Since Reqs still open, can I request Shadow Milk x Beast!Singer!Reader?
Reader was a Virtue of Harmony, then got corrupted like them, They were once a folktale singer/nature dancer into a evil popstar, being associated to generations but surprisingly got liked by every cookie because of her song? Beast of Fame or whatever? Yeah that's what I could think of-
☆ Razzle Dazzle, Glitz and Glam — Shadow Milk x Beast!Singer!Reader HCs ☆
Genre: Fluff || pronouns for reader || No warnings needed
──────.𖥔 ݁ ˖˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗.𖥔 ݁ ˖ ──────
ᯓᡣ𐭩 Shadow Milk, once being freed from his containment, was glad to see many old faces. Revenge was the first thing on his mind, but he couldn't help feeling his train of thought stutter at seeing your face. A colder demeanor massively contrasting the kind smiles he once recognized
ᯓᡣ𐭩 You looked... so much different now. He remembered a time where he knew of your songs, hearing how you'd comforted many cookies with your melodies. He even used to confide in them himself, a soothing balm to the troubles in his mind
ᯓᡣ𐭩 Seeing you now, on such a similar standing to him, made an odd feeling bubble up in his chest. He felt a flicker of deep concern that was forcefully smothered with glee. Finally, someone who looked like they really got him!
ᯓᡣ𐭩 He delighted in offering an alliance with you, telling you that you didn't need to worry about anyone else. He knew you better than any other Cookie, your stories so similar they may as well be intertwined. He promised you freedom from what you were before, a way to make Cookies see you for who you now are
ᯓᡣ𐭩 Your drive for a public presence was something Shadow Milk giddily helped you obtain. You were both showy types, and the opportunity to add your wonderful songs to his bombastic tactics excited him
ᯓᡣ𐭩 Shadow Milk's minions found you greatly interesting as well. You fit in like a piece of a puzzle, so snugly joining their group that it felt.. right. Maybe more than anything had before. These Cookies accepted you so wholeheartedly, encouraging you and granting a home you haven't felt in what seemed like ages
ᯓᡣ𐭩 Shadow Milk, for all his perceived shallowness, checked in with you frequently. He included you in all his conversations, and would always circle back to your side no matter how ahead he'd get of himself. In a way, he was seeing himself in you. Every time he checked on you was a moment where he knew in your spot he'd wished someone had done the same
ᯓᡣ𐭩 "Hear that?" He once asked, standing with you before entering a waiting crowd. They'd all gathered under your combined influence, a sea of cheers awaiting you. "They'll love you, I know they will" he said, giving you a wink with a very wide grin "I know I do"
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
✓ Live Streaming✓ Interactive Chat✓ Private Shows✓ HD Quality✓ Free Actions
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
I realized that based on how much I'm writing for Beastie, it's bound to become hard to keep up with what fic goes where. So here it is! A masterlist for the Beast!Reader idea in chronological order!
Link to main masterlist
'wip' : work-in-progress
! : Commented/Requested fic
wip - Prioritized
Red : May contain triggering content
Orange : Angst not within triggering territory
<3 : Fluff and/or comfort
Halfway-Purple : May contain Manga spoilers
Introduction (Part I) [Blurb of their life within the hands of the Brimhats]
Introduction (Part II): "Escaping" the witches... [A continuation of the introduction where the unnamed child is left for dead outside of a human village]
Introduction (Part III): ...Only to be caught [The final part of the unnamed child’s introduction where their lifestyle outside of the human village is halted by the Knights Moralis]
wip - <3 Beldaruit’s stories [The old man’s stories are great for history lessons and calming the new child down when memories get too harsh]
wip - Learning to accept Magic [Multiple small blurbs of the Knights of Moralis slowly getting (Name) to grow tolerant to magic]
<3 Joining the Atelier [Qifrey and Olruggio accept the (forced) request for them to house an odd apprentice. They soon learn why they were sent to the solitary atelier]
wip - <3 It’s okay to hide [Olruggio has to learn that sometimes there’s nothing you can do except wait outside the door]
<3 Nightmares & Comfort [(Name) has a nightmare in front of Qifrey, who is able to calm them down afterwards]
<3 A meal with Olruggio [Learning that the meals (Name) is hesitant to eat is in fact not poisoned]
! <3 A Child's Drawing [A good hobby for the traumatized child with their references being Olruggio and their own dreams]
<3 Physical Comfort [Sometimes (Name)’s transformations hurt their body more than usual, and a young Agott doesn’t really understand that but tries to cheer them up anyway]
wip - <3 Teaching [(Name) teaches Agott in wind-related magic, the only magic they're confident in.]
wip - <3 Birthday? [Tetia forces the entire atelier (her, Agott, and the two Masters) to celebrate (Name)’s “birthday” despite no one actually knowing their birthday. (Name)’s confused, Tetia feels bad, Agott is annoyed]
wip - <3 Recovery isn’t a linear path [Richeh is surprisingly good at grounding (Name)]
wip - <3 Traveling into human territory [Qifrey takes Agott and (Name) into the market district and accidentally loses the children]
<3 Meeting Coco [They were right, no one other than Qifrey would fit into that rumor!]
wip - Feelings are hard [(Name) wouldn’t say they’re jealous, just left out while watching the girls play in the fields during sunset.]
wip - They're not a witch [Coco asks too many questions to a sleep-deprived (Name), causing them to snap at the apprentice. *Might split into two parts]
wip - ! <3 Reminiscing [Olruggio takes a moment and reminisces on how much (Name) has grown]
Let me know if there's any ideas you'd want to see—new or presently on the list, if there’s suspense for one above, I’ll prioritize it! (´ω｀)
May i get headccanons on shadow milk with the beast reader from the 1st patreon story (Beast Yeast Gang finding Fem!Beast!Reader)
Before Shadow Milk was corrupted, he used to aid you in any troubles you had, from cracks in your dough to your mental battles, he had the knowledge you needed.
He thinks you're special now just because you hid away from your corruption! That is unless isolation was your corruption...
Shadow Milk taunts you with all sorts of songs you used to hear pre-isolation.
Probably pulls a lot of pranks on you, like putting salt in your milk or shaking a soda before giving it to you so it will explode out of the can.
Shadow Milk believes that you sticking with the Ancients now makes you a coward.
So I’ve been developing this idea for a whiiiiile and I’m deciding to say fuck it and give it a shot. :) Hope you guys like it.
Here’s the link to: Chapter Two, Chapter Three, Chapter Four, Chapter Five, Chapter Six, Chapter Seven
Summary: It took the kingdom of Hydra five years to finally take advantage of the disappearance of the Stark Kingdom. It took Prince Brock two weeks to make the small, unprotected village of Marveline hate his existence. His ways left Captain Rogers to go looking for help, hoping to find a royal family that could protect the people. But what happens when he hasn’t come back? It’s up to Bucky to find out what happened to his best friend and the royal siblings, but he never expected what’s to come.
Chapter One
The moon shone bright throughout the stables, unable to bring a sense of calm to the furious beast within. The horse, a large black stallion, fought against its restraints, pulling and tugging at the thin rope. Creaking wood signaled the attempts weren’t futile, but the horse halted at the sign of a glowing ember nearing the front of the stables.
“We must be quiet.” A stern voice caught its attention. Humans? “If the prince’s sister finds out we’re doing this —“
“I know, I know.” The horse stilled when it saw a candelabra and clock rounding the corner. “Fury, yes? That’s your name?” It talked. That wasn’t normal, even for the horse. It tilted its head, as if trying to understand what was happening. The candelabra grinned when it focused on the stallion, dipping into a low bow. “I’m afraid we’re in need of your help.” As the piece of fancy dining equipment hopped forward, Fury trotted back. “Oh, will you calm down? We’re friends of your owner! Steve Rogers?”
“We are not friends with —“ the clock started arguing, silencing himself when he saw the look given by both animal and candelabra. “Fine,” he grumbled, “We’re friends with Steve Rogers.”
“Was that so hard, Rhodey?” The candelabra grinned and lit a candle. Looking back to the beast, he explained, “Rogers said he has a friend. Find him and bring him here.” Reaching up, he burned the rope that held the horse in place. “Go! Run or whatever it is that you do!”
Fury took off at breakneck speed, disappearing from the stables and into the night. Rhodey adjusted the time on his face, the ticking allowing him some form of comfort. “Is bringing another stranger to the grounds really our best option, Wilson? She retaliated so harshly when the Captain came looking for help.”
“Someone needs to break through to her. If Captain Rogers couldn’t, maybe someone else can.”
“You have a lot of hope for her.”
“I have to.” Wilson looked up, his gaze landing on the tower residing in the east corridor. “We’re running out of time.”
———
“Good morning, James. Off to a late start?”
Bucky’s gaze landed on the girl who had spoken. He recognized her. She was the woman that sold pastries for her family. What was her name again? Dot? He smiled as he took long strides to her bakery. “I had some new equipment to pick up.”
She glanced at the large bag attached to his hip. There were a lot of rumors that Steve and Bucky were a little…off compared to the rest of the villagers. At least ever since they came back from the war. Steve was still loyal to the old ways. He believed the good royals would return. Meanwhile, Bucky was always trying to learn new things. Whether it was books or science or anything, the man had an odd fascination with anything new and different. No one knew what to expect when they came back, but this wasn’t it. The two had changed from the goofy friends and became something else.
So when Hydra came around? The village was struggling, desperate for any sort of help. They didn’t realize that Hydra was just the wrong kind of royalty. It didn’t take long for Steve to have enough of Hydra and Prince Brock. He disappeared in search for a kingdom he could be loyal to.
And Bucky became a bit of a hermit. No one saw him around except for when he chose to run a few errands. Bucky didn’t seem to like people.
Dot fidgeted with her fingers before tucking her hair behind her ear. “I hear Prince Brock is visiting today. Will you - will you be around?”
Bucky frowned, knowing what she was really asking. Would he be protecting them? Steve and him had made a point of protecting the women and children when Hydra came to visit. Brock was a little too eager to get to know the women personally. While he did as he pleased, soldiers would often torment the children and make them work for them. It made the pair sick.
But Steve had been missing for a week and Bucky had to find him. He didn’t have time for Brock and his games. “I’m afraid I’m busy.” He offered an apologetic smile and Dot nodded. Bucky noticed the way she trembled, the fear that made her shoulders tense. “If they’re still around by tomorrow morning, I’ll see if there’s anything I can do. But without Steve,” he faltered. “I’m not exactly hero material anymore.”
Dot hugged herself, knowing she had to try to understand. All the soldiers came back differently. Their coping mechanisms weren’t something she was supposed to understand. “I appreciate your honesty.”
“Just try to stay indoors.” Bucky turned away, knowing if he didn’t leave now then he’d get himself in the middle of the chaos. Then where would he be? He wasn’t a soldier anymore. He shouldn’t have to fight anymore.
Approaching the home just outside the village, Bucky’s feet trudged through the dirt. Night was edging closer and he could already see the moon peeking through the clouds. However, as much as he loved the idea of seeing the stars, he still couldn’t shake the guilt he felt when Dot asked for his help. Running a hand through his messy hair, he shook the irritating emotion and pushed it to the back of his mind. He had other things to work on. Like why Steve had been gone for so long.
Kicking the door open, old floorboards creaked under his weight as he lit a fire in the small fireplace. He was desperate to feel some sort of warmth. Bucky made his way to the table and started pulling out its contents. A telescope, maps, pieces of old equipment that he could reuse — each had their purpose. He shrugged off his coat, throwing it over the back of the nearest chair. The house felt empty without Steve.
He hated it.
Walking to the nearby cabinet, he grabbed a bowl and her food. “Alpine, come get some food.” The small patter of her paws signaled the feline’s arrival. She hopped on the table as he set her food down and immediately her purring signaled her content. Alpine always made his life seem so easy. Smiling slightly, he ran a hand over her soft fur before focusing on his newest finds. Picking up one of the pieces of scrap metal, he flipped it in his hand and eyed it carefully. That should work.
Though the house was small, Bucky and Steve had made sure to divide their space. The second floor was for Steve with his own bedroom, a room for painting, all of it. Meanwhile, Bucky got most of the first floor despite the shared space. A bedroom for him and Alpine and the backroom for his creations and all of his books.
It was funny, before the war neither of them would have expected Bucky to really be such a nerd. Sure, he loved science and breakthrough tech, but before the war, he had really only been keen on watching. Now, after being a prisoner? After a lack of control and having to constantly fight for every scrap of knowledge? Bucky refused to be left in the dark about anything. If he could understand it, he wanted to know it.
Lighting the lantern in the small room, Bucky picked up one of the books he forgot to finish reading the night before. He closed it and set it on top of a large stack of others. Eventually he’d get to them all. There simply weren’t enough hours in the day. Taking the piece of scrap, he reshaped the metal into a dome and cupped it under the lantern. He was sick of the wax pileup that came from the late nights. At least this way he could reuse the wax and turn it into more candles. They were getting expensive nowadays.
Running a hand through his hair, Bucky redid the bun at the base of his neck. He walked over to the window. The shutters were old and would need replacing soon, but that wasn’t it. Outside, he saw the faintest glimpse of what looked to be —
Steve’s horse.
“Steve,” he murmured. His stomach twisted and heart clenched. Where was Steve? Why was Fury alone? Bucky bolted out of the room and ripped open the back door. He heard it slam shut behind him as he took off across the field, relieved when the beast seemed to recognize him.
Coming to a halt, he grabbed the burned reigns patted him on the neck. “Whoa, there, calm down.” The horse seemed to fight him only for a moment before coming to his senses. He nudged Bucky in the shoulder, trying to turn him around and pull him back where Fur had come from. “Hey, stop.” Bucky tugged on the reigns once more, knowing Fury had a short temper. He still wasn’t entirely sure how Steve could deal with such a beast. Running his hand down the horse’s neck, he took a step back and looped the reigns around his fist. “You know where Steve is?”
Fury tugged at the reigns and Bucky knew he’d have to trust this crazy, infuriating animal. Oh, if Steve could see him now. He’d never live it down. Glancing back at his home, he took a slow breath. Mounting the stallion, Bucky turned away from his home, from the village.“Come on, show me the way.”
Fury took off and Bucky hoped and prayed that the horse remembered the way he had come. If not, things would get a lot worse. Glancing back at the disappearing village, he noted the way the stars were making themselves clear in the night sky. That had to be a good sign. Right?
———
Surely it shouldn’t be taking this long to bring Steve back. Why did Steve have to be such a knight? Why did he have to insist on finding another pair of royals? Nothing good ever came from them. No, he had to find Steve and bring him back. Then they could find a way to fix things with Brock and Hydra. Bucky ducked under a branch as Fury led him off the path. It had been hours since he had run into Steve’s horse and he had to say, he wasn’t exactly a fan of this idea. Anything would have been better than blindly following a wild animal.
“How the hell do I get myself in these situations,” he grumbled, looking around. “Fury, where are you taking me?”
The horse nickered, but made no other notion to show that it understood anything Bucky said. Clenching his jaw, Bucky cringed when he heard the crackle of thunder and saw lightning light up the night sky. Water came down in a heavy downpour, earning an irritated grunt from the rider. “I swear if you are leading me to the middle of no — where.”
Bucky’s gaze shifted to the sky as they broke through the edge of the forest. He didn’t remember any of this. Glancing back, he searched the grounds in hopes of finding a path and yet there was nothing. So how — how was it possible that there was a castle here? And for no one to know about it?
Gothic architecture shone brightly with every flash of lightning. Tall towers, looming gargoyles, and intense statues made the place look foreboding. It was intense. “Did you take me to Hydra, you ridiculous horse?” Dismounting, Bucky’s boots landed in the mud. It splashed onto his pants, but he ignored it. This wasn’t a time to focus on appearances. “What is this, Fury?”
He flinched when thunder rumbled through the sky, running a hand through his sopping wet hair. This was not what he had in mind for today. Hand holding tight to the reins, Bucky pushed open the gates. Fury jerked back, forcing him to stumble and earning a sharp glare. “Excuse you, why would you bring me all this way only to stop at the entrance?” The horse stared him down and Bucky rolled his eyes. “Fine. Chicken.” Bucky dropped the reigns and turned back to the castle.
Could I request Burning Spice Cookie with a Beast! Mother Nature!reader, mainly based around nature, who’s very calm and collected, but also larger than him? They can also grow plants for funsies hehe (Hope ur having a good day!!)
Genre: Fluff || they/them pronouns for reader || No warnings needed
──────.𖥔 ݁ ˖˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗.𖥔 ݁ ˖ ──────
ᯓᡣ𐭩 Burning Spice was known for many things, his cruelty and impulsive nature being the most memorable. He was the Beast of Destruction after all, scorching ground was his name brand
ᯓᡣ𐭩 When he met you, it felt like a blanket being thrown over a flame. He could've easily ignited, and burned everything smothering him. But you made it all feel... different. It wasn't a suffocating block in his path, rather the opposite
ᯓᡣ𐭩 It was this exact feeling that made Burning Spice feel against you at first. It was pretty funny actually, watching the Beast act like every act of kindness you gave was some declaration against his nature
ᯓᡣ𐭩 At some point, though he can't pinpoint how, he managed to end up sitting to talk with you. Something about your much calmer nature was inviting, and he suddenly felt self conscious among all this fragile flora
ᯓᡣ𐭩 You showed him the nature of what was around him, the way you could make plants grow and see them flourish. Burning Spice seemed utterly bored by the idea, until you'd shown him the other side of nature
ᯓᡣ𐭩 It's neither initially good or bad, but you introduced to him the dark side of it. Carnivorous plants, vines that snare, thorns and all kinds of poison barbs. But just because they weren't as pretty, didn't mean said plants didn't need love too
ᯓᡣ𐭩 Burning Spice gave a scoff as his impulse reaction, noting that telling a story with a bunch of petals seemed pretty useless to him. You cupped his hands in yours, putting some soil in his palms. You grew a flower from the dirt, and Burning Spice watched it grow in his hold
ᯓᡣ𐭩 Maybe it didn't make sense now, but he'd understand with time that there could be peace in the mundane. Maybe he just needed to make comfort with what he had. Burning Spice grumbled, but reluctantly met your eyes as his gaze softened. He sat next to you, looking over the flytraps surrounding him. This wasn't so bad, he supposed.. but he wouldn't mention that, not yet
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
✓ Live Streaming✓ Interactive Chat✓ Private Shows✓ HD Quality✓ Free Actions
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
Genre: Fluff || they/them pronouns for reader || No warnings needed
──────.𖥔 ݁ ˖˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗.𖥔 ݁ ˖ ──────
ᯓᡣ𐭩 Mystic Flour was known for her lack of emotional expression, she seemed like such a stoic woman that it was hard for most to imagine getting close to her. That's because most Cookies (or, well, all) are not you
ᯓᡣ𐭩 You first put on shows for her at her alters of worship as a show of devotion, giving her a performance to try and lift her spirits when she was worn down by the demanding work she gave
ᯓᡣ𐭩 You had managed to find Mystic Flour once she became a Beast, and she invited you to come to her side. She told you that of all who visited her, you were a favorite, and she'd enjoy seeing shows from you again
ᯓᡣ𐭩 To the luck of you both, you were also a Beast Cookie by now, so the two of you would work directly beside one another. Other Beasts were a little confused at seeing how you two hung out so often, especially since she would get annoyed at Shadow Milk's theatrics
ᯓᡣ𐭩 Mystic Flour would order the others into silence if you were giving a performance, rewarding your work with polite applause and praise of the execution of the show while the Beasts were wondering if they could speak yet-
ᯓᡣ𐭩 You and Shadow Milk ended up teaming up for a lot of collaborations. Mystic Flour would usually voice disdain, but the fact that it was you made it at least worth bearing for her
ᯓᡣ𐭩 You were the only Beast Cookie to get Mystic Flour to smile, a gentle little grin would grace her face whenever you'd be around, especially if right by her side. Anyone who tried to tease her about it would be death glared instantly
ᯓᡣ𐭩 While you dramatically retell what lead to your corruption or any old tale from the life you once led, Mystic Flour would hold you in her lap while you speak. She'd give you little pecks on your face to try and soothe you whenever you'd get particularly upset, reminding you that you'll make them all rue what was done
We are getting closer and closer to the end, guys! I’m thinking I’m going to finish this one up since it’s so close, then focus on “His Shooting Star” and “The Prince and the Pauper”.
Summary: It took the kingdom of Hydra five years to finally take advantage of the disappearance of the Stark Kingdom. It took Prince Brock two weeks to make the small, unprotected village of Marveline hate his existence. His ways left Captain Rogers to go looking for help, hoping to find a royal family that could protect the people. But what happens when he hasn’t come back? It’s up to Bucky to find out what happened to his best friend and the royal siblings, but he never expected what’s to come.
Chapter 8
"I love him."
The words seemed to echo in Sam's mind as he tried to explain the situation to his friends and family. No one could grasp at the fact that Bucky was gone. Everyone thought it was going well and to hear the sound of Bucky leaving for the second time? They couldn't understand. The unspoken truth was that they were running out of time. And no one knew what to do. Fear was taking the lead.
"Everybody, calm down," Rhodey shouted, voice carrying over the arguments already filling the halls. "Give Sam a chance to explain."
All eyes were on him. He fidgeted slightly, knowing this would be a little difficult to explain. "She's...She's in love with him."
"Then the spell should be broken," a voice shouted, their face lost in the crowd.
"No, it's not enough." Wanda this time. Sam breathed a sigh of relief when she appeared not too far away from him. "The curse isn't merely a Stark falling in love, but someone falling for her as well."
"Does it count if he doesn't even know who she is?"
More murmurs and arguments arose, everyone wondering if that was true. Was that a legitimate fear? Were these secrets going to be what kept them in this cursed state forever?
"Enough." The tin voice rattled through their minds, cutting thoughts and opinions short. No one expected to hear that voice. Tony creaked his way down the hall, ignoring the concerned look that Rhodey sent his way. This was certainly not about him. "I know that our family hasn't done the best by you. The curse wasn't right and we - I accept full responsibility for the mistakes of my father. If there was a way to turn you all back, you know we would take it in a heartbeat. You all have been good, loyal people. And I'm sorry." A pin drop could be heard, the silence was so deafening. No one had really seen Tony in years. It was as if a ghost had walked into their lives. He stood, armor glinting even in the low light. If he could give that smug smirk and enjoy being the center of attention again, he might've. But these circumstances caused a different set of emotions to dance in his stomach - anxiety, fear, worry. "Well, don't everyone talk at once."
Awkward laughter cracked through the tension. It seemed that there might be a chance that everyone would adjust to his sudden reappearance with little to no issue. "It's good to see you here, Your Highness," Scott spoke, earnings nods of agreement and a few smiles.
The anxiety slowly melted away and Tony found himself feeling a little more at ease. It would all be fine. It would all be fine. "Well," he cleared his throat, the sound akin to a pebble dropped in a tin can. "Where is my favorite stable boy, huh?"
Heads turned, eyes searching for the boy Tony had taken under his wing before the curse had struck. Peter had made himself comfortable aiding Wanda in the kitchens, but before he was the best stable boy the kingdom had ever seen. Tony was eager to train him to be a knight some day, making it his mission. However, the two hadn't crossed paths in quite some time.
"He isn't here." The confusion laced in Maryjane's voice signaled that she hadn't expected that. Wanda, Sam, and Rhodey immediately scanned the crowd, panic starting to set in when they realized the little teacup wasn't among their friends.
Even so, their panic was no match for Tony's anger. "What do you mean? Where is he?"
-------
Arriving home wasn't something that sat well with Bucky. He didn't understand it, but he felt like he wasn't coming home. It felt like he was leaving it behind. Dismounting the mare he had borrowed from Y/N's stables, he stared at the small house before him. Steve had to be here. He wouldn't be foolish enough to confront Brock and his men over and over. Not without backup. Right?
"Steve?" Bucky stepped through the doorway, gaze scanning and searching for any sign that his friend had been here recently. "Steve, please tell me you're here."
Nothing.
Making his way to the stairs, they creaked under his now foreign weight. He was hoping and silently praying that maybe, just maybe, Steve was sleeping hard enough that he didn't hear Bucky's arrival. But the sinking pit in his stomach reminded him that Steve had never been a light sleeper.
"Steve," he tried once more, opening the door that lead to his bedroom. It was empty, bed neatly made and fresh drawings hanging in the air to dry. Bucky clenched his jaw, trying not to let his fear bring up the worst possibilities. "Damn it..." His voice was barely above a whisper, trembling as he tried to keep the tears at bay. His choosing to trade places with Steve was what brought this mess on. It was his fault.
"Mister Bucky?"
That...That wasn't Steve. Bucky looked down at the satchel attached to his hip. It had been where he had stored the mirror, but there wasn't anything else in there. Or so he believed.
Peter nudged the flap of the bag open, grinning up at the man who stared at him in complete shock. "Hi!"
"What the hell are you doing here?" Bucky lifted Peter up, setting him on the bed and crouching before him. So many questions ran through his head. Did Y/N know? Were they looking for him? Why was he even here?
"I wanted to figure out why you left."
Bucky frowned. "Peter, you shouldn't be here."
"And neither should you. You should be with Y/N."
"No, I should find Steve." He rose, his mind already listing the different places Steve could be. The best one to check would probably be the tavern.
"You stay here."
"But -"
"Peter, stop. I don't have time for this." Bucky walked around the bed, closing the satchel as Peter hopped across the thin mattress. "Just let me find Steve and I'll be right back." The door closed behind him, silencing Peter before he could develop any sort of argument. Rushing down the stairs, he came to the front room as the not-too-distant sound of horses met his ears. What was that?
Opening the door, Bucky stumbled back when he came face to face with an unexpected guest. His hand instinctively grasped the leather at his side, his jaw clenching and shoulders tensing. "Brock."
"Hello, Barnes." The Hydra officer leaned forward, arm propping itself against the doorway and revealing the sight just behind him. Steve was in chains, unconscious and head cast to the ground, a hollowness to his face. He'd lost weight and the injuries did nothing to help keep his strength. The sight made Bucky's heart stop. This was what happened to his best friend? This was what he had caused?
"Steve..." He stepped forward, his mind instantly reeling and instinctively acting on all he could think of - instinct. He was stopped by Brock's hand pressing against his chest. His piercing gaze shifted to the officer before him. Oh, all Bucky wanted was to punch that smug grin off of his face. "Let him go."
"No." His grin turned into a smirk as he added, "I think I have a better idea."
The sound of shouting forced Peter to look away from the door and instead, to the window on the opposite side of the room. He hurriedly made his way across, struggling to finally reach the windowsill, but finding aid with the nearby chair. Breathing hot air against the cloudy glass, he squinted and struggled to make out the figures. "Bucky!" Hopping eagerly when he recognized his friend, Peter's brow scrunched when he noticed that someone was punching him. "No! No, stop it!" Peter spun around, looking around the room for some form of escape, but finding nothing that could be of any use. "Come on, there has to be something."
Bucky's knees hit the ground, arm unable to dodge the foot that kicked the back of his head. His face greeted the mud and he grimaced. It tasted disgusting. He grunted when one soldier twisted his arms behind his back, another yanking his hair back and forcing him up.
"So where were you, Barnes?" Rumlow asked, his voice closer to Steve.
Meeting Brock's gaze, Bucky sneered before spitting out grass and dirt. "Go fuck yourself."
Brock scoffed before gesturing for one of his soldiers to throw Bucky's bag his way. He caught it with one arm. "Let's take a look, shall we?" He watched the way Bucky's eyes flashed, the emotion something he didn't care to think too much about. Instead, he flipped the satchel over and spilled out its only contents. The mirror.
Bucky jerked, trying to free himself from the two soldiers. Through gritted teeth, he spat, "Be careful with that."
Brock smirked, tossing the satchel to the side before picking up the mirror. He didn't pay much attention to the reflection, instead flipping it over. The smug expression, that pleased glint in his eyes, it vanished at the sight of the insignia on the back. He turned his attention back to Bucky. "Where did you get this?"
Bucky grinned. "Bite me."
"You can never make things easy, can you? Always having to turn me into some sort of bad guy." Brock rolled his eyes and turned away, taking strides towards Steve. Bucky tensed when he saw one of the soldiers pass him a sword. "Do I have to ask again?" Stepping behind Bucky's oldest friend, he held the sword to Steve's throat. The look in Bucky's eyes earned an amused grin. "Where did you get the mirror, Barnes?"
Bucky's gaze never wavered from his unconscious friend. He couldn't fail him again. "I - The castle.”
"The only castle around for miles is Hydra's and this," he flipped the mirror around, showing the back to Bucky. "Isn't the Hydra insignia."
Bucky bowed his head, strands of hair shielding his face as he tried to blink away tears. "No, it isn't."
"So care to share with the group?"
Clenching his jaw, Bucky refused to look his way. Steve was the stronger of the two. Always had been. He was a good man, a fighter. He didn't deserve this. But if Steve was awake, if he could fight, he wouldn't want Bucky to say a word. The idea of Hydra getting the upper hand was something Steve would never let happen. Shoulders slumping, he couldn't help but wonder - how did it get this bad?
"Alright, have it your way." Brock tossed the mirror to Bucky's feet, the reflection staring up at him, mocking him. Bucky blinked, fresh tears slipping down his cheeks and onto the glass. He glanced up, seeing the sword raise.
Steve might not want Hydra to win. But Bucky did not want Steve to die.
His eyes grew as the sword came down, struggling to break out of the grip of his captors. "Wait!"
The sword stopped only an inch away from Steve's neck. With his back to Bucky, Brock gave his soldiers a knowing smile. He turned to face Bucky, flipping the sword and striking it into the ground. "Yes?"
Bucky's panicked gaze looked from Steve to the mirror and back. He could right this. He could help Y/N through whatever Brock had planned, but he couldn't save Steve if he was dead. Eyes never wavering from Steve, he said, "Show him. Show him everything."
Brock's brow furrowed, confusion evident. It vanished as quickly as it appeared when he noticed the reflection in the mirror begin to change. Gone was Bucky's reflection, quickly replaced by the woods. It seemed to be traveling, showing the way to the castle that appeared just beyond the trees. Brock picked it up, eyeing the imagery carefully. It was dark, a looming structure he couldn't quite place the familiarity of. It wasn't until the image rippled again and showed a wild animal, a beast, that Brock dropped the mirror in disgust. "What the hell was that?"
The sight of Brock's disgust made Bucky's stomach churn. Not so long ago, he would have reacted the exact same way. Now that he knew Y/N, the clear reaction only made Bucky angry. "She is a good person. Someone better than you could ever be."
Brock laughed. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you have feelings for that creature." When Bucky's gaze never wavered, Brock laughed. "Are you in love with that thing? That beast?"
Bucky jerked forward, fighting off the guards only long enough to rise to his feet. They pulled him back, a third soldier unsheathing his sword and pressing it to Bucky's neck. He didn't flinch, staring Brock down. "She's not a beast."
"A 'she' is it?"
Bucky growled. "Yes."
"Careful, Barnes, you're sounding a little like a beast yourself."
"She's good and kind. There's more humanity in her heart than you and your men combined."
"She's a danger to your town's people."
"No more than you, Rumlow," he spat.
Something shifted in Brock's features. Bucky couldn't quite place it, but the sight sent a shudder down his spine. He clenched his jaw, flinching when Brock raised his hand, pressing the blade against Bucky's neck. It pricked the skin, allowing a slow trickle of blood to glide down his neck. "Let's see about that, hm?" Taking a couple steps back, he turned to his soldiers. "Let's pay this castle and its beast a visit!" Soldiers cheered, rising up with excitement and immediately going to their horses. Hand catching the shoulders of two nearby soldiers, Brock said, "Take care of these two. Make sure they can't follow us."
"Rumlow, I swear to whatever god there is that you will pay if you so much as touch her." Bucky tried to throw off the soldiers holding him back, ignoring the stinging pain that came from his neck.
Brock looked his way and smirked. "You'll have to catch me first, Barnes."
"Rumlow!" Bucky lunged, missing the sight of one of the soldiers raising the hilt of his sword. He was struck in the back of the head. Falling to his knees, the last thing he saw was Brock mounting his horse before everything went black.
Peter's features were pressed to the glass to the best of his abilities. He fidgeted nervously. Bucky was unconscious like his friend. The soldiers were leaving to attack his home, his friends and family. And he was stuck here. "This isn't good. This is not good. Not good at all."
