I CAN DO THIS ALL DAY 🎀 21+

It takes just over an hour for Steve to come storming into your room. 

You hear him before you see him. Muffled voices and then John’s booming voice. No care that Steven is a king, as he tried to force his way passed him. For a man of his size you don’t hear John raise his voice often. His sheer size is another to intimidate anyone and you’ve only heard him use it a handful of times. 

The atmosphere in your room is very different. You’re laying in the bath that Wanda had arranged, running a sponge up and down your arms. Darcy is perched on a stood at the side of the bath whispering to you. Wanda throws another log onto the fire and pokes at it. The voices get louder. You ignore them.

Lady Dawn finishes rooting through your bags for a gown to sleep in, only finding one she doesn’t approve of, she huffs and lays it out on the bed. 

There’s a bang against the door as if a scuffle has started. 

“Are you going to do something about that Tulip?”

“Do something about what Lady Dawn?”

Another bang and Bucky’s voice is now in the mix of things. There’s the sound of swords being drawn and Dawn calls to you again.

“TULIP!”

“Fine, let him in.”

She turns and heads towards the door, missing the wink you send to Darcy, who as if already aware of your plan, moves from the side to the end of the tub with her stool. Wanda raises an eyebrow. 

The moment the door opens the hallway falls slient, the men expecting to see you.

“King Steven, do you wish to see the princess?” Lady Dawn asks. 

Steve doesn’t reply and barges passed your Lady and into the room. Bucky follows him and closes the door. Steve scans the room and fixes his eyes on you and storms towards the bath. 

“You stabbed him!”

You continued to bathe yourself, unfazed by his behaviour.

“Don’t ignore me Y/N!!! You stabbed him! You stabbed our soulmate! My husband! Your king!”

“James isn’t my king, just the same as you aren’t.” You replied not sparing him a glance. 

“Excuse me!?”

“You just said James is my King. I am not of Winter’s Hill. He and you are not my kings.”

“But we shall be!”

“Will you?”

“You are our soulmate,” Steve said in a growl “and you will be our Queen!!”

“People often believe that my feral behaviour means I am uneducated Steven. I was raised by many and sometimes in unorthodox ways, but I was educated by governesses, ladies, queens, outlaws, courtesans and kings. I know when a man acts too forward towards an unwed woman. The same as I know when a king seeks to start a war.”

Steve goes to speak but stops as you stand. He couldn’t have been sure from his position before with the water so full of flowers and bubbles, but he sees now that you’re not wearing a bathing shirt. You stand before him completely nude, droplets of water running from your hair and down your body. Steve tries to not look, he really does but it has been years since he’s seen a woman naked. He’d even wondered if any woman would ever grab his attention again but the stirring in his soul, and elsewhere, tells him you definitely can. His gaze follows a droplet from your neck downwards, but it’s stopped abruptly as Lady Dawn holds a towel up in front of you.

“Maybe your majesty should ask his husband as to why I stabbed him before barging in here in a moment of privacy.”

Steve scoffs and turns, leaving and muttering about privacy, stabbing and you standing naked in front of him. He pulls the door open as Bucky turns to follow him and you shoot the latter a wink as he closes the door. 

“REALLY TULIP!”

The room fills with laughter as you and Darcy brake into fits of giggles. You glance at Wanda as she tries to hold in her amusement.

“Sorry Lady Wanda, I should have got to know you better before I flashed you my arse.”

“Oh do not worry Princess, I’ve probably seen more ladies bottoms than their majesties!” She laughed out. “I lived in the maids quarters before I was promoted and then I shared quarters with Natasha before I was wed.”

“Oh you’ve seen my soulmates ass before me?” Darcy said amused. “I’m jealous.” 

“Well it’s something for you to look forward to.” She replied, a smirk on her lips. 

“Really girls! Must you talk like this? It’s so uncouth!” Lady Dawn told you all.

“Lady Dawn, I think you forget that you were once a young lady. A young lady of court if I remember the story correctly.” You told her. 

“Well we didn’t speak like you all do!”

“Lady Dawn, are you saying the late Queen of Lionheart is a liar? Because she told me a tale or two of balls and certain Lords.”

“Oh hush you!” She quipped back, flicking you with a towel. 

“I am also a married woman Lady Dawn and I’ve seen and heard a lot of things.” Wanda replied.

“Oh do tell us!” Darcy quipped.

“That’s it! I’m drinking the wine! And I’m having the cheese too! I’ll take it as tax for putting up with you all.” Lady Dawn replied throwing herself into a chair.

“And she says I’m the dramatic one.” You quipped. 

When the next day reaches lunchtime and there’s no sign of you, Bucky and Steve dress in their finest tunics and come to your room. When they get there they are surprised to see no sign of John or your Loxley men at the door to your room. In fact the only guards are two of their own. They stand to attention and salute as they approach. Bucky nods at them before knocking at the door. There’s no reply.

“Is she in there?” Bucky asks one of the guards. 

“Sorry your majesty but I don’t know. We’ve not heard anything but we have just changed guard.”

Bucky knocks again, louder this time. He sighs before trying the handle.

“Tulip! I’m coming in whether you are decent or not.” He calls, opening the door and peering around it. 

The room is tidy and the only person there is Lady Dawn, who has no idea of their presence as she dozes in a chair. A blanket has been placed over her and there’s a half eaten breakfast on the table to her side. Steve goes to talk but Bucky stops him, placing a finger over his own lips. 

“She’ll be exhausted. She’s been with them since they left Lionheart, she goes where ever Y/N goes. Let her rest.” He whispers.

“There’s a perfectly good bed in the next room for her.” Steve whispered back harshly.

“And she probably didn’t take it so to watch over Y/N.”

Bucky scans the room to see if there’s any indication of where you’ve gone. Your riding gear is there and appears to have been washed as it dries by the fire. Your other bags, albeit few, have been put away and Bucky’s thoughts go towards what you could be wearing if your riding clothes are here. The thought of you in a gown stirs something inside him. He’d heard of the gowns that the ladies wear now in Lionheart and Loxley. He turned quickly almost colliding with Steve.

“What is wrong with you?” He whispered harshly.

“Her riding gear is here.”

“And?”

“And Stevie it means she might be in a gown. The type they have in Loxley.”

Steve’s brow furrowed for a moment before his eyes went wide.

“We should find her.”

Bucky smirked at him.

“Thinking of her again Stevie, as you did last night.” Bucky whispered, pressing himself up against Steve. 

“Stop.” Steve replied firmly, casting his eye over at Lady Dawn still sleeping. 

“You know I hear their gowns have a slit right up to here.” Bucky told him as he ran his hand up Steve’s thigh. 

Steve swallowed hard.

“You should take the west wing and I’ll take the east.” Steve replied flustered.

Bucky stepped back.

“You’ll take the stables and I’ll take the kitchens. I may not know her well but I know that’s where she’ll be.”

They leave the room in a quick but quiet manner, closing the door softly behind them so not to disturb Lady Dawn. Once they are gone Lady Dawn smiles to herself and drifts back to sleep.

Bucky’s right of course and finds you in the kitchen with Wanda, Darcy and Mrs Brooks, the cook. The kitchen staff are going about their jobs but watching you when they can, somewhat in awe of you. Rosie, Mrs Brooks assistant looks like she might burst with excitement. 

You’re asking questions about fresh catches and how often food is caught, as you exchange conversation with Mrs Brooks. She mentions about the cold store and helping feeding the neighbouring villages and towns over the winter.

“I noticed that some of the houses have small plots to grow food, do they grow winter crops?” You ask.

“Yes Princess, but the winters are so harsh they can only grow during the very first month than it has to be harvested.”

“We give them baskets.” Rosie blurts out. 

“Rosie! You cannot just blurt out words at the Princess! You should only talk when asked to!” She scolds. 

“It’s okay Mrs Brooks, she can speak to me, you all can.” You say, before turning to Rosie. “Now Rosie do tell me what’s in these baskets you give out.”

Rosie goes on to tell you that’s there’s a mix of jams, breads, and fresh meats. Cheese too if they have enough. Mrs Brooks tells you it’s all proportionate to the household and can last a couple of days. She tells you that King Steven would like them to have two a week this winter.

“Can you accommodate that Mrs Brooks?”

“We’ll have to Princess and we are more than capable.” She replies, her eyes cast down at the last moment as though she’s worried she’s spoken out of turn.

“Please Mrs Brooks, I am not saying you aren’t capable. Your kitchen is the cleanest I’ve seen, your staff are well turned out and go about their jobs without fussing and questions, meaning you have taught them well. I just wonder where you would store it all. By the time the baskets are done and being passed out, you will need to start the others, they’d be an overlap and with the castle to feed you may struggle for space, even with the ice room and cold store. Do you think you would benefit from more storage?”

Mrs Brooks let out a sigh of relief. 

“Yes Princess, I do. It’s been a worry. We may not have daily court or hold balls and plenty will say we have it easy because of that, but it’s a lot of people both within and outside of these walls.”

“Then you shall have more storage Mrs Brooks.” Bucky spoke, startling everyone but you, when he stepped out of his hiding spot. 

The room stopped to bow and curtsy. Mrs Brooks gasped.

“I do not mean to speak out of turn your majesty.”

“You don’t Mrs Brooks, but you should have told us that Steve’s request would have caused you issue.” He replied, as he came to your side before slipping an arm around your waist and kissing your head. “Good morning Princess.”

You didn’t answer as you watched Mrs Brooks gape, her mouth opening as to say something but stopping herself.

“What is it Mrs Brooks?” You ask.

She shakes her head and you notice how her demeanour has changed since Bucky entered the kitchen. You glanced between them and then at Rosie who seems to have gone silent and incredibly still. The room had stopped being the hustle and bustle of the house and had now also fallen silent. You frowned at Bucky, as he also seemed to become aware of their change. 

“Is something wrong Mrs Brooks?” You asked. “You may speak freely.” 

She lifted her head a little and glanced between you and Bucky, before looking down again. 

“It’s me isn’t it?” Bucky asked. 

“Well you have been incredibly grumpy Yasha.” Natasha said, gliding into the room.

“Is that the issue Mrs Brooks? You did not want to bother James because of his temperament.”

“I should not speak of such things.” She whispers.

You glare at Bucky. You know you cannot make a scene in front of his staff, it is his castle and kingdom after all. But as you glare at him, you see his expression seems to have gone from confusion to disappointment.

“You will have your extra storage Mrs Brooks and I apologise if I have been unapproachable or difficult. That goes to all of you.” He says, looking around the room. “The last few years have not been kind to me and I’m sorry if that has caused me to address or speak to any of you poorly.”

“Thank you your majesty, but I’m just a cook, I know my place and you need not apologise.”

“Well, I’m sure my sister would say otherwise, as would my late mother, and you’re not just a cook. You keep a castle and a kingdom nourished, do not underestimate the importance of that.” 

Mrs Brooks nodded and the room stayed silent for a moment, thankfully Wanda breaks the ice.

“Would you like lunch to be served your majesty?”

“Tulip?”

“When would you normally eat?”

“Around now.”

“Is it ready Mrs Brooks, no need to rush if not.”

“It is Princess.”

“Oh Lady Dawn is resting.” You realise.

“I’ll send someone to wake her.” Bucky says.

“No, she’s exhausted from our escapades, but she’ll be annoyed if she misses our first official lunch together.”

“May I make a suggestion?” Rosie asks.

“No, you may not!” Mrs Brooks scolds.

“I was just going to say the gardens are nice then it’s less official.”

“What do you know of official!”

They start to have a back and forth, which you watch in amusement. When you glance at Bucky, he still looks as if he’s disappointed in himself. You place your hand over his metal one against your waist and squeeze softly. You’re unsure if he can feel it but the kiss he plants into your hair, along with a sigh tells you he can. 

“Ladies!” Wanda calls, stopping the back and forth between the kitchen staff. They stop, as Wanda turns to you. “May I make a suggestion?”

“Of course.” You reply.

“A lunch in the gardens would be less formal and may avoid upsetting Lady Dawn. Lady Darcy, Natasha and I can accompany you, and act as chaperones.”

“James?” You ask, glancing up at him. He nods and you look back to Wanda. “That would be lovely Lady Wanda, thank you everyone.”

You turn towards Bucky, and take the chance to truly take him in. His hair is freshly washed and part of it is pulled back from his face. He is wearing a tunic in Barnes colours and it compliments his broad shoulders. The look in his eyes though seems somewhere between confused and lost. 

There’s a pull in your chest and around your soulmate mark and you feel the need to comfort him.

“James? Would you show me the gardens before we eat?” 

He looks down at you and seems to force a smile.

“Of course Tulip.” He replies, as he releases your waist and offers his arm. You take it and he leads you through the kitchens, back into the castle hallway and out through a door that the guards push open as you approach. 

You glance up at him again as the sun catches you both as you step outside and realise you maybe warming to him, and it doesn’t actually make you want to vomit like you thought it would.

It takes a lot for a man of his standing to acknowledge his faults. From what you’ve heard his father never did. 

Maybe James isn’t so bad after all. Steven on the other hand…..

Meanwhile in Loxley……

“Send the quickest birds to Winter’s Hill and Lionheart.” Robin instructed one of his men as he passed them two sealed notes. “Then come back for one for Asgard.”

“What will you do?” Marian asked. 

Robin gave her a look that made it clear what his actions would be. 

“You remember that she pardoned them.” 

“She was six years old and didn’t know better. Now though, she has defended kingdoms, has dragons, royals and outlaws at her calling and knows plenty, and she’ll soon to be wed to the Kings of Winter’s Hill. If Richard has told James everything and he still pursued her, I doubt James or Steven will let them live.”

A knock at the door brought John’s oldest son with news.

“You have a guest Uncle Rob.”

“Oh, and who might that be?”

“The Punisher. He says he’s been sent by James. He wants to talk to you about Tulip’s mother and stepfather.”

“Let him in then lad, let’s set him on the right path. Bring me a true map of the woods.”

Robin smiled to himself. After all these years, your mother and stepfather might get what was coming to them after all. 

Fancy a cuppa? My Ko-Fi.

When you bounced over to where he was seated on the couch and going through the prints of potential covers for his newest book, Ransom felt the usual warm shiver down his spine that melted most of the tension that accumulated in his body through the day. Your bubbly presence always had that annoyingly soothing effect on him. 

You told him about your day. Unlike with most people, Ransom really listened to you. He liked listening to you. Perhaps because you were rarely complaining. Instead, you tended to tell him about happy things, or funny things. 

Which is also the reason why he is glaring right now. 

Because one of the funny things of the day was a meme you saw. A fucking meme that apparently made you think of him. 

“I’ll send it to you. That meme is so you!” You giggled. 

A ping later his phone screen brightened with a message from you. He opened the picture. And fucking glared. 

It was a picture of a tiny, fuzzy bat. Petted by someone. And the words on it said “No! Stop touching me! I am the night!” 

“It’s not me,” Ransom grumbled. 

You laughed, snuggling closer to his side. 

Resting against Ari’s warm, solid body, something in you awoke with a need to track. You can’t even say exactly what you were investigating, but your own body followed a ghost of an instinct. 

You leaned more into him, face buried into the crook of his neck as your nose rubbed against his neck. It was as if you were in a trance, needing to take in all of the scent and sate yourself with it similar to the way Ari’s cum placated the burning demands of your womb. 

Scenting. The term comes to you suddenly. 

Ages ago, when the designations were still in full capacity of their traits and instincts, people supposedly smelled in specific ways. Nuzzling into someone’s neck or wrist in chase of that scent was either an invitation to sex, or a way to soothe yourself. It especially worked between Alphas and Omegas. 

But there are no scents anymore; nothing beyond perfume, anyway. Ari doesn’t smell of anything special. Just remnants of sweat, transference of your own body wash, and his typical scent. You didn’t see his bottle of cologne - not that you were looking for it - but whatever he used had distinctive ozone notes. 

And you definitely wouldn’t be seeking comfort in the Alpha who took you so brutally, reshaping your future to his desires.