#introvert!reader

You were chatting with Storm while standing at the bar counter, looking as calm as usual. Charles has teased him about two times already, about the way Logan keeps looking your way, eyes softening ever so lightly. He has given Charles exactly one warning and since then, he is able to watch you peacefully.

After a while, Storm sits back into the booth and you stay by the bar, quietly nursing your own drink.

»You know… you could finally talk to them.«

Storm speaks up as soon as she is seated next to Logan, not hiding her clear intention. Logan gives her a brief glare before looking back to you, letting out a gruff grumble.

»If they want to be alone, then I won‘t bother them.«

That makes even Charles roll his eyes before he leans over the table, trying to talk some sense into Logan without getting into his brain.

»Logan— James, please talk to them. We are tired of watching you admiring her like a love-sick puppy.«

That earns a glare from him, making Charles lean back and put his hands up in defense.

»Jus‘ saying...«

After further contemplation, and peer pressure, he finally gets off the booth and makes his way toward you. His steps are slightly less confident than usual, one hand tucked into his jean pocket. He clears his throat before standing beside you, taking a seat at the bar stool next to you.

»Doin‘ alright?«

Your eyes meet, giving him a soft smile before you speak up.

»Hey, yeah. What about you?« Logan hopes you don‘t see his surprise at the fact that you seem to be interested in holding some conversation with him, instead giving you a light nod in return. He sets his glass on the bar counter top beside yours, clearing his throat.

»You… like The Doors? Like, the band?«

God, he‘s being awkward. He can feel the stares of the team from the booth, possibly judging him and being even more annoying about it all. But once he hears your quiet chuckle, he softens, shoulders slumping a fraction.

»Yeah, how‘d you know?« You see him stare at you for a couple seconds before he regains his composure, putting on an easy smirk.

»Oh, just happened to see you wear their merch some time.« Logan shrugs, clearly trying to match your calm energy while still trying to flirt around, without scaring you off.

»Oh, right… I‘m guessing you‘re also a fan of them?«

He nods and shrugs lightly finally going into a smooth conversation with you.

It‘s only now that he finally gets to know more about you, about your likes and dislikes, your quirks, and what-not. Only once the others say their goodbyes, you two realise how long you‘ve been talking to eachother.

»Well, see you guys tomorrow. Don‘t stay here too long.« Charles stands behind you both, a lazy smile over his face as he gives Logan a smug wink. As if you wouldn‘t notice. Still, you decide not to think too much of it.

»Yeah, sure.« Is all Logan says before focusing back on you, ready to talk some more, maybe even get closer while the others finally make their way outside, back to the University.

But all of his plans go out of the window as soon as you announce going home for tonight as well, standing off your bar stool. He follows suit quickly, trying hard not to end this too fast.

»Uh, I can walk you home, if you want. I don‘t mind.« He offers, hoping he doesn‘t sound like a complete creep. Instead of rejection or a weird look, heh receives another one of your sweet smiles, as well as you agreeing with him.

You end up walking back home in the dark streets, shoulders bumping every now and then with his. He makes sure you make it safely inside your apartment, standing outside for a second longer before he eventually makes his way back to the university.

»Did you at least get a kiss?«

»What did you guys talk about the whole night about?«

»Seriously? You didn‘t even hold hands?«

Questions and more questions piled up over Logan the whole morning, eventually snapping at each of them and giving them a warning to shut their holes. But it doesn‘t stop there. Even his students seem to have caught onto the crush, having started to give hints to you… and maybe have made a few comments to Logan just to tick him off.

Safe to say, he makes sure to keep things private with you, since you seem to prefer doing things private as well.

←MASTERLIST

taglist₊‧.°.⋆˚₊‧⋆.

Eddie knew that it was going to be a bad day for you. You have been stressing out all month, today you had to present a project. You hate public speaking; your shyness gets the best of you and the students of Hawkins high are the worst, they laugh and make fun of every mistake you make. But not today Eddie wasn’t going to let that happen. He saw you come out with fear in your eyes it had already started. “Hi my princess how was your sleep ”he cooed in hopes to keep you out of your head, but you were too far gone. “Hey” you mumbled as you stared off in space lips moving but no words coming out you were reciting your speech. He watched you in worry this was going to be a long day. 

“Why don’t you practice on me” “What” you said confusing “Practice your presentation with me I will say mine then you will say yours” he smirked “You did your speech?” “Well, no but I can tell you what I would have said” “Eddie you need to do your homework you are going to graduate with me and-” he got you your mind moved on. He got out the car mid of your rant and opened your door “Thank you and you need to work on your math too because I know you didn’t do it” “Nope I did not” “Let go then” he planned work you and talking to him and are not worried about the project. It was going great …. for 5 seconds “Hey Eddie, Y/N you ready for the presentation that shit is going to kick my-” Gareth said. Eddie hit Gareth’s arm “Ow what was that for” You froze shit you have you look at the clock 10 minutes. “I been trying to get her mind off of it” “Shit sorry” Eddie looked back at you great back to square one. “Sweetheart no need you worry I will be there” tears filled your eyes “But what if I mess up” you said worriedly “Hey” he wiped your eyes “Don’t think like that you are going to do great ok if you get scared looked at me ok” you nodded and held Eddie until the bell rang, here we go.  

“Alright class today we are going to do something different instead of volunteering to go up I'm going to pick name” every introvert's worst fear. “Ok first is” Your heart is pounding in your chest praying to any god out there please not me please “Y/N L/N you are first” Eddie looked at you in worry, he gave you a reassuring nod and mouth you got this. You slowly stood up and you felt everyone's eyes on you. You gulp “H-Hi” no stop stuttering ....THUNK everyone laughed Eddie prosperously fell out of his chair when you made eye contact with him, he winked. He was taking to embarrassment off you to him “Mr. Munson in your seat please” “Yep got it” he got up and mouth just breath. You took a deep breath. “My- my project is o-on Th-The-” “Sp-sp-SPIT out already” Andy yelled that had the class roaring in laughter suddenly a  spit ball landed on Andy cheek, only you saw Eddie hiding the straw or you thought “Mr. Munson one more thing out of you and you are out of here” he couldn’t leave you so unfortunately, he must protect you in peace. Tear welled your eyes as you finished your presentation “Thank you miss L/N next we have.... Mr. Munson” He got up and tripped on the way up to the front “Ok so my project is on nothing because I didn’t do it” he teased as he look at the teacher “Go sit” “Yep” “Next is......”  

The team would often find you in this daze like state where you'd just stare at the wall ahead without blinking sometimes. They would try to coax you out of it by asking a question, a question you would ignore because you didn't hear them. Their voices were silenced, a contrast to how loud they were in your head.

Nobody really knew why you were like this. It's been this way since you arrived at the compound months ago. You kept to yourself, ate by yourself, worked out when everyone else was either watching movies or asleep, and you would just keep silent. Even on missions, you never spoke a word.

The team were actually very worried about your well-being, as clearly this was not natural. For the first time since the civil war broke out, Steve and Tony were actually in agreement about bringing a psychiatrist in to help you until Bucky intervened and wanted to help you himself first.

Bucky would have considered himself a professional by now. He knows what it's like not to fit in anywhere, how easy it was to feel so out of place. He understood more than any psychiatrist what a better and safer world it was inside your mind.

"Buck you can't help them. Y/N is too far gone." Steve spoke regrettably, sadness evident in his tone. He believed they failed you from the beginning and it was easy for Steve to take the blame so nobody else would have to feel guilty.

Bucky shook his head before he ran a hand through his hair, scratching at the root before letting it drop down by his side again. "I have to try Steve. I've been there before, I know what they are going through. Trust me."

Steve sighed, knowing he wouldn't have won the fight. Bucky was determined and it was impossible to change his mind about anything.

"I do Buck. Just bring them back to us, please."

With Steve's permission granted, Bucky wasted no time in getting to work. He started off being as subtle as possible by sitting as close as he could to you on the couch. The goosebumps that pebbled your skin when his knee brushed your leg gave him a lot of hope, that you were in there somewhere.

Bucky was hopeful he was getting somewhere with you. Because each time he took a seat next to you, you'd angle your body to face him and wait for him to start talking about his favourite movies, his favourite songs, his new profound hobbies he's been getting into lately. Your eyes would glisten with hope that you were actually listening to him. And you were, you paid great attention and everything he told you, about the Hobbit struck a chord in your heart. You had felt so lost for so long that even you were worried you might not be here anymore.

Then a few days later, he started to talk to you like a normal person. He would talk about his favourite books and why he liked them so much. He loved The Hobbit series because of the adventure Bilbo goes on and how easy it was for the words to suck you into the story. How easy it was to forget how to cope with real life.

"Bilbo goes on an adventure of a lifetime and sometimes as the road gets tough, he regrets it but he knows there is something worth waiting for at the end of it, he knows there is something worth saving. He meets new friends and they stick with him the whole time." The emotion in Bucky's voice rang home for you. "There's always something to live for. Bilbo never gave up and neither should you because I'm with you till the end of the line."

You knew he was saying 'if Bilbo Baggins could do this, so could you.'

Days turned into weeks and instead of just talking, Bucky escalated his plans by doing stuff with you. He started off gently by taking you for a walk around the rose garden Tony had at the back of the compound. Bucky noted how your eyes changed, you looked at the gorgeous fruit trees and rose bushes in such awe. The flowery scent tingled your nose.

Then he would go further by taking you a few blocks away to buy you a coffee. And when New York was hit with a heatwave, he took you to the beach where he heard you giggle for the very time because of the flamingo floaties he had around his arms.

The team saw a huge improvement. They saw how you clinged to Bucky and watched him intently as he made a couple of sandwiches and some tea for the two of you to watch with a Disney movie.

And it was just under a month when he heard you speak for the very first time.

"Thank you." Even though it came out in a hushed whisper, he would take it over the deafening silence anyday.

"For what doll?" Of course he already knew, but he wanted to hear more from you. He wanted to hear your voice.

"For helping me."

Bucky nodded slowly, a smile gradually grew on his lips and he pushed just a little bit further.

That evening, you almost talked his ear off. You opened up about your feelings, what kind of envisions lived in your head and how much happier they were than real life. Bucky shared some of his too, comparing the two it was apparent he knew exactly how you were feeling and he understood just how scary it really is. For you, it felt like this huge boulder had been lifted off your chest. A chance to finally let everything out and breathe again.

"How did I help?"

"You made me realise that there is something worth sticking around for, something worth coming back to." You told him with tears in your eyes.

His hands rubbed your back soothingly, "You know doll, sometimes in life, we hit a crossroads. We don't know where we are going or what's on the other side of the road. And if you pick a path, you're going on new adventures everyday and I am right here with you." Tears shamelessly rolled down your cheeks from his words. You've never felt so safe in the whole time you've been here.

The morning after, the team were seated around the dining table eating breakfast and talking about an upcoming mission when you strolled through the doors with a grin on your face and Bucky right behind you, just like he had been throughout this ordeal.

"Holy shit. He did it!" Tony slapped a hand over his mouth, overjoyed with so much emotion. Steve nodded to his friend, proud of him that he stuck with it when it couldn't have been easy.

"Oh my god, you actually have teeth!" Sam joked which earned laughs from both you and the team.

"I do!" You giggled, your eyes squeezed shut as you laughed. It felt good to laugh. "I um, I'm sorry. I'm sorry for the distance and the silence and-"