hannah

james ‘bucky’ barnes

“this one broods like it is a full-time occupation. what century is he mourning? all of them?”

bucky didn’t talk much, which the enchantress liked. but he watched. he analyzed. he asked smart questions, even if he only used five words at a time.

over time, they developed a rhythm in battle. she’d clear the path, he’d cover her blind spots. quiet, efficient.

one time, he handed her a knife mid-fight, the kind made of vibranium with a leather-wrapped hilt. she spun it in her hand, then raised a brow.

“you gift weapons like they are poetry.”

he didn’t answer, but he smirked.

she almost smiled.

bucky was always first to clock danger, always had your back. he didn’t flinch around her magic, didn’t fear her like the rest of them.

she once called him “the least irritating man with a metal limb”.

she would stand behind him during briefings.

he once left a knife near her altar. her fingers hovered over it, then left a spell tucked in its leather grip. a rune of silence. of peace.

she lets him train in her magical barrier zones to test his knives.

she once stitched a cut on his jaw with glowing thread and didn’t insult him for bleeding.

once, after a particularly vicious mission, she found him alone on the rooftop, sharpening his knife in silence.

she appeared beside him in a blink.

“you mourn with such commitment. what would the winter soldier say?”

he didn’t look up. “he’d probably ask you to stop reading his mind.”

a beat of silence.

then she sat beside him, not close, but close enough.

“i do not mourn. but i have known what it means to carry blood like it is your own.”

he nodded.

they didn’t speak again for an hour. and she stayed.

ava starr

“this one walks like she is moments from ceasing to exist. how fitting.”

enchantress saw ava as volatile, broken, and far too reactive. magic and quantum instability do not mix.

but then she saw her fight.

uncontrolled but brutal. ava would tear through enemies like smoke with teeth. no flair. no showboating. just pain.

she respected that.

once, when ava phased through a collapsing bridge to save a child, enchantress shielded the exit, not because she cared, obviously, but because the structure was “inefficiently designed and offensive to the eye.”

later, ava said, “thanks.”

enchantress replied, “i merely wished to avoid your atoms becoming someone else’s mess.”

but her magic was gentler the next time ava faltered.

“i tolerate her presence. she is… hauntingly efficient.”

enchantress subtly adjusts her spell radius so ava can phase safely.

once, when ava collapsed mid-fight, phasing out, half-conscious, it was enchantress who caught her mid-fall. “you will not die. not until I say so.”

she once left a note on ava’s locker: “stabilization rune. do not waste it.” no signature, but ava kept it anyway.

another time when ava got cornered by tech-augmented soldiers, glitching, faltering. it was enchantress who threw a wall of shimmering emerald fire to block the incoming blast.

“do not shatter. it is… irritating to repair quantum dust.”

ava, catching her breath, replied, “you’re such a bitch.”

enchantress tilted her head. “flattery will not win me over.”

later, ava phased through her shield during a drill, a stupid dare from yelena, and landed a hit.

instead of retaliation, enchantress smirked. “impressive. try that again and i’ll atomize your molecules into alphabet soup.”

ava grinned back. “you’re learning how to joke. that’s terrifying.”

yelena belova

“this one laughs too easily. she dances in fire as if it cannot burn.”

yelena is everything the enchantress is not: snarky, warm, reckless in joy. she jokes with knives, flirts with chaos, and annoys with purpose.

enchantress loathed her.

until one mission, yelena cracked a joke mid-battle, something absurd about “stabby girls sticking together”, and enchantress laughed.

out loud.

everyone heard it.

she incinerated the next five hydra agents in cold fury.

later, yelena nudged her and said, “you’ve got a soul under all that goddess drama, huh?”

enchantress’s eye twitched.

“speak again and i will summon a basilisk to dine on your bones.”

yelena winked. “so we’re friends now. got it.”

she sometimes lets yelena braid flowers into her hair after training, which she “forgot to vaporize.”

she lets yelena sleep against her shoulder on long flights. she hexes away yelena’s migraines in silence.

after one mission, where yelena deflected a shot meant for enchantress with her bare forearm, she looked up and said, grinning through the pain, “bet you’ll miss me when i’m gone.”

“do not test that theory,” enchantress whispered, sealing the wound with glowing green magic. “it is the only kindness you’ll get.”

enchantress once muttered, “i will burn the world if she dies” but only to you.

“why does she mock death like it’s a punchline? she is chaos without consequence.”

yelena annoyed her. with the relentless teasing. with the sarcasm. with the friendship bracelets.

yes, yelena made her one.

it said “MAGIC BAD BITCH 💅” in pink beads.

enchantress vaporized it. but the next day… she found it again. reconstructed. stronger. with added charms.

“try again,” yelena grinned. “this one has protective runes.”

enchantress incinerated them again.

later that week though, she replaced the destroyed bracelet with one of her own, etched in runes, disguised as a joke.

yelena wears it everywhere now.

she also once dared to sneak enchanted glitter into her cloak.

enchantress didn’t hex her.

instead, she made her levitate for three hours as punishment, but never once said, “i hate you.”

yelena, upside-down, shouted “this means we’re besties!”

john walker

“this one worships authority like it is a god, yet cannot comprehend divinity when it speaks to him.”

walker is everything she dislikes about men, loud, moralizing, self-important, and carrying that cursed shield like it holds weight in her realm.

he teases her constantly. calls her “witchy” and “disney villain-coded”, says she secretly likes them. once said she had a heart after she pulled him out of a crumbling helijet mid-mission.

she flung him into a wall so hard it cracked the plaster.

“you talk so much for a mortal whose strength lies in a puny shield.”

he groaned and said, “admit it. you like us.”

“i liked you better unconscious.”

still, she shows up first when he’s injured. always last to leave him behind.

she’d rather resurrect hela than ever admit that she has a soft spot for him.

she always shields him in battle “only because you’re a lightning rod for stupidity.”

but during a mission gone wrong, walker tackled a bomb off a bridge and almost didn’t make it back. his shield cracked. his ribs broke. but he saved a dozen lives. when he woke up in medbay, she stood over him. “you are a fool.”

he winced. “missed you too.”

she laid a rune on his chest and turned to leave.“that will heal the bone. but not the idiocy.”

“a man who clings to a shield like it’s the only part of himself worth preserving.”

“you know,” he once said after a mission, wiping blood from his lip, “you’re not that scary.”

she blasted him against a truck.

“speak again, and i shall reduce your tongue to ash.”

“still not that scary.” he wheezed.

they fought constantly, verbally, magically, and once in a team spar where she almost turned him into a goat. almost.

byt when he shielded ava from a blast with his own body, enchantress watched him differently. the next time he made a joke, she let it pass without comment.

once, during a blackout, the team sat around sharing stories. he shared one about his friend who tragically passed, quiet, genuine.

she didn’t speak after that.

but the next day, she conjured a charm and said: “wear it. not for you. for your friend’s memory.”

he blinked. “so you do care.”

alexei shostakov

“a relic. much like myself, only louder, and fueled by pickled ego.”

alexei is boisterous. boastful. calls her “mystical lady” and “magic mama” and once tried to arm-wrestle her.

she hexed his biceps into noodles for an hour.

but he’s also weirdly endearing. he means well, fights hard, bleeds without complaint, and disturbingly, sometimes makes her laugh.

he once handed her a hammer mid-mission and said, “now you look like a god.”

she didn’t hex him for three days after that.

she tolerates his proximity.

she lets him spar near her sacred altar (“you must stop bleeding on the glyphs”).

she healed his broken ribs after a mission, then denied it. “you imagined it. likely brain trauma.”

once, she saw him throw himself in front of a plasma cannon aimed for her. when she tried to chide him, he interrupted: “you are part of the team. i protect team.”

“foolish. sentimental. moron.” he grinned. “you say that like it’s new.”

she sighed and cast a protection spell on his bones. “you will live. regrettably.”

alexei always defends the team like a bear would its cubs. no hesitation. no fear. just fists, heart, and delusion.

he once stood in front of a hydra tank to shield her spell casting. took the hit. didn’t flinch.

“you’re welcome, my glowing queen.”

she stared at him. “you are the dumbest mortal i’ve ever begrudgingly admired.”

he grinned. “that’s basically love in your language, no?”

robert ‘bob’ reynolds/the void

“i knew you before light had a name. i remember the collapse of stars with you at my side.”

she never doubted bob.

and the void? he knows her. the ache of eternity. the gravity of being too much and too lonely for too long.

their bond is old. deeper than names. stranger than time. a flicker of love that doesn’t always look soft, but it’s there.

sometimes they float outside the tower, silent, watching the sky fracture in distant colors. saying nothing. needing nothing.

he once reached out, brushed her cheek with a shadowed hand, and said, “you’re softer than you pretend.”

she replied, “and you’re gentler than you believe.”

she doesn’t have to admit that she has a soft spot. the void already knows.

she calls him “beloved” in ancient tongues.

casts protective runes on him that glow only in darkness.

if the void breaks, she will break the world to rebuild him.

“he is the beginning and the ending. my mirror. my ruin. my solace.”

they understand each other beyond words.

oncr, during a night thick with stormlight, they stood side-by-side, watching lightning split the sky in silence.

“you miss it too.” she said, softly.

he nodded. “the quiet. the before.”

they rarely touch, but when they do, it’s like galaxies breathing against each other.

she once placed her hand over his chest and whispered a spell older than this universe.

“you are too much,” he whispered.

“so are you,” she replied.

“and still not enough for each other.”

“yet we stay.”

you

“a flame that believes in rain. beautiful. foolish. necessary.”

you’re the only one who speaks to her like she’s real. not a god. not a weapon. not a curse.

you call her out gently. you tell her things like “they’re not as bad as you think.”

and over time… she believes you.

she watches how you talk to them. how you protect them. and she learns. for you.

she once shielded the entire team with a dome of magic that pulsed in your color, but when asked, she said she did it to preserve her own resources.

you smiled anyway. you knew.

“you care about them,” you said one night, “you’re becoming part of this.”

she looked at you like you were the most terrifying thing in any dimension.

“speak of this again,” she whispered, “and i shall turn your tongue to ash.”

then added, quieter

“…but only briefly.”

you are the only one who can calm her when her powers spiral.

the only one who can summon enchantress with a whisper.

you’re the reason she protects the team. why she hasn’t scorched the earth clean. why she stays.

“a mortal. too kind. too soft. a flame dancing too close to gods.”

you were her tether. her reason.

the one who taught her that humanity wasn’t just weakness, it was choice.

you talked her down when her magic raged. held her hand after nightmares. defended her when the world called her a monster.

“they’re family.” you told her once, after she called the team a circus of fools.

“they are.” she said.

“they’re your circus now.”

she stared at you like you broke the sky.

“you are absurd.”

“you’re soft.”

“i will turn your lungs into lilacs.”

you smiled.

author’s note: so yes i do headcanon that since enchantress only comes out during the night or when ‘you’ summon her (which is always on the battlefield) most of their soft moments would appear during battle.

if i write another action-sequence fic centered around the enchantress being soft and protecting the others would y’all read it🥺 (i feel like you guys hate action sequences lmaooo)

robert ‘bob’ reynolds never cared for phones.

he used his for mission briefings, weather updates, reply to texts with “K” or thumbs-up emojis. he only has a phone because he has to.

but today, he’s curled up on the living room’s couch, face bathed in the faint glow of tiktok.

yelena’s sprawled on the rug in front of him, snacking on expired takis and kicking her feet, while bob is staring at his screen like it’s alive, like it’s mocking him.

you see, it started with yelena.

she was bored during surveillance. handed him her phone and said, “trust the algorithm. it knows things.”

he shouldn’t have trusted the algorithm.

because now?

now, it only shows you.

you walking through smoke, cloak trailing behind you.

you laughing during sparring drills, eyes bright and magic curling at your fingertips.

you after a mission, hoodie on, sipping coffee, with captions like:

“just give me one chance, y/n, PLEASE”

“SO SPECIAL 2 ME!!”

“i fear no god but her.”

bob watches each one like it’s classified intel. his face is red, his hands sweaty, his soul… not intact.

then one video stops him cold.

you’re mid-fight, sweat-slicked, magic laced across your knuckles, flipping over a hydra agent, cloak swirling behind you.

music: ariana grande - dangerous woman

caption:

“she could kill me and i’d say thank you. 💚💀🫠”

bob drops the phone, stares at the ceiling like it betrayed him. he squeaks.

a grown man. nearly god-tier power. literally the sentry. and he squeakes.

yelena snorts soda through her nose. “you’re down so bad, bob. i’m proud of you.”

and a few hours later, you walk past him in the hallway, post-workout, hair pulled back, water bottle in hand.

“hey, bob.” you say casually.

he looks up like you just summoned him from the astral plane.

“hi,” he says, voice way too high. “i mean. yes. hello. n-normal greeting.”

you squint at him. “you good?”

he tries to nod. it comes out more like a bobblehead glitching in real-time.

you raise an eyebrow. “yelena mess with you again?”

he looks like he’s about to deny it, then freezes, eyes going wide.

behind you, yelena rounds the corner, winks, and holds up bob’s phone.

she presses play.

the sound of ariana grande starts playing again.

you glance over your shoulder just in time to see yourself in slow motion on the screen. you didn’t even know someone filmed that.

yelena let out a mischievous smirk and a quick “have fun!” before throwing his phone at your direction and running away.

you caught it perfectly, seeing yourself on the screen. you ask, very casually, “is that… me?”

bob jumps like he’s been tased.

“oh my- uh- i was just… it’s just yelena sent-“

you blink. “bob.”

“i didn’t- i mean, i didn’t search for them,” he blurts. “the app just kept showing you and then i didn’t want to be rude by not watching-“

you glance at the screen, swiping once.

another thirst trap. this one with the caption:

“she speaks and i forget my own name.”

you grin. “wow. they’re kinda poetic.”

“i know,” he mutters, trying to hide himself behind his hands. “it’s horrible.”

“horrible?” you feign offense. “that’s me! i think i look hot.”

he peeks over his fingers. “y-you are hot. that’s the problem.”

you blink.

then your grin shifts, softens, sharpens. “well. at least now i know you’ve seen my good angles.”

“i’ve seen all your angles,” bob mumbles before realizing what he just said.

he immediately closed his eyes. “oh my god…”

you laugh, genuinely, wickedly.

then, after a pause, “… you want me to make a new one?” you say, voice low and teasing.

he peeked.

you shrug. “you know, just for you. thirst trap. real exclusive.”

bob makes a sound that might’ve been a whimper.

“i’m not strong enough for that,” he says.

you lean in.

close enough for your nose to almost touch his.

“that’s funny,” you whisper, placing his phone in one of his pocket. “i thought you were the strongest one here.”

and then you walk away, barefoot, cereal in hand, hoodie falling off one shoulder.

bob stares after you like you just rewrote the laws of physics.

later that night, bob’s room is dark. only the faint glow of the moon cuts through the blinds.

he’s in bed, hoodie on, blanket up, headphones in.

the phone? balanced on his chest like a glowing curse.

he should be sleeping, meditating, literally anything else.

but instead… he’s scrolling.

your edits. again.

the algorithm has him in a chokehold.

first video: you walking away from an explosion, hair blowing back like a damn shampoo commercial, captioned:

“she’s the reason i believe in God.”

bob snorts through his nose. he tries to scroll past it.

he does not scroll past it.

next one: a slowed-down training clip, enchantress powers blooming from your fingertips in green, but you’re laughing.

just a clip of you laughing.

the caption reads:

“she smiled at me (i made that up in my head but still)”

bob clenches his jaw. scrolls.

another one: you leaning over a map in the command room, eyes sharp, lip caught between your teeth.

the audio is some slowed, sultry track. and the top comment?

“i’m so sorry bob but she’s mine now 💚”

bob actually pauses the video.

squints at the comment.

then stares at the username. “@toecutter2.0”.

“…what kind of name is that?” he mumbles.

scrolls again.

this one’s you mid-fight, arms glowing, spinning through smoke with two men down behind you.

someone added dramatic strings underneath.

the top caption:

“don’t let her near your man. she is the man now.”

he grips the phone like it personally insulted him.

next comment:

“do you think she’d step on me? i’d say thank you😍”

his ears turn red.

and even more:

“the hold she has on me is borderline criminal.😩”

“it’s beating her name in morse code”

“God made her, then panicked because nothing else could compare.”

bob shuts the app.

throws the phone across the bed.

stares at the ceiling, mumbling to himself

“i’m not jealous of… a tiktok comment. i’m not. that’s not rational.”

pause.

“…@toecutter2.0 can catch these hands though.”

next morning. the gym.

you pull yelena aside.

“i need your help.”

yelena doesn’t ask questions. she just starts grinning.

“oh, this is gonna be fun.”

OPERATION: WRECK ROBERT ‘BOB’ REYNOLDS

• use the gym’s natural lighting.

• wear that training outfit bob can never make eye contact with.

• cast just enough magic to make it ✨ cinematic ✨.

• cue slow motion.

• add in earned it by the weeknd

yelena directs like a chaotic spielberg. “now look over your shoulder like you just blew something up. no, slower. yes, that’s it.”

you toss your dagger, spin, and let a ripple of green magic bloom behind you. you slow-walk past the camera like you’re exiting the wreckage of a spaceship you just blew up with your mind.

yelena claps. “i am so proud of this. bob’s going to short-circuit.”

she posts it with the caption:

“made this for the golden retriever upstairs 💛”

“@sentryofficial don’t pass out please”

five minutes later: THUMP from the floor above.

bob is lying on the floor.

not dead.

just… processing.

he’s watched the video eight times. maybe nine.

his phone is face-down now but he can still hear the audio in his soul.

he gets up slowly, like someone recovering from a knockout punch.

he whispers, “okay… okay. she wants war? fine.”

he sets up his phone. angles it on his desk.

stands in front of it.

realizes he has no idea what to do with his hands.

tries to do a slow hoodie pull, gets stuck.

tries to glow just a little, glows too much.

mutters, “too powerful, too much.”

accidentally drops the phone. curses.

trips over his boot.

lands half-off screen, groaning.

somehow… he still posts it.

the final product? 47 seconds of a man trying his hardest and failing gloriously.

caption:

“this was supposed to be cool but i am not built for this. @you i tried.”

you open it and nearly cry from laughing.

your comments:

“10/10 would simp again 💛”

“this wins the internet”

“do it again but make it worse <3”

later, you pass him in the hallway again.

you lean against the wall, casual as ever.

“you know,” you say, “it’s really cute how nervous i make you.”

he looks away, blush blooming on his face. “it’s not just nervous... it’s, like… heart attack-level admiration.”

you grin. “good. you deserve to suffer a little.”

then you tap your phone and show him something new.

it’s a new tiktok.

you in front of the camera, holding up a sign that says,

“@sentryofficial be my for you page irl?”

his jaw drops, pink hues appearing on his cheeks.

“i’m going to explode,” he whispers.

you lean in and say, “good.”

then you wink, and walk away.

behind you, bob clutches the wall.

but he’s smiling.

because it’s you.

and now he knows you’re smiling back.

“w-wait up..!”

tag list:

UNDERGROUND CLUB BELOW THE VIENNA STATE OPERA HOUSE, WESTERN EUROPE - 11:32 PM

private auction night

the air tastes like ozone and old bourbon. velvet curtains cover cracked plaster. there’s an antique chandelier above the bar flickering with blood-red LED bulbs, casting shadows like broken glass across the crowd.

somewhere in the crowd: mercs, arms dealers, hydra defectors, and warlords who don’t technically exist.

and at a table just beneath the second mezzanine, is robert ‘bob’ reynolds, looking perfect in a slim-cut black suit, nerves unraveling by the second.

you sit beside him, swirling untouched whiskey, watching him come apart thread by golden thread.

“he’s looking at me,” bob murmurs, too quiet for anyone else to hear. “he knows. the madripoor guy in the corner, he keeps- he’s not blinking.”

you glance up.

the man in question tilts his head, one brow raised. hands drifting way too slowly toward the holster under his coat.

bob’s about to snap. you can feel it under your skin like the low thrum of the void stirring.

“we got what we need, we have to leave this place now.” you whispered, giving him a look.

you didn’t say anything more, but he understood quickly, giving a nod.

“under any circumstances, do NOT engage and do NOT use any of your powers.” you remember bucky say, right before the mission.

you cannot let sentry, void or enchantress lose it here.

this is not the place for sun gods or eldritch abominations, so you do the only thing that makes sense in a room like this.

you stand, smooth as static, and quickly vanish into the shadows behind the stage, where a two-piece synthwave duo just finished their eerie, looping set.

and waiting backstage, among broken amps and stolen crates, you see it:

a scratched jackson king v custom.

you pick it up. test the weight. check the strings.

you walk out slow.

the crowd goes quiet for a beat. spotlights flicker to follow.

you nod at the DJ, who knows not to mess with it.

then, you slam into the intro to “master of puppets.”

the distortion screams.

the riff punches through the smoke like a fist. dirty. loud. real.

people down on the floor cheer, some boo, some start laughing in disbelief.

the suits look confused. a few start pulling out phones.

one of the auction security guards near bob’s table mutters, “what the hell-“

bob exhales like he’s been underwater for five minutes, he slinks out with the crowd’s attention squarely on you.

and you?

you shred.

“end of passion play, crumbling away

i’m your source of self-destruction…”

you sing like it’s prophecy, like the world’s about to burn and you’re the one lighting the match.

heads are banging, drinks are spilled, the tech auction upstairs is forgotten.

that guy from madripoor? he’s now two whiskeys deep and head-nodding like you’re doing a private concert just for him.

your fingers blaze through the solo like they were built for this. the guitar’s raw, snarling. just perfect.

and in the dark corner of the second tier, where no one’s watching anymore?

bob slips through a side door. free and clear.

you hammer the final riff with one last scream of strings.

“MASTER! MASTER!”

silence crashes like a wave behind it. the crowd roars, half of them think you’re just the best part of the party, the other half are too dazed to care.

you bow low, tossing the guitar off-stage like a mic drop.

and walk out like you own the world, panting as you slam the door behind you.

“you-” he starts, breathless. “you just-”

“i shredded,” you say, breathless and smug. “and saved your ass.”

he huffs a laugh, still dazed.

“i was gonna blow it,” he admits. “i could feel it coming… like the whole thing was about to fall apart.”

“well,” you smirk, brushing your hair back. “good thing i know how to play the hits.”

he looks at you, really looks at you.

the city glows behind you, the music still ringing faintly from the club.

and he says, “you’re kind of unreal, you know that?”

you shrug. “takes one to know one, sunshine.”

you look at each other for a second too long.

and somewhere in the club behind you, the next DJ starts spinning, but nothing could top what you just did.

tag list:

back at the tower, the overhead lights are dim, tinted soft blue, like the place itself knows everyone needs rest.

bob’s sitting on the edge of the medical bed, shirt half-peeled off, bruises already blooming dark across his ribs, a slow trickle of dried blood on his temple. he’s trying to downplay it, like always.

you walk in carrying a med kit and an eyebrow already raised.

“you should be lying down.” you say.

he scoffs softly. “i’m fine.”

“you took a missile to the chest, bob.”

“i’ve… taken worse.”

you plant yourself in front of him. “doesn’t mean you should.”

he’s too tired to argue. so he lets you patch him up. the antiseptic stings, he doesn’t flinch, but you do.

“sorry.” you mutter, tapping gauze against his skin.

bob looks up at you, quietly.

“you did good out there.”

you smile. “you lit up the sky.”

“you danced across it.”

you pause.

there’s something different about the way he says it, not just admiration, something else, something tender, like he doesn’t just mean it looked cool.

like he means: you were beautiful.

you swallow, look away.

“i didn’t black out this time,” you say, more to fill the space.

“that was a lot of power to channel,” bob says, softly. “you sure you’re okay?”

you nod. “more than okay. i think… i think i’m learning how to carry her.”

bob studies you. “it doesn’t… she doesn’t scare you?”

you meet his gaze.

“no,” you say. “because i’m not carrying her alone.”

and maybe that’s about more than just magic.

his shoulders drop a little. like some breath he didn’t know he was holding finally let go.

a beat passes.

then you mutter, “let me look at your ribs.”

bob sighs, lays back. the bed creaks. you pull the rest of his shirt up and wince at the mess of black-purple bruising.

“you heal fast.” you mutter.

“you worry faster.” he says.

you glance at him, caught.

his voice goes softer.

“… you always… you always show up when i need you.”

you tape the last of the dressing across his side. “so do you.”

he’s quiet for a second, eyes fixed on the ceiling. then:

“you ever feel it?”

“feel what..?”

“the way the air changes… when we fight together.”

you sit back on the stool beside him, arms crossed.

you think about the sky burning gold and green. the way your magic carved runes in the dark like constellations. the way he moved beside you like a storm just barely held back.

you nod once, “yeah.”

he turns his head toward you. his expression is open now, tired, a little raw, but honest.

“you scare me, sometimes.” he says.

you blink. “gee, thanks.”

he smiles, “no, i mean… you move like someone who’s not afraid to be exactly what you are.”

you look at him. “and you move like someone who’s spent too long pretending he’s not.”

silence. but not the awkward kind.

just full.

“i think we’re good for each other,” bob says, quietly.

you lean your head back against the wall, eyes closed.

“then don’t scare me like that again.”

he nods.

and for a few minutes, you both sit in silence, bruised and bandaged, your hands resting just close enough that your pinkies brush now and then, like a promise you haven’t said out loud yet.

not tonight.

but maybe soon.

tag list:

everything’s chaos.

ava is down, shorting out and twitching. alexei is half-buried under a collapsed steel beam, protecting yelena beneath him. walker shielding himself with the last flicker of his strength, teeth grit.

red light flashes from every direction. sirens screaming. drones whirring overhead. and in the center of it all, a towering mech-god hybrid bristling with stark-grade weaponry, absorbing every hit like it’s nothing.

“we could use a little help here.” bucky growls into comms, ducking behind a crumbling pillar as plasma sears past.

another blast hits. the concrete buckles.

he mutters, “where the hell are-“

THUNDER.

not from the sky but from the air itself. like the world just inhaled.

crack. the clouds ripple apart.

light splits open the sky like a curtain tearing in reverse, golden, searing, white-hot, as a figure descends from the clouds at terminal velocity.

THE SENTRY.

glowing like a second sun. a comet wrapped in fire.

his landing impact cracks the street, sends shockwaves through the block. cars rattle. the mech stumbles. dust spirals. a sonic boom follows an instant later, late, like the world needed a second to catch up.

from the rubble, yelena groans, shielding her eyes.

walker mutters, “show-off.”

bob sentry lifts his head, eyes blazing pure energy. “heard you guys were in trouble.”

ava starts, “and where the hell’s-“

green lightning splits the ground.

it starts as a low hum, a spell igniting in the marrow of the world. runes spiral across cracked pavement in a circle, glowing from beneath.

the mech rears back, some internal system detecting something wrong, before you rise from the glowing runic seal like mist made solid.

cloak fluttering. eyes lit green-gold. hair lifted in wind that isn’t there.

your boots hit the ground with a light click.

you lift a single hand.

a chain of burning sigils erupts from your palm, wrapping around the mech’s limbs mid-strike, not restraining, but binding, with magic that whines like a violin at its limit. arcane energy threads through the metal plating like vines through stone.

the thing roars.

you cock your head slightly.

“shh,” you murmur. “the adults are talking.”

with a twist of your wrist, the bindings explode, taking both arms with them.

yelena stares. “okay, how did she just…”

“she’s channeling her,” sentry murmurs, stepping forward beside you. “just a fraction of her power.”

“yeah, well,” bucky pants, “someone better tell the bad guy it’s just a fraction, cause-“

before he finishes, you leap.

a golden platform blooms under your foot midair, you vault off it, conjure another beneath you, dancing across sigils in midair as you rain enchanted fire down from your palms. green bolts crash into the mech’s core. you flip backward through burning smoke and land beside sentry.

the mech lurches, failing.

sentry floats up again, his voice low, “you wanna finish it?”

you nod, breathless. “together?”

he offers you his hand.

magic coils around your forearm as you take it. his energy glows hot and gold.

and in one perfect motion, you and sentry lift into the sky like a rising myth, and on his count…

“now.”

he hurls you like a spell itself.

you’re a streak of emerald fire across the sky, spinning, brimming with wrath and elegance, before slamming down into the mech’s core, carving a runed spear from your palm midair and driving it straight through.

impact.

time slows.

the mech goes still, then detonates inward in a rush of imploding magic and machine.

silence.

the dust clears.

the rest of the thunderbolts* stagger to their feet.

you’re standing in the crater, one hand extended, panting, glowing. your eyes slowly dim. the runes fade. the storm calms.

and then, “still a show-off.” walker calls, brushing dust off his jacket.

you smirk as sentry lands beside you. “wouldn’t be me if i wasn’t.”

he glances at you, smiling. “you okay?”

you nod. “i didn’t burn out. not this time.”

his hand brushes yours, a moment, subtle.

“good,” he says, quietly. “i like seeing you light up the sky.”

you don’t say anything back. but your fingers curl into his just enough.

the others gather, limping, groaning, swearing.

and from the wreckage, the team walks off slowly, war-torn, victorious.

part two

tag list:

1. BERLIN LOBBY, 3:07 A.M.

you’re both running on nerves and vending machine coffee. the mission’s over, barely made it. your face is still smeared with dirt. his hands shake when he thinks you’re not looking.

you talk for hours, about nothing and everything, because the silence between you feels too loud. you ask him about childhood. he tells you about a dog that ran away in winter. you say your sister used to leave her window open and scream into the dark like a dare.

there’s a long pause where you just look at each other, not in any romantic way, not yet- just searching. he sees the kind of tired in your eyes that doesn’t go away with sleep.

you yawn and curl your legs up on the couch. “do you think we’ll ever be something else? outside this?”

bob wants to say, “i’d be anything if it meant being near you” but all he says is, “i... don’t know.”

you fall asleep moments later, your head slumping to one side. your hair brushes his shoulder. he stays completely still, coffee cooling in his hand.

that’s the first time.

2. AFTER THE MISSION

your fingers are steady. his ribs are bruised, the kind of hurt that makes every breath feel like a question. you kneel in front of him, rolling back the black tactical shirt, muttering under your breath about how he “never fucking ducks.”

“master of none…”

“sorry…” he says, voice low and dry.

“you always say that.” you reply.

he watches you dip cotton into antiseptic, dabbing it carefully against his skin. the sting makes him flinch, but he doesn’t move. your touch is gentle, but clinical- like you’ve done this a hundred times. maybe you have.

but then your fingers brush too long against his side. your knuckles linger at the edge of a scar. he looks down at you, and you glance up, eyes locking in the quiet hum of the infirmary.

the moment doesn’t break. it just folds.

he wonders if you notice his heartbeat stutter. he wonders if you hear how your name echoes in his mind when he’s not looking for it.

3. LAUGHTER IN THE MUD

you’re both soaked in rain and dirt and probably someone else’s blood. a botched extraction left the two of you running through the forest for miles. bob’s boots are ruined, yours are worse.

but then you see the way he slipped trying to climb into the evac van. a perfectly undignified, cartoon-level slip. and for some reason, it breaks you. you laugh. hard. gasping.

he hasn’t heard you laugh like that, not like this. not that belly-deep, wild, unguarded kind. he thinks he’d crawl through that forest again, barefoot, if it meant seeing you like this.

you wipe your eyes. “you looked like bambi on ice.”

“i’m six-foot-four!” he protests, grinning. “i’m not built for grace.”

and then your face softens, and you lean your head on his shoulder, rain still dripping from your hair.

bob doesn’t say anything. he just leans back.

“thanks for falling like a cartoon character.” you say, teasing, softer this time.

“anytime.” he says, a bit too quickly.

“we know the reasons but such and such”

he thinks you don’t realize it, how much space you take up in his world now. but maybe you do. maybe that’s why you don’t move.

4. THE VAN RIDE

you’re asleep on his shoulder. it’s not romantic. it’s not anything, really. just… survival.

but bob can’t move.

your face is tilted toward his neck, breath soft against his skin. your weight presses into him like trust.

he watches the streetlights pass, counting each flicker of gold across the van windows like time slipping through his fingers.

you stir once. your hand curls near his thigh. his heart jumps. and then… you murmur something.

his name.

not loud. not clear. but his.

and that’s the whole thing, isn’t it? you never mean to get this close. you just do.

5. ROOFTOP IN PRAGUE

you’re sitting on the edge of a building, knees tucked to your chest, cigarette burning down between your fingers. he joins you. doesn’t speak for a long time.

“do you think we ever get to be normal?” you ask eventually, not looking at him.

bob hesitates.

“i think normal’s overrated,” he says. but it’s not what he means. what he means is “i think i could find a version of it in you.”

you nod like that’s enough. but your lips are tight. your shoulders tense.

he looks at you, glowing in the cold, and wants to say something real.

but he doesn’t.

he just watches the smoke disappear into the sky and lets the moment pass.

6. THE ALMOST KISS

it happens after a mission. after drinks. after bruises and bad jokes and your hand lingering on his arm a little too long.

rain’s coming down. you’re laughing again. he’s standing close. so close.

then your eyes lock. the space between you thin like breath fogging glass. your hand lifts, maybe to touch his face. maybe just to hold on to something.

“you know it’s easy, the devil’s plan”

he leans in. so do you.

and then: your name, shouted across the compound. mission report needed. you blink, stepping back.

the moment breaks like a spell undone.

you look at him like you might say something.

but you don’t.

and neither does he.

7. WHEN YOU LEFT

you’re temporarily reassigned. weeks away. different ops, different time zones.

bob doesn’t show up to say goodbye. he tells himself it’s easier that way.

but then he finds himself watching security footage from the hangar. the way you turn one last time before you board. the way you look over your shoulder- just once.

he wonders if you were looking for him.

he wonders why he didn’t run to you.

he doesn’t eat right for three days. everything’s too quiet. even his powers feel muted.

“cry all the time, cause i’m not having fun”

8. WHEN YOU CAME BACK

you walk into the debrief room like you never left. same posture. same half-grin.

he’s frozen. for a second, everything around him blurs, and you’re the only sharp thing in the frame.

you hug him.

just a hug.

but he buries his face in your shoulder and breathes you in like air after a drowning.

“miss me?” you whisper.

he laughs, soft and cracked. “always.”

9. THE CONFESSION

you’re in the medbay again. this time, it’s worse.

you were nearly gone. he saw it, your body limp, your pulse faint.

he stayed by your side for 36 hours. didn’t sleep. barely blinked. the others offered to take shifts. he didn’t move.

when you finally open your eyes, your voice is a rasp.

“did we win?”

he laughs, breath catching.

then silence.

and then an “i love you.”

it’s not planned. it just falls out of him like gravity.

your eyes go wide, a little dazed. “you do?”

“since berlin. maybe longer.”

you reach for him, palm against his chest, grounding.

“yeah,” you say, “me too.”

you close your eyes again. and he just watches.

and that was the one time.

but every moment before it felt like a soft rehearsal for the truth.

like all the ways love grows in silence.

like all the things you never say until you have to.

like a song you finally hear after years of missing it.

and realizing, it’s always been about you.

tag list:

“love,” you called the man, your boyfriend, who’s sitting beside you, “do you ever find it weird..?”

he gave you a look, “do i find… what, weird?”

“the fact that the two entities inside of us are also a thing?”

bob sighed, sipping on his cup of coffee. “it is a bit… weird, i suppose. why… why do you ask?”

you shrugged, “i don’t know, the thought just crossed my mind, that’s all.”

bob nodded, setting his cup down on the kitchen counter, “well yes, it is weird, but i prefer not to think too much about it, it’s-“ he paused, trying to find the right words, “it’s like… trying to make sense of an unsolvable math problem.”

you chuckled lightly, “yeah… i guess it is pretty much like that, huh?”

he nodded, a small smile on his face, “yeah… i don’t really want to get a headache trying to do the math to figure them out.”

you nodded, picking up your mug, “yeah, i don’t want to either. our relationship already confuses the public enough, imagine what their reaction would be if they find out that our respective entities are practically dating, too.”

bob chuckled quietly, his expression turning amused, “probably… probably just utter confusion and disbelief, followed by a lot of questions, and a few headaches.”

you laughed, “yeah, no kidding. they’re either going to think we’re insane or we have lost our minds completely. maybe both.”

he nodded, a smirk on his face, “oh yeah, they’ll definitely freak out. and imagine how they’ll react when they learn about the whole treaty thing we have with them…”

you rolled your eyes, a small grin on your face, “that’ll blow their minds- they’ll wonder how the hell we manage to come to an agreement with a goddess, worshipped by the pre-columbian maya and inca civilizations, AND a destructive entity which is the literal embodiment of depression.”

bob chuckled, “yeah, i’m sure they will. hell, i don’t… i don’t think they’d even believe us if we told them the whole thing… they’ll think we made it up.”

you nodded, “honestly, i wouldn’t be surprised if they do end up thinking we made it all up. the whole idea of it sounds a bit ridiculous when you say it out loud, don’t you think? who do you think will believe that?”

he sighed, “not one person for sure. they’ll think we belong in a mental institution… but… i don’t mind, though. being crazy with you seems better than being normal. a-at least, in my opinion.”

you rolled your eyes playfully at that, “yeah? you enjoy being crazy with me, huh? do you like being labeled as insane?”

he chuckled, “hey, being insane with you? i love it. as long as we stick together… i don’t care what people think of me or what they label us as.”

you cracked a smile, “yeah, who needs normalcy anyways? insane together, right?”

he returned the smile, his eyes filled with affection, “insane together indeed, sweetheart.”

tag list:

1600 B.C

the world was young, still drenched in nothing but myth.

in the highlands of mesopotamia, the sky tore open, and from its wound, poured a shadow not cast by any sun- the void, primordial and unshaped, spilled into the world in the aftermath of an ancient war.

and beneath moonlit ruins, she danced- the enchantress, cloaked in energy, appearing as green flame. her temple was soaked in sacrifice, her magic was worshiped and feared.

he was drawn to her like decay to flesh.

“you are not of this world.” she said, her voice echoing in the chamber as she looked upon the dark figure.

“so are you,” he replied, swirling into a human-like figure, “but you wear this world like silk.”

she smiled slowly and tilted her head. “do you seek power?”

“i seek silence.”

she then stepped toward him, unafraid. “then why do you follow the sound of my heart?”

that night, they didn’t speak again. the stars blinked away as their shadows entwined.

they weren’t lovers. they were omens.

but the gods, fearful of what their union might birth, tore them apart.

she was sealed in a tomb by her so-called subjects, her soul bound to a doll.

he was cast back into the space-between, locked behind walls of thought and will.

THE PRESENT DAY

millennia passed, civilizations fell, empires turned to dust.

and then came y/n, the new host of the enchantress, and robert ‘bob’ reynolds, the sentry, barely holding back the flood of the void within.

they both ended up where fate always puts its cursed pieces: in a vault, minutes away from being incinerated.

yelena raised her weapons. “great. a witch.”

your voice was low, trying to sound as intimidating as possible, “you don’t belong here, widow.”

walker took a step forward. “neither do you. so unless you want to get reacquainted with blackout protocols, stand down-“

you suddenly threw a wave of magic that sent walker flying into the walls. ava blinked into the floor, phased halfway through it to avoid the lash of energy. yelena rolled, firing bullets that you caught midair and twisted into birds of flame.

then you they saw each other.

bob froze, darkness pulsing beneath his skin.

you turned, green energy crackling in your eyes.

“you…” she whispered, taking complete control of your body.

bob clutched his head as the void whispered her name, his body replaced by nothing but a dark silhouette, by force.

“you were the only silence i ever loved.” he said softly, coming closer to her.

and she smiled again, the same way she did under mesopotamian stars.

they weren’t enemies. nor allies.

just two cursed gods wearing mortal skin, fated to meet where death lingers.

and this time?

this time, they wouldn’t let the gods stop them.

bonus:

“what the fuck just happened??”

taglist:

you were just watching a movie with your boyfriend, bob, in the tower’s common room area.

it was spirited away, which gave you a sense of comfort as every ghibli movie does- too much comfort, even, one might say.

he glanced at you, who were trying so hard to focus on the movie. he quickly whispered, “i need to go to the toilet”

you gave him a quick nod, to which he immediately replied by standing up and running off to the toilet.

unbeknownst to him, you fell asleep right after he left, your head lolled to the side, your eyes slowly shutting themselves, too tired to even be bothered about keeping them open, giving her her share of freedom.

when he came back, he was unpleasantly surprised with the sight of the enchantress, sitting right where you were. “o-oh, it’s you… what are you doing here?”

he mentally slapped himself for asking such a question.

she chuckled at him, amused at his question. “what i do every night, boy.”

bob gulped and nodded briefly, sitting next to her, but still leaving a bit of distance. he’s still a bit terrified by her, as she’s not exactly the easiest thing to get used to.

“do you want me… to go? i can- i can sleep right now if you want, or at least i’ll try” he rambled to the goddess next to him.

she knew exactly what he meant.

he was offering to “switch” with the void, for her. it was a bit funny, the moment the enchantress and the void met, you all made some sort of treaty.

whenever you and bob were asleep during nighttime, it was their turn for freedom. it was scary at first, but you both reluctantly agreed, eventually, thought it would bring a sense of trust, which would lead to giving you both more control of the entities.

the enchantress shook her head, “no, you won’t have to do that. finish the movie.”

he nodded, a small wave of relief washed over him, “a-alright then… thanks, i guess…”

a moment of silence took over as the two, as bob finished watching the movie.

bob didn’t know whether to be amused or terrified, did this inter-dimensional mystical being that is considered a goddess in several ancient civilizations, really just watch a ghibli movie… in silence, with him? …for him?

he looked at her with a confused face, “why are you so… nice with me?”

his face immediately panicked when she gave him a look, “not that i- not that i’m complaining or anything… it’s just… you’re nicer to me than with anyone else”

she smirked at his statement, seemingly amused by the fact that he was just realizing this. “am i not allowed to be nice with someone?” she asked, turning her head to look at him.

bob shrugged, “i… guess you are allowed to be nice, it’s just… i’m kinda surprised you’re being nice to me out of all people… you’re always so, well, snarky, and scary-looking, with everyone else.”

“what, me? scary-looking?” she said, almost as if she was offended by this. she placed her hand on her chest, a dramatic look on her face.

that small gesture of hers scared the shit out of bob, but before he could even defend himself, she chuckled at his expression and started.

“i suppose you are right. i am ashamed to be admitting this, but i have grown quite a soft spot for the one who’s body i currently possess.”

he was, again, surprised by her confession, and a small smile formed on his face. “you… you have?” he asked, still in disbelief.

“indeed, and this girl has grown a soft spot for you as well, so quite frankly i am merely trying to protect and be nice to what’s hers.” she answered, ignoring bob’s face getting redder and redder every second she spoke.

he tried to compose himself, but it was failing miserably. “so… so you’re nice to me… because of her?”

the enchantress chuckled, amused by his reaction, “yes. that is exactly why i’m being nice to you,”

her face suddenly turned serious, staring at him right into his soul eyes, voice suddenly an octave lower.

“however… i will not tolerate you hurting the girl in any way whatsoever. the second i hear her hurt, whether it be physically or emotionally, i will come and kill you myself, do you understand?”

his spine tingled at her suddenly serious tone, hearing her like this was a bit unsettling. he nodded, his mouth going dry, “uh… y-yeah, i understand…”

“very well. you and i have an understanding now, don’t we, boy?” she said, her tone changing back to the same nonchalance it had before, giving bob some sort of a whiplash.

he let out a breath that he was holding, nodding slowly. “y-yeah, we do…”

“good boy… now sleep.” she said commanded, raising her arm suddenly with dark energy surrounding it, bob’s eyes immediately shutting down, now unconscious, his body crashing onto the sofa.

within seconds, his body was replaced with nothing but a black silhouette- his black silhouette, smirking, grabbing onto one of her hands, giving it a slow and tender kiss.

“my beautiful queen of the dark… have you missed me?”

“not nearly as much as you missed me, i’m sure.”

on the other side…

“…love, i’m so sorry for falling asleep.”

“there's nothing for you to say sorry for, sweetheart.”

robert ‘bob’ reynolds

part one

part two

james ‘bucky’ barnes

“is everyone okay??”

on the outside, bucky looked the calmest out of the six- on the inside however, he was silently crumbling.

you were a familiar face to bucky, course’ the two of you were part of the old avengers, fought in the same wars, so seeing you always gave him some sort of comfort, like an old friend

you weren’t really close at the beginning though, as you both were on the opposing teams (you were on team iron man, he was on team cap), first time you met the guy he greeted you with a punch to the stomach

you only started being friends with him during the aftermaths of endgame, when you both shared the same grief, bonded through that said grief, and comforted each other right through it

ever since that, you were always there for him, and vice versa

after the thunderbolts* were formed, you might not always be chatting or be around him 24/7, but the two of you always understood each other, even without words

so seeing you dead, on the floor, gave him pangs of flashbacks and made him stop right on his tracks

‘we were supposed to grief together, not me grieving over you- no, not this soon, damn it.’

at that moment, bucky wanted let all his emotions out, but he knew that the others still needed someone to lead at that moment- he had to push through the pain of seeing his dead friend.

so you could imagine, when he saw you open your eyes, he let out a very deep sigh of relief

at around 2am the next day, he came over and peeked his head inside your bedroom (not in a creepy sense, more like how a dad does to his children), to make sure you were alive and well… thankfully, you were breathing accordingly and cuddling bob in the process

during breakfast, you notice that he was staring at you a bit longer and softer than he usually does

“nothing, i’m just glad you’re okay, kid. you scared the hell outta me”

yelena belova

she was about to make a one-liner about the explosion- halfway through, she saw you on the floor, and completely forgot about the line

defeat. defeat is all yelena felt at that moment.

“n-no… this… this wasn’t supposed to happen”

hypothetically, if you weren’t a witch, if you were instead, a russian assassin trained in the red room, and “adopted” by alexei and melina, you’d definitely be the middle child that was forced to take up the responsibilities and fill up the empty space of the older sister

but you never made it feel forced, no, you genuinely like taking care of yelena, that’s why yelena likes you a lot, and thinks of you as her sister

you are the one person she trusts fully with her heart, because natasha did too, all those years ago

so when she saw you, she felt the agonizing pain all over again, having to relive the memories and seeing her sister die, this time right in front of her eyes

she would walk up to you slowly, trying to convince herself that this was all just a dream

when she comes close enough to see your chest almost lying still, body all bloody and bruised up, and ava’s shaky hands, she’d drop on her knees

she’d tear up, then silently cry because her throat simply makes it impossible for her to produce any sounds

she’d hold your hands, wanting to let you know that she was there for you in your last moments…

“tell her i said hi… won’t you..?” barely came out as a whisper

and when sentry basically revived you, she hugged you like there’s no tomorrow, she might even throw you a few affectionate punches as well

“don’t ever… fucking do that shit again, you hear me?”

will get so protective of you after this incident

john walker

“bob, why the fuck would you do that?!? at least give us a war-“ and it was lemar all over again.

your relationship with walker is… well… you disliked him the moment he was chosen as the ‘new captain america’, thought it was a disgrace to your friend’s legacy, not to mention how much of an asshole he is. it should’ve been sam, you thought

but then the accident with the void in new york happened, and you started to understand that man better, felt a bit of sympathy, and since then your dynamics changed

both of you had mutual respect, thought the other was strong in their respective specialties

you are definitely one of his favorite people to spar with, because your fighting style is unique, or at least that’s what he says

you fight like a widow (courtesy to natasha’s training) but somewhat even more graceful. since you use your magic more often, you usually only ever use hand-to-hand combat for defensive purposes, which is perfectly sparring fit for walker who’s offensive most of the time, just like water and fire

you learn to keep up with his antics, never finding offense in his words, just rolling your eyes back at him, and only ever giving him remarks which he finds amusing, back. and he appreciates you for that

he sees you as one of the only ones who doesn’t treat him like he’s a complete failure asshole

which, he is, most of the time, but that’s exactly why he’s on his knees, kneeling beside you, trying to cover up the deeper wounds, as if that’ll do anything in this situation

“shit, come on y/n- don’t you dare close on your eyes on us.”

when sentry arrived, his clenched on his fists and jaw hard, wanting to punch the shit out of him- out of bob

“maybe if you came over sooner instead of punching those guys, she’d still be breathing right now”

he’d still be pissed at bob, even after sentry revived you, thinking that this all wouldn’t have happened if he had just think for a second

he’d also definitely request more spars with you the following weeks, made up an excuse saying that he needs to be stronger, when in reality he wanted you to be stronger, so that shit like this doesn’t ever happen again

ava starr

we all know that ava is secretly the biggest softie among the members, and who honestly could blame her? she didn’t have anyone to consider as friends growing up

you and yelena were the first ones she actually considered to be her close friends, her besties, if you will.

she’s always the one initiating plans, at least once a week, and you and yelena both find it cute that she has a clear soft spot, but ava will never admit to that

so trust when she saw you on the floor, she phased through the thin air like nothing, she was the first one to arrive by your side

“y-y/n… come on, speak to me-“

she held onto you, her whole body trembling, she was trying so hard not to lose control of her powers and emotions

she cried the moment she tried to fix your hair, thought it’ll bring comfort to the two of you

when the void bob was on his rampage, she’d keep on trying to call out his name, get his attention, but it came out too soft, though she never noticed that, she was too focused on you

“bob, you have got to save her-“

ava gave you the biggest hug when you got revived, like you might actually die again if she lets go

after this entire incident, she proposed the wonderful idea of having a girl’s night every several nights, gives you guys more time to bond and appreciate each other, the simple things, and life

she just wanted to know what it’s like to be a girl’s girl, having sleepovers, falling asleep watching movies, doing skincare routines together, but she’d never admit to that, hence the excuse above

and on every mission after this one, she’d definitely keep a closer eye on you and yelena to make sure you’re both safe

alexei shostakov

he acts like your dad, what more can i say?

you’ve always just… laughed at his dad jokes when no one else does, keep up with his shenanigans even though he often embarrasses you in public

whenever he’s feeling upset, you’d always be there to comfort him by telling him stories about natasha. he was mostly absent in her life, so getting to know glimpses of her life does give him comfort, especially when he knows better now that she actually managed to live a decent life

“she did that?? HAHAHAHAHA that’s my daughter afterall!!”

he was so touched when you did charity work under natasha’s name, when you cleaned her grave, and how good of a friend you are to both his daughters

so with that being said, he’d have to take a step back when he saw your body

and similarly to yelena, he was trying to convince himself that this was a dream, a nightmare

“no… i’ve already lost one, i can’t lose you too”

the moment he snapped out of it, he’d yell out all his frustrations, punching the walls in the process

when he saw you open your eyes, he felt like he might actually faint, he felt weak and that’s a lot coming from someone who was powered up by a serum

the next morning, when you headed to the kitchen for breakfast, you found a wheaties cereal box laying on top of the kitchen counter

“YOU WILL NEED THIS TO STRENGTHEN UP!!” written in red, making it feel more like a threat

your relationship with bob has changed ever since you were both, along with others, forcefully made into a team, the thunderbolts*, the new avengers. he’s… cute, kind, and you live in the same tower, plus, it doesn’t help when his bedroom is right across yours too.

it was clear to the others that you two had a thing going on, how could they not? you both were always together whenever possible, it’s like you two are inseparable. the kitchen and the main common room being the two places where they would always find the two of you doing something cute, domestic even, sometimes.

but you’re both friends, really good ones... or at least that’s what he says every time someone asks him about it.

that is, until these past few days, he hasn’t seen you that much. it’s not that you were avoiding him, no. but you’re quite literally gone, away from the tower. bob didn’t mind it that much when he first noticed, he thought ‘o-oh she’s probably busy’

but then he starts to notice that yelena is usually gone at the same time you were out as well. have you both… been going out on dates? no that can’t be it… that just can’t be.

until early this evening, when he saw the two of you coming back from God knows where, hugging each other with closed eyes.

your eyes fluttered open, noticed his head poking out from his bedroom door, confused face and all. “oh, hey bob, you wanna come have a drink with us?”

bob looked up as he heard your voice, his face still etched with confusion. he had been hoping to see you, but not like this. he had hoped to see you alone, but instead, you were with yelena, both of you looking... intimate.

he shook his head, “n-nah... nah, i’m good. thanks, though” he said, trying to sound casual, failing miserably.

you couldn’t help but notice his cold tone, the distance in his voice. you knew bob like the back of your hand, so you could instantly tell something was off with him. “are you sure? we could use some company” you said, hoping to get him to change his mind.

“it’ll be fun, bob. alexei’s coming as well.” yelena says, leaning against your body.

bob could feel himself wavering, wanting to say yes, but something held him back. he wasn’t sure he could handle seeing you and yelena acting so close, as if you guys were a couple or something...

he let out a sigh, conflicted, “i… i don’t know… i’m not really in the mood…”

you furrowed your eyebrows together, something was definitely off with him, but you couldn’t put a finger on it, “come on, just one drink, that’s all. just… just come hang with us for awhile.”

he sighed again, looking back and forth between the two of you, seeing your begging face, he couldn’t say no, not to you. “fine… just one drink, alright?”

you nodded, a small smile on your face, “yeah, yeah that’s fine.” he took a deep breath, trying to push down the discomfort he was feeling, “yeah… yeah, i’m coming.”

now when you initially invited him, he thought you meant drink, as in drink in a bar- one of alexei’s many regulars probably. so when you and yelena took several beer cans from the fridge and bought it up to the tower’s rooftop, he was pleasantly surprised to say the least.

it was nothing special, just lightly decorated with a few fairy lights, courtesy of yelena, wanting the rooftop to look nice, brighter.

alexei was already there, waiting, with his own box of vodka, “thought you would never come!”

bob forced a smile, trying not to let on how annoyed, small-hearted, he felt. he felt left out, seeing the three of you already comfortable around each other. “y-yeah, i thought you guys wanted to go to a bar or something, honestly.”

“bars are expensive.” yelena piped up, smiling. “besides, it’s more personal this way, don’t you think?”

bob wanted to say that he’d actually prefer the bar this time, but he didn’t. instead, he nodded, “yeah… yeah, it is more personal, huh?”

you patted a spot beside you, inviting him to sit next to you, “yeah, of course it is. we get a better view of the stars this way too.”

bob did his best to hide the slight surprise he felt as you patted the spot next to you, and he slowly made his way over, sitting down next to you, making sure to keep a relatively comfortable distance.

you couldn’t help but notice his hesitance as he sat down next to you, choosing to sit a few inches away instead of making himself comfortable. you furrowed your eyebrows together, trying to figure out what was going on with him… he was usually so clingy, so this was really strange.

alexei, who was sitting opposite you and bob, spoke up, “you seem tense kid, got something on your mind?”

bob shook his head, trying to play it cool, “nah, i’m good… just... just tired, that’s all."

alexei raised an eyebrow at him, clearly not believing him, but decided to let it slide for now. “just drink vodka, that will help.” he said bluntly.

“yeah, i think i will, thanks…” bob said, reaching out and grabbing one of the many vodka bottles alexei had brought with him. he popped the top open, taking a big swig, letting the burn of the vodka course through him, hoping it would soothe his anxious thoughts.

“Jesus, calm down bob. we have the whole night to ourselves” you said, eyes slightly widened at the big chug he took, he never does… this.

bob’s eyes were slightly widened as well, but it was more from the pain of the alcohol than anything… he hadn’t drunken in a while, and it was definitely showing. he let out a breathy huff, shaking his head, “yeah… yeah, you’re right… maybe i should slow down.”

alexei, who had been silently watching the exchange, let out a bark of laughter, “you look like a sad puppy with those big eyes! drink more” he said, pushing the bottle closer to him.

you, alexei, and yelena talked to each other, with bob making sparse comments, but he was mainly just quietly listening, taking another swig of vodka every now and then.

when yelena and alexei stood up, (finally) wandering off, you glanced at the man beside you who’s been awfully quiet, “you okay?”

bob looked over at you, trying to hide the buzzing in his head, “yeah, yeah, i’m fine. just… just thinking.”

a look of concern flooded your face, but before you could say more, alexei spoke up from afar, “what is there to think about? just drink and relax, kid!”

you rolled your eyes at alexei’s comment, “ignore him.”

“mind telling me what’s going on in your head?” you asked with concern in your eyes, face slightly red due to the alcohol.

bob looked at you, taking in your redding face, as his heart ached. he knew you had a few drinks as well, but it hardly affected you as much since you had a higher alcohol tolerance than the others, you were tipsy at best. he shook his head, “it’s nothing, really… just tired, that’s all.” he said, trying to brush off your concern.

you didn’t buy it. you knew when he was lying, and right now, it was as clear as day. “you’re lying” you said bluntly, crossing your arms in front of you, looking at him with a serious expression, “now spill, what’s bothering you?”

bob’s heart nearly stopped as you called him out on his lie, he didn’t know how he thought he could fool you, but he tried anyway. he shook his head, “no seriously, it’s nothing. i’m fine, h-honestly.”

you didn’t miss a beat, still crossing your arms in front of you. “bullshit. you’re still lying, so try again. what’s going on in that brain of yours?” you said firmly.

bob felt his heart skip a beat again, his face heating up, he could never deny you. he knew there was no point in arguing with you, not when you were like this, so he decided to be truthful to you. “fine, you really want to know what’s going on in my head?” he asked quietly.

you just nodded, “yes, yes i do want to know what’s going on in your head.”

he let out a sigh, looking out at the skyline as he spoke, "you really want to know what's bothering me? you want to know why i'm in a bad mood right now?"

“yes, that’s what i just said, now spill already” you said with an irked tone, clearly getting impatient.

‘tipsy y/n is impatient’ bob takes a mental note to himself

he looked at you, his expression hardening, “fine, you wanna know that badly huh? okay. you wanna know why i’m in a bad mood right now, why i seem so tense? i’ll tell you why, alright? c-cause it’s pissing me off that you’ve been spending so much time with yelena lately.”

you felt a wave of surprise wash over you, not expecting him to say that. you felt taken aback, but you tried to keep your composure, “i… is that what’s bothering you? that’s what you’re all grumpy about? really?”

he sighed, a bitter tone in his voice, "is it so wrong of me to be pissed off that you've been spending so much time with her? being i-intimate with her, as if w-we weren’t already a thing?"

you went silent, you felt a pang of guilt, knowing that you had been hanging out with her quite a lot lately, you didn’t explain why, and you hadn’t spend any of your time with bob, except for a few chit chats here and there.

bob saw the expression on your face, the guilt written all over it, and he knew instantly that you felt bad for neglecting him. he felt a mix of bitterness and sadness, “what was i… to you, this whole time??”

“bob, it’s not like that at all.”

he rolled his eyes, his voice filled with sarcasm, "oh really? then what’s it like, huh? explain it to me then, why you’ve been spending all your time with her in secret, and none with me?"

you pursed your lips and took a deep sigh before answering, “…it’s natasha’s death anniversary”

before becoming a member of the thunderbolts*, you were an avenger, a part of the originals. natasha was one of your closest friend, one of the only female friends you had since the beginning, almost like an older sister to you, teaching you things, helping you train physically and mentally.

the moment she died, you felt like the world stopped. you felt so useless, not being able to do anything about it. it was one of the worst days in your life.

bob was taken aback by your answer, his expression softened instantly as he realized the real reason behind your absence. he was so wrapped up in his own jealousy that he hadn't considered the anniversary of natasha's death until now. he felt a pang of guilt for pushing you and acting like a brat.

“nat might’ve been my closest friend, but to yelena and alexei, she was their family,” she started, looking at the duo who’s far too drunk to notice your conversation.

“i thought that it would be nice if we did something for her, you know..? we went to her grave, we cleaned it up, decorated it a bit, left a portion of shawarma there- in case she misses it, a reminder of old times.” you smiled, remembering the day all seven of you had shawarma after saving new york for the first time.

“we did a bit of charity work too, did it under her name… so people could know how good of person she was… so people could remember her.” you continued, whispering softly, smiling at the sky.

bob listened to you speak silently, his heart growing heavy with remorse. he felt foolish for being so selfish, for making it all about him instead of realizing the pain you were going through. you were dealing with the loss of a dear friend, and he was acting like a child who didn't get enough attention.

“…i’m sorry that i didn’t tell you about any of this, and i’m sorry for ignoring you- i promise, i didn’t do that on purpose… i would never do that to you bob. i was just so caught up-“

he shook his head, feeling even more guilty for his earlier behavior, "no… no, i’m sorry. i was out of line. i shouldn’t have acted the way i did just because i was j-jealous of you spending time with someone else. i should’ve realized what a big day it was for you… i’m so sorry."

he leaned forward, closer to you, his expression filled with regret, "i feel like such an ass… you’re grieving and i was just moping around, throwing a tantrum like a c-child."

“it’s alright… you didn’t know” you said, with a reassuring smile.

you turned to the other two and said, “tonight was alexei’s idea, his way of coping with nat has always been just to drink it all out. yelena and i just wanted to accompany him, make it a fun night, instead of you know- a depressing one.”

bob nodded, feeling a wave of understanding wash over him. he felt stupid for the way he reacted, for letting his jealousy get the best of him, instead of being there for you during a difficult time.

he was about to say something, to apologize to you again, but alexei suddenly spoke up, “you know what we should do?”

you turned your attention to alexei, wondering what he had in mind. "what is it?"

“we should do a toast.” alexei said, short and simple, but you caught on to his intentions and nodded, so did the others. “here’s to natasha”

they raised their glasses, bob included, "to natasha."

bonus:

“so, bob, when are you going to ask y/n out?”

“h-huh??”

“she’s right. what are you waiting for, kid??”

“guys… you know that i’m right here, right?”

let’s just say that with the help of drunk yelena and alexei, the two of you finally became official, under the starry night.

“let’s… head back” bucky said with a sigh in between, alexei immediately walking over to pull bob, who’s still pretty unconscious, upwards, carrying him on his back like nothing.

you all quickly began making your way to the exit, careful to avoid the debris still scattered all over the place... as you all walked, you could see the damage he had done, destroyed bodies and shattered glass was all over, like a natural disaster had just taken place.

seeing the ruins gave you fragments of memories… and a massive headache.

and with every step you took, eventually you remembered, you realized, that for a brief moment back there,

you were dead.

the ride back was quiet, or to you at least, as you managed to cancel out all the voices. the others were trying to act as they normally do, bob still unconscious, but you haven’t spoken a word. the only thing repeated on your mind was ‘i just died, and came back to life.’

you felt shaken up by the realization, but you tried to shake it off... you didn't have time to think about that now, you had to get back to the tower- your room as soon as possible.

the others could tell something was up with you- your quietness, nothing but shaky breaths, and trembling body, and they kept giving you worried glances... but they knew better than to ask what was wrong, they knew you well enough to know that you would open up when you were ready.

and so the moment you arrived at the tower, they knew not to question nor disturb you the second you ran off to your room.

at the same time, bob was awoken from his slumber, stretching his limbs ever so innocently as if he didn’t just use them to punch severals soldiers to death, “g-guys? what happened- where’s y/n?”

they all looked over at him, seeing him confused and disoriented... they let out a sigh of relief, glad that he was awake and okay.

“our mission is complete” john states, thinking carefully for the next sentence he was about to say, “y/n is… resting in her room, she needs it.”

bob nodded, his memory still fuzzy.

alexei put up a hefty laugh and blurted out with his thick accent, “i too, would need to rest, if i died and come back alive just like video game”, yelena could only groan and slap her dad in his arms, “you can never shut up, can you?”

bob eyes widened hearing that, he nearly yelled out, “w-what?!??”, they all went silent, not knowing how to respond to that. “how did she- no- wait, i need- i need to see her-” he said frantically, the thoughts of her dying making his chest pound, filling it up with anxiety.

“hey… hey, relax, man. she’s alright.” bucky said, walking up to him, putting a hand on his shoulder to ease him.

bob looked at bucky desperately, needing reassurance. bucky squeezed his shoulders and locked eye contact with him, “she’s fine, bob. she’s okay now.”

bob nodded a bit too quickly, trying to let the others know that he was fine… which he’s most certainly not, but luck must be on his side as the others fell for his blatant lie, quickly scattering to their own rooms, all tired, wanting to wash away everything that just happened.

it wasn’t easy for them too.

bob took this as an opportunity to slip away, slipping down the hallway and making his way towards your room.

he took a deep breathe and knocked a few times, only to find no response- then he knocked again, this time a bit frantically, “y-y/n, it’s me. can i… can i come in, p-please?”

you didn’t say a word, instead you lifted some of your fingers up, with just a tiny bit of energy surge, causing the door handle to shine a bright red, opening itself for him. for bob.

bob slowly pushed the door open, poking his head inside. he looked around, seeing you sitting on your bed, staring blankly at the wall, you sighed and turned to him,

“come here…”

he didn’t need to be told twice, he wasted no time, entering the room and closing the door behind him... he walked over and sat on the edge of the bed, sitting facing you.

he didn't know what to do next, he was scared to mess something up, scared to touch you the wrong way.

“closer, please..?” you said, coming out barely as a whisper, opening your arms just the tiniest bit, hoping that he’d get your hint.

he took a deep breath and did exactly just that. he wrapped his arms around you, pulling you into a warm, tight embrace.

tears flooded in the second you felt his touch, what started as a sigh of comfort turned into sobs. you held onto him so tightly, gripping onto his shoulders, feeling so overwhelmed, afraid that you might go again.

he felt his heart ache as he heard you sob... he held you close to him, his hand rubbing soft circles on your back.

“i died, bob…” was all you could say in between each sobs, the words hit him like a train wreck... his grip around you tightened, his hold on you almost possessive.

“d-don’t say that..” he said, his voice shaking as he spoke.

“but i did.” you said, pulling yourself away just the tiniest bit, so you could see bob, who without a doubt was tearing up as well.

“…it was too painful that i didn’t even realize i was drifting away… then i felt nothing- no breaths, no heartbeat, no nothing… then i was back alive, and i suddenly feel… everything. it’s… it’s too much.”

bob’s heart shattered as he heard you speak like that, imagining what you had gone through, what you must have felt… his grip on you loosened, but he didn’t let go.

his gaze fell on you, thinking to himself, his face seemingly filled with hesitation, before allowing himself to say, “…p-please, i need to see it”

“i need to… i need to know what happened”

“what..?” was all you could reply. sure, on a normal occasion you would do it, no problem, but this was different. he is asking you to show him how you died just about an hour ago.

bob quickly realized that he wasn’t being fair. it was a lot to ask for, especially now. he slowly shook his head, “n-no. i… i’m sorry.”

you steadied yourself, trying to calm yourself down, trying to breathe like a normal person, trying to focus…

this man has no recollection, absolutely no memories of what happened, and you so happened to have the powers to give them back to him. you know the risks, what could happen if he remembers... but you don’t want to baby him like the others do, and you never will.

you shook your head back at him, “no, you… you have the rights to know, too”

bob took a deep breath... he knew what you were saying was right, he had every right to know.

"please… show me."

you took your hands, placing it on both sides of his temple, you closed your eyes and let your hand glow in a familiar red shade, his irises turning the same color.

in a flash, he saw his own memories of the mission earlier… how you comforted him, how you protected him from the very beginning of that mission, how you let yourself get hurt so that he wouldn’t, he saw it all- he saw everything.

then he saw through their point of views, their memories as well. the casualties and destruction caused by the void’s wrath… your weak, frail, dead body laying on the floor… and you coming back to life with the help of sentry’s power…

when everything finished and over, the surge of memories ending, bob just sat there, staring ahead, processing everything he just saw… you watched him silently, giving him time to think through everything, not wanting to disturb him.

he didn’t say a word, his vision hazy as he was deep in his own head... he knew you were waiting for him to say something, but he couldn’t. he was so shocked, so caught up with what he just saw... and it was a lot to digest.

you bit your lip, trying to not lose your patience, but you couldn’t stay still, the silence killing you. “bob…?” you said softly, trying to get his attention.

he didn’t respond… so you tried again, a little louder, a little more desperate, “bob?”

hearing you say his name for the second time seemed to finally snap him out of his trance, as his eyes fluttered, a shaky sigh escaping his mouth. you watched as he looked around the room, a look of disbelief on his face.

after a few seconds of staring ahead, he finally turned to look at you, his face pale... he seemed to struggle to formulate a sentence, his voice cracking when he spoke, “i… i-i…”

you couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt, hearing the way his voice cracked, “bob… it's okay.”

he closed his eyes, trying to take a deep breath to calm himself, but it came out shaky and unsteady... he tried again, and this time it was a lot more stable as he opened his eyes to look at you, “how… how could i-”

you knew where this was going, and you felt your heart pounding fast in your chest, “bob… it’s not your fault, okay? it’s not your fault.”

he shook his head as you spoke, the grip he has on you, loosened… he was silent for a few seconds, before he finally spoke again. “no- y-you don’t understand”

“what don’t i understand, bob? tell me, what am i not understanding?” you kept your composure, not wanting to sound desperate, but not wanting to sound too demanding as well.

bob seemed conflicted, his mind tangled up in his own thoughts and his heart heavy with guilt, as he struggled to find the right words to say. you could see the pain and guilt in his eyes, and it hurt you to know that he was holding himself responsible for what had happened, just like you thought he would.

but you didn’t want to sugarcoat things, and you knew that what happened wasn’t his fault. “bob, look at me.” you said firmly, making him look into your eyes.

he lifted his head up and met your gaze, his eyes searching yours for any signs of anger, but found none. instead, all he found was understanding and empathy... he felt a lump form in the back of his throat, but he swallowed it down, waiting for you to speak.

“listen to me,” you started, your voice firm but gentle at the same time. “what happened out there, it was not your fault. do you understand that?”

bob just nodded, his jaw clenched tight as he tried to keep control of his emotions. he wanted to believe you, he wanted to accept what you were saying, but he couldn’t help feeling like it was all his fault… like he was to blame for everything that happened.

you could see the conflict in his eyes, and you knew that he was struggling to accept the truth, so you continued to speak, keeping your voice steady and calm. “bob… you have to understand that what happened was beyond your control, alright? there was nothing you could’ve done to change what happened… i should’ve been more careful, too”

bob looked at you, his eyes widening as he heard you say that. he couldn't believe what he was hearing… “no… you don’t get to say that. you don't get to blame yourself.”

“but… i” you started, but he quickly interrupted you, his voice coming out urgent, “n-no, y/n. please don’t do this to yourself. don’t do this to me. don’t you dare blame yourself for what happened”

you couldn’t believe what you were hearing… bob, the usually quiet man, was finally asserting himself. he was finally speaking up, and he wasn’t holding back. in any other situation, you would’ve been proud.

you tried to speak again, but bob wasn’t having it. he cut you off before you could say another word. “no… s-shut up. just… just for a second, okay? just let me say this."

you stopped talking, taken aback by how forceful he sounded. you watched as he took a deep breath, collecting his thoughts before speaking again.

“i-i can’t let you blame yourself for what happened… not when it’s my fault.” he said, his voice shaking with emotion.

you shook your head, not wanting to let him take the blame either, “no… no, bob. you don’t get to do that to yourself either. it wasn’t your fault, alright? it just… happened, that’s all.”

he shook his head back, not wanting to hear it, “no… if i had just been more careful, if i had just been paying attention… i should’ve been more aware, should’ve been smarter. it was my fault, alright? i’m responsible for what happened, n-not you.”

you sighed, feeling frustrated that he wasn’t listening to you, “bob… just listen to me for a second, please. it was not your fault. i was out there too, alright? i was the one who got careless, not you.”

he shook his head again, his voice almost coming out as a whisper, “careless? you weren’t careless. you were putting yourself in danger, trying to protect me. that wasn’t careless, that was… that was selfless.”

“exactly. i was trying to protect you, i was the one who put my needs before yours… and that’s why i got hurt.” you replied, trying to make him understand that he had nothing to blame himself for.

“why would you do that for me..?” he asked, voice filled with sadness.

you looked at him, your own feelings of guilt growing, “because… because i care about you, bob… i don’t want you to get hurt, alright? i don’t want to lose you… i-”

he let out a shaky breath, “why do you even care about me? i’m just an idiot who makes mistakes… over and over again. why do you even bother with me?”

“because you’re not just that.” you said, your voice firm and resolute. “you’re a good person. you’re kind, and smart, and funny. you’re… you’re the person i care about most… and you can’t keep beating yourself up about what happened. it wasn’t your fault. none of it was.”

bob looked at you, his eyes searching yours, trying to find any signs of deception or pity… but he didn’t find anything. all he found was sincerity, and it made his chest ache.

you could see the pain in his expression, and it hurt you to see him so beaten up about what happened. “bob… look at me. please…” you said softly, trying to get his attention

he couldn’t ignore you, so he lifted his head and met your gaze, his eyes red and puffy from the tears he was trying to hold back.

you looked at him, feeling a wave of emotions flood through you, but you tried to keep your composure, “bob… listen to me, please. i need you to listen, okay? you need to understand that none of this is your fault”

he looked at you, his eyes wide with confusion and guilt, “but i-i… i failed you. i’m the one who’s supposed to be protecting you, not the other way around.”

you shook your head, “no, you didn’t fail me… you helped me so much today. you were there for me, like you always are. you didn’t fail anything, bob.”

“you… you saved me. if it wasn’t for you, i wouldn’t be here anymore.”

he was trying to keep his emotions in check, his heart pounding in his chest, “b-but… you got hurt. you died, and it was all because of me.”

you reached out and took his hand, holding it tightly, “no… no, it wasn’t because of you. it was my choice. i chose to protect you, alright? it was my decision, not yours… and i would do it all over again if it meant that i could protect you.”

he continued to stare at you, his head spinning with confusion and guilt, “i-i don’t understand… why would you do that? why… why do you care about me so much?!”

you looked at him, your heart pounding in your chest. you took a deep breath before saying,

“cause i like you, bob… more than i should”

bob froze, his heart stopped beating for a moment. did he hear you right? did you just… confess to him?

you sat there in silence, feeling vulnerable and exposed. you had just opened yourself up to him, admitted that you had feelings for him, and he was just staring at you with widened eyes, looking as shocked as he ever has.

“i’m… i’m sorry, i shouldn’t have said that…”

he shook his head, finally finding his voice again, “no, no, don’t… don’t apologize for that. please” he said, his voice strained.

he took a deep breath, his heart pounding again, "i-i just… i’m surprised, i-is all. i had no idea you felt that way about me..."

you looked into his eyes, seeing the surprise and shock in his expression, "i’ve liked you for months, bob. i can’t believe you never realized”

he stared at you, dumbfounded, “you’re… you’re serious, right? you’re not… you’re not doing this to mess with me, are you?”

you shook your head, “God, no. of course not. i… i would never joke about something like this. it’s…” you trailed off, not sure how to finish that sentence

he held your gaze, his mind trying to make sense of it all, "why... why didn't you say anything before?"

you shrugged, feeling a little embarrassed, "i was scared. i didn't know if you felt the same way, and i didn't want to ruin our friendship. i was happy just being by your side, you know?"

he just nodded, his own feelings starting to get the better of him.

you felt your heart pounding harder in your chest, "bob… be honest with me, alright? be completely honest with me."

he nodded, his breaths coming out short and ragged, "yeah... yeah, i'll be honest."

you took a deep breath, looking into his eyes, "do you… do you have feelings for me, too? even if it's just a little bit?"

he held your gaze, his heart pounding, “yeah. i do. i… i have feelings for you, more than i should, a-actually.”

“that’s more than enough” you whispered, a wave of relief crashing down on you.

a tiny smile formed at the corner of his mouth, "yeah? you think so...?"

you smiled back at him softly and nodded, the two of you just sitting in silence, but it wasn’t awkward or anything like that at all.

at this point, you think to yourself ‘fuck it’, you leaned in forward, but still managing a short distance with him, “can i… can i please kiss you?”

his heart hammered against his ribcage as he heard your question, the moment of truth finally coming, "yes. God, yes please- i-i’ve... i’ve wanted to do this for a long time.” he whispered, his voice shaking.

“me too…” you whispered back, placing your hands on his cheeks, closing your eyes, and finally closing the distance between his lips with yours.

as your lips met, he felt a spark, a jolt of electricity pass through him, a feeling that was unlike anything he had ever experienced before.

he kissed you back gently, his hands coming up to hold onto your wrists, as if afraid that if he let go, you would disappear.

there was no lust, just two people madly in love with each other, who’s both been waiting for months for this exact moment to happen.

“please… stay.”

“always.”

author’s note: SO WHAT DO WE THINK GIRLIESSSSSS? this continuation got inspired by me actually having a nightmare about dying and getting a panic attack right after. i thought it was a bit realistic rather than the reader just shrugging death off..? i hope i wrote it good enough, i think this entire chapter is just messy, but realistic.?

should i write the thunderbolts*’s reaction to you dying in the first part? 👉👈