky to call your husband. In a split second, the food was dropped back in the discarded plate, and his hands were quick to carelessly wipe clean against his cloak with little to no care for it.
Bucky’s heart was hardened from the series of events that’d turmoiled his life from his birth, being a viking was anything but easy. He’d bathed in blood, his own like not, he was scarred mentally just as physically. Yet, he was fierce with a shell as hard as rock to carry his sorrows in. Despite all, nothing hurt Bucky like seeing you upset, or even worse in this scenario, hurt.
Cradling your head to his chest, he tilted your head softly towards his own as you cried upon his chest. It was weird seeing a woman such as yourself cry over something that couldn’t be seen, yet enough described because your words wouldn’t even allow you to. So to say that Bucky was worried was an understatement, you’d never cried over something so minor, best to deduct that it wasn’t.
“I’ll go and fetch the lach, better hope that Thyra has the herbs to fix you a remedy.” he spoke more to himself than to you, referring to the village healer. You didn’t want him to go though, you’d spent enough time on this miserable day away from the only man you’d wish to see, so you weren’t about to let him go.
“No, I can handle it until daytime. I just want to eat…I’ll try the meat again.” Bucky looked down at you in hesitance, remembering the way you looked so sick at the approach of his food. Nevertheless, he brought the food back up to your mouth, and you had to fight the inner battle to not throw up now and then. He could see your struggles, yet he only focused on your determination.
You chewed slowly so as to not upset your stomach further, giving Bucky the time he needed for him to get a taste of his own meal as well. Sure, the cut was barely enough for a man of his size but at least he’d get you to eat, he could always go out and get some more once you were satiated. His hand that wasn’t busy feeding the both of you was still glued to your back, keeping you flushed against his chest as he sat legs crossed amongst the many blankets.
You couldn’t help with the way your heart soared at his worry, at his care, and at his love. Sure he wasn’t the most verbally expressive man, but his actions meant more to you than any I-Love-Yous. The way his fingers curled against your side as a measure of extreme protection had you weak in the knees, and that said a lot considering you weren’t even standing.
By the time you’d both exhausted whatever food was on his plate, Bucky’s skilled hand worked for water. Grabbing a cup from the side, he sought water from the bucket by your front door. He took a drink first, draining the cup in two quick gulps. You watched as he served himself another cup, a drop of water dribbling past his beardy chin and onto the defined curve of his Adam's apple.
Fuck and if he didn’t just look so hot, you’d really gotten the finest pick of all men in your village. You lifted an unsuspecting hand up to his cheek, the prickly feeling of his beard against your palm made a shiver run down your spine. So much for all the days he’d spent buried between your legs, you felt a ghost of the burn you’d feel on your inner thighs at the friction everytime.
The sounds of water sloshing around brought you out of your daydreams, finally receiving the end of the cup as he lifted the edge to your lips. You liked everything about this, getting pampered while laying in your husband's arms. You couldn’t possibly have gotten two sips down your throat before-
“Maybe I should call the midwife to check on you tomorrow.” Bucky randomly blurted out, and you swore you’d never accidently taken a gulp of water this big before. The choking came first, then the excessive coughing fits before the headache resurfaced again. Now maybe you’d rethought everything, maybe you didn’t want to spend the rest of the night with Bucky anymore.
His hands quickly abandoned the cup to rub at your back, some silent apology of some sorts for surprising you, and eventually causing you to choke.
“You don’t think…” you looked up at your husband after you had calmed down, expectant baby blue iris staring right back at yours. Your lips were slightly parted in the confoundment of his words, you found yourself unable to speak past your sentence. You didn’t know any contraceptives further than a remedy of herbs, spells and whatnot the untrustworthy pull-out method. Yet even if Bucky had been very obedient when it came to following that way, there were some days where he just couldn’t help himself.
His silence made you sigh to yourself, but you didn’t feel like speaking further yourself. The hut fell into a peaceful silence as you both wallowed in the other's presence, soaking each other's affection through soft touches and occasional prayers.You closed your eyes once more for the night, allowing yourself to fully sink into your husband’s burly arms.
Bucky didn’t complain, waiting for your shoulders to fall limp in indication that you’d finally submitted to the slumber you so craved. Now that you were sleeping, tucked and fed, he could finally go out and reach for a serving more appropriate for a man of his size. Though he staggered for a second, kneeling besides your sleeping form along the blankets that he’d arranged over you.
He moved the blanket properly after noticing that you’d already managed to mess up the ‘bed’ despite being dreams deep into your sleep. Bucky allowed his hand to hover over your stomach, before providing extra heat to the area that crossed his palm. He watched as your lips twitched into a smile in your sleep, his thumb uncontrollably caressing at the clothed area at the sight of your delight.
A rare smile tugged at the corner of Bucky’s lips, something that only you and his family had gotten to experience more often. His hand left your stomach as he rose to his feet, a distant dream of an infant swaddled by green cloth burning by the back of his mind. He didn’t turn back as he left the tent, stomach empty but heart full.
-
i’m working on 2 requests rn but i’ll be busy all weekend so expect a fic by next friday‼️
SO! i haven’t been reading fic in a long time bc i’ve been reading books BUT, discovered this fic rec in my drafts from 2022 lol oops!
This is purely a fic rec blog, always reblogging fics I enjoy. usually Bucky x reader, sometimes Steve x reader, Chris Beck x reader, etc. So check out more I’ve reblogged on this page. :)
PREVIOUS FIC RECS HERE! // Q & A
Bucky x reader:
A Correspondence of Obligations by @pellucid-constellations
prince!Bucky x princess!reader
“ Obedience, duty, pristine smiles—raised as the princess of an oppressive kingdom, you knew nothing else. Your father signed your life away at the ripe age of five, black ink bleeding into a contract between nations, fate cemented with the flick of a quill. So when the time came to fulfill the promises you were too young to make, you expected much of the same in the land of Brookshire. But Prince James had other plans, as did the enemies looming outside the castle walls.”
Sky Full of Song by @wkemeup
pirate!Bucky x pirate/siren!reader
“Despite the bitter resentment of the crew, you found a home on Captain Barnes’ ship; on the ocean where you belonged, at the side of a captain you swore loyalty and heart to. But when course is plotted for a legendary island, the secret that has kept you alive for years is threatened to be revealed.”
Starting Gate by @navybrat817
motocross!Bucky x reader
“You attract the attention of your coworker's friend who just happens to be a handsome racer who plays for keeps.”
Oath by @softlybarnes (part of the Sugar series but can be reader alone)
40s Bucky x reader
“Bucky finally proposes to Y/N.”
Awake My Soul by @foreverindreamlandd
Bucky x reader (Zombie apocalypse au)
“It’s been five years since zombies first started walking the Earth, destroying anything and everything in their wake. Now, in this apocalyptic world, fighting for survival comes as naturally as breathing. The one thing you’ve learned ever since they arrived, though, is that the living can be so much more dangerous than the undead. When you stumble across two young, scared boys lost in the woods and being chased by walkers, you go against your better judgment and help them to safety. Little did you know that helping them would lead you to Bucky - an angry, grumpy, distrusting member of the camp Shield. Bucky has zero interest in having you enter his life. He’s been hurt before and lost too many people to risk experiencing that kind of pain again, and he knows that there are secrets you aren’t telling the group. Yet, when push comes to shove, and you’re put at risk, he’ll stop at nothing to keep you safe.”
No Such Thing by @sanguineterrain
college athlete!Bucky x reader
“You’ve been assigned to write a column for your school paper on the team’s spectacular running back. You don’t care very much for your university’s football team; you just can’t understand the hype, okay? Turns out your distaste for football bigheads was exactly on point: James Barnes is insufferable.”
Appointments by @buckycuddlebuddy
Bucky x reader
“bucky barnes, finally being able to live freely in 21st century, accidentally gets a fuck buddy and starts to rediscover himself. the only weird thing about this situation is that you have to make an appointment to get railed by him.”
Recipe for Disaster by @seventven
dad’s best friend!Bucky x reader
“your dad’s best friend bucky knows you have a crush on him. your parents invite him to join your family for the annual winter vacation”
In the Embers by @foreverindreamlandd
Firefighter!Bucky x Fem!Plus Size!Adopted Rogers!Reader
“Bucky Barnes. The boy next door. Your brother’s best friend. The guy you’ve been in love with for as long as you can remember. Unrequited, that is, seeing that he only thinks of you as a sister (at least, that’s what you always thought). It’s been about a decade since you’ve returned home and reunited with the boy - now man - with stunning blue eyes and a smile that still puts a million butterflies in your stomach. You never expected to come back, thinking that you’d spend the rest of your life as a famous artist in Los Angeles with your boyfriend/manager. But things change, life gets messy, and now you’re back in your childhood bedroom living with your mom and working at the townie bar to make ends meet while you try to figure out what the hell to do next. The one thing that hasn’t changed? Bucky Barnes is still the boy next door, and there’s no running from him this time.”
Love in Four Acts by @chouettedubois
neighbor MCU Bucky x nurse!reader
“You’re a nurse living in Brooklyn. You’ve got a crush on your next door neighbour who doesn’t seem to know you exist. One day his cat finds its way into your apartment, forcing you both to finally meet. That’s when you learn that he’s James Buchanan Barnes, ex-Winter Soldier. Well, there goes your chances. Or maybe getting close to a superhero isn’t as far-fetched as it sounds.”
Plaything part one + two by @captain-buckyyy
virgin!Bucky x reader
“bucky’s innocence is just too much for you to resist”
calamitous love series by @classylo
princess!reader x commoner!bucky
“Reader is a modern princess under immense pressure to marry before she takes the crown, she choose her Prince Charming four years ago… but he didn’t choose her back. He left her with a broken heart and her kingdom to rule alone. Four years later, reader is in an arranged engagement with a man who she can see herself loving… one day… everything seems to be falling into place until her original prince shows up at her engagement party determined to win her back before her wedding day.”
Not Even a Little by @intrepidacious
roommate!Bucky x reader, modern au
“The problem of living with Bucky is that he makes it impossible not to fall in love with him. Even though you could list several hundred reasons why it’s a bad idea. And you have.”
Followed You by @cwbucky
Bucky x reader
“You meet this guy named Bucky through Instagram. Even though neither of you knows what the other person looks like, you two immediately connect. Things get complicated when you start your new job at Stark Industries and you catch a glimpse of the handsome Sergeant Barnes.”
Matched by @nony-bear
Alpha!Bucky x omega!reader
“Bucky Barnes always dreamed of settling down with a mate but after decades of trauma leaving him a grumpy old man with a robotic arm he’s convinced no one could love an alpha like him. Begrudgingly he follows his therapist advice and enrolls in the Swan Program a mate matching program offered but the new aged bio-tech company Mate-Tech”
Body Talk by @boxofbonesfic
trainer!Bucky x plus size!reader
“You’re determined to come out of this breakup a better you, but Bucky likes the you you are.”
King in Your Story by @sinner-as-saint
viking!Bucky x princess!reader
“Everyone in your father’s Kingdom knows that the Vikings often raid the castle’s warehouses. They take anything they want. Food, gold, weapons. Although they never seem to hurt your subjects. But you had had enough. Given your training, and your need to defend your Kingdom, your father agrees to let you trap the Vikings and bring them in for negotiation because this habit of theirs needs to be stopped. You hated the Vikings, and you thought you always would. Until the moment you met a pair of blue eyes which made your world stand still. Bucky was the Chief of his people; muscular, rough and tumble, and arrogant. Not to mention a shameless flirt, and he got on your nerves the most. But you knew it from the very day you laid eyes on his very handsome face that no matter how hard you tried, some part of you couldn’t fully hate him, nor resist him - even if he was the rival.”
Oh Baby, Oh Baby by @tooearlyforthis
Bucky x reader
“As a new recruit, y/n isn’t allowed to go on all the missions yet. To make matters worse, they left behind another, someone that she had despised ever since she first stepped foot in the compound - James Buchanan Barnes.”
Before You by @m4tthewmurd0ck
prince!Bucky x baker!reader
reader is a baker who happens to work at a shop the royals enjoy getting baked goods from :)
Steve Rogers x reader:
Rising Tide by @pellucid-constellations
surfer!Steve x reader
“A relationship built up from the ocean floor, you and Steve had lifetime worth of memories—most best friends did. But things were beginning to change, unspoken feelings creating a rift that cast a shadow over the bond you called home. Unfortunately for you, rip currents are often hardest to spot in the dark”
Run-through: You’re a powerful witch, famous and respected for your mastery of magic and ability to control the elements. Naturally, people always need you. Vikings, kings, and common men alike, be it to magically save dying crops, help them win battles, or to protect their people by manipulating the weather. One day, a certain blue-eyed Viking chief asks for your help. Bucky Barnes – one of the strongest, most feared of his kind, known for his ruthlessness and brutal nature. He offers your wandering self shelter and protection in return for your help in keeping his people and crops alive and well with the harsh winter approaching fast. And you can’t seem to refuse his offer…
By the time the Chief and his men made their way to your makeshift shack on the edge of the woods, you were already out waiting for them.
Hidden under your billowy cloak, with the hood hiding most of your face, you stood and faced the men with confidence. You couldn’t see them, given the hood, but you sensed the way the Chief got off of his horse, clutching his sword in hand as he took a step. Not in fear, no. But in that arrogant way you’d expect a Chief to move.
“Witch.” He greeted you. It was the only way he could greet you anyway, nobody knew your name.
You smirked. Finally peeling your hood off your head. You gave him a brief nod, “Chief.” You looked him right in those ocean blue eyes of his and judging by the look in them, you could tell he wasn’t used to people maintaining eye contact with him. He was an important man after all, and most people feared him.
But your magic had a way of reading people for you and… there was nothing to be afraid of. Not of him. He did look every bit of the fearsome viking he was known as though. Thick furs couldn’t hide the tall, muscular body. His shoulder length brown hair braided in some places. His handsome face was serious, like he rarely smiled. And all that ink all over his neck, and arm – just one arm because the other one was made of pure metal.
You had heard stories of how he’d lost his arm in battle, and how a great, benevolent king – also a close friend of his – had the metal arm constructed for him.
But above all else, the Chief was devastatingly handsome. You’d known, courted, and befriended quite some men. Hunters. Lords. Warlocks. Princes. Kings. Yet none were quite as devastatingly handsome as the Chief.
You quickly looked behind him and saw two men standing taller and prouder than the rest of the warriors. The wind whispered their names to you. Sam. Steve. Both were just as handsome as their Chief, however there was something about the male standing in front of you with a sword in hand. Thick white fur wrapped around his shoulders. Clear, icy blue eyes. Pink mouth. The cold made his cheeks and nose red.
“We heard rumours that you were close to our village, and we’ve come to ask for your help.” The Chief said, gracefully, calmly.
You gave him a nod. “I know.” You said quietly. “The north wind brings news that this winter will be exceptionally harsh.”
Bucky gave you that look that most people gave you when they figured out that your magic was indeed real. He was just a little surprised, but composed himself. “We desperately need your help.” He spoke again.
You agreed to help of course. This was your purpose with the magic you had.
And since you had little to pack, you went with them immediately. They didn’t bring an extra horse so you rode with the handsome Chief back to his village where you would be spending the entirety of the coming winter.
You never asked for anything in exchange. Some witches did, most of them did not. Mainly because you never needed anything, you had magic and you could conjure anything you wanted out of nothing. But you liked having company of people. So you considered that payment.
And after spending months on your own, you were looking forward to meeting new people, helping them.
During the ride back to the village you’d be calling home for the coming months, you felt the Chief tense behind you. His muscular arms circled around you as he held the reins but he was respectful enough to keep a few inches between you and him. You could only assume how much stress he was putting on his back to keep him from slouching forward.
You hid your smile as you sensed that he was nervous. “You don’t have to be so tense.” You said, turning your head to the side a little. “Witches don’t bite.” You spoke quietly so that the men behind you wouldn’t hear.
“I don’t…” He let out a huff of warm air. “I don’t want to be disrespectful.”
You smirked, but he couldn’t see it. “I’m just saying, you could use the warmth.”
He didn’t know what you meant until he slowly inched closer, his chest pressing against your back. Even with the multiple layers separating the two of you, your body heat wrapped around him in a way that had him sighing in relief.
Without another word said, his metal arm wrapped around your middle as he pulled you against him even more. You smiled as he leaned in to whisper into your ear, “You’re very warm.” He sounded a little surprised. His deep, gravelly voice making you shiver despite the warmth.
“Magic, remember?”
He hummed in response, keeping his arm loosely around your waist as he took you to his village. The tension between you two felt electric.
—
The ride wasn’t too long, and soon you arrived at the village. It was larger than you had imagined. Busier, but tidier.
Once you got past the tall, wooden palisades you could see more of the daily activities. Hunters sharpening their weapons, warriors training, children running around. You spotted the vast crops, the rivers.
There was so much you couldn’t see, but the elements spoke to you. You knew there was a lake here somewhere. The Chief’s hall was beyond the wooden houses which were scattered all over. You knew there were people gathered somewhere near the beach, working on building a new boat. Multiple boats in fact.
“Welcome to my home.” The Chief whispered as he led you deeper into the village.
Judging by the relieved smiles on people’s faces as they spotted you, you knew they were aware that you were here to help them. You smiled back to as many as you could on your way to the main area, in the middle of the village.
The Chief helped you off the horse and when you thanked him he said, “You can call me Bucky. All my friends do.”
You gave me a smile, “Alright, Bucky.”
He nodded, then pointed at a wooden house, not far from his residence, and said, “I hope you’ll be comfortable here.”
One of the ladies was beside you immediately, saying she wanted to help you get settled in. So with one last glance at Bucky, you made your way to your new, temporary home.
–
The moment he walked into his home, sighing in relief at the feeling of warmth, his two best friends rushed in after him, grinning like they were up to no good. Bucky rolled his eyes at Sam and Steve as he poured wine into three cups.
“What?” He barked at them, handing them their cups before he sat on one of the few stairs that led to his seat. The one he sat on when he had to act as Chief. But when he was with his friends, he didn’t like sitting on it.
“Are we going to address the heated looks you and the witch have been sharing or are we going to pretend nothing’s happening here?” Sam teased, leaning against a nearby table.
Steve chuckled, sitting down near the fire in the middle of the room. “Yeah Chief, what’s going on?”
Bucky glared at them both. He loved them to death, would die and kill for them in a heartbeat. But gods, they could be so annoying. “Enough,” He grumbled as they both laughed shamelessly at him, “She’s our guest. Most of all, we need her to survive this winter. Be respectful.”
Sam smirked and said, “Is that what that was on the ride back? The two of you as close as lovers? Was that you being respectful?”
Steve’s laughter echoed around the hall. Bucky wanted to chuck his cup at both of them but he didn’t want to waste the wine so he just rolled his eyes again, “Get out both of you.”
“Oh come on, Buck.” Steve spoke up, “With her as your wife we would be unstoppable.”
Sam nodded, “Exactly.”
“Both of you, shut up.”
“I mean, she is beautiful. If you’re not interested, I might check out what else her magic can do when-,” Steve stopped talking the moment Bucky threw his cup at him, wine and all.
Sam choked on his drink and laughed even harder.
Shortly after, Bucky kicked both of them out of his home. He was surprised at how it suddenly got hard to breathe or think the moment Steve even jokingly hinted at getting intimate with you. Bucky felt so protective over you despite having met you just hours ago.
He just wished he could keep that under control for the coming months. You were his guest after all. He couldn’t be inappropriate.
—
He couldn’t sleep that night. The village was quiet, dark. The night was cold given winter was approaching really fast. The next day, he had plans to give you a tour of the village and thinking about spending hours with you was making him nervous. But in a good way. Gods, he was turning into a little boy with a crush. This was bad for his image.
He couldn’t sleep, so he figured a walk might tire him out. So he layered up in his favourite furs, grabbed a torch and stepped outside. It was dark, save for the moonlight. And also light coming from your temporary home.
Bucky was walking towards the wooden house before he even realised it. His hand was knocking against the door before he could talk himself out of it. He should let you rest. He should act like a grown up and walk away right now. Being Chief he should–
He stopped functioning the moment you opened the door and looked up at him. Dressed in a beige night dress, a woollen blanket wrapped around your shoulders, and the dimmed light of the torches made you look ethereal just standing there at the door.
You spoke first, “Bucky.” You didn’t sound surprised. You knew he was coming over the moment he stepped out of his home. “It’s rather late, is something wrong?” You couldn’t help but ask. You knew he was coming over, but you didn’t know why. Your magic, fortunately, didn’t allow you to read minds.
Bucky placed the torch on the sconce by the door and cleared his throat, standing proud and tall like one would expect him to. “I saw your lights were still on. I couldn’t help but worry so I… uh, came to check.” He paused, awkwardly. “Do you… are you comfortable? Do you need anything?”
You sensed his slight nervousness even without using your magic. You tilted your head to the side and smiled at him, “I’m very comfortable. Your people were kind enough to–” You stopped, noticing how foggy his breaths were, “Please come in,” You opened the door wider, “It’s cold out.”
Bucky accepted the invitation. As soon as he stepped in, you placed your hand on his chest. Bucky blinked and in the fraction of a second, he felt comfortably warm. He gave you a thankful smile.
You smirked playfully and whispered, “Magic.” Then you moved towards the makeshift kitchen, “Tea?”
Bucky grimaced and said, “I don’t like that bitter stuff.” He mumbled, avoiding eye contact.
You chuckled, “I bet you will like this one.” You went ahead and made him chamomile tea, with warm milk and a generous dollop of honey.
By the time you brought the mug to him, you found him bent over your little desk. He was looking down at the map you were currently making, your special black ink on special parchment paper.
Bucky whispered his thanks as he took the mug, then said, “You’re making a map of the village?” He sounded both amazed and confused. “No one has been able to make one this accurate. You haven’t even… “ He paused, “Of course,” He smirked, “Magic.”
You smiled. “Maps help me control my spells better. It’s enchanted parchment you see,” You pointed at the map, “I can even work from here with the help of the map.” You looked back up at him and saw the look of delight on his face as he took his first sip of the tea.
He raised an eyebrow at you, “You laced this with magic as well?”
You giggled, “No, just milk and honey.”
Bucky just stared at you with soft eyes. In the dim, golden lights his eyes twinkled like that of a wolf. You stared into them, neither of you spoke. Until he finally blinked, pointed at the map and said, “It must be incredible, being this talented.”
You couldn’t help but chuckle in a self-deprecating way. “Talent.” You repeated, looking down at the map. Then quietly said, “I was always taught and told that my magic was a great weapon. But thank you, I guess.”
Without another word said, Bucky placed his half empty mug down and grabbed both of your hands in his large, warm ones. He tugged you closer, gently. Just the slightest bit so he could have your undivided attention.
“You’re not a weapon. You won’t ever be one, not here.” He said, softly. Slowly. “You are our salvation.”
You had been repaid in many ways throughout your life. Chests filled with gold. Jewels. Feasts and balls thrown in your name. Even a few marriage proposals from influential families. But no one had ever told you that you were their salvation. Something about Bucky saying it, even before you got him and his people through the winter, made you tear up just a little.
His face softened as he wiped that tear away from your cheek with his slightly cold metal arm. “I mean it.” He whispered. Then he leaned in and kissed you on the cheek, whispering, “You are so beautiful.” Then a little closer to your mouth. “So warm.” Then finally pressed his lips against yours as his arms wrapped around you, pulling you closer and pressing you against the soft furs he was wearing.
You couldn’t help but moan quietly into the kiss. That made him growl, made him deepen the kiss. His warm hand cradled your face as his metal arm wrapped around your waist. His lips were surprisingly soft, and his kiss was gentle. Sensual. Your hands wandered over his chest. You could feel his heart racing. You could feel him breathing deeper, but refusing to break the kiss.
You gasped in pleasure when his mouth left your lips briefly to kiss along your jaw, making your heart flutter in anticipation. But then, he stopped and pulled away. He was breathless, frowning, his lips wet and pink.
“I… I shouldn’t.” He licked his lips and you almost moaned again. “You’re…” He took a deep breath. “You’re my guest. And you only just got here.” He shook his head, as if disappointed in himself. “I shouldn’t have pounced on you like an animal like that.”
You fixed the blanket around your shoulders, giving him a playful, though disappointed, smile. “I’ve heard a lot of things about you, but no one even mentioned you were such a proper gentleman.”
Bucky cleared his throat, then gave you a heated look that screamed that if he didn’t get out of here right this instant he would surely be pouncing on you again. “I should go.” He mumbled. “Thank you for the tea.”
You nodded, “You’re very welcome. I will see you tomorrow, for the tour?”
He nodded. Then as he turned to leave, he paused. He turned back around and unwrapped the thick white fur from around his shoulders and placed it on your desk. The tunic he wore was loose around his neck so you could see the ink on his skin peaking through. “Keep this,” He said, “you might need it for tomorrow.”
You smirked, understanding what he was playing at. He knew you could keep yourself warm. But he just wanted you to wear something of his while he showed you around tomorrow. He wanted everyone to see you wearing something of his. You had heard of vikings being territorial, and truthfully, you didn’t mind this one bit.
You played along, pretending to be oblivious. “Won’t you be cold then?”
As he stepped out of the door, he turned to look at you. Smirked and said, “I think your magic will keep me warm enough.”
You chuckled as he shut the door behind him, took his torch and left. Who knew the Chief would be such a flirt?
—
Bucky had never been this excited to give someone a tour of his village. He was at your door the next morning, early and ready. He knew you already had a map, but he wanted you to see the place properly.
You caught the approval in his smile when he saw you wearing the fur he left you as you stepped out to join him. He was wearing black furs, and looked just as majestic.
“My people are delighted that you’re here to save us from the winter,” He said as the two of you began walking towards the centre of the village, the busiest part he told you. “So expect a lot of gifts along the way.”
You didn’t know what to expect. And even after politely refusing many, many tokens of thanks from his people, you already had baskets filled with cheese, berries, fresh bread and you were even done with the tour yet. Bucky, of course, carried the baskets for you.
He was in a good mood, you realised. He was showing off a little as he gave you the tour. Showing you all the new warehouses, the new boats that were being built near the beaches, the new houses being made as the number of people grew.
He showed you the hall where himself, Steve, and Sam often trained young kids. They taught them how to fight, to defend. They’re vikings, they need to be ready, he said, for anything and everything.
He had a glow on his face as he spoke about the kids, and you couldn’t help but ask, “How come you don’t have any?”
Bucky gave you a faint smile. Then said, “After my father died, I had to take care of everything around here. And I guess I never had time.” He paused, “I also never found the right person.”
You turned to look at him and he was looking the other way, surely hiding a smirk. You decided to drop the subject.
Bucky led you deeper into the village, near the lake. “It looks incredible in the summer, but–,” He stopped talking once the two of you heard male voices shouting. It sounded like it was coming from the lake.
You followed Bucky as he rushed to the lakeside and let out a groan. You chuckled once you saw what he was looking at. His two friends, Steve and Sam, arguing in the water about who pushed who first.
Bucky sighed and said, “I apologise, I wish these two would act like adults.” Then he yelled at them, “Hey! Stop trying to make me look bad. And get out of the water both of you, I can’t have you both freeze to death!”
You watched how the two of them swam towards the shore and eventually got out, trembling.
“Gods, I hate you.” Sam said, shivering.
“You pushed me!” Steve argued, shoving Sam.
Sam shoved him back, “You pushed me!”
“Enough!” Bucky turned to you and said, “My useless friends,” He introduced, “I wish you would’ve met them in more normal circumstances.”
You laughed, then walked up to the two men. “Hello,” You said and placed your hands on each of their shoulders, your magic would keep them from shivering. And the moment you touched them, they both sighed in relief. “There, that should keep you warm until you get home.”
You couldn’t help but check them out. They were both muscular and fit, and the way the wet tunics clung to their bodies… their muscular torsos, and biceps bigger than–
Bucky cleared his throat and you quickly looked away. You were almost certain Sam and Steve were smirking as they mumbled their goodbyes and hurried home.
“We should get back.” Bucky said, his mood immediately turning sour.
When the two of you did head back, he walked you to your home, handed you your baskets full of food and gifts, whispered a brief goodbye and left. You had planned that you would ask him to join you for dinner, as a way of thanking him for the tour. But he was just so grumpy on the way back that you decided not to.
But then you were restless the whole evening. You made yourself a quick dinner and sat by the fire to read but something didn’t feel right.
As it got later, the village got more and more quiet. And dark. When the wolves began howling you knew it was very late, but as you looked through the window, you saw that the lights inside Bucky’s home were still lit.
He was awake.
You debated walking over to his place, but then decided not to. You had to get to work the next day and surely you’d get a chance to talk to him then.
—
You visited the crops first, drawing your runes in the dirt. That’s where you ran into Steve and Sam. They wished to introduce themselves properly, and the three of you began talking. They showed you around for a little while, making you laugh at their jokes and stories of their childhood.
They kept you company while you worked and at some point, you sensed that someone was watching you. You knew who it was before you even turned around.
There was Bucky standing, proud and tall, quite far from the crops. The same broody expression on his face as the day before.
You almost lifted your hand to wave at him but then he walked away.
“We better leave,” Steve said with a mischievous smile.
“I’m afraid if the Chief sees us around you again he might behead us in public.” Sam winked at you and then walked away.
So Bucky was jealous.
After you were done with the crops, as you made your way home in the afternoon, you ran in Bucky in the village centre. He was on his way home as well, you realised, so you walked a little faster until you caught up to him.
Once you were beside him, you said, “Hello, Bucky.”
“Hello.” He mumbled.
“I worked at the crops today, I drew my runes.” You told him.
“I know, I saw you earlier.” He said.
His voice held enough distaste that you couldn’t help but ask calmly, “Why are you angry at me?”
He threw you a look and mumbled grumpily, “I’m not angry. I’m very grateful that you’re here.”
"Then why won't you talk to me?" You asked. "You look like you're angry." You paused, then asked, "Is it because I was talking to your friends?"
He stopped walking immediately. Turned to face you and said, "What were the three of you talking about anyway?"
You had to hide a smirk as you answered, "Nothing in particular. They were just keeping me company." Seeing he still had that broody look on his face you asked, “Does that bother you?”
He scoffed. "No." He frowned. "Why would it? You're free to talk to whoever you want, you're our–"
You cut him off, "Guest, yes. I know." You smiled. "Well then, how would you like to have dinner with me tonight?"
Bucky's bright blue eyes stared at you, an unexplainable expression in them. "Another time." He said much to your surprise.
The rest of the walk back was filled with awkward silence.
That night, you were restless. After a quick dinner, you sat by the fire to read but you couldn’t quite get into it. Then you got up and looked through the window and saw that the lights in Bucky’s home were still on.
Again. He was awake. This time you didn’t think twice before putting your cloak on and walking to his front door. It was so quiet that you could hear the knocks echoing. Two knocks later, Bucky opened the door.
His braids were undone, yet he looked just as handsome. “It’s late.” He said.
“Also very cold, you should let me in.” You said.
Bucky opened the door wider, letting you in before shutting the door.
You walked into his home and took it all in. The place smelled like him, and a little smoky. Probably due to the fire that burned in the middle, keeping the place nice and warm. You saw his seat. His swords and weapons hung on the walls, along with artworks. Furs and rugs scattered on the floor, the place was cosy.
“Nice place.” You commented as you turned to face him. You found him leaning against a nearby wooden column, with a drink in hand.
He gave you a curious look. “Surely you didn’t walk all the way here to comment on my home.” He said. He looked good. The dim light from the torches made him look like a god. Long brown hair, pretty blue eyes. His tunic was loose now, showing a lot of the ink on his skin. His metal arm caught the light a few times, shining occasionally when he moved.
You felt your heartbeats echoing louder in your ears the more you looked at him. And then… then he had the audacity to slowly lick his lips.
That did it. You walked up to him, carefully took the cup from his hand and brought it to your lips. You held his stare the whole time. You took a careful sip because whatever it was, it was very strong. Then said, “No, no I didn’t.”
Bucky gave you a heated look. One that was familiar from the other night when he kissed you. “You know, it’s rude to snatch someone’s drink. Especially the Chief's.”
You smirked at him. “Do something about it then,” You added mischievously, “Chief.”
“Oh?” Bucky’s metal arm was around your waist in no time, pulling you into his warm, muscular chest. “Now you want my attention?” He taunted, his voice deep, his eyes narrowing at the sight of the smirk on your lips. “What about when you were shamelessly staring at other men right in front of me? Or what about earlier, when you were–”
You cut him off with a chuckle. “Just say you are jealous.” You took another sip from his drink. “And if this is how you treat your guests then I think I can imagine why everyone fears you.”
“I’m not jealous,” He mumbled, nuzzling your cheek. “I just don’t like seeing you with other men.”
You gasped, and almost dropped the cup in surprise as he kissed along your jaw softly, biting you playfully while he’s at it. “So possessive,” You whispered, “We only just met.” You teased.
His grip tightened around your waist before he pulled away to look at you. His blue eyes now dark with desire and longing. “Yet I haven’t been able to think about anything other than wanting to have you all to myself ever since I kissed you that night.” He said.
He looked down at your mouth as he spoke, and it only made your heart race faster. “Bucky…” You weren’t sure what you wanted to say to him, you just… wanted. “Please.” You found yourself whispering. Pleading, which you had never done before.
Bucky clenched his jaw and turned, pressing your back into the wooden column he was leaning against earlier. The cup fell to the floor, neither of you paying much attention to it. His metal hand cupped your face and he stared into your eyes as he spoke.
His voice was dangerously low as he spoke, “You must understand, if we do this there’s no going back.” He said, looking down at your parted lips. “If we do this, you’re mine.” He reiterated, “If we do this,” He leaned in to brush his soft lips carefully against yours, making you gasp and whimper, “You belong to me and only me. Are we clear?”
The rasp in his voice and the feral desire lacing his words already made your brain foggy. “Yes,” You whispered, placing the palms of your hands pressing against his warm chest and partially exposed skin.
He wasted no time in undoing your cloak and letting it fall to the floor and pool around your ankles. Bucky had a devilish smile on his face once he saw that you were wearing nothing beneath the cloak except for flimsy undergarments. Near transparent ones.
Bucky’s eager hand trailed up your body, gently, starting from your thigh all the way to your breasts. The warmth of his hand made you shiver in pleasure. “So this is why you were complaining about being cold?” He whispered in your ear while his hand ran up and down your sides. “I thought you could manipulate elements to keep yourself warm.” Your body felt like it was on fire under his touch.
“Well, I can manipulate the elements.” You said. Bucky pulled away to look into your eyes. “But there’s nothing quite like body heat.” He smirked at the sight of the look of mischief in your eyes.
Then he gently tugged on the delicate necklace around your neck, toying with the crystal pendant leisurely as if he had all the time in the world. As if he couldn’t see you squirming under his touch, wanting more.
“It’s…” He frowned at the crystal, now holding it between two metal fingers. “It’s moving.” He whispered, and sounded so genuinely confused that it made you smile. Who knew this tall, muscular, godlike man could be adorable?
You nodded, looking at the crystal. It was clear mostly, except for a greyish, dark, flowy mist moving around inside it. It looked like smoke trapped inside the crystal, but it was just energy. “I was given this by my family the day I left my home when I was a young girl. As a gift. For protection.” You explained.
You looked up to find him looking down at you with a heated, wild look in his eyes. “I’m here now,” He said. “I’ll protect you. Always.” He pulled you closer, pressing your barely clothed body against him.
You smiled, sliding your hands up until your fingers slid into his soft hair. The light from the burning torches began to dim, making the room slightly darker but still golden. The smirk on Bucky’s handsome face signalled that he knew you were messing with the torches.
“I want you,” You whispered, pressing your lips to his cheek. The slight stubble felt rough against your mouth. But it only made you wonder where else it would feel rough. And you couldn’t help the quiet moan that escaped your mouth.
As if he could read your mind, Bucky chuckled. He grabbed you by the neck, tightening his grip just a little, enough to make you feel warm all over. “I don’t think I could be gentle…” He whispered, his metal hand reaching for the fine dagger he kept on him at all times.
He carefully pressed the tip flat against your lower lip. Your heart began racing faster. Bucky slowly dragged the tip of the dagged down your chin, down the side of your neck, down in between your breasts before he cut the fabric, slicing it in two and letting that fall down to the floor as well. You hissed as the cold air hit your now exposed breasts. Bucky seemed pleased as he let go of your neck, his hand trailing down to fondle with your breast instead. You tipped your head back and moaned at his touch.
He kept the dagger pressed against your skin as he leaned in to kiss your exposed neck, “I don’t want to be gentle.” He said.
You let out a gasp as he slid the tip of the dagger sideways, circling your nipple with it deliberately slow. “Good,” You whispered, “I don’t want you to be gentle.”
Bucky chuckled. “Oh, you’re perfect.” He dragged the tip of the dagger down, sliding it slowly across your abdomen, right above the waistband of your undergarments. Over and over again until you were squirming, and gasping, and grinding on nothing.
“Please,” You said, looking at him with soft eyes.
Bucky held your stare as he slid the dagger under the fabric of your undergarment and sliced that off of you as well. Fuck that sound of fabric tearing off of your body did something to you.
“Please,” You begged again. You were unable to ignore the wetness in between your legs anymore. Neither could he.
Once there was not an inch of fabric shielding you from his hungry stare, Bucky threw the dagger onto the pile of your clothes and next thing you knew, you were being pushed down onto a nearby pile of soft furs.
He pinned you down by your throat, as he hovered above you, leaning over with his metal hand wrapped around your neck firmly while he stared down into your eyes. “You look so beautiful like this.”
You gave him a smirk and said, “It’s your turn. I want to see you.” You wanted to see the ink on his skin, trace it with your finger. You wanted to see him naked on these furs with you. You had never longed to touch someone like this before.
Bucky held your stare, arrogant grin on his face as he pulled away to take off his tunic and lower his pants.
You let your eyes feast on him. Ink covered more skin than you thought, but it suited him. He looked every bit the fierce Viking he was. You wanted to take your time and admire the artwork on his body but… later. Right now, you wanted him.
You grabbed him by the neck and pulled him closer, pressing your mouth to his and kissing him deeply. “I want you,” You whispered again.
“I know, sweetheart,” Bucky’s hand was back around your throat as he growled into the kiss, “I know.”
Guess he could take his time and caress every inch of you like he wanted to later, right now though, he needed to have you. He was hungry for it. So he pulled away from the kiss, parted your legs and slid a finger inside you, reassuring himself that you were ready for him.
Bucky groaned when he found that you were dripping for him. “All that for me?” He teased, settling in between your legs and pressing the tip of his cock against you. You gasped and whined as he slid the tip of it up and down your slit.
“Please,” You begged, whining. “Hurry up or I swear to gods I will make sure your house is always freezing throughout winter.”
Bucky couldn’t help but laugh, leaning down to press a kiss on your forehead. “No need for all that, little witch.” He whispered as he pushed his cock into you, stretching you out in a way that made it hard for you to even think about anything else.
“Do I feel good inside you?” He questioned, teasing and knowing full well you weren’t in a headspace to answer him. His hand was around your throat and his cock buried so deep inside of you that he knew you couldn’t even think straight.
And fuck did he feel good snug inside you. You just whimpered in response, staring up into his pretty blue eyes. “More,” You whispered, “I want more.”
He smirked, digging his knees into the furs before he pulled out and pushed back into you. He set a hard and fast pace that made your head spin with pleasure. He was just as passionate as you expected him to be, his kisses were messy and his grip on your body was tight. He growled and moaned against your mouth as he sped up into you.
You were a moaning mess under him. Your legs locked around his waist as he pounded into you, “You feel so good,” He said, “Look at you, all wet and open for me.” He slowed down for just a moment, looking down to where his cock disappeared into you each time he thrust it. “Is this what you wanted? Hmm?” He asked, slow fucking you until you felt a tear escape your eye.
Fuck, he was keeping you right on that edge. It drove you mad.
“Tell me, sweetheart.” He kissed along your jaw, nibbling on your skin. “When you walked all the way here tonight, wearing basically nothing as you knocked on my door in the middle of the night,” He chuckled, “Is this what you wanted? To be full of my cock?”
You nodded, more tears falling down. It was so good, almost overwhelming. His words, his deep voice, the heated look in his eyes as he fucked you slowly, his weight on top of you, his warmth…
“Yes,” You whispered, “It’s all I wanted.”
Bucky sped up again, taking you by surprise and you couldn’t help the sinful moans that escaped your lips. He released your throat and placed his hand on your abdomen instead, pressing down on your front so he can feel himself inside you with each thrust. “Well there you go,” He said, as if taunting you, “Here I am. Deep inside you.” He stared into your eyes while he sped up into you again. “Just how you wanted.”
You whimpered desperately as he fucked you deeper. You felt your walls clenching around him. You felt the familiar feeling, the pressure down there just waiting… waiting to explode. Your back arched off the furs as he brought you right to the edge again before slowing down. It was brutal.
You gasped in shock, and the now ruined orgasm. Bucky smirked. “That’s punishment,” He said, “For talking to other men right in front of me.”
You frowned, “You’re cruel.”
Bucky kissed you one more time before he flipped you around and pulled you onto your knees and pushed into you again from behind. You moaned out loud, not expecting that but welcoming the feeling of being full again.
You laid your cheek down on the furs, the softness of them a stark contrast to how rough Bucky was being, handling your body like you were just a toy. It made you smile in pure bliss as he gripped your hips and slammed in and out of you incessantly, sighing and groaning in the process.
More tears escaped your eyes as the pleasure became too much to handle. You felt the pressure at your core forming again as Bucky pounded into you mercilessly, fucking you like an animal. Bending and contorting your body however he liked. Pressing your head down as he sped up into you until you came, crying out loud and clenching around him so hard it took him everything not to finish inside you.
He quickly pulled out and came all over your lower back and thighs. He took a moment to admire all the marks he’d left on your skin before pulling you into his arms as he laid down beside you.
You placed your ear right above his heart, listening to it gradually calm down like yours did. Only then did you have enough energy to keep your eyes open and admire the ink on his skin. You traced the closest one with a finger.
“A dragon?” You asked.
Bucky chuckled softly. “I like to think they might have been real at some point.”
You pulled away, holding yourself up using your elbow. You looked down at Bucky and said, “Of course they were. They were magical beings, they got along well with witches and warlocks in fact.”
Bucky looked pleasantly surprised. “You are so full of secrets.” He said, lifting a finger up to your face and gently traced the shape of your mouth. “Tell me more,” He pulled you back into his arms, nuzzling your neck and making you laugh, “What happened to the dragons?”
—
Sleeping in each other’s beds became part of the routine.
Some nights he would come over after the village had gone dark and quiet. Other nights you’d go over to his place and stay till early morning.
Nobody knew about you and Bucky, except for Steve and Sam who couldn’t stop grinning like mischievous devils each time they ran into you.
Days passed this way. The weather got colder, and you kept the village in perfect shape. The rivers kept flowing even though they should be frozen. The lake as well. The crops stayed healthy. As did the cattle.
Your magic had created an invisible dome over the entirety of the village. A vast dome that only you could see.
The people were safe from the intense cold and they were warm, fed, and happy.
But doing all that always made you extremely tired. Usually you’d hide it well behind faint smiles and blame it on it being a long day. But even at night you had to use your magic to keep the dome intact. And although you did your best to hide it, sometimes your weariness would show.
Like the one time when Bucky caught you by the lakeside late at night.
You were sitting on the jetty, looking down at the dark water. The moonlight made the surface shine, and just beyond the lake, right where the dome ended, you could see the harsh winds of the blizzard that you were currently keeping away from Bucky’s people. But from within the dome, no one could even hear it.
And just when you thought of Bucky, you heard him walking on the jetty and on his way to you.
“I looked for you everywhere.” He said, sitting down next to you on the edge. “Are you alright? You never come here this late.” He sounded genuinely concerned.
You smiled at him, his pretty face glowing under the moonlight. Then you pointed at the blizzard, and Bucky swore under his breath when he saw what was happening beyond the dome, “I came to make sure everything was safe.” You said. “I had to draw some of the runes again.” Then you added, “Everything’s fine, don’t worry.”
Bucky loosened the furs around his shoulders and opened his arms for you to snuggle up to him.
You gave him a smirk as you slowly scooted closer to him, “I can keep myself warm, remember?”
“Yeah, but there’s nothing quite like body heat.” He teased, wrapping his arms and the furs around you, holding you close to him. He leaned down and kissed your cheek softly then said, “You seem tired. I didn’t realise magic would take such a toll on you.” He sounded a little embarrassed.
“Hey,” You placed a gentle hand on his rough cheek. “This is how it is. Magic has a cost, it feeds on my energy and that’s just how it works. I should be okay after a few hours of sleep.” You smiled up at him. “Can I ask about the arm?”
He smiled, tapped you on the nose with his metal finger and said, “Bravery has a cost, my lady.” You laughed, and he eventually told you the story. And by the time he was done, he noticed you were just about to fall asleep. “Hey, come on. Let’s go to bed.”
You let him help you stand up and said, “I’m tired tonight, maybe–,”
He cut you off. “That’s not what I meant.” He pulled you closer and kissed you gently, “I won’t do anything, I just want you in bed with me. You’re doing so much for us, let me take care of you and do what I can.” He added, pressing another kiss on your lips, “Please.”
You smiled and gave in.
And turns out, sleeping in his bed, in his arms was enough to recharge you.
—
One day, a messenger came with urgent news for Bucky.
A little far from this village was another one, and the news said that their Chief had died leaving behind no one to care for the people. Since Bucky was the closest, they were begging him to help them last this icy winter.
Bucky held a meeting with his inner circle – his friends, and now you as well. Everyone gathered near the fire in the middle of Bucky’s home. Outside, the weather was getting colder. Your magic kept everyone here comfortable but those people who had asked for help… they wouldn’t last long.
“We can’t help them.” Bucky said, surprising everyone in the room.
Tony, the one who created weapons for every warrior in the village and also part of Bucky’s inner circle, spoke up first, “What do you mean here, Chief? Those people will die.”
Steve nodded, agreeing, “There are children, cold and starving. We can’t leave them.”
“Think about it,” Sam said, “We could have more people in our army to fight for us, with us.”
Bucky stopped his slow pacing, then turned to all of you. “How are we going to care for these people? I mean, I guess we’ll have enough food for everyone but what about shelter?”
Peter, Tony’s apprentice, spoke up this time, “We have enough material to build houses. I mean, we could always pause on the boats for now and use those materials for houses. You’ll have to go bring the people over anyway, and by the time you’ll be back I suppose we could have houses ready by then.” He looked over to Tony for approval. The latter nodded in agreement.
“That will cost too much.” Bucky said. Then sighed. “I have to care for the people here.”
You spoke up this time, “I could help.” You said. “I have more gold than I could ever use. And I could help with the building, and–,”
Bucky cut you off gently, “No, I cannot ask you for all that. You’re already helping us, and this wasn’t part of our arrangement.” He paused for a moment, only the crackling logs filled the silence, “Besides, I’ve seen what using magic constantly does to you.”
You rolled your eyes, “That’s just how it works,” You repeated. “It’s like when you complain about being tired after a whole day of training. Doesn’t mean you won’t ever train again.” You reasoned. “And as for our arrangement, I agreed to help. So let me.”
Bucky sighed again, walking over to you as if the rest of the people in the room didn’t exist. Honestly, the moment you stared into his clear blue eyes, it didn’t matter who else was in the room.
“It’ll wear you out.” He said softly, almost in a whisper.
You gave him a faint smile, “Guess you’ll just have to take better care of me then.”
He was about to reach out and cup your face in his hands but then Steve, Sam, and Tony all cleared their throats to get your attention back on the current issue. You avoided all their eyes awkwardly while Bucky smirked shamelessly. Peter just seemed confused.
“Fine,” Bucky said. “We’ll bring the people. We’ll take the boats.” He announced. “We leave today itself.” Then he proceeded to assign the work of building additional houses over to Tony and Peter. Sam and Steve, along with other warriors, were going with Bucky.
Then the men left, Tony and Peter went to gather people to help them start building immediately and Sam and Steve went to get the other warriors to prepare for their journey. Once they were out of the house, Bucky pulled you close.
“That was generous of you.” He said, nuzzling your neck and kissing it. “I’ll be gone for two weeks at least, you know?” He said. “I’ll miss you.” His lips brushed along your neck, stopping at the corner of your mouth, “I’ll miss this.” His arms tightened around you, making you gasp.
“I’ll miss you too,” You said, pulling away to look at him. “The sea will be rough,” You said, “Take this.” You took the crystal necklace off of your neck and put it around his, hiding it under the layers he wore. “That should keep you safe.” Then you looked around and said, “You should start packing your things. My magic won’t work given the distance so you’ll need more furs to keep you warm.”
He looked at you with soft eyes. “Usually no one fusses over me like this.” He said, “I like it. I like it a lot.”
You smiled and gave him a quick kiss. “Now hurry up. Those people need you.”
“Hmm,” He leaned down for a kiss again. “If anyone touches you while I’m gone I will behead them.” He said, half-joking. “One more thing, I want you to stay here while I’m gone.” He said, referring to his house. “Sleep in my bed every night. Oh and think of me. Miss me. A lot.”
You laughed. “Understood, Chief.”
—
You went to see Bucky off when he left later that evening. He looked like a King and his armada, setting off for battle.
He was barely out of your sight and you missed him already. You whispered a prayer to the strong winter winds, telling them to keep him safe until he comes back.
—
For the entirety of the two weeks which followed, you worked harder than ever. The dome, the crops, the cattle, the rivers and lake, and now the construction. Your magic fortified the wood used for the new houses, all the gold you had accumulated over the years helped the village immensely.
The people were so grateful. And you did your best to keep their spirits up while their Chief was gone.
It made you feel all warm inside whenever people would gush about how incredible of a leader Bucky was. You wondered if he knew his people loved him so much. Then, almost always, quickly followed by that warm fuzzy feeling was intense worry.
You never had anyone to worry about this much. So this was new for you.
By the end of the second week, each morning you’d wake up and go by the beach to see if you could see the ships coming. They didn’t.
You slept in his bed like he wanted you to. And that just made things worse. Because now not only did you worry about him, but you missed him like a mad woman. His scent was all over the bed and the covers.
But then one morning, as you went to the beach to check, you saw them. The ships, tiny little dots near the horizon. They were coming back. He was coming back.
Great timing in fact because the houses were just done building as well. And the crops had just been harvested.
Some hours later, the ships docked. And the new people had arrived, with their entire lives packed into trunks. While everyone showed the new ones to their houses, you looked for Bucky. You couldn’t even hide the smile on your face as you spotted him, running to him.
Bucky smiled as you ran into his open arms, hugging him tightly. You didn’t see the approving smiles on the faces of people around you, all you cared about was that Bucky was here, safely.
“Hello to you too, sweetheart,” He whispered, kissing your forehead. “I’ve missed you.”
You pulled away to look up at him. “You’re back.” You whispered, delighted.
He cupped your face and leaned down to press his forehead against yours, sighing. “I wish I could take you to bed and show you how much I missed you, but…”
“Later,” You finished his sentence. “There’s a lot of work to be done right now.”
He nodded. Then you felt something moving near your ankles, getting tangled up in your flowy cloak. You looked down and saw a small ball of white fur. Bucky chuckled as you bent down to pick it up.
“The mother and the rest of the litter didn’t survive the cold,” He said, “But I found this little guy as we were evacuating the village. He was hiding under a pile of hay, all hungry and trembling. And I thought, who else would take better care of him than a certain generous witch I know?” He explained, a little flustered, ”So I brought him along. For you.”
You looked at the fluffy, white wolf pup in your hands. You already loved him with all your heart. Then you looked up at Bucky again, “Thank you. I love him.” You said, kissing him on the cheek, “And thank you for not leaving him behind.”
He smiled, “Oh well,” He looked around to see his people helping their new guests get off the boats, offering to carry their luggage for them. He looked beyond proud. “What’s one more addition to our village?” He shrugged, smiling at you.
–
It took some hours, but by nightfall everyone had a bed to sleep in and roof over their heads. Bucky was so pleased he insisted they celebrated this feat. Plus he wanted the new members to feel welcomed and comfortable so he held a feast.
Food and ale makes everyone feel at home, he said.
So the feast was held. The village centre quickly became a vibrant, bustling scene. And the music was the best part. You had travelled to so many places but you had never heard such rich music and singing.
As you walked around, enjoying the atmosphere, everyone thanked you for your help. Usually by this time well into winter, food was always scarce. But with you and your magic here, everyone was happy and their bellies were full.
You caught Bucky’s stare from across the crowds of people a lot of times. His heated stare that held promises which made your face feel all hot and made your body tingle. But he was busy catching up with his people right now, he made sure to speak with each and everyone of the new members of his village, he spoke with the kids and promised them that they would be restarting training soon. He even held some of the babies that had been born while he was away.
And you watched him with fondness. Watched how he smiled, watched how he let the kids mess with and admire his metal arm, watched how gentle and kind he could be, as well as how stern and assertive.
And then he caught you staring. He smirked at you while you pretended that your entire being didn’t come alive under his attention. You tried to hide the way you clenched your thighs together as he began walking over to you, finally.
The music rose to a crescendo as he made his way to you. Tall, strong, with a confident and slightly arrogant gait. He stopped when he was right in front of you, the lit torches made his skin look golden, and his eyes… oh his eyes.
His metal head reached out to touch your face, slowly caressing your warm cheek. “Did you get a chance to eat?” He asked.
You nodded, lost in his eyes. You didn’t even remember what you ate, if he asked you you wouldn’t know.
“Good. Then let’s go.” There was enough raw desire in his voice that it made you move immediately.
As you walked you asked, “Won’t they notice you’re gone?” You referred to the ongoing festivities.
Bucky smirked as he took your hand in his, the two of you making your way through the dark, to his place. “Judging by the way you threw yourself into my arms earlier, I think they expected us both to disappear at some point.”
After the short walk, you could still hear the music from the feast even after making your way into Bucky’s home. You could hear some vocalising, and it sounded… magical. Raw. Intense. Much like the look in Bucky’s eyes.
“I see you did sleep here.” He noted, appreciating that you did as he’d asked.
You took your cloak off near the fire and then followed Bucky into the sleeping area. “It was the closest I could get to you while you were gone.” You whispered, taking the layers of fur off of him. You carefully placed it down and began undoing his tunic. “Your bed smells like you.” You said, “Some nights I couldn’t sleep until I made myself come while pretending it was your hand touching me.”
A sound resembling a growl left his mouth as he grabbed both of your wrists in one hand, ceasing your movement. “Show me.” He said, low and deep, “Show me what I missed.”
A sly smirk formed on your lips, “Sure you don’t want to do it yourself?”
He shook his head. “I want to see.”
You turned and gave him your back, “Undress me then.” You expected him to undo the laces and buttons. But no. You felt something cold against the nape of your neck, and then the sound of fabric being ripped filled the room.
You gasped in pleasant surprise. He’d torn your dress off instead. With the dagger. You let the ruined dress fall to the ground and faced him again, naked because you hadn’t been wearing any undergarments, “That was one of my favourites.” You said, looking into his lust-drunk, hooded eyes.
“I don’t care.” He answered, truthfully. Stepping closer he raised the dagger up under your chin, pressing it gently against your skin. “If it were up to me, I’d keep you naked in this bed at all times.”
You giggled.
“Hurry up,” He said, “Show me.” His voice was a mere whisper.
You could still hear the music and the singing in the background as you held his stare and laid down on his soft bed, on your back. He stood at the end of the bed looking down at you like an old god looking at a sacrifice. With hunger in his eyes like you’d never seen before.
He watched as if in trance, as you bent your knees and spread your legs. His breaths got deeper as he watched how wet you were, your finger slowly sliding up and down your slit. He inched just a little closer as you began gasping and whimpering, your finger slipping in and out of you.
Your other hand toyed with your nipple, twisting and tugging. You held his dark stare as you moaned, back arching off the bed, the slightly chilly air hit your bare chest and caused your nipples to erect even further.
“Oh gods…” Bucky whispered, watching as you put on a show. Watching as you whined in pleasure as the pace at which your fingers effortlessly slipped in and out of you increased. You looked down and saw the bulge in his pants. He was barely holding back.
The way he watched you, the feeling of anticipation knowing he would fill you up soon, all of it made your heart race. Outside, the music rose to a crescendo again and you moaned louder, fingering yourself faster, the palm of your hands rubbing against your sensitive clit over and over again as your middle finger slipped in and out of you.
You gasped, “Bucky…” You moaned quietly under your breath, imagining it was his fingers that were touching you instead of your own. “I need you…” you mumbled in the haze that you were in, “Please… I need you.”
He wasted no time in grabbing you by the thighs and dragging you to the edge of the bed as he knelt to the ground. He placed your legs over his shoulders and leaned down to kiss your belly. He was rock hard, barely able to think straight. But fuck he needed to hear you moan as you came.
“I fucking missed you,” He mumbled as he kissed around where your shaky fingers were buried in your wet cunt. “Let me taste you.” He whispered before gently slipping your fingers out of your hole and into his mouth. He sucked on them like they’d just been dipped in the sweetest honey.
“Oh fuck…” You moaned, looking at him. The great Chief, kneeling in between your legs, sucking your taste off your fingers… it was heady. “Please,” You murmured again when you noticed that he was teasing you, keeping you waiting on purpose.
He let go of your fingers, smirking as he looked up at you. “I’ve been wanting to taste you.” He whispered, his warm breath making you squirm. Chuckling at your restlessness, he parted your folds and buried his mouth in between them, eating you out like he was a starving man and moaning at your taste.
Relentlessly, passionately. His warm mouth wrapped around your clit and sucked on it occasionally. His tongue teased your entrance as he took his time to feast in between your legs.
Your fingers slid into his hair, it had gotten slightly longer you realised as you grabbed a fistful of it, tugging on it gently as his mouth teased you.
“So this is what you did, huh? While I was away, rescuing people and fighting rough seas…” His tongue slowly circled around your clit and he earned more and more moans out of you. “You were here, touching yourself.”
Your legs trembled as he locked his arms around your thighs and pushed your core further into his mouth and made you cry out of pleasure. You whined. “Please, Bucky…”
He chuckled, darkly. “No.” He pulled away, licking his lips. “Not so easily.”
He stood up, got rid of all his clothes before climbing into bed with you. His glorious, inked, naked body hovered above yours as he looked down at you with nothing but fondness and desire in his eyes. You looked down, whimpering at the sight of him stroking his hard cock, it was leaking already.
Bucky looked down at you and smiled before leaning in for a kiss again. He nibbled along your skin, from your mouth to your neck, “Are you ready for me, sweetheart?”
You cried out, “Yes! Please, Buck–,”
He cut you off by sliding into you, filling you up. You gasped as your walls welcomed him perfectly and he growled under his breath as he filled you up entirely. “Look at me,” He said. When you did, he smiled and laced your fingers together and pinned both your hands above your head as he sped up into you. “Fuck,” He swore, “You feel like you were made for me.”
Your eyes rolled to the back of your head once he started rocking in and out of you with your legs locked behind his back. He leaned in and kissed your lips again, groaning and panting against your lips as he fucked you hard and fast.
The music outside felt like it echoed inside your head. It made your heart race, like a soundtrack to this ethereal union.
“Tell me you belong to me,” He whispered, lips brushing against yours as his cock stroked your inner walls perfectly. “Tell me you’re mine.”
“I’m… I’m yours,” You said, breathlessly.
“That’s right,” He breathed against your mouth. “All fucking mine.” He repeated, kissing along your skin and moaning into your ear, “Fuck, you feel so good.” He said as he sped up again, fucking you nice and deep to show you that you belong to him. “Come for me,” He said, knowing he wouldn’t last too long, “Come on sweetheart, come for me.”
You cried out as you did, coming undone as he kept pounding into you until he finished inside you. Bucky nuzzled your neck, kissing your skin as he caught his breath. You wrapped your arms around him lazily, feeling his heart racing just as fast as yours was.
He sighed in bliss as he finally laid down beside you, taking you with him so more than half of your body was on top of his. He kissed the top of your head and whispered, “I missed you like a madman.”
You smiled, kissing his damp skin as you replied, “I did too. It felt… empty without you.” You lifted your head up to look at him. “Your hair is longer.” You pointed out.
Bucky chuckled, “You like it?”
You nodded, “It suits you.”
He smiled, caressing your cheek again. “I like you in my bed.” He murmured.
You smirked, lifting yourself up to straddle him properly. You grabbed his semi hard cock and slid it inside you again, gasping as it went in easily. Bucky groaned in pleasure, his hands holding you by the waist, ready to lift you up and down his cock.
“I really like me in your bed too.” You said, and began riding him until you both came once more.
—
And so, winter passed by.
You kept everyone safe and warm. Your bond with Bucky was not a secret anymore given you were always seen together. Judging by the smiles on people’s faces when they saw the two of you together, you’d say they were more than happy for Bucky.
You spent more time in Bucky’s house than the one you were assigned when you first got here that Bucky suggested you move in, and let someone else have the other home.
“I like having you in my home.” He said one night as he pulled your worn out, bare body into his. He kissed your shoulder, and made sure you were properly warm under the soft furs, in his bed. “Come live with me.”
So you moved in.
Your days started and ended with Bucky. With his soft, loving, often demanding touch. His merciless and passionate kisses. And you wouldn’t trade it for anything.
He was a stern, just, and caring chief to the rest of the village but only you saw the softer side of him.
The way some evenings he would lay his head in your lap and grumble until you played with his hair until he fell asleep.
Or how much he loved it when you braided his hair, he’d wear it proudly.
Or how he always gave you the best bites of food when you dined together.
The way he would always make sure you had enough fur and blankets on your side of the bed at night.
Or how he’d always accompany you when you took your little wolf for walks in the woods.
Or how he’d often tempt you into going for midnight swims with him at the lake. How he’d kiss you under the moonlight, smiling like a lovesick young boy instead of the great chief he was.
During those moments, you often wanted to freeze time and just stay with him forever.
Forever… but that wasn’t possible, was it?
—
The weather, naturally, didn’t stay freezing cold. It got warmer, and warmer as winter faded into a gentle, barely there spring.
Your little wolf grew, and kept growing. Time, you realised, moved and with it came time to say goodbye.
Winter was nearly over. Everyone knew, everyone could see it. But nobody said anything. You were still greeted with the same grateful smiles and infinite gifts whenever you stepped out. Steve and Sam never mentioned it, they kept filling your days with stories of their youth and more laughter.
Bucky, it seemed, had forgotten all about what the end of winter meant.
And it hurt you more than you thought it would when it came time to confront him about it. It took you two days to build the courage to break both of your hearts. You didn’t want to leave, but you had to, didn’t you?
He was home early that evening, in a good mood too. As soon as you opened your mouth to say something though, he announced, “I’m going for a swim, come with me?”
You shook your head. “I don’t feel like it. You go ahead.”
He smiled, kissed your forehead and left. The sunset as soon as he was out of the door. He’d been going on a lot of swims lately, which again indicated that the weather was getting warmer.
You waited for him to get back. Your heart breaking in the meantime.
–
“We need to, um, talk.” You said, once he’d put on clean, dry clothes again. You watched as he dried his hair with a piece of fabric as he turned to face you.
The buttons of his tunic undone with the tattoos on his chest peeking through, his hair was a damp mess, his blue eyes shining. He was so beautiful. So beautiful it hurt.
“What about, sweetheart?” He tossed the fabric aside and placed his hands on either side of your waist. “Everything okay?”
You looked up at him. Didn’t he notice? Couldn’t he see you were wearing the same cloak you wore the day he met you? Couldn’t see you were ready to leave? You spoke with tears in your eyes, “Winter is nearly over, Bucky.” You whispered in a shaky voice.
Silence. Only the few nearby torches. And the crickets outside.
Bucky clenched and unclenched his jaw. You could see it through the stubble on his cheeks. “What do you mean?”
He knew what you meant. You could tell. He was just giving you a chance to rectify what you said. But you didn’t. Instead you said, “Winter is over, it’s time for me to go.” The tears fell. Hot and burning, much like the tension between the two of you even after all these months.
Bucky was quiet, then he let out a humourless chuckle. “What are you saying? You want to leave me?”
You sighed as he made this difficult for both of you. “You know what I mean. We had a deal, remember?” You swallowed a sob. “We–,”
“I swear to gods,” He cut you off, pulling you closer and growling, “Do not fucking test me right now.”
More tears fell down your face. “Bucky…” You whispered. “I can’t stay here. You know that. It’s what I do, I help people. It’s what I’m meant to do with this…” You sighed, “This magic.”
“Who said that?” He argued. “Who said you couldn’t choose what made you happy? Who said you had to keep wandering? Huh?” He leaned closer, the tip of his nose touching yours, “Who said you can’t stop once you found a home? A real one?” He gently kissed the corner of your mouth. “You have a home here, you have me. Stay.”
You breathed in the manly scent of him. Felt the roughness of his stubble against your skin. Felt his body heat. Why couldn’t you stop? Because it scared you. “I can’t.” You mumbled, even as your heart screamed stay, stay, stay.
Bucky pulled away. His face was stone cold. Emotionless. His hands left your waist and clenched into fists as he stared at you. As Chief, he wasn’t used to people disobeying him.
“Fine then,” He spoke with a bitter voice. “You want to leave? Then I’ll follow. And my people will follow me no matter where I go.” He spoke with a confidence that only a true leader can have. “So wherever you go, you’ll find me behind you. And a whole village behind me. Is that what you want?” You could hear the stubbornness in his voice, the determination. The promise.
“You can’t.” You reasoned. “You have a duty here, Bucky. My work here is done, I lifted the dome yesterday and no one even noticed. That just goes to show I’m not needed here. You have a life here,” You said, “Not me.” More tears streamed down your face. Your mind and heart were screaming in contradiction.
Bucky just stared at you, his heart slowly breaking. Then he said, calmly but fiercely, “I have nothing without you. Nothing.” He stepped closer to you again, “You made me feel alive again, you made me feel like I was more than just a chief, like I was a man again. Just a man who is madly in love with the woman of his dreams.” His words made you weak. “You’re… everything. Don’t leave me.” He pleaded, quietly.
You couldn’t help but hide your face in his chest as you sobbed. He cradled your head, kissing the top of it.
“I will send word.” He said, as you sobbed quietly. Your tears drenching his tunic. “People will know where to come find you if they need you.” He reassured you. “Stay with me, be my wife, let’s have children together,” He cupped your face and made you look up at him. His ocean blue eyes staring down loving into yours. “Let’s have a life together.”
You sniffled. “You’re awfully stubborn.” You said.
He smiled, his own eyes tearing up. “And you love me for it.”
You sniffled again. “I do.” You confessed. “I do love you.”
“And I love you.” He leaned in for a gentle kiss. “Stay with me. You have a home here.” He whispered against your lips. “You’ve helped plenty of people all over this world. It’s not selfish if you choose to settle down now and choose your happiness.”
“I’m scared.” You admitted. “I’ve never… I don’t know if I can… I mean, I don’t know if–,”
He cut you off with another loving kiss. “Shh, I’ve got you. We will figure it out. Together.”
You gave him a faint smile through the tears as you nodded. “Together.”
And choosing to stay back with him, for him, ended up being the best decision you’d ever made.
Summary: In the wake of victory, Bucky finds the seer that the HYDRA clan has been using to gain the upper hand in the war. He tries to figure out whose side you are on while you try to figure out if he's your saviour or your next captor.
Warnings: viking!au, war, mentions of blood, mentions of torture, angst, slow-ish burn
Word Count: +4k
Rise & Reign Masterlist || Marvel Masterlist
Snow, trampled and blackened with blood, hisses under the weight of dying fires burning the bodies of his slain enemies. Crows circle above in the sky, calling down to the dead yet to be burned with greedy anticipation. The smoke hangs thick, so heavy that it clings to Bucky’s beard, his furs, and the inside of his lungs. He had dreamt of this day - the start of the fall of the Hydra. They called themselves the Hydra—not one name, but many. A serpent with no end, for each time one head was cut, two more rose in its place.
The clan that turns men into monsters, that ravages the North, burns down settlements while they farm children to grow their army. Soon, they will take over everything. The banner of a monster on a field of black lies in tatters in the snow. The blood of their high chieftain still stains Bucky’s metallic arm - the arm that he had lost to them many years ago. And yet, the silence in the village feels wrong.
It is too quiet. Victory has come, but it feels like a wound that will not clot.
A ghostly brush on the back of his neck makes him turn around, looking up at what remains of the enemy’s Great Hall. He calls for the men beside him with his arm, walking toward the main doors. “Check below,” he orders. “Vaults. Dungeons. Anywhere they might keep secrets.”
His bannermen nod, rushing forward into the crumbling building to scatter, looking for anything. He ambles through the main hall, paying attention to where his instincts lead him. His eyes scan the ground for anything that might be scattered, something that could be hidden among the ruins.
He descends into the underbelly of the fortress, boots echoing down the empty hallways of carved stone and soot, until he comes across the remnants of a dungeon. The cells are empty, except for one in the furthest corner. In the pit of his stomach, he finds what it is that has been calling him here.
Chains hoist your arms up in the air by your wrists, dirt covers your skin, almost hiding the bruises under your eyes. When you hear the approaching footsteps stop in front of your cell, you lift your head to greet who you think is your captor. Your eyes meet his, and the fear quickly vanishes, being replaced by a semblance of hope.
Bucky freezes. He has seen your face before. Not in memories. Not in dreams. But in a vision he had almost forgotten.
You watch him break open the cell door with a single hand, but you tell yourself that you must be delirious. No man can pry open iron gates with only his hand. As he steps into your cell, your vision blurs. You don’t get a good enough look at his face to tell whether he is your saviour or your doom before everything fades to darkness and your strength gives in.
He didn’t need to catch you when you fell because your chained wrists would have kept you up. But he did. Holding you in his arms, his eyes scan your face. It is as if he is back in that vision. Every detail is the same. The curve of your lips, the arc in your brows. You are indeed the woman he saw all those years ago.
Your eyes feel heavy when you try to open them, and your body is sore when you try to move. You try to recall what happened the last time you were awake, try to think if it was a vision or real. Things have been hazy ever since they captured you.
There is light falling over your eyes. More than what you are used to. The ache in your shoulders is gone, and you don’t feel them straining to keep your body up. You lie on a bed made of straw, the most comfort you have experienced in years. But when you sit up, your arms do not move the full distance with you.
Though what happened was not a dream or a vision, you are still in chains. Your wrists are bound together, and a chain leads from them to a strong post in the ground that supports the tent you are in. You do not know where you are. You do not even know if you are safe.
There is a plate of food on the table in front of the bed. More food than you have seen in a long time, and it is not the stale pieces of bread and moulded meat you often would get. The food looks fresh and clean. And there is more than enough for you to eat in one sitting. The sight of it makes your stomach rumble and your mouth water.
As your hands attempt to reach for it, the flaps of the tent open, letting in a man you have never seen. His eyes meet yours instantly. They are cold and piercing like the winter nights you would suffer through in the cell. “I thought you would be awake by now,” he says, walking closer to you with purpose.
His hard stare causes you to shift as far back as you can, your heart racing in your chest as you hold the stare he has fixed upon you. “Who are you?” you ask, your voice cracking. When was the last time you spoke? Or even had something wet and cold touch your lips and soothe your throat.
“The one who will be asking the questions here,” he bluntly says, pulling a chair out so he can sit directly in front of you. “And we can start with your question. Who are you?”
He is rough with his words. He might have taken you away from Hydra’s prisons, but everything inside of you tells you that he cannot be trusted. He is rough, but two can play at that game. “I think you know who I am. Why else would I still be in chains?” you spit, tugging harshly at the chains so that it hit his leg.
He glances down at them for a split second before looking back up at you, holding the stare for a minute before he lets out a sigh. “Very well. I see how it is then,” he mutters, standing up from his seat and reaching over to take the untouched plate of food from beside you.
When he turns to walk away, your heart drops, and your stomach begs for you to stop him. You know that he means to starve you if you do not answer his questions. And he wins this time around.
“Wait,” you call before he can exit the tent. He stops, looking back at you over his shoulder. “(Y/n). My name is (Y/n),” you say, dropping your head in defeat and shame.
He walks back to you and places the plate of food down right in front of you. “Bucky Barnes. Now we both know what to call the other,” he says, sitting back down in the chair. “What does Hydra want with you? I doubt that you served them willingly if they kept you chained up like you were,” he states, leaning forward with his hand resting on his knee.
You pause for a moment, your eyes fixed on the scars on your wrists from years of rubbing against the cuffs. They cannot remember what it’s like without them. “I’m a volva,” you state, slowly lifting your head when you hear him take a deep breath. “They used me to predict attacks and create their armies.”
“You taught them how to create their Draugr? How to use dark magic?”
Their Draugr. Soldiers corrupted by dark magic, becoming living nightmares on the battlefield. Bucky has fought a few of them before. There are not many out there, but those that live are tough and strong to fight.
“Only as much as one can without having the gift to wield magic,” you mention. There are limits to how much magic a person can do if they are not blessed by the gods. They made you tell them how to do that because they did not trust you to create the Draugr yourself.
You can see that whatever trust he had in you, whatever hope he had that you did not play a part in this war is fading. Gods only know now what’s going on in his mind. “Did you help them win their battles? Predict my people’s deaths?”
“I had no choice but to help them.” You raise your voice with every word you say.
“Everyone has a choice.”
“I would like to see how you would handle the same torture I endured every night I didn’t tell them what they wanted to know!” Your voice breaks, and tears well up in your eyes at the thought of the first time you denied them your knowledge. Realising quickly what you had said, you look down at your shaking hands and force yourself to take a deep breath. You choke back your tears, refusing to cry in front of this man. “I had no choice.”
Bucky’s heart drops at the sound of your broken voice, the sight of your trembling body. He curses to himself, dreading that you might think he will do the same to you if you do not answer his questions. Hells, you probably think that he means to use you for your visions as Hydra has used you.
You wait for him to ask the next question, but it doesn’t come. When you look back up at him, you find that he’s staring down at his own hands, deep in his thoughts. “I know better than anyone here what they are capable of. I would have chosen death any day instead of helping them,” he says, lifting his gaze to you.
His words make you seethe inside, your jaw tensing as you bite the inside of your cheek. He makes you feel weak and powerless. He makes you feel like a coward for not fighting back against Hydra, for not choosing death.
“Even if I wanted to die, do you think they would give me that?” you question harshly. He looks back up at you. “I begged for death. Many times, I begged for them to kill me. But they know that seers are very hard to come by, so why would they kill me?”
There is a point to your words. Hydra would not kill you because that would halt their plans. Killing you would mean that they would lose the only way they could win the war.
You stare at each other for a moment before you turn your gaze down to your hands. It has been a long time since someone looked at you. Actually looked at you. You’re still not sure whether or not you can trust him or if he just wants to use you for your visions like HYDRA did.
He stays silent for a moment before letting out a short sigh and standing to his feet, making you look back up at him. “If I remove the chains, would you run?” he questions.
You think about it for a moment. You think about where you might go. Is your home village still standing? What about your family? Are they still alive? All the questions you have cannot be answered now, and it is dangerous to find out for yourself. “I have nowhere to run to,” you say, your voice soft and gentle.
Bucky moves slowly and gracefully, surprising you for a man built like him. His broad shoulders make you feel like he’s hovering over you every time he comes near you. It is slightly frightening. He keeps his eyes on you as he reaches for the shackles around your wrists, only looking away when he needs to find the lock to undo them.
A gasp catches in your throat at the feeling of his fingers touching your skin. Had they not been covered in the leather gloves he wears, you might have had an unexpected vision of him. The shackles fall from your wrist, leaving the scars of years of friction exposed. You hide them with your hands, your heart skipping a beat at the weightless feeling your arms suddenly have.
“Eat. We’ll talk later,” he grumbles, turning around with the chains in his hands, and strides out of the tent.
You wait for a moment before jumping off the bed. After taking a few steps, you stop in your tracks because you expect something to pull you back. Chains. But there’s nothing. You look down at your wrists, remembering that this is the first time in years that you are not bound in chains.
The first bit of freedom you have.
Taking a couple more steps to the flap of the tent, you slowly reach out to touch it and move it aside. Your hand stops when you hear a lot of voices outside. They’re all shouting, and it’s too much to focus on one conversation. You can smell a fire burning, and a shrill of weapons rings now and then. You retreat into the heart of the tent. It’s probably best to stay inside where you know you’ll be safe. Who knows what the men out there will do to you? You’re not even sure what Bucky wants with you.
Outside the tent, Bucky can feel the eyes of his soldiers on him. They saw him bringing you to the camp, and they must all be wondering about what was said in the tent. He’s not sure how many of them know what you are. Only those smart enough to put the pieces together will know what you are, and if they did, the chances that they told others are very good. Word spread quickly when there was nothing else to do in camp.
“So, what did she say?” Sam asks, walking up to Bucky's side when he starts to walk away from the tent.
Sam has been his second-in-command since they started destroying HYDRA’s power over the land. He is a damn good scout and tracker with the help of his Flacon pet. His loyalty and level-headedness serve as Bucky’s grounding force. He’s the council Bucky needs when he feels unsure.
“She’s not with them. She was a prisoner,” he mentions, not wishing to say anything else. “She’s a volva,” he adds quietly under his breath for Sam to hear.
Sam’s eyes grow wide in shock. “A volva? Those are pretty rare,” he states, walking close to Bucky’s side as they make their way to his tent. “Did she say anything that might help us?”
Bucky shakes his head. “She’s still weak. We all know that HYDRA treats their prisoners worse than thralls,” he mentions, turning to face Sam straight on when they reach his tent. “For now, keep her tent guarded. No one is to go in but me.”
“That might be a hard thing to do,” Sam mutters, looking over his shoulder at some men behind him. “Some of the men are not the biggest fan of seers, and something tells me that some of them have figured out what she is already.”
Looking up at the men around the camp, he can see some unhappy faces looking at him. As if they are waiting for him to say something or do something. He trusts Sam’s word. If he says some men know what you are and do not like seers, then it is true. Who’s to say what they will try and do behind his back?
“No one is to go into that tent,” Bucky says, loudly for the entire camp to hear him. His voice is rough and threatening, his eyes dark as he points to the tent you are in. “If I find anyone in there, I will send your soul to Hel myself.”
You sit in the middle of the tent, on your knees with your palms facing the sky. Your eyes are shut, and you focus on your breathing. With each rise and fall of your chest, you think of him. The commander of this army. The man who rescued you from HYDRA. Bucky Barnes.
His face comes into view in your mind. Shadows fall over his features as he steps into the light. Beside him is a pale wolf, stalking towards you like you are prey. Bucky touches the top of the wolf's head, and suddenly they are both covered in blood.
The surroundings change. A city is on fire, but no screams can be heard. Soldiers lay wounded or dead on the ground, some of whose faces you recognise. They belong to men fighting for HYDRA, men who have tortured you or whom you have seen in visions enjoying the power HYDRA has given them. There is only Bucky and the wolf.
As he steps closer, walking down the path littered with corpses and blood, you notice that a golden crown sits on his head. Ten points in a ring for ten cities conquered, runes etched into the gold to signify a connection to the Gods; Fehu for the abundance of wealth he now has as king. Uruz for the strength he has shown on the battlefield to conquer the kingdom. Nauthiz for the struggles endured. Eihwaz for death that follows in his footsteps. Dagaz for the transformation to come under his rule.
He lifts a hand to the crown, a look of discomfort flashing on his face as he adjusts the ornament on his head. He rubs the back of his neck as if to relieve an ache. The longer he walks down the path, he more tired he grows. Dark circles appear under his eyes, but he does not stop walking.
A crow calls overhead, flying in a circle before it perches on top of the wall. It eyes the man and the wolf, cawing before it flies closer to them. It circles for a moment before flying off, disappearing in the grey sky.
“I was forged for war, not for peace. That road is a lonely road to walk,” he says. It feels as if his eyes stare straight at you.
Your eyes snap open as you take a deep breath. Your throat feels raw, your body heavy, and you find yourself lying on the ground. There is a light pouring in from the gaps in the tent. Daylight. It is morning already. You have been stuck in a vision all night.
Pushing yourself off the floor, you hold your head in your hands, groaning at the ache you feel throbbing against your skull. You look around the tent, just to check if someone had snuck in while you were in your vision. But you are alone.
Before you can even finish the thought, the tent flap pushes open as Bucky walks in, catching your eye right away. “You’re up. Good,” he simply says, though you catch a hint of relief in his tone. “Seems to me like you have your strength back. I need to know if you are strong enough to travel.”
You frown, folding your arms as you take a step back. “Travel where?” you ask, watching him closely as he walks forward and places another plate of food down on the table between you.
“My home. We are all weary from the battles and long for home,” he says, standing with his hand on the hilt of his sword.
Glancing down at the plate of food he had placed in front of you, you notice that the portion is a lot smaller than last night’s plate. They are probably starting to be stricter with rations, given the impending travel back home, as well as the need to feed an extra mouth. “And I have no choice but to go with you?”
“You said that you have nowhere to go,” he says, your expression falling at the thought that he’s thinking about not wanting you to be alone with nowhere to go. “And I still have questions.”
That sounds about right. He’s not worried about your safety; he just wants to keep you around because of your powers. You take a deep breath and cast your eyes to the ground as you feel your heart drop. How long will you remain without shackles before he decides to return them if you don’t tell him what he wants to hear?
“I will be fine to travel,” you softly say, walking over to sit on a chair. “And I will answer any questions you may have.”
Bucky watches you, noticing the sound of defeat in your voice and how you stare at your hands, refusing to look back up at him. “Can you tell me about your visions? How do they work?” he asks, slowly walking closer to sit in a chair opposite you. You still don’t lift your head to look at him.
“Some come to me when I don’t expect them, some come when I focus and channel them, but that does not mean I will always have one,” you explain. “HYDRA would force visions upon me, making me focus and channel them until I had one without allowing me to rest. Sometimes, violence can make them come faster.”
He knows what you mean. They would torture you until you had a vision.
“Do they tire you?”
His question shocks you. No one has ever cared about that. It makes you finally look up at him with a frown on your brow. “Yes. Having a vision means my soul walks through the future before it returns to me. It is as tiring for me as a siege on a city is for you.”
He nods, understanding your explanation before looking away to think of another question to ask you. “How did HYDRA know you’re a seer?”
You only need a second to think of an answer to his question, but it is an answer you do not like because it is a question you do not like. Biting the inside of your cheek, you take a breath and look down to the side at the ground. “They attacked my village. While they were rounding up everyone to sort who would join their army and who would be their thralls, seeing the corpses of people I knew brought on a vision. They knew I was different from everyone else and took me aside to find out why. And through the years, they learnt all about what I can do,” you say.
There’s a moment of silence between you and him, all you can hear is his breathing. You’re waiting for the next question, but it does not come. When you raise your eyes to look at him, you find his head hanging between his shoulders. He almost seems saddened to hear your story. “How long were you their prisoner?” he asks, knowing that he probably won’t like your answer.
“Ten years.”
Ten years. That’s how long this war has been going on for. You have been with them from the start. “You are the reason they are this strong,” he says. He looks up at you through his lashes, his eyes dark and threatening. “Your powers to create their Draugr, your visions, everything you did made this fight a lot harder and turned it into a war.”
You don’t know if he is just voicing his realisation or if he is trying to shame you into guilt for what you are and the evil you helped create. Still, his words are like a knife to your heart. You wish he would just kill you if that’s what he wants. “I tried to fight back. How many times must I tell you that I did not want to do what they wanted?” you ask, desperate for him to understand you.
“Do you still have fight in you?” he asks.
His words are not threatening anymore. He doesn’t look at you like he hates you or wishes you dead. Instead, he has a glimmer of hope in his eyes. You lean forward, peering deep into his eyes. The image of him and the wolf from your vision flashes across your mind. You finally understand what it means. He will be the one to end this war, to destroy HYDRA.
“It is the reason I am still alive. I have seen their fall in many visions, and I long for the day that happens,” you say.
The corners of his lips turn up in a small smile, satisfied to know that you are indeed on his side and perhaps willing to help. He’s more relieved to know that your visions say HYDRA will fall, and how often are a seer’s visions false?
He nods his head and stands to his feet. “We leave at noon. I will come get you when we do,” he simply says before turning to walk away.
You think about your vision of him, of the words he spoke. “The path of war doesn’t have to be a lonely one, Commander Barnes,” you say, making him stop in his tracks and his shoulder tense. “Loneliness is a poison to those forged for war.”
A breath catches in his throat as he turns his gaze over his shoulder to look at you. His eyes are wide, his mouth slightly hanging open. It is as if you have read his mind about how he feels, how he has for a long time. He goes to say something, but turns instead and walks out of the tent with heavy footsteps.
Looking down at the food he leaves for you, you let out a deep sigh before reaching for the plate. No vision can prepare you for what's to come next.
Guys?!!? I actually updated this story again! I'm so pleased! Next part is the last part (and actually the whole reason for me writing this flipping story) so that's exciting!
Anyway thanks for sticking with me and I hope you have enjoyed the story.
You sat in a tent once again, but this one was a lot less comfortable than the ones you had been used to the past few days.
Bucky had saved you from the mob, calmed them down and hauled you away. He said nothing to you, but lead you back to this damp, dank area of the camp. He walked you inside, gave you a hard, searching stare then left without saying a word.
You fell to the floor and sobbed. Your energy entirely drained, your heart breaking as he walked away from you. He was supposed to be different, this was supposed to be a new life. But you had ended up where you always did. Alone and hurt.
Natasha came to see you a few hours later. She pulled you into a tight embrace as you pleaded with her.
"Natasha I swear, I swear on my life I would never betray Bucky. My father...oh if he only understood..."
She hushed you and gripped your shoulders. "I believe you, it's ok. But he's...he's been here before..."
You blinked watery eyes at her, begging for more, anything that might help you. Eventually she sighed.
"Years ago, he had a great love. This girl was sweet, but not that nice sweet like you... It was fake, phony. Anyway, Bucky was head over heels, gave her everything, made all the right promises. He thought he was set, found the girl of his dreams, but then..."
Her face filled with pain as she recalled the story. "Turns out she was a spy. There was a war, it was all in our favour and Bucky was confident we would be victorious. But it turns out she had been sharing our strategies, movements of our fighters and all our weaknesses."
You gasped, imagining the betrayal he must have felt, and how he must be feeling now. "Natasha, what happened?"
"We survived, by the skin of our teeth, but we lost a lot of warriors. Families were ripped apart and it took years to regain the trust of our people. And Bucky...his heart was broken."
A tear slipped down your cheek and you listened. "Oh god. This is a nightmare. He's never going to believe me. My father must have known his history..."
Natasha smiled, "Bucky wasn't planning on marrying for love. But I think you took him by surprise..."
You sat in silence for a moment, the weight of Natasha's words pressing heavily on your heart. "What am I going to do?" You said after a while. Would he believe you? Or would you be joining your father in a similar fate?
🗡️
After Natasha's visit you were determined to save your neck, and if you were lucky, your marriage. You hadn't expected to love Bucky so fast, to completely, but you did. You needed him to protect you, to love you and to build a life with.
Everytime someone came by with food or water you demanded to see him but he never showed. They either looked at you with disappointed scowls or shrugs of indifference.
You decided to go drastic, you refused the food, shouted and yelled when anyone walked by. You wouldn't go quietly into this rejection. You were going to fight.
Finally Steve appeared, looking tired and fed up. As soon as he came he into the tent you demanded to see Bucky and he held up his hand in defeat. "Yes, yes just calm down. He's going to see you in the morning."
"No. I want to see him now. I can't sit here waiting for him to build a whole story about this and not defend myself. I want... I need to see him now. Please Steve..."
He sighed again, but shook his head. "You have to wait, but listen, he told me to move you somewhere better. So take that as a good sign right? Maybe he's not so sure about everything yet..."
You scowled. You felt sorry for Steve but he was standing in the way and there was no way to defeat him.
"Don't look at me like that. It's either wait or... Well that's it. Eat something, get some sleep and tomorrow it won't look so bad."
You wondered if you could tackle this gentle giant in front of you, but after a moment considered not. You nodded and let him take you back to the little tent you had on your first evening.
"See you tomorrow..." He said before leaving you alone to wait for Bucky to call for you.
🗡️
At mid-morning you were led to the square. The site of your marriage, your father's death and betrayal. It was a little overwhelming to say the least. The crowd hushed as you walked by, you scanned for a friendly face, but no one really stood out. You bowed your head, preferring to avoid their disappointment.
Bucky was seated on the platform with Steve and Natasha. You focused solely on Bucky, your eyes desperately trying to meet his.
He silenced the crowd and spoke mostly to them and not to you. "The queen has a chance to defend herself against the allegations, let's hear what she has to say." He finally looked at you, his face was stony, but you could see a flash of pain there too.
You approached the platform, and as strong as you wanted to be your voice wobbled, your chest felt so tight. Would you be able to convince him? Your wrung your hands and struggled to swallow as the crowd waited with bated breath.
"I.... I know what you must think of me. My family, my father. They weren't good people. And how could I be a good person being raised by people like that?"
You inhaled slowly, to steady yourself.
"But I am not, have never been like them. In fact it was something they reminded me of daily. How I was weak and pathetic. How my life was a waste. That I would never be of any value of use."
Bucky's jaw twitched, his eyes slightly narrowed as if it hurt to hear you speak like this. Your tears fell freely down your cheeks but you continued.
"The only time I was considered a part of his plan was this marriage. I didn't want to be married to a man I'd never met. He didn't care what I wanted or needed. He just wanted to make his kingdom stronger."
The crowd murmured in support. They had seen your father's behaviour and seen how nervous you had been on your arrival.
"My father betrayed me as his final act of cruelty. There have too many to name but if it satisfies your anger I can tell you. Beatings, starvation, hours spent in cold empty rooms, foul names and fouler tempers..."
More tuts of dismay and you noted Natasha wipe her cheek subtly, but you pressed on. Desperate to reach Bucky's heart.
"I didn't think this would be a marriage of love. I admit that. Nor did I think that I would meet a man who made me feel safe and loved for the first time in my life... But I did. I love you. And I swear I would never betray you."
You fell to your knees, the exhaustion of your grief washing over you like a tidal wave.
"Why would I ruin my one chance of love and happiness with you, for a father who would happily have seen me dead?"
Bucky rose from his seat and walked to you, dropping to his knees, taking your cold hands in his. His face was stained with pain and sadness.
"Bucky I know you've been hurt. I can't imagine how awful that must have been for you. But don't throw this away, us away, based on the words of a bitter old man..."
His hands left yours to cup your cheeks, his thumbs wiping away tears. You whispered his name and ran your fingers across his beard, wiping away stray tears from his face.
"My queen...hush my darling...I'm sorry...I was a fool...I'm so sorry."
You finally broke down sobbing as he held you tight, the crowd cheering in delight as the two of you shared a kiss before he helped you to your feet.
"Go back to your homes, we depart tomorrow" he turns to you and presses a kiss to your nose, "we are going home."
Her servant’s words repeated in her head as she sat at the head table of her wedding feast.
Dressed in a long sleeve white gown embroidered with her new husband’s colors of black and blue down her chest and on her sleeves. She had a thick gold belt wrapped around her waist and a cuff that matched on her wrist. Her long brown hair cascaded down her back in perfect ringlets with a crown made out of white wild flowers on the top of her head. Her wide brown eyes lined with black coal.
She looked over at her husband who wore a matching tunic and had braids in his shoulder length hair. She had to admit the Viking King was handsome. His jaw covered in thick stubble, His lips soft and spread in a wide grin as he talked with a bearded blonde man on his other side.
“He’ll be good to you.”
Feeling eyes on him he looked over at her. He gave her a friendly smile which made her heart race, her fair cheeks flush, and her stomach flutter as though she had swallowed butterflies.
He leaned towards her and asked, “Everything alright?”
She nodded. “Yes. Your Majesty.”
He reached over and grabbed her hand. He brought it to his lips to kiss. Her breath hitched.
“Please call me James. We are husband and wife now. We’re equals.”
Anna blinked. “We are? Is that normal for your people?”
James laughed, but she didn't feel like he was making fun of her.
“Right, I forgot. Your Queens are only used to produce heirs and secure lines. Ours are advisors to the king as well as warriors.”
“I’ve never giving advice before or held a sword.”
“Don’t worry.” He kissed her knuckles once more. “You’ll learn.”
Anna gave him a soft smile which he mirrored. James reached over and tucked her hair behind her ear. The tips of his fingers crazed her cheek.
She watched with hooded eyes as he ran his tongue over his lips.
“Can I kiss you?” he asked.
“Yes,” she answered.
He leaned in and captured her lips in a soft kiss which she responded to her.
“He’ll be good to you.”
And I him, she thought as she sighed in contentment.
